Embark on a 22-day cruise aboard the MS Amabella through lands shaped by conquerors, crusaders, and kings, traveling through Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Hungary, Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic. Cruise along the Danube and pass through the awe-inspiring Iron Gates, where history and legends come alive in the rolling hills and timeless landscapes. Discover the mystical Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo, carved into a mountainside and adorned with well-preserved medieval frescos, and explore the haunting 14th-century Bran Castle, once the residence of Vlad the Impaler, the inspiration behind Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Step into the footsteps of the Romans in Pecs, the “City of Mediterranean Impressions,” and savor the legacy of ancient winemaking in Ilok, a renowned wine region since Roman times. From the grandeur of capitals like Bucharest, Budapest, Vienna, and Prague to quaint towns seemingly untouched by time, immerse yourself in the vibrant folklore, traditions, and stories of the extraordinary people and places along this unforgettable voyage.
Highlights
Explore Prague, a city of spires and UNESCO-listed history
Cruise through Regensburg, discovering its medieval streets and charming squares
Visit Salzburg, home to Mozart and stunning Alpine panoramas
Discover Linz, where vibrant culture meets Baroque and modern architecture
Activity options vary depending on destination and operator. Activity level is determined by the range and intensity of activities you choose to participate in. Discuss with your Trip Planner which options are best for you.
Upon arrival in Prague, transfer seamlessly to your hotel for check-in.
Day 2: Prague
1 Breakfast
Explore the enchanting city of Prague, where fairytale spires and timeless charm await. Choose between a guided city tour or a hike to the iconic Prague Castle, offering insight into why this vibrant city, with its UNESCO-listed historic center, is celebrated as one of Europe’s most captivating destinations.
Day 3: Prague
1 Breakfast
Beer has been an important part of the Czech Republic since 993 the first brewery was established. Beer is vital to the country’s national identity, so much so that the Czechs are the biggest beer consumers in the world. Join a beer tasting and discover for yourself what makes Czech beer some of the best in the world.
Day 4: Prague | Regensburg | Embark | Vilshofen, Germany
Depart from Prague via motorcoach and enjoy a stop in Regensburg. After a local highlights tour, drive to Vilshofen, where you board your ship. Later in the day, enjoy a festive Oktoberfest celebration – an AmaWaterways exclusive.
Enjoy a free morning to walk around the quaint village of Vilshofen—later, cruise to Passau, where you can explore it in one of three ways. Take a walking tour and marvel at Gothic and Italian Baroque architecture and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Or choose between a guided bike tour along the Inn River or a guided hike up to the Veste Oberhaus fortress.
The ship arrives in Linz, where you have several excursion options. Opt for a full-day excursion to Salzburg, where you tour the historic center, Mirabell Gardens, Residenz Square, and the Old Market. En route to Salzburg, stop at Mondsee, home of the Basilica St. Michael. Or join a morning walking tour through the old city center of Linz and by the Mozart House, or go on a bike tour of the city’s famed “Cultural Mile” and the Danube. Alternatively, on a full-day excursion, you can visit the charming mountain town of Cesky Krumlov, a guest favorite located just over the Czech-Austrian border.
Head up to the Sun Deck for panoramic views as you unwind with a scenic cruise through the Strudengau and UNESCO-designated Wachau valleys. After reaching Weissenkirchen, be treated to several choices of excursions. Take a walking tour of Durnstein before visiting the UNESCO-designated Melk Abbey. Or hike the trail up to the ruins of Durnstein Fortress, where Richard the Lionheart was once held captive, and where you can find spectacular views of the valley, river, and village below. You can also choose to cycle through the Wachau Valley on a guided bike tour. For a more culinary-focused experience, sample special apricot treats and regional wine from a local boutique.
The "City of Waltzes" is a treasure trove, and your city tour will showcase its regal splendors, including the majestic Opera House and the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs. Conclude your tour in the UNESCO-designated historic city center and visit St. Stephen's Cathedral. For a more active exploration, take a guided bike ride through Vienna. During the afternoon, enjoy leisure time exploring this iconic city even more.
