Gems of Southeast Europe 2024

12 day Gems of Southeast Europe river cruise tour

September 26 to October 7, 2024

Book this amazing river cruise tour with Clarkson Travel and enjoy

Classical music events in Vienna, Budapest, and Belgrade, and along the Danube as you sail on your luxurious river cruise ship!

Limited Space in our Hosted Group, Call Today To Book!

$300CAD pp savings, complimentary private limo ride to Pearson Airport**& pre-paid gratuities!

Fares start at C$8,580CAD* pp in double occupancy, Category E

Other categories available, call for pricing!

Space is limited … Book Now!

*Fares reflect all savings

**Limo credit for guests outside of the GTA

Join me for a mesmerizing journey as we explore many of the jewels of Central and Eastern Europe. We may share a fairytale or two on this trip, as we visit the captivating scenery and the majestic landscapes that dot the lower Danube river, while exploring their rich history. From the City of Waltzes to the Little Paris of the East, you are in for a unique cultural experience that is sure to inspire and create long-lasting memories. I look forward to meeting you! Join me in 2024!

Daniel Vnukowski Host of “The JukeBox” on The New Classical FM

All of this is included:

Transfer from Vienna airport to hotel for clients arriving on package dates
2 nights hotel in Vienna, including guided touring
Classical music concerts in Vienna, subject to programme scheduling
Transfer from Vienna to Budapest
2 nights hotel in Budapest, including guided touring
Classical music concerts in Budapest, subject to programme scheduling
7 nights aboard AmaVerde in luxurious accommodations of your choice
Private Classical music concert in Belgrade
Wine and beer with lunch and dinner, plus sip-and-sail cocktail hour before dinner
Guided shore excursions in every port of call
Accompanied by Daniel Vnukovski, host of The Jukebox, The New Classical 96.3FM
Hosted by agency owners, Joe and Zaneta Rochemont
Pre-paid gratuities for cruise crew and staff
Transfer from the ship to the airport in Bucharest for your flight home

Why we think you will like it!

Start touring in imperial Vienna
Touch history in Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania, as you sail along the exotic lower Danube.
Celtic fortifications, medieval towns and grand cities, along with the natural beauty of pastoral landscapes and the Danube’s famed Iron Gates, showcase the best of eastern Europe.
Nature lovers will relish the opportunity to see Bulgaria’s natural wonder, Belogradchik, a fairytale stone world of fantastic shapes associated with interesting legends
Bike through Belgrade’s sprawling Kalemegdan Park.
Wine connoisseurs will have a chance to taste history from the centuries-old wine-growing hills dating back to the Romans in Ilok, a royal and vinous town.
Be treated to the flavors, sights, sounds and cultures of this diverse swath of the continent.
Attend classical music concerts in Vienna, Budapest, and Belgrade…
Travel with like-minded guests and attend Daniel Vnukovski’s fire-side chats on music composers of the region
Be treated to an enchanting concert performed by local renowned violinist Maestro Jovan Kolundjija at his Music Center in Belgrade

“…years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So, sail away from the safe harbour. Explore. Dream.”

Mark Twain

DAY BY DAY ITINERARY

Day 1, VIENNA, AUSTRIA: Arrive in Vienna and check in to your hotel. Classical music concert, subject to schedule.

Day 2, VIENNA

The “City of Waltzes” offers a treasure trove of gems just waiting to be discovered on your city tour. See the majestic Opera House and the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs before concluding in Vienna’s historic city center. Classical music concert, subject to schedule. (B)

Day 3, VIENNA – BUDAPEST, HUNGARY

Transfer from Vienna to Budapest and check-in to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to explore this beautiful city. Tonight, you will experience a concert in one of the great local venues. Details to follow. (B)

Day 4, BUDAPEST

Budapest is one of Europe’s most regal and storied cities—and many of its most iconic sights are just off the banks of the Danube. Often described as the “Queen of the Danube,” Budapest is well-known for Fisherman’s Bastion, Buda Hill and its magnificent Hungarian Parliament building. During this excursion, your guide will take you deeper into the city to discover fascinating sites lesser-known to the average traveler. Tonight, you will experience a classical music concert in one of the great musical venues in the city. Details to follow. (B)

Day 5, BUDAPEST – EMBARKATION

Check out of your hotel and transfer to the ship for embarkation. Board the ship for your Gems of Southeast Europe cruise. (B,D)

Day 6, MOHÁCS – PÉCS

Enjoy a scenic morning cruise to Mohács. You’ll 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. Or for wine connoisseurs, you’ll want to go to the Szekszárd wine region, one of the oldest red-wine-growing areas in Hungary, established more than 2,000 years ago. You may also take an exhilarating guided bike tour around Mohács. (B,L,D)

Day 7, VUKOVAR, CROATIA – NOVI SAD, SERBIA

Vukovar is a Croatian symbol of resistance, which you’ll better understand on your city tour showcasing the Ovčara Memorial and Eltz Castle. 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. 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, a mighty stronghold no enemy has ever breached. (B,L,D)

Day 8, BELGRADE, SERBIA

Explore Serbia’s capital, Belgrade, on a city tour, which includes the Kalemegdan Fortress and the Serbian Orthodox Temple of St. Sava. 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. Alternatively, you can hike to Belgrade Fortress. Later in the day, enjoy a taste of the region by sampling Serbian plum brandy, Šlivovitz, and delicious local delights at the Quburich Distillery. For those wishing a more active adventure, join a guided bike tour. Tonight you will experience a classical music concert by renowned local violinist Mr. Jovan Kolundija. (B,L,D)

Day 9, IRON GATES

Visit Golubac Fortress – a medieval fortified town on the south side of the Danube River – before cruising through the Iron Gates. The Iron Gates is one of Europe’s most aweinspiring natural wonders. The Danube narrows as it winds through a series of magnificent gorges between the Carpathian and Balkan mountains, forming a natural border between Serbia and Romania. The ancient King Decebalus, the last king of Dacia, is proudly carved into the mountainside and always captivates travellers. (B,L,D)

Day 10, VIDIN, BULGARIA

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)

Day 11, ROUSSE – GIURGIU, ROMANIA

Visit Bulgaria’s ancient capital, Veliko Tarnovo, with its medieval fortress and multiple orthodox temples. 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. Later in the day, 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. (B,L,D)

Day 12, GIURGIU – DISEMBARKATION– BUCHAREST

Disembark the ship in Giurgiu and board a motor coach to journey through the Romanian countryside to Bucharest and board your flight to Canada. (B)

Why We Love AmaWaterways!

“The trip itself was both spectacular and amazing! I cannot say enough about AMA, it is a first class operation and we felt more like honored guests than passengers. Everything went smoothly, especially transfers, and even when it didn’t, it was handled so fast and professionally that it did not matter at all.

Rachel, our Cruise Director was a big part of that, she was not only so much fun and so energetic and upbeat, she was also truly an amazing person, and any cruise she is on don’t hesitate to recommend, as she is the ‘secret sauce’! The wines were good to excellent and the food was excellent to gourmet, far above a standard cruise. Service was awesome. The crew was great. Truly for us it was the “trip of a lifetime” kind of thing, that trip would be a really, really hard one to top.”

– John and Debby M.

THE EXPERIENCE

With eighteen years of experience on the world’s rivers, AmaWaterways family-owned and operated company has remained focused on what they do best: providing our guests with innovative and unforgettable travel experiences.