Itinerary
- Day 1
Munich to Passau
Your flights arrive in Munich by 2 pm, giving you time to get to the ship by 5 pm. Once on board, settle into your cabin and take some time to familiarize yourself with the suite ship. Dinner happens this evening as you start cruising toward Passau, so it's a good chance to relax after travel.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Day 2
Passau to Linz
Passau awaits, the city where three rivers meet the Danube, Inn, and Ilz. You can choose between an energetic hike from Oberhaus down the Ilz River or a guided walk through town. Either way, you'll see the cobblestone streets and Artists' Alley, and there's a possibility of catching a concert rehearsal at St. Stephen's Cathedral. After that, the ship heads to Linz, passing through the dramatic Schl\u00f6gen Oxbow. Live entertainment fills the evening onboard.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hiking from Oberhaus along trail down to valley and along Ilz River OR Guided City Walk of Passau
- Live entertainment onboard
Optional Activities
- Visit St. Stephen's Cathedral for concert rehearsal
- Explore Passau's cobblestone streets and galleries of Artists' Alley
Landmarks St. Stephen's Cathedral Schlögen Oxbow - Day 3
Linz to Ybbs
The day centers around Linz and the Adventure Center with several options. You might bike along the Danube or take a guided walk hitting the main sights like Hauptplatz and the Trinity Column. If you want something bigger, there's a full-day trip to either Salzburg or Cesky Krumlov, or you could do a biking picnic along the river or hike up to P\u00f6stlingberg for views of the city and landscape.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bike ride along the Danube OR Guided Walk through historic Linz including Hauptplatz and Trinity Column
Optional Activities
- Full-day Guided Optional Excursion to Salzburg
- Full-day Guided Optional Excursion to Cesky Krumlov
- Biking picnic along the banks of the Danube
- Hike through Linz's nature trails to Pöstlingberg
Landmarks Hauptplatz Trinity Column Pöstlingberg - Day 4
Wachau Valley - Dürnstein to Vienna
Starting from the Adventure Center in the Ybbs area, you have choices. Visit traditional family-owned farms, tour Artstetten Castle, or see Melk's Benedictine Abbey with its frescoed ceilings. The ship sails through the scenic Wachau Valley past vineyards and small villages, and you can bike the valley trails if you want. Later, hike up to D\u00fcrnstein's castle ruins or take a guided walk to hear the story of King Richard the Lionheart. You'll cruise to Vienna with entertainment onboard afterward.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided visit to family-owned farms OR Guided sightseeing tour of Artstetten Castle OR Guided Tour of Melk's Benedictine Abbey
- Sail through Wachau Valley OR Bike ride along Wachau's bike trails
- Guided Hike to castle ruins OR Guided Walk with King Richard the Lionheart tale in Dürnstein
- Live entertainment onboard
Landmarks Artstetten Castle Melk Abbey Wachau Valley Dürnstein Castle - Day 5
Vienna
Vienna offers a mix of Habsburg history and modern life. Bike along Danube Island or join a guided tour covering the Imperial Palace, Vienna Opera House, and St. Stephen's Cathedral. You'll have free time to shop on K\u00e4rntnerstrasse or sit at a local caf\u00e9 with Sachertorte or Apfelstrudel. Options include a day trip to Sch\u00f6nbrunn Palace or an evening Royal Waltz Concert if you want something extra.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bike ride along Vienna's Danube Island OR Guided City Tour of Vienna including Imperial Palace, Vienna Opera House, and St. Stephen's Cathedral
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Schönbrunn Palace
- Optional Excursion to Royal Waltz Concert in elegant hall
- Stroll in pedestrian Kärntnerstrasse shopping avenue
- Bike ride through the city with stop at local café
Landmarks Imperial Palace Vienna Opera House St. Stephen's Cathedral Schönbrunn Palace - Day 6
Bratislava
Bratislava, Slovakia's capital, is next. Take an active hike up to Bratislava Castle or do a guided walk through Old Town, the Town Hall, and St. Martin's Cathedral, where royal coronations happened. The city has lots of green space with forests and parks, so you can explore and soak in the culture and history at your own pace during free time.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike to Bratislava Castle OR Guided City Walk including Old Town, Town Hall, and St. Martin's Cathedral
Optional Activities
- Explore Bratislava on your own - forests, parks, and city center
Landmarks Bratislava Castle St. Martin's Cathedral - Day 7
Budapest
Budapest, the Pearl of the Danube, gives you options. Choose between a hike to a viewpoint or a guided tour featuring Heroes' Square. The afternoon is yours to find the Chain Bridge, Fisherman's Bastion, the Central Market Hall, or just relax at one of the city's nice caf\u00e9s while taking in the atmosphere.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike to magnificent viewpoint OR Guided City Sightseeing including Heroes' Square
Optional Activities
- Explore Chain Bridge
- Visit Fisherman's Bastion
- Browse Central Market Hall
- Hike the hills above the Danube
