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Enjoy a wide range of sightseeing experiences in the luxurious
comfort of an Amawaterways river cruise ship with a small group
of fellow Travel Insiders. |
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Go places you'd probably
never get to go if not traveling along the Danube, and see the
history and experience the living complexity of the Balkans,
directly, yourself.
High quality well designed touring
and the luxurious comfort of your 'traveling home' make this a
great way to extend your knowledge of parts of Europe you'd
probably never otherwise get to see.
Come experience and enjoy this for yourself in the warmth of
Aug/Sept 2016. |
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Detailed Day by
Day Itinerary for the 2016
Balkans from Bucharest to
Budapest Cruise
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You should be in this
picture, too!
The proof of our comments -
wine and food galore being
enjoyed by some Travel Insiders at dinner on our 2015
Christmas cruise on the Amaserena's sister ship, Amacerto.
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Tour
Itinerary Join a small select group of fellow Travel Insiders
on this 'luxury expedition' type cruise/tour of five countries in the
Balkans, in Aug/Sept 2016.
 The
opulently tasteful library on board the
Amaserena. |
Our tour combines major capital cities with small
unassuming villages, and sometimes unspoiled pure nature in
the raw.
Flexibility is a distinctive feature, with
many times you having a choice of different touring
activities (all free!) during our port stops, helping ensure you see and do
exactly what you want.
Here are the details of what we’ll do each day during this
wonderful experience.
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After you've finished viewing
this daily detailed itinerary, please
click here to return to the
main Balkans from Bucharest to Budapest Cruise page.
Daily Itinerary Details
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Thursday 25 August (if doing the
pre-cruise Bucharest/Transylvania/Dracula extension) Leave the US |
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To arrive in Bucharest on 26 August you probably need to take an
overnight flight from the US on 25 August. |
You can either make your own
arrangements to travel to Bucharest, or have us ask Amawaterways
to make them for you. If you are
doing the pre-cruise extension, you will probably
leave the US today so as to arrive in Bucharest tomorrow.
But if you prefer to stay longer in
Bucharest, or to do other
things first, you'll of course leave the US sooner. |
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Friday 26 August - Arrive
in Bucharest for the pre-cruise Extension |
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A good illustration of the contrasting architectural
styles - French Belle Epoque in the foreground,
communist style in the background, in central Bucharest. |
After arriving into Bucharest at some time today, you can check in to the
hotel for the next two nights and enjoy the rest of today at leisure as
it suits you.
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Saturday 27 August -
Touring through the Carpathians to Transylvania, Peles
Castle and Dracula's Castle |
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Warning - here (may) be vampires! Sighisoara in
Transylvania.
Neo-renaissance style Peles Castle, nestled in the
Carpathian Mountains of Transylvania.
Sure, we could have chosen a sunny picture of Bran
Castle, but we felt this one to be more appropriately foreboding and
evocative! |
Better pack a wooden stake, a
crucifix and some garlic today - we're off into the vampire
lands of Transylvania, set in the beautiful Carpathian
Mountain region of Romania.
Two highlights of our day's touring will be visiting
beautiful Peles Castle and to forbidding Bran Castle - or,
as it is better known, Dracula's Castle.
Bran Castle dates back to the 14th century and is on the
site of an earlier wooden castle built by the Teutonic
Knights. So it does have an enormous amount of history
and some mysticism associated with it, even though the link
to the Dracula story is in reality tenuous.
There are persistent rumors that Bran Castle may be for
sale. Bring your check book, just in case it takes
your fancy!
Assuming we aren't waylaid by vampires, we'll be back at
our lovely historic city center hotel in Bucharest in time
for dinner (not included).
Included
Meals - Breakfast, Lunch
Special Feature - Tour into the Carpathians,
Transylvania, Peles and Bran Castles
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Sunday 28 August - Bucharest
City Sightseeing, then transfer to Amaserena for the Cruise |
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Like many communist capital cities, Bucharest was
designed on a very grand scale.
The
Open Air Village Museum preserves the traditional
architecture of rural Romania, while incongruously being
located close to the center of Bucharest.
The
tiny size of the cars in the foreground (and other
buildings in the background) provide visual clues to the
extraordinary size of the Palace of the Parliament.
