Cruise & Rail: Castles of Transylvania & the Enchanting Danube

Arrive at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport. If your cruise package includes a group arrival transfer or if you have purchased a private arrival transfer, you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to your luxury hotel.

Enjoy a morning drinks reception in the impressive Royal Waiting Room at Budapest Nyugati station before boarding the Golden Eagle Danube Express. Settle into your cabin and later enjoy lunch as the train heads to Lajosmizse for a spectacular ‘Puszta' horse show. Afterwards there is time to explore Kecskemét, a fascinating city at the geographical center of Hungary. Back on board, enjoy a pre-dinner drink in the Bar Lounge Car as the train continues across the Great Hungarian Plain and dine as you head towards Romania and Transylvania.

After breakfast onboard, your train will arrive in the 13th-century town of Sibiu, Romania, where you will spend the morning touring the area. Reboard for lunch as your train travels to Sighișoara for a guided walking tour of the town's main highlights. A World Heritage Site and the rumored birthplace of Dracula, it is one of the best-preserved fortified medieval towns in Europe. Burgher houses and ornate churches line its cobbled streets. Dinner is served onboard as your train departs for Brasov and its castles in the Carpathian Mountains.

Early morning will find you at Sinaia, where you'll detrain after breakfast and travel the short distance to the stunning neo-Renaissance Peles Castle. Stop for lunch on the train before moving on to Brasov for a tour of the medieval Old Town, then head out to the Rasnov Citadel and Castle. Late in the afternoon, you'll visit Bran Castle, popularly known as Dracula's Castle, due to it being the setting for Bram Stoker's Dracula. The beautiful 14th-century building is situated amongst stunning mountain scenery. The castle will be exclusively for you and your fellow passengers in the early evening and, following a tour of the castle, there will be a Gala Dinner.

Arrive in Cluj-Napoca in the early morning. An 800 year-old city that was the capital of Transylvania during its independence, Cluj-Napoca became an “unofficial capital” when Transylvania was annexed into Romania. The city is built on the banks of the Somesul river at the edge of the Apuseni Mountains. Spend the morning touring the city before rejoining the train for lunch as you head back towards Hungary and across the Hungarian Plain to Budapest, where you'll arrive in the Budapest Railway Museum during the farewell dinner onboard. Tonight, you will be transferred to the Budapest hotel for your final night.

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and enjoy some free time to relax or explore Budapest on your own. In the afternoon, you will be transferred to the ship to begin your unforgettable journey along the Danube River.

Featured Excursion: Jewish Budapest

Budapest is an enchanting city that presents a vibrant mix of medieval and modern. (B/L/WD)

Featured Excursions: Choice of Budapest panoramic highlights with Opera House visit OR Budapest walk with local treats

Note: In the evening, a special Captain's Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you.

Your ship sets sail from Bratislava later this morning and heads for Vienna today. You may relax onboard all day, perhaps enjoying a drink on the Sun Deck and taking in the scenery as the ship wends its way along the Danube Bend. When you arrive in Vienna, you'll cap off your day with a private concert of Mozart and Strauss at a stunning Viennese palace. (B/L/D)

Featured Excursions: Choice of Night Out: Private Mozart and Strauss concert OR Bratislava - small but precious walking tour OR "Let's Go" hike to Bratislava Castle OR Schönbrunn Palace After Hours Visit

Vienna is a cultural treasure trove revered for its art and music (and sinfully rich pastries). Experience the “City of Waltzes” with your choice of tours, as well as an expertly led tour of an extraordinary collection of art at the renowned Vienna Art History Museum. (B/L/D)

Featured Excursions: Choice of “Morning with the Masters” at the Vienna Art History Museum OR Vienna - Imperial City highlights OR Vienna's music and composers

Note: You have leisure time after your tour to explore Vienna on your own. You might wish to visit the Albertina Museum, which houses one million old-master prints and an impressive collection of works by 19th- and 20th-century painters, ranging from Renoir to Rothko. If you'd like to get a little exercise and see a completely different side of Vienna, borrow a bike from the ship and explore Danube Island and Prater Park. (For a wonderful view of the region, ride the Ferris wheel in Prater Park.)

Dürnstein is one of our favorite towns along the Danube, a lovely place to wander cobblestone lanes, browse quaint shops and maybe hike up to a ruined castle (with an intriguing tale all its own). You can also opt for a tasting or learn all about the world's costliest spice from the Wachau Valley's only saffron grower. Later, visit the 900-year-old Melk Abbey and its extraordinary baroque-style library. You have two ports of call in the incredibly scenic valley, Dürnstein and Melk, and an assortment of delightful ways to explore this lovely region. (B/L/D)

Featured Excursions: Choice of Melk Abbey with library visit OR Dürnstein wine estate visit with tasting OR Dürnstein village and saffron workshop

Mozart's birthplace of Salzburg is nestled in a glorious alpine setting that sparkles like a winter wonderland. Linz may be best known for its famous Linzer torte, but it's also a hotbed for the arts. See the sights with a local expert and visit a family at their farm in the countryside. Austria's third-largest city, Linz boasts a long history of trading and textile manufacturing, but these days it is perhaps best known for its electronic arts and annual festival. (B/L/D)

Featured Excursions: Choice of Full-day in Salzburg with Sound of Music OR Linz town and country: Linzertorte and cider farm visit

Passau is a crossroads in more ways than one, as three rivers meet here and three nations nearly do, making for a fascinating cultural mosaic. Get to know the town and its main claim to fame—Europe's largest pipe organ—or “Let's Go” with an invigorating riverside hike or bike ride. (B/L/FD)

Featured Excursions: Choice of Passau three rivers OR “Let's Go” bicycle ride along the Inn River OR “Let's Go” hike along the Ilz River

Note: In the evening, a special Captain's Farewell Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you.

Disembark the ship. If your cruise package includes a group departure transfer or if you purchased a private departure transfer, you will be transferred to Munich Airport for your flight home. (B)