Grand Voyage Across Europe

Grand Voyage Across Europe

A private canal-boat tour in Amsterdam. The fairytale castles of the Rhine Gorge. Melk Abbey’s incredibly opulent décor. Austria’s scenic Wachau Valley. This European river cruise packs in plenty of highlights, but keeps the pace leisurely, giving you time to enjoy lazy afternoons on deck and relaxed mornings in postcard-pretty towns. Two weeks, five countries and four capital cities - this promises to be a river cruise to remember.

What's Inlcuded:

• 15 nights accomodation - On board MS River Discovery II
• 44 meals - 15 breakfasts, 14 lunches and 15 dinners
• Unlimited drinks during lunch and dinner
• Titan's VIP door-to-door travel service
• Titan cruise director
• Porterage
• Portable audio

Day 1: UK - Amsterdam

Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home, for your flight to Amsterdam. Upon arrival, embark our ship, where light refreshments are available.

Day 2: Amsterdam

Amsterdam’s Grachtengordel, or Canal Ring, is its crowning glory. Built during the city’s 17th-century Golden Age, each of the four canals is lined with beautiful gabled townhouses, merchants’ mansions and grand churches. We’ll explore this UNESCO-protected area by private boat, chugging along the canals and gliding beneath ornate bridges. We reboard our ship and set sail from Amsterdam early afternoon, ready to begin our river cruise across Europe.

Excursions & visits: Amsterdam canal cruise (morning)

Day 3: Cologne

We arrive in Cologne at lunchtime, with the afternoon and evening at leisure in this cathedral city. Join us for an optional guided city tour, or explore under your own steam. See the magnificent Dom, with its Gothic spires and 14th-century stained-glass windows, then perhaps enjoy a beer at one of the cafés on the Alter Markt or Heumarkt squares. The cathedral looks incredible at night, when the towers are illuminated, so be sure to catch a glimpse once the sun sets.

Day 4: Koblenz - Rüdesheim

A morning tour of Koblenz gives you an insight into this city’s remarkable history. As well as exploring the town itself, we’ll take the cable car up to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, a vast complex that once guarded the confluence of the Moselle and Rhine. We’ll cast off from Koblenz at lunchtime, arriving in Rüdesheim later this evening.

Excursions & visits: Koblenz city tour, including Ehrenbreitstein Fortress (morning)

Day 5: Rüdesheim - Lorelei Rock

Spend the morning exploring the lovely riverside town of Rüdesheim. Perhaps take the cable car up to the Niederwald Monument for spectacular views over the town and river, before wandering back down through riesling vineyards for a Rüdesheimer coffee (sugar, flaming brandy and coffee, topped with a generous dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkling of chocolate shavings). This afternoon, enjoy a scenic sail through the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. This curvy stretch of river is known for its high, forested hills and slate cliffs. Look out for the famous Lorelei Rock, which is steeped in myth and legend (you’ll hear all about it if you’re listening to the commentary on your portable headset, which you’ll find in your cabin).

Day 6: Miltenberg

Our European river cruise takes us along the Main River to Miltenberg today, where you’ll have the morning at leisure. Amble through the streets of this medieval town and you’ll pass more than 100 listed timber-framed houses - it’s like walking through the pages of a storybook. To get a real flavour of Miltenberg, why not join us for an optional beer tasting excursion? We set sail at midday.

Day 7: Würzburg

Journeying eastwards along the Main, we arrive in the Bavarian city of Würzburg. A morning tour reveals the splendour of the Würzburg Residence, one of Germany’s biggest and most beautiful baroque palaces. The building was created and decorated by an international team of architects, painters, sculptors and stucco workers, with the extensive gardens being landscaped shortly afterwards. Our river cruise continues after lunch - spend the afternoon relaxing and enjoying the ever-changing views.

Excursions & visits: Visit to Würzburg Residence Palace (morning)

Day 8: Bamberg

This afternoon, you’ll have the chance to discover historic Bamberg and its glorious medieval and baroque architecture. Built across seven hills, Bamberg’s nickname is the ‘Franconian Rome’ - learn more about its past and present during our optional walking tour, which also includes a visit to the Rose Gardens, where 4,500 blooms perfume the air.

