AmaWaterways

Vilshofen

Germany

Southeast Europe

AmaMagna

14-night from Vilshofen to Giurgiu Journey along paths forged by conquerors, crusaders and kings through Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Hungary, Austria, and Germany. Step back in time to explore the history and mystery living in the hillsides while cruising the Danube and through the Iron Gates. Legends of all kinds are waiting to be uncovered-Belogradchik, one of Bulgaria's natural wonders, and the Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo, built into the side of a mountain showcasing well-preserved medieval frescos. Experience the Romans' influence firsthand in Pécs, "the city of Mediterranean impressions," and through the taste of wine in Ilok, a center of wine production since Roman times. From the imposing capitals of Budapest and Vienna to towns lost in time, immerse yourself in the colorful folktales and traditions of the extraordinary people and places you visit along the way.

EMBARKATION Exclusive Oktoberfest Board the ship in Vilshofen for your Grand Danube Christmas Markets Cruise. In the evening, be treated to a festive Oktoberfest celebration - an AmaWaterways exclusive. (D)

Free Time "City of Three Rivers" walking tour with Christmas Markets OR Passau Castle hike OR River Inn Bike Tour Enjoy a free morning to walk around the quaint village of Vilshofen. Later, cruise to Passau, where you have the option of exploring it one of three ways. During the season of Advent, beautiful Passau dresses in her Bavarian holiday splendor, which you will discover on your walking tour through the city and at its Christmas market at St. Stephen's Square-also home to its magnificent cathedral. Go in search of unique crafts, including Bavarian-style houses and glass ornaments. Or choose between a guided bike tour along the Inn River or a guided hike up to the Veste Oberhaus fortress. (B,L,D)

Vilshofen, Passau

"UNESCO City of Media Arts" walking tour with Christmas Markets OR "Cultural Mile" bike tour OR Full-day Salzburg excursion with Christmas Markets ÄŒeský Krumlov excursion The ship arrives in Linz where you'll have several choices of excursions. Linz is known for being the city of Christmas crèches and its ever-popular Linzer torte. Opt for a full-day excursion to Salzburg where you'll tour the historic center, Mirabell Gardens, Residenz Square and the Old Market. While there, visit the beautiful Christmas Markets, renowned for local handicrafts and unusual holiday presents. En route to Salzburg, stop at Mondsee, home of the Basilica St. Michael. Or join a morning walking tour through the old city center of Linz and by the Mozart House, as well as visit Linz's Christmas markets. Or go on a bike tour of the city's famed "Cultural Mile" and the Danube. During the afternoon, visit charming ÄŒeský Krumlov, located just over the Czech-Austrian border. (B,L,D)

Linz

Scenic cruising through Strudengau and UNESCO Wachau Valley Dürnstein walking tour and Melk Benedictine Abbey OR Apricots and Sweets tasting OR Dürnstein Fortress hike OR Wachau Valley bike tour Evening wine tasting at local winery Head up to the Sun Deck for panoramic views as you unwind with a scenic cruise through the Strudengau and UNESCO-designated Wachau valleys. After reaching Weissenkirchen, you'll be treated to several choices of excursions. Take a walking tour of Dürnstein before visiting the UNESCO-designated Melk Abbey. Or hike the trail up to the ruins of Durnstein Fortress, where Richard the Lionheart was once held captive, and where you'll find spectacular views of the valley, river and village below. You can also choose to cycle through the Wachau Valley on a guided bike tour. For a more culinary-focused experience, sample special apricot treats from a local boutique. In the evening, enjoy a wine tasting hosted by a local vintner. (B,L,D)

