Although our river cruise began in Budapest, the maps (14 in all) showing our route begin with Amsterdam. No matter, just scroll down to see the entire trip.

We began with a direct flight from San Francisco to Frankfurt, Germany. Fortunately, we are able to upgrade to Business Class using our frequent flyer miles for that eleven-hour flight.

A two-hour layover in Frankfurt was followed by a two-hour flight to Budapest. Vantage (our tour operator) met us at the airport and brought us to our hotel, the Budapest Marriott.

As you scroll down the map, you'll see red buttons labeled with the names of the cities we visited. Click on these buttons to see photos and descriptions of our visit. Some sights between the cities (such as castles on the Rhine) are shown with nearby cities.

It was a very relaxing trip. Vantage arranged everything: travel, tours, lodging, and meals. We were always accompanied by Program Managers who spoke the local language and provided cultural background.

The river cruise ended in Amsterdam, but since our return flight was the same morning we arrived there, our Netherlands tour will have to wait for a future visit.

Click the button below for technical information about the river boat and the voyage.