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Viking Cruises, Eastern European Odyssey, River Cruise Vacation Package
Duration: 15 Days / 14 Nights
Priced From: $2,262 pp Dbl. Occ.
Dates: Mar, Apr, Jun, Sep, Oct
Ports: Passau to Oltenita
Ship: Viking Primadonna
Visit the ancient remnants of Roman Empire outposts and the grand cities of the Habsburg Dynasty on this 15-day odyssey through Central and Eastern Europe. Hear the classic waltzes of Johann Strauss as you tour Austria and Germany. Immerse yourself in fiery Hungarian culture, admire natural wonders like the exquisite Iron Gate region, and walk along the golden-sand beaches of a Black Sea resort town. Although very old, the region is still being shaped by world events—and this itinerary shows how current restoration efforts have preserved Eastern Europe’s rich cultural heritage.
Itinerary
Day 1 Munich & Passau
Fly in to Munich; we will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your ship in Passau.After boarding, use free time to explore—or join our “welcome walk” to stretch your legs and start getting oriented. (D)
Day 2 Passau
An after-breakfast walking tour takes you through this 2,000-year-old city at the confluence of the Inn, Ilz and Danube Rivers. Stop at St. Stephan’s Cathedral for a special concert on Europe’s largest pipe organ.† Enjoy afternoon free time; dinner coincides with an evening departure. (B, L, D)
Day 3 Linz, Budweis & Ceský Krumlov
Today we have a full-day excursion to two iconic Bohemian Czech cities: Budweis, with an impressive town square featuring Gothic, Renaissance and baroque buildings, and Ceský Krumlov, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will have free time to explore and get some lunch at a local café. Rejoin your ship in Linz for dinner; since the ship does not depart until the wee hours, you might like to take an evening stroll around Linz. (B, D)
Day 4 Melk
Arrive in Melk about noon. After lunch, tour the 900-year-old Benedictine abbey to see its collection of medieval manuscripts, ceiling paintings and frescoes. Return aboard and enjoy late-afternoon cruising through the magnificent Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (B, L, D)
Day 5 Vienna
Today’s tour of Vienna takes you to the Opera House and Hofburg Palace. Have lunch aboard; your afternoon is free to explore the city’s gracious architecture and delightful cafés—or join an optional excursion to Vienna’s magnificent Schönbrunn Palace. Return to your ship for dinner followed by an optional evening concert of classical music. Depart late tonight. (B, L, D)
Day 6 Bratislava
Cruise through the early morning to Bratislava. After breakfast, take a walking tour of Slovakia’s charming capital. See its medieval fortifications, Michael’s Tower, Trinity Church and St. Martin’s Cathedral. Pass several Habsburg-era palaces before returning aboard for lunch; we cruise this afternoon and evening toward Budapest. (B, L, D)
Day 7 Budapest
Today’s city tour explores both sides of Hungary’s capital. Start in modern “Pest” seeing Heroes’ Square, the Parliament and St. Stephen’s Basilica. Cross the river and tour the Castle District of older “Buda.” Walk to Fishermen’s Bastion and Matthias Church. Return to your ship for lunch; enjoy the afternoon at leisure. Dine aboard and cruise through the night. (B, L, D)
Day 8 Kalocsa
Arrive in Kalocsa during breakfast. Visit the House of Folk Arts, showcasing the area’s time-honored farming traditions. Then, you are treated to a performance of traditional Puszta horsemanship. Return to the ship for lunch as we depart. We sail through the Hungarian landscape this evening and into Croatia. (B, L, D)
Day 9 Osijek
Awaken in the Croatian city of Vukovar. After breakfast, take an excursion to the Croatian city of Osijek. Inhabited by humans since Neolithic times, this area has had several heydays under the Romans, the Ottomans and the Habsburgs; now it is a pleasant town popular for its baroque buildings, parks and monuments. Return aboard for dinner and departure. (B, L, D)
Day 10 Belgrade
Wake up in Belgrade, capital of Serbia. Take a guided walk through the grounds of Kalemegdan Fortress, now a beautiful park; also see the city’s Orthodox cathedral and stop at the Square of the Republic. Lunch and dinner are served aboard, but you have the remainder of the day and evening to explore Belgrade on your own—explore Belgrade’s gracious architecture, visit one of its many museums (like the Nikola Tesla Museum), experience Belgrade’s lively nightlife. We remain docked overnight. (B, L, D)
Day 11 Kostolac
We arrive in Kostolac, Serbia just after breakfast and disembark for a tour. See the archeological site at Viminacium, a former Roman capital with wide streets, luxurious baths and an amphitheater, recently opened to the public. Return aboard for lunch and a noon departure; this afternoon, relax as we cruise along the Danube. (B, L, D)
Day 12 Iron Gate & Belogradchik
This morning, we sail through one of the most scenic areas of the Lower Danube: the Iron Gate gorge, flanked by enormous white chalk cliffs and spectacular scenery. Also on view are some amazing artifacts carved into the solid rock along the Danube, such as Trajan’s Table from Roman times and, on the opposite bank, a monumental carving of the head of Trajan’s opponent, the ancient Dacian king Decebalus.
Arrive in the picturesque Bulgarian port of Vidin just after lunch and take an excursion to Belogradchik Fortress, built right into the striking Belogradchik Rocks. Enjoy breathtaking views before returning aboard for dinner and departure. (B, L, D)
Day 13 Russe, Veliko Tarnovo & Arbanasi
We dock in Russe early this morning. Today’s tour takes you to Bulgaria’s former capital, Veliko Tarnovo. See Tsaravets Hill and the ruins of the royal castle. During free time, you can shop along Samovodska Charshia, a street featuring local crafts. In Arbanasi, enjoy lunch in a local restaurant and a guided tour of the Nativity Church with its intricate floor-to-ceiling murals and icons. Rejoin your ship in Russe for dinner and evening sailing. (B, L, D)
Day 14 Constanta
Midmorning, sail into Constanta, Romania on the Black Sea coast. The oldest living city in Romania, Constanta was founded around 600 B.C. by Greek settlers, and is now a gracious and popular resort town. Enjoy a city tour featuring the city’s iconic seaside casino and Art Nouveau architecture, and a stroll along Mamaia Beach, the “Palm Beach” of the Black Sea. Return aboard for an afternoon departure and dinner as we sail toward Oltenita. (B, L, D)
Day 15 Oltenita
After breakfast, disembark and we will take you to the Bucharest airport for your return flight.Or, extend your time in Eastern Europe with a fascinating 4-night sojourn in Romania. Explore Bucharest, then journey through Transylvania to Dracula’s castle. (B)
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