Weissenkirchen

"Imperial Vienna" tour with Town Hall Christmas Markets OR Vienna City Tour by Bike Schönbrunn Christmas Markets The "City of Waltzes" is a treasure trove and your city tour showcases its regal splendors, including the majestic Opera House and the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs. Conclude your tour in the UNESCO-designated historic city center and visit St. Stephen's Cathedral. For a more active exploration, take a guided bike ride through Vienna. During the afternoon, enjoy leisure time exploring this iconic city even more. Perhaps sample Vienna's famous pastries or you may choose to enjoy the festivities of the Christmas Markets. Then spend the afternoon at the Schonbrunn Christmas Markets and catch a glimpse of the giant sparkling Christmas tree, followed by a free evening on your own. (B,L,D)

Vienna

"Coronation City" walking tour with Christmas Markets OR Tastes of Slovakia OR Bratislava Castle hike Host to the crowning ceremonies of 11 Hungarian kings and queens between 1536 and 1830, Bratislava certainly has earned the title "Coronation City of Kings," as you'll discover during your walking tour, including a visit to Bratislava's charming Christmas Market. Or join a special "Tastes of Slovakia" tour. For a more active adventure, hike up to Bratislava Castle, offering magnificent views of the city. (B,L,D)

Bratislava

"Queen of the Danube" tour and Vörösmarty Square Christmas Markets OR Castle Hill hike You cannot help but fall in love with Budapest, known as the "Queen of the Danube." Your city tour begins with a visit to the Great Market Hall. The remainder of this tour takes you to both the Buda (hilly) and the Pest (flat) sides of the river. Afterwards, you'll visit Vorosmarty Square, the oldest, richest and the most spectacular of all the Christmas markets in Budapest. Alternatively, hike up to Castle Hill for breathtaking views of the city. (B,L,D)

Budapest

Puszta excursion Tradition will be on full display in Puszta, the Great Hungarian Plain. Tour a genuine Hungarian csárda (farm) run by world-champion carriage-drivers. Afterwards, be treated to an unforgettable performance of horsemanship and then experience the Hungarians' warm hospitality, along with a traditional lunch complete with authentic goulash. (B,L,D)

Scenic cruising Pécs excursion with Christmas Markets OR Szekszárd wine tasting OR Guided Bike Ride Along the Danube Enjoy a scenic morning cruise to Mohács and then visit Pécs, founded more than 2,000 years ago by the Romans. Visit the UNESCO-designated Christian Necropolis St. Peter's Basilica, the city's main Catholic cathedral along with its catacombs and Széchenyi Square, the heart of Old Town Pécs. You will also see the Mosque of Pasha Qasim the Victorious, one of the symbols of the city. You'll also have the opportunity to visit the delightful Pécs Christmas market with its sparkling Christmas tree in front of Town Hall. Or choose a guided bike tour through Mohács. For wine connoisseurs, you'll want to go instead to the Szekszárd wine region, one of the oldest red-wine-growing areas in Hungary, established more than 2,000 years ago. (B,L,D)

Budapest, Mohacs

City tour and Eltz Castle with Christmas Markets OR Croatian wine tasting "The Athens of Serbia" walking tour with Winter Markets OR Fruska Gora National Park hike OR Novi Sad bike tour Evening Petrovaradin Fortress visit Vukovar is a Croatian symbol of resistance, which you'll better understand on your city tour showcasing the OvÄara Memorial and Eltz Castle. While there, experience the festive, warm atmosphere of the holidays when visiting a traditional Croatian Christmas Market. Embrace the holiday cheer and rich culture as you listen to Christmas melodies, taste sweet and savory delights and shop for traditional handcrafted goods. Alternatively, choose a wine tasting in Ilok, a center of wine production since Roman times, where you'll sample its famous Grasevina, Traminac and Frankovka wines. Back on board, cruise to Novi Sad, sometimes called the "Serbian Athens." Discover Novi Sad on a walking tour to Dunavski Park and through Stari Grad, the Old Town center. Serbia celebrates the holidays with festive Winter Markets as they have an extended Christmas period, following the Orthodox calendar where Christmas falls on the 7th of January and the New Year on the 14th. Experience firsthand unique Orthodox traditions at Serbia's first and oldest Winter Market where you'll see the grand Singing Christmas Tree where choirs from all over the region gather to perform every day. If you prefer a more active exploration, join a guided biking tour or hike through Fruska Gora National Park. During the evening, visit Petrovaradin Fortress. (B,L,D)