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If you're 'doing your own thing' you
should plan to arrive on the Amaserena sometime this
mid-afternoon.
If you're on the pre-cruise tour
extension, we have some great things scheduled today in
Bucharest, also known as the 'Paris of the East', due to its
many Belle Époque buildings dating from the 19th century.
The French influence is paramount in
many of the restored buildings of the former aristocracy and
monarchy.
We
enjoy a city tour, including time at the Open Air Museum,
dedicated to preserving the traditional architecture of
rural Romania and the second largest open air museum in all
of Europe.
We have a nice lunch at a traditional
local restaurant, then go for
a guided tour of the enormous Palace of the Parliament, a
Communist era building that is the second largest in the
world (only the Pentagon is larger).
This building is so huge that even though well
used, it is estimated that 70% remains empty. It is so
huge that it was easier to set up a carpet making plant
inside it to make carpets than to ship them in.
We then transfer down to Rousse to
join the ship.
In the early evening, there will be a
special Welcome Cocktail Reception on board the ship,
followed by a special Welcome Dinner.
Included Meals - Breakfast, Lunch, then Dinner on the ship
Special Features -
Tour of the Palace of the
Parliament |
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Monday 29 August Veliko Turnavo |
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Hillside houses in the ancient Bulgarian capital of
Veliko Turnavo.
The entrance to the fortress on Tsarevets Hill, above the
town itself.
Traditional plates for sale in Veliko Turnavo. |
Today we'll enjoy a visit to the
ancient capital of Bulgaria, Veliko Turnavo.
Here we will tour Tsarevets Hill, the
old citadel of the city. We will see the old fortress
walls, the Royal Palaces and the Patriarchal church, and the
Baldwins Tower.
And, for those shoppers among us (we
know who you are!) we'll visit Samovodska Charshia - a
traditional market street now beautifully restored and with
lots of tempting arts and crafts and other boutique stores.
We set sail late afternoon and
commence
our cruise west along the Danube.
Included
Meals - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Special Features - Tour to
Veliko Turnavo and lunch ashore |
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Tuesday 30 August Vidin |
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The entrance to Belogradchik castle.
Some of the distinctive rock formations around the
Belogradchik castle.
Baba Vida Fortress in Vidin, with a tiny peek of the
Danube in the lower left. |
We start today off with a wonderful
tour (well, that's sort of what we do every day!) to
Belogradchik, a beautifully restored
castle dating back to the Dark Ages (ie 6th century), located in a
stunning landscape of unusual rock formations.
Afterwards,
we visit the Baba Vida Fortress, the only entirely preserved
medieval castle (14th century) in the country, and standing
guard over the Danube at the frontier town of Vidin.
At the castle we will be treated to
a fascinating historical re-enactment.
Return to the ship for a
wonderful dinner, and then spend the evening as you please
while our ship departs Vidin and continues taking us
westwards.
Included
Meals - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Special Features -
Tour of
Belogradchik and Baba Vida |
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Wednesday 31 August
Cruising through the Iron Gates |
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Although at times there are lots of ships on the Danube,
at times it seems almost deserted, such as in this scene
passing through part of the Iron Gates region.
In the foreground, a commercial boat perilously laden to
very low in the water, and in the background, a 135 ft
head statue of Decebalus, a Romanian hero and king who
fought against the Romans almost 2000 years ago.
A Roman monument marking the construction of a 3/4 mile
long 62 ft high bridge across the Danube, way back in
105 AD.
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Today is a full day of cruising through one of
Europe's most awe-inspiring natural wonders, the Iron Gates.
Here the Danube narrows as it winds through an
80 mile series of
magnificent gorges between the southern Carpathian Mountains
on one side of the river,
and the northwestern Balkan Mountains on the other.
This natural border
between Serbia and Romania will be an unforgettable
highlight of our cruise, which you can enjoy from the
comfort of your stateroom, or from any of the ship's
wonderful public areas or even the outdoor sun deck.
Included
Meals - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Special Feature -
Cruising the Iron Gates during
daylight |
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Thursday 1 September Belgrade |
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Belgrade from the river.
The St Sava Serbian Orthodox Church
is one of the largest churches in
the world.
