In the Path of Charlemagne

THE RHINE, MAIN & DANUBE RIVERS | ONE GRAND VOYAGE

AUSTRIA | GERMANY | HUNGARY | NETHERLANDS | SLOVAKIA

AN EPIC transcontinental JOURNEY

A traverse of Western Europe and its eastern flank by river is a legendary experience; a voyage with deep historical meaning. The great warrior-king Charlemagne was first to envision it, back in 793. The channel he had excavated, connecting two tributaries that would link the great Danube and Rhine, collapsed in failure before his dream was realized. A thousand years later, Ludwig I of Bavaria began work on a modern replacement — and in 1992, the current Rhine-Main-Danube Canal opened its miraculous locks to create a continuous 2,200mile waterway spanning 15 countries.

BAMBERG, GERMANY

UNESCO SITES & SPECIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Be awed by Cologne’s splendid Kölner Dom and wowed by Augustusburg and Falkenlust palaces

Cruise the famed Rhine Gorge and overnight in one of its most scenic gems, Rüdesheim

Engage in a pilsner crawl through Bamberg, its entire Old Town a World Heritage Site

Explore incredibly photogenic Passau, home to the largest Baroque church north of the Alps

Overnight in Vienna, immersed in music, UNESCO-listed beauty and landmark tastes

Discover Bratislava, where Slovakia’s past and future mingle with intriguing results Ascend to the heights of Budapest by funicular to ramble the UNESCO sites of Castle Hill

Explore Amsterdam surrounded by Old Masters, canal houses and candlelit cafés

THE RHINE

Mysterious forests and alpine peaks, medieval villages and iconic castles — the Rhine is as much a legend as it is a river. From Cologne’s glorious cathedral and the flower-filled vistas in Koblenz to Amsterdam’s astonishing art collections and the mythical Upper Middle Rhine Gorge, the Rhine winds through some of Europe’s most gorgeous landscapes.

THE MAIN

A trip through Bavaria along this lesser traveled yet fascinating river boasts magnificent sights including the Residenz in Würzburg and half-timbered buildings of Miltenberg. See the seven hills of Bamberg, each crowned with a lovely church, and transit the Main/Danube canal to discover Nuremberg, rebuilt after WWII into a stunning medieval town.

THE DANUBE

Mile after historic mile, the Danube flows like a gateway into the past, from the ruins of Roman fortresses, through Gothic and Baroque monuments and onward to the resplendent architecture of the Hapsburgs. Witness a treasury of unforgettable sights, savor some of the finest rieslings and lagers, and lose yourself in the storybook wonder of it all.

Crystal’s highly acclaimed six-star service Michelin-inspired farm-to-table cuisine prepared fresh to order

All-inclusive, complimentary fine wines, premium spirits, authentic regional, local and seasonal wine and beer offerings, gratuities and more

Extensive selection of inclusive shoreside experience