Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/933831
82 For complete itinerary details and videos, visit vikingcruises.com.au PASSAGE TO EASTERN EUROPE 11 day cruise/tour with 7 guided tours in 5 countries DAY 1 Budapest, Hungary Arrive at Budapest airport and transfer to the deluxe Hilton Budapest (or similar) in the heart of the city for a two night stay. Spend the rest of the day relaxing, or do some exploring on your own. DAY 2 Budapest, Hungary 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 Fishermen's Bastion and Matthias Church. The rest of the day is yours to explore. (B) DAY 3 Budapest, Hungary 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) DAY 4 Kalocsa, Hungary Arrive in Kalocsa, Hungary this morning and take a guided city tour visiting the town centre followed by a short organ concert at St. Joseph I R O N G AT E , S E R B I A / R O M A N I A Church. Then, you are treated to a performance of traditional Puszta horsemanship. Return aboard and enjoy your lunch during departure. Dine aboard. (B, L, D). DAY 5 Osijek, Croatia 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) DAY 6 Belgrade, Serbia 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 aboard 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 aboard your ship or experience some of Belgrade's nightlife. We depart very late this evening. (B, L, D) DAY 7 Iron Gate, Serbia/Romania 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) DAY 8 Vidin & Belogradchik, Bulgaria 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 centre, Orthodox churches and the ruins of the city's once-grand synagogue. We depart during dinner. (B, L, D) DAY 9 Veliko Tarnovo & Arbanasi, Bulgaria After breakfast, disembark at Russe for a full-day excursion to Bulgaria's former capital, Veliko Tarnovo. There you will see Tsaravets 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) DAY 10 Giurgiu and Bucharest, Romania Disembark in Giurgiu and proceed to the superior first-class Radisson Blu Hotel Bucharest (or similar) in the heart of the Bucharest for a 1-night stay. This afternoon, enjoy a half-day tour of Romania's lovely capital city. See the city's wide boulevards, the Romanian Athenaeum, the Arch of Triumph and the Palace of Parliament. Visit the outdoor Muzeul Satului, otherwise known as the Village Museum, where authentic dwellings from all regions of the country have been relocated and reassembled, including rural cottages, farmhouses and water mills. During lunch at a local restaurant, enjoy a lively folkloric performance that recalls the simple pleasures of rural life. (B, L) DAY 11 Bucharest, Romania After breakfast, check out of your hotel and proceed to the airport for your return flight. Or, extend your journey with three nights in Bucharest and Transylvania. (B) The following meals are included: B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner