Itinerary
- Day 1
Bucharest
You'll arrive in Bucharest and check into your hotel to settle in. The city itself mixes communist history with contemporary energy, so you'll find interesting museums, a lively café scene, and beautiful Belle Epoque buildings worth seeing once you're ready to explore.
Optional Activities
- Explore museums
- Visit Belle Epoque architecture
- Experience café culture
- Day 2
Bucharest to Sibiu
Today you're heading from Bucharest into Transylvania toward the medieval town of Sibiu. After checking into your hotel, you'll join other travelers for dinner at a local restaurant this evening.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at a local restaurant with fellow travellers)
Included Activities
- Travel to Sibiu
- Day 3
Sibiu - Sighisoara - Brasov
In Sighisoara, you can choose between walking through the UNESCO World Heritage walled medieval city with a local guide or hiking up to the 14th-century Church on the Hill for views of the area. Later you'll travel to Brasov and check in for two nights.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Sighisoara walled city (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Hike to Church on the Hill in Sighisoara (Scenic Freechoice option)
Landmarks Sighisoara Walled City Church on the Hill 
- Day 4
Brasov
Your guide will show you Brasov's Gothic spires, medieval watchtowers, and sprawling squares. In the afternoon, you'll visit Bran Castle, the clifftop fortress tied to Dracula stories. The day ends with dinner at one of Brasov's better restaurants alongside fellow travelers.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at one of Brasov's finest restaurants with fellow travellers)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Brasov
- Visit to Bran Castle
Landmarks Bran Castle 
- Day 5
Brasov to Bucharest
After breakfast, a local guide takes you to Peles Castle, a Neo-Classical royal summer residence from the 1870s. You'll also stop at nearby Sinaia Monastery, the region's oldest with churches from the 17th and 19th centuries. This afternoon you'll head back to Bucharest, check in, and have dinner at your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at the hotel)
Included Activities
- Guided tour to Peles Castle
- Visit to Sinaia Monastery
Landmarks Peles Castle Sinaia Monastery - Day 6
Bucharest to Constanta
This morning includes a guided tour of Bucharest, then you'll transfer to Constanta on the Black Sea coast to board your luxury cruise ship. You can settle into your balcony suite and later raise a glass at the welcome reception.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Bucharest
- Transfer to Constanta
- Day 7
Constanta
Constanta is one of Europe's oldest continuously inhabited cities on the Black Sea coast dating back to 600BC. On a guided tour you'll see Ovid Square, the Orthodox Cathedral, the scenic promenade, and the Genovese Lighthouse. After lunch, your ship departs for 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 arrive in Silistra after lunch and can explore this historic Bulgarian town. Choose a guided walk through the 19th-century fort to learn about the Russo-Turkish wars, visit Alfatar Village to meet locals, or relax on board. Spend the afternoon at leisure, perhaps on the Sun Deck.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Guided walking tour of Silistra Fort (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Visit to Alfatar Village (Scenic Freechoice option)
Landmarks Silistra Fort Alfatar Village Holy Trinity Temple - Day 9
Rousse
Docking in Rousse, often called 'Little Vienna', you'll join a local guide to tour the opulent Belle Epoque architecture and manicured squares. You'll learn about traditional handicrafts, sample local wine, and enjoy a short piano recital. The rest of the day is yours to relax on board with the gym, wellness center, or just unwind.
Included Activities
- Guided sightseeing tour of Rousse
- Learn about traditional Bulgarian handicrafts
- Wine tasting
- Piano recital
Optional Activities
- Gym workout
- Wellness centre massage (additional cost)
- Day 10
Vidin
You'll arrive early in Vidin, a historic Bulgarian town with a well-preserved medieval fortress between Bulgaria and Romania. Choose between hiking to the Belogradchik Fortress ruins with unique rock formations, visiting a local winery for a tour and tasting, learning to cook traditional Banitsa from a local family, or taking a walking tour of Vidin's history.
Included Activities
- Hiking tour to Belogradchik Castle Ruins (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Local winery tour and tasting (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Banitsa cooking demonstration (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Triangle of Tolerance walking tour (Scenic Freechoice option)
Landmarks Belogradchik Fortress Dos Alamos Winery Metropolis Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral of St. Dimitar Osman Mosque Synagogue - Day 11
Iron Gates - Golubac
The ship cruises through the Iron Gates, a natural border between Serbia and Romania with four narrow gorges, soaring cliffs, and a massive rock carving of King Decebalus. You'll dock in Golubac to see one of Europe's best-preserved medieval fortresses. Choose between exploring the 14th-century fortress, visiting the ancient Lepenski Vir site, or hiking through Djerdap National Park.
Included Activities
- Cruise through Iron Gates
- Guided tour of Golubac Fortress (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Tour of Lepenski Vir Archaeological Site (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Hike through Djerdap National Park (Scenic Freechoice option)
Landmarks Iron Gates Decebalus Rock Carving Golubac Fortress Lepenski Vir Archaeological Site Djerdap National Park - Day 12
Belgrade
In Belgrade, Serbia's capital at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, you can choose a guided city tour of the Bohemian Quarter and Kalemegdan Fortress, a panoramic tour including Tito's Memorial, cycling along the Danube banks, or visiting the Bread of Life project. This evening you'll attend a classical concert at a nearby palace in Vác.