Belgrade has some excellent
ethic restaurants to enjoy.
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We wake up this morning in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia.
The name means 'white city' and Belgrade traces its history
back more than 2500 years, and archeological digs point to a
settlement there as much as 7000 years ago.
Located at the strategic meeting
point of the Danube and Sava rivers, this truly cosmopolitan
city has fortifications dating back to Celtic times,
medieval tombs and Turkish baths.
Belgrade is the cultural and
religious center of Serbia. The Old Town streets are lined
with 19th century buildings from the period of Serbian
independence.
After another delicious breakfast,
we'll head out and enjoy a panoramic tour of the city, including a photo stop
at Tito’s Tomb and visits to the Kalemegdan Fortress and the
Serbian Orthodox Temple of St. Sava.
Back to the ship for lunch and then this afternoon
we have our choice of one
of three excursions.
The first option is a visit to the mausoleum of
Marshal Josip Broz Tito, a beloved figure who was the leader of the
Yugoslav Partisans during the Second World War and became the first President
of Yugoslavia.
Our second option is a tasting of Serbian plum brandy
at the Quburich Distillery followed by a visit to the Avala Hill and TV Tower.
And the third option is a guided bike tour through
Belgrade and around Ada Ciganlija island.
The ship stays in Belgrade until
midnight, so if you want to dine ashore in one of Belgrade's
many excellent restaurants, you have a convenient
opportunity to do so.
Included
Meals - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Special
Features -
Morning city tour, choice of three
different afternoon tours |
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Friday 2 September Novi
Sad and Vukovar |
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The
town hall and square in central Novi Sad.
Petrovaradin Fortress, nicknamed 'the Gibraltar on the
Danube', perched high above the river at Novi Sad.
The locals decided to preserve the water tower as it was
as a result of the 87 day siege of Vukovar during the
war in 1991.
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We arrive in Novi Sad in the morning and
can choose to
explore this charming city (the second largest in Serbia) on one of three excursions.
The
antiquity of Novi Sad can be traced back to the Romans and
Byzantines, but it was the 13th century Tartar invasion that
resulted in the building of the original fortress. Ruled by
the Ottoman Turks for 160 years, from the early 16th
century, the current fortress was improved and modified by
the Hapsburg Austrians.
Oour first option is to
join a walking tour from Danube Park to the old town center.
The second option is to join a tasting of Serbian
Specialties including learning how to prepare a traditional Vojvodina
(the region we are in) meal of stew, salad, dumplings and bread.
Still another option, we could hike up to the Petrovaradin Fortress, a
mighty stronghold that dominates the city and looks down to
the Danube. No enemy ever breached Petrovaradin, and
it is nowadays home
to a hotel, museum and artists’ studios. After the
hike, you'll also have a chance to enjoy a refreshment
as well as explore the fort and galleries.
When we return back in time for lunch, the
ship continues on to Ilok, Croatia. And, yes, again there
are choices for us.
Choose between an
excursion to the small town of Ilok, where its present day
tranquility conceals a confusing past with the town being
part of many different empires. Our Ilok tour includes a wine tasting and visit to the Este
Palace.
The other alternative is a city tour of Vukovar.
Situated
in Eastern Slavonia at the confluence of the Vuka and Danube
Rivers, Vukovar has a long and often troubled history,
fought over by the Austrians, Ottoman Turks, Germans,
Croatians and Serbians.
We would see Vukovar’s Baroque town
center, the Franciscan Monastery, the Castle of the former
ruling Eltz family, and the monumental cross that is a
memorial to those who lost their lives during Croatia’s
struggle for independence.
Included
Meals - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
(all on the ship)
Special Features -
Choice of three morning
tours, and two afternoon tours. |
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Saturday 3 September Mohacs and Pecs |
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A nice view of central downtown Pecs.
Formerly the Mosque of Pasha Qasim, this is now a Roman
Catholic church in Pecs.
You are welcome to use the bikes on board the Amaserena
any time you wish. There's no charge.
Maybe you'll see a stork or two in the Drava National
Park. |
Hello, Hungary! This morning the ship arrives in Mohács, where
we'll then take coaches for a one or so hour exursion
through interesting countryside to Pécs.
