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North Sea To The Black Sea River Cruise Map

Included in your Amadeus Waterway Cruise

An unforgettable journey across the heart of Europe on three historic rivers. Begin in Amsterdam and travel on the Rhine to Cologne and the historic town of Koblenz. Traverse Europe's Continental Divide to visit the grand capitals on the Danube. Then journey through the Iron Gates along the Romanian-Bulgarian border to Bucharest. Disembark and continue by motor coach to Veliko Tarnovo, the ancient capital of Bulgaria, before arriving in Plovdiv. Conclude your grand vacation in Istanbul, rich in history that dates back for millennia.

ITINERARY

DAY 1, DEPART
Board your overnight flight to Amsterdam, Holland

DAY 2, ARRIVE IN AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND – EMBARKATION.
Arrive in charming Amsterdam and embark your luxurious river cruise ship. Meet your fellow travelers tonight at the Welcome Cocktail Reception and Dinner. (D)

DAY 3, AMSTERDAM
After breakfast, admire beautiful 18th-century homes, charming churches and 17th-century merchant houses on a canal boat tour. Then enjoy a motor coach tour of Amsterdam, including a photo stop at the Rembrandt Windmill, followed by free time in Amsterdam. Enjoy an afternoon information briefing as you cruise towards Germany. ( B,L,D)

DAY 4, COLOGNE, GERMANY – KOBLENZ
This morning, arrive in Cologne for a guided walking tour through the old part of the city and visit the fabled 13th-century Gothic cathedral. Cruise past the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen as you continue on to 2000-year-old Koblenz, located at the confluence of the Rhine and Mosel rivers. (B,L,D)

DAY 5, KOBLENZ – RÜDESHEIM
Today you will have your choice of visiting the Koblenz Flower Show or Rüdesheim. The Flower Show is a special event featuring 120 acres of magnificent floral displays, exhibitions and a river side promenade. If you choose the Rüdesheim excursion, you will travel to this charming town, and take a mini train to Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. You will have free time to explore the Drosselgasse, a narrow alley lined with wine taverns and restaurants, during your free time. (B,L,D)

DAY 6, MILTENBERG – WERTHEIM
Arrive in Miltenberg for a walking tour of this old Franconian town with narrow cobblestone streets and gabled, half-timbered houses. During lunch, the ship will cruise to Freudenberg. A motor coach tour will take you to Wertheim, where you will have free time before boarding your ship for an overnight cruise to Würzburg. A guided bicycle tour of Wertheim is also available (capacity controlled. (B,L,D)

DAY 7, WÜRZBURG – KITZINGEN
During your guided tour, visit the magnificent Residenz Palace and see the major sights. This afternoon take an optional tour along the Romantic Road to medieval Rothenburg, and visit its world famous Christmas Museum. Or, relax on board this afternoon as you cruise to Kitzingen. After dinner on board enjoy an evening walk and wine tasting in Kitzingen, at Germany’s oldest wine cellar. ( B,L,D)

DAY 8, BAMBERG
Arrive this afternoon in enchanting Bamberg, and take a guided walking tour of this medieval gem. Enjoy free time before continuing your cruise late this evening to ancient Nuremberg, capital of Franconia. (B,L,D)

DAY 9, NUREMBERG
Today decide to either tour the medieval history of Nuremberg to see the storybook 900-year-old ramparts that surround this historic city and the Imperial Castle, or join the “modern tour” of the city’s role in the 20th-century, and see the Zeppelin field and the Justice Palace where the War Crimes Tribunal sat in 1946. At lunchtime, return to the ship and cruise the Main Danube Canal to the highest point of your cruise - 1,332 feet above sea level, where you cross Europe's Continental Divide, then start descending through stair-step locks. (B,L,D)

DAY 10, REGENSBURG
A guided morning tour will show you the city's architectural highlights, including the Old Town Hall and the Porta Praetoria. In the alternative, you can take a tour of the Audi Car Factory. The afternoon is free to relax or join an optional excursion to beautiful Weltenburg Abbey in the Danube Gorge (seasonal). In the evening, enjoy a music performance on board. (B,L,D)

DAY 11, PASSAU – LINZ, AUSTRIA.
After breakfast, arrive in picturesque Passau for a walking tour, or join the optional excursion to Salzburg. Those staying on board can enjoy a scenic journey to Linz, Austria. ( B,L,D)

DAY 12, MELK – DÜRNSTEIN – WEISSENKIRCHEN.
Cruise through the narrow Strudengau and reach the Wachau Valley this morning. A guided tour takes you to Melk's magnificent Benedictine Abbey. After lunch, enjoy a scenic cruise through the Wachau Valley to Dürnstein, for a walking tour. A guided bicycle tour from Melk to Dürnstein is also available (capacity controlled). From here, continue on a short cruise to the town of Weissenkirchen, for some wine-tasting tonight. (B,L,D)

DAY 13, VIENNA
Enjoy a guided city tour followed by free time in the city center, then a walking tour from St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Enjoy an optional excursion to the Schönbrunn Palace and the Carriage Museum. Or use the free afternoon to stroll along the main shopping street, Kärntnerstrasse, or sample some of Vienna's famous pastries. Tonight, explore the Austrian capital on your own, or join an optional Mozart and Strauss concert. The ship moors overnight. (B,L,D)

