21 Night Cruise sailing from Belgrade to Basel aboard River Ambassador.

Day 1: Belgrade (embark)

Embark your ship, where you will begin your amazing journey. (D)

Day 2: Belgrade

Featured Excursion: Belgrade city tour with walking tour of Kalemegdan fortress

One of the oldest cities in Europe, with a turbulent 2,500-year history, Belgrade has retained its vibrant character, rich in culture and eclectic architecture. The day begins with a look into the region's Roman and medieval past at Kalemegdan Fortress. To contrast Belgrade's distant past with its more recent history, you'll ride through the upscale district where high-ranking Communist leaders once lived, and past the grim Communist housing projects built for ordinary citizens on the other side of the Danube. You'll have an opportunity to photograph St. Sava Cathedral, the largest active Orthodox church in the world, with a dome that can be seen throughout the city. Finally, you'll pass the tomb and memorial of longtime Yugoslavian prime minister and president Josip Broz Tito, located at the site of his former residence in Belgrade's affluent neighborhood of Dedinje. (BB, L, Captain's Welcome Dinner)

Day 3: Vukovar (Osijek)

Featured Excursion: Tour of Osijek with home-hosted lunch and school visit

Morning finds the ship docking in the Croatian port of Vukovar, where you'll begin one of the most intriguing and personal adventures of this entire cruise, meeting and interacting with schoolchildren and villagers. You'll journey by motorcoach to Osijek, the largest city in eastern Croatia, and on the way, you'll experience a delightful visit to a local grade school. In Osijek, you will tour the oldest section of Osijek, Tvrda, and then enjoy a traditional Croatian lunch hosted by villagers. (BB, L, D)

Day 4: Cruising the Danube River, Budapest

This morning and afternoon your ship cruises through the Hungarian countryside toward Hungary. This evening, your ship arrives in the fabled capital of Hungary this afternoon. Budapest, formerly two towns, Buda and Pest, on opposite sides of the river, began as a Roman encampment in the second century and has been controlled by Germans, Austrians, Ottomans and Communists over the centuries, all of whom have left their mark. (BB, L, D)

Day 5: Budapest

Featured Excursions: Budapest city tour OR choice of a Budapest walking discovery of national treasures

This morning you have your choice of ways to begin your exploration of this exciting city. Combining a panoramic motorcoach tour with an up-close look at historic sites, our Budapest city tour takes you from the Millennial Monument, erected a century ago in Heroes' Square, past locales associated with the city's once-flourishing Jewish community and St. Stephen's Basilica, and up to Castle Hill, which has been called the heart of the nation. There you'll see the interior of the magnificent St. Matthias Church before continuing to Vaci Street, where the well-heeled do their shopping and dining, and the Central Market Hall, with its stalls of fresh vegetables and meats.

Your other option shows you the architectural highlights of the city and then sets you down to see some of these national treasures on foot. You'll have an hour-long guided tour of the spectacular Hungarian Parliament Building, the seat of the Hungarian National Assembly. Afterward, you'll ride along the Danube promenade to Central Market Hall. This splendid, three-story-tall covered market hall replaced the city's overly crowded outdoor markets at the end of the 19th century. You'll notice an intoxicating variety of rich aromas and vibrant colors as you step inside-and you'll get to sample some of the delicious wares you'll find there.

Spend the afternoon exploring Budapest on your own. Budapest is a mecca for lovers of Art Nouveau architecture, and the building housing the Franz Liszt Academy of Music is particularly worth visiting. For a reminder of the centuries when Hungary was ruled by the Ottoman Turks, take a look at the 16th-century tomb of Gül Baba (and enjoy a Turkish coffee at the adjoining coffee house). Or relax at one of the city's many wonderful spas. You might want to check out the famous Gellert Baths, built in gorgeous Art Nouveau style; or Szechenyi, whose balmy outdoor pool, fed by natural mineral springs, is tempting in any season. (BB, L, D)

