• River Cruise : Gems of Southeast Europe

Touch history in Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania, as you sail along the exotic lower Danube. Celtic fortifications, medieval towns and grand cities, along with the natural beauty of pastoral landscapes and the Danube’s famed Iron Gates, showcase the best of eastern Europe. Nature lovers will relish the opportunity to see Bulgaria’s natural wonder, Belogradchik, a fairytale stone world of fantastic shapes associated with interesting legends; or to bike through Belgrade’s sprawling Kalemegdan Park. Wine connoisseurs will have a chance to taste history from the centuriesold winegrowing hills dating back to the Romans in Ilok, a royal and vinous town. Be treated to the flavors, sights, sounds and cultures of this diverse swath of the continent.

OVERVIEW RIVER CRUISE:

DAY DESTINATION ACTIVITIES

1

BUDAPEST

EMBARKATION

2

BUDAPEST

Scenic cruising

Pécs excursion

OR Szekszárd wine tasting

OR Guided Bike Ride Along the Danube

3

VUKOVAR

City tour and Eltz Castle

OR Croatian wine tasting

“The Athens of Serbia” walking tour

OR Fruska Gora National Park hike

OR Novi Sad bike tour

Petrovaradin Fortress Evening Walk

4

BELGRADE

“The City by Two Rivers” tour

Royal Palace and Tito’s Memorial tour

OR Belgrade Fortress hike

Quburich Brandy Tasting & Avala Mountain

OR Belgrade bike tour

5

IRON GATES

Golubac Fortress visit

Scenic Cruising – The Iron Gates

6

VIDIN

Vidin Walking Tour

Belogradchik Excursion & Baba Vida Fortress

OR Banitsa pastry and yogurt tasting

OR Vidin bike tour

7

ROUSSE

Veliko Tarnovo excursion

OR Ivanovo Rock-Hewn Churches & Rousse Highlights Tour

Bucharest excursion

8

GIURGIU

DISEMBARKATION

RIVER CRUISE ITINERARY DETAILS :

Day 1: BUDAPEST

Board the ship for your Gems of Southeast Europe cruise. (D)

Day 2: BUDAPEST – MOHACS

Enjoy a scenic morning cruise to Mohács. You’ll then visit Pécs, founded more than 2,000 years ago by the Romans. Visit the UNESCO-designated Christian Necropolis; St. Peter’s Basilica, the city’s main Catholic cathedral along with its catacombs; and Széchenyi Square, the heart of Old Town Pécs. You will also see the Mosque of Pasha Qasim the Victorious, one of the symbols of the city. Or for wine connoisseurs, you’ll want to go to the Szekszárd wine region, one of the oldest redwinegrowing areas in Hungary, established more than 2,000 years ago. You may also take an exhilarating guided bike tour around Mohács. (B,L,D)

Day 3: VUKOVAR – ILOK – NOVISAD

Vukovar is a Croatian symbol of resistance, which you’ll better understand on your city tour showcasing the Ovčara Memorial and Eltz Castle. Alternatively, choose a wine tasting in Ilok, a center of wine production since Roman times, where you’ll sample its famous Grasevina, Traminac and Frankovka wines. Back on board, cruise to Novi Sad, sometimes called the “Serbian Athens.” Discover Novi Sad on a walking tour to Dunavski Park and through Stari Grad, the Old Town center. If you prefer a more active exploration, join a guided biking tour or hike through Fruska Gora National Park. During the evening, visit Petrovaradin Fortress, a mighty stronghold no enemy has ever breached. (B,L,D)

Day 4: BELGRADE

Explore Serbia’s capital, Belgrade, on a city tour, which includes the Kalemegdan Fortress and the Serbian Orthodox Temple of St. Sava. Or visit the Royal Palace, the official residence of the Serbian Royal Family; and then tour the House of Flowers, the mausoleum of Marshal Tito, who became the first President of Yugoslavia. Alternatively, you can hike to Belgrade Fortress. Later in the day, enjoy a taste of the region by sampling Serbian plum brandy, Šlivovitz, and delicious local delights at the Quburich Distillery. For those wishing a more active adventure, join a guided bike tour. (B,L,D)

Day 5: IRON GATES

Visit Golubac Fortress – a medieval fortified town on the south side of the Danube River – before cruising through the Iron Gates. The Iron Gates is one of Europe’s most aweinspiring natural wonders. The Danube narrows as it winds through a series of magnificent gorges between the Carpathian and Balkan mountains, forming a natural border between Serbia and Romania. The ancient King Decebalus, the last king of Dacia, is proudly carved into the mountainside and always captivates travelers. (B,L,D)

Day 6: VIDIN

Explore Vidin, one of Bulgaria’s oldest cities, and surrounding areas with a choice of excursions. Discover Baba Vida Fortress, the largest preserved medieval castle in Bulgaria. Continue on to Belogradchik, one of Bulgaria’s natural wonders, where you can hike around its most spectacular rock formations. Alternatively, visit a local home for a demonstration of traditional Bulgarian yogurt and Banitsa, a pastry you will also get to make. You also have the choice to bike through Vidin and to the castle. (B,L,D)

Day 7: ROUSSE

Visit Bulgaria’s ancient capital, Veliko Tarnovo, with its medieval fortress and multiple orthodox temples. You can opt instead to go to Rousse, known for its 19thand 20thcentury Neo-Baroque and Neo-Rococo architecture, and then afterwards visit the UNESCO-designated RockHewn Churches of Ivanovo with frescos revealing exceptional artistry of 14th-century paintings. Later in the day, travel through the Romanian countryside to the capital of Bucharest, known as the “Little Paris of the East.” Enjoy a panoramic tour of the historic city center and its elegant architecture. (B,L,D)

Day 8: GIURGIU

Bid farewell to Giurgiu as you prepare for your flight home. (B)