Gems of the Danube with Prague & Ljubljana & Zagreb

Welcome to Zagreb. The picturesque Croatian capital is filled with red-roofed buildings, cobbled streets, church spires and ornate architecture. Interspersed with centuries of history you'll find Socialist-era concrete buildings splashed with colourful murals.

Check in to your luxury hotel this afternoon and meet your fellow passengers for a welcome drink. The evening is yours to explore the city at leisure.

This morning, tour the sublimely beautiful World Heritage-listed Plitvice Lakes National Park. Wander along meandering pathways to view a series of emerald green lakes, stepped and linked by impressive waterfalls. This is one of Europe's best known national parks and will leave you with memories long after return home.

Return to Zagreb this afternoon and join an expert local guide for a tour of the city. Beginning at your elegant hotel located in the heart of the city, you'll see landmarks including St. Mark's Church, the sacred Stone Gate, the impressive architecture of King Tomislav Square, the serene Zrinjevac Park and Lotršcak Tower, with its daily cannon fire at noon. Your tour concludes in the lively Lower Town, where you'll stop by the Dolac Market for fresh produce.

Cross the Slovenian border to the capital Ljubljana, one of the hidden gems of this region. Transfer to your luxury hotel located in the heart of the city, a perfect base for exploring.

This morning, take a guided tour of Ljubljana, an ancient city sitting on the Ljubljanica River. See historic buildings like the Franciscan Church and St. Nicholas Cathedral and learn their fascinating past.

Then journey to the charming lakeside town of Bled. Enjoy a tour of the city with time for a coffee and kremsnita (custard slice). Take a traditional Pletna boat to the beautiful island sitting in the middle of Lake Bled. Visit the historic Church of St. Mary on the island with its famous wishing well where you can ring the bell for good luck.

Return to Ljubljana tonight for dinner in a local restaurant.

After breakfast, transfer to Budapest, where you will board your luxurious Scenic Space-Ship for your river cruise.

Divided by the Danube, with Buda on one side and Pest on the other, the Hungarian capital became united in 1873 when a newly built bridge connected the two. It's peppered with Roman ruins, Gothic buildings, bohemian coffee houses, world-class operas, and an historical Jewish quarter where the scars of WWII can still be seen to this day. It is also well known for its hot springs and thermal baths.

Scenic Freechoice: Choose from a range of Scenic Freechoice activities on offer this morning:

• Budapest in depth: Explore this magical city by coach. Starting in Buda, see the Várkert Bazár before crossing the Margaret Bridge to the Pest side to see Széchenyi Square and Elizabeth Square. End your tour with a mesmerising piano recital at the Institute for the Blind.
• Guided hike of Buda: Strap on your walking shoes for a beautiful hike through the Buda district of the city. On your walk, see Várkert Bazár and beautifully landscaped gardens, all while enjoying great views over the Danube River and the city architecture.
• National Opera House: Step into one of Europe's most magnificent cultural landmarks, a neo-Renaissance masterpiece that reflects the grandeur of the Austro-Hungarian era and Hungary's deep devotion to the arts. This guided tour reveals the splendid interior as well as stories of royal guests, world-famous performers and the building's exceptional acoustics.
• Excursion to Szentendre: Journey to the riverside town Szentendre, known for its museums, galleries, and artists. Experience the Mediterranean atmosphere and discover its charms on a guided city tour.

Your 5-star Scenic Space-Ship will depart Budapest later this afternoon, allowing you some free time to explore the city on your own. Pack your swimsuit and make your way to one of Budapest's thermal baths for a relaxing soak in the therapeutic waters or perhaps explore the Central Market Hall.

Slovakia's capital since independence in 1993, Bratislava is a modern multicultural metropolis with an intriguing history. Its Old Town is glorious with medieval and Gothic architecture. Its well-preserved hilltop castle, which dates back to the ninth century, still dominates the town. These charming historic sites contrast with its brutalist socialist architecture, which is evident around the city.

Scenic Freechoice: As we dock in the city centre, this today's Scenic Freechoice excursions are just steps away:

• Walking tour of Bratislava: Join a knowledgeable local guide to see the highlights of the city, including the Hlavné Námestie (main square) and the Old Town Hall while learning about the history of the city. You'll also learn what everyday life was like behind the Iron Curtain, the political boundary that divided Europe after WWII.
• Carpathian wine route: Embark on a delightful Slovakian wine-tasting just beyond Bratislava, where the picturesque villages of the Small Carpathians invite you to discover this celebrated viticultural region. Enjoy an insider's perspective on local culture and heritage, meeting passionate family winemakers who have preserved their craft across generations.
• Communist walk: Journey behind the Iron Curtain to explore Bratislava's complex and compelling history during the communist regime. Discover how this controversial era shaped the daily lives of Slovaks, with impacts that were sometimes positive, often negative, and always fascinating.

Welcome to Vienna, the capital of Austria and a centre of art, music and culture. The city fostered the musical geniuses Mozart and Beethoven, and oozes charm with magnificent Baroque buildings, ample green spaces, a vibrant coffee-house scene, and masterpiece-filled galleries and museums.

Scenic Freechoice: Choose from these Scenic Freechoice activities today:

• Schönbrunn Palace: Explore Schönbrunn Palace, the former summer residence of the Habsburg family. Wander its ornately designed rooms, hear tales about the royal family that lives here and see the impressive gardens.
• Cycle to Danube Island: Explore a different side of Vienna on a guided e-bike tour to Danube Island, a recreational playground where locals come for bathing, boating, cycling and relaxing on its beaches and open spaces.
• Art tour of Vienna including Kunsthistorisches Museum: Vienna has an abundance of cultural institutions and a visit to the Kunsthistorisches provides something for everybody. Join a local guide who will give you an overview of the magnificent exhibits including its world class art collection and impressive ancient artefacts, before some time to wander the museum at your leisure.
• Central Vienna: Vienna is brimming with history, elegance and diverse architecture. During this tour your expert local guide will delight you with stories from the city before allowing you free time to explore as you wish.

