Gems of Southeast Europe with Bucharest, Brasov and Vienna (Wine Cruise)

Arrive in Bucharest and check in to your lovely hotel.

Bucharest, Romania's capital, has earned its nickname, the “Little Paris of the East,” with its wide boulevards and Arc de Triomphe. Enjoy a visit to the city's most impressive sites—including the historic city center. Or take a walking tour of Bucharest's Old Town. (B)

Excursions:

• Bucharest City Tour & Parliament Palace Visit OR Old Town walking tour

Journey through the Romanian countryside to Bran, where you'll visit Transylvania's legendary Bran Castle, forever linked with the legend of Dracula. Afterwards, enjoy a walking tour around Braşov. Later, head to Braşov for a tour and check into your hotel. (B)

Excursions:

• Transfer to Brasov
• Bran Castle visit and Brasov tour

Dracula lovers will be in for another treat with an excursion to Sighişoara, birthplace to Transylvania's most notorious ruler, Vlad Ţepeş, also known as Vlad the Impaler or Dracula. It's hard to believe that this perfectly preserved UNESCO-designated town filled with resplendent pastel-colored buildings, stone lanes, medieval towers and pedestrian-friendly Old Town was Vlad's place of birth. His home is still here, marked with a placard; however, today it houses a kitschy restaurant called “Casa Dracula.” (B)

Excursions:

• Sighișoara excursion

Embark the ship in Giurgiu for your Gems of Southeast Europe cruise.

Excursions:

• Transfer to Sinaia
• Sinaia Excursion
• Peles Royal Castle tour

Experience more of Bucharest, or visit Bulgaria's ancient capital, Veliko Tarnovo, with its medieval fortress and multiple orthodox temples. You can opt instead to explore Rousse, known for its 19th- and 20th-century Neo-Baroque and Neo-Rococo architecture, and then afterwards visit the UNESCO-designated Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo with frescos revealing exceptional artistry of 14th-century paintings. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Veliko Tarnovo excursion OR Bucharest excursion OR Rousse Walking Tour and Rock-Hewn Churche

Explore Vidin, one of Bulgaria's oldest cities, and surrounding areas with a choice of excursions. Discover Baba Vida Fortress, the largest preserved medieval castle in Bulgaria. Alternatively, visit a local home for a demonstration of traditional Bulgarian yogurt and Banitsa, a pastry you will also get to make. You also have the choice to bike through Vidin and to the castle. Or enjoy a wine tasting at a local boutique winery situated just outside of Vidin. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Baba Vida Fortress and Vidin Walking Tour OR Banitsa Pastry & Yogurt Making OR Vidin Bike Tour OR Dos Alamos wine tasting

The Iron Gates are some of Europe's most awe-inspiring natural wonders. The Danube narrows as it winds through a series of magnificent gorges between the Carpathian and Balkan mountains, forming a natural border between Serbia and Romania. The ancient King Decebalus, the last king of Dacia, is proudly carved into the mountainside and always captivates travelers. After your scenic cruise, you will arrive at Golubac Fortress – one of the best preserved medieval fortresses in Europe – for a tour. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Scenic cruising
• Golubac Fortress Tour

Explore Serbia's capital, Belgrade, on a city tour, which includes the Nikola Tesla Museum, encompassing the world-renowned inventor's life and inventions, as well as the Kalemegdan Fortress and the Serbian Orthodox Temple of St. Sava. Alternatively, you can enjoy a taste of the region by sampling wine and snacks at the Podrum Panajotovic Wine Cellar, where old traditions and excellent wine are preserved 10 meters below the streets of Belgrade. For those wishing for a more active adventure, join a guided bike tour or hike to Belgrade Fortress. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• “The City by Two Rivers” tour OR Fortress Hike OR Podrum Panajotovic Wine Tasting
• “Brandies of Belgrade” tasting OR Guided Bike Tour of Belgrade

Enjoy an afternoon in Vukovar on a guided city tour where you will have a chance to visit Eltz Manor House and its collection of historic artifacts, paintings and clothing. Alternatively, you may explore Vukovar on an active bike tour. Wine connoisseurs will want to travel to Ilok, situated in the easternmost part of Croatia, to enjoy a wine tasting and tour in the Old Cellars of Ilok, famous for their Grasevina, Traminac and Frankovka wines.

Or explore Novi Sad, a city rich in tradition and culture, on “The Athens of Serbia” walking tour. Stroll through Stari Grad, the old town center; and explore Liberty Square, which is dominated by the Old Town Hall. You will also have the option to visit the Petrovaradin Fortress. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Highlights of Vukovar walking tour OR Croatian wine tasting OR Vukovar bike tour OR Novi Sad walking tour

Visit Pécs, founded more than 2,000 years ago by the Romans, and the UNESCO-designated Christian Necropolis; St. Peter's Basilica, the city's main Catholic cathedral along with its catacombs; and Széchenyi Square, the heart of Old Town Pécs. You will also see the Mosque of Pasha Qasim the Victorious, one of the symbols of the city. Or for wine connoisseurs, you'll want to go to the Szekszárd wine region, one of the oldest red-wine-growing areas in Hungary, established more than 2,000 years ago. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Pécs excursion OR Szekszárd wine tasting

Bid farewell to your ship and take a sighteeing tour of Budapest, the “Queen of the Danube.” Your city tour begins with visit to the vibrant Great Market Hall brimming with vendors selling everything from food to souvenirs. The remainder of this tour takes you to both the Buda (hilly) and the Pest (flat) sides of the river, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes views from historic Buda Castle, a visit to Fishermen's Bastion and the beautifully colored Matthias Church. Later in the day, travel to Vienna where you will check into your hotel and enjoy some free time. (B)

Excursions:

• Budapest sightseeing tour
• Transfer to Vienna

Savor the imperial elegance of romantic Vienna during a guided sightseeing tour past the city's most famous and beautiful locales, including the UNESCO-designated historice city center. See the regal Vienna State Opera house, towering St. Stpehen's Cathedral with its fascinating eagle mosaics and geometric patterned roof, and the majestic Ringstrasse, Vienna's famed ring road, lined with incredible architecture, monuments and parks. You'll also have some free time to explore Vienna on your own. (B)

Excursions:

• “Imperial Vienna” tour

Bid farewell to Vienna as you prepare for your flight home. (B)