2019 Danube Discovery: Vienna to Bucharest

On arrival, transfer from the airport to our floating hotel.

Groups I & II: After picking up luggage and clearing customs, exit to the Arrivals  Hall and find Dusan Kuljic, our Cruise Director. He will lead you to the van to take you to our ship, the MS River Navigator, with a stop along the way to use an ATM.

Groups III & IV: Find a taxi and instruct him to take you to the dock located at Handelskai 265, 1020 Wien. Bring me a receipt and I will reimburse you.

In the evening, there will be a welcome cocktail and information meeting followed by our first dinner on board.

Group I	Group II (BA 0700, 13:30)	Group III (Find each other and take a Taxi to Dock)	Group IV (Train from Prague, Take a Taxi to Dock)
Beverly Baucum. UA9841, 8:10A	Carol Boyd	John & Linda Edmundson, DL8384, 14:40P	Gail Jarratt & Carrol Smith
Antoinette Acone. UA9841, 8:10A	Greg & Judy Parks	Dale Fleishman & Ron Jenkins, BA 0702, 15:00	Gretchen Quinn & Lynne Bueler
Laurence Barker, UA9850, 8:25A	Jim Ernest & Sue Edwards
Maureen Nowotny & Thurman Adkins, UA9850, 8:25A	Paddy Irwin
Xavier & Polly Pena, DL9527, 8:40A	Rebecca Marti, DL 9335, 1330
Cindy Abbott, DL9527, 8:40A
Evelyn Rogers, DL9527, 8:40A

Day 2, 23 October, Vienna, AUSTRIA (B, L, D)

Morning city sightseeing of Austria’s Imperial includes Hundertwasser, the Ringstrasse, the Parliament, the State Opera, Hofburg (Imperial Palace) and Belvedere Palace (second stop). The last stop will be in the old center of Vienna to take a walk through the pedestrian zone from Graben and Kohlmarkt to Michaela Square ending at the entrance of the St. Stephan’s Cathedral. The balance of the day is at leisure. You may choose to explore Vienna on your own or purchase an optional tour. (The optional tour is to Schonbrunn Castle at a cost of €55 p.p. There is also the opportunity to attend an evening concert for €69 p.p. I’m not including or recommending either one since they are expensive and we will be exhausted with jet lag, but you can purchase either one on your own.)

Day 3, 24 October, Bratislava, SLOVAKIA (B, L, D)

Welcome to Slovakia! Enjoy a morning walking/mini train tour of this lovely city with it’s famous St. Martin’s Cathedral and the Primate’s Palace followed by a walk through the Old Town. Enjoy free time for shopping and strolling and return to the ship for lunch. Dinner and an evening free to waltz the night away or join afternoon optional tour to Red Stone Castle! (BET is including this tour.)

Day 4, 25 October, Budapest, HUNGARY (B, L, D)

Welcome to Hungary! Morning at sail. In the afternoon, your motor coach tour of this lovely city will include the most popular sights: The Parliament Building, St. Stefan Cathedral, the Opera, the Heroes Square, and the town park with the Vajdahunyad Castle. There will be stops at the Heroes Square, the Fishermans Bastion, and Gellert Hill. Return to the ship for dinner. In the evening, Hungarian State Folk Ensemble and then Budapest by Night bus tour.

Day 5, 26 October, Budapest, HUNGARY (B, L, D)

Full free day to explore and enjoy pedestrian friendly Budapest on your own, or partake in one of our optional excursions available for purchase on board! (BET is including the walking tour of Pest.) Evening surprise! Prior to dinner enjoy a 45-minute concert performed by a local Gypsy duo in the lounge.

Day 6, 27 October, Osijek, CROATIA (B, L, D)

Welcome to Croatia! View the passing vista’s from the sun deck, as we sail into the Drava River toward Osijek, Croatia’s 4th largest city. In the afternoon enjoy a bus and walking tour of the Old Town including the Tvrdja (Citadel), the best-preserved and largest ensemble of baroque buildings in Croatia. At the end of the tour, enjoy a refreshment drink with snacks accompanied by live entertainment featuring Croatian folk music and “tamburica”, the Croatian version of a banjo. Then enjoy some free time in the town before returning to the ship for dinner. Sail on!

