European Masterpiece (Westbound)

23 days
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Group Tour
Stunning views await on your Main and Danube River cruise from the Balkans to Germany. Begin with an overnight stay in Bucharest for a guided sightseeing tour. Travel to Fetesti to board your Suite Ship®. Begin with a small-boat guided tour of some of the 2,200 square miles of the Danube Delta preserve. Celebrate Kilometer “0” to mark the Danube’s course of...

Overview

Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy

Highlights

    • Welcome to Bucharest
    • Guided sightseeing in Bucharest; onboard welcome reception
    • Excursion to Danube Delta; km 0 celebration
    • Guided sightseeing, visit the National History and Archaeological Museum in Constanta
    • Guided sightseeing, visit Tsarevet’s Fortress in Veliko Târnovo, and the Ethnographic Museum and the Church of the Nativity in Arbanassi; or guided sightseeing
    • Guided sightseeing to Vidin’s fortress, see the rock formations in Belogradchik
    • Scenic cruise through the Iron Gates gorge; visit Lepenski Vir archaeological site
    • Guided sightseeing
    • Guided tour; concert performance
    • Guided tour and organ concert in Pécs

What's this trip about?

    Stunning views await on your Main and Danube River cruise from the Balkans to Germany. Begin with an overnight stay in Bucharest for a guided sightseeing tour. Travel to Fetesti to board your Suite Ship®. Begin with a small-boat guided tour of some of the 2,200 square miles of the Danube Delta preserve. Celebrate Kilometer “0” to mark the Danube’s course of 2,845 kilometers from the Black Forest to the Black Sea! Cruise through the striking landscapes of the Balkans, and visit Rousse, Bulgaria’s largest inland port, or join a full-day guided tour of the Bulgarian capital of Veliko Târnovo, where ancient stone houses cling to the Yantra River cliffs. Visit Arbanassi, one of the oldest towns in Bulgaria. Cruise through the majestic, narrow passage of the Iron Gates Gorge, followed by guided sightseeing in Vidin and an excursion to Belogradchik, with its ancient fortress and tremendous rock formations on the Balkan Mountains. In Serbia, take a guided tour of Belgrade, and see the most preserved Croatian fortress in Osijek. Enjoy a performance by students of the Franjo Kuhač music school. Tour the historic town of Pécs before cruising to Budapest. Explore Vienna’s historic Habsburg Empire—including the Imperial Palace, Vienna Opera House, and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Visit charming Dürnstein and Melk—in the vineyard-rich Wachau Valley. Hear the legendary tale of King Richard the Lionheart in Dürnstein, and tour Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey. Enjoy a guided walk through the “City of Three Rivers”—Passau—before sailing to Regensburg. See the timbered houses of Roth, or tour Nuremberg’s historic sites, including Kaiserburg Castle or the Nuremberg WWII Third Reich Rally Grounds. Take an excursion from Nuremberg to Munich to see Nymphenburg Palace. In Bamberg, tour the city of seven hills, then visit Bavaria’s largest wine region in Kitzingen and quaint Volkach. Tour Würzburg—the “Pearl of the Romantic Road,” as well as a charming Main River village. Your cruise concludes in Frankfurt.

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Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeOperator does not provide
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityBUCHAREST
End CityFRANKFURT Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Cultural

Destinations

  • Europe
  • Austria
  • Germany
  • Bulgaria
  • Hungary
  • Romania
  • Serbia

Attractions

  • Bamberg
  • Bavaria
  • Belgrade
  • Belogradchik
  • Bucharest
  • Budapest
  • Munich
  • Nuremberg
  • Passau
  • Romania
  • Vienna

Activities

  • Culture

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1

BUCHAREST, ROMANIA Welcome to Bucharest—the “Paris of the East” The day is yours to relax and enjoy Bucharest. Spend some free time exploring this fascinating city on your own to discover its trendy shops, cafés, museums, beautiful homes, and churches along Victory Avenue.

Day 2

BUCHAREST Beautiful Boulevards and Bold History CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of the Romanian capital city of Bucharest with its tree-lined boulevards and Arc de Triomphe—honoring WWI Romanian soldiers. See the Royal Palace Square—the scene of the city’s 1989 riots to ...

Day 3

ST. GHEORGHE. EXCURSION TO THE DANUBE DELTA A Mighty River’s Entrance into the Sea CLASSIC Join a small-boat Guided Tour of the best preserved of Europe’s deltas-2,200 square miles of rivers, canals, marshes, tree-fringed lakes and reed islands. DISCOVERY Enj...

