Grand European Cruise

•   Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director

Day 1: Arrive Bucharest
A transfer is included from the Bucharest Airport to the JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel in the heart of Romania’s capital. We invite you to join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight.
Overnight: JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel, Bucharest, Romania
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Haunts of the original "Dracula"
Vlad Tepes (a.k.a. “Vlad the Impaler”) was a 15th-century Romanian prince and the historic inspiration for the fictitious Dracula. Tour Bran Castle in Transylvania, used by Tepes during his campaigns in the region. Or take a boat across Snagov Lake to Snagov Island where the headless body of the infamous Tepes is said to be buried, and see art-filled Caldarusani Monastery.
Overnight: JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel, Bucharest, Romania
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 3: Bucharest or the coast / Embark your riverboat
Sightseeing choices await you. Join Tauck’s local guides for a tour of Romania’s capital, “the Paris of the Balkans,” which includes Revolution Square, the Triumphal Arch (modeled on Paris’ Arc de Triomphe), and the colossal People’s Palace, home to the Romanian Parliament. Or choose a day trip to the beautiful Black Sea coast; tour the port city of Constanta, home to numerous Greek and Roman antiquities and an Art-Nouveau casino. Continue on to Cernavoda, where you’ll board your riverboat for the start of your Danube River cruise.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4: Welcome to Bulgaria
Cruise to Ruse, Bulgaria, for cultural excursions to nearby towns. Travel first to Arbanassi, where you’ll visit the Konstant-Salieva House and the Archangels Michael & Gabriel Church. Continue on to Veliko Turnovo, capital of Bulgaria in the 12th and 13th centuries. The sight of its medieval walled fortress and castle atop three hills on the Yantra River is memorable. Enjoy time to explore. Rejoin your riverboat in Svishtov; tonight’s entertainment includes local Bulgarian performers before a dinner featuring traditional Bulgarian cuisine.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 5: Cruising the Blue Danube & Vidin
Kick back and watch the scenic heartland of Eastern Europe unfold during a leisurely morning cruising the Danube. In Vidin, Bulgaria, guests interested in visual arts can attend an onboard lecture and demonstration on Iconography before joining us for a walking tour of Vidin, including a visit to Baba Vida fortress.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6: Through the Danube's Iron Gate
The Danube narrows into a series of high cliffs and spectacular gorges comprising the Kazan Narrows and the Iron Gate of the Danube. Pass through these dramatic landscapes during a full day’s cruise along Bulgaria’s border with Romania.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7: Sampling Serbian Culture in Belgrade
Awaken dockside in Serbia’s cosmopolitan capital. Guided sightseeing includes Tito’s Memorial and Kalemegdan Fortress; see Slavija Square, Parliament, St. Sava Church, City Hall, Republic Square and the National Theatre. After lunch at Milos Palace, Tauck takes you for a special private visit to the Royal Palace of Dedinje, home to HRH Crown Prince Alexander II of Serbia. Aboard the riverboat, enjoy Serbian music and dance cultural entertainment.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 8: Looking Backward & Forward in Croatia
Croatia’s turbulent history takes center stage today, starting with an onboard presentation by a local expert. Take a memorable excursion to the city of Vukovar, once renowned for its elegant 18th-century mansions, now recovering from the devastating effects of the 1990s war. On a visit to a private home, meet a Vukovar family who have recently returned after years of conflict to rebuild their lives. Spend free time in Vukovar before cruising to Hungary.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 9: Paprika, Palaces & More in Hungary
Kalocsa, Hungary, is home to the Paprika Museum, where you’ll gain insights on the history of this popular Hungarian spice. Go inside the magnificent library at the Bishop’s Palace, considered one of the finest in Europe. Taste local vintages at a winery before rejoining the riverboat for cocktails and dinner.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 10: Explore Budapest on the Danube
Upon arrival in Budapest, explore some of the city’s landmark sites on an orientation tour, including a visit to the Hungarian State Opera House.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 11: Hungary's Capital, Budapest
View Budapest’s architectural artistry: Heroes’ Square, Parliament, Fishermen’s Bastion and Matthias Church (may be closed due to services).
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 12: Across the centuries in Bratislava
