Detailed Itinerary

DAY 1, DEPART USA
Board your overnight flight.

DAY 2, ARRIVE IN PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
Arrive in Prague and transfer to your hotel. The balance of the day is free to start exploring this beautiful city.

DAY 3, PRAGUE
This morning’s sightseeing reveals why Prague is considered one of Europe’s most attractive cities. Visit the thousand-year-old Hradcany Castle courtyard, St. Vitus, and then walk over the Charles Bridge to the Old Market Square. The evening is free to mix with the locals at Wenceslas Square, shop for souvenirs or enjoy one of the charming cafés or restaurants. (B)

DAY 4, PRAGUE
Today, why not join the optional tour to Terezin, the once infamous Nazi WWII labor camp, now a memorial to those who perished. Or, stroll through a museum or wander along the banks of the Vlatava River. (B)

DAY 5, PRAGUE – KARLOVY VARY – NUREMBERG, GERMANY
This morning, depart Prague after breakfast and stop in Karlovy Vary, better known by its German name, Carlsbad, and most famous for its Bohemian Spa. After lunch, drive through the pastoral countryside to Nuremberg, the capital of Franconia. Tonight gather onboard for a Welcome Cocktail and Dinner. The ship will moor overnight in Nuremberg. (B,D)

DAY 6, NUREMBERG - CROSSING THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE - DIETFURT
Enjoy a guided morning tour of this historic city with its fabulous Gothic churches and elegant impressive walls. See the storybook 900-year-old ramparts that surround the city, the Imperial Castle and the Justice Palace where the War Crimes Tribunal sat in 1946. Return to the ship for your cruise through the Main-Danube Canal and the highest point of your journey - 1,332 feet above sea level before descending through stair-step locks past the charming Bavarian town of Dietfurt. (B,L,D)

DAY 7, REGENSBURG
This morning’s scenic cruising takes you through the final stretch of the Main-Danube Canal to arrive in magnificent Regensburg, one of Germany's best preserved medieval cities. A guided tour will show you the city's architectural highlights, including the Old Town Hall and the Porta Praetoria - gates to an ancient Roman fort which was built in 179 AD. Marvel at beautiful churches and one of the oldest bridges crossing the Danube. In the alternative, you may take a tour of the Audi Car Factory (subject to availability). The rest of the afternoon is free for exploring, or to join the optional excursion to beautiful Weltenburg Abbey in the Danube Gorge (seasonal). In the evening enjoy a music performance on board. (B,L,D)

DAY 8, PASSAU - LINZ, AUSTRIA
After breakfast, arrive in picturesque Passau, where the rivers Inn and Ilz join the Danube. Your city tour takes you on an exploration of this fairy tale locale founded more than 2,000 years ago. Or, substitute the city tour with the optional excursion to Salzburg, birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and setting for “The Sound of Music.” During your walking tour see Mozart’s birthplace. For those staying on board, enjoy a scenic cruise from Passau into Austria and on to Linz. After dinner, take a walk through this delightful town, Austria’s third largest city and a major river port. (B,L,D)

DAY 9, MELK - VIENNA
Cruise through the narrow Strudengau and reach the Wachau Valley early this morning. A guided tour takes you to Melk's magnificent Benedictine Abbey. Return to the ship for lunch as you cruise the romantic Wachau Valley. Arrive in Vienna, the "City of Music," before dinner. Explore the magnificent Austrian capital on your own, or join an optional Mozart and Strauss concert. (B,L,D)

DAY 10, VIENNA
Enjoy a guided city tour followed by free time in the city center, then a walking tour from St. Stephen’s. In the afternoon, enjoy your free time strolling along the main shopping street, Karntnerstrasse, or sampling some of Vienna’s famous pastries. In the alternative, you can join an optional tour to the Imperial Schönbrunn Palace, which includes entrance to the Carriage Museum. Enjoy dinner as you continue your journey pass Slovakia and cruise overnight to Budapest, Hungary's vibrant capital. (B,L,D)

DAY 11, BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
This morning, your sightseeing tour takes you to historic Buda Castle from where you can enjoy a splendid view of the twin cities of Buda and Pest spread over both banks of the River. Your tour also features the distinctive Fisherman's Bastion, the marvelous Royal Palace, St. Stephen's Basilica and Great Market Hall. Tonight enjoy a special “Illuminations Cruise” past the illuminated river front of Budapest. (B,L,D)

DAY 12, BUDAPEST
The Puszta is the region of Hungary most widely known throughout the world. The vast flat Great Hungarian Plain stretches across to the east, where Hungarian cowboys still wear traditional garb and practice the skills of their Magyar ancestors. Upon arrival, you will be met by horse-herds and greeted with warm hospitality. Try their national dish of goulash for lunch. (B,L,D)

