Itinerary
- Day 1
Bucharest Arrival
You'll arrive at Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport and get transferred to your hotel. This is where your Danube river cruise kicks off, so settle in and get ready for the journey ahead.
- Day 2
Bucharest
The day is yours to explore Bucharest on your own terms. Wander through Romania's capital city, check out whatever catches your interest, and move through the city at whatever pace feels right for you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- The Ceausescu Mansion - A Dictator's private home
- Snagov Palace with Vlad the Impaler's Tomb
- Day 3
Bucharest to Giurgiu
You'll start with a panoramic tour of Bucharest, including a visit to the People's Palace. After that, you'll head by motorcoach to Giurgiu where your ship is waiting to begin the cruise portion of your trip.
Included Activities
- Bucharest Communist Tour with People's Palace
Landmarks People's Palace - Day 4
Ruse, Bulgaria
The ship pulls into Ruse, Bulgaria, known as 'Little Vienna' for its elegant 19th-century buildings. You can either explore Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi with an authentic Bulgarian lunch, or take a walking tour visiting Ivanovo and Basarbovo Monasteries.
Optional Activities
- Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi with Authentic Bulgarian Lunch
- Ruse Walking Tour with Ivanovo and Basarbovo Monasteries
- Day 5
Vidin, Bulgaria
You dock in Vidin, a medieval port town along the Danube. From here, you'll choose between seeing the Belogradchik red rock formations or spending time at a local winery for tastings.
Optional Activities
- Belogradchik Red Rock Valley
- Dos Alamos Wine Estate Visit and Tasting
Landmarks Baba Vida - Day 6
Iron Gates
Today brings you through the Iron Gates, a dramatic section of the Danube with impressive gorges on either side. You'll see a Paleolithic site and the medieval Golubac Castle. Keep an eye out for Trajan's Plaque as the ship moves past scenic banks.
Included Activities
- Lepenski Vir Archaeological Park and Golubac Castle
- Let's Go: Kovilovo Viewpoint Hike
Landmarks Lepenski Vir Archaeological Park Golubac Castle Trajan's Plaque - Day 7
Belgrade, Serbia
Belgrade appears, one of Europe's oldest cities with thousands of years of history behind it. Evening includes the Serbian National Museum and a concert. You'll then pick between a city tour with the Royal Palace grounds or a local bike tour of the capital.
Included Activities
- Nights Out: Serbian National Museum & Concert
Optional Activities
- Belgrade City Tour with Visit to the Royal Grounds of Karadjordjevic Dynasty Palace
- Let's Go: "I Bike Belgrade" Tour
Landmarks Serbian National Museum - Day 8
Vukovar, Croatia
You arrive in Vukovar, Croatia's largest port where the Danube and Vuka rivers meet. Choose between the Vučedol Culture Museum with lunch at a family restaurant, or a home-hosted lunch experience with locals.
Optional Activities
- Vučedol Culture Museum and Lunch at a Family Restaurant
- Vučedol Culture Museum and Home Hosted Lunch
Landmarks Vučedol Culture Museum - Day 9
Budapest, Hungary
Budapest comes into view with Buda and Pest on opposite banks of the Danube. You can take a local walking tour to see things from a resident's perspective, or go with a panoramic tour that includes a synagogue visit to explore this East-West blend.
Optional Activities
- Budapest Communist Tour
- Budapest Panoramic Highlights with Synagogue Visit
- Day 10
Budapest, Hungary
This is a relaxed day in Budapest while other passengers depart. Spend your time however you like exploring the city at your own pace, or head to the Unicum Distillery to learn about this famous Hungarian herbal liqueur.
Included Activities
- Unicum Distillery Visit
- Day 11
Budapest, Hungary
You've got another day in Budapest, the 'Queen of the Danube.' Pick between a panoramic motorcoach tour with Parliament included, or a special walking tour that takes you to landmarks locals actually enjoy visiting.
Optional Activities
- Budapest Panoramic Highlights with Parliament Visit
- Budapest Walk with Local Treats
Landmarks Parliament - Day 12
Cruise to Vienna, Austria
The ship heads toward Vienna while you relax onboard. Spend the day enjoying the cruise atmosphere and taking in the scenery along the Danube with iconic landmarks passing by the ship.
- Day 13
Vienna, Austria
Start your Vienna day at the Vienna Art History Museum, then move through the city's imperial highlights. This place has serious cultural credentials, plus Vienna's known for its art, music, and really good pastries.
