Travellers from across Canada fly to Bucharest, Romania.

On arrival in Bucharest, we will be met and taken to our hotel. Meet with fellow travellers for our welcome dinner this evening. Hotel To Be Advised (1 night)

Our adventure begins with a panoramic tour along the city’s magnificent boulevards lined with impressive buildings, past the State University, the Opera house and the Triumph Arch which was modeled after the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France. We continue on foot through the historic centre where we visit Stavropoleos Church. Built in 1724, it is one of the oldest Orthodox churches in the city. After lunch in a local restaurant, a photo stop at the impressive Romanian Palace of the Parliament. The palace, previously also known as the “People’s House”, is one of the largest buildings in Europe. Later, we transfer to the port at Fetesti to embark our ship. A welcome cocktail will be waiting for us. Later that evening, we meet for a specially-prepared welcome dinner. ms Amadeus Queen (9 nights)

Today we reach the end of the Danube as it disperses into its delta. In the morning we cruise one of the 3 main channels of the delta. At the Danube’s meeting of the Black Sea in Saint George Village, our ship will dock and group members may observe daily life in this fishing village or join an optional delta safari. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to some 300 bird species. The shallow waters around the Sacalin Peninsula are an excellent place for pelicans to gather and feed, together with cormorants and black-headed gulls.

The small village of Hirsova is home to ancient Roman Ruins of Carsium and the unique Lipovan church. In the distance you can see the Cliffs of Danube, the Black Sea coast where our next stop Constanta is located. This ancient sea side metropolis was founded by Greek colonists during the 6th century BC and is considered Romania’s longest inhabited city. A walk into the historic part of the city features views over the Great Mosque, the Casino and the Genoese Lighthouse. A short visit to the history and Archaeology Museum will reveal the city’s 2.5 millennia history and detail its blend of cultures.

After arriving in Svishtov, we will visit Veliko Tarnovo located in the picturesque setting between the two steep banks of the river Yantra at the bottom of the Balkan Mountains. In this medieval town the houses were built on narrow terraces along steep rocky slopes. Enter the richly decorated Nativity Church to admire some of the earliest frescoes in the region. Discover Bulgarian cuisine during lunch in a local restaurant. Continue to Veliko Tarnovo, the famous Medieval capital of Bulgaria, with more than 5000 years of history. Take breathtaking pictures during the photo stop at the Tsarevets Fortress and learn about the history of Bulgarian kings.

Enjoy a 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 breathtaking natural scenery will definitely be a highlight on our Danube voyage.

This morning awake in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, where we will explore its myriad of streets, plazas and squares. Belgrade has over 5,500 streets, 16 plazas and 32 squares. On our panoramic tour, we will see the Kalemegdan Fortress, the Serbian Orthodox Church of Saint Sava, the National Museum, Parliament, Terazije square, and the Residence of Princess Ljubica. Our tour ends with a visit to the pedestrian Skadarlija Street.

This morning we visit the tiny harbour town of Mohács. Visit the “Paprika House” where you will taste cakes filled and baked with paprika. Then walk through the 19th-century home of a local upper-class farmer family. Watch a short folk dance performance and local ladies will demonstrate old crafts, such as embroidery or painting eggs. Thereafter, we can visit Puszta, where the sky stretches into the horizon, to witness a traditional equestrian show.

The Danube flows through the heart of the city, dividing it into two parts, Buda and Pest. Our tour takes us first through Pest, past the Great Market Hall with its outstanding gourmet shops and stalls. See the splendid buildings such as the State Opera House and the iconic parliament building. For those who have seen Budapest before there will be an optional excursion to the 18th century Royal Palace of Godollo. Once a favourite summer residence of Empress Elisabeth and Emperor Franz Josef of Austria this excellent complex of Baroque buildings is nestled in an enormous park. This evening enjoy a scenic “Budapest by night” cruise with a folklore show on board.

Get to know the capital of the young Slovakian Republic with a morning walking tour of the gorgeous old town. Our tour passes St. Martin’s Cathedral, Grassalkovich Palace and continues up hill to a stunning panoramic view of the city and surrounding area. Afterwards those willing may continue walking from Michael’s Gate through the historic city centre to see the Primatial Palace and St. Martin’s Cathedral, as well as the Academia Istropolitana the university dating from 15th century. This evening enjoy the Captain’s Gala dinner.

Vienna’s Ringstrasse was the Habsburg state boulevard, created by Emperor Franz Joseph to showcase the wealth and importance of the Empire. Here we see Austria’s magnificent state buildings, including the historic parliament, city hall, the university plus the national theatre and museums. Our city exploration continues past the Imperial Palace, a stately structure that evolved over the centuries and is now home to Austria’s President. We also visit Schönbrunn Palace, summer home of the imperial family and a superb example of Austrian Baroque architecture. Hotel Stefanie (2 nights)

Enjoy a full day at your leisure. Vienna is home to many excellent shopping streets, parks, and markets. This evening we gather for dinner at our hotel.