DAY 13, MOHACS - PECS - VILANY
Arrive in Mohács during breakfast and then depart for your excursion to Pecs. Founded more than 2,000 years ago by the Romans, Pecs became an important early Christian bishopric and Turkish cultural base during the many centuries of Ottoman rule. The area around Pecs is made up of rolling hills, vine clad slopes and a modest climate that give the city a distinctly Mediterranean feel. Upon arrival, you will take a city tour that includes UNESCO underground excavations. (B,L,D)

DAY 14, VUKOVAR, CROATIA - NOVI SAD, SERBIA
On your guided motor coach and walking tour of Vukovar you will see such highlights as the Manorhouse Eltz and the Ovcara (Croatian victims during the Yugoslav civil war ) Memorial. Enjoy lunch on board as you cruise to Novi Sad, Serbia. Enjoy a walking tour of Novi Sad in the afternoon. The ship sails for Belgrade at midnight (B,L,D)

DAY 15, BELGRADE
Wake up in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, and explore its myriad of streets, plazas and squares. Belgrade has over 5,500 streets, 16 plazas and 32 squares. Your guided tour features Tito's memorial, the Town Hall, the Federal Parliament Building, Terazije Street, Republic Square and Mihajlova street, "Varos" Gate and the mighty Kalemegdan Fortress. In the alternative, you can participate in a guided bicycle tour of the city (capacity controlled). You will have free time in the city center after your tour. (B,L,D)

DAY 16, CRUISING THROUGH THE IRON GATES – VIDIN, BULGARIA
Today, enjoy a full day of cruising through one of Europe's most awe-inspiring natural wonders, the Iron Gates. Here the Danube narrows, as it winds through a range of magnificent gorges between the southern Carpathian Mountains and the northwestern foothills of the Balkan Mountains. Forming the natural border between Serbia and Romania, today’s passage will be an unforgettable highlight of your cruise. Late this evening, the ship sails to Vidin. (B,L,D)

DAY 17, VIDIN
The "Bada Vida" Fortress sits guard over the Danube at the Bulgarian frontier town of Vidin. The 14th-century castle has massive walls and dark towers, in contrast to the natural park that surrounds the castle. From here, take an excursion to Belogradschik, a beautifully restored 6th-century castle, located in a stunning landscape of unusual rock formations. (B,L,D)

DAY 18, GIURGIU - BUCHAREST, ROMANIA – ROUSSE, BULGARIA
Enjoy a full day excursion to Bucharest, known as “Paris of the East.” The city is famed for its Belle Epoque era buildings dating from the 19th-century. During the morning city tour, you will see the Arch of Triumph, Soseaua Kiseleff, the Athenaeum, the Library and visit the Palace of the Parliament - the world's largest palace. Enjoy lunch in a typical Romanian restaurant, and then choose to shop, explore on your own or visit the Open Air Museum, which was dedicated to the traditional architecture and buildings of rural Romania. This evening, the ship departs for Rousse. (B,L,D)

DAY 19, ROUSSE - VELIKO TARNOVO - PLOVDIV, BULGARIA
Disembark in Rousse and continue your tour by motor coach, where your first stop is the ancient capital of Bulgaria, Veliko Tarnovo. Here you will tour Tsarevets Hill, the citadel of the city, the old fortress walls, the Royal Palaces, the Patriarchal church and Baldwin's Tower. Shoppers can explore the traditional street market, Samovodska Charshia. Enjoy a traditional Bulgarian lunch before continuing on to Plovdiv. This evening, see the main highlights of Plovdiv Old Town on a walking tour before dinner at your hotel. (B,D)

DAY 20, PLOVDIV - ISTANBUL, TURKEY
After breakfast, continue on to magical Istanbul for the grand three-night conclusion of your Voyage. You will stop for lunch in Erdine, where you will transfer to another motor coach for the remainder of your journey to Istanbul. (B)

DAY 21, ISTANBUL
A comprehensive city tour will take you through the old city, with its numerous Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman monuments of her historic past. Admire the mighty defensive walls, the Roman aqueduct and the hippodrome. See the Galata Tower and visit the Blue Mosque. This evening is free to explore the town on your own or join the optional “Turkish Delight” tour. (B)

DAY 22, ISTANBUL
Today, your guided sightseeing tour will take you to the Ottoman Sultans' Grand Palace of Topkapi, home to every Sultan from the 15th-century to the end of the 19th-century. During your tour, admire the private chambers of the Sultans, marvel at the world famous Harem and also see the treasury, home to the Topkapi Diamond. This afternoon, enjoy an optional Bosphorus cruise and visit to the Spice Bazaar or use the remainder of the day to shop for souvenirs or relax at one of the charming tea houses or restaurants. (B)

DAY 23, ISTANBUL - USA
Transfer to the airport for your onward flight. (B)