Vineyards & Palaces along the Danube

Klosterneuburg Visit and Wine Tasting

Embark on a short drive out of the city to arrive at Klosterneuberg Abbey. With nearly a millennium of history, this Augustinian monastery has been a center of religious, social, and cultural life for centuries. It is also an excellent winery, where quality and craftsmanship are fueled by a long history of viticulture and winemaking.

Admire the abbey’s Baroque church and medieval cloister on a guided tour that includes a viewing of a brilliant copper altarpiece crafted by Nicholas of Verdun. After, enter the historic cellars to sample a selection of the abbey’s fine wines.

Vienna Walking Tour

Walk along Kärntner Street, the celebrated pedestrian boulevard that links the State Opera with St. Stephen’s Cathedral, past the elegant shops on the Graben and the Kohlmarkt. The neighborhood offers a lively combination of historic architecture, street performances, shoppers’ delights, and true Viennese atmosphere.

Schönbrunn Palace Visit

Embrace the imperial flair of Vienna with a visit to the famous Schönbrunn Palace complex. Arrive to marvel at the massive Baroque building with its iconic yellow exteriors. Stroll hallways elaborately decorated with golden stucco, rich velvet, and stunning frescoes. This palace complex was the primary summer residence of the Habsburgs and features many testaments to their history and extravagance.

House of Strauss – Masterpiece Collection (additional cost)

Step back in time at the last surviving music hall where all four Strauss composers—Johann Strauss I, Johann Strauss II, and the latter’s two brothers, Josef and Eduard—once performed. Composer of “The Blue Danube” and one of Europe’s most celebrated musicians, Johann Strauss II captivated audiences at this venue several times during his lifetime. In his day, the building was a hub for Vienna’s socialites. Begin with a brief tour of the exhibits, followed by an immersive audio-visual experience. Finally, enjoy a live concert of Strauss compositions. Please note: On the rare occasions that the House of Strauss is unavailable, an alternative concert venue will be arranged.

Spitz Walking Tour

Step off the ship and into the quaint streets of Spitz, an idyllic medieval town tucked cozily into the valley below Tausendeimerberg—which literally translates to “Thousand Bucket Mountain,” so named because the vineyards that blanket the mountainsides are said to produce a thousand buckets of wine per year. As you take a leisurely walk with a local guide, who is one of the just over 1,500 people who live in this little town, you’ll learn about the history and traditions that make Spitz unique.

Maritime Museum & Marillen Tasting

Walk through the attractive town of Spitz to arrive at the Schifffahrtsmuseum, where centuries of shipping and maritime history are on display. Here, you are invited to learn about the role of Spitz and the wider Wachau region in the Danube trade route—once far much more treacherous than it is today. To accompany your visit, a selection of delicious apricot treats will be waiting for you. Apricots, or marillen, as they are known here, are one of the most important products of Spitz. Countless apricot trees dot the landscape, blooming with white flowers in the spring, bursting with fruit through the summer, and turning bright yellow-gold in the fall.

Let’s Go: Spitz Vineyard Hike

Take to the vineyards of Spitz on a brisk hike to learn why the locals have dubbed their picturesque, green mountain “Tausendeimerberg.” The name literally translates to “Thousand Bucket Mountain,” in honor of how much wine these vineyards produce each year. How many bottles of wine is that? Roughly 74,600, give or take. But that’s not all Tausendeimerberg provides for the people of Spitz. As you take in the gorgeous views above the river afforded by your hike on this mountain, you’ll understand why the locals are so proud to call this place home.

Nights Out: Clam Castle

Inhabited by the Counts of Clam for over half a millennium, the Burg Clam is as much a beloved family home as it is a local landmark and attractive castle. The friendly Count will personally welcome you in for a chance to tour the building’s historic halls.

Bavarian Forest Adventure

Enter the Bavarian Forest, Germany’s first and largest national park, to discover an abundant wilderness covered in diverse flora and fauna. This area is home to several unique craft traditions, and you’ll have your choice of which ones you’d like to discover today.

Enjoy a tasting of local schnapps. In Germany, schnapps refers to any hard liquor, and each is distinguished by the ingredients it is distilled from. The word means “snap,” since schnapps is generally “snapped” back in the style of a shot.

From there, you’ll move on to a glass workshop and see how the local style of glassware is crafted.

