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

DAY 2 VIDIN

Full board on board. In the early afternoon, we will arrive in Vidin, a small town on the banks of the Danube known for housing the only fully preserved medieval fortress in the whole of Bulgaria. Free day to discover the town at your own pace. Or take the optional guided tour of the Baba Vida fortress (reservation required). Overnight on board.  

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DAY 3 SAILING THROUGH THE IRON GATES

Full board on board. The Iron Gates is an impressive canyon of the Danube River on the border between Serbia and Romania. As the boat moves through the gorge, you will be treated to spectacular views of the mountains as well as important monuments, including the medieval fortress of Golubac, Trajan's Bridge, the Tabula Traiana (a slab dedicated to Emperor Trajan) and the face of King Decebalus carved into a 40-metre rock. Enjoy sailing through the most impressive gorge in Europe. Overnight on board.

DAY 4 BELGRADE

Full board on board. Early in the morning we will arrive in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia and one of the oldest cities in Europe. The city is home to countless monuments from different eras and cultures, including the Kalemegdan Fortress, the Temple of St. Sava, Chukur Fountain, the Court Building, the Parliament, St. Mark's Church. Optional guided tour with interesting facts about the turbulent history of Belgrade. Free afternoon. Don't miss a visit to the Skadarlija quarter to taste the best dishes of Serbian cuisine. On a hot day, you can visit the island of Ada Ciganlija with artificial beaches on the river bank and taste local beers or enjoy outdoor activities. Overnight on board.

DAY 5 NOVI SAD / VUKOVAR

Full board on board. Early in the morning, we will arrive in the Serbian town of Novi Sad, known as "the Athens of Serbia". The nerve centre of Novi Sad is the beautiful Liberty Square where, in addition to several imposing palaces, we find two of the most important buildings in the city, the Town Hall and the Catholic Cathedral, which stands out for its tall spire. From Freedom Square there are five streets, all of them pedestrianised, which ensure a leisurely stroll through the city. Free morning to discover the city at your own pace. Or take the optional guided city tour (by reservation only).

Most of the afternoon will be spent in the Croatian town of Vukovar, a town devastated during the Croatian War of Independence. Vukovar's most attractive buildings, all damaged in the Yugoslav Wars, include the Eltz Mansion, which belonged to a noble family, the Eltz, during the 18th century, some Baroque houses in the town centre, the Franciscan monastery, the Catholic parish church of St. James, the Orthodox church of St. Nicholas and the birthplace of Lavoslav Ružička, a native of Vukovar and Nobel Prize winner. Since the pacification of Croatia at the end of the 1990s, many buildings have been reconstructed, but ruins still remain in the town. Free morning to discover the town at your own pace. Or take the optional guided city tour (by reservation only). Overnight on board.

DAY 6 MOHACS

Full board on board. In the morning, we will arrive in Mohacs, a small Hungarian village that played a great role in the history of Europe. In 1526, Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent defeated the troops of King Louis II of Hungary, thus beginning the reign of the Ottoman Empire which lasted more than a century and a half until the Habsburg troops returned these lands in 1687. Nowadays, it is a peaceful city known for its bizarre carnival of the Busos. Free morning to discover the city at your own pace. Or take the optional visit to the nearby town of Pecs, a town with the richest Unesco-recognised World Heritage site from Roman times in Central Europe (reservation required). Police check at the border with Serbia (passport required). Overnight on board.

DAY 7 BUDAPEST 

Full board on board. Early in the morning, we will arrive in Budapest, the capital of Hungary divided by the mighty Danube into two parts: traditional "Buda" and cosmopolitan "Pest". We will take an optional guided tour through the wide boulevards of the city to the famous Parliament, the Opera House, Heroes' Square, the Market Square, the Chain Bridge and the Fisherman's Bastion with its spectacular views over the city. Budapest is not to be missed at night when the city dresses up. Night stopover in the city. Overnight on board.

DAY 8 BUDAPEST

Full board on board. We continue to Budapest. The differences between Buda and Pest create an interesting contrast between the west bank and the east bank. The hilly Buda is located in the west and is characterised by narrow cobblestone streets with a mixture of medieval and neoclassical buildings, which were completely rebuilt after World War II. The flat city of Pest is in the east and is made up of wide boulevards with Art Deco buildings. The city has a mix of Turkish, Venetian, imperial and Art Nouveau styles and influences, forming an unbalanced mosaic of disparate styles. Discover it at your own pace. Overnight on board.

DAY 9 BRATISLAVA

Full board on board. In the early afternoon we will arrive in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. Our optional guided tour will take you on a sightseeing tour of this imperial city. We will see, among other fascinating sights, the National Theatre, St. Martin's Cathedral, Michael's Gate, the old town hall and the impressive rock fortress. In the afternoon, we will leave Bratislava and head for Vienna. In the evening, Captain's dinner. Overnight on board.

DAY 10 VIENNA

Full board on board. After breakfast, embark on an optional sightseeing tour of the most important sights of the Austrian capital: the Opera House, the City Hall, the Parliament, the Burgtheater and the splendid Imperial Hofburg Palace. In the afternoon, enjoy the city at your own pace or enjoy the optional visit to Schonbrunn Palace. Overnight stopover in the city. Overnight on board.

DAY 11 VIENNA

Disembarkation after breakfast. End of our services.