Founded more than
2,000 years ago by the Romans, Pécs became an important
early Christian diocese and then a Turkish cultural base during the
many centuries of Ottoman rule, while the area around Pécs is made
up of rolling hills, vine-clad slopes and a modest climate
that gives the city a distinctly Mediterranean feel.
The Necropolis was deemed a World Heritage site in 2000.
Upon
arrival, we take a city tour that includes UNESCO's
underground excavations, St. Peter’s Basilica (the main
Catholic Cathedral in the city), as well as the restored
Synagogue.
Or, if you prefer, for those of us
wishing something a bit more active, there is a scenic guided bike tour from Mohács along the Danube River
and through the Danube –Drava National Park. In
this area we may
spot a black stork or white-tailed eagle, and we go on to
visit the Kilked Stork Museum before returning back to the
ship in Mohács.
This afternoon, we set sail on along
the Danube, with our next stop possibly being the last,
unless you choose to extend your cruise for a second week on
to Germany (ask
us for more information on this option).
Included
Meals - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (all on the ship)
Special Features -
Choice of two tours. |
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Sunday 4 September Cruise
Ends - Optional Extensions - another week of cruising to
Germany or two nights in Vienna |
Amazing light on this view up to Fisherman's Bastion in
Budapest.
The Budapest Parliament viewed from the Danube.
St Stephen's Cathedral and its distinctive patterned
tile roof towers over all the other buildings in Vienna.
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The
Amaserena expects to arrive in Budapest at about 4.15am this
morning. Don't worry, you don't have to get off the
ship immediately!
After breakfast this morning, we'll
split into three groups. Some of us will be staying on
the ship, and continuing on this lovely cruise, all the way
to Vilshofen in Germany.
If this is you, we will send you
information separately about your next week on the ship.
Some of us will be wishing we were
extending, but instead will be leaving the tour at this
point, possibly to return home, possibly to do other things
on their own.
The third group will be those of us
who have decided to add the optional two nights in Vienna.
Please keep reading if this is your
choice.
After breakfast this morning, we'll
say goodbye to the Amaserena. We will sightsee by
coach, first on a tour of the highlights of the twin city of Buda and Pest.
We will see
famed Heroes’ Square and Castle Hill, home to Fisherman’s
Bastion, Matthias Church and spectacular views of the
Danube.
After time in Budapest, we travel on
by coach to glorious Vienna. Now, don't get me wrong.
I like Budapest. But I love
Vienna! After
checking-in to our hotel, the rest of the day is free to do
as we wish. Evening concert, anyone?
Included
Meals - Breakfast
Special Features -
Budapest city tour,
transfer to Vienna hotel |
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Monday 5 September Vienna |
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The Prater Amusement Park's Ferris Wheel was made famous
in the movie 'The Third Man' and often features in other
movies. Note in the distant left background, St
Stephen's Cathedral. Entrance to the Prater is
free, but you pay to go on the Ferris Wheel.
Vienna is full of magnificent palaces - this is the
Belvedere Palace.
The Graben in central Vienna is a sophisticated
shopper's paradise.
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This morning, it is time to fully savor the
Baroque elegance of romantic Vienna.
First, we'll go on a panoramic tour
of Vienna that takes us past iconic sights such as the majestic Opera House, the
former Imperial Palace of the Habsburg Emperors, Parliament,
Town Hall and Vienna University.
But wait - there's more. Afterwards,
we go on a walking tour through
Vienna’s historic city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site,
and see St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Graben and the world famous
Spanish Riding School.
The afternoon is free to explore on
our own.
Included
Meals - Breakfast
Special Features -
Touring around Vienna by coach and
on foot |
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Tuesday 6 September
Extension Ends |
The beautiful State Opera House is one of many venues in
Vienna with nightly concerts.
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Alas, this morning is the end of your
extended cruise and tour.
That's not to say you must go
directly home, and if we can suggest/assist you with
planning any additional activities while you're in Europe,
please don't hesitate to ask.
Included Meals - Breakfast
Special Features - A chance to
go home again? |
For More Information
Please return to the main
page for more information about our
2016 Balkans from Bucharest to Budapest Cruise/Tour.
And here's a link to jump you directly down to the
booking form.
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 More
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