Welcome to Bucharest, where you will be met at the airport and transferred to your perfectly situated hotel for your overnight stay. Nicknamed the ‘Paris of the East’, the centre of Bucharest perfectly encapsulates a distinctive Parisian atmosphere, with wide avenues adorned by famous landmarks and quaint leafy boulevards that cross the city.

After enjoying the plush surrounds of your hotel this morning, you'll have the opportunity to learn about some of Bucharest’s most iconic attractions during a guided drive around the city, including a visit to the Spring Palace. Then, you’ll have time to explore the leafy boulevards at leisure. After your insightful tour, you will be transferred from Bucharest to Giurgiu, on the banks of the Danube, where a warm welcome from your captain and crew awaits on board your Emerald Cruises Star-Ship.

Included Excursion Guided drive through Bucharest with a visit to the Spring Palace (B/D)

Today, you'll have the opportunity to learn about Bulgarian history as you explore the former capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire with your local guide. On your included tour, you will have the opportunity to traverse its cobbled streets and witness its medieval fortifications. Afterwards, you will be taken to neighbouring Arbanasi, situated overlooking the Yantra River, a tributary of the Danube that is known for its many scenic gorges.

Explore the past with your local guide, as your tour visits a number of traditional houses and ancient churches. If you would prefer to do something more active, then you could instead choose to embark on a guided hike to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo, known for their famous 14th-century frescoes. Tonight, your crew will welcome you back on board for a welcome reception and dinner.

EmeraldPLUS Choir concert in Arbanasi

EmeraldACTIVE Guided hike to Ivanovo Church

Included Excursion Tour of Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanasi

DiscoverMORE Paint & Wine (extra expense)

DiscoverMORE Wine tasting at Leventa Complex (extra expense) (B/L/D)

Viticulture forms the heart of life in the most western town in Bulgaria, where sun-kissed vineyards pepper the banks of the Danube and winemaking has prospered for generations. Your included tour of Vidin will introduce you to a peaceful side of life that revolves around wine, as you weave through a local vineyard and learn about their produce, before enjoying a tasting.

Afterwards, your local guide will take you to Baba Vida, a fortress that was originally constructed at the turn of the 10th century and is known for being one of only a handful of beautifully preserved castles in the country. If you are feeling more active, you can instead choose to embark on a guided hike to Belogradchik Fortress, located on the northern slopes of the Balkan Mountains.

EmeraldACTIVE Hike to Belogradchik Fortress

Included Excursion Visit to a local vineyard with wine tasting & a visit to Baba Vida Fortress

DiscoverMORE Traditional Bulgarian pastry making (extra expense) (B/L/D)

This morning, relax on board and admire your surroundings as we sail along the mighty Danube to Donji Milanovac, where a visit to the Lepenski Vir archaeological site, one of Europe’s best-hidden gems, awaits. Located right on the riverbanks, the Palaeolithic site is one of the most important of its kind on the continent, effortlessly capturing more than eight millennia of history. Archaeologists from around the world have used this site to learn about a number of different Stone Age settlements and the way that prehistoric cultures moved across Europe.

Included Excursion Visit to Lepenski Vir archaeological site and museum

EmeraldACTIVE Donji Milanovac by bike (B/L/D)

Serbia’s vibrant capital is yours to explore today. Your local guide will take you on a coach tour through the heart of the city, highlighting its many landmarks and the iconic Belgrade Fortress. The coach will pass through the centre, where you will notice reminders of the country’s turbulent history, set amongst the quiet and peaceful streets. Witness the ornate beauty of the Church of Saint Sava, one of the largest religious buildings in Europe, before stopping for a tour of the Museum of Yugoslavia.

If you’re feeling more active, then you may instead choose to learn about Belgrade’s history during a guided bike tour. This evening, you will be invited to the Horizon Lounge to watch a traditional Serbian folklore show.

