Eastern Europe with Best of the Balkans

Arrive in Prague, where you'll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Later this evening, enjoy a Welcome Reception.

Today, explore beautiful Prague with an expert guide. Discover the World Heritage-listed Old Town, St Vitus Cathedral, Charles Bridge and Prague's Old Market Square, a historic and bustling square where the culture of this fascinating city comes to life.

The rest of the day is free for you to explore Prague at your own pace. This evening, discover Prague's culinary scene independently or join our optional folklore dinner and show.

Enhance Your Journey - Folklore Dinner and Show Travel to a local restaurant to enjoy a traditional dinner and a lively folklore show.

This morning after breakfast, travel across the border into Germany. As you journey through the state of Saxony, stop in Saxon Switzerland National Park to see the rock formations of Bastei as well as the Bastei Bridge, which offers wonderful panoramic views over the mountains. Continue by coach to Germany's capital, Berlin, and check in to your hotel.

Once a city famously divided in two, modern-day Berlin now embodies a fascinating blend of the old and the new. Start your day with a guided tour that will take you past many of the must-see landmarks. See the historic Reichstag building and the Brandenburg Gate - a symbol of peace and a reunified Berlin. You'll also visit a ruined section of the Berlin Wall.

This afternoon, you may choose to travel by coach to Potsdam, where you will join an optional guided tour of the former royal summer palace, Sanssouci.

Enhance Your Journey - Sanssouci Palace Take an excursion to Potsdam, once the residence of Prussian kings. Here, you'll enjoy a tour of the former summer palace of Frederick the Great, Sanssouci.

Today, farewell the incredible city of Berlin and travel through the beautiful, rolling countryside of Germany's east into Poland and on to Warsaw.

Insider Experience - Dine at Lotus in Warsaw Discover the delights of modern Polish cuisine during dinner at Lotus - a highly regarded restaurant in Warsaw. Relish authentic dishes from an impressive set menu as you soak in the cosy yet elegant atmosphere.

The brutal events of World War II left a lasting mark on the city, yet the Warsaw of today is diverse and progressive, filled with stylish boutiques, chic restaurants, new museums and modern buildings. Also visit Łazienki Park where you will glimpse Łazienki Palace with its serene waters and ornate statues.

Today, you will journey through rolling farmland from Warsaw to Kraków. Along the way, you'll visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, where a tour will provide a haunting insight into the plight of the Jews who were sent to these infamous Nazi concentration camps. Afterwards, check in to your hotel in Kraków and enjoy an evening at leisure.

Enjoy the sights of Kraków on a tour, taking in the Wawel Royal Castle and the famous Old Town.

Insider Experience - Polish Dinner and Folklore Show Enjoy a traditional Polish folklore show and authentic regional cuisine at Morskie Oko, a restaurant located in an art nouveau building with interiors resembling a highlander's inn, complete with a fireplace and candlelight. Experience authentic Polish hospitality and a relaxed yet charming atmosphere. Savour authentic regional cuisine including delicious meats served with savoury sauces, handmade dumplings and freshly baked cakes.

Today, perhaps join an optional tour to the Wieliczka Salt Mine. This ancient, abandoned mine is a marvel, featuring a maze of underground chambers, grottoes and statues chiselled out of rock salt by miners hundreds of years ago.

Enhance Your Journey - Wieliczka Salt Mine Gain insight into over 700 years of mining history in Europe with a visit to the World Heritage-listed Wieliczka Salt Mine.

This morning after breakfast, you will travel to Budapest via the Tatra Mountains in Slovakia and board your ship.

After breakfast, join a local guide to explore the city. Admire Budapest's grand landmarks and architectural highlights as you discover the city's rich history.

From the quiet port town of Mohács, history enthusiasts may wish to travel to the ancient city of Pécs. Hungary's fifth-largest city and a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site, it offers a wealth of historic sights, including the copper-domed Downtown Candlemas Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the 11th-century Pécs Cathedral. This afternoon is at leisure, or you may choose to join an optional excursion to Hungary's renowned Villány wine region for a tasting.

Enhance Your Journey - Villány Wine Tasting Travel to Hungary's celebrated Villány wine region, known for its red and rosé varieties. Visit a local winery for a guided tour and tasting.

