Itinerary
- Day 1
Prague
You'll arrive in Prague, a city that's preserved much of its medieval character over the past 1,000 years. The Vltava River cuts through the center, creating two distinct areas: the historic Old Town on one side and the New Town on the other. This gives the city an interesting geography that you'll get to know as you settle in.
Landmarks Vltava River Old Town New Town 
- Day 2
Prague
Start your day with a local guide who'll take you through the Old Town, where you'll see the famous Astronomical Clock from 1357 and cross Charles Bridge. The bridge itself dates back several centuries and connects the two halves of the city. After lunch, the afternoon is yours to wander around at your own pace and get a feel for the streets.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Prague including Old Town
- Visit Astronomical Clock
- Visit Charles Bridge
Landmarks Astronomical Clock Charles Bridge Old Town - Day 3
Prague
You have three options to choose from today. There's a communist-era walk that includes beer tasting at a neighborhood brewery, a visit to Terezin Memorial (which covers the Nazi occupation period), or a full tour of Prague Castle with St. Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, and the Golden Lane. Pick whichever interests you most.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Communist walk of Prague with beer tasting
- Terezin Memorial tour
- Prague Castle Tour including St. Vitus Cathedral, Old Royal Palace, and Golden Lane
Landmarks Prague Castle St. Vitus Cathedral Golden Lane Old Royal Palace Terezin Memorial - Day 4
Prague to Regensburg
Travel by coach from Prague to Regensburg, where your river cruise begins. You'll board your ship and get settled in for the next phase of your trip along the Danube. The drive takes you into Bavaria and gives you a sense of the landscape you'll be traveling through.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Landmarks Regensburg - Day 5
Regensburg
Regensburg has about 2,000 years of history and over 900 buildings with heritage status. You can pick from three activities: a walking tour of the medieval streets, a ferry trip through the Danube Gorge to Weltenburg Abbey with beer included, or traditional Bavarian beer tasting at a local brewery. Each option gives you a different angle on the region.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Regensburg with local guide
- Ferry through Danube Gorge to Weltenburg Abbey with beer tasting
- Bavarian beer tasting at traditional brewery
Landmarks Church of St James Porta Praetoria Weltenburg Abbey Danube Gorge - Day 6
Regensburg to Passau
You'll dock in Passau, where three rivers meet near the Austrian border. The town has Italianate buildings from when prince-bishops ruled the area. Three options are available: a full-day trip to Salzburg, Austria; a full-day trip to Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic; or exploring Passau's highlights including St. Stephens Cathedral.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Full day excursion to Salzburg with guided tour, Mozart's birthplace, Hohensalzburg Fortress, and local restaurant lunch
- Full day excursion to Ceský Krumlov with local guide tour and local restaurant lunch
- Highlights of Passau walking tour including St. Stephens Cathedral
Landmarks St. Stephens Cathedral Salzburg Hohensalzburg Fortress Mozart's birthplace Ceský Krumlov - Day 7
Passau to Melk to Dürnstein
Melk appears in the morning with its dramatic Benedictine Abbey overlooking the Wachau Valley. After picking a morning activity, the ship cruises through the valley in the afternoon, passing terraced vineyards and small villages before stopping in Durnstein for free time. Later, there's a talk about schnapps production with local tastings on board.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise through Wachau Valley
- Talk on schnapps production with local tasting
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Melk Abbey with Marble Hall and library visit
- E-bike guided ride from Melk to Dürnstein through vineyards and villages
- Artstetten Castle visit with museum and family stories
Landmarks Melk Abbey Wachau Valley Dürnstein Dürnstein Castle Artstetten Castle - Day 8
Dürnstein to Vienna
Vienna arrives at your next stop, Austria's cultural capital with baroque architecture, coffee houses, galleries, and museums throughout. The afternoon has four different activity options to choose from. If you're interested, there's an optional private classical concert at Palais Liechtenstein in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Schönbrunn Palace tour with ornate rooms and gardens
- Guided e-bike tour to Danube Island
- Belvedere Museum visit with Austrian and international art
- Central Vienna guided tour with free exploration time
- Scenic Enrich: Private classical concert at Palais Liechtenstein with Austrian Sekt and performances by orchestra, ballet dancers and vocalists
Landmarks Schönbrunn Palace Danube Island Belvedere Museum Palais Liechtenstein - Day 9
Vienna to Bratislava
Bratislava is Slovakia's capital since 1993, with a historic Old Town featuring medieval and Gothic structures. A ninth-century castle sits on a hill overlooking everything. The city mixes charming old sites with brutalist socialist buildings. You can do a walking tour of the main sites or go to a wine tasting that explores Slovakia's wine regions.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Bratislava with local guide including Hlavné Námestie and Old Town Hall, with local delicacies tasting
- Wines of Slovakia tasting experience in Bratislava cellar
Landmarks Bratislava Castle Hlavné Námestie Old Town Hall - Day 10
Bratislava to Budapest
Budapest arrives early in your journey, split by the Danube into Buda and Pest on opposite banks. The city shows architectural styles ranging from gothic to Art Nouveau. It's known for thermal baths and hot springs. Four different activities are available for you to experience different parts of the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Budapest in depth coach tour starting in Buda with Varkert Bazar, crossing to Pest for Széchenyi Square and Elizabeth Square, ending with piano recital at Institute for the Blind
- Guided hike of Buda district with Varket Bazar, gardens, and Danube River views
- Jewish Heritage Tour including Jewish Museum and Synagogue
- Excursion to Szentendre riverside town with guided city tour
Landmarks Danube River Buda Pest Varkert Bazar Margaret Bridge Széchenyi Square Elizabeth Square Institute for the Blind Jewish Museum Szentendre - Day 11
Budapest
The entire day is free in Budapest. You have time to wander at your own pace, try the thermal baths, walk through neighborhoods, grab lunch at local restaurants, or check out museums and galleries. It's a chance to see why people often call this one of Europe's most beautiful cities.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 12
Budapest to Mohács
Mohacslines the Danube in Hungary and was the site of a major 16th century battle. Three options are available: a guided tour to nearby Pecs, a visit to the Villany wine village with cellar tastings, or the Zsolnay Ceramics Museum. Each gives you a different look at the region's culture and history.
