Highlights of Eastern Europe

Arrive at Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport. If you have arranged a Uniworld arrival transfer, you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the hotel.

Get to know the bustling heart of Romania's capital city with a full day to explore Bucharest on your own.

Featured Excursions: Choice of The Ceausescu Mansion - a Dictator's private home OR Snagov Palace with Vlad the Impaler's tomb OR Bucharest Foodie Tour

Bucharest is a fascinating combination of Communist grandiosity, elegant French-influenced 19th-century buildings and surprising survivors dating from the 1500s. Today in Bucharest you'll enjoy a panoramic city tour and a visit to People's Palace. Later, you'll travel via motorcoach to Giurgiu, where your ship awaits. In the evening, a special Captain's Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you.

Featured Excursion: Bucharest Communist Tour with People's Palace

Bulgaria's foremost Danube port, Ruse is sometimes called “Little Vienna” for its elegant 19th-century mansions and public buildings.

Featured Excursions: Choice of Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi with Authentic Bulgarian Lunch OR Ruse Walking Tour with Ivanovo and Basarbovo Monasteries

Vidin is a port town on the Danube that once played an important role in medieval Bulgarian politics, as the great fortress Baba Vida attests. It's your base for an unusual excursion today—a visit to the fascinating Belogradchik rock formations. Or you can indulge in a tasting at a local winery.

Featured Excursions: Choice of Belogradchik Red Rock Valley OR Dos Alamos Wine Estate Visit and Tasting

Today's main attraction will be the spectacular scenery along the Danube, as you cruise a stretch of gorges known as the Iron Gates. Later, head ashore to explore a Paleolithic site and an extraordinarily well-preserved medieval fortress. All along the way, history lines the banks of the river. Keep an eye out for Trajan's Plaque, which the ancient Romans erected to commemorate the road they anchored in the steep cliffs above the water, and Golubac Castle, built in the 14th century and attacked successively by the Serbs, Magyars, and Turks.

Unwind onboard as you cruise the breathtaking Iron Gates, an 83-mile-long (134-kilometer-long) stretch of scenic gorges that were cut through the Carpathian and Balkan mountains over eons by the Danube River. These gorges, which act as a natural border between Serbia and Romania, are among the most dramatic and beautiful sights in all of Europe. This was one of the swiftest and most dangerous stretches of the river before two dams were built: Iron Gate I and Iron Gate II. Construction on the dams began in 1964 and took 20 years to complete; they have dramatically altered the area's landscape, raising the water level by 114 feet (35 meters) and drowning several islands and villages.

Featured Excursions: Choice of Lepenski Vir Archaeological Park and Golubac Castle OR Let's Go: Kovilovo Viewpoint Hike 

Belgrade, the modern-day capital of Serbia, is one of Europe's oldest cities, dating back some 7,000 years. Signs of its tumultuous history are visible everywhere, juxtaposed with the city's vibrant modern-day present.

Featured Excursions: Choice of Nights Out: Kalemegdan Fortress Concert OR Belgrade City Tour with Visit to the Royal Grounds of Karadjordjevic Dynasty Palace OR Let's Go: "I Bike Belgrade" Tour OR Skardarlija Bohemian Street & Truffle Tasting

Welcome to Croatia! This ancient country, which has made a remarkable recovery from a brutal civil war, is noted for its beautiful countryside and thriving folk traditions, as well as simple, delicious local rustic food. You'll dock in Vukovar, Croatia's biggest port, at the confluence of the Danube and Vuka rivers.

Featured Excursions: Choice of Osijek Walking Tour, Home-Hosted Lunch, and Vučedol Museum OR Osijek Panoramic Tour, Family Restaurant Lunch, and Eltz Manor

Located on opposite sides of the Danube, Buda and Pest each have their own distinctive character and allure. Explore this dynamic and multifaceted city with your choice of excursions—you can see it from a local's perspective on our walking tour, or cover more ground with a panoramic tour. Vibrant Budapest, Hungary's capital, offers an enchanting combination of East and West.

Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience onboard today, during which a local speaker will present an engaging lecture on the history of the Roma people in Hungary, accompanied by a vibrant musical performance. In the evening, a special Captain's Farewell Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you. (B/L/FD)

Featured Excursions: Choice of Budapest Panoramic Highlights with Synagogue Visit OR Budapest Communist Tour 

Disembark the ship. If you have arranged a Uniworld departure transfer, you will be transferred to Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport for your flight home. Or you can extend your stay in beautiful Budapest with our exciting optional post-cruise extension.