Vukovar, Ilok, Novi Sad

"The City by Two Rivers" tour and Winter Markets OR Royal Palace & Tito's Memorial Tour OR Belgrade Fortress hike Quburich Brandy Tasting & Avala Mountain OR Belgrade bike tour Explore Serbia's capital, Belgrade, on a city tour, which includes the Kalemegdan Fortress and the Serbian Orthodox Temple of St. Sava. Or visit the Royal Palace, the official residence of the Serbian Royal Family and then tour the House of Flowers, the mausoleum of Marshal Tito, who became the first President of Yugoslavia. You'll have time to explore Belgrade's Winter Fest where the main square brims with holiday delights with colorful Christmas Market stalls, an ice-skating rink, concerts and more. Alternatively, you can hike to Belgrade Fortress. Later in the day, enjoy a taste of the region by sampling Serbian plum brandy, Å livovitz, and delicious local delights at the Quburich Distillery. For those wishing a more active adventure, join a guided bike tour. (B,L,D)

Belgrade

Golubac Fortress The Iron Gates Visit Golubac Fortress - one of the best preserved medieval fortresses in Europe - before cruising through the Iron Gates. The Iron Gates is one of Europe's most awe-inspiring natural wonders. The Danube narrows as it winds through a series of magnificent gorges between the Carpathian and Balkan mountains. (B,L,D)

Iron Gates, Scenic Cruising

Vidin Walking Tour Belogradchik Excursion & Baba Vida Fortress OR Banitsa pastry and yogurt tasting OR Vidin bike tour Explore Vidin, one of Bulgaria's oldest cities, and surrounding areas with a choice of excursions. Discover Baba Vida Fortress, the largest preserved medieval castle in Bulgaria. Continue on to Belogradchik, one of Bulgaria's natural wonders, where you can hike around its most spectacular rock formations. Alternatively, visit a local home for a demonstration of traditional Bulgarian yogurt and Banitsa, a pastry you will also get to make. You also have the choice to bike through Vidin and to the castle. (B,L,D)

Vidin

Veliko Tarnovo excursion with Christmas Markets OR Bucharest Excursion with Christmas Markets OR Ivanovo Rock-Hewn Churches & Rousse Highlights Tour Visit Bulgaria's ancient capital, Veliko Tarnovo, with its medieval fortress and multiple orthodox temples. Enjoy the magic of the holidays when learning about the Bulgarian traditions and folklore during Christmastime. You can opt instead to go to Rousse, known for its 19th- and 20th-century Neo-Baroque and Neo-Rococo architecture, and then afterwards visit the UNESCO-designated Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo with frescos revealing exceptional artistry of 14th-century paintings. Or travel through the Romanian countryside to the capital of Bucharest, known as the "Little Paris of the East." Enjoy a panoramic tour of the historic city center and its elegant architecture, followed by a visit to the Palace of the Parliament, the second largest administrative building in the world. You'll have the opportunity to enjoy the Bucharest Christmas market, shining bright in festive holiday lights, right in front of the Palace of the Parliament. (B,L,D)

Rousse

DISEMBARKATION Disembark the ship and bid farewell to Giurgiu as you prepare for your flight home. (B)

Giurgiu

Grand Danube Cruise (Wine Cruise)

Make the most of our Easter Sale and enjoy extra savings on your next cruise. Use code EASTER50 to get &pound;50 off inside and outside cabins or EASTER100 to get &pound;100 off balcony and suite cabins when booking online. It&rsquo;s the perfect time to secure your next escape for less, with more value in every booking.

Grand Danube Cruise (Wine Cruise)

Grand Danube Cruise (Wine Cruise)

Grand Danube Cruise (Wine Cruise)

Travel plan

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