Day 7, 28 October, Novi Sad, SERBIA (B, L, D)

Welcome to Serbia! Our first stop in this “newly” minted Balkan country will be in Novi Sad, Serbia’s third largest city after Belgrade and Nis. We will join our local guide first for a walking tour through the town center and bus tour to Petrovaradin Fortress – Europe’s second largest. After the tour we will participate in Krusedol Monastery wine and honey tasting tour. Dinner is on board.

Day 8, 29 October, Belgrade, SERBIA (B, L, D)

Morning motor coach tour of this lively and vibrant capital will include all of the major attractions: Kalemegdan Fortress, St. Sava’s Orthodox Cathedral, and many other attractions ending with a stroll through Knez Mihajlova Pedestrian Street. This afternoon we take the highly popular optional excursion to an authentic local Serbian “salash” (farm), where we will meet an authentic Serbian multi-generation family and enjoy a wonderful taste of Serbian homemade food, live music, and hospitality! (BET is including this tour.) After dinner, enjoy a private folklore show on board.

Day 9, 30 October, Full day at sail & passage through “The Iron Gate” Gorge (B, L, D)

Enjoy passing vistas as well as participate in talks on Balkan History presented by your Cruise Director. The highlight of the day will be the passage through “The Iron Gates”, the highest gorge on the Danube. Over 100 km long, this canyon, was a gigantic obstacle to navigation because of its pointed rocks, cliffs, and changing water levels, surrounded with very wild, yet attractive nature. This danger was finally overcome in 1972, with the building of the “Djerdap” lock. Tonight prepare for our Captain’s Dinner!

Day 10, 31 October, Vidin, BULGARIA (B, L, D)

Welcome to Bulgaria! After breakfast, embark on a walking tour of this delightful Bulgarian river port highlighted by a visit to the 13th-century fortress named “Baba Vida” (“Grandma Vida”). Then enjoy some free time for strolling and shopping or take the optional Belogradchik Rock excursion. There is considerable walking involved with some climbing, but if you want to do it, the cost is €37 p.p.

Day 11, 01 November, Brasov, ROMANIA (B, D) Disembark & Dracula Extension

After saying goodbye to our fellow cruise passengers, board a separate bus and head north through the beautiful Romanian countryside towards Brasov, Romania’s second-largest city, and renowned summer & winter resort. Along the way, we will stop at Sinaia and tour the impressive Peles Castle*, the residence of the last Romanian King. Arrive at Brasov and check in to your first class hotel in time for dinner and overnight in ARO PALACE, Eroilor Nr. 27, Brasov, Romania, Phone: +40.268.47880. *If closed, Peles Castle will be visited on the return to Bucharest.

Day 12, 02 November, Brasov, ROMANIA (B, D)

After a buffet breakfast, we will have a half day sightseeing tour with a short bus ride to the infamous Bran Castle, the “historic” home of Count Vlad the Impaler – popularized world over in Bram Stoker’s novels featuring the blood-thirsty “Count Dracula”. This imposing castle and the surrounding museum site will both entertain and educate you about the true-life figure of Count Vlad, the Romanian national hero who fought the bloody Turkish occupation with equal ferociousness. The afternoon is free to explore this lively city on your own. Dinner is not included in the program, but BET will provide dinner in one of the many local restaurants.

Day 13, 03 November, Brasov-Bucharest, ROMANIA (B, D)

After breakfast, it’s time to check-out of the hotel and take a leisurely 2-hour ride back towards Bucharest. On arrival, enjoy a half day city tour of the “Paris of the East” before checking in to our first class hotel, NOVOTEL, Calea Victoriei 37B, 010061 Bucharest S1, Romania, Tel: (+40) 21 3088500. The balance of the day is free for exploring this friendly city on your own. In the evening, enjoy a special farewell dinner at one of the popular local restaurants featuring national specialties and live entertainment.

Day 15, 04 November, Bucharest–Fly Home (B)

Tour ends after breakfast. Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

ROOMING LIST	CABIN
Dale Fleishman & Ron Jenkins	409	Double
Gretchen Quinn & Lynne Bueler	412	Twin
John & Linda Edmundson	416	Twin
Evelyn Rogers & Carol Boyd	419	Twin
Maureen Nowotny & Thurman Adkins	422	Double
Laurence Barker	321	Single
Gail Jarratt & Carrol Smith	327	Twin
Rebecca Marti & Paddy Irwin	324	Twin
Greg & Judy Parks	318	Double
Xavier & Polly Pena	330	Double
Cindy Abbott	341	Single
Jim Ernest & Sue Edwards	333	Twin
Antoinette Acone & Beverly Baucum	201	Twin