Host to the crowning ceremonies of 11 Hungarian kings and queens between 1536 and 1830, Bratislava certainly has earned the title "Coronation City of Kings," as you discover during your walking tour. Or join a special "Tastes of Slovakia" tour. For a more active adventure, hike up to Bratislava Castle, offering magnificent city views.
Today, you can visit both the Buda (hilly) and Pest (flat) sides of the Danube River. Start on the Buda side, following your guide through the city's Castle District, where you marvel at the fairytale turrets of Fisherman's Bastion, gaze upon the breathtaking panorama below, and see Matthias Church, renowned for its striking tower and colorful mosaic roof. For a more active tour, hike to Budapest's Castle Hill. In the afternoon, explore the treasures of Pest, admiring the colossal Hungarian Parliament Building, Heroes Square, and the moving "Shoes on the Danube Bank" memorial.
Visit the 19th-century Godollo Palace with its royal stables and Baroque theater, followed by lunch at Godollo Restaurant. Afterward, head for Puszta, the vast flat Great Hungarian Plain, where you tour a genuine Hungarian csarda (farm) run by the carriage-driving world champion brothers Lazar. Following the tour, witness a unique, unforgettable performance of Hungarian horsemanship, a tradition that goes back to the hordes of Magyar tribes conquering Hungary in the 9th century.
Welcome to Pecs, founded more than 2,000 years ago by the Romans. Visit the UNESCO-designated Christian Necropolis; St. Peter's Basilica, the city's main Catholic cathedral and catacombs; and Szechenyi Square, the heart of Old Town Pecs. You can also see the Mosque of Pasha Qasim the Victorious, one of the city's symbols. Or choose a guided bike tour through Mohacs. For wine connoisseurs, go instead to the Szekszard wine region, one of the oldest red-wine-growing areas in Hungary, established more than 2,000 years ago.
Enjoy your morning in Vukovar on a guided city tour, where you may visit sites such as Eltz Manor House and Vukovar's famous water tower. Alternatively, you may see Osijek on a guided tour. For those looking for a more active experience, you may explore Vukovar on an active bike tour. Enjoy a Croatian wine tasting in the afternoon and tour the Old Cellars, famous for their Grasevina, Traminac, and Frankovka wines. You can also choose to explore the Vucedol Museum, home to fascinating exhibits on prehistoric culture and one of the most important archaeological sites in Europe.
Explore Serbia's capital, Belgrade, on a city tour that includes the Kalemegdan Fortress and the Serbian Orthodox Temple of St. Sava. Or hike to the well-preserved Belgrade Fortress with its conical towers. In the afternoon, enjoy a taste of the region by sampling a few types of Serbian brandy paired with delicious local appetizers, including Slivovitz, which was added in 2022 to UNESCO's list of "Intangible Cultural Heritage." For those wishing a more active adventure, join a guided bike tour.
The Iron Gates are some of Europe's most awe-inspiring natural wonders. The Danube narrows as it winds through magnificent gorges between the Carpathian and Balkan mountains. In the afternoon, visit Golubac Fortress – one of Europe's best-preserved medieval fortresses and enjoy a tasting of locally sourced delicacies.
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 get to make. You also have the choice to bike through Vidin and to the castle.
Visit Bulgaria's ancient capital, Veliko Tarnovo, which has a medieval fortress and multiple orthodox temples. You can opt instead to go to Rousse, known for its 19th- and 20th-century Neo-Baroque and Neo-Rococo architecture, and then afterward visit the UNESCO-designated Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo with frescos revealing exceptional artistry of 14th-century paintings. Alternatively, you may opt to travel through the Romanian countryside to the capital of Bucharest, known as the "Little Paris of the East." Enjoy a panoramic tour of the historic city center and its elegant architecture, followed by a visit to the Palace of the Parliament, the second-largest administrative building in the world.
