Budapest
Budapest 10/16/2023
Arrive at the Budapest airport and transfer to the deluxe Hilton Budapest (or similar) in the heart of the city for a two-night stay. Airport meet & greet transfers included when air is purchased from Viking River Cruises. Spend the rest of the day relaxing, or do some exploring on your own.,
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10/16/2023 |
10/16/2023 |
Budapest
Budapest 10/17/2023
This morning, take a tour of Budapest, the capital of Hungary. Situated along the Danube, it combines the once separate towns of hilly Buda and cosmopolitan Pest into a city rich with history. Begin in Pest, where you see the National Opera House and visit historic Heroes' Square. Cross the Chain Bridge to Buda, where you walk along Castle Hill to Fisherman's Bastion and Matthias Church. The rest of the day is yours to explore. (B),
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10/17/2023 |
10/17/2023 |
Budapest
Budapest 10/18/2023
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and we will take you to embark your ship. Enjoy a final free day in Budapest. Explore a museum; do some shopping; ride the city's innovative, efficient metro; relax in one of the Art Nouveau spas; or visit the Great Synagogue and Jewish Quarter. As always, your program director can help you plan your free time. Return to your ship for a welcome dinner. (B, D),
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10/18/2023 |
10/18/2023 |
Cruise Starts (Embarkation)
Cruise Starts (Embarkation) 10/18/2023
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and we will take you to embark your ship. Enjoy a final free day in Budapest. Explore a museum; do some shopping; ride the city's innovative, efficient metro; relax in one of the Art Nouveau spas; or visit the Great Synagogue and Jewish Quarter. As always, your program director can help you plan your free time. Return to your ship for a welcome dinner. (B, D),
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10/18/2023 |
10/18/2023 |
Budapest
Budapest 10/18/2023
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and we will take you to embark your ship. Enjoy a final free day in Budapest. Explore a museum; do some shopping; ride the city's innovative, efficient metro; relax in one of the Art Nouveau spas; or visit the Great Synagogue and Jewish Quarter. As always, your program director can help you plan your free time. Return to your ship for a welcome dinner. (B, D),
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10/18/2023 |
10/18/2023 |
Kalocsa Port
Kalocsa Port 10/19/2023
Arrive in Kalocsa, Hungary, this morning and take a guided city tour visiting the town center followed by a short organ concert at St. Joseph Church. Then, you are treated to a performance of traditional Puszta horsemanship. Return onboard and enjoy your lunch during departure. Dine onboard. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner),
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10/19/2023 |
10/19/2023 |
Kalocsa
Kalocsa 10/19/2023
Arrive in Kalocsa, Hungary this morning and take a guided city tour including a visit to the Archbishop's Palace. Then you are treated to a performance of traditional Puszta horsemanship. Return aboard and enjoy your lunch during departure. Dine aboard. (B,L,D),
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10/19/2023 |
10/19/2023 |
Puszta Cultural Experience
Puszta Cultural Experience 10/19/2023
Arrive in Kalocsa, Hungary, this morning and take a guided city tour visiting the town center followed by a short organ concert at St. Joseph Church. Then, you are treated to a performance of traditional Puszta horsemanship. Return onboard and enjoy your lunch during departure. Dine onboard. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner),
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10/19/2023 |
10/19/2023 |
Vukovar
Vukovar 10/20/2023
Wake up in Vukovar and have breakfast before your excursion to the Croatian city of Osijek. Inhabited since Neolithic times, this area has had several heydays under the Romans, the Ottomans, and the Hapsburgs; now Vukovar is revered for its Baroque buildings, parks, and monuments. Return aboard for lunch and enjoy free time before an early evening departure. (B,L,D),
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10/20/2023 |
10/20/2023 |
Osijek
Osijek 10/20/2023
Wake up in Vukovar and have breakfast before your excursion to the Croatian city of Osijek. Inhabited since Neolithic times, this area has had several heydays under the Romans, the Ottomans, and the Hapsburgs; now Vukovar is revered for its Baroque buildings, parks, and monuments. Return aboard for lunch and enjoy free time before an early evening departure. (B,L,D),
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10/20/2023 |
10/20/2023 |
Belgrade
Belgrade 10/21/2023
Wake up in Belgrade, capital of Serbia. Take a guided walk through the grounds of Kalemegdan Fortress, now a stately park. Also see the Orthodox cathedral and stop at the Square of the Republic. Enjoy lunch onboard your ship before you have free time to explore Belgrade's gracious architecture or visit one of its many museums, like the Nikola Tesla Museum. Dine onboard your ship or experience some of Belgrade's nightlife. We depart very late this evening. (B,L,D),
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10/21/2023 |
10/21/2023 |
Golubac
Golubac 10/22/2023
Sail to Golubac this morning and enjoy an included tour of the Golubac Fortress and admire sweeping views over the Danube. You may also choose to join an optional tour; explore Europe's first settlement from the Stone Age, or take an invigorating hike to Djerdap National Park. Rejoin your ship in Donji Milanovac for lunch. This afternoon, enjoy scenic cruising as you travel through one of the most picturesque areas of the Lower Danube. The Iron Gate is one of Europe's most dramatic natural wonders—a spectacular narrow gorge with enormous white limestone cliffs. Take in your program director's commentary about the region and scenic points of interest as you sail toward your next port. (B,L,D),