Regensburg Walk with Thurn & Taxis Castle Visit

Begin this three-hour excursion with a visit to the city center of Regensburg’s Old Town, which has much to offer including the Porta Praetoria Roman ruins, the Old Stone Bridge, St. Peter’s Cathedral, medieval patrician towers and the former Jewish Quarter among many other sights. Next, take a short walk to the Princely House of Thurn and Taxis. The family estate is difficult to miss: at over 1,000 years old, the mansion boasts over 500 rooms complete with chandeliers, gold leafing, incredible art and architectural touches to make it truly a sight to behold. The palace has an incredible history and stands as a tale of revival, endurance and baroque style. What’s even more spectacular? The palace has a long list of celebrities who have stayed within its walls: Mick Jagger, Michael Jackson, Steve Martin, Plácido Domingo and more. These walls may not be able to talk, but if they could they would surely say, “Come see us for yourself!”

The Giant Sphere of Bavaria

This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience supports Global Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production; and Global Goal 13: Climate Action.

Take a short drive to the Upper Palatinate Lake District to find something entirely unexpected: a giant wooden ball sitting right in the middle of the serene landscape. Made up of twisting walkable paths, this “adventure ball” is the largest of its kind in the whole world. Walk to the top of the ball for amazing views of the lake. After, take a short hike to the lakefront to discuss local plants, fish, and conservation with an expert guide. You’ll learn about how a passion for sustainability shapes the farming and building efforts in the area, and see some of the interesting Eco Houses that have been built at the lake.

Our MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences support sustainable tourism, offering our guests opportunities to directly impact the communities we explore in a positive way.

“From Hops Field to Beer Stein” Farm Visit

Hops vines grow up their strings in a field tower almost twice a person’s height. They’re grown for their flowers, which add a distinctive flavor to beer—but the fields they grow in add a distinctive flavor to the hops. You could call it terroir for beer, and you can delve into hops cultivation and hops brewing today. Travel through Bavaria’s Holledau region, the largest hops growing district in the world, and meet an enthusiastic ambassador of hops growing and beer making. She will give you a quick and lively history of hops in Germany—including Bavaria’s law governing the making of beer, which has specified since 1560 that the only ingredients permitted in beer are water, barley and hops—and lead you on a tour through the growing fields her family owns, followed by a craft beer tasting in the cozy barn turned beer hall. It’s a delicious way to get to know a fascinating aspect of the international farm-to-table movement.

Nuremberg City Walk & Art Bunker Visit

Set out on a panoramic drive towards Nuremberg’s Old Town. Along the way, look out the window to catch a glimpse of several interesting sites, including the former SS Barracks, Nuremberg’s train station, and the old city walls. You’ll get off the bus near the castle for a walking tour of the historic neighborhood surrounding it, then descend underground to find a secret Nazi art bunker hidden beneath the castle.

In the medieval period, a network of tunnels was built under the castle hill, and parts of these tunnels were later turned into an artifact preservation bunker during World War II. The Nazis stored several highly valuable and symbolic items here to keep them safe from Allied air raids, including the imperial regalia of the Holy Roman Empire, looted artifacts from occupied nations, and paintings by Albrecht Dürer, a German painter whose home you’ll have passed on your tour through the Old Town.

Please note: you may find it beneficial to bring a warm jacket with you on this tour, as the art bunker naturally sits at around 55°C.

Nuremberg City Tour with WWII Rally Grounds and Documentation Center Visits

Hitler considered Nuremberg the perfect expression of German culture (partly because of its significance in the Holy Roman Empire, which he called the First Reich), and so beginning in 1927, he chose to hold his massive rallies in the city. By 1933, his favorite architect, Albert Speer, had designed the vast Nazi Party Rally Grounds, where thousands upon thousands of Nazi troops saluted Hitler. (Leni Riefenstahl captured these events in her famous propaganda film Triumph of the Will.) Not all of Speer’s plans were executed, and some of his grandiose structures were bombed out of existence, but the remainder stand as vivid testimony to Hitler’s megalomania. A four-square-mile (10-square-kilometer) complex known as Zeppelin Fields contains parade grounds and a huge grandstand, the excavation site where a stadium for 400,000 people was begun—the hole is now filled with water.

Nuremberg City Walk & Art Bunker Visit

Set out on a panoramic drive towards Nuremberg’s Old Town. Along the way, look out the window to catch a glimpse of several interesting sites, including the former SS Barracks, Nuremberg’s train station, and the old city walls. You’ll get off the bus near the castle for a walking tour of the historic neighborhood surrounding it, then descend underground to find a secret Nazi art bunker hidden beneath the castle.

In the medieval period, a network of tunnels was built under the castle hill, and parts of these tunnels were later turned into an artifact preservation bunker during World War II. The Nazis stored several highly valuable and symbolic items here to keep them safe from Allied air raids, including the imperial regalia of the Holy Roman Empire, looted artifacts from occupied nations, and paintings by Albrecht Dürer, a German painter whose home you’ll have passed on your tour through the Old Town.

