This European river cruise starts in Deggendorf then sails toward the lovely city of Linz for guided sightseeing. Explore the small villages in Wachau Valley to Krems. While in Vienna, marvel at the sights of Vienna’s gilded landmarks. See the quaint streets of Old Town and St. Martin’s Cathedral in Bratislava before sailing to the Pearl of the Danube, where you can try the famed thermal baths. Continue sailing through rich cultures and remarkable landscapes of the Balkan states of Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania before the trip concludes in Bucharest.
Highlights
See the historic and beautiful sites along the shore of the Danube
Venture into the Habsburg empire and see Vienna’s gilded landmarks
Experience the famous thermal baths in Budapest
See the fascinating sights in Belgrade including Saint Sava
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
strong>Classic: Take a guided walk through the city’s historic and beautiful sites along the shore of the Danube. See Hauptplatz, Austria’s largest medieval square and the towering white marble Trinity Column.
Active: Join a guided hike up to Mount Pöstlingberg to get an incredible bird’s-eye view of Linz and the mighty Danube River.
Enjoy a brief sailing to Mauthausen while having lunch. Choose to join an optional excursion to Mauthausen concentration camp. Enjoy sailing on the way to Ybbs tonight. Later, enjoy live entertainment on board.
strong>Classic: Venture into the Habsburg empire with a guided city tour of Vienna’s gilded landmarks. See the Imperial Palace complex, the winter residence of the Imperial Family, the historic Vienna Opera House, and stunning St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
Optional tours today include a guided tour of magnificent Schönbrunn Palace, the former imperial summer residence of Habsburg royalty. Also, choose to attend an optional excursion to a Royal Waltz Concert for an unforgettable evening of music in an elegant hall.
Alternatively, choose to spend some free time strolling through Kärtnerstrasse, the most famous shopping avenue in central Vienna. Stop in a local café to enjoy authentic Austrian confections of Sachertorte or Apfelstrudel.
strong>Classic: Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour, including the iconic Heroes’ Square.
Take free time to enjoy Budapest’s famed thermal baths. Also have the choice to take a scenic hike in the hills above the Danube. Take time to explore the city’s cafés, pubs and nightlife at leisure.
strong>Classic: Join a morning guided sightseeing tour of Mohács, the quiet Danube harbor town with its historical memorial parks, statues and distinctive churches. Tour the remarkable medieval St. Nicholas Watermill, one of only a few remaining watermills performing stone-ground grain processing.
Classic: Take a guided tour of nearby Pécs to see its 4th-century Christian underground tombs, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with fascinating murals. Also, enjoy an organ concert on the tour.
strong>Classic: Join a morning guided sightseeing tour of the city of Osijek, located at the confluence of the Danube and Drava Rivers. Visit Tvrđa, the most well preserved fortress of Croatia and home of many educational institutions.
Discovery: Attend a musical concert performed by the talented young artists of the music school of Osijek at Franjo Kuhac.
This afternoon, join a guided optional excursion to Vukovar.
strong>Classic: Join a guided sightseeing tour of Belgrade where the Danube and Sava Rivers converge and see the city’s many fascinating sights, including Saint Savam, one of the world’s largest Orthodox churches.
Discovery: Attend an onboard lecture to learn about the rich history, destinations and culture of the Balkan states.
Spend some free time exploring the city at leisure this afternoon on Knez Mihailova Street, Belgrade’s central pedestrian thoroughfare with many lively cafés, shops and cultural spots. Later, enjoy live entertainment on board the ship before dinner.
This evening, join an optional authentic Bohemian Dinner in the Quarter of Skadarlija.
Day 10: Golubac | Donji Milanovac | Lepenski Vir | Iron Gates
strong>Classic: Visit the Fortress of Golubac, one of the best preserved medieval fortresses in Europe. For the most part, the fortress was a sort of “a border control” of the past and couple of time was a knot of conflicts between Serbia, Habsburg Monarchy and Ottoman Empire.
Enjoy a brief sailing to Donji Milanovac.
Classic: Join a guided tour to Lepenski Vir, an important Mesolithic archaeological site chronicling prehistoric cultures, settlements and art. Marvel at the ancient discoveries and artifacts, as well as the unique views the site affords of the Danube Gorge.
