Gems of Southeast Europe 2017

8 days
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3.7/5 Great
39 reviews  
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USTOA

Cancellation Policy
Small Ship Cruise
Begin your vacation in Vienna, one of the world’s most celebrated cities, renowned for its music, architecture and dance. Transfer to Budapest and embark upon your Danube river cruise with stops in Mohács and Vukovar on the way to Belgrade. Traverse the dramatic narrow gorge known as the Iron Gates, then cruise along the Romanian-Bulgarian border. Visit Vidin...

Overview

Trip type
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

    • Experience 2 nights in Vienna (or Budapest), then take a 7-night cruise to Bulgaria, stay 1 night in Plovdiv and end with 3 nights in Istanbul
    • Explore Vienna’s charming old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
    • Visit Budapest

What's this trip about?

    Begin your vacation in Vienna, one of the world’s most celebrated cities, renowned for its music, architecture and dance. Transfer to Budapest and embark upon your Danube river cruise with stops in Mohács and Vukovar on the way to Belgrade. Traverse the dramatic narrow gorge known as the Iron Gates, then cruise along the Romanian-Bulgarian border. Visit Vidin, Belogradchik and Veliko Tarnovo. Disembark and continue by land to Bucharest where you will conclude your journey with a two-night stay.

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Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age range36 to 64 years
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityVienna
End CityBucharest

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Culinary & Wine
  • Cultural
  • Small Ship Cruise
  • Transformative

Destinations

  • Europe
  • Austria
  • Bulgaria
  • Hungary
  • Romania
  • Croatia

Attractions

  • Belgrade
  • Bucharest
  • Budapest
  • Vienna

Activities

  • Culture
  • Historic sightseeing
  • Homestays & Cultural Immersion
  • Nature
  • River cruise
  • Wine Tasting

Trip includes

    • 2 nights hotel in Vienna at the InterContinental Vienna (or similar), including daily buffet breakfast
    • Transfer from Vienna to the ship in Budapest
    • 7 nights deluxe cruise accommodation in an outside stateroom - most staterooms offer revolutionary twin balconies
    • Shore excursions in every port with personal headset included
    • Limited Edition Tours
    • Entertainment on demand in all staterooms featuring free high-speed internet access, hit Hollywood movies, extensive music library and English language TV stations
    • Complimentary Wi-Fi access on board
    • Terry bathrobes and white-on-white plush bedding in all staterooms
    • Fine dining with all meals included during your cruise
    • Multiple dining venues
    • Unlimited red and white wines from Europe’s great wine regions, beer and soft drinks with every lunch and dinner on board
    • Bottled water in every stateroom replenished daily
    • Cocktail Reception, Welcome Dinner and Captain's Gala Dinner
    • 2 nights hotel in Bucharest at the Athenee Palace Hilton (or similar), including daily buffet breakfast
    • Special highlights including lectures, theme dinners, cooking demonstration, onboard music performances and afternoon/evening piano music
    • Bicycles to explore on your own and guided bicycle tours
    • Services of professional Cruise Manager
    • All English language on board in a nonsmoking environment (smoking permitted only on the Sun Deck)
    • Transfers between hotel and ship are included with the purchase of cruise and land package; airport transfers are included with the purchase of airfare from AmaWaterways
    • All local taxes

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Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive In Vienna, Austria

Arrive in Vienna and transfer to your hotel. The balance of the day is at your leisure to explore this culturally rich city.

Day 2: Vienna

Meals: Breakfast

This morning, you will have a chance to savor the Baroque elegance of romantic Vienna. First, a panoramic tour of Vienna will guides you past the majestic Opera House, the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburg Emperors, Parliament, Town Hall a...

Day 3: Vienna – Budapest, Hungary – Embarkation

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After checking out of your hotel in Vienna, you will travel to Budapest where you will have free time for lunch followed by a sightseeing tour of Buda and Pest. You will see famed Heroes’ Square and Castle Hill, home to Fisher...

