PARIS TO ISTANBUL CRUISE

 
Included in your Amadeus Waterway Cruise
Begin your European vacation with Paris, the “City of Lights.” See charming towns and historical castles as you cruise along the Rhine and Main river. Sail along the Romanian/Bulgarian border on to Serbia and through the Iron Gates, a very narrow passage dividing the Alps from the Carpathian mountains. Continue to Plovdiv, the second largest city in Bulgaria, before joining your cruise in Romania. See the very best of what Europe has to offer and enjoy the history and beauty along the Danube River before ending your vacation in what was known for centuries as the greatest city in the world, Istanbul.

 
ITINERARY

Day 1    ARRIVE PARIS, FRANCE
Take the balance of the day to relax or explore the “City of Lights.”

Day 2   PARIS
See the most famous sights of Paris on your morning tour. Visit Notre Dame Cathedral, pass the Louvre Museum, the commemorative Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, La Madeleine, Les Champs Elysées and much more. The remainder of the day is yours to explore on your own. (B)

Day 3    PARIS
Enjoy a free day to explore the most romantic city in the world. Stroll through the Jardin des Tuileries, gaze at impressionist masterpieces at the Musée D'Orsay, or visit the top of the Eiffel Tower, built for the 1889 World's Fair. Paris at night sparkles with possibilities for every taste. (B)

Day 4   PARIS - LUXEMBOURG - TRIER, GERMANY
This morning, drive through the French countryside of Champagne to Luxembourg, one of the last independent duchies which once made up western and central Europe. The Grand Duchy still plays an important role in today’s international politics and banking. Continue on to Trier for brief overview of town before embarking the ship in Issel. Tonight, gather onboard for a Welcome Dinner. (B,D)

Day 5   BERNKASTEL - ZELL
Arrive in the charming village of Bernkastel. Strategically located in the middle of the Mosel wine-producing region, Bernkastel boasts over 500 years of documented wine history. Take a guided walking tour through the old town center with its many medieval and Renaissance buildings, before continuing on to Zell, a delightful town famous for its wine "Zeller Schwarze Katz." (B,L,D)

Day 6   COCHEM - KOBLENZ - RHINE CASTLES - RUDESHEIM
This morning, take the included excursion to Cochem, where a guided tour of hilltop Reichsburg Castle offers fascinating views of the river valley. Or, enjoy the scenic cruising to Koblenz, situated at the confluence of the Mosel and Rhine rivers. This afternoon, cruise the most beautiful part of the Rhine, passing castle after castle and the legendary Lorelei Rock. Arrive in Rüdesheim and visit Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. In the evening, explore the Drosselgasse, a narrow alley lined with wine taverns and restaurants. The ship moors overnight in Rüdesheim. (B,L,D)

Day 7   MAINZ - HEIDELBERG - FRANKFURT
Today, decide between two excursions: take a guided walking tour of beautiful Mainz and see the famous Gutenberg Museum, home of the world's first printed bible, then travel to Frankfurt by bus for a tour of the historic “Romer” center. Or travel by motorcoach to Heidelberg, Germany's oldest university town, where you will visit the red-walled castle and see the Great Vat, a 49,000-gallon 8th-century wine cask. Later this afternoon, return to Frankfurt, where the remainder of the day is at your leisure. The ship moors overnight in Frankfurt. (B,L,D)

Day 8  WERTHEIM - MILTENBERG
Arrive in Wertheim and travel by motorcoach to Miltenberg for a guided morning walking tour of this old Franconian town, which reveals narrow cobblestone streets and gabled, half-timbered houses. Return to Wertheim this afternoon for some free time to explore the town on your own. (B,L,D)

Day 9  WURZBURG
Würzburg, "the Pearl of the Romantic Road," is the capital of Lower Franconia, and the center of wine and trade. Visit the major sights including the magnificent Residenz Palace. This afternoon, you can join an optional excursion to medieval Rothenburg. Appreciate its ramparts and towers, cobbled lanes and 16th-century houses. The remainder of the afternoon is yours to explore on your own before returning to the ship further along the Main River. (B,L,D)

Day 10    BAMBERG
This afternoon arrive in enchanting Bamberg, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. Enjoy a guided walking tour of this medieval gem and see the breathtaking cathedral, the Old Town Hall that straddles the river, and the city's serpentine streets with charming houses and 18th-century mansions. Rejoin the ship in the late afternoon and continue cruising overnight on the Main-Danube Canal to Nuremberg. (B,L,D)

Day 11   NUREMBERG - MUNICH
Travel by train to Munich, the capital of Bavaria and one of Germany’s largest cities. Your escort will be on hand to offer you suggestions on what to see while in town and to take you to lunch at the world famous Hofbrauhaus. Tonight, you will meet fellow travelers embarking from Prague. (B,L,D)

Day 12   NUREMBERG - CROSSING THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE - DIETFURT
Enjoy a guided morning tour of this historic city with its fabulous Gothic churches and elegant impressive walls. See the storybook 900-year-old ramparts that surround the city, the Imperial Castle and the Justice Palace where the War Crimes Tribunal sat in 1946. At lunchtime, rejoin the ship further along the Main-Danube Canal and continue to the highest point of your cruise - 1,332 feet above sea level before descending through stair-step locks to the charming Bavarian town of Dietfurt. (B,L,D)

