Cruise & Rail: Venice & Istanbul

Arrive at Istanbul Airport. If your cruise/tour package includes a group arrival transfer or if you have purchased a private arrival transfer, a Uniworld representative will be on hand to greet you and escort you to the Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul (or similar).

Your adventure begins in the spectacular and bustling 3,000-year-old city of Istanbul. As the only city in the world built on two continents, Istanbul has a unique mix of Eastern and Western culture. Experience it all during your free time here by browsing the thousands of vendors of the Grand Bazaar and sampling Turkish delights amongst colorful piles of seasonings at the Spice Bazaar. Cross from Europe to Asia on a Bosphorus strait ferry—if you're lucky, you might even spot a pod of dolphins along the way! You'll also want to explore some of the city's famous architectural masterpieces, such as the brilliantly tiled Blue Mosque and the ancient Hagia Sophia, plus the beautiful gardens stretched between them.

In the afternoon you will be taken to Istanbul's historic Sirkeci railway station, starting point of the world famous Orient Express. The station is currently only used by the Venice Simplon Orient Express and the Golden Eagle Danube Express. Your cabin attendants will be waiting on the platform to welcome you and escort you to your cabin. Enjoy a spectacular view of the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus as the train leaves the station and slowly threads its way along the Sea of Marmara. After settling into your cabin, you will head to one of the restaurant cars for a Welcome Dinner. During the night your train will cross the border into Bulgaria.

After breakfast, your train arrives in Plovdiv. The second largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia, ‘The City of Seven Hills' is one of the oldest cities in Europe with more than 200 known archaeological sites. Spend the morning here exploring the Roman Forum and Amphitheatre. You'll also visit the charming Old Town including its medieval walls and Ottoman baths. After lunch, your train arrives in Sofia, Bulgaria's capital at the foot of Vitosha Mountain. On your afternoon tour, you will visit sections of the Roman wall and admire the ancient Church of St. George, the golden domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the Turkish Banya Bashi Mosque.

This morning, you'll cross into Greece and after breakfast arrive in the vibrant city of Thessaloniki. Soak up the atmosphere of this vibrant city by heading to Aristotelous Square and the seafront before returning to the train for lunch. In the afternoon, you'll arrive in the little-visited Skopje and discover a city where the Ottoman influences are still strong. Explore the narrow streets of the Old Town with tiny shops and mosques with ceramic-tiled interiors. Meander through the Old Bazaar area, brimming with things to buy, and cross the 15th-century stone bridge that links the bazaar to the modern town.

Arrive this morning in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, the former Yugoslavian capital. Located at the strategic meeting point of the Danube and Sava Rivers, this truly cosmopolitan city has fortifications from Celtic times, medieval tombs and Turkish baths. Spend a full day here and set out on a city tour that includes the ‘House of Flowers'—the mausoleum of Josip Tito. On the tour, you'll also see the Town Hall, Republic Square, Knez Mihailova Street, ‘Varoš' and the mighty Kalemegdan Fortress. Lunch today will be in the spectacular Salon 1905. You'll leave Belgrade late in the afternoon and head towards Bosnia.

Over breakfast, you'll travel along a very scenic line to the historic city of Mostar, the crossroads of many civilizations, cultures and religions. Mostar was one of the most important cities of the Ottoman Empire. The town's renowned stone arch bridge linking the Christian and Muslim areas was re-built in the summer of 2004. Visit the Turkish House and the mosque before walking through the narrow bazaar streets, where you can shop for traditional souvenirs and handicrafts.

Depart Mostar, and after lunch you'll arrive in the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo, which has an intriguing blend of Eastern and Western culture. It has mosques and minarets, an ancient bazaar and an atmospheric old Turkish quarter. Discover the city's poignant history through a truly absorbing tour detailing the horrors of the Balkan War. Sarajevo suffered from the longest siege of a capital city in the history of modern warfare. The scars of war are still evident in the war-torn buildings you'll pass before making a special visit to the Tunnel Museum under Sarajevo Airport. Your guide, who lived through the 1992–1996 conflict, powerfully brings to life the struggles that the citizens of Sarajevo faced during the siege of the city. Return to the train for dinner onboard as your journey continues on to Croatia and Slovenia.

