Grand Danube Cruise (Festive Delights)

Arrive in Bucharest and check into your hotel.

This morning, enjoy a walking tour through the historic old town of Bucharest. Observe the many changes this capital city has experienced through a mixture of architectural styles and cultural influences. Your guided tour will take you through the old town and show you the most popular places in Bucharest while hearing stories of its history and getting local insights for shopping and dining opportunities. (B)

Excursions:

• Old Town walking tour

En route to Braşov, you'll visit the quaint mountain town of Sinaia. While in Sinaia you will visit Peles Castle. Peles Castle is considered by many to be one of the most stunning castles in Europe and a masterpiece of German new-Renaissance with 160 rooms filled with priceless European art. After your tour of Peles Castle you will depart for Braşov. Considered the heart of Romania and surrounded by the beautiful Southern Carpathians, Braşov is one of the most visited cities in Romania. Upon your arrival in Braşov, enjoy a walking tour of this storied Transylvanian city. (B)

Excursions:

• Transfer to Brasov
• Peles Castle visit and Braşov tour

Dracula lovers are in for another treat with an excursion to Sighişoara, birthplace to Transylvania's most notorious ruler, Vlad Ţepeş, also known as Vlad the Impaler or Dracula. It's hard to believe that this perfectly preserved UNESCO-designated town filled with resplendent pastel-colored buildings, stone lanes, medieval towers and pedestrian-friendly Old Town was Vlad's place of birth. His home is still here, marked with a placard; however, today it houses a kitschy restaurant called “Casa Dracula.” (B)

Excursions:

• “Dracula's Birthplace,” Sighișoara excursion

Embark the ship in Giurgiu for your Grand Danube Cruise.

Excursions:

• Bran Royal Castle tour

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, followed by a visit to the Palace of the Parliament, the second largest administrative building in the world. You can opt instead to visit Bulgaria's ancient capital, Veliko Tarnovo, with its medieval fortress and multiple orthodox temples. Or, spend your morning in 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. In the afternoon, journey to a Rousse Wine House and the Leventa complex where you will be treated to a tasting of three wines while learning about the wine making process of this winery. (B/L/D) *Not available with full-day tours

Excursions:

• Full-day Bucharest Excursion OR Full-day Veliko Tarnovo Excursion OR Ivanovo Rock Hewn Churches & Rousse Highlights

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. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Baba Vida Fortress and Vidin Walking Tour OR Banitsa Pastry & Yogurt Making OR Vidin bike tour OR Dos Alamos Wine Tasting

The Iron Gates are some 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. In the afternoon, visit Golubac Fortress – one of the best preserved medieval fortresses in Europe and enjoy a tasting of locally sourced delicacies. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Scenic cruising
• Golubac Fortress visit with tasting of local fare

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. Alternatively, you can hike to Belgrade Fortress. In the afternoon, enjoy a taste of the region by sampling a few types of Serbian brandy paired with delicious local appetizers, including Šlivovitz, which was added in 2022 to UNESCO's list of “Intangible Cultural Heritage.” For those wishing a more active adventure, join a guided bike tour. Or explore Novi Sad, a city rich in tradition and culture, on “The Athens of Serbia” walking tour. Stroll through Stari Grad, the old town center; and explore Liberty Square, which is dominated by the Old Town Hall. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• “The City by Two Rivers” tour OR Fortress Hike
• “Brandies of Belgrade” Tasting OR Belgrade bike tour OR Novi Sad Tour

Enjoy an afternoon in Vukovar on a guided city tour where you will have a chance to visit Eltz Manor House and its collection of historic artifacts, paintings and clothing. Alternatively, you may explore Vukovar on an active bike tour. Wine connoisseurs will want to enjoy a Croatian wine tasting and tour in the Old Cellars, famous for their Grasevina, Traminac and Frankovka wines. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Vukovar City tour OR Vukovar bike tour OR Croatian wine tasting

Enjoy a scenic morning cruise to Mohács and 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. For wine connoisseurs, you'll want to go instead to the Szekszárd wine region, one of the oldest red-wine-growing areas in Hungary, established more than 2,000 years ago. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Pécs excursion OR Szekszárd wine tasting

Visit the 19th-century Gödöllő Palace with its royal stables and Baroque theater, followed by lunch at Gödöllő Restaurant. Afterward, head for Puszta, the vast flat Great Hungarian Plain where you will tour a genuine Hungarian csárda (farm) run by the carriage-drive world champion brothers Lazar. Following the tour, witness a unique, unforgettable performance of Hungarian horsemanship, a tradition that goes back to the hordes of Magyar tribes conquering Hungary in the 9th century. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Gödöllő Palace and Pustza excursion

