Itinerary
- Day 1
Istanbul
You'll arrive in Istanbul, a sprawling city of over 15 million people where multiple cultures and centuries of history sit side by side. This first day sets the tone for what's ahead, giving you a chance to settle into your accommodation and get your bearings in this dynamic capital straddling two continents.
- Day 2
Istanbul
Today focuses on Istanbul's most significant historical sites. You'll walk through Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, which face each other across Sultanahmet Park, then head to Topkapi Palace. These landmarks span thousands of years of architecture and cultural shifts, so you're looking at a full day of history.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Hagia Sophia
- Visit Blue Mosque
- Visit Topkapi Palace
Landmarks Hagia Sophia Blue Mosque Topkapi Palace Sultanahmet Park - Day 3
Istanbul to Çanakkale
After leaving Istanbul, you'll travel to Çanakkale, a historic town positioned on the Dardanelles Strait. This location sits near both Gallipoli and Troy, making it a gateway to significant WWI and ancient sites. Your evening is free, and locals recommend strolling the waterfront promenade to catch modern Turkish culture in action.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Join locals along the waterfront promenade
- Day 4
Gallipoli
You'll spend the day at Gallipoli exploring sites central to the eight-month WWI campaign. Your guide takes you through ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine, and the Nek, then through several of the 31 cemeteries scattered across the peninsula. It's a moving experience that carries significant meaning for many visitors.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Gallipoli
- Visit ANZAC Cove
- Visit Lone Pine
- Visit the Nek
- Walk through Gallipoli cemeteries
Landmarks ANZAC Cove Lone Pine Cemetery The Nek - Day 5
Troy to Istanbul
This morning you'll explore Troy's ruins, which lay hidden for centuries before being discovered in the late 1800s. The site contains 4,000-year-old remains and includes a replica of the famous Trojan Horse. After touring the ancient city, you'll head back to Istanbul for the next part of your journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Troy ruins
- View Trojan Horse replica
Landmarks Troy - Day 6
Istanbul
Your morning offers choice with Scenic Freechoice options: take a cooking class to learn Turkish cuisine or visit the Grand Bazaar with its thousands of shops and narrow passages, followed by traditional Turkish coffee with a local guide. Later that evening, you'll cruise the Bosphorus Strait between ferries and fishing boats, passing historic monuments and minarets before finishing with dinner at Hamdi Restaurant overlooking the Golden Horn.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Farewell dinner at Hamdi Restaurant with outstanding views over the Golden Horn, featuring exceptional Turkish cuisine)
Included Activities
- Bosphorus Strait cruise
- Farewell dinner at Hamdi Restaurant
Optional Activities
- Turkish cooking class with traditional dish preparation
- Grand Bazaar visit with traditional Turkish coffee
Landmarks Grand Bazaar Bosphorus Strait Golden Horn - Day 7
Istanbul to Bucharest
After hearing the traditional Muslim call to prayer at sunrise, you'll have breakfast then head to the airport for your flight to Bucharest. Romania's capital, once called the 'Paris of the East', mixes Art Nouveau buildings with Brutalist structures and wide tree-lined boulevards. You'll check into your luxury hotel for a one-night stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Flight to Bucharest
- Day 8
Bucharest
You'll select a Scenic Freechoice activity to explore Bucharest, then take a panoramic coach tour moving from southern Bucharest toward Primaverii Palace. The route stops at Union Square, University Square, Roman Square, Victory Square and Charles de Gaulle Square. Later, you'll transfer to Giurgiu and board your luxury river ship.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Panoramic coach tour of Bucharest
Optional Activities
- Visit Ceausescu's Spring Palace with 80 distinctive rooms decorated with silk wallpaper, wood panels, paintings by famous Romanian painters, mosaics, marble, chandeliers and Murano glass mirrors
- Explore Village Open Air Museum with ethnography exhibits depicting Romanian heritage, including authentic houses, barns and churches built using traditional techniques
Landmarks Primaverii Palace Union Square University Square Roman Square Victory Square Charles de Gaulle Square - Day 9
Silistra
Arriving in Silistra this morning, you'll find a Bulgarian Danube town with layers of complex history, having switched hands between Turkish, Romanian and Bulgarian control. Three Freechoice activities are available: explore Silistra Fort on a guided walk, visit Alfatar Village with its ethnographic museum, or see the ancient Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided walking tour of Silistra Fort
- Excursion to Alfatar Village with ethnographic museum and local school choir performance
- Sveshtari Thracian Tomb exploration with guided tour
Landmarks Silistra Fort Alfatar Village Sveshtari Thracian Tomb - Day 10
Rousse
