Beautiful Blue Danube & Danube Delta

This afternoon, embark the vessel and get settled into your cabin. This evening, enjoy a Welcome Cocktail, followed by a specially prepared Welcome Dinner.

Arrive in Vienna this afternoon where the sights of Imperial Vienna await. Spend time exploring this majestic city with its dynamic history before reboarding the vessel for dinner and setting off for Hungary.

Optional Excursions:

City tour of Vienna

Spend a relaxing day cruising the beautiful blue Danube or opt to join an excursion to Esztergom, the former residence of the Hungarian kings and seat of the Archbishop, and Szentendre, an artists’ colony with numerous contemporary galleries and museums reflecting the artistic history of Hungary. Just before lunch, the vessel stops for our guests on the optional shore excursion to rejoin.

Optional Excursions:

Excursion to Esztergom and Szentendre

During lunch arrive in Belgrade, one of the oldest European cities and the capital of Serbia. The “White City” is one of the most historically rich and important in all of Serbia and boasts a large number of monuments from different times and cultures. Travel to the Kalemegdan Fortress for an impressive panoramic view over the Danube and the Sava rivers. See the National Museum, the Parliament, Terazije Square and the Palace of Princess Ljubica, as well as St. Sava Cathedral, the largest Orthodox church in the world. If you feel like a snack, taste some of the best food along the Skadarlija, offering some of the best in local cuisine. Dinner this evening is onboard as the vessel continues through the countries of the Danube.

Optional Excursions:

City tour of Belgrade

Reach Bulgaria this afternoon and visit Vidin, a town renowned for its centuries of history. Wander through the streets and view the many churches and Renaissance buildings which decorate the town. A short distance away is the Baba Vida Fortress, located on the banks of the Danube, which is the only fully-preserved medieval fortress in Bulgaria. Another fortress, Kaleto, stands imposingly beside Vidin, and is worth a visit.

Optional Excursions:

Excursion to Vidin and Belogradchik

The day is spent cruising the Danube as it winds through the beautiful countryside of Romania. Relax on deck as the picturesque scenery glides by.  An excursion to the Eastern European capital city of Bucharest is offered for those wishing to explore inland. After dinner the vessel stops to pick up the returning excursion.

Optional Excursion:

City tour of Bucharest including dinner

Spend the morning cruising Sfantu Gheorghe (Saint George), one of the 3 main channels that make up the Danube Delta. At the meeting of the Black Sea and the Danube, this UNESCO site hosts 27 different ecosystems and is home to many unique species of birds, fish, and other creatures. From the Fisherman’s village of Saint George, observe daily life for the people who inhabit this fertile delta. For those wishing to delve further into the scenic waterways, the optional Delta Safari boat excursion awaits. During dinner, enjoy sunset over the waters of the Danube Delta as your vessel departs and begins the journey back up the Danube.

Optional Excursion:

Boat Excursion Delta Safari

Relaxation is on the schedule today as the vessel plies the waters of the Danube. The afternoon offers an opportunity to see Constanta, the oldest city on the Black Sea coast. This ancient metropolis by the sea is Romania’s longest continually inhabited city. The vessel stops for those on the excursion to rejoin before dinner this evening.

Optional Excursions:

Excursion to Constanta and Black Sea coast

Continue to enjoy your experience onboard, consider a massage or relax in the lounge and view the passing scenery. For a little more adventure, an optional excursion is offered to Veliko Tarnovo, the oldest town in Bulgaria. This pretty town is located on the steep banks of the river Yantra at the foot of the Balkan Mountains. High on a peak is the remains of the medieval town of Tsarevets, where 22 tsars made history in the 2nd Bulgarian empire. Rejoin the vessel in Svishtov as lunch is served.

Optional Excursions:

Excursion to Veliko Tarnovo

On deck there is much natural beauty to take in as you cruise the mighty Danube river and the picturesque “Iron Gates.” The Iron Gates is a narrow gorge between the Carpathian and Balkan Mountains which forms a natural border between Serbia and Romania, featuring breathtaking scenery. This part of the river is named the Iron Gates for the two hydroelectric dams that control the water flow. Keep an eye out for the many caves and rock sculptures hiding among the steep hills. Over dinner this evening recount the beauty of the day with your fellow travellers.

Late morning arrive in Novi Sad, the second largest city in Serbia, known for its 19th century buildings and stunning parks. See the Catholic St. Mary’s Church, the Orthodox Church of St. George, and the home of Albert Einstein. Also the impressive fortress Petrovaradin, that has the distinction of ‘never being taken by the enemy’. This evening the vessel stops in Vukovar, located on an important trade route at the confluence of the Vuka and Danube rivers. All would pass by on the way to Budapest and Vienna upstream and Romania downstream.

Optional Excursions:

City tour of Novi Sad and excursion to Sremski Karlovci Evening excursion Vukovar

This morning, visit the tiny harbour town of Mohács, a melting pot of nations. Two important battles took place in the fields around this town, which had a huge impact on European history. The battle in 1526 was lost and was the beginning of the reign of the Ottoman Empire for the next century and a half. In 1687 the Austrian troops and Habsburg allies overturned the empire and regained the cities of the Danube. This afternoon relax onboard or join the optional excursion to the ‘Puszta‘ to enjoy the scenery of the endless plain, where the sky stretches into the horizon.

Optional Excursions:

Mohacs walking tour Excursion to the Puszta

Early this morning we dock in Budapest, the capital and largest city of Hungary. A large portion of this city is a World Heritage Site, including the banks of the Danube, Andrassy Avenue, the Buda Castle quarter, Heroes’ Square, and the Millennium Underground Railway. With 80 geothermal hot springs, the third largest Parliament building in the world, and the second largest Synagogue, there is truly something for everyone to enjoy in this bustling metropolis. A special treat this evening awaits, as musicians come onboard to entertain with traditional music of Hungary, as the vessel cruises the Danube to see this beautiful city by night. Remain overnight.

Optional Excursions:

City tour of Budapest Excursion to Royal Palace of Gödöllö

Discover the Slovak capital of Bratislava this afternoon. The city is home to the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, the old city walls, the summer residence of the archbishop and the current residence of the president of Slovakia. You can also see Bratislava Castle, high above the city. From Michael’s Gate, take a leisurely stroll through the historic city center, where you can admire sights such as the Primatial Palace and St. Martin’s Cathedral. Enjoy the Captain’s Gala Dinner onboard this evening.

Optional Excursions:

City tour of Bratislava

This morning arrive in Dürnstein, a tiny village surrounded by vineyards, which serves as a jumping off point for an optional excursion to Melk and its magnificent Benedictine Abbey. During the day the vessel winds its way through picture perfect scenery in the UNESCO protected Wachau Valley. Rich fields of vineyards line the shores with pretty houses dotting the landscape. This afternoon with all travellers safely back onboard, the vessel cruises toward the port where this magnificent voyage began.

Optional Excursions:

Excursion to the Wachau including Melk Abbey and wine tasting

After breakfast we disembark. Arrive at 8.30am