Today you have the opportunity to visit both the Buda (hilly) and Pest (flat) sides of the Danube River. Start on the Buda side, following your guide through the city's Castle District where you will marvel at the fairytale turrets of Fisherman's Bastion, gaze upon the breathtaking panorama below and see Matthias Church, renowned for its striking tower and colorful mosaic roof. For a more active tour, hike to Budapest's Castle Hill. In the afternoon, explore the treasures of Pest, admiring the colossal Hungarian Parliament Building, Heroes' Square and the moving “Shoes on the Danube Bank” memorial. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Buda city tour OR Castle hill hike
• Pest city tour

Host to the crowning ceremonies of 11 Hungarian kings and queens between 1536 and 1830, Bratislava certainly has earned the title “Coronation City of Kings,” as you'll discover during your walking tour. Or join a special “Tastes of Slovakia” tour. For a more active adventure, hike up to Bratislava Castle, offering magnificent views of the city. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• “Coronation City” walking tour OR Tastes of Bratislava OR Bratislava Castle hike

The “City of Waltzes” is a treasure trove and your city tour showcases its regal splendors, including the majestic Opera House and the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs. Conclude your tour in the UNESCO-designated historic city center and visit St. Stephen's Cathedral. For a more active exploration, take a guided bike ride through Vienna. During the afternoon, enjoy leisure time exploring this iconic city even more. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• “Imperial Vienna” tour OR Vienna City Tour by Bike
• Free time

Be treated to several choices of excursions. Take a walking tour of Dürnstein before visiting the UNESCO-designated Melk Abbey. Or hike the trail up to the ruins of Durnstein Fortress, where Richard the Lionheart was once held captive, and where you'll find spectacular views of the valley, river and village below. You can also choose to cycle through the Wachau Valley on a guided bike tour to Melk. For a more culinary-focused experience, sample wine and special apricot treats from a local boutique. Later in the day, head up to the Sun Deck for panoramic views as you unwind with a scenic cruise through the Strudengau and UNESCO-designated Wachau valleys. In the evening, head ashore in Grein for an exclusive castle visit. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Highlights of Dürnstein and Melk Abbey OR Weissenkirchen to Melk bike tour OR Dürnstein excursion with wine and apricot tastings OR Dürnstein Fortress hike
• Scenic cruising through Strudengau and UNESCO Wachau Valley
• Exclusive Greinburg Castle visit

The ship arrives in Linz where you'll have several choices of excursions. Opt for a full-day excursion to Salzburg where you'll tour the historic center, Mirabell Gardens, Residenz Square and the Old Market. En route to Salzburg, stop at Mondsee, home of the Basilica St. Michael. Or join a morning walking tour through the old city center of Linz and by the Mozart House; or go on a bike tour of the city's famed “Cultural Mile” and the Danube. Alternatively, you can visit the charming mountain town of Český Krumlov, a guest favorite located just over the Czech-Austrian border, on a full-day excursion. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• “UNESCO City of Media Arts” walking tour OR "Cultural Mile” bike tour OR Full-day Salzburg excursion OR Full-day Český Krumlov and Linz excursion

Discover the city of Passau in one of three ways. Enjoy a walking tour and marvel at Gothic and Italian Baroque architecture and St. Stephen's Cathedral. Or choose between a guided bike tour along the Danube River, or a guided hike up to the Veste Oberhaus fortress. Later, cruise to Vilshofen, where you will be treated to a festive Oktoberfest celebration – an AmaWaterways exclusive. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• “City of Three Rivers” walking tour OR Passau Castle hike OR River Inn Bike Tour
• Exclusive Oktoberfest celebration

Disembark the ship and enjoy a stop in Regensburg. After a local highlights tour, head to Prague where you will check into your hotel. (B)

Excursions:

• Transfer via Regensburg
• UNESCO City Highlights tour

Discover fairytale Prague and its magical church spires via a city tour or a hike to Prague Castle. Both will reveal why Prague is considered one of Europe's most attractive and vibrant cities, with a historic city center that's recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (B)

Excursions:

• “Golden City of a Hundred Spires” tour OR Prague Castle hike

Beer has been an important part of the Czech Republic since 993, when the first brewery was established. Beer is vital to the country's national identity, so much so that the Czechs are the biggest consumers of beer in the world. Join a beer tasting and discover for yourself what makes Czech beer some of the best in the world. (B)

Excursions:

• Czech beer tasting

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