Day 1 (Sat. 21 April). Arrive Istanbul

On arrival in Istanbul, be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure to settle into your hotel or begin exploring this fascinating city. This evening meet your travelling companions and Tour Director at a Welcome Reception.

Stay: Two Nights: Istanbul, Grand Hyatt Hotel

Day 2 (Sun. 22 April). Istanbul Sightseeing

This morning, enjoy a tour of majestic Istanbul. Drive by Taksim Square, the hippodrome and Galata Tower, then visit the famous Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. This afternoon enjoy a cruise along the stunning Bosphorus Strait, a narrow body of water running through the heart of Istanbul, forming a boundary between the continents of Europe and Asia. This evening, take part in a cooking class. Learn some of the traditional methods used to create exotic Turkish dishes, then sample the results of your efforts at dinner.

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Dinner

Day 3 (Mon. 23 April). Istanbul, Freedom of Choice Touring, Çanakkale

This morning in Istanbul, personalise your tour with your chosen Freedom of Choice Touring activity. You may choose to embark on a tour of Topkapi Palace, the official residence of the Ottoman Sultans from 1465 to 1853. Alternatively, relax with a traditional Turkish bath experience and massage. Or you may prefer to visit the impressive Rüstem Pasha Mosque then wander around Istanbul’s famous Spice Bazaar, before lunch at the well known Orient Express railway restaurant. This afternoon depart Istanbul and travel to Çanakkale on the Gallipoli Peninsula. Settle in to your hotel on arrival.

Stay: Çanakkale, Kolin Hotel

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Dinner

Day 4 (Tue. 24 April). Gallipoli National Park, War Memorials and Cemeteries

This morning travel to the Gallipoli National Park for a guided sightseeing tour of the war memorials, including Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair and 57th cemetery. Here, you’ll gain an understanding of the battles and significant loss of life faced by both Anzac and Turkish military forces on that fateful morning in 1915. This afternoon return to your hotel to relax and refresh yourself before returning to Anzac Cove to settle in for the Dawn Service. Here, you will be accommodated in a secure outdoor area featuring entertainment such as live broadcasting from Australia and New Zealand, interviews and musical performances. Our experienced guides will accompany you throughout the evening.

Stay: Gallipoli Peninsula (facilities are extremely limited and crowds here will be large. As you will be spending the night outdoors, a sleeping bag will be provided, however please be mindful that it will become cool overnight)

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Dinner

Day 5 (Wed. 25 April). Anzac Day Dawn Service, Anzac Cove, Gallipoli Peninsula

As the sun breaks the skyline at Anzac Cove, take part in the sombre occasion of the traditional Anzac Day Dawn Service and commemorate our fallen ancestors at 5.30 am. For those who wish, take the opportunity to walk to Lone Pine for the Australian service. Please note that this can be a challenging 2.5 kilometre walk (approximately one hour) on both flat and uphill pathways. You will also be able to view the Australian service from your position in Anzac Cove via the telecast on the big screen. New Zealanders may like to attend the New Zealand memorial service at Chunuk Bair, a further 3.3 km uphill walk from Lone Pine.

Stay: Çanakkale, Kolin Hotel

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Lunch

Day 6 (Thur. 26 April). Troy, Gelibolu, Istanbul

This morning after breakfast, travel to Troy, a place of mythology and legend. Join a guided tour of this famed city, centre of the Trojan War as described in Homer’s epic poem, The Iliad. Continue to Gelibolu for lunch, views over the sea and a visit to the war museum, before returning to Istanbul by coach for a seafood dinner, accompanied by an entertaining Belly Dancing Performance.

Stay: Istanbul, Grand Hyatt Hotel

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 7 (Fri. 27 April). Istanbul, Budapest

Today, transfer to the airport for your included flight to Budapest, the Hungarian capital. On arrival, board your luxury river ship, moored on the Danube River. This evening, settle in to your suite and enjoy a delicious dinner on board.

Stay: 14 Nights: the luxurious MS AmaBella

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Dinner

Day 8 (Sat. 28 April). Budapest

Today a tour of Budapest takes you to historic Buda Castle, Matthias Church, St Stephen’s Basilica, the Fisherman’s Bastion, the Royal Palace and more. Then continue to the Hungarian State Opera House for a short opera recital, a guided tour and a glass of champagne. Then enjoy free time before tonight’s Captain’s Gala Welcome Dinner.

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 9 (Sun. 29 April). Vienna, Dine Around Dinner

Arrive in Vienna this morning and enjoy a walking tour of the historic city. Enjoy a traditional ‘Sachertorte’ cake alongside a coffee after your tour. This evening, choose from three tantalising dining options. Opt for dinner on board, followed by a Mozart and Strauss concert; enjoy schnitzel in an ambient Austrian beer garden, or drink in a traditional Heuriger wine inn.