You'll dock in Rousse, known locally as 'Little Vienna'. Choose between a full-day trip to Veliko Tarnovo, one of Bulgaria's oldest towns with panoramic views and the nearby village of Arbanassi, or join a local guide for a sightseeing tour of Rousse's Belle Epoque architecture and squares, which includes an exclusive piano recital.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Full-day excursion to Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi village
- Walking tour of Rousse with local guide and exclusive piano recital
Landmarks Veliko Tarnovo Asenevtsi Brothers Monument Arbanassi - Day 11
Djerdap Gorge
Today your ship navigates the Djerdap Gorge system, also called the Iron Gates, which forms the natural border between Serbia and Romania. You'll see four narrow gorges, soaring cliffs and the rock carving of Decebalus. Spend time relaxing in your suite, on the Sun Deck or in the Panorama Lounge mingling with fellow passengers.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Landmarks Djerdap Gorge Iron Gates Rock carving of Decebalus - Day 12
Belgrade
You'll arrive in Belgrade, Serbia's capital, situated at the junction of the Sava and Danube rivers. This eclectic city rebuilt almost 40 times has a bohemian character mixed with Brutalist and Art Nouveau buildings. Three Freechoice options let you choose between a guided city tour through the Bohemian Quarter and Kalemegdan Fortress, a panoramic tour including Ottoman heritage sites, or a cycling tour along the Danube. Later, visit St. Sava Temple for a special Scenic Enrich experience featuring a church choir performance in the crypt.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit St. Sava Temple
- Church choir performance in cathedral crypt
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Belgrade with Bohemian Quarter and Kalemegdan Fortress
- Panoramic tour of Belgrade with Ottoman Old Town and Tito's Memorial
- Cycling tour along the Danube
- Self-guided exploration of Skardalija Street
Landmarks Kalemegdan Fortress St. Sava Temple Skardalija Street Bohemian Quarter 
- Day 13
Osijek
Osijek, a small Croatian town, greets you with grand Baroque buildings that show war damage from its turbulent history. The town is known for food featuring paprika, local sausages and river fish. Two Freechoice activities are available: a guided walking tour of the Old Town and fortress with live music, or explore the Baranja wine region for tastings. After your morning activity, you'll have lunch at a local Croatian family home with vegetables from their garden.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Authentic meal with local Croatian family using fresh vegetables from their garden), Dinner
Included Activities
- Lunch with local Croatian family
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Osijek with Baroque Old Town, fortress and traditional/classical music
- Baranja wine region exploration with wine tasting experience
Landmarks Osijek Baroque Old Town Baranja wine region 
- Day 14
Mohács
You'll arrive in Mohács, a Hungarian town straddling the Danube and site of the 16th century Battle of Mohács. Three Freechoice excursions are offered: visit Pécs to see the 1885 telephone exchange and Turkish Bath of Pasha Memi, explore the Villány wine village with its cellars and tastings, or tour the Zsolnay Ceramics Museum featuring hand-painted ceramics from the company founded in 1853.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Pécs including first telephone exchange and Turkish Bath of Pasha Memi
- Villány wine village visit with wine cellars and local wine sampling
- Zsolnay Ceramics Museum visit
Landmarks Pécs Turkish Bath of Pasha Memi Villány wine region Zsolnay Ceramics Museum 
- Day 15
Budapest
You'll arrive in Budapest, divided by the Danube with Buda on one bank and Pest on the other. These two areas merged in 1873 when a bridge connected them. You'll check into your luxury hotel for a two-night stay. This afternoon is yours to use however you'd like. Visit one of the city's famous coffee houses like the New York Café or Ruszwurm Cukrászda, where Budapest's strong 19th century coffee culture still thrives with opulent interiors and live music.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit New York Café
- Visit Ruszwurm Cukrászda
- Explore Budapest's historic coffee houses
Landmarks New York Café Ruszwurm Cukrászda - Day 16
Budapest
After breakfast, you'll choose between two Scenic Freechoice activities to see why this region ranks among Europe's most beautiful. Visit Brunszvik Castle in Martonvásár, an 18th-century neo-Gothic castle with a Beethoven Memorial Museum, or explore the Etyek wine region called the 'vineyard of Budapest' with boutique wineries and scenic landscapes. Later that afternoon, consider hiking Buda Hill for panoramic Danube and city views. Tonight you'll have dinner at a local restaurant before returning to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner in a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Dinner in local restaurant
Optional Activities
- Visit Brunszvik Castle with Beethoven Memorial Museum
- Etyek wine region exploration with wine tasting
- Hike Buda Hill for panoramic views
Landmarks Brunszvik Castle Beethoven Memorial Museum Etyek wine region Buda Hill - Day 17
Budapest to Home
After breakfast, you'll transfer to Budapest airport for your departure. The itinerary may be adjusted for operational reasons such as water level changes, and the cruise route itself can be altered if needed.
- Meals
- Breakfast