Day 13   REGENSBURG
Cruise the final stretch of the Main-Danube Canal and arrive in magnificent Regensburg, one of Germany's best preserved medieval cities. A guided tour will show you the city's architectural highlights, including the Old Town Hall and the Porta Praetoria - gates to a Roman fort which was built in 179 AD. Marvel at beautiful churches and one of the oldest bridges crossing the Danube. Later, participate in an optional excursion to beautiful Weltenburg Abbey in the Danube Gorge. (B,L,D)

Day 14   PASSAU - LINZ, AUSTRIA
After breakfast, arrive in picturesque Passau, where the rivers Inn and Ilz join the Danube. During your walking tour, gaze at this fairy tale city founded more than 2,000 years ago. Or, take an optional full day tour to Salzburg, birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and location of the Sound of Music. For those staying onboard, enjoy a scenic cruise from Passau to Linz. The ship moors overnight in Linz. (B,L,D)

Day 15   MELK - VIENNA
Cruise through the narrow Strudengau and reach the Wachau Valley early this morning. A guided tour takes you to Melk's magnificent Benedictine Abbey. At lunchtime, continue through the romantic Wachau Valley, arriving late afternoon in Vienna, the "City of Music." Explore the magnificent Austrian capital on your own, or join an optional Mozart and Strauss concert. (B,L,D)

Day 16   VIENNA
During your guided tour of Vienna you will see the Imperial Hofburg Palace, the Vienna Opera House, Ringstrasse and awe-inspiring St. Stephen's Cathedral. Explore the city at your leisure before continuing your journey past Slovakia and cruise overnight to Budapest, Hungary's vibrant capital. (B,L,D)

Day 17   BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
Your guided city tour includes Buda and Pest. From historic Buda Castle you can enjoy a splendid view of the twin cities of Buda and Pest spread over both banks of the River. Your tour also features the distinctive Fisherman's Bastion, the marvelous Royal Palace, St. Stephen's Basilica, and much more. Tonight, enjoy a Gala Dinner. (B,L,D)

Day 18    BUDAPEST
The Puszta is the region of Hungary most widely known throughout the world. The vast flat Great Hungarian Plain stretches across to the east, 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 their national dish of goulash for lunch. The ship moors overnight in Budapest. (B,L,D)

Day 19    MOHACS - PECS
This morning, the ship arrives in Mohacs, where you depart for an excursion to Pecs. See the Synagogue, Christian Basilica and visit the former Turkish Mosque. After lunch onboard ship, enjoy a wine-tasting excursion, where you will sample aromatic, spicy wines from the vineyards of Vilány. (B,L,D)

Day 20   VUKOVAR - NOVI SAD, SERBIA
A guided bus and walking tour of Vukovar will show you the Franciscan Monastery of St. John Capistrano, the Manorhouse Eltz and the St. James and St. Nicholas churches. During lunch, continue your cruise to Novi Sad, Serbia, where you will tour the 18th-Century Austrian-Hungarian Petrovaradin Fortress. (B,L,D)

Day 21   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. (B,L,D)

Day 22   CRUISING THROUGH THE IRON GATES - VIDIN, BULGARIA
Today, enjoy a full day of cruising through one of Europe's most aweinspiring 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 23   VIDIN
The "Baba Vida" Fortress sits guard over the Danube at the Bulgarian frontier town of Vidin. The 14th-century castle has massive walls and dark towers, which strongly contrast the natural park which surrounds the castle. From here, take an excursion to Belogradschik, a beautifully restored 6th-century castle, located in a fairy tale landscape of unusual rock formations. (B,L,D)

Day 24   GIURGIU - BUCHAREST, ROMANIA - ROUSSE, BULGARIA
Today, enjoy a full day excursion to Bucharest, capital and largest city in Romania. The city is famed for its Belle Epoque era buildings dating from the 19th-century. See the Arch of Triumph, Soseaua Kiseleff, the Athenaeum, the Library and visit the Parliament Palace - the world's largest palace. Enjoy lunch in a typical Romanian restaurant, then enjoy some leisure time to 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 25   ROUSSE - VELIKO TARNOVO - PLOVDIV, BULGARIA
Disembark in Rousse and continue your tour by motorcoach, where your first stop is the ancient capital of Bulgaria, Veliko Tarnovo. Here you will tour Tsarevets Hill, the citadel of the city, the old fortress walls, the Royal Palaces, the Patriarchal church and Baldwin's Tower. Shoppers can explore the traditional street market, Samovodska Charshia. This evening, arrive in Plovdiv and see the main highlights of Plovdiv Old Town, before dinner at a local restaurant. (B,L,D)

Day 26   PLOVDIV - ISTANBUL, TURKEY
After breakfast, continue on to magical Istanbul for the grand three-night conclusion of your Black Sea Voyage. (B)

Day 27   ISTANBUL
Your city tour shows you the old city, with its numerous Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman monuments of her historic past. Admire the mighty defensive walls, the Roman aqueduct and the hippodrome. See the Galata Tower and visit the Suleymaniye Mosque. This evening is free to explore the town on your own. (B)

Day 28  ISTANBUL
Tour the Ottoman Sultans' Grand Palace of Topkapi, home to every Sultan from the 15th-century to the end of the 19thcentury. Admire the Sultan’s private chambers, marvel at the world famous Harem and the treasury, home to the Topkapi Diamond. This afternoon, enjoy an optional Bosporus cruise and visit to the Spice Bazaar or use the remainder of the day to shop for souvenirs or relax at one of the charming tea houses or restaurants. (B)

Day 29   ISTANBUL
Transfer to the airport for your onward flight. (B)

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