River Cruise Itinerary

1. Day 1
   Bucharest

   Wed, Jun 05, 2024

   Welcome to Bucharest, where you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel, perfectly situated in the city, for your overnight stay.

   Nicknamed the ‘Paris of the East’, the centre of Bucharest encapsulates a distinctive Parisian atmosphere, with wide avenues adorned by famous landmarks and quaint leafy boulevards that cross the city.

2. Day 2
   Bucharest - Giurgiu

   Thu, Jun 06, 2024

   After enjoying the plush surrounds of your hotel this morning, you'll have the opportunity to learn about some of Bucharest’s most iconic attractions during a guided drive around the city, including a visit to the Spring Palace. Then, you’ll have time to explore the leafy boulevards at your leisure.
   After your insightful tour, you’ll be transferred from Bucharest to Giurgiu, on the banks of the Danube, where a warm welcome from your captain and crew awaits on board your Emerald Cruises Star-Ship

   Included Excursion
   Guided drive through Bucharest with a visit to the Spring Palace

   
   Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
3. Day 3
   Rousse – Veliko Tarnovo & Arbanasi

   Fri, Jun 07, 2024

   Today, you'll have the opportunity to learn about Bulgarian history, as you explore the former capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire with your local guide. On your included tour, you’ll have the chance to traverse its cobbled streets and observe its impressive medieval fortifications.

   Afterwards, you’ll be taken to neighbouring Arbanasi, situated overlooking the Yantra River, a tributary of the Danube that is known for its many scenic gorges. Explore the past with your local guide, as your tour visits a number of traditional houses and ancient churches. If you would prefer to do something more active, then instead, you could choose to embark on a guided hike to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo, known for their famous 14th-century frescoes.
   Tonight, you’ll have the chance to mingle with your fellow guests while enjoying the welcome reception and dinner.

   EmeraldPLUS
   Choir concert in Arbanasi

   EmeraldACTIVE
   Guided hike to Ivanovo Church

   Included Excursion
   Tour of Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanasi

   
   Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
4. Day 4
   Vidin

   Sat, Jun 08, 2024

   Viticulture forms the heart of life in the most western town in Bulgaria, where sun-kissed vineyards pepper the banks of the Danube and winemaking has prospered for generations. Your included tour of Vidin will introduce you to a peaceful side of life that revolves around wine, as you weave through a local vineyard and learn about their produce, before enjoying a tasting session. Afterwards, your local guide will take you to Baba Vida, a fortress that was originally constructed at the turn of the 10th century and is known for being one of only a handful of beautifully preserved castles in the country.
   If you’re feeling more active, you can instead choose to embark on a guided hike to Belogradchik Fortress, located on the northern slopes of the Balkan Mountains.

   EmeraldACTIVE
   Guided hike to Belogradchik Fortress

   Included Excursion
   Visit to a local vineyard with wine tasting & a visit to Baba Vida Fortress

   DiscoverMORE
   Traditional Bulgarian pastry making (extra expense)

   
   Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
5. Day 5
   Donji Milanovac - Golubac

   Sun, Jun 09, 2024

   This morning, relax on board and admire your surroundings as we sail along the mighty Danube to Donji Milanovac, where a visit to the Lepenski Vir archaeological site, one of Europe’s best-hidden gems, awaits. Located right on the riverbanks, the Palaeolithic site is one of the most important of its kind on the continent, effortlessly capturing more than eight millennia of history. Archaeologists from around the world have used this site to learn about a number of different Stone Age settlements and the way that prehistoric cultures moved across Europe.

   Included Excursion
   Visit to Lepenski Vir archaeological site and museum

   DiscoverMORE
   Golubac Castle Visit (extra expense)

   
   Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
6. Day 6
   Belgrade

   Mon, Jun 10, 2024

   Serbia’s vibrant capital is yours to explore today. Your local guide will take you on a coach tour through the heart of the city, highlighting its many landmarks and the iconic Belgrade Fortress. The coach will pass through the centre, where you’ll notice reminders of the country’s turbulent history, set amongst the quiet and peaceful streets. Witness the ornate beauty of the Church of Saint Sava, one of the largest religious buildings in Europe, before stopping for a tour of the Museum of Yugoslavia. If you’re feeling more active, then you may instead choose to learn about Belgrade’s history during a guided bike tour.
   This evening, you will be invited to the Horizon Lounge where a traditional Serbian folklore show will provide spectacular entertainment.

