Gems of Southeast Europe (Wine Cruise)

Board the ship for your Gems of Southeast Europe cruise.

Enjoy an excursion to Pécs and see Szechenyi Square, the Christian Necropolis – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and St. Peter's Basilica with its underground burial chambers. For a more active adventure, delight in a guided bike ride along the Danube River. For wine connoisseurs, you'll visit the Szekszárd wine region, one of the oldest red-wine-growing areas in Hungary, established more than 2,000 years ago.

Excursions:

• Pecs Excursion OR Guided Bike Ride Along the Danube OR Szekszárd wine tasting

Enjoy your morning in Vukovar on a guided city tour where you may visit sites such as Eltz Manor House and Vukovar's famous water tower. Alternatively, you may see Osijek on a guided tour. For those looking for a more active experience, you may explore Vukovar on an active bike tour.

In the afternoon, enjoy a Croatian wine tasting and tour in the Old Cellars, famous for their Grasevina, Traminac and Frankovka wines. You can also choose to explore the Vucedol Museum, home to fascinating exhibits on prehistoric culture and one of the most important archaeological sites in Europe.

Excursions:

• Vukovar city tour OR Osijek tour OR Vukovar guided bike tour
• Croatian wine tasting OR Vucedol Museum

Explore Serbia's capital, Belgrade, on a city tour, which includes the Nikola Tesla Museum, encompassing the world-renowned inventor's life and inventions, as well as the Kalemegdan Fortress and the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava, the largest such church in the world.

You may also explore Novi Sad, a city rich in tradition and culture, on a full-day excursion. Begin your tour at the Dunavski (Danube) Park; stroll through Stari Grad, the old town center; and explore Liberty Square, which is dominated by the Old Town Hall and the Petrovaradin Fortress. Alternatively, you can hike to Belgrade Fortress.

In the afternoon, visit the Sumadija wine region, nestled in the scenic surroundings of Belgrade, and enjoy perfectly paired wine and snacks as you learn more about the region's rich flavors. For those wishing a more active adventure, join a guided bike tour.

Excursions:

• “The City by Two Rivers” tour OR Full-day Novi Sad tour OR Belgrade Fortress hike
• Sumadija wine tasting OR Belgrade bike tour

Visit Golubac Fortress, one of the best-preserved medieval fortresses in Europe, and delight in exquisite wines sourced from Rajačke Pimnice, a prominent viticulture region in Serbia, complemented by the flavors of traditional Serbian cheese and bread.

Then cruise through the Iron Gates – one of Europe's most awe-inspiring 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.

Excursions:

• Golubac Fortress visit
• Scenic Cruising – The Iron Gates

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. 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. Or enjoy a wine tasting at a local boutique winery just outside of Vidin.

Excursions:

• Baba Vida Fortress and Vidin Walking Tour OR Banitsa Pastry and Yogurt making OR Vidin bike tour OR Dos Alamos wine tasting

Visit Bulgaria's ancient capital, Veliko Tarnovo, with its medieval fortress and multiple orthodox temples, and then be treated to a tasting of local wines. For more active exploration, join an unforgettable hike up the iconic Tsarevets Fortress in Veliko Tarnovo. You can opt instead to go to Rousse, known for its 19th- and 20th-century Neo-Baroque and Neo-Rococo architecture, and then afterwards visit the UNESCO-designated Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo with frescos revealing exceptional artistry of 14th-century paintings.

Alternatively, travel through the Romanian countryside to the capital of Bucharest, known as the “Little Paris of the East,” for a full-day tour. Enjoy a panoramic tour of the historic city center and its elegant architecture, followed by a visit to the Palace of the Parliament, the second largest administrative building in the world.

In the afternoon, journey to a Rousse Wine House and the Leventa complex set in a unique fortification structure dating back almost 200 years and be treated to a tasting of three wines while learning about the wine making process.

Excursions:

• Full-day Veliko Tarnovo & Wine Tasting excursion OR Full-day Tsarevets Fortress hike OR Ivanovo Rock-Hewn Churches & Rousse Highlights Tour OR Full-day Bucharest excursion
• Leventa wine tasting*

*Not available with full-day excursions

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