Day 9: Nuremberg

A favourite retreat among German kings, a leading city in the industrial revolution, a stage for Nazi party rallies, and the site of the WWII war crimes tribunal - Nuremberg has a lot of history to uncover. We’ll learn more about it on our morning tour of the city, where you’ll be able to see the castle and churches painstakingly rebuilt after being destroyed during the war. Enjoy a leisurely afternoon of sailing as we cruise towards Regensburg.

Excursions & visits: Nuremberg city tour (morning)

Day 10: Regensburg

Today’s port of call is Regensburg. Once the capital of Bavaria, Regensburg is one of Germany’s best-preserved medieval cities, with 1,500 listed buildings. Delve into the UNESCO-protected old town and you’ll discover atmospheric lanes, tall townhouses and towers, and a handful of centuries-old churches. Alternatively, join us for an optional excursion to Benedictine Weltenburg Abbey. Founded in AD 600, it’s the oldest monastery in Bavaria and home to the world’s oldest monastic brewery - one of its beers is a three-time winner of the prestigious World Beer Cup.

Day 11: Passau

Known as the ‘Three Rivers City’, Passau lies at the confluence of the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers. It’s a wonderful place for a wander, with its sunny squares, winding lanes (don’t miss cobbled ‘Artists’ Alley’) and riverside promenades. The baroque skyline is punctuated by the imposing St Stephen’s Cathedral, home to the largest cathedral organ in the world (just shy of 18,000 pipes). A walking tour will introduce you to Passau’s charms; the rest of the day will be free to explore at leisure.

Excursions & visits: Passau walking tour (morning)

Day 12: Melk - Dürnstein

This morning, we’ll tour Melk’s Benedictine abbey. Once a palace, this imposing complex now houses a richly decorated church (look out for the incredible frescoes on the grand dome) and a library stuffed full of priceless tomes. Later this afternoon, after a short sail, we’ll arrive in Dürnstein. Sitting on a curve in the Danube, it’s picture-book pretty and steeped in history. Stroll through medieval lanes and you’ll find the 16th-century Town Hall, the remains of Kunigunde Church (the oldest in Dürnstein), and the magnificent Schloss Dürnstein. An optional orientation tour can show you its highlights, and ends with a tasting at a local winery (we’re in the heart of Austria’s Wachau Valley wine region, after all). We’ll set sail for Vienna in the evening.

Excursions & visits: Visit to Melk Abbey (morning)

Day 13: Vienna

Enjoy a full day and evening in beautiful Vienna. A morning city tour sweeps us around the famous Ringstrasse (a 5.3-kilometre boulevard which circles the ‘old’ city), allowing us to admire the neo-Gothic City Hall, the Museum of Art History (a spectacular neo-classical palace), and the suitably grand State Opera House. We’ll also stop off at a coffee house for a drink and a piece of cake (perhaps an indulgent slice of chocolatey sachertorte). The rest of the day is free. Explore more of the city or join in with an onboard Viennese waltz lesson, led by a local dance teacher. This evening, you’ll have the chance to book an optional excursion to a classical concert in one of the city’s atmospheric palaces.

Excursions & visits: Vienna city tour (morning)

Day 14: Bratislava

Spend today discovering the Slovakian capital: Bratislava. There are baroque palaces to see, a hilltop castle to tour and plenty of café-lined squares to sip a cappuccino in. Don’t miss the Gothic St Martin’s Cathedral or the art nouveau St Elizabeth’s Church, known as the ‘Blue Church’ for its powder-blue hue. Explore on your own or join us for an optional city tour.

Day 15: Budapest

We’ll enjoy the final full day of our European river cruise in Budapest. A guided tour will introduce you to the city’s highlights in the morning; the rest of the day is free for you to explore as you wish. Enjoy the views from Buda Castle, take a dip in the city’s famous thermal baths or walk along the river to the moving ‘Shoes on the Danube’ memorial. We’ll stay overnight in Budapest, so you can enjoy the city sights illuminated at night, too.

Excursions & visits: Budapest city tour (morning)

Day 16: Budapest - UK

We transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK. Upon arrival, your Titan vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.