Itinerary
- Day 1
Budapest
You'll arrive in Budapest and get picked up, then head to your ship, the APT Ostara. Once on board, unpack and spend some time getting comfortable with your floating home for the next 15 days.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (APT Ostara)
- Day 2
Budapest
Budapest offers several ways to spend your day. You can join a guided city tour hitting Heroes' Square and St. Stephen's Basilica, take a culinary tour through the Great Market Hall, or ride the funicular up to Castle Hill and Fisherman's Bastion. By evening, there's a multi-course Gala Welcome Dinner on the ship.
- Meals
- Dinner (Gala Welcome Dinner with multi-course expertly crafted menu)
Included Activities
- Gala Welcome Dinner with multi-course expertly crafted menu
Optional Activities
- Freedom of Choice - City Tour of Budapest including Heroes' Square and St. Stephen's Basilica
- Freedom of Choice - Culinary Tour of the Great Market Hall exploring sausages, meats, cheeses, fruits and vegetables
- Freedom of Choice - Funicular Ride to Castle Hill with walk to Fisherman's Bastion
Landmarks Heroes' Square St. Stephen's Basilica Great Market Hall Castle Hill Fisherman's Bastion - Day 3
Budapest (excursions to Pécs and Villány)
Multiple options are available for exploring this region. Walk through the ancient city of Pécs with a guide learning about its architecture, head to the Villány wine region for tastings and a tour, or take a guided bike ride along the Danube to see an old mill.
Optional Activities
- Freedom of Choice - Pécs Sightseeing Tour including Early Christian Mausoleum and Szent István Square
- Freedom of Choice - Villány Wine Tasting at a local winery with tour and tasting of red and rosé varieties
- Freedom of Choice - Guided Bike Ride along the Danube to an ancient mill
Landmarks Early Christian Mausoleum Szent István Square Villány Wine Region - Day 4
Vukovar
Today takes you to Vukovar, a city that's recovered from the Croatian War of Independence. You'll go on a guided city tour to learn about its wartime history and visit the Memorial Centre of Homeland War Vukovar.
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of Vukovar covering the city's wartime history
- Visit to the Memorial Centre of Homeland War Vukovar
Landmarks Memorial Centre of Homeland War Vukovar - Day 5
Belgrade
Belgrade has several activities to choose from. You can do a guided exploration of the city covering the Belgrade Fortress and the Serbian Orthodox Temple of Saint Sava, take a kayak tour from where the Danube meets the Sava River to Great War Island and Lido Beach, or join a culinary tour at a food market with Serbian brandy and gingerbread tasting.
Optional Activities
- Freedom of Choice - Guided Exploration of Belgrade including Belgrade Fortress and Serbian Orthodox Temple of Saint Sava
- Freedom of Choice - Kayak Tour from confluence of Danube and Sava rivers to Great War Island and Lido Beach
- Freedom of Choice - Belgrade Culinary Tour including food market visit, Serbian cuisine introduction, and tasting of rakija with medenjaci gingerbread biscuits
Landmarks Belgrade Fortress Serbian Orthodox Temple of Saint Sava Great War Island Lido Beach - Day 6
Golubac
The ship docks at Golubac Fortress for a signature experience where you'll explore this charming village and the striking 14th-century fortress with an expert guide. Walk the riverbanks and have a Serbian meze tasting at a riverside tavern. Later, cruise through the Iron Gates, one of Europe's most notable natural wonders.
- Meals
- Lunch (Serbian meze tasting at local riverside tavern featuring cheeses, cured meats and local specialties)
Included Activities
- Signature Experience - Golubac Walking Tour including Golubac Fortress exploration with expert guide
- Scenic walk along Danube riverbanks
- Serbian meze tasting at local riverside tavern featuring cheeses, cured meats and local specialties
- Cruise through the Iron Gates
Landmarks Golubac Fortress Iron Gates - Day 7
Onboard
Spend this day relaxing on board, using the ship's amenities. Get a spa treatment, have a cocktail on the Daystar Deck while taking in views of the serene Danube landscapes, or just unwind.
Optional Activities
- Onboard spa treatments
- Cocktails on the Daystar Deck
- Day 8
Bucharest
You'll have a full day in Bucharest walking the wide tree-lined boulevards and seeing Belle Epoque buildings. Go through Old Town visiting the Royal Court, Stavropoleos Church, and the Lipscani district. After lunch, choose between touring the Palace of the Parliament or visiting the open-air Village Museum in Herăstrău Park.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Bucharest Old Town including Royal Court, Stavropoleos Church and Lipscani district
Optional Activities
- Freedom of Choice - Palace of the Parliament tour
- Freedom of Choice - Village Museum visit showcasing traditional Romanian village life
Landmarks Royal Court Stavropoleos Church Lipscani Palace of the Parliament Village Museum 
- Day 9
Veliko Tarnovo
With a local guide, explore Veliko Tarnovo by wandering cobbled lanes and fortified walls to reach the Tsarevets Fortress, a restored medieval citadel from the Second Bulgarian Empire. Grab lunch at a local restaurant, then return to the ship.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Guided discovery of Veliko Tarnovo with expert local guide
- Visit to Tsarevets Fortress
- Lunch at local restaurant
Landmarks Tsarevets Fortress - Day 10
Belogradchik
Check out Baba Vida Fortress in Vidin, a medieval castle from the 10th century built on remains of the ancient town of Bononia. Then travel to Belogradchik to see its ancient fortress on the Balkan Mountain slopes and the unique rock formations around the town.
Included Activities
- Exploration of Baba Vida Fortress in Vidin
- Visit to Belogradchik Fortress
- Viewing of unique Belogradchik rock formations
Landmarks Baba Vida Fortress Belogradchik Fortress 
- Day 11
Onboard
The day belongs to you. Sleep in or wake up early and head to the Daystar Deck to take in the views from the ship while it moves along the Danube.
- Day 12
Novi Sad
In Novi Sad, Serbia's second-largest city, choose your activity. Go on a guided tour discovering the city's main sights along Zmaj Jovina, or visit a local farmstead for Vojvodinian culture with traditional breakfast, music, and fresh doughnuts.
Optional Activities
- Freedom of Choice - Guided City Discovery of Novi Sad including iconic sights along Zmaj Jovina
- Freedom of Choice - Local Farmstead visit featuring traditional breakfast, music and freshly-made doughnuts
Landmarks Zmaj Jovina 
- Day 13
Puszta
This signature experience starts at the Folk Art House to see local handicrafts, then moves to a paprika producer showing one of Hungary's main exports. The day ends at a farm in Puszta with a horse show and authentic Hungarian lunch.
- Meals
- Lunch (Authentic Hungarian lunch at Puszta farm)
Included Activities
- Signature Experience - Folk Art House visit
- Visit to paprika producer
- Horse show at Puszta farm
- Authentic Hungarian lunch
Landmarks Puszta - Day 14
Budapest
Choose your activity for the day. Explore the Hospital in the Rock, a museum in a former secret emergency hospital and nuclear bunker, or hike up Gellért Hill for views over the Danube and the St Gellért Monument. That evening, there's a captain's farewell dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner (Captain's Farewell Dinner)
Included Activities
- Captain's Farewell Dinner
Optional Activities
- Freedom of Choice - Hospital in the Rock museum tour
- Freedom of Choice - Guided hike to Gellért Hill with panoramic views over Danube River and St Gellért Monument
Landmarks Hospital in the Rock Gellért Hill St Gellért Monument - Day 15
Budapest to Airport
Say your goodbyes, get off the ship, and be transferred to the airport to head home.