Day 6: Cruising the Danube River, Bratislava

Featured Excursion: Coronation city walking tour

This morning will find your ship sailing through the beautiful countryside of Hungary and Slovakia; make sure to relax and enjoy the scenery as it drifts by. Around noon you will find yourself docked in Bratislava. The capital of Slovakia, Bratislava was founded in the ninth century, when it was known as Pressburg, and in 1541 it became the capital of Hungary, following the battle of Mohacs in 1526, when the Ottoman Empire succeeded in occupying Budapest and other parts of Hungary. Eleven kings and eight queens were crowned in Bratislava, as the Habsburgs took over the Hungarian monarchy and turned Slovakia into a buffer zone between Austria and the Ottoman Turks. Today the city is a thriving commercial center with a village-like atmosphere. We'll show you the rebuilt castle where the Habsburgs ruled; Mirbach Palace, a Rococo jewel built for a wealthy brewer that is now a museum; and the Primatial Palace, the 18th-century archbishop's residence where the Pressburg peace treaty was signed in 1805, in which Austria ceded a great deal of territory to Napoleon. (BB, L, Captain's Farewell Dinner)

Day 7: Vienna

Featured Excursions: Walking tour with visit to royal treasury chambers OR choice of an exclusive "See Vienna as the Viennese do" walking tour

The capital city of the Habsburgs is home to vast imperial palaces and countless treasures, yet it is also a lively and fun urban center. You can begin to discover this glorious city in one of two ways. You can come with us on a walking tour to see the astonishing collection of imperial treasures on display in the Hofburg Palace, which include the imperial crown and sword of the Holy Roman Emperors, the Austrian crown jewels, the 15th-century Burgundian Treasury, and one of the largest emeralds in the world. The exquisite craftsmanship of the pieces here is rivaled only by their splendor. If you'd prefer a more intimate look at the city, we will take you on a walking tour through a park popular with locals, pause for coffee and pastry at a traditional Viennese coffee house, and show you one of the best-known Art Nouveau sites in a city famous for its Art Nouveau art and architecture. (BB, L, D)

Day 8: Vienna

Today you have time to explore this amazing city on your own-there's still much to see in Vienna. Ask your Cruise Manager for suggestions-see historical sites, wander through museums, or enjoy a lingering cup of coffee at a Viennese cafe. A light buffet-style lunch will be provided onboard this afternoon. Also today, some of your fellow passengers will be leaving the ship to go home, and some new passengers will be coming onboard. Please offer them a warm welcome as you meet them during the welcome briefing. (BB, L, D)

Day 9: Vienna

Featured Excursions: Walking tour with visit to the National Library OR choice of an exclusive "See Vienna as the Viennese Do" walking tour

If you opted for the city tour on your first day here, you can choose now to take a more intimate look at Vienna. We will take you on an exclusive walking tour through a park popular with locals, pause for coffee and pastry at a traditional Viennese coffee house, and show you one of the best-known Art Nouveau sites in a city famous for its Art Nouveau art and architecture. Or, you can choose to take a panoramic tour that carries you around Ringstrasse, past some of Vienna's most famous landmarks, and then sets you down at the Hofburg Palace complex, where the emperors lived. Guides will lead you through the palace grounds, stopping in to see the most beautiful library in the world, State Hall, the epitome of Baroque taste. (BB, L, D)

Day 10: Cruising the Wachau Valley, Melk

Featured Excursion: Tour of Melk Abbey

This morning, be sure to come up on deck as the ship cruises through the Wachau Valley, a 19-mile (30-km) stretch of the Danube that cuts through a rocky gorge in the foothills of the Bohemian Forest between Krems and Melk. This beautiful region, with steep-sided, densely wooded southern slopes and a mixture of crags and south-facing vineyards on the north side of the river, is a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Landscape. Dotting the banks are a series of historic small towns and winemaking communities.