Day 4: Mohács – Pécs – Villány

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Arrive in Mohacs around breakfast time and depart for your excursion to Pécs. Founded more than 2,000 years ago by the Romans, the city was an important cultural base during many centuries of Ottoman rule. You will see St. Pet...

Day 5: Vukovar, Croatia – Novi Sad, Serbia

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

This morning, enjoy a Yugoslav Civil War tour of Vukovar that will show you the Ovcara Memorial and Cemetery, the monumental cross that serves as a memorial to those who lost their lives during Croatia’s struggle for independe...

Day 6: Belgrade

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Wake up in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, and enjoy a panoramic tour of the city, that includes visits to Kalemegdan Fortress and the Serbian Orthodox Temple of St. Sava. This afternoon you will have your choice of one of th...

Day 7: Cruising Through The Iron Gates

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today, take 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 a series of magnificent gorges between Serbia and Romania. The banks of...

Day 8: Vidin, Bulgaria

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Your time in Vidin begins with a visit to Belogradchik, a beautifully restored castle located in a stunning landscape of unusual rock formations, as well as Vidin Castle. Afterwards, you will visit Baba Vida Fortress, the only...

Day 9: Giurgiu – Veliko Tarnovo – Rousse

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today, enjoy a visit to the ancient capital of Bulgaria, Veliko Turnavo. Here you will tour Tsarevets Hill, the old citadel of the city. You will see the old fortress walls, the Royal Palaces and the Patriarchal church, and th...

Day 10: Rousse – Disembarkation – Bucharest, Romania

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Disembark the ship in Rousse and continue your tour by motor coach. Today we explore Bucharest, the “Paris of the East.” Begin with a city tour that features a visit to the Open Air Museum, dedicated to preserving the traditional arch...

Day 11: Bucharest – Transylvania

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

After breakfast, enjoy a full day excursion today to the legendary region of Transylvania, a place deeply rooted in myth and history and comfortable nestled between the Carpathian Mountains. Take a scenic country drive to Sinaia, wher...

Day 12: Depart Bucharest

Meals: Breakfast

Bid farewell to Burcharest as you prepare for your homeward flight.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $4,319
Price per day$540
Single supplement (single occupancy)$640
Last Updated: 2/23/2024

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with AMA Waterways.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

AMA Waterways Reviews & Ratings

3.7/5  Great
Excellent
26
Great
1
Average
0
Disappointing
0
Terrible
12
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Other AMA Waterways Reviews

K

Karen Schoppe Rublee

Dec 2020

Provided byAMA Waterways

I’ve sailed with AmaWaterways 4 times

I’ve sailed with AmaWaterways 4 times. They are the best!...

R

Roberta Millert

Oct 2020

Provided byAMA Waterways

Cancel for any reason

AMA’s “Cancel for any reason” insurance is bogus. It should be called rebook for any reason.

A

Aime Hoffman

Sep 2020

Provided byAMA Waterways

Refund my deposit for the Danube River Cruise

Refund my deposit for the Danube River Cruise. You canceled through 11/17 and our trip was the following week. You know darn well that trip will not happen. You’r...

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Tour Operator

AMA Waterways

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AmaWaterways operates the finest fleet and provides all-inclusive river cruise vacations on the great waterways of Europe, Russia, Vietnam and Cambodia. With an innovative product and rapidly-growing fleet of custom-designed ships, the line enjoys a reputation as the leader in river cruising.

AmaWaterways was founded in 2002 by Rudi Schreiner, Kristin Karst and Jimmy Murphy. All Three brought tremendous experience, knowledge and dedication to the venture. Rudi was one of river cruising’s pioneers, having introduced the modern-day river cruise concept to the market. Kristin brought with her vast sales and customer service experience. And Jimmy Murphy is the founder and former owner of Brendan Vacations. Their combined expertise and passion for the river cruise business results in a river cruise vacation experience that will exceed expectations. With more than 20 different itineraries to choose from, the river cruise vacation of a lifetime awaits with AmaWaterways!

