Itinerary
- Day 1
Bucharest
You'll arrive in Bucharest and check into your hotel to get settled. The city has plenty to see if you want to explore on your own this evening, from its museums and cafes to the Belle Epoque buildings and sites related to its communist past.
Optional Activities
- Explore museums
- Visit Belle Epoque architecture
- Experience café culture
- Day 2
Bucharest to Sibiu
Head out of Bucharest toward Transylvania, making your way to the medieval town of Sibiu. After you check in at your hotel, you'll meet up with other travelers for dinner at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Travel to Sibiu
- Day 3
Sibiu - Sighisoara - Brasov
In Sighisoara, you can pick between two options: take a guided tour through the UNESCO-listed walled medieval city, or hike up the covered stairway to the 14th-century Church on the Hill to see the Gothic architecture and get views over the city. From there, you'll travel to Brasov for a two-night stay.
Included Activities
- Explore the walled city of Sighisoara with local guide OR hike to Church on the Hill
- Travel to Brasov
Landmarks Sighisoara Walled City Church on the Hill - Day 4
Brasov
Start with a guided tour of Brasov's Gothic spires, medieval watchtowers, and large squares. Later in the afternoon, head out to Bran Castle on its clifftop perch, a 14th-century white stone fortress that inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula stories. This evening, you'll have dinner at one of Brasov's top restaurants.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at one of Brasov's finest restaurants)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Brasov
- Visit Bran Castle
Landmarks Bran Castle 
- Day 5
Brasov to Bucharest
After breakfast, you'll visit Peles Castle, a Neo-Classical summer residence from the 1870s built by Romania's first king with paintings, carved wood, and stained glass throughout. Next, stop at Sinaia Monastery, the region's oldest monastery with two churches from the 17th and 19th centuries. You'll head back to Bucharest in the afternoon, check in to your hotel, and have dinner there this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at the hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Peles Castle with local guide
- Visit Sinaia Monastery
- Travel to Bucharest
Landmarks Peles Castle Sinaia Monastery - Day 6
Bucharest to Constanta
This morning features a guided tour of Bucharest. Afterward, you'll transfer to Constanta on the Black Sea Coast where your ship is waiting. Once on board, settle into your Scenic Sun Lounge and enjoy the fresh air and views. There's a welcome reception this evening.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Bucharest
- Transfer to Constanta
- Day 7
Constanta
Join a guided tour of Constanta, one of Europe's oldest cities with roots back to 600BC. You'll check out Ovid Square, the Orthodox Cathedral, the scenic promenade, and the historic Genovese Lighthouse. After lunch, your ship sets out toward Silistra, Bulgaria.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Constanta
- Visit Ovid Square
- Visit Orthodox Cathedral
- Visit scenic promenade
- Visit Genovese Lighthouse
Landmarks Ovid Square Orthodox Cathedral Genovese Lighthouse - Day 8
Silistra
You'll dock in Silistra after lunch. This Bulgarian town has a complex history and was a major Turkish fortress and trade center in the 15th century. Choose a morning activity: a guided walking tour of the 19th-century fort or a trip to Alfatar Village to see local traditions and the restored Holy Trinity temple. You'll return to the ship in the afternoon for free time.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Guided walking tour of Silistra Fort OR visit Alfatar Village with ethnographic museum and Holy Trinity temple
Landmarks Silistra Fort Holy Trinity Temple - Day 9
Rousse
Dock in Rousse, known as 'Little Vienna' for its Belle Epoque buildings and neat manicured squares. A local guide will take you on a sightseeing tour where you'll learn about traditional Bulgarian handicrafts, sample local wine, and hear a short piano recital. You'll spend the rest of the day on board, with access to the gym or wellness center if you want a massage.