Melk is a town with a long and storied past, dominated by a 900-year-old abbey sitting high atop the granite cliffs of the Danube. Stift Melk (Melk Abbey) was one of the most important centers of learning in the Middle Ages (Umberto Eco paid tribute to Melk's significance to medieval scholarship in his novel The Name of the Rose). Local guides will take you through the abbey's Marble Hall, with its ceiling richly painted in an allegorical scene paying tribute to Emperor Charles VI; the impressive library; the Emperors' Gallery; and the awe-inspiring Baroque-era Abbey Church. After your tour of the abbey, you'll have time to explore Melk on your own. (BB, L, Captain's Welcome Dinner)

Day 11: Passau

Featured Excursion: Passau walking tour and St. Stephan's organ concert

Located at the confluence of three rivers-the Danube, Inn, and Ilz-Passau is well-known for its ornate Baroque cathedral. A walk through Passau's charming medieval alleyways will take you to Dom St. Stephan (St. Stephan's Cathedral), built in 1680 by Italian artists, who gave it Baroque and Rococo touches. At the cathedral, settle down to listen to an organ concert played on Europe's largest church organ. Following the concert, the afternoon is yours to do as you please. Definitely worth a visit is the outstanding Glasmuseum (Glass Museum) on the promenade. (BB, L, D)

Day 12: Deggendorf (Theresienthal)

Featured Excursion: Exclusive Bavarian Forest horse-drawn carriage ride and Theresienthal visit

Early this morning you'll arrive in Deggendorf, gateway to the Bavarian Forest. The Bavarian Forest, called the "green roof of Europe," is Germany's oldest national park. You get to discover it in the most traditional way imaginable, riding through the woods in a horse-drawn carriage. Keep a sharp eye out for some of the rare species that still survive in the forest as you enjoy the fresh air and sylvan atmosphere. Then you'll continue to the world-famous glass studio, Theresienthal, which has produced glassware cherished by princes for centuries. Tour the workshop to learn how glass is made and see some of the exquisite pieces produced over the years in the glass museum. You'll also have a chance to pick up some treasures of your own in the shop.

In the afternoon, you'll have the opportunity to explore Deggendorf on your own-discover the quaint shops and intimate streets, enjoy a glass of local beer or wine, or take a stroll or bike-ride along the beautiful Danube river. (BB, L, D)

Day 13: Regensburg

Featured Excursion: "2000 Years in One Hour" Regensburg walking tour

"Regensburg is so beautifully situated; this region had to attract a town," Goethe wrote in his Diary of an Italian Voyage. And attract a town it did, not just because of its beautiful location but also because ambitious and farseeing locals built a bridge over the Danube back in the 12th century. Thanks to Steinerne Brücke (Stone Bridge), Regensburg became an international trading hub, and so many of the handsome buildings from that period remain that UNESCO declared the old city center a World Heritage Site. Local guides will meet you pier-side and show you the highlights of the old town, including the Cathedral of St. Peter, whose magnificent 14th-century stained-glass windows alone are worth the walk. (BB, L, D)

Day 14: Cruising the Main-Danube Canal, Nuremberg

Featured Excursions: Nuremberg city tour OR choice of a Nuremberg WWII historical tour, with Documentation Center visit

This morning, your ship traverses the most impressive section of a modern marvel of engineering: the Main-Danube Canal. This masterwork, more than 100 miles long, allows ships of all shapes and sizes to readily cruise from Amsterdam to the Black Sea. Nuremberg, the second largest city in Bavaria, attracted artists and intellectuals from all over Europe between 1200 and 1600, making it one of the cultural centers of the continent. Albrecht Dürer was probably its most famous resident during the Renaissance, and his house is now a museum. You can choose to explore the archetypal German medieval city or sites associated with its darker 20th-century history. We will show you the medieval ramparts around the old city and take you to the Kaiserburg, where the emperors of Germany resided from 1050 to 1571. Or you can see the sites where filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl immortalized Hitler during his infamous parades and rallies, including the unfinished coliseum, Kongresshalle, and the courtroom where the Nuremberg trials took place. (BB, L, Captain's Farewell Dinner)