Begin a captivating exploration of Osijek, a vibrant city rich in history. Wander its cobblestone streets, where well-preserved 18th-century architecture reveals glimpses of the past, and visit landmarks such as Holy Trinity Square and the Church of Saint Michael. Later, continue to Vukovar for a tasting of regional delicacies before rejoining your ship for a leisurely afternoon cruise towards Serbia.

In Serbia's capital, embark on a guided tour of Belgrade. Visit the historic Belgrade Fortress, offering sweeping views over the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers, and the Church of Saint Sava, one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world. Later, gain insight into local life and traditions during a special Insider Experience.

Insider Experience - Village Farm and Slivovitz Tour Visit a local family's village home, touring the house and barn to meet the resident farm animals. Stroll through the orchards to learn about the distillation of slivovitz - Serbia's traditional plum brandy - and its place in everyday culture.

Today, witness nature at its finest as your ship cruises through the Iron Gates, a dramatic landscape of lush forests, towering cliffs and rugged gorges. Forming part of the border between Serbia and Romania, this remarkable stretch of the Danube offers one of the river's most spectacular cruising experiences.

Go ashore in Ruse, one of Bulgaria's most elegant cities. Join a walking tour to admire its Belle Époque architecture and manicured garden squares, often compared to the charm of Vienna. Along the way, pass the Monument of Liberty, the courthouse, and Battenberg Square. The afternoon is yours to explore at leisure - perhaps visit the Rousse Regional Historical Museum the National Transport Museum or the ancient ruins of the Sexaginta Prista fortress.

Spend the entire day in Bucharest, Romania's vibrant capital. Begin with a guided tour through the city's broad, tree-lined boulevards and grand Belle Époque buildings, which lend the city its unique charm. Continue with a stroll through the Old Town, where you'll visit the historic Royal Court, the exquisite Stavropoleos Church, and the lively Lipscani district.

The afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure, or perhaps you'd like to explore the open-air Village Museum, where you can immerse yourself in traditional Romanian life and discover the country's rich cultural heritage.

Today, discover the fortified walls and cobblestone lanes of Veliko Târnovo, once the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire and a city steeped in medieval history. Join a local guide for a tour of its historic centre, including the restored Tsarevets fortress, the former citadel of the empire. Afterwards, continue to the hilltop village of Arbanasi, renowned for its heritage and well-preserved architecture, where you'll enjoy a traditional lunch before returning to your ship.

Explore Baba Vida, a medieval stronghold dating back to the 10th century, and admire its imposing walls and towers while learning about its storied past. Continue to Belogradchik to visit the ancient Belogradchik Fortress, dramatically set on the northern slopes of the Balkan Mountains. While here, take time to admire the town's remarkable rock formations, which give Belogradchik its distinctive and striking landscape.

The day is yours to spend on board. Take it easy and relax, taking in postcard-perfect views from the Sun Deck.

Step ashore to explore Novi Sad, Serbia's second-largest city and often regarded as its cultural capital. Join a guided tour through its charming streets and lively cultural precincts, followed by free time to relax and soak up the atmosphere. You may also wish to visit Petrovaradin Fortress, an imposing complex overlooking the Danube, where the intriguing catacombs reveal glimpses of the fortress's storied past.

Dock in Kalocsa, a charming Hungarian town steeped in history on the banks of the Danube. From here, travel to the Puszta for your Insider Experience.

Insider Experience - Traditional Horse Show In the Puszta, enjoy a traditional horse show showcasing the remarkable riding skills of the Hungarian cavalry. You may also choose to take an optional carriage ride, visit the stables and meet the riders.

Enjoy a day at leisure to explore Budapest. You may wish to join an optional tour to the city's Great Market Hall, a must-visit housed in a beautiful 19th-century building and a paradise for food lovers and shoppers. Alternatively, visit the Hospital in the Rock Nuclear Bunker Museum, a wartime hospital built within the caverns beneath Buda Castle and later used as a nuclear bunker during the Cold War. This evening, enjoy a Captain's Farewell Dinner.

Enhance Your Journey - Great Market Hall Tour Join a culinary tour through the market, discovering a variety of Hungarian sausages, meats, cheeses, fruits and vegetables.

Enhance Your Journey - Hospital in the Rock Nuclear Bunker Museum Explore the Hospital in the Rock Nuclear Bunker Museum, once a World War II hospital and later a Cold War bunker, located within the caves beneath Buda Castle.

Disembark your ship this morning and be transferred to the airport.