Sail through the spectacular and narrow Iron Gates Gorge, a natural border between Serbia and Romania.
strong>Classic: Join guided sightseeing in Vidin, followed by a Guided Tour of Belogradchik. Marvel at the remarkable rock formations on the western slopes of the Balkan Mountains, sculpted by 200 million years of natural elements.
strong>Classic: Join a full-day guided tour to the former Bulgarian capital of Veliko Târnovo with its ancient stone houses clinging to the cliffs above the Yantra River. Discover one of the oldest towns in Bulgaria (circa 4300 BC), as well as the Bulgarian Revival architecture in the 15th-century town of Arbanassi.
Classic: Join a guided sightseeing tour of Bulgaria’s largest inland port and visit its impressive Holy Trinity Church.
Active: Join a walk through the park with an Avalon Adventure Host.
Later, enjoy live entertainment on board with a Bulgarian folklore show.
Day 13: Oltenita | Disembark | Bucharest
1 Breakfast
strong>Classic: Take a guided tour of the Romanian capital city of Bucharest with its tree-lined boulevards and Arc de Triomphe honoring WWI Romanian soldiers. See the Royal Palace Square, the scene of the city’s 1989 riots to overthrow the communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu.
Spend some free time exploring this fascinating city at leisure to discover its trendy shops, cafés, museums, beautiful homes and churches along Victory Avenue.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Select a Date
Cat. E
Avalon Deluxe Stateroom: 172 SQ. FT.
Comfort Collection Beds, Bedside tables with reading lamps, L'Occitane bath products, Under-bed luggage storage, Complimentary bottled water, Individual climate control, Mirror in the bathroom, Full shower with glass door, Vanity, Memory foam mattress, European-style duvets.
Select a Date
Cat. D
Avalon Deluxe Stateroom: 172 SQ. FT.
Comfort Collection Beds, Bedside tables with reading lamps, L'Occitane bath products, Under-bed luggage storage, Complimentary bottled water, Individual climate control, Mirror in the bathroom, Full shower with glass door, Vanity, Luxurious mattress, European-style duvets.
Select a Date
Cat. B
Panorama Suite: 200 SQ. FT.
Comfort Collection Beds, Bedside tables with reading lamps, L'Occitane bath products, Under-bed luggage storage, Telephone, In-room safe, Contemporary design, Marble countertops in the bathroom, 6-person sitting area, Writing desk, Sofa, Memory foam mattress, European-style duvets.
Select a Date
Cat. A
Panorama Suite: 200 SQ. FT.
Comfort Collection Beds, Bedside tables with reading lamps, L'Occitane bath products, Under-bed luggage storage, Telephone, In-room safe, contemporary design, Marble countertops in the bathroom, 6-person sitting area, Writing desk, Sofa, Luxurious mattress, European-style duvets.
Initial deposit is $450, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 100 days prior to departure by check, money order, Visa, MasterCard, Discover/Novus, and American Express. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
For full cancellation policy details, please contact us for a quote.
Included
13 Breakfasts, 11 Lunches, 12 Dinners
12 Nights Accommodations
Accommodations as listed
Ground transportation as listed
Activities as listed
Meals as listed
Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
Onboard Adventure Center with active gear, bikes, maps, canoe, kayak and jogging excursions
Wifi
Complimentary fresh fruit available daily
Captain’s Welcome and Farewell Receptions
Club Lounge with 24-hour self-serve beverage station with complimentary cappuccinos, lattes, tea, hot chocolate & premium coffees, as well as treats throughout the day
Panoramic windows
Friendly, English-speaking crew & Cruise Director
Sky Deck with whirlpool, shade awnings, game area and premium lounges
Complimentary sparkling wine with breakfast; wine, beer, or soft drinks with every lunch and dinner
Excluded
Gratuities
Travel Insurance
Personal Expenses
Flight costs (please request a quote)
Additional excursions during free time
Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
Alcohol, beverages, and food outside of the contracted menu as presented at a hotel or restaurant or on board your vessel
The trip was terrific with great planning on your part. Most of the adventures were not mainstream and somewhat off the beaten path which made it especially enjoyable!! We felt taken care of and you all were readily available to respond to questions and issues. I would highly recommend your company and friends have already expressed interest based on our pictures and excitement.
Gale Cantor
TrustScore 4.8 | 174 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 174 reviews on
8 hours ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
1 day ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
