Welcome to Bucharest—the “Paris of the East”

The day is yours to relax and enjoy Bucharest. Spend some free time exploring this fascinating city on your own to discover its trendy shops, cafés, museums, beautiful homes, and churches along Victory Avenue.

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.

Travel to Fetesti to board your Avalon Suite Ship® this afternoon.

Fetesti | Embark
Explore your Avalon Suite Ship® this evening and enjoy a dinner on board.

Discovery: After dinner, attend an onboard Lecture to learn about the Danube Delta.

Classic: Join a small-boat guided tour of the best-preserved of Europe’s deltas—2,200 square miles of rivers, canals, marshes, tree-fringed lakes and reed islands.

Discovery: Enjoy a Special Celebration to mark “Kilometer 0”—the end of the Danube River’s 2,845 km journey—from the source in the Black Forest of Bavaria to its delta into the Black Sea.

Start the day with a Morning Stretch with your Avalon Adventure Host.

Classic: Join a guided tour to Constanta, the most important commercial center in Romania, situated on the Black Sea. Visit the Natural History and Archeological Museum to discover the history of early Romanian cultures.

Classic: Join a guided sightseeing tour of Bulgaria’s largest inland port and visit its impressive Holy Trinity Church, OR:

Active: Join a walk through the park with your Avalon Adventure Host.

Sail to Svistov, OR:

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.

Later, join your ship in Svistov.

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.

This evening, enjoy live entertainment on board with a Bulgarian folklore show.

Before lunch on board, you’ll sail through the spectacular and narrow Iron Gates Gorge—forming a natural border between Serbia and Romania.

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.

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 Sava, one of the world’s largest Orthodox churches.

You may choose to join an optional guided biking tour, or spend remaining free time in Belgrade exploring Knez Mihailova Street—Belgrade’s central pedestrian thoroughfare with many lively cafés, shops, and cultural spots.

Enjoy a leisurely sailing morning or join an optional excursion to the city of Vukovar, Croatia’s undiscovered pearl.

Classic: Join a morning guided walking 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, 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.

Start the day with a Morning Stretch with your Avalon Adventure Host.

Classic: Take a guided tour to nearby Pécs to see its 4th-century Christian underground tombs, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with fascinating murals. You’ll also enjoy an organ concert on your tour.

Classic: Enjoy a guided city sightseeing, including the iconic Heroes’ Square.

Take in the beauty of Budapest while enjoying a free afternoon exploring such famous sights as the Chain Bridge. Get to know the city’s cafés and pubs, or take a hike through the hills above the Danube.

Start the day with a morning stretch with your Avalon Adventure Host.

Enjoy sailing the Danube, which shares dozens of miles with Hungary and Slovakia. Relax on the sky deck to see the rolling landscape and red-rooftops of the Slovakian capital of Bratislava come into view.

This evening in Vienna, you may choose to join an optional excursion to attend a Royal Waltz Concert for an unforgettable evening of music in an elegant hall.

Classic: Venture into the Habsburg empire this morning on 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.Join a Guided Optional Excursion to Schönbrunn Palace—the Habsburg empire summer home for 300 years.

This afternoon, enjoy free time to take a tram to visit Austria’s Prater amusement park or one of the many museums nearby. You may also decide to borrow a bike from the ship to explore the streets and squares of Vienna, or ride along the banks of the Danube at your leisure.

Later, enjoy live entertainment on board.

Classic: Join a guided walk, and hear the legendary tale of King Richard the Lionheart—who was imprisoned in the castle above the village during the Crusades, OR:

Active: Join a hike up to the castle ruins with your adventure host for a spectacular view of the village, Danube, and the Wachau Valley below.

Enjoy coffee or a cocktail on the sky deck as you sail through the picturesque Wachau Valley to Melk.

MELK
Classic: Take a guided tour of Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey to marvel at its frescoed ceilings, statues, incredible library, and ornate pipe organ.

Discovery: Enjoy the flavors of the Wachau Valley with a Wine Tasting on board.

Classic: Join an afternoon guided city walk to learn more about this beautiful “City of Three Rivers.”

