Set sail on AmaWaterways

Gems of Southeast Europe

with your Hostess Doreen Kyle
October 27th- November 3th, 2025 Budapest to Giurgiu

Pre-Cruise 2 Nights Vienna - October 25th - November 3th, 2025 Vienna to Giurgiu
Post Cruise 2 Nights Brasvo, 2 Nights Bucharest - October 27th - November 7th, 2025 Budapest to