Please note: you may find it beneficial to bring a warm jacket with you on this tour, as the art bunker naturally sits at around 55°C.

Nuremberg City Tour with WWII Rally Grounds and Documentation Center Visits

Hitler considered Nuremberg the perfect expression of German culture (partly because of its significance in the Holy Roman Empire, which he called the First Reich), and so beginning in 1927, he chose to hold his massive rallies in the city. By 1933, his favorite architect, Albert Speer, had designed the vast Nazi Party Rally Grounds, where thousands upon thousands of Nazi troops saluted Hitler. (Leni Riefenstahl captured these events in her famous propaganda film Triumph of the Will.) Not all of Speer’s plans were executed, and some of his grandiose structures were bombed out of existence, but the remainder stand as vivid testimony to Hitler’s megalomania. A four-square-mile (10-square-kilometer) complex known as Zeppelin Fields contains parade grounds and a huge grandstand, the excavation site where a stadium for 400,000 people was begun—the hole is now filled with water.

Regensburg Walk with Thurn & Taxis Castle Visit

Begin this three-hour excursion with a visit to the city center of Regensburg’s Old Town, which has much to offer including the Porta Praetoria Roman ruins, the Old Stone Bridge, St. Peter’s Cathedral, medieval patrician towers and the former Jewish Quarter among many other sights. Next, take a short walk to the Princely House of Thurn and Taxis. The family estate is difficult to miss: at over 1,000 years old, the mansion boasts over 500 rooms complete with chandeliers, gold leafing, incredible art and architectural touches to make it truly a sight to behold. The palace has an incredible history and stands as a tale of revival, endurance and baroque style. What’s even more spectacular? The palace has a long list of celebrities who have stayed within its walls: Mick Jagger, Michael Jackson, Steve Martin, Plácido Domingo and more. These walls may not be able to talk, but if they could they would surely say, “Come see us for yourself!”

The Giant Sphere of Bavaria

This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience supports Global Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production; and Global Goal 13: Climate Action.

Take a short drive to the Upper Palatinate Lake District to find something entirely unexpected: a giant wooden ball sitting right in the middle of the serene landscape. Made up of twisting walkable paths, this “adventure ball” is the largest of its kind in the whole world. Walk to the top of the ball for amazing views of the lake. After, take a short hike to the lakefront to discuss local plants, fish, and conservation with an expert guide. You’ll learn about how a passion for sustainability shapes the farming and building efforts in the area, and see some of the interesting Eco Houses that have been built at the lake.

Our MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences support sustainable tourism, offering our guests opportunities to directly impact the communities we explore in a positive way.

“From Hops Field to Beer Stein” Farm Visit

Hops vines grow up their strings in a field tower almost twice a person’s height. They’re grown for their flowers, which add a distinctive flavor to beer—but the fields they grow in add a distinctive flavor to the hops. You could call it terroir for beer, and you can delve into hops cultivation and hops brewing today. Travel through Bavaria’s Holledau region, the largest hops growing district in the world, and meet an enthusiastic ambassador of hops growing and beer making. She will give you a quick and lively history of hops in Germany—including Bavaria’s law governing the making of beer, which has specified since 1560 that the only ingredients permitted in beer are water, barley and hops—and lead you on a tour through the growing fields her family owns, followed by a craft beer tasting in the cozy barn turned beer hall. It’s a delicious way to get to know a fascinating aspect of the international far

Bavarian History & Beer – Masterpiece Collection (extra cost)

Just a five-minute walk from where our ship docks in Regensburg is the Haus der Bayrischen Geschichte. Also known as “The Bavarian Museum,” this building houses a plethora of objects of cultural significance to the region, including the lion statue that was at Munich Oktoberfest until 2017, Empress Sisi’s mourning period dress, and a hot air balloon used by some residents of East Germany to flee to West Germany during the cold war. Next, we’ll walk to the other side of the Danube, taking in an incredible view over the city before heading to Stadtamhof Brewery, the oldest in Regensburg. Learn about the 800-year old tradition of beer brewing on a guided tour, followed by a beer tasting on site.

Bavarian Forest Adventure

Enter the Bavarian Forest, Germany’s first and largest national park, to discover an abundant wilderness covered in diverse flora and fauna. This area is home to several unique craft traditions, and you’ll have your choice of which ones you’d like to discover today.

Enjoy a tasting of local schnapps. In Germany, schnapps refers to any hard liquor, and each is distinguished by the ingredients it is distilled from. The word means “snap,” since schnapps is generally “snapped” back in the style of a shot.

