Itinerary
- Day 1
Bucharest
You'll be picked up at Bucharest airport and taken to your hotel in the city center. The city has a nickname, 'Paris of the East', with its wide avenues and tree-lined streets that give off that Parisian feel. Some notable landmarks scattered throughout create that distinctive atmosphere.
- Day 2
Bucharest to Giurgiu
After breakfast at the hotel, you'll get a guided drive through Bucharest to see key attractions including the Spring Palace. Then you'll have free time to walk around the leafy boulevards on your own. Later in the day, you'll head to Giurgiu on the Danube where you'll board the Emerald Cruises Star-Ship.
Included Activities
- Guided drive through Bucharest with a visit to the Spring Palace
Landmarks Spring Palace - Day 3
Rousse
You can explore Rousse, called 'The Little Vienna' for its Neo-Baroque and Neo-Rococo architecture and nice promenade. Choose either a walking tour or a guided hike to the Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo, which are UNESCO-listed and have famous 14th-century frescoes. Tonight features a welcome reception and dinner with other guests.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome reception and dinner)
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Rousse
Optional Activities
- Guided hike to Ivanovo Church (EmeraldACTIVE)
- Choir concert (EmeraldPLUS)
- Full day Tour of Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanasi (DiscoverMORE - extra expense)
Landmarks Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo - Day 4
Vidin
Head to Vidin, Bulgaria's westernmost town where vineyards line the Danube riverbanks. You'll visit a local vineyard for a wine tasting, then tour Baba Vida Fortress, a well-preserved 10th-century castle. Optional activities include a guided hike to Belogradchik Fortress or trying your hand at making traditional Bulgarian pastries.
Included Activities
- Visit to a local vineyard with wine tasting & a visit to Baba Vida Fortress
Optional Activities
- Guided hike to Belogradchik Fortress (EmeraldACTIVE)
- Traditional Bulgarian pastry making (DiscoverMORE - extra expense)
Landmarks Baba Vida Fortress Belogradchik Fortress 
- Day 5
Donji Milanovac to Golubac
The ship sails to Donji Milanovac where you'll visit Lepenski Vir, an archaeological site on the riverbanks. This Palaeolithic settlement captures over eight millennia of history and ranks among Europe's most important Stone Age sites. You can optionally visit Golubac Castle as well.
Included Activities
- Visit to Lepenski Vir archaeological site and museum
Optional Activities
- Golubac Castle Visit (DiscoverMORE - extra expense)
Landmarks Lepenski Vir Golubac Castle 
- Day 6
Belgrade
In Belgrade, Serbia's capital, you'll get a coach tour hitting major landmarks like the Church of Saint Sava, one of Europe's largest religious buildings, and the Museum of Yugoslavia. If you prefer being active, a guided bike tour is available. This evening brings a traditional Serbian folklore show on board.
- Meals
- Dinner (Traditional Serbian folklore show with dinner on board)
Included Activities
- Highlights of Belgrade
Optional Activities
- Guided bike tour in Belgrade (EmeraldACTIVE)
- Serbian folklore evening show on board (EmeraldPLUS)
- Routes of Nikola Tesla (DiscoverMORE - extra expense)
Landmarks Church of Saint Sava Museum of Yugoslavia - Day 7
Vukovar
You'll have lunch at a local Croatian family's home for a real cultural experience. Afterward, the ship continues up the Danube toward Hungary. Later, you'll join everyone for a farewell dinner with fellow passengers.
- Meals
- Lunch (Home-hosted lunch with a Croatian family), Dinner (Farewell dinner)
Included Activities
- Home-hosted lunch with a Croatian family
Optional Activities
- Vucedol Culture Museum (DiscoverMORE - extra expense)
- Day 8
Kalocsa
The ship reaches Kalocsa, known for its paprika production and colorful festivals with folk art everywhere. You'll visit a traditional Puszta horse farm on the Great Hungarian Plain to see Magyar cowboy performances and skilled equestrian work. Tonight features an authentic Hungarian folklore show and dinner on board.
