Fly from your selected airport in the UK to Budapest, where you will be met and taken by coach to your luxurious river ship. (D)

A guided morning tour of Bratislava reveals the city's major sights, including the Old Town Hall, the stunning Mirbach Palace and the Gothic St. Martin's Cathedral. The afternoon is free to shop or explore on your own. Perhaps, visit the 13th-century Bratislava Castle where you'll enjoy breathtaking views overlooking three countries - Slovakia, Austria and Hungary. An eventful day is followed by an evening filled with an enchanting music performance onboard. After midnight, the ship departs for Vienna. (B,L,D)

Savor the Baroque romance of Vienna. On your guided sightseeing tour, you will see the lavish Hofburg Palace, the impressive Vienna Opera House, the majestic Ringstrasse, awe-inspiring St. Stephen's Cathedral and visit the National Library. The afternoon is free to stroll along Kärntnerstrasse or sample Vienna's famous pastries. Tonight, explore the vibrant Austrian capital on your own, or come along for an optional Mozart and Strauss concert. (B,L,D)

Early this morning reach the Wachau Valley for your walking tour of Dürnstein, known as one of the prettiest towns on the Danube. Marvel at the magnificent blue façade of the Baroque Stiftskirche and see the ruins of the castle where Richard the Lionheart, King of England, was imprisoned in 1192. Your walking tour through medieval cobblestone streets reveals 16th-century town houses and wine taverns. Enjoy your lunch cruising to Melk for your guided tour of the town's magnificent Benedictine Abbey, one of Europe's largest Baroque monasteries. An evening wine tasting highlights your visit to the Wachau Valley. (B,L,D)

After breakfast, take an optional full day excursion to fascinating Salzburg and the Sound of Music sights, or cruise through Upper Austria to Passau in Germany, where the rivers Inn and Ilz join the Danube. During your walking tour, gaze at this fairytale city founded more than 2,000 years ago. (B,L,D)

A tour of Regensburg, one of Germany’s best preserved medieval cities, reveals the architectural highlights, including the Old Town Hall, and the Porta Pretoria - gates to an ancient Roman fort built in 179 AD. Marvel at beautiful churches and one of the oldest bridges crossing the Danube. Tonight, folklore entertainers come on board for your delight. (B,L,D)

This morning enter the Main-Danube Canal and relax during a leisurely cruise through the beautiful Altmühl Valley. The Main-Danube Canal straddles the Franconian Alps via 16 locks, truly a fascinating feat of modern engineering. The highest point, the Continental Divide, is 435 metres above sea level. In the afternoon enjoy a guided tour of Nuremberg, a medieval city that played a significant role in World War II. See the storybook 900-year-old ramparts that surround this historic city, the Imperial Castle and the Justice Palace where the War Crimes Tribunal sat in 1946, before returning to the ship, moored in Nuremberg overnight, for dinner. (B,L,D)

Your wonderful cruise comes to an end today as you disembark the ship after breakfast and transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK. (B)