Grand Danube Cruise with Bucharest, Brasov and Prague (Wine Cruise)

Arrive in Bucharest and check into your hotel.

Bucharest, Romania's capital, has earned its nickname, the “Little Paris of the East,” with its wide boulevards and Arc de Triomphe. Step back in history with a walking tour through Bucharest's Old Town. (B)

Excursions:

• Old Town walking tour

Check out of your Bucharest hotel and journey through the Romanian countryside with a visit to Peleș Castle, considered by many to be one of the most stunning castles in Europe. Tour the castle, which was once the residence of the royal family. Afterwards, enjoy a walking tour around Braşov. Later in the day, check into your hotel. (B)

Excursions:

• Transfer to Brasov
• Peles Royal Castle and Brasov tour

Dracula lovers will be 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 on your cruise in Giurgiu. Tonight gather on board and meet your fellow passengers. (D)

Excursions:

• Transfer to Giurgiu
• Bran Castle visit

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. Later in the day, 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 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. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Bucharest Excursion
• Veliko Tarnovo excursion OR Ivanovo Rock Hwen Churches & Rousse Highlights

Explore Vidin, one of Bulgaria's oldest cities, and surrounding areas with a choice of excursions. Discover Belogradchik, one of Bulgaria's natural wonders, where you can hike around its most spectacular rock formations, and Baba Vida Fortress, the largest preserved medieval castle in Bulgaria overlooking the Danube. Alternatively, be welcomed into a local home for a demonstration and tasting of traditional Bulgarian yogurt and Banitsa, a delicious pastry with filo dough and cheese. Or you can choose to bike through Vidin for a more active adventure and see the castle. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Belogradchik & Baba Vida Fortress OR Banitsa pastry and yogurt tasting OR Vidin bike tour

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. The banks of the river dazzle with sheer-faced rocks that stretch high overhead along this natural border between Serbia and Romania. The ancient Serbian king Decebalus is proudly carved into the mountainside and always captivates travelers. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Full-day scenic cruising

Explore Serbia's capital, Belgrade, on a city tour that 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. Or enjoy a taste of the region by sampling Serbian plum brandy, Šlivovitz, and delicious local delights at the Quburich Distillery and travel to Avala Mountain. Later in the day, for those wishing a more active adventure, join a guided bike tour or hike to well-preserved Belgrade Fortress with its conical towers. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• “The City by Two Rivers” tour OR Belgarde Royal Palace & Tito's Memorial Tour OR Quburich Brandy tasting & Avala Mountain Belgrade Fortress hike OR Belgrade bike tour

Enjoy a walking tour of Novi Sad to explore why some have called the city the “Serbian Athens.” You'll see Dunavski Park and Stari Grad, the Old Town center. For a more active adventure, join a guided biking tour along the Strand and Danube Park, or a hiking tour to Petrovaradin Fortress. Alternatively, get hands-on with Vojvodina cuisine as you enjoy a lively demonstration and taste your culinary creation. Later in the day, tour the city of Vukovar, with its Franciscan Monastery, Church of St. Philip & Jacob and Eltz Castle, an 18th-century manor that holds the Vukovar City Museum. Or, travel to Ilok, a center of wine production since Roman times, and sample its famous Grasevina, Traminac and Frankovka wines. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• “The Athens of Serbia” walking tour OR Serbian Specialties Tasting OR Petrovaradin Fortress hike OR Novi Sad bike tour
• Vukovar City tour with Eltz Castle OR Croatian wine tasting

Explore 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. Active travelers will enjoy a guided bike ride along the Danube and through Danube-Drava National Park, a protected flood-plain known for its populations of black storks, white-tailed eagles and grey cattle, a national symbol of medieval Hungary. (B/L/D) )

Excursions:

• Pécs excursion OR Szekszárd wine tasting OR Guided bike ride along the Danube

Tradition will be on full display in Puszta, the Great Hungarian Plain. Tour a genuine Hungarian csárda (farm) run by the world-champion carriage drivers, the Lazar brothers. Afterwards, be treated to an unforgettable performance of Hungarian horsemanship and then experience the Hungarians' warm hospitality, along with a traditional lunch complete with typical goulash. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Pustza excursion

You cannot help but fall in love with Budapest, known as the “Queen of the Danube.” Your city tour begins with a visit to the Great Market Hall. The remainder of this tour takes you to both the Buda (hilly) and the Pest (flat) sides of the river. Alternatively, hike up to Castle Hill for breathtaking views of the city.

Excursions:

• “Queen of the Danube” tour OR Castle hill hike

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 savor local Slovakian craft beer at a local brew pub along with Slovakian snacks. 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” offers a treasure trove of gems and you have two ways to discover them. Join a city tour showcasing its regal splendors, including the majestic Opera House and the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs before concluding in Vienna's historic city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and then visiting St. Stephen's Cathedral. For a more active exploration of the area, take a guided bike ride along the Danube and to Klosterneuburg Abbey, founded in 1114. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• “Imperial Vienna” tour OR Klosterneuburg Abbey bike tour
• 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 complete with wine. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Highlights of Dürnstein and Melk Abbey OR Weissenkirchen to Melk bike tour OR Weissenkirchen walking tour and Melk Abbey OR Dürnstein excursion with wine and apricot tasting OR Dürnstein Fortress hike
• Strudengau Valley
• Exclusive castle visit with private reception

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. During the afternoon, you have three more options. Choose a half-day excursion to Salzburg or take a scenic drive through the Austrian Lake District with a stop in St. Wolfgang. You can also choose to visit charming Český Krumlov, located just over the Czech-Austrian border. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• “UNESCO City of Media Arts” walking tour OR Full-day Salzburg excursion OR "Cultural Mile” bike tour
• Half-day Salzburg excursion OR Český Krumlov excursion OR Austrian Lake District 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 bike tour to Erlau OR Passau Castle hike
• 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.