Alternatively, join a full-day guided optional excursion to Salzburg—the city of Mozart—or to the picturesque Bohemian town of Cesky Krumlov. Meet your ship back in Passau after your full-day selected activity for sailing.

Classic: Join a guided city walk and see the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) and Porta Pretoria—built in 179 AD as the entrance to Castra Regina fortress.

You may join a guided optional excursion to the Benedictine Monastery in Weltenburg. Alternatively, spend a free afternoon exploring Regensburg on foot or by bike through its charming streets.

This evening, enjoy live entertainment after dinner as you cruise toward Roth.

Discovery: While sailing to Roth, enjoy an Onboard Lecture about the Main-Danube Canal—linking these two rivers to make a vital connection enabling navigation between the North and Black Seas.

Classic: Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of the Bavarian town of Roth—with its half-timbered houses, market square, and 1535 hunting lodge, Schloss Ratibor OR choose a guided tour of Nuremberg’s medieval architecture, gilded fountain, gothic cathedral, and Kaiserburg Castle OR join a guided tour of the historic Nuremberg Rally Grounds—used by the Third Reich.

Discovery: Later, indulge in a Beer Tasting on board.

Tonight, relax on board with live entertainment as you sail to Bamberg.

Classic: Take a full-day guided tour of the highlights of fascinating Munich. See Nymphenburg Palace—a former residence of German monarchs, along with the old and new Town Halls of Marienplatz.

Classic: Take a guided walking tour of the former home to imperial dynasties, and see its Romanesque cathedral, Old Town Hall, and seven hills crowned with churches.

Enjoy free time this afternoon strolling through the city.

Discovery: Later, indulge in a Beer Tasting on board.

This evening, enjoy live entertainment on board.

Classic: Join a walking tour of the quaint town of Volkach with its half-timbered houses and cobblestoned streets.

During lunchtime enjoy a relaxing cruise to Kitzingen.

KITZINGEN
Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour and hear about the legend of a Countess, a shepherd, and a monastery. Explore Bavaria’s largest wine-producing area.

Classic: Take a guided sightseeing tour of Würzburg with its Old Main Bridge, towering fortress, and baroque Bishop’s Residenz—with the largest known ceiling fresco, OR:

Active: Enjoy incredible views over the northern Bavaria city of Wurzburg on a hike up to mighty hilltop Marienberg Castle.

You may choose to join a guided optional excursion to the beautiful Bavarian town of Rothenburg. See the local sights and enjoy the fairytale atmosphere that has inspired artists. Alternatively, you may enjoy free time to take in the charm and culinary specialties of Würzburg. Enjoy live entertainment on board as you set sail.

Classic: Join a guided walking tour of a picturesque Main River Village.

This afternoon relax on the Sky Deck while passing along the beautiful villages on the Main River shores.

Classic: Take a half-day guided tour that includes the magnificent Heidelberg Castle and the Great Vat—the world’s largest wine barrel.

Sail to Rüdesheim while having dinner on board.

Discovery: Tour the incredible Mechanical Music Museum for a one-of-a-kind instrumental experience; based on your departure enjoy a local special treat, OR:

Active: Take a guided hike through the vineyards with your Adventure Host, and enjoy the view with a cable car ride back down.

Relax on the Sky Deck for an afternoon cruise through the spectacular Rhine Gorge to Koblenz. Sail past the legendary rock of The Lorelei—where the siren of mythology sang songs to lure ill-fated sailors.

KOBLENZ
Travel through 2,000 years of monumental history

Enjoy free time in Koblenz before a relaxing evening on board with dinner.

Start the day with a Morning Stretch with your Avalon Adventure Host while cruising to Cologne.

Classic: Take a guided city walk of Cologne—explore the Old City and see its soaring twin-steepled Gothic cathedral, OR:

Discovery: Join a guided walking tour of Cologne’s important Jewish heritage sites.

Enjoy free time over a glass of Kölsch pale lager—locally brewed for over 100 years! This evening, enjoy dinner on board your ship.

Classic: Explore the iconic waterways of Amsterdam with a guided canal cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam’s “Golden Age.”

You might consider an optional excursion to Zaanse Schans—a quintessential Dutch town complete with windmills, waterways, and flower farms, or a Guided Optional Biking Tour to the Dutch countryside.

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.