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 10 (Mon. 30 April). Vienna, Freedom of Choice Touring

Enjoy your second day in the Austrian capital with an activity from our Freedom of Choice Touring options. Visit Schönbrunn Palace for a tour inside this magnificent residence, including the Carriage Museum within the palace grounds. Perhaps explore the impressive collection of artwork at the Fine Arts Museum, or another impressive collection - the Hofburg Crown Jewels - at the Imperial Treasury Schatzkammer, which houses a thousand year-old collection of treasures. Alternatively, you may like to take an excursion to Bratislava, nearby in Slovakia, for a Communist-themed tour.

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 11 (Tue. 1 May). Dürnstein, Freedom of Choice Touring, Melk

This morning stop in Dürnstein. Here, perhaps take a walking tour before cruising on to Melk. Or, enjoy a guided bicycle ride along the Danube to Melk. On arrival in Melk, both groups will tour Melk Abbey.

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 12 (Wed. 2 May). Linz, Freedom of Choice Touring, Passau

Upon arrival in Linz today, perhaps join a day tour to Salzburg and its ‘Sound of Music’ sights or take a trip to Ceský Krumlov in the Czech Republic, before travelling by coach to rejoin your ship in Passau. Alternatively, you might like to stay on your ship and cruise to Passau for a tour, while enjoying an apple strudel demonstration on board.

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 13 (Thur. 3 May). Regensburg, Freedom of Choice Touring

Today you’ll arrive in Regensburg, one of Germany’s best-preserved medieval cities, featuring one of the oldest bridges crossing the Danube. Your touring options include a walking tour, a visit to the Audi Museum and Factory, or a guided bike tour to the temple of Walhalla.

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 14 (Fri. 4 May). Nuremberg, Freedom of Choice Touring

Today enter the Main-Danube Canal and cruise through the Altmühl Valley. In Nuremberg today, choose from a range of touring activities. Take a World War II tour and visit a range of significant sites from the war, including Courtroom 600, the site of the famous Nuremberg trials. Alternatively, choose a medieval tour, or explore the sights by Segway.

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 15 (Sat. 5 May). Bamberg

Today, disembark your ship just outside Bamberg. As one of the few cities in Germany that wasn’t destroyed by bombs during World War II, Bamberg was declared a World Heritage-listed site in 1993. Take a walking tour of the city and visit a traditional Bamberg Beer Haus to enjoy a local brew compliments of APT, before returning to your ship. Your cruise continues, now on the Main River.

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 16 (Sun. 6 May). Kitzingen, Würzburg, Freedom of Choice Touring, Rothenburg

This morning, enjoy a special wine tasting event, hosted by a ‘Wine Queen’ and members of the Aulic Council at Germany’s oldest wine cellar. This ‘Alter Klosterkeller’ (old monastery cellar) was built by the Benedictine nuns who once lived here and today offers an historic setting in which to sample the delicious wines of Bavaria. This afternoon, arrive in the heart of Würzburg, the capital of Lower Franconia and a crucial centre for wine and trade. You may like to take a guided walking tour and see the Resi-dential Palace as well as a number of churches ranging in styles. Alternatively, travel to medieval Rothenburg, a beautiful walled town that overlooks the Tauber River, for a tour of the sights.

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 17 (Mon. 7 May). Wertheim, Freedom of Choice Touring, Freudenberg

This morning, arrive in Wertheim and enjoy a glass-blowing demonstration on board. Then, you might like to take a guided bicycle tour, see the medieval town on foot, or go for a paddle along the river. Visit medieval Wertheim Castle for a private tour, and enjoy a glass of sparkling Sekt, a delicious German wine.

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 18 (Tue. 8 May). Rüdesheim, Freedom of Choice Touring

Today arrive in Rüdesheim. Here, one of your included tour options is a visit to Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum, which houses one of the largest collections of automated musical instruments in the world. Alternatively, you may like to visit the Rhine Valley for a winery tour and wine tasting.

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 19 (Wed. 9 May). Cologne, Düsseldorf, Freedom of Choice Touring

Today cruise to Cologne and enjoy a city tour including the spectacular Gothic cathedral. Then, rejoin your ship in Düsseldorf and choose to explore the spectacular horticultural displays at the 2012 Floriade Expo in Venlo†, or perhaps discover the historic city of Maastricht.

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 20 (Thur. 10 May). Amsterdam, Freedom of Choice Touring

Arrive in Amsterdam, where you have a choice of touring activities. Perhaps take a canal cruise and admire the city’s architecture as you cruise in a glass-top boat past 17th century homes, charming churches and 16th century merchant houses. Or visit the Van Gogh Museum, which contains the world’s largest collection of Van Gogh paintings. Alternatively, take a guided Wetland Safari canoe tour through extraordinary landscapes. Later, stop for a photo at Rembrandt’s Windmill, rejoin your ship in Utrecht and cruise along the Rhine River. This evening, enjoy a Farewell Dinner on board.

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 21 (Fri. 11 May). Amsterdam, Disembark Ship

After breakfast, disembark your ship and transfer to the airport where you tour concludes.

Daily Meal Included:  • Breakfast