Imperial Treasures Europe Cruisetour 1

This itinerary starts BEFORE the accompanying cruise itinerary.

Transfer to your hotel for check in. This evening join your tour director and meet your fellow travelers for a welcome briefing at your hotel. Then enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. (D)

Following breakfast, a local guide explains the history and sights of the liveliest and most cosmopolitan metropolis of Eastern Europe. See elegant Andrassy Avenue, the Thermal Baths, and the world's second largest Jewish Synagogue. From the lacy lookout towers of Fisherman's Bastion, enjoy a panoramic view of the sprawling city, home to more than one-fifth of the Hungarian population. Then, visit 13th-century Matthias Coronation Church and Heroes' Square. The remainder of the day is at leisure. (B)

After breakfast, depart Budapest and travel by coach to Vienna. Upon arrival, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Today's sightseeing takes you on the famous Ringstrasse. Drive past the Parliament, the Opera House, Hofburg Palace and City Hall en route to Schoenbrunn Palace for a guided visit. Arrive at your hotel late afternoon for check in. After dinner on your own, tonight's highlight is a classical concert celebrating the music that made Vienna famous. (B,L)

Enjoy a free day in Vienna. You may choose to join our optional excursion to Vienna Woods or spend the day on your own exploring some of the city's highlights. We'd suggest the world class Fine Arts Museum, Treasury, Habsburg Burial Vault, Spanish Riding School or the Composer's Cemetery, just to name a few! (B)

Depart Vienna and drive to Altenburg, the site of an ancient medieval abbey. Continue to historic Rosenburg Castle where you learn about the ancient art of falconry. Enjoy lunch in the town of Rosenburg before continuing to Prague. (B,L)

Morning sightseeing with a local guide reveals why Prague is considered one of Europe's most attractive capitals. See 1,000-year-old Hradcany Castle Grounds, the former residence of Bohemian kings; St. Vitus Cathedral; the Old Town; the Jewish ghetto; and the Astronomical Clock, once the envy of all Europe. (B)

Drive north into the area that used to belong to the other part of Germany. Stop in Dresden, the former capital of Saxony. Badly damaged by Allied bombing in February 1945, the city has since been restored to its baroque splendor. Have lunch and relax with some free time before a city orientation where you'll love the architecture of the Zwinger Palace and Semper Opera. Continue on to Berlin with a late afternoon arrival. (B,L)

Sightseeing with a local guide in the once-divided metropolis includes the Ku-Damm, the restored Reichstag, monumental Brandenburg Gate, Charlottenburg Palace, the 210-foot Victory Column in the vast Tiergarten Park, and a visit to the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church. Drive along Unter Den Linden Boulevard, pass the German State Opera House and, of course, stop for pictures at Checkpoint Charlie. The afternoon is free and an optional excursion to historic Potsdam is available. Tonight enjoy a farewell dinner at one of Berlin's fine restaurants. (B,D)

After breakfast, drive north to Rostock for the two-hour ferry crossing to Gedser. Upon arrival in Copenhagen transfer to your ship for a late afternoon embarkation. (B)