Eastern Europe with Balkan Adventure and Transylvania

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. This evening, perhaps join an optional Polish Dinner and Folklore Show.

Enhance Your Journey – 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, join a 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.

Insider Experience – 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.

After breakfast, travel to your hotel in Brașov, stopping en route in the town of Sinaia for free time to enjoy lunch at your leisure.

This morning, travel to Bran Castle, also known as ‘Dracula’s Castle’. With a local guide, learn about its history as you walk through its many rooms and admire the 19th-century antiques. Return to Brașov and join a guided tour through its old streets, lined with well-preserved medieval architecture. Explore the colourful baroque buildings and Gothic masterpieces while enjoying the bustling ambiance of the cafes, restaurants and shops.

Journey from Braşov to Bucharest, Romania’s vibrant capital. Once you’ve checked in to your accommodation, the rest of the day is at leisure. You might wander along elegant boulevards like Calea Victoriei, relax in one of the city’s leafy parks, or admire the ornate Romanian Athenaeum, a symbol of Bucharest’s cultural heritage.

Today, discover Bucharest on a guided tour, taking in its wide, tree-lined boulevards framed by elegant Belle Époque architecture. Explore the atmospheric Old Town, where highlights include the Stavropoleos Monastery and the lively Lipscani district, where medieval merchants once traded. The remainder of your day is at leisure to continue exploring at your own pace or relax and soak up the city’s vibrant atmosphere.

Your adventure comes to an end today with a transfer to the airport.