Day 18: Giurgiu | Disembarkation | Brasov
1 Breakfast
Disembark the ship in Giurgiu and continue to the legendary region of Transylvania, a place deeply rooted in myth and history. Arrive in the quaint mountain town of Bran, where you can have lunch and visit the famous Bran castle, otherwise known as Dracula's Castle. After you tour Bran Castle, continue to Brasov. Considered the heart of Romania and surrounded by the beautiful Southern Carpathians, Brasov is one of the most visited cities in Romania.
Day 19: Brasov | Sighisoara
1 Breakfast
Dracula lovers will be in for another treat with an excursion to Sighişoara, the birthplace of 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." Considered the heart of Romania and surrounded by the beautiful Southern Carpathians, Brasov is one of the most visited cities in Romania. After returning from your excursion to Sighisoara, enjoy a walk through history as you take a tour of Braşov's Old Town before ending at your hotel.
Day 20: Brasov | Bucharest
1 Breakfast
En route to Bucharest, visit the quaint mountain town of Sinaia. While in Sinaia, visit Peles Castle. Peles Castle is considered by many to be one of the most stunning castles in Europe and a masterpiece of the German New Renaissance, with 160 rooms filled with priceless European art. After you tour Peles Castle, depart for Romania's capital, Bucharest.
Day 21: Bucharest
1 Breakfast
This morning, enjoy a walking tour through the historic old town of Bucharest. Observe the many changes this capital city has experienced through a mixture of architectural styles and cultural influences. Your guided tour will take you through the old town and show you the most popular places in Bucharest while hearing stories of its history and getting local insights into shopping and dining opportunities.
Day 22: Depart Bucharest
1 Breakfast
Bid farewell to Bucharest as you prepare for your flight home.
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.
$8,0792-3 travelers
Please confirm embark/disembark locations before reserving flights, as this itinerary operates in reverse on alternating departures.
Category E
Piano Deck, Fixed window, private facilities, 170 sq. ft.
Category D
Piano Deck, Fixed window, private facilities, 170 sq. ft.
Category C
Cello Deck, French Balcony, private facilities, 170 sq. ft.
Category BB
Cello Deck, French Balcony & Outside Balcony, private facilities, 210 sq. ft.
Category BA
Violin Deck, French Balcony & Outside Balcony, private facilities, 210 sq. ft.
Category AB
Cello Deck, French Balcony & Outside Balcony, private facilities, 235 sq. ft.
Category AA
Violin Deck, French Balcony & Outside Balcony, private facilities, 235 sq. ft.
Suite
Violin Deck, French Balcony & Outside Balcony, private facilities, 350 sq. ft.
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
We had the most incredible trip to Antarctica! Plus, we got a fantastic deal (especially considering how expensive expeditions are) and a free cabin upgrade. Prior to our trip, Michelle and Erin took great care of us and made sure we were good to go. Every element of the trip went smoothly with no surprises. Our ship, Ocean Albatross, was beautiful. The cabin was spacious and had everything we needed. The laundry service was cheap and fast (so there was no need to overpack). The food was great. The atmosphere was comfortable and casual (our style). And best of all, the staff and crew were so kind, accommodating and friendly. The guides and expedition leader were all amazing. We did so many shore landings and zodiac cruises, each one unique. There was no shortage of wildlife! We traveled with our 10 year-old son who had the time of his life. There were several other tweens/teens onboard. The guests were mostly a combination of families and solo travelers, mostly from the US. Overall, our trip was spectacular, a truly unforgettable trip of a lifetime!
Chrissy Howard
4 days ago
Tilly has been quickly responsive to my texts and emails.
Paula Thompson
5 days ago
I love working with the travel coordinators as they are helpful, friendly, and provide the information with the committed timeframe.
Mary Klaus
6 days ago
I have been working with the wonderful professionals at Adventure Life for many years and keep coming back because of the friendly, courteous, professional expertise I always receive. I've looked for travel agencies here at home but nothing compares to the service I receive with Adventure Life.
