Scenic Cruises’ all-inclusive “Jewels of Europe” tours take passengers to ports along the Danube, Main and Rhine rivers. Guests explore many sites while also having access to exclusive experiences, including explorations of the limestone caves under Castle Labyrinth in Budapest or a Medieval-style banquet inside Marksburg Castle in Germany. Cruises depart several times between April 30 and Nov. 14, with fares ranging from $4,895 to $10,515.
While in Budapest, guests can take a guided city tour plus choose from relaxing in a thermal bath, visiting limestone caves or exploring the history of classical music in Hungary. Also available are tours of Schönbrunn Palace, a trip to the Slovakian capital of Bratislava or a visit to the Spanish Riding School to see the Lipizzaner Stallions in their morning exercises. Elsewhere in Austria, passengers explore the village of Durnstein and visit the Benedictine Abbey in Melk, where an organ recital is performed by one of the monks. There’s another included options that provide a choice among activities in three countries: a guided tour of Passau, Germany; a visit to Salzburg, Austria; or an excursion to the medieval town of Cesky Krumlov the Czech Republic.
Guests see many of Germany’s highlights, exploring Regensburg via a guided tour that includes a stop at the world’s oldest sausage kitchen; meeting with local students or taking a self-guided bike tour in Nuremburg; sampling “smoked beer” in Bamberg; and choosing from a walking tour of Wurzburg or traveling the “Romantic Road” to Rothenburg.
Passengers are also able to take part in European village life through a series of exclusive experiences, such asparticipating in everyday activities such as cooking an onion pie, visiting a family winery and dining with a local family. The start (or end) of the sailing is in Amsterdam, where passengers can take a canal cruise, guided bike tour or excursion to visit windmills, or travel to nearby Venlo to explore the world of horticulture.
For more information, visit www.scenictoursus.com.