At AmaWaterways, we love what we do — providing our guests with the best travel experiences possible. In fact, “Ama” is derived from the Latin word for “love.” It is a concept that permeates every aspect of our river cruises, from the design of our ships to the development of our itineraries to the high levels of service we deliver to our guests. It is a philosophy that drives our attention to detail, constant innovation and culture of always making our guests our top priority. It is the reason our guests all have a story about why it was the best cruise they’ve ever taken.

What they’re known for
All-inclusive luxury river cruises in Europe and Asia that offer a high level of service and attention to detail.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • International Flights
    • Passport and Visa Charges
    • Personal Expenses
Ship & cabin information
AmaSerena
The AmaSerena is a sister ship to the AmaPrima and features the most advanced design of any river cruise vessel currently in operation. Our exclusive Twin Balconies are available in most staterooms, which measure a spacious 210-235 sq. feet, with four suites measuring 300 sq. feet. Passengers will enjoy gourmet dining with unlimited fine wines at multiple onboard dining venues; a heated sun deck swimming pool with a ‘swim-up’ bar; fitness center and spa; complimentary ship-wide Wi-Fi and in-room Internet and entertainment on demand; and a fleet of bicycles carried onboard for passengers to enjoy on their own or on guided bike tours.
Built: 2015 Built in: Netherlands Length: 443 ft. Width: 38 ft. Crew: 51 Staterooms: 82 Suites: 3 Registry: Switzerland
Cancellation policy

In the unfortunate event a participant must cancel travel, notice to AmaWaterways must be via email to Res@AmaWaterways.com, which must include a return receipt and read notation, or other writing stating clearly and correctly each guest’s name, ship name, start and end date of the cruise and a brief statement of the reason for cancellation. Other forms of notice are not sufficient. The effective date of the cancellation is the date we receive the written cancellation notice. Name changes, a substitution of a participant or a reduction in the number of guests in a stateroom are treated as a cancellation in that all applicable cancellation charges apply. Cancellation charges for bookings within charter and part-charter agreements are as per the charter contract. All other cancellation charges are per-person, based on the cancellation date, as follows:

More than 121 days prior to departure

  • Cruise & Land Cancellation Charge: $200 (Europe & Asia) $1,200 (Africa)
  • Airfare Cancellation Charge (Economy Contract fares): $350 penalty
  • Airfare Cancellation Charge (Business/First Class Contract fares): $600 penalty

120-90 days prior to departure

  • Cruise & Land Cancellation Charge: $400 (Europe & Asia) $2,400 (Africa)
  • Airfare Cancellation Charge (Economy Contract fares): $350 penalty
  • Airfare Cancellation Charge (Business/First Class Contract fares): $600 penalty

89-60 days prior to departure

  • Cruise & Land Cancellation Charge: 35% of cruise and land price
  • Airfare Cancellation Charge (Economy Contract fares): $350 penalty
  • Airfare Cancellation Charge (Business/First Class Contract fares): $600 penalty
  • Other Charges (except insurance): 35% of all charges

59-30 days prior to departure

  • Cruise & Land Cancellation Charge: 50% of cruise and land price
  • Airfare Cancellation Charge (Economy Contract fares): $350 penalty
  • Airfare Cancellation Charge (Business/First Class Contract fares): $600 penalty
  • Other Charges (except insurance): 50% of all charges

29-7 days prior to departure

  • Cruise & Land Cancellation Charge: 80% of cruise and land price
  • Airfare Cancellation Charge (Economy Contract fares): $350 penalty
  • Airfare Cancellation Charge (Business/First Class Contract fares): $600 penalty
  • Other Charges (except insurance): 80% of all charges

6-0 days prior to departure

  • Cruise & Land Cancellation Charge: 100% of cruise and land price
  • Airfare Cancellation Charge (Economy Contract fares): $350 penalty
  • Airfare Cancellation Charge (Business/First Class Contract fares): $600 penalty
  • Other Charges (except insurance): 100% of all charges
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included

11 Breakfasts, 8 Lunches and 7 Dinners

Age Requirements
36 to 64 years
Additional Information
Trip ID
traveltalktours-BlaSeaAma

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