Have breakfast onboard as the train heads to Croatia's Capital, Zagreb, then spend the morning touring the city. Return to the train for lunch as the train follows the scenic River Sava to the Capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana. Tour this lovely, compact city by foot and by a cruise on the Ljubljanica River. Later, you'll head to Lake Bled, one of the most picturesque and photographed lakes in Eastern Europe. Then, return to the train for a Farewell Dinner onboard as you travel overnight toward Italy.

After an early breakfast, you'll stop in the medieval port city of Trieste, once amongst the oldest and largest cities in the Habsburg Empire. Then return to the train and prepare to disembark at the Venice Santa Lucia Station on the Canal Grande, where you will be transferred to the ship. Unpack, relax and enjoy your first evening on the Venetian Lagoon. (B)

With your early morning arrival at Doge's Palace, you'll be able to marvel at the estate in total peace. Wander through a Venetian neighborhood and experience daily life in an authentic Venetian residential quarter. Later in the evening, cap the day off with a private once-in-a-lifetime experience at an after-hours lighting ceremony inside St. Mark's Basilica without the crowds. (B/L/D)

Featured Excursions: Choice of A morning walk in Venice with Doge's Palace visit OR Private after-hours visit to Saint Mark's Basilica

Choose between a full-day in medieval Padua, home to Italy's second oldest university, or a Venice walking tour and a choice of several exciting ways to see Chioggia: riding on a traditional bragozzo or biking through this authentic fishing town. (B/L/WD)

Featured Excursions: Choice of Bragozzo ride with tastings at Ca' Zen OR “Let's Go” biking Chioggia with Ca' Zen visit and tasting OR Padua walking tour and "Drink like an Italian" OR Venice morning walk with gondola shipyard visit

Note: A special Captain's Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening. IMPORTANT: We are obliged to comply with Italian Maritime Authorities who require that only crew may be on the ship during the Adriatic Sea passage. Therefore, our guests must disembark the ship and partake in the featured excursions.

Explore Italy's culinary capital Bologna on a full-day tour packed with an exclusive pasta-making workshop and lunch or explore Ferrara on a half-day tour. (B/L/D)

Featured Excursions: Choice of Ferrara: Renaissance, elegance and Italian lifestyle town walk OR Private pasta-making and Italian lunch in Bologna

Today, you'll admire the greatest sites of charming and coastal Chioggia, including a stop at the local and lively market. Your ship will move to dock overnight in Burano, where you'll enjoy a lovely evening stroll through this multicolored island. (B/L/D)

Featured Excursions: Choice of Evening stroll in Burano OR Chioggia market visit

Note: IMPORTANT: We are obliged to comply with Italian Maritime Authorities who require that only crew may be on the ship during the Adriatic Sea passage. Therefore, our guests must disembark the ship and partake in the featured excursions. We thank you for your cooperation.

Spend the day exploring the northern lagoon of Venice and three of its captivating islands. Explore a basilica with an art historian in Torcello before heading to the peaceful, agricultural island of Mazzorbo. End the tour with a stroll through Burano's rainbow of colorful homes and visit a lace-making atelier. (B/D)

Featured Excursion: Magic Island Day: hidden treasures of the lagoon

As your water taxi glides past narrow side canals and the Canal Grande, you'll arrive in style at the Rialto Bridge and Fondaco dei Tedeschi. The iconic stone arch bridge sits at the narrowest point of the Canal Grande and holds numerous shops and restaurants. (B/L/FD)

Featured Excursions: Choice of “Do as the Locals Do” Venice walking tour OR Rialto walking tour with Casanova

Note: A special Captain's Farewell Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.

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