Scenic Enrich:

• Classical Concert at Palais Liechtenstein: Breathe in the opulence and luxury of Palais Liechtenstein this evening as you relish an exclusive private classical concert. Enjoy a glass of fine Austrian Sekt and listen to the timeless music of Strauss and Mozart performed by a renowned orchestra. An experience only shared with your fellow Scenic guests, you'll be seated in Vienna's largest secular Baroque Hall, an ornate space where royals and nobles have sat for centuries. Accompanied by ballet dancers and vocalists and surrounded by world-famous art, this will be a concert that you'll remember for a lifetime.

This morning your Scenic Space-Ship will dock in the quaint town of Dürnstein, where you have ample free time to wander at your leisure. Surrounded by vineyards, the town has historical buildings that date back to the 12th century, including the hilltop ruins of Dürnstein Castle where Richard the Lionheart was famously imprisoned between 1192 and 1193.

Over lunch, cruise through the Wachau Valley where you will be mesmerised by the sloping vineyards and charming villages, before arriving in Melk. This small town is dominated by its dramatic, World Heritage-listed Benedictine Abbey, which towers above it from a rocky outcrop.

Scenic Freechoice: This afternoon offers a variety of Scenic Freechoice excursions to choose from:

• Guided tour of Melk Abbey: Wander the halls of this grand 18th century abbey, visit the decorated marble hall and the library, which is filled with more than 80,000 books, and be awed by the Abbey Church, adorned in frescoes and intricate statues.
• UNESCO Wachau Valley e-bike experience: Embark on a guided e-bike ride to soak up the scenery along the Danube as you cycle from the quaint village of Dürnstein to Melk. You'll pass by small villages and through rolling vineyards, stopping along the way to enjoy the river views.
• Artstetten Castle: Meet the current owners of Artstetten Castle, which dates to the 13th century. It was once home to the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, whose assassination sparked the beginning of WWI in 1914. See the family crypt and visit the onsite museum, before hearing tales from decedents of the royal family dynasty that were influential in European history.

While on board later today, you can also join an informative talk on the production of regional delicacies and taste some local varieties.

After a short stop in Brandstatt, arrive in Passau. Set at the meeting point of three rivers and close to the border with Austria, it was an important trading point for centuries. It was also a significant town in the Holy Roman Empire and the charming Old Town was mostly built by powerful prince-bishops in an Italianate style.

Scenic Freechoice: Take your pick from the following Scenic Freechoice excursions:

• Full day excursion to Salzburg: Cross the border into Salzburg, Austria, a storybook city surrounded by alpine peaks and best known as the home of Mozart and the Sound of Music. On a guided tour, learn about its art and music scene, visit Mozart's birthplace, and see the vast Hohensalzburg Fortress. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and some free time.
• Full day excursion to Ceský Krumlov: Journey to the Czech town of Ceský Krumlov, a World Heritage site brimming with charm. Explore with your local guide, admire the well-preserved Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture, and enjoy lunch in a local restaurant.
• Highlights of Passau: Join your local guide on a walking tour, admiring the brightly coloured buildings that line the waterways. Visit St. Stephens Cathedral, originally built in the year 450 but destroyed by fire in 1662 and rebuilt in the Baroque style.

Boasting a staggering 2,000 year history, Regensburg has one of Germany's best preserved Medieval town centres, with more than 900 of its Romanesque and Gothic buildings listed as World Heritage sites. Within its narrow laneways, the city lays claim to having the highest concentration of bars in the country.

Scenic Freechoice: Today, Regensburg offers a selection of Scenic Freechoice activities to choose from:

• Walking tour of Regensburg: On the confluence of three rivers in Bavaria, Regensburg is known as the best preserved medieval city in Germany. Guests will join a walking tour with a local guide to see the old stone bridge, the Church of St James, and the Porta Praetoria.
• Bavarian beer tasting: Learn about intricacies of beer making and the region's rich brewing heritage than spans over 1,000 years and is a valued part of the regions culture. Visit a traditional brewery to taste a variety of distinctive Bavarian brews.

Journey by coach to Prague, and spend three nights at a city central hotel.

Wake to the sound of church bells ringing out across this ancient city. This morning, join your expert local guide to explore Prague in all its Gothic glory including the Old Town, the famous Astronomical Clock and Charles Bridge, commissioned in 1357 by Charles IV. This afternoon, stroll this magnificent city at your leisure. Situated on the banks of the River Vltava in central Bohemia, Prague is rich in history and home to some of the world's most striking architectural wonders.

Today, discover more of Prague.

Scenic Freechoice: Explore your way with one of these excursions:

• Communist walk of Prague: Join an expert local guide for a walking tour of Prague's famous sites and hidden gems and learn about everyday life under Communism. They will even share some of their personal experiences of growing up during the socialist regime.
• Prague Castle tour: Explore Prague Castle, considered one of the largest castle complexes in the world. Visit St. Vitus Cathedral, the grandest cathedral in the Czech Republic, the Old Royal Palace, former residence of Bohemian Royalty, and the picturesque Golden Lane.

Depart after breakfast, taking many wonderful memories with you. Transfer via coach to the airport for your journey home.

This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons such as high and low water. As such, the cruise may operate altered from that stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions.

Please note: Preview itinerary subject to change.