- Enjoy city's cafés
Landmarks Heroes' Square Chain Bridge Fisherman's Bastion Central Market Hall - Day 8
Budapest to Vukovar
Your last morning in Budapest includes free time. You can use it for the city's famous thermal baths, a hike in the hills above the Danube, or visiting local caf\u00e9s and restaurants. Later, you'll cruise toward Vukovar as the river journey continues.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Enjoy Budapest's thermal baths
- Scenic hike in hills above the Danube
- Explore city's cafés and restaurants
- Day 9
Ilok - Novi Sad
Vukovar starts at the Adventure Center with either a guided walking tour and beer tasting or a city tour exploring this historic town's heritage and culture. From there, lunch happens onboard as you cruise to Novi Sad. The afternoon takes you to Ilok, Croatia, known for 1,000 years of winemaking. Pick between a guided tour with wine tasting in a local cellar or a bike tour along the city walls to Principovac Castle and Estate.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Walking Tour of Vukovar with beer tasting OR Guided City Tour of Vukovar
- Guided tour of Ilok with wine tasting in local cellar OR Guided Bike Tour along Ilok's city walls to Principovac Castle and Estate
Landmarks Principovac Castle and Estate - Day 10
Novi Sad to Belgrade
Novi Sad, Serbia's second largest city, has three main options. Tour the Austro-Hungarian old town with its baroque buildings and ancient fortifications, hike to Petrovaradin for views of the Danube, or visit the Honey Museum for tasting. Entertainment happens onboard this evening as you sail toward Belgrade.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Tour of Novi Sad's old town OR Guided Hike Tour to Petrovaradin OR Guided Tour of Novi Sad visiting Honey Museum with local honey tasting
- Live entertainment onboard
Landmarks Petrovaradin Honey Museum - Day 11
Belgrade to Golubač
Belgrade sits where the Danube and Sava Rivers meet. Explore the central walkway by bike, take a guided tour of major sites like Saint Sava Orthodox Church, or attend an onboard lecture on Balkan history and culture. Free time lets you wander Knez Mihailova Street with its caf\u00e9s, shops, and cultural spots. An authentic Bohemian dinner in Skadarlija Quarter is available if you want it.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bike ride along Belgrade's central walkway OR Guided Sightseeing Tour of Belgrade including Saint Sava Orthodox Church OR Onboard Lecture about Balkan history and culture
Optional Activities
- Explore Knez Mihailova Street - pedestrian thoroughfare with cafés, shops, and cultural spots
- Optional authentic Bohemian Dinner in the Quarter of Skadarlija
Landmarks Saint Sava Orthodox Church Knez Mihailova Street Skadarlija Quarter - Day 12
Iron Gates - Vidin
The Fortress of Goluba\u010d comes into view, one of Europe's best-preserved medieval fortresses with a turbulent history as a border defense during the Middle Ages and conflicts between Serbia, the Habsburgs, and Ottoman forces. Next is the Mesolithic archaeological site of Lepenski Vir with unique Danube Gorge views. Later, sailing through the spectacular Iron Gates Gorge shows the dramatic natural border between Serbia and Romania.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Fortress of Golubač with guided commentary on its history
- Visit Lepenski Vir archaeological site with views of Danube Gorge
- Sail through Iron Gates Gorge
Landmarks Fortress of Golubač Lepenski Vir Iron Gates Gorge - Day 13
Belogradchik - Rousse
Vidin and the surrounding region offer several paths. Take a bike tour around the city, do a guided tour to Baba Vida Fortress then on to Belogradchik to see 200-million-year-old rock formations on the Balkan Mountains, or discover Bulgarian winemaking with a tour and tasting at a local vineyard. You'll cruise to Rousse later in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bike tour around Vidin OR Guided Sightseeing to Baba Vida Fortress and Guided Tour of Belogradchik rock formations OR Tour and tasting at local winery
Landmarks Baba Vida Fortress Belogradchik Rock Formations - Day 14
Veliko Târnovo - Oltenita
Rousse gives you options to bike through the old town or take a full-day guided tour to the former Bulgarian capital of Veliko T\u00e2rnovo, where ancient stone houses cling to cliffs above the Yantra River. Another choice is exploring the historic Bulgarian Revival architecture of Arbanassi or Rousse's Holy Trinity Church and the UNESCO World Heritage rock-hewn churches of Ivanovo. A Bulgarian folklore show happens this evening as you cruise to Oltenita.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bike tour of Rousse's old town OR Full-day Guided Tour to Veliko Târnovo and Arbanassi OR Guided Sightseeing Tour of Rousse with visit to Holy Trinity Church and scenic drive to Ivanovo rock-hewn churches
- Bulgarian folklore show onboard
Landmarks Veliko Târnovo Arbanassi Holy Trinity Church Ivanovo Rock-Hewn Churches - Day 15
Oltenita to Bucharest
Your river cruise ends this morning after breakfast. You'll disembark and head to Bucharest, with flights departing no earlier than noon, giving you a comfortable morning before departure.
- Meals
- Breakfast