- 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 local wine cellar tastings
- Zsolnay Ceramics Museum visit
Landmarks Pécs Turkish Bath of Pasha Memi Villány Zsolnay Ceramics Museum - Day 13
Mohács to Osijek
Osijek is a Croatian city with a complicated past, and you can see it in the grand baroque buildings that show scars from conflict. The area is famous for its food, particularly paprika-based dishes, local sausages, and river fish. Three activities are on offer, and one includes visiting a local Croatian home for lunch.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Authentic meal with local Croatian family prepared with fresh vegetables from their garden), Dinner
Included Activities
- Lunch with local Croatian family in their home with fresh vegetables from their garden
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Osijek with local guide including well-preserved Baroque Old Town and fortress with traditional and classical music
- Baranja wine region tour with tasting experience
Landmarks Osijek Baranja - Day 14
Osijek to Belgrade
Belgrade sits where the Sava and Danube rivers meet and has a mix of brutalist and Art Nouveau buildings with a bohemian character. Three morning activities are available before you have free time to explore the city on your own. Later, you'll visit St. Sava Temple, the largest orthodox temple in the Balkans, for a special experience.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Belgrade with Bohemian Quarter and Kalemegdan Fortress
- Panoramic tour of Belgrade with Tito's Memorial and Ottoman Old Town
- Guided cycling tour along the Danube
- Scenic Enrich: St. Sava Temple visit with church choir performance in crypt
Landmarks Kalemegdan Fortress Bohemian Quarter Skardalija Street St. Sava Temple Tito's Memorial - Day 15
Belgrade to Djerdap Gorge
The ship cruises through the Djerdap Gorge system, also called the Iron Gates, which forms the natural border between Serbia and Romania. You'll see four narrow gorges, steep cliffs, and a large rock carving of Decebalus. Spend your time relaxing in your suite or on the various deck areas.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise through Djerdap Gorge and Iron Gates
Landmarks Djerdap Gorge Iron Gates Decebalus Rock Carving - Day 16
Svishtov to Veliko Tarnovo or Rousse
The ship reaches Svishtov in Bulgaria, and you have two main choices. Either take a full-day excursion to Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria's ancient City of the Kings with the Asenevtsi Brothers Monument and the village of Arbanassi, or stay on board and cruise to Rousse for a walking tour and piano recital.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Full day excursion to Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi from Svishtov
- Walking tour of Rousse with local guide and exclusive piano recital
Landmarks Veliko Tarnovo Asenevtsi Brothers Monument Arbanassi Rousse - Day 17
Rousse to Silistra
Silistra has a complex past as a major Turkish fortress and trade center that changed hands many times over the centuries. Roman remains are scattered throughout. Three different activities let you explore the town and its history from different angles.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Active guided walk to Silistra Fort learning about its preserved Turkish fortification history
- Excursion to Alfatar Village with ethnographic museum, customary attire, school visit, and local children's choir performance
- Sveshtari Thracian Secrets tour of ancient Thracian Tomb with Bulgarian heritage and culinary experience
Landmarks Silistra Fort Alfatar Sveshtari Thracian Tomb - Day 18
Silistra to Bucharest
You'll disembark the ship and transfer to Bucharest, Romania's capital. Once called the 'Paris of the East', the city has a unique character mixing Art Nouveau buildings, brutalist structures, tree-lined streets, and vibrant street art. An orientation coach tour covers south Bucharest and stops at Primaverii Palace and various squares. Two activities are available, then you'll check in to your hotel for dinner with other guests.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner with fellow guests at hotel)
Included Activities
- Orientation coach tour of Bucharest including Union Square, University Square, Roman Square, Victory Square, and Charles de Gaulle Square, ending at Primaverii Palace
Optional Activities
- Ceausescu's Spring Palace visit with 80 elegant rooms and decor
- Village Open Air Museum exploring Romanian heritage and culture with traditional houses and churches
Landmarks Primaverii Palace Union Square University Square Roman Square Victory Square Charles de Gaulle Square Ceausescu's Spring Palace Village Open Air Museum - Day 19
Bucharest
After breakfast, you'll head to Bucharest airport for your onward flight, taking memories of your Danube cruise with you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Transfer to Bucharest airport