   EmeraldPLUS
   Serbian folklore evening show on board

   EmeraldACTIVE
   Guided bike tour in Belgrade

   Included Excursion
   Guided tour of Belgrade

   DiscoverMORE
   Routes of Nikola Tesla (extra expense)

   
   Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
7. Day 7
   Vukovar – Osijek

   Tue, Jun 11, 2024

   Today, you will have the opportunity to explore one of Croatia’s postcard-worthy historic university towns, full of delightful waterfront promenades and quaint cobbled streets.

   Embark on a guided walk around Osijek Fortress, a true icon in the romantic Old Town, before a truly unforgettable EmeraldPLUS experience, as you’re invited into the home of a local family for a traditional Croatian lunch.
   Enjoy an evening of sailing further up the Danube towards Hungary, before joining your fellow passengers for a farewell dinner.

   EmeraldPLUS
   Home-hosted lunch with a Croatian family

   Included Excursion
   Guided walking tour of Osijek Fortress

   DiscoverMORE
   Vucedol Culture Museum (extra expense)

   
   Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
8. Day 8
   Kalocsa

   Wed, Jun 12, 2024

   In the morning, we will sail to Kalocsa, a place known for its paprika production and colourful festivals. Discovering Hungary’s culture is an easy task in Kalocsa, where traditional folk art can be found around every corner and old traditions pave the way for daily life.

   Later, you will venture to the Puszta, or Great Hungarian Plain, to visit a traditional Puszta horse farm. Your guide will teach you about the traditional performances of the Magyar cowboys, and you’ll have the opportunity to witness some of their exceptional equestrian skills first-hand as they showcase some of their exercise drills.

   This evening, enjoy an authentic Hungarian folklore show on board, followed by a traditional dinner.

   EmeraldPLUS
   Puszta Equestrian Heritage

   EmeraldPLUS
   Traditional Hungarian folklore show on board

   
   Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
9. Day 9
   Budapest

   Thu, Jun 13, 2024

   Today enjoy your leisure day and continue exploring the magnificent city of Budapest.
   This evening, enjoy an authentic Hungarian folklore show on board, followed by a traditional dinner.

   EmeraldPLUS
   A traditional Hungarian folklore show

   
   Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
10. Day 10
    Budapest

    Fri, Jun 14, 2024

    Architecture from across the centuries shines a light on the history of the Hungarian capital. Originally two separate cities, Buda to the west and Pest to the east offer incredibly different views on the culture of one of the liveliest cities in Eastern Europe. Today, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the city during a guided tour, including Heroes’ Square and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Andrássy Avenue and Buda Castle District. Alternatively, enjoy a hike to Gellert Hill for a postcard-worthy panorama view of the Danube banks.

    EmeraldACTIVE
    Hike to Gellert Hill

    Included Excursion
    Guided coach tour of Budapest

    
    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
11. Day 11
    Bratislava

    Sat, Jun 15, 2024

    This morning, relax on board as we sail to Bratislava. An ancient landscape awaits, where remarkable towers add to a skyline that perfectly encapsulates the history of the city, and preserved medieval fortifications tell tales of a turbulent past. Your local guide will take you through the heart of the city, as you soak in the sights of the lavish Episcopal Summer Palace and the neo-Renaissance façade of the Slovak National Theatre.

    If you’re feeling more active, you could instead choose to hike around the serene gardens of Bratislava Castle, which provides the perfect setting for the Shakespeare festival that occurs during the summer months.

    This afternoon, you will be invited into the home of a local family to learn more about their traditions and culture over coffee and cake.

    EmeraldPLUS
    Home-hosted coffee and cake with a local family

    EmeraldACTIVE
    Hike to Bratislava Castle

    Included Excursion
    Walking tour of Bratislava

    DiscoverMORE
    Skoda tour of post-Communist Bratislava (extra expense)

    DiscoverMORE
    Carpathian wine route (extra expense)

    
    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
12. Day 12
    Vienna

    Sun, Jun 16, 2024

    Sweeping boulevards and world-famous art exhibitions welcome you to Vienna, a city which perfectly encapsulates the opulence of the Habsburg Monarchy and their ornate Baroque palaces. The Austrian capital is an art-lover's dream, and your guided tour will include a visit to the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the largest art museum in the country and one of the most important museums worldwide.