- Meals
- Dinner (Traditional Hungarian dinner following folklore show)
Included Activities
- Puszta Equestrian Heritage
- Traditional Hungarian folklore show on board
- Day 9
Budapest
You'll have the afternoon free to explore Budapest at your own pace. The city sits on both sides of the Danube with dozens of lights adorning the stone bridges. This evening, you'll catch an authentic Hungarian folklore show on board followed by a traditional dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner (Traditional dinner following Hungarian folklore show)
Optional Activities
- Traditional Hungarian folklore show on board (EmeraldPLUS)
- Day 10
Budapest
A coach tour takes you through the medieval quarter with its cobblestone streets in the UNESCO-listed city center. You'll visit the Grand Market, Budapest's largest indoor market, to get insights into local food culture. Free time lets you explore the market yourself, or you can do an optional guided hike to Gellert Hill instead.
Included Activities
- Budapest tour with Grand Market visit
Optional Activities
- Hike to Gellert Hill (EmeraldACTIVE)
- Excursion to Szentendre (DiscoverMORE - extra expense)
Landmarks Grand Market Gellert Hill - Day 11
Bratislava
As the ship sails into Bratislava, a local guide walks you through the 18th-century Old Town's romantic cobblestone lanes. You'll see the Slovak National Theatre and Gothic and Art Nouveau buildings. An optional hike to Bratislava Castle takes you up a rocky hill above the Danube. Local Slovakian entertainment happens on board tonight.
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Bratislava
Optional Activities
- Guided hike to Bratislava Castle (EmeraldACTIVE)
- Local Slovakian entertainment on board (EmeraldPLUS)
- Skoda tour of Post-Communist Bratislava (DiscoverMORE - extra expense)
- Carpathian Wine route (DiscoverMORE - extra expense)
Landmarks Bratislava Castle Slovak National Theatre 
- Day 12
Vienna
A guided coach tour shows you Vienna's famous Ringstrasse, one of the world's great boulevards with its Habsburg Monarchy grandeur and ornate Baroque palaces. After that, a walking tour through the UNESCO-listed city center covers Neo-Renaissance buildings like the State Opera, City Hall, and Parliament. A guided bike tour along the riverbanks to Danube Island is also available.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Vienna
Optional Activities
- Guided bike tour of Vienna (EmeraldACTIVE)
- Exclusive Viennese evening concert (DiscoverMORE - extra expense)
Landmarks Ringstrasse Vienna State Opera Vienna City Hall Austrian Parliament Danube Island 
- Day 13
Weissenkirchen to Melk
You'll visit Weissenkirchen in the Wachau wine region, where the warm climate creates excellent conditions for growing grapes. The ship sails through the scenic, UNESCO-listed Wachau Valley to Melk, where you'll tour Melk Abbey. Originally a castle given to Benedictine monks in the 11th century, this ornate Baroque building holds important collections of medieval manuscripts.
Included Activities
- Tour of Melk Abbey
Optional Activities
- Guided bike tour along the Danube River (EmeraldACTIVE)
- Guided hike in Weissenkirchen (EmeraldACTIVE)
- Visit to Schallaburg Castle (DiscoverMORE - extra expense)
Landmarks Melk Abbey Wachau Valley Schallaburg Castle 
- Day 14
Linz to Český Krumlov
The Star-Ship arrives in Linz this morning. You'll transfer by coach to the UNESCO-listed historic center of Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic. A walking tour takes you through winding cobblestone streets lined with colorful building fronts. The town surrounds Cesky Krumlov Castle, and your tour includes the 15th-century St. Vitus Church.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Český Krumlov
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Linz with a Linzer Torte tasting (DiscoverMORE - extra expense)
Landmarks Český Krumlov Castle St. Vitus Church - Day 15
Passau
You'll arrive in Passau, a charming German trading center where three rivers meet, the Danube, Inn, and Ilz. Narrow cobblestone streets and fresh gingerbread aromas greet you. A visit to a typical Bavarian farm gives insight into local life and livestock, with chances to try homemade specialties. An optional guided hike covers Mariahilf and St. Severin, an ancient church.
Included Activities
- Bavarian Countryside Experience
Optional Activities
- Hike to Veste Oberhaus (EmeraldACTIVE)
- Bavaria Live (DiscoverMORE - extra expense)
Landmarks Veste Oberhaus Mariahilf St. Severin 
- Day 16
Passau
After breakfast, you'll say goodbye to fellow passengers and disembark the Star-Ship for transfer to the airport, taking with you memories of Europe's iconic sights and cultural experiences.
- Meals
- Breakfast