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of Belgrade (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Panoramic city tour including Tito's Memorial (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Cycling tour along the Danube (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Education visit with Roma community - Bread of Life project (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Visit to St. Sava Orthodox Temple (Scenic Enrich)
- Classical concert at Gödöllő Royal Palace (Scenic Enrich)
Landmarks Kalemegdan Fortress Bohemian Quarter St. Sava Tito's Memorial Republic Square Gödöllő Royal Palace - Day 13
Novi Sad
Novi Sad, Serbia's second largest city, is known for music, art, and contemporary culture with large public murals. Choose a guided tour of the 18th-century Petrovaradin Fortress and Dunavska Street, hike to the fortress for Danube views, venture to Sremski Karlovci for a Baroque town and winery visit, or explore Fruska Gora National Park with forests, vineyards, and 16 monasteries.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Novi Sad (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Hike to Petrovaradin Fortress (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Excursion to Sremski Karlovci (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Fruska Gora National Park tour (Scenic Freechoice option)
Landmarks Petrovaradin Fortress Dunavska Street Sremski Karlovci Fruska Gora National Park - Day 14
Osijek
You'll cross into Croatia and dock in Osijek, a small city shaped by Ottoman, Habsburg, and Austro-Hungarian influences. Choose a walking tour of the Baroque Old Town, cycling through Kopacki Rit Nature Park to spot 293 bird species, or touring family-owned wineries. After your activity, you'll visit a local Croatian family home for an authentic lunch from their garden vegetables.
- Meals
- Lunch (Authentic meal at local Croatian family home prepared with fresh vegetables from host's garden)
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Osijek Old Town and fortress (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Cycling tour through Kopacki Rit Nature Park (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Baranja wine region tour (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Lunch at local Croatian family home
Landmarks Osijek Old Town Kopacki Rit Nature Park - Day 15
Mohacs
Docking in Mohacs, you can choose a guided tour of Pécs to see Roman ruins and Turkish baths, explore the Villány wine region known for bold red wines, or visit the Zsolnay Ceramics Museum with hand-painted porcelains from this historic company founded in 1853.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Pécs (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Villány wine village tour (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Zsolnay Ceramics Museum visit (Scenic Freechoice option)
Landmarks Pécs Zsolnay Ceramics Museum - Day 16
Kalocsa
In Kalocsa, one of Hungary's oldest towns known for intricate folk art and embroidery, you can learn about traditional handicrafts and their techniques or watch a traditional horse show on the Great Hungarian Plain with skilled horsemen and local food tasting.
Included Activities
- Hungarian Traditions tour (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Hungarian Horse Show (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Day 17
Budapest
You'll wake in Budapest, where the Danube divides the city into Buda and Pest, united by a bridge built in 1873. Choose between hiking through Buda with gardens and views, exploring communist history and the 1956 revolution, visiting Beethoven's retreat at Brunszvik Castle, tasting wines from the Etyek region, or touring the Jewish Museum. This evening you'll transfer to Vác for a classical concert.
Included Activities
- Guided hike of Buda district (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Budapest's past and present walking and coach tour (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Beethoven's favourite getaway tour at Brunszvik Castle (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Etyek region wineries and vineyards tour (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Jewish Heritage Tour including Jewish Museum and Synagogue (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Classical concert at Gödöllő Royal Palace (Scenic Enrich)
Landmarks Várkert Bazár Brunszvik Castle Jewish Museum Gödöllő Royal Palace - Day 18
Bratislava
Your ship cruises through Hungary into Slovakia along beautiful Danube scenery. You can relax in the Sun Lounge, visit the Vitality Pool, gym, spa, or Salt Therapy Lounge. In Bratislava, choose a communist tour, a walking tour of the medieval Old Town and 9th-century hilltop castle, visiting a local family, or exploring on your own.
Included Activities
- Communist tour of Bratislava (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Walking tour of Bratislava (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Coffee and cake with a Slovakian family (Scenic Freechoice option)
Optional Activities
- Vitality Pool
- Gym workout
- Spa treatment
- Salt Therapy Lounge
Landmarks Hlavné Námestie Old Town Hall Bratislava Castle - Day 19
Budapest
After the ship docks in Budapest, you'll have free time this evening. Head to Szechenyi Baths, Europe's largest thermal complex with 15 indoor and 3 outdoor pools, or discover the Jewish Quarter's famous ruin bars housed in old abandoned buildings left after WWII.
Optional Activities
- Visit Szechenyi Thermal Baths
- Explore Jewish Quarter ruin bars
- Free time to explore Budapest
Landmarks Szechenyi Thermal Baths Jewish Quarter - Day 20
Budapest
Your journey ends this morning after a final breakfast. You'll transfer to Budapest Airport with memories from your Danube cruise and Transylvania adventure.
- Meals
- Breakfast
