Danube Serenade: Romantic Journey from Vienna to Turnu Magurele (Bucharest), MS Fidelio

Boarding at the river port starts at 16:00. Settle into your cabins. Enjoy a welcome cocktail. Overnight stay in the city. Dinner and overnight stay on board.

Full board on board. Vienna features a sober architecture that reflects its many years as the seat of the Habsburg Empire and the world capital of music and opera. The city is filled with palaces, parliament buildings, theaters, opera houses, and impressive structures with various functions, showcasing Baroque, Classicist, or Art Nouveau facades. After the city walls were demolished in 1857 to create the Ringstrasse, the city’s architectural landscape was greatly enriched.

After breakfast, we will embark on a panoramic tour of the most important sights in the Austrian capital. At midnight, the ship will depart from Vienna and sail toward Bratislava. Overnight stay on board.

Full board on board. We arrive in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, early in the morning. Our guided tour will take you through this imperial city. We will see, among other fascinating sites, the National Theater, St. Martin's Cathedral, Michael’s Gate, the Old Town Hall, and the impressive fortress perched atop a rock. In the afternoon, we leave Bratislava and head toward Budapest. Overnight stay on board.

Full board on board. After lunch, we arrive in Budapest, the capital of Hungary, divided by the mighty Danube into two parts: traditional "Buda" and cosmopolitan "Pest." We will take a guided tour along the city's wide boulevards toward the famous Parliament, the Opera House, Heroes' Square, the Market Hall, the Chain Bridge, and the Fisherman's Bastion, which offers spectacular views over the city. You cannot miss Budapest at night when the city is beautifully illuminated. Overnight stay in the city. Overnight stay on board.

Full board on board. We continue in Budapest. The differences between Buda and Pest create an interesting contrast between the west and east banks. Hilly Buda lies to the west, characterized by narrow cobblestone streets where medieval and neoclassical buildings mix—all fully rebuilt after WWII. Flat Pest lies to the east and consists of wide boulevards with Art Deco buildings. The city presents a mix of Turkish, Venetian, Imperial, and Art Nouveau influences, forming a unique mosaic of styles. Discover it at your own pace. Overnight stay on board.

Full board on board. After breakfast, we reach Mohács, a small Hungarian town that played a major role in European history. In 1526, Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent defeated the troops of King Louis II of Hungary, beginning more than a century and a half of Ottoman rule until the Habsburgs reclaimed the land in 1687. Today, it is a peaceful town known for its unique Busó carnival.

Enjoy a free morning to discover the city at your own pace, or take an optional tour to the nearby city of Pécs, which boasts Central Europe’s richest Roman-era findings and is a UNESCO World Heritage site (offered on board). Police control at the Serbian border (passport required). Overnight stay on board.

Full board on board. Early in the morning, we arrive in Vukovar, a city devastated during the Croatian War of Independence. Notable landmarks include the Eltz Manor, Baroque houses in the center, the Franciscan monastery, St. James Catholic Church, St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, and the birthplace of Nobel Prize winner Lavoslav Ružička. Free morning or optional guided walk (offered on board).

We spend most of the afternoon in the Serbian city of Novi Sad, known as the "Athens of Serbia." The heart of the city is the beautiful Freedom Square, home to imposing palaces, the City Hall, and the Catholic Cathedral with its tall spire. Five pedestrian streets branch off from the square, perfect for a peaceful stroll. Free afternoon or optional guided walk (offered on board). Overnight stay on board.

Full board on board. Early in the morning, we reach Belgrade, the capital of Serbia and one of the oldest cities in Europe. The city houses countless monuments from different eras, including the Kalemegdan Fortress, the Temple of Saint Sava, the Chukur Fountain, the Court building, Parliament, and St. Mark's Church. Our guided tour will provide fascinating facts about Belgrade’s turbulent history.

Free afternoon. Be sure to visit the Skadarlija district to taste the best Serbian cuisine. On a warm day, you can visit Ada Ciganlija island, which features artificial beaches and outdoor activities. Overnight stay on board.

Full board on board. The Iron Gates is a stunning gorge on the Danube at the border between Serbia and Romania. As the ship advances, spectacular views of the mountains and monuments unfold, including the medieval Golubac Fortress, Trajan’s Bridge, the Tabula Traiana, and the 40-meter-high rock sculpture of King Decebalus’s face. Enjoy sailing through Europe’s most impressive gorge. Overnight stay on board.

Full board on board. At dawn, we arrive in Vidin, a small Bulgarian town on the Danube known for housing the only fully preserved medieval fortress in Bulgaria. Free day to explore or take an optional guided tour of the Baba Vida Fortress (offered on board). In the evening, enjoy the Captain’s Dinner. Overnight stay on board.

Disembarkation after breakfast. Optional transfer to Bucharest. Known as "Little Paris," the Romanian capital is an elegant city where splendid early 20th-century buildings coexist with massive Communist-era architecture, including the Palace of the Parliament, the largest administrative building in the world. End of our services.