Included Activities
- Guided sightseeing tour of Rousse
- Learn about traditional Bulgarian handicrafts
- Sample local wine
- Piano recital
Optional Activities
- Visit state-of-the-art gym
- Visit wellness centre for massage
- Day 10
Vidin
You'll arrive early in Vidin, a historic town with a well-kept medieval fortress. Pick from four morning activities: hike to Belogradchik Fortress to see rock formations and Roman structures, taste wine at a local winery in Negovanovtsi village, learn to cook a family banitsa recipe from a local, or take a walking tour of the Triangle of Tolerance with its Orthodox churches, mosque, and synagogue.
Included Activities
- Hiking to Belogradchik Castle Ruins OR visit to local winery OR Banitsa cooking demonstration OR Triangle of Tolerance walking tour
Landmarks Belogradchik Fortress Dos Alamos Winery - Day 11
Iron Gates - Golubac
You'll cruise through the Iron Gates, the natural border between Serbia and Romania with four narrow gorges, tall cliffs, and a rock carving of King Decebalus. Then you dock in Golubac, home to one of Europe's best-preserved medieval fortresses. In the afternoon, choose: tour the 14th-century fortress on its steep embankment, explore the Lepenski Vir Archaeological Site with 12,000-year-old ruins, or hike through Djerdap National Park with a ranger.
Included Activities
- Cruise through Iron Gates
- Guided tour of Golubac Fortress OR Lepenski Vir Archaeological Site tour OR hike through Djerdap National Park
Landmarks Iron Gates Golubac Fortress Lepenski Vir Archaeological Site Djerdap National Park - Day 12
Belgrade
You'll arrive in Belgrade, Serbia's capital where the Sava and Danube rivers meet. This eclectic city has Neolithic ruins, Roman fortresses, and everything from Brutalist to Art Nouveau buildings. Pick your morning activity: guided city tour visiting the Bohemian Quarter and Kalemegdan Fortress, panoramic tour including Tito's Memorial, cycling tour along the Danube, or visit the Bread of Life project. This evening, you'll have an exclusive visit to St. Sava, the Balkans' largest orthodox temple, to hear a choir perform in the candlelit crypt.
Included Activities
- Guided city tour OR panoramic city tour with Tito's Memorial OR cycling tour along the Danube OR education visit with Roma community
- Visit St. Sava Orthodox Temple with choir performance
Landmarks Kalemegdan Fortress St. Sava - Day 13
Novi Sad
You'll dock early in Novi Sad, Serbia's second largest city known for its music, art, and diverse culture. Pick a morning activity: guided tour of the 18th-century Petrovaradin Fortress and Dunavska Street, hike to the fortress called 'Gibraltar on the Danube', visit nearby Sremski Karlovci with its Baroque buildings and winery, or explore Fruska Gora National Park with its oak and beech forests, family vineyards, and 16 monasteries.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Novi Sad OR hike to Petrovaradin Fortress OR excursion to Sremski Karlovci OR Fruska Gora National Park visit
Landmarks Petrovaradin Fortress Sremski Karlovci Fruska Gora National Park - Day 14
Osijek
The ship crosses into Croatia and docks in Osijek, a city with 500 years of turbulent history under Ottoman, Habsburg, and Austro-Hungarian rule. Choose your morning activity: guided walking tour of the Baroque Old Town and fortress, cycling tour through Kopacki Rit Nature Park with 293 bird species, or visit family-owned wineries in the Baranja wine region. After that, you'll visit a local Croatian family home for lunch featuring fresh vegetables from their garden.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at local Croatian family home with fresh vegetables from the host's garden)
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Osijek OR cycling tour of Kopacki Rit Nature Park OR Baranja wine region visit
- Lunch at local Croatian family home
Landmarks Kopacki Rit Nature Park - Day 15
Mohacs
You'll dock in Mohacs, a small Hungarian town on the Danube historically significant for the 16th-century Battle of Mohacs. Pick a morning activity: guided tour of nearby Pecs to see Roman ruins and Turkish baths, visit the Villay wine region to taste red wines and see historic cellars, or explore the Zsolnay Ceramics Museum with hand-painted porcelains from the company founded in 1853.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Pecs OR Villáy wine village visit OR Zsolnay Ceramics Museum visit
Landmarks Pecs Zsolnay Ceramics Museum - Day 16
Kalocsa
You'll dock in Kalocsa, one of Hungary's oldest towns known for intricate folk art and embroidery. Choose a morning activity: learn about the region's cultural traditions and traditional handicrafts like needlework, or watch a traditional Hungarian horse show on the Great Hungarian Plain with equestrian demonstrations and local food tasting.