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10/22/2023 |
10/22/2023 |
Donji Milanovac
Donji Milanovac 10/22/2023
Sail to Golubac this morning and enjoy an included tour of the Golubac Fortress and admire sweeping views over the Danube. You may also choose to join an optional tour; explore Europe's first settlement from the Stone Age, or take an invigorating hike to Djerdap National Park. Rejoin your ship in Donji Milanovac for lunch. This afternoon, enjoy scenic cruising as you travel through one of the most picturesque areas of the Lower Danube. The Iron Gate is one of Europe's most dramatic natural wonders—a spectacular narrow gorge with enormous white limestone cliffs. Take in your program director's commentary about the region and scenic points of interest as you sail toward your next port. (B,L,D),
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10/22/2023 |
10/22/2023 |
Iron Gates (Cruising)
Iron Gates (Cruising) 10/22/2023
Today, enjoy scenic cruising as you travel through one of the most picturesque areas of the Lower Danube. The Iron Gate is one of Europe's most dramatic natural wonders, a spectacular narrow gorge with enormous white limestone cliffs. Your cruise director will provide commentary about the region and scenic points of interest as you sail toward the next port. (B,L,D),
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10/22/2023 |
10/22/2023 |
Vidin
Vidin 10/23/2023
Arrive in the picturesque Bulgarian port of Vidin, and take an excursion to see Belogradchik Fortress, built right into the striking Belogradchik Rocks. See the fortress's amazing construction, begun in Roman times and greatly extended by Bulgarian tsars and the Ottomans, and enjoy breathtaking views. Enjoy lunch aboard your ship; then you have free time to explore Vidin's city center, Orthodox churches, and the ruins of the city's once-grand synagogue. We depart during dinner. (B,L,D),
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10/23/2023 |
10/23/2023 |
Belogradchik
Belogradchik 10/23/2023
Arrive in the picturesque Bulgarian port of Vidin, and take an excursion to see Belogradchik Fortress, built right into the striking Belogradchik Rocks. See the fortress's amazing construction, begun in Roman times and greatly extended by Bulgarian tsars and the Ottomans, and enjoy breathtaking views. Enjoy lunch aboard your ship; then you have free time to explore Vidin's city center, Orthodox churches, and the ruins of the city's once-grand synagogue. We depart during dinner. (B,L,D),
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10/23/2023 |
10/23/2023 |
Rousse
Rousse 10/24/2023
After breakfast, disembark at Russe for a full-day excursion to Bulgaria's former capital, Veliko Tarnovo. There you will see Tsarevets Hill and the ruins of the royal castle. During free time, shop for local crafts along Samovodska Charshia. Continue your venture to Arbanasi for lunch in a local restaurant and a guided tour of the Nativity Church with its intricate floor-to-ceiling murals and icons. Return to your ship for dinner. (B,L,D),
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10/24/2023 |
10/24/2023 |
Veliko Tarnovo
Veliko Tarnovo 10/24/2023
After breakfast, disembark at Russe for a full-day excursion to Bulgaria's former capital, Veliko Tarnovo. There you will see Tsarevets Hill and the ruins of the royal castle. During free time, shop for local crafts along Samovodska Charshia. Continue your venture to Arbanasi for lunch in a local restaurant and a guided tour of the Nativity Church with its intricate floor-to-ceiling murals and icons. Return to your ship for dinner. (B,L,D),
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10/24/2023 |
10/24/2023 |
Arbanassi
Arbanassi 10/24/2023
After breakfast, disembark at Russe for a full-day excursion to Bulgaria's former capital, Veliko Tarnovo. There you will see Tsarevets Hill and the ruins of the royal castle. During free time, shop for local crafts along Samovodska Charshia. Continue your venture to Arbanasi for lunch in a local restaurant and a guided tour of the Nativity Church with its intricate floor-to-ceiling murals and icons. Return to your ship for dinner. (B,L,D),
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10/24/2023 |
10/24/2023 |
Giurgiu
Giurgiu 10/25/2023
Disembark in Giurgiu and proceed to the superior first-class Radisson Blu Hotel Bucharest (or similar) in the heart of Bucharest for a one-night stay. This afternoon, enjoy a half-day tour of Romania's glorious capital city. See the Patriarchal Church, the Palace of Parliament, and the Arch of Triumph. Enjoy a final evening in Bucharest. (B, L),
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10/25/2023 |
10/25/2023 |
Cruise Ends (Debarkation)
Cruise Ends (Debarkation) 10/25/2023
Disembark in Giurgiu and proceed to the superior first-class Radisson Blu Hotel Bucharest (or similar) in the heart of Bucharest for a one-night stay. This afternoon, enjoy a half-day tour of Romania's glorious capital city. See the Patriarchal Church, the Palace of Parliament, and the Arch of Triumph. Enjoy a final evening in Bucharest. (B, L),
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10/25/2023 |
10/25/2023 |
Bucharest
Bucharest 10/25/2023
Disembark in Giurgiu and proceed to the superior first-class Radisson Blu Hotel Bucharest (or similar) in the heart of Bucharest for a one-night stay. This afternoon, enjoy a half-day tour of Romania's glorious capital city. See the Patriarchal Church, the Palace of Parliament, and the Arch of Triumph. Enjoy a final evening in Bucharest. (B, L),
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10/25/2023 |
10/25/2023 |
Bucharest
Bucharest 10/26/2023
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and proceed to the airport for your return flight. Airport meet & greet transfers included when air is purchased from Viking River Cruises. Or, extend your journey with three nights in the Black Sea region. (B),
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10/26/2023 |
10/26/2023 |