Slovakia’s capital boasts an Old Town brimming with history and devoid of cars. Your walking tour includes the Old Town Hall, Habsburg-era palaces, the Opera House, Slovak Philharmonic Hall, and St. Martin’s Cathedral. Back onboard, enjoy traditional Slovakian entertainment and regional cuisine tonight.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 13: An Imperial Experience in Old Vienna
Wake up in Vienna. Choose between a guided visit to the Habsburgs’ Schönbrunn Palace or a tour of the amazing Imperial Apartments at the Hofburg. Tonight, experience the royal treatment at our private Imperial Evening in a traditional Viennese palace. Cocktails and dinner precede a spectacle of elegant finery and a musical performance celebrating the legacy of Mozart.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 14: Back in Time in Dürnstein and Melk
The twisting medieval lanes of Dürnstein and the hilltop ruins of Kuenringerburg Castle invite your exploration in Austria’s vineyard-covered Wachau Valley. Cruise on to Melk to visit the town’s 900-year-old Benedictine Abbey; a wine-tasting and local entertainment enliven the evening.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 15: Going for Baroque in Passau
Passau is renowned for its stained glass, church architecture, and beautiful Baroque buildings. Explore this ancient Bavarian town on a guided walking tour; inside St. Stephan’s Cathedral, you’ll see the world’s largest cathedral organ, boasting over 17,000 pipes. Cruise on to Regensburg.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 16: Regensburg, a Mix of Old and New
The quintessential Bavarian town of Regensburg boasts more than 1,400 historic buildings. A local guide will show you the 12th-century Steinerne Brücke (Germany’s oldest surviving stone bridge), the 15th-century Altes Rathaus (Town Hall), the towering Dom St. Peter, and the remains of the Roman wall. Be sure to try the local Bavarian sausage!
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 17: Main-Danube Canal to Nürnberg
Learn all about the Main-Danube Canal as you transit its locks en route to Nürnberg. Choose between guided excursions offering perspectives on the events of World War II, with visits to the Courthouse, the Zeppelinfeld rally grounds and the Documentation Center – or a stroll to the Imperial Castle and the old city. Dine tonight at a local restaurant.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 18: Take to the Hills in Bamberg
Perched atop seven hills, Bamberg is home to a magnificent, four-towered cathedral from the 13th century; see it, along with more of this charming medieval city’s unique architecture and colorful gardens, during a walking tour of Old Town... and take some time to explore as you please.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 19: Romance in Rothenburg & Würzburg
Rothenburg lives up to its reputation as Europe’s “most perfect fairy-tale town”; view its Gothic cathedral, towered walls and gabled houses. Continuing to Würzburg, visit the Residenz, and enjoy a wine tasting in the wine cellar of this Baroque masterpiece. An oompah band plays aboard ship tonight!
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 20: Along the River Main to Lohr
A glassblowing demonstration shows how it’s done as you cruise the Main to Lohr, nestled in the Spessart mountain range of lower Franconia; see the Bayersturm (a 14th-century watchtower), half-timbered houses and other sites on a walking tour.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 21: Rüdesheim & Musical Magic
Relax and enjoy your riverboat’s amenities as it cruises the Rhine to Rüdesheim; visit Siegfrieds Mechanisches Musikkabinett, a museum with one of the world’s largest collections of mechanical musical instruments. Dine in an old-world restaurant.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 22: Castles, Cathedrals & the Lorelei
In Koblenz, choose a walking tour of Old Town or get a taste of medieval life at 13th-century Marksburg Castle. Cruise to Köln (Cologne) and check out Kölner Dom, one of Europe’s great Gothic cathedrals. Party with your cruisemates at the Captain’s farewell dinner tonight.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 23: There’s No Place Like Amsterdam
Amsterdam... gabled houses, cafés and awe-inspiring museums. View works by Dutch masters, including Rembrandt’s The Night Watch, at the Rijksmuseum. Take a luncheon cruise on tree-lined 17th-century canals. Savor the riches of the Museumplein as you wish before rejoining the ship. A special musical performance makes your last night on board one to remember!
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 24: Journey home
Tour ends: Amsterdam, Netherlands. Disembark your riverboat this morning; a transfer is included from the ship to Schiphol Airport. Fly home anytime. Allow 3 hours for flight check-in.
Overnight:
Meals Included: Breakfast

Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
5/27/2012 - 6/20/2012	$11,290
8/19/2012 - 9/12/2012	$10,390
9/30/2012 - 10/24/2012	$11,090
Note: Departures appearing above in green are guaranteed to operate by the tour operator.
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

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