Included Activities
- Hungarian Traditions cultural experience OR Hungarian Horse Show
- Day 17
Budapest
You'll wake in Budapest, united in 1873 when a bridge connected Buda and Pest across the Danube. Pick from several morning activities: guided hike through Buda with views of the Varkert Bazaar and gardens, walking and coach tour exploring communist history and the 1956 revolution, visit Brunszvik Castle with its Neo-Gothic style, Etyek wine region tour with white and sparkling wines, or Jewish Heritage tour. This evening, you'll go to an exclusive classical concert at Godolla Royal Palace, a favorite residence of Queen Elisabeth.
Included Activities
- Guided hike of Buda OR Budapest's past and present tour OR Beethoven's getaway to Brunszvik Castle OR Etyek wine region visit OR Jewish Heritage tour
- Classical concert at Gödöllő Royal Palace
Landmarks Kalemegdan Fortress Várkert Bazaar Brunszvik Castle Gödöllő Royal Palace Jewish Museum Great Synagogue - Day 18
Bratislava
You can relax on board this morning while cruising through Hungary into Slovakia, enjoying coffee in your Sun Lounge or using the Vitality Pool, gym, spa, or Salt Therapy Lounge. In the afternoon, explore Bratislava with its medieval Old Town and 9th-century hilltop castle alongside brutalist socialist buildings. Pick from: Communist tour learning about the regime, walking tour of highlights like the main square and Old Town Hall, or coffee and cake with a Slovak family.
Included Activities
- Communist tour of Bratislava OR walking tour of Bratislava OR coffee and cake with Slovakian family
Optional Activities
- Vitality Pool
- Gym workout
- Spa treatment
- Salt Therapy Lounge
Landmarks Bratislava Castle Hlavne Namestie - Day 19
Budapest
Your ship returns to Budapest and docks after lunch. You'll have free time to explore the city on your own, whether that means swimming at Szechenyi Baths (Europe's largest public thermal bath with 15 indoor and three outdoor pools) or checking out the Jewish Quarter's famous ruin bars in abandoned post-WWII buildings.
Optional Activities
- Visit Szechenyi Baths for thermal bath experience
- Explore Jewish Quarter ruin bars
Landmarks Szechenyi Thermal Bath - Day 20
Budapest to Vienna
You'll disembark your ship and transfer to Vienna, a city known for its Baroque buildings, parks and vineyards, thriving coffee-house culture, and galleries and museums full of masterpieces.
Included Activities
- Transfer to Vienna
- Day 21
Vienna
Begin with a morning coach tour of the historic Ringstrasse, an iconic boulevard circling the old city with grand buildings. The walking tour covers the Opera House that's been performing since 1869, St. Stephen's Cathedral, and Belvedere Palace. You'll have free afternoon time to explore Vienna's history and architecture at your own pace or relax in a traditional Viennese cafe.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Coach tour of Ringstrasse
- Walking tour including Opera House
- Visit St. Stephen's Cathedral
- Visit Belvedere Palace
Optional Activities
- Free exploration of Vienna
- Visit traditional Viennese café
Landmarks Ringstrasse Vienna State Opera St. Stephen's Cathedral Belvedere Palace - Day 22
Vienna
After breakfast, you'll say goodbye to Vienna, taking with you memories of this city's mix of Gothic to Art Nouveau architecture and its thermal baths.
- Meals
- Breakfast