Day 15: Nuremberg

Day 16: Bamberg

Featured Excursion: Bamberg city tour

Awaken in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Bamberg. Bamberg has one of Europe's largest intact Old Town centers, and like Rome, the city is built on seven hills-only here, a church tops each hill. Your city tour takes you past the Imperial Cathedral of St. Peter and St. George; the four-winged New Residence; the Town Hall which is lapped by the Regnitz River; and "Little Venice," an area of colorful fishermen's houses from the 19th century. In the late afternoon, you will cruise the peaceful, meandering Main River. (BB, L, Captain's Welcome Gala)

Day 17: Cruising the Main River, Würzburg (Rothenburg)

Featured Excursion: Rothenburg city tour

After a morning of scenic cruising, enjoy a guided tour of picturesque Rothenburg, a well-preserved Medieval walled town. Then venture off on your own to see even more of the treasures this gem of a time-capsule has to offer-like the extraordinary 15th-century altarpiece in St. Jacob's Church that was carved by Tilman Riemenschneider, Germany's Gothic contemporary of Michelangelo. Or explore the Christmas world of Käthe Wohlfahrt's museum, which is enchanting any time of the year. (BB, L, D)

Day 18: Würzburg, cruising the Main River

Featured Excursion: Würzburg Residenz visit OR choice of exclusive Franconian village visit

Enjoy a peaceful morning of scenic sailing through the Franconian countryside. You'll reach Würzburg in the early afternoon and embark on a tour of Würzburg Residenz, an immaculate example of Baroque architecture and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. This grand palace was built and decorated in the 18th century by an international team of architects, sculptors, stucco-workers, and painters. Particularly noteworthy is Tiepolo's ceiling fresco-the largest in the world. The Residenz also boasts one of the most expansive and beautiful gardens in Europe. (BB, L, D)

Day 19: Miltenberg, cruising the Main River

Featured Excursion: Miltenberg walking tour

Spend the morning cruising down the exquisite Main. After lunch, enjoy a walking tour of charming and romantic Miltenberg, the "Pearl of the Main River." The town is protected by its old walls and two gates-one facing east, and another facing west. The streets of Medieval Miltenberg seem to leap from the pages of a German fairytale; your tour will introduce you to 14th- and 15th-century gabled, half-timbered houses; the famed Crooked House; and the venerable Royal Inn, which has been a working hotel since the 17th century. (BB, L, D)

Day 20: Nierstein (Nierstein or Heidelberg)

Featured Excursions: Choice of exclusive Nierstein village walking tour and wine tasting OR three-quarter-day tour of Heidelberg

A motorcoach takes you to Heidelberg, a perfectly preserved Medieval city nestled in the Neckar River Valley along Germany's Castle Road. Heidelberg is home to Germany's oldest university and was immortalized in Sigmund Romberg's operetta, The Student Prince. Your tour takes through the romantic courtyard of Heidelberg Castle and into downtown Heidelberg through Old Town. After the tour, you will have free time to wander along one of Germany's longest pedestrian streets. Enjoy the bustling squares lined with cafes, or simply take in the serene atmosphere of this truly charming town. Or opt to spend the day exploring the Rhine village of Nierstein, enjoying an exclusive guided walk and wine tasting. The area is a hidden wine champion of Germany, with Riesling vineyards on 1,000 hills and more than 1,500 hours of sunshine a year earning it the nickname "German Tuscany." (BB, L, D)

Day 21: Strasbourg

Featured Excursion: Strasbourg canal cruise

Situated half-way between Paris and Prague, the beautiful Alsatian port town of Strasbourg is known as the "Crossroads of Europe." It is home to a magnificent single-spire Gothic cathedral, Notre Dame, and beautiful half-timbered houses; it is also the seat of the European Parliament. See Strasbourg in the way it has been seen through the centuries-on a canal cruise. Petite France, the picturesque old quarter with its timber-frame houses adorned with flower boxes, is a highlight of your tour. (BB, L, Captain's Farewell Dinner)

Day 22: Basel (disembark)