EmeraldPLUS Serbian folklore evening show on board

EmeraldACTIVE Guided bike tour in Belgrade

Included Excursion Guided tour of Belgrade

DiscoverMORE National Opera Theatre tour (extra expense)

DiscoverMORE Routes of Nikola Tesla (extra expense) (B/L/D)

Today, you will have the opportunity to explore one of Croatia’s postcard-worthy historic university towns, full of delightful waterfront promenades and quaint cobbled streets. Embark on a guided walk around Osijek Fortress, a true icon in the romantic old town, before a truly unforgettable EmeraldPLUS experience, as you’re invited into the home of a local family for a traditional Croatian lunch and to meet students from the local village. Enjoy an evening of sailing further up the Danube towards Hungary, before joining your fellow passengers for a farewell dinner.

EmeraldPLUS Home-hosted lunch with a Croatian family

EmeraldPLUS Meet the local students

EmeraldACTIVE Trek to Adica Park

Included Excursion Guided walking tour of Osijek Fortress

DiscoverMORE Vucedol Culture Museum (extra expense) (B/L/D)

In the morning, we will sail to Kalocsa, a place known for its paprika production and colourful festivals. Discovering Hungary’s culture is an easy task in Kalocsa, where traditional folk art can be found around every corner and old traditions pave the way for daily life. Later, you will venture to the Puszta, or Great Hungarian Plain, to visit a traditional Puszta horse farm. Your guide will teach you about the traditional performances of the Magyar cowboys, and you will have the opportunity to witness some of their exceptional equestrian skills first-hand as they showcase some of their exercise drills.

EmeraldPLUS Puszta horse show (B/L/D)

After breakfast, leave the lush surrounds of your suite or stateroom and be transferred to your centrally located accommodation in Budapest, where a two-night stay in the city is certain to delight. When you arrive, enjoy a guided tour of the city, touching on its two distinctive faces and the ornamented Buda Castle district.

Included Excursion A guided coach tour of Budapest (B)

Today, the storied capital of Budapest is yours to explore at leisure, perhaps crossing the Chain Bridge to see how the city differs in Buda and Pest or stopping to try some delightful Hungarian treats. (B)

After breakfast, it is time to bid farewell to your fellow passengers as you leave your accommodation for your transfer to the airport, taking memories of a home-hosted Croatian experience and the ornamented Buda Castle district with you. (B)

Welcome to Bucharest, where you will be met at the airport and transferred to your perfectly situated hotel for your overnight stay. Nicknamed the ‘Paris of the East’, the centre of Bucharest perfectly encapsulates a distinctive Parisian atmosphere, with wide avenues adorned by famous landmarks and quaint leafy boulevards that cross the city.

After enjoying the plush surrounds of your hotel this morning, you'll have the opportunity to learn about some of Bucharest’s most iconic attractions during a guided drive around the city, including a visit to the Spring Palace. Then, you’ll have time to explore the leafy boulevards at leisure. After your insightful tour, you will be transferred from Bucharest to Giurgiu, on the banks of the Danube, where a warm welcome from your captain and crew awaits on board your Emerald Cruises Star-Ship.

Included Excursion Guided drive through Bucharest with a visit to the Spring Palace (B/D)

Today, you'll have the opportunity to learn about Bulgarian history as you explore the former capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire with your local guide. On your included tour, you will have the opportunity to traverse its cobbled streets and witness its medieval fortifications. Afterwards, you will be taken to neighbouring Arbanasi, situated overlooking the Yantra River, a tributary of the Danube that is known for its many scenic gorges.

Explore the past with your local guide, as your tour visits a number of traditional houses and ancient churches. If you would prefer to do something more active, then you could instead choose to embark on a guided hike to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo, known for their famous 14th-century frescoes. Tonight, your crew will welcome you back on board for a welcome reception and dinner.

EmeraldPLUS Choir concert in Arbanasi

EmeraldACTIVE Guided hike to Ivanovo Church

Included Excursion Tour of Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanasi

DiscoverMORE Paint & Wine (extra expense)

DiscoverMORE Wine tasting at Leventa Complex (extra expense) (B/L/D)

Viticulture forms the heart of life in the most western town in Bulgaria, where sun-kissed vineyards pepper the banks of the Danube and winemaking has prospered for generations. Your included tour of Vidin will introduce you to a peaceful side of life that revolves around wine, as you weave through a local vineyard and learn about their produce, before enjoying a tasting.

