From the “Paris of the East” in Bucharest, Romania, to the “Golden City” of Prague, in the Czech Republic, this Danube River cruise is an odyssey of new discoveries. Begin in Bucharest for a tour of the Romanian capital’s boulevards, Arc de Triomphe, Royal Palace Square, and historic sites from a dramatic history. Travel to Oltenita to embark on your Danube River cruise. Sail through the striking landscapes of the Balkans—Rousse, Bulgaria, Veliko Târnovo, and Arbanassi, one of the oldest towns in Bulgaria. Guided sightseeing in Vidin is followed by a guided tour of Belogradchik, with its ancient rock formations on the Balkan Mountains. After cruising through the narrow Iron Gates Gorge, visit Lepenski Vir for a guided tour with ancient archaeological finds. In Serbia, take a guided tour of Belgrade, including one of the world’s largest Orthodox churches.
On the second portion of your cruise a Master of Wine will travel with you to host lectures, tastings, and tips on food-and-wine pairing. Sail through the Balkans to the Hungarian capital city of Budapest for a visit to a local wine cellar. Enjoy guided sightseeing of Vienna’s historic Habsburg Empire—including the Imperial Palace, Vienna Opera House, and stunning St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Take a guided tour of delightful Dürnstein and explore Melk’s Benedictine Abbey above the vineyard-rich Wachau Valley, where you can taste some of the local wines. Visit Austria’s lovely city of Linz, then pass through the beautiful Schlögen Oxbow river bend on your way to Passau—Germany’s “City of Three Rivers.” Your Danube River cruise concludes in Vilshofen, Germany.
Next, spend two nights in the exquisite city of Prague; enjoy the “Golden City” on your own, in addition to a guided city walk to see Hradčany Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral, and the world-famous Astronomical Clock. This European river cruise adventure from the Black Sea Delta to the Golden City of Prague is not to be missed!
About Masters of Wine
Seldom do travellers get the chance to learn about wines from a master! Avalon invites you to sail in the company of a Master of Wine (MW) who shares elite experience, unsurpassed knowledge, and personal passion for wines on board your ship. With only 450 Masters of Wine in the world, Avalon Waterways is honoured to welcome a Master of Wine on board our Wine-Lovers cruises to share their rigorous training and prestigious expertise recognised globally across the wine industry. A truly exclusive experience for wine lovers!