    If you’re feeling more active, then you may opt to explore on two wheels instead, cycling along the riverbanks before touching on Danube Island and Prater, the famous Viennese amusement park, home to the traditional 19th-century Ferris wheel.

    EmeraldACTIVE
    Guided bike tour in Vienna

    Included Excursion
    Vienna art tour with a visit to the Kunsthistorisches Museum

    DiscoverMORE
    Viennese evening concert (extra expense)

    
    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
13. Day 13
    Krems - Dürnstein

    Mon, Jun 17, 2024

    This morning, enjoy a guided tour of Göttweig Abbey, a true treasure overlooking the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Wachau Valley. Visible from great distance, it’s one of Austria's most important Benedictine abbeys and attracts visitors from all over the world and provides epic panorama views.

    Afterwards, your Star-Ship will sail through the fascinating Wachau Valley, part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Wachau Cultural Landscape, and on to Dürnstein.

    Alternatively, embark on a guided bike tour from Krems to Dürnstein, passing terraced vineyards, castles and ruins along the way, before arriving where your Star-Ship is docked in Dürnstein.

    In the afternoon we arrive in Dürnstein; a small town nestled in the heart of the Wachau wine region. You'll have the chance to hike to the medieval ruins of Dürnstein Castle, the site where King Richard I was held prisoner following his return from the Third Crusade, and part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Wachau Cultural Landscape, a place peppered with natural lookout points that highlight the beauty of the region.

    Included Excursion
    Guided tour of Göttweig Abbey

    EmeraldACTIVE
    Guided hike to Dürnstein Castle

    EmeraldACTIVE
    Guided bike tour along the Danube

    
    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
14. Day 14
    Engelhartszell - Passau

    Tue, Jun 18, 2024

    After a morning of sailing along the Danube, we will take you into the heart of Passau. Nicknamed the Dreiflüssestadt, meaning the ‘the city of three rivers’, it’s situated at the confluence of the Danube, Inn, and Ilz rivers.

    Your included guided tour of Passau will unveil its noteworthy Gothic and Baroque architecture. If you're feeling active, you could join a bike tour along the River Inn, one of the three rivers converging in Passau.

    After your tour, enjoy some free time to explore Passau at your leisure, before spending an evening sailing blissfully towards Regensburg.

    Included Excursion
    Guided tour of Passau

    EmeraldACTIVE
    Guided bike tour along the River Inn

    EmeraldACTIVE
    Hike into town, Engelharstzell

    DiscoverMORE
    Visit to Schuetz Museum Engelhartszell (extra expense)

    DiscoverMORE
    Excursion to the Bavarian Forest (extra expense)

    
    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
15. Day 15
    Regensburg

    Wed, Jun 19, 2024

    This morning, we arrive in Regensburg, a city built on the site of an ancient Roman fort. Your guided walking tour of Regensburg will showcase its UNESCO World Heritage-listed medieval centre, where narrow cobbled lanes and tall façades help to define the character of this enchanting Bavarian city.

    Alternatively, you could join a bike tour to the Walhalla monument, which towers high above the slopes of the Danube. From here, you can enjoy a fascinating view of the surrounding landscape and the river.
    This evening, enjoy a traditional Bavarian band performance on board.

    EmeraldPLUS
    Traditional Bavarian band performance on board

    EmeraldPLUS
    Walking tour of Regensburg with Bavarian sausage tasting

    EmeraldACTIVE
    Guided bike tour to the Walhalla monument

    DiscoverMORE
    Excursion to Nuremberg (extra expense)

    
    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
16. Day 16
    Regensburg Disembarkation - Munich

    Thu, Jun 20, 2024

    After breakfast, it’s time to say farewell to your fellow guests and disembark your Star-Ship for your transfer to the airport, taking memories of Roman architecture and the rich culture of the Danube River with you.

    Please book your flight to depart out of Munich after 12:45 PM.

    This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons such as high and low water. As such, the cruise may operate altered from that stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information.

    
    Meals: Breakfast

Ship Information

Cabins

Life on Board

Questions & Answers