Afterwards, your local guide will take you to Baba Vida, a fortress that was originally constructed at the turn of the 10th century and is known for being one of only a handful of beautifully preserved castles in the country. If you are feeling more active, you can instead choose to embark on a guided hike to Belogradchik Fortress, located on the northern slopes of the Balkan Mountains.

EmeraldACTIVE Hike to Belogradchik Fortress

Included Excursion Visit to a local vineyard with wine tasting & a visit to Baba Vida Fortress

DiscoverMORE Traditional Bulgarian pastry making (extra expense) (B/L/D)

This morning, relax on board and admire your surroundings as we sail along the mighty Danube to Donji Milanovac, where a visit to the Lepenski Vir archaeological site, one of Europe’s best-hidden gems, awaits. Located right on the riverbanks, the Palaeolithic site is one of the most important of its kind on the continent, effortlessly capturing more than eight millennia of history. Archaeologists from around the world have used this site to learn about a number of different Stone Age settlements and the way that prehistoric cultures moved across Europe.

Included Excursion Visit to Lepenski Vir archaeological site and museum

EmeraldACTIVE Donji Milanovac by bike (B/L/D)

Serbia’s vibrant capital is yours to explore today. Your local guide will take you on a coach tour through the heart of the city, highlighting its many landmarks and the iconic Belgrade Fortress. The coach will pass through the centre, where you will notice reminders of the country’s turbulent history, set amongst the quiet and peaceful streets. Witness the ornate beauty of the Church of Saint Sava, one of the largest religious buildings in Europe, before stopping for a tour of the Museum of Yugoslavia.

If you’re feeling more active, then you may instead choose to learn about Belgrade’s history during a guided bike tour. This evening, you will be invited to the Horizon Lounge to watch a traditional Serbian folklore show.

EmeraldPLUS Serbian folklore evening show on board

EmeraldACTIVE Guided bike tour in Belgrade

Included Excursion Guided tour of Belgrade

DiscoverMORE National Opera Theatre tour (extra expense)

DiscoverMORE Routes of Nikola Tesla (extra expense) (B/L/D)

Today, you will have the opportunity to explore one of Croatia’s postcard-worthy historic university towns, full of delightful waterfront promenades and quaint cobbled streets. Embark on a guided walk around Osijek Fortress, a true icon in the romantic old town, before a truly unforgettable EmeraldPLUS experience, as you’re invited into the home of a local family for a traditional Croatian lunch and to meet students from the local village. Enjoy an evening of sailing further up the Danube towards Hungary, before joining your fellow passengers for a farewell dinner.

EmeraldPLUS Home-hosted lunch with a Croatian family

EmeraldPLUS Meet the local students

EmeraldACTIVE Trek to Adica Park

Included Excursion Guided walking tour of Osijek Fortress

DiscoverMORE Vucedol Culture Museum (extra expense) (B/L/D)

In the morning, we will sail to Kalocsa, a place known for its paprika production and colourful festivals. Discovering Hungary’s culture is an easy task in Kalocsa, where traditional folk art can be found around every corner and old traditions pave the way for daily life. Later, you will venture to the Puszta, or Great Hungarian Plain, to visit a traditional Puszta horse farm. Your guide will teach you about the traditional performances of the Magyar cowboys, and you will have the opportunity to witness some of their exceptional equestrian skills first-hand as they showcase some of their exercise drills.

EmeraldPLUS Puszta horse show (B/L/D)

After breakfast, leave the lush surrounds of your suite or stateroom and be transferred to your centrally located accommodation in Budapest, where a two-night stay in the city is certain to delight. When you arrive, enjoy a guided tour of the city, touching on its two distinctive faces and the ornamented Buda Castle district.

Included Excursion A guided coach tour of Budapest (B)

Today, the storied capital of Budapest is yours to explore at leisure, perhaps crossing the Chain Bridge to see how the city differs in Buda and Pest or stopping to try some delightful Hungarian treats. (B)

After breakfast, it is time to bid farewell to your fellow passengers as you leave your accommodation for your transfer to the airport, taking memories of a home-hosted Croatian experience and the ornamented Buda Castle district with you. (B)