Included Activities
- "Morning with the Masters" at the Vienna Art History Museum
- Vienna - Imperial City Highlights
Optional Activities
- Private Mozart and Strauss Concert
- Vienna Culinary Walking Tour
Landmarks Vienna Art History Museum - Day 14
Wachau Valley, Austria
You wake up to the beautiful Wachau Valley. Choose between a village walk in Weissenkirchen with wine tasting, or visit the 900-year-old Melk Abbey with its ornate library. The afternoon brings a vineyard hike through the region.
Included Activities
- Let's Go: Vineyard Hike
Optional Activities
- Melk Abbey with Library Visit
- Weissenkirchen Village Walk with Wine Tasting
Landmarks Melk Abbey Weissenkirchen - Day 15
Passau, Germany
The ship passes through the Schlögener Schlinge hairpin turn before arriving in Passau, where three rivers meet. Explore this well-preserved baroque city either on foot or by bicycle riding along the Inn River.
Optional Activities
- Passau Walking Tour
- Let's Go: Bicycle Ride along the Inn River
Landmarks Schlögener Schlinge - Day 16
Regensburg, Germany
Regensburg appears, Bavaria's original capital and a UNESCO World Heritage site. See how this beautifully preserved medieval city sits alongside modern urban life through a walking tour or farm visit learning about Bavarian beer heritage.
Optional Activities
- Regensburg Walking Tour
- "From Hops Field to Beer Stein" Farm Visit
- Day 17
Nuremberg, Germany
Nuremberg is next, a classic medieval German city famous for gingerbread and pocket watches. You'll choose between a tour of a secret Nazi art bunker or visits to important WWII sites including the Nazi Party Rally Grounds.
Optional Activities
- Nuremberg City Walk & Art Bunker Visit
- Nuremberg City Tour with WWII Rally Grounds and Documentation Center Visit
- Day 18
Bamberg, Germany
Bamberg offers a well-preserved medieval atmosphere with plenty of history. Walk through the city itself or venture into the Franconian countryside for something more rural, complete with a tractor ride through the landscape.
Optional Activities
- Bamberg Walking Tour
- Franconian Village Day
- Day 19
Würzburg, Germany
You dock in Würzburg and get to visit the fairytale town of Rothenburg. Then explore the Würzburg Residence, one of Europe's most opulent baroque palaces, plus its surrounding court gardens.
Included Activities
- Fairytale Rothenburg
- Würzburg Residence Visit with Court Gardens
Landmarks Würzburg Residence Rothenburg - Day 20
Wertheim, Germany
In Wertheim, meet one of Germany's best pretzel makers and a historic wine estate owner to learn their crafts. Alternatively, take a scenic bicycle ride through this charming town along the river.
Optional Activities
- Wertheim Walk with Local Treats
- Let's Go: Wertheim Bicycle Tour
- Day 21
Frankfurt or Heidelberg, Germany
Choose between Frankfurt, known as 'Mainhattan' for its modern skyline and historic Old Town, or romantic Heidelberg with its Renaissance castle perched above the city.
Optional Activities
- Heidelberg Castle Visit
- Heidelberg School Visit
- Frankfurt Walking Tour with Local Treats
Landmarks Heidelberg Castle - Day 22
Rüdesheim, Germany
Experience the Rheingau wine region either from an aerial cable car overlooking vineyards, or inside a medieval monastery tasting local Rieslings. Later, cruise past the Middle Rhine Valley with its spectacular scenery.
Optional Activities
- Rüdesheim Wine Village and Panoramas of Niederwald Monument (mid-May through late October)
- Abbey Eberbach Medieval Monastery Tour with Riesling Tasting
Landmarks Niederwald Monument Abbey Eberbach - Day 23
Cologne, Germany
A walking tour takes you through Cologne's historic Old Town with its three medieval gates, a striking Renaissance city hall, and narrow alleyways. After that, you have time to explore freely and discover what else appeals to you.
Included Activities
- Cologne Walking Tour
Landmarks Cologne Cathedral - Day 24
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Spend a full day in the 'Venice of the North' starting with a tour of the Straat Museum. Explore the city's charming canals by boat, or choose an alternative canal cruise experience to see things differently.
Optional Activities
- STRAAT Museum & Canal Cruise
- Refugee Canal Cruise
Landmarks Straat Museum 
- Day 25
Amsterdam Departure
You disembark the ship and transfer to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol for your flight home, bringing your Danube river cruise to a close.