From there, you’ll move on to a glass workshop and see how the local style of glassware is crafted.

The Taste of Salzburg – Masterpeice Collection (extra cost)

Drive from Passau to Salzburg, stopping in Oberndorf on the way to visit the site where the Silent Night was first performed in 1818. Upon arrival in Salzburg, we’ll embark on a walking tour through some of our favorite hidden spots in town. See the Mirabell Gardens as we make our way to the city center and pop into a local market to sample some sausages and Salzburg’s iconic Mozart pralines. After some free time for lunch, we’ll meet back together to depart for the nearby town of Mondsee, where the marriage scene of The Sound of Music was filmed. Visit the basilica featured in the movie, or opt to take some free time to explore town on your own, perhaps to grab some strudel and coffee. Note: lunch will be on your own today.

Spitz Walking Tour

Step off the ship and into the quaint streets of Spitz, an idyllic medieval town tucked cozily into the valley below Tausendeimerberg—which literally translates to “Thousand Bucket Mountain,” so named because the vineyards that blanket the mountainsides are said to produce a thousand buckets of wine per year. As you take a leisurely walk with a local guide, who is one of the just over 1,500 people who live in this little town, you’ll learn about the history and traditions that make Spitz unique.

Maritime Museum & Marillen Tasting

Walk through the attractive town of Spitz to arrive at the Schifffahrtsmuseum, where centuries of shipping and maritime history are on display. Here, you are invited to learn about the role of Spitz and the wider Wachau region in the Danube trade route—once far much more treacherous than it is today. To accompany your visit, a selection of delicious apricot treats will be waiting for you. Apricots, or marillen, as they are known here, are one of the most important products of Spitz. Countless apricot trees dot the landscape, blooming with white flowers in the spring, bursting with fruit through the summer, and turning bright yellow-gold in the fall.

Let’s Go: Spitz Vineyard Hike

Take to the vineyards of Spitz on a brisk hike to learn why the locals have dubbed their picturesque, green mountain “Tausendeimerberg.” The name literally translates to “Thousand Bucket Mountain,” in honor of how much wine these vineyards produce each year. How many bottles of wine is that? Roughly 74,600, give or take. But that’s not all Tausendeimerberg provides for the people of Spitz. As you take in the gorgeous views above the river afforded by your hike on this mountain, you’ll understand why the locals are so proud to call this place home.

Nights Out: Clam Castle

Inhabited by the Counts of Clam for over half a millennium, the Burg Clam is as much a beloved family home as it is a local landmark and attractive castle. The friendly Count will personally welcome you in for a chance to tour the building’s historic halls.

Vienna Walking Tour

Walk along Kärntner Street, the celebrated pedestrian boulevard that links the State Opera with St. Stephen’s Cathedral, past the elegant shops on the Graben and the Kohlmarkt. The neighborhood offers a lively combination of historic architecture, street performances, shoppers’ delights, and true Viennese atmosphere.

Schönbrunn Palace Visit

Embrace the imperial flair of Vienna with a visit to the famous Schönbrunn Palace complex. Arrive to marvel at the massive Baroque building with its iconic yellow exteriors. Stroll hallways elaborately decorated with golden stucco, rich velvet, and stunning frescoes. This palace complex was the primary summer residence of the Habsburgs and features many testaments to their history and extravagance.

Nights Out: Klosterneuburg Winery

After dinner, embark on a short drive out of the city to arrive at Klosterneuberg Abbey. With nearly a millennium of history, this Augustinian monastery has been a center of religious, social, and cultural life for centuries. It is also an excellent winery, where quality and craftsmanship are fueled by a long history of viticulture and winemaking.

Admire the abbey’s Baroque church and medieval cloister on a guided tour that includes a viewing of a brilliant copper altarpiece crafted by Nicholas of Verdun. After, enter the historic cellars to sample a selection of the abbey’s fine wines.

Vienna Culinary Walking Tour – Masterpiece Collection (extra cost)

Our culinary tour starts in a place of great significance to the people of Vienna, a coffee house. Viennese coffee house culture is a hallmark of local history, and even has UNESCO designation. Though the UNESCO designation refers to coffee house culture collectively, rather than a specific location, we’ve selected one of the city’s most traditional spots for enjoying a cup of coffee with a slice of cake. Next, we’ll walk to Graben Square, where we’ll sample homemade breads with an assortment of spreads and beer. And after that, it’s on to the Stephansplatz, the square surrounding the beautiful Saint Stephen’s Cathedral. We’ll stop by one of Vienna’s oldest cellar vaults at a nearby wine shop for an aperitif of a typical Viennese white wine.