Day 4

CERNAVODĂ. EXCURSION TO CONSTANTA Romanian Commerce and Cultural Legacies on the Black Sea Start the day with a Morning Stretch with your Avalon Adventure Host. CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour to Constanta, the most important commercial center in Romania, situated on the...

Day 5

ROUSSE, BULGARIA. VELIKO TÂRNOVO & ARBANASSI EXCURSION Fortresses and Fountains in Bulgaria’s “Little Vienna” CLASSIC Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Bulgaria’s largest inland port and visit its impressive Holy Trinity Church, OR: ACTIVE Join a walk ...

Day 6

VIDIN Rocks and Ruins—Things of Beauty in Bulgaria CLASSIC Join Guided Sightseeing in Vidin, followed by a Guided Tour of Belogradchik. Marvel at the remarkable rock formations on the western slopes of the Balkan Mountains, sculpted by 200 million years of natural el...

Day 7

DONJI MILANOVAC, SERBIA–IRON GATES GORGE. EXCURSION TO LEPENSKI VIR Ancient Art, Archaeological Artifacts, and Gauntlet of the Iron Gates Before lunch on board, you’ll sail through the spectacular and narrow Iron Gates Gorge—forming a natural border between Serbia a...

Day 8

BELGRADE, SERBIA Fortresses and Folklore of Serbia Past and Present CLASSIC Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Belgrade—where the Danube and Sava Rivers converge— and see the city’s many fascinating sights, including Saint Sava, one of the world’s largest Orthodox c...

Day 9

OSIJEK, CROATIA History and Culture of Croatia Enjoy a leisurely sailing morning or join an Optional Excursion to the city of Vukovar, Croatia’s undiscovered pearl. CLASSIC Join a morning Guided Walking Tour of the city of Osijek, located at the confluence of the ...

Day 10

MOHÁCS, HUNGARY. EXCURSION TO PÉCS Underground Tombs and Soaring Music Start the day with a Morning Stretch with your Avalon Adventure Host. CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour to nearby Pécs to see its 4th-century Christian underground tombs, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with fascinating murals. You’ll also enjoy an organ concert on your tour. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BUDAPEST (B,L,D)

Day 11

BUDAPEST The Danube’s Shining Pearl and Heroes’ Pride CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided City Sightseeing, including the iconic Heroes’ Square. The afternoon is free to enjoy Budapest on your own. Be sure to savor a piece of cream cake in the world-famous Gerbeaud Café. Consider a scenic hike in the hills above the Danube. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIENNA (B,L,D)

Day 12

VIENNA, AUSTRIA Vienna Waltzes and the Beautiful Blue Danube Start the day with a Morning Stretch with your Avalon Adventure Host. Enjoy sailing the Danube, which shares dozens of miles with Hungary and Slovakia. Relax on the Sky Deck to see the rolling landscape a...

Day 13

VIENNA Royal Collections, and Amusing Attractions CLASSIC Venture into the Habsburg empire this morning on a Guided City Tour of Vienna’s gilded landmarks. See the Imperial Palace complex—the winter residence of the Imperial Family, the historic Vienna Opera Hous...

Day 14

DÜRNSTEIN Fairytale Castles, Kings, and Cobblestones of Delightful Dürnstein CLASSIC Join a Guided Walk, and hear the legendary tale of King Richard the Lionheart—who was imprisoned in the castle above the village during the Crusades, OR: ACTIVE Join a Hike up to t...

Day 15

PASSAU, GERMANY Go for Baroque in Passau–Where the Danube, Inn, and Ilz Rivers Meet CLASSIC Join a Guided City Walk to learn more about this beautiful “City of Three Rivers.” Alternatively, join a full-day Guided Optional Excursion to Salzburg—the city of Mozart—or...

Day 16

REGENSBURG Magical Regensburg—Bavaria’s Medieval Miracle CLASSIC Join a Guided City Walk and see the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) and Porta Pretoria—built in 179 AD as the entrance to Castra Regina fortress. You may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to vi...

Day 17

ROTH. EXCURSION TO NUREMBERG Living Heritage and History Lessons DISCOVERY Enjoy an Onboard Lecture about the Main-Danube Canal—linking these two rivers to make a vital connection enabling navigation between the North and Black Seas. CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided Sightsee...

Day 18

NUREMBERG. EXCURSION TO MUNICH A King’s Palace and Town Halls in Modern Munich CLASSIC Take a full-day Guided Tour of the highlights of fascinating Munich. See Nymphenburg Palace—a former residence of German monarchs, along with the old and new Town Halls of Marienplatz. EVENING/OVERNIGHT IN BAMBERG (B,D)

Day 19

BAMBERG One Thousand Years of History in the City of Seven Hills CLASSIC Take a Guided Walking Tour of the former home to imperial dynasties, and see its Romanesque cathedral, Old Town Hall, and seven hills crowned with churches. Enjoy free time this afternoon stro...

Day 20

VOLKACH Bavarian Beauty on the Main River CLASSIC Join a Walking Tour of the quaint town of Volkach with its half-timbered houses and cobblestoned streets. During lunch time enjoy a relaxing cruise to Kitzingen. KITZINGEN Bavarian Wines, Legends, and Myths CLA...

Day 21

WÜRZBURG A Pearl of a Day on the Romantic Road CLASSIC Take a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Würzburg—”Pearl of the Romantic Road”— with its Old Main Bridge, towering fortress, and baroque Bishop’s Residenz—with the largest known ceiling fresco, OR: ACTIVE Enjoy incred...

Day 22

MAIN RIVER VILLAGE Hidden Gems and Bavarian Beauty of a Main River Village CLASSIC Join a Guided Walking Tour of a picturesque Bavarian village. This afternoon relax on the Sky Deck while passing along the beautiful villages on the Main River shores. AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO FRANKFURT (B,L,D)

Day 23

FRANKFURT Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. Flights should not leave Frankfurt airport before 10 am. (B)

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Dates & Availability

Price From $9,667
Price per day$420
Last Updated: 12/9/2020

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Avalon 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.

Avalon Waterways Reviews & Ratings

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Avalon Waterways

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CRUISING ELEVATED.
Innovative, transformative, original. Avalon Waterways has redefined cruising by going against the current and
away from the ordinary. Delivering unparalleled experiences and boundless exploration, Avalon puts you in the captain’s seat to navigate your journey, fuel your passions and steer clear of the unexpected as you cruise down the world’s most memorable and mesmerizing waterways. One step aboard our modern, luxurious Suite Ships with the grandest views in cruising and you’ll see how the tides they are a-changin’. 

Welcome to a new wave in cruising. Welcome aboard Avalon Waterways.

IT DOESN’T GET ANY SUITER.
Enjoy the perfect blend of elegance and ease – where little touches are bold, gestures are grand and the views even grander. There’s a reason our ships are the critics’ darlings and favorites among our most discerning guests. Our boutique-hotel-inspired Panorama Suites feature the industry’s only Open-Air Balconies with the widest-opening windows in cruising and decadent Comfort Collection beds that face the ever-changing scenery.

PACK YOUR PASSIONS.
As you set sail down the world’s most legendary waters, we’ve curated a collection of the most intriguing experiences to immerse yourself in – both on board and off.

SEE MORE THAN THE SEA/
On a typical cruise, you see waves, water and more water. On an Avalon cruise, legendary landmarks and postcard-perfect landscapes are always in view. Dock to discovery takes mere minutes. 

LET’S DISH.
While we naturally present the signature delicacies of the regions you visit, we enrich the gastronomic journey by offering multiple dining venues, bringing unexpected culinary experiences to the table.

What they’re known for
River cruises to classic and exotic destinations with a luxury flair and personalization options.

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Logistics

Accommodation

Athenee Palace Hilton Explore Bucharest from the glorious Athenee Palace Hilton Bucharest hotel, one of the city's most sophisticated and prestigious landmarks. The hotel is conveniently located in the heart of the city and enjoys views of Revolution Square and is close to Bucharest's many local attractions. Bucharest Romania 1-3 Episcopiei Hilton Frankfurt City Centre This stylish 342-room hotel boasts an ideal location in the heart of Frankfurt city center, next to the Stock Exchange and just minutes away from the Old Opera House and historic Römer Square. Enjoy fine local and international cuisine in the hotel's restaurant or dine outdoors on the spacious terrace with beautiful park views. Unwind with an American whiskey or cocktail at the sophisticated American-style bar, or simply enjoy a Cuban coffee and delicious bites in the bar and lounge. The health club offers a half Olympic-size indoor pool, fitness equipment, a whirlpool, steam room, and sauna. Free Wi-Fi internet access is available throughout the property. Frankfurt Germany Hochstrasse 4,
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 .
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Optional Activities
WOFB|European Masterpiece (Westbound) WOFQ|With 2 Nights in Transylvania WFOB|European Masterpiece (Eastbound)
Additional Information
Trip ID
AVALON-WOFB

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