DAY 14, VIENNA – BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA.
Enjoy scenic cruising to Bratislava followed by your choice of a “Communist Tour” or a walking tour of Bratislava. The rest of the afternoon is free to shop or explore on your own. Tonight there is an evening music performance on board. ( B,L,D)

DAY 15, BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
This morning, your sightseeing tour takes you to historic Buda Castle from where you can enjoy a splendid view of the twin cities of Buda and Pest. Your tour also features the distinctive Fisherman's Bastion, the Royal Palace and St. Stephen's Basilica. Afterwards, the ship will sail a special “Illuminations Cruise” past the illuminated river front of Budapest. (B,L,D)

DAY 16, BUDAPEST
Today you will visit the famous Puszta region, the vast flat plain where Hungarian cowboys still wear traditional garb and practice the skills of their Magyar ancestors. Upon arrival, you will be met by horse-herds and greeted with warm hospitality, brandy and scones. Try a lunch of Goulash, the national dish, before returning to the ship in Budapest. (B,L,D)

DAY 17, MOHÁCS – PECS – VILÁNY.
Arrive in Mohács during breakfast and then depart for your excursion to Pecs, founded more than 2,000 years ago. The area around Pecs is made up of rolling hills, vine clad slopes and a modest climate that give the city a distinctly Mediterranean feel. Upon arrival, you will take a city tour that includes UNESCO underground excavations. After lunch on board ship, enjoy a wine-tasting excursion, where you will sample aromatic, spicy wines from the vineyards of Vilány. (B,L,D)

DAY 18, VUKOVAR, CROATIA – NOVI SAD, SERBIA
Your guided motor coach and walking tour of Vukovar will include the Manorhouse Eltz and the Ovcara Memorial (Croatian victims during the Yugoslav civil war). Enjoy lunch on board as you cruise to Novi Sad, Serbia. Enjoy a walking tour of Novi Sad in the afternoon. The ship sails for Belgrade this evening. (B,L,D)

DAY 19, BELGRADE
Wake up in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia and explore its myriad of streets, plazas and squares. Your guided tour features Tito's memorial, the Town Hall, the Federal Parliament Building, Terazije Street, Republic Square and Mihajlova Street, "Varos" Gate and the mighty Kalemegdan Fortress. You will have free time in the city center after your tour. A guided bicycle tour is available in the afternoon (capacity controlled). A shuttle bus will run from the city to the ship during the afternoon. (B,L,D)

DAY 20, CRUISING THROUGH THE IRON GATES – VIDIN, BULGARIA
Today, enjoy 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 range of magnificent gorges between the southern Carpathian Mountains and the northwestern foothills of the Balkan Mountains. Forming the natural border between Serbia and Romania, today’s passage will be an unforgettable highlight of your Black Sea adventure. Late this evening, the ship sails to Vidin. (B,L,D)

DAY 21, VIDIN
The 14th century "Baba Vida" Fortress sits guard over the Danube at the Bulgarian frontier town of Vidin. From here, take an excursion to Belogradschik, a beautifully restored 6th-century castle, located in a stunning landscape of unusual rock formations. (B,L,D)

DAY 22, GIURGIU – BUCHAREST, ROMANIA – ROUSSE, BULGARIA.
Enjoy a full day excursion to Bucharest, known as “Paris of the East.” Enjoy lunch in a typical Romanian restaurant, and then choose to shop, explore on your own or visit the Open Air Museum, which was dedicated to the traditional architecture and buildings of rural Romania. This evening, the ship departs for Rousse. (B,L,D)

DAY 23, ROUSSE – DISEMBARK – VELIKO TARNOVO – PLOVDIV, BULGARIA
Disembark the ship in Rousse and continue your tour by motor coach. Your first stop is in the ancient capital of Bulgaria, Veliko Tarnovo. Enjoy a traditional Bulgarian lunch before continuing on to Plovdiv. This evening, see the main highlights of Plovdiv Old Town on a walking tour before dinner at your hotel. (B,L,D)

DAY 24, PLOVDIV – ISTANBUL, TURKEY
After breakfast, continue on to magical Istanbul after stopping for lunch and transferring to another motor coach. Arrive late afternoon and check into your hotel. (B,L)

DAY 25, ISTANBUL
A comprehensive city tour will take you through its old city, with its numerous Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman monuments of its historic past. Admire the mighty defensive walls, the Roman aqueduct and the Hippodrome. See the Galata Tower and visit the Blue Mosque. This afternoon is free to explore the town on your own or join the optional “Turkish Delight” tour, which includes visits to Hagia Sophia, Underground Cistern and the Grand Bazaar. (B)

DAY 26, ISTANBUL
Today, your guided tour will take you to the Ottoman Sultans' Grand Palace of Topkapi. Admire the private chambers of the Sultans, marvel at the world famous Harem and also see the treasury, home to the Topkapi Diamond. This afternoon, enjoy an optional Bosporus cruise and visit to the Spice Bazaar or use the free time to relax or shop. (B)

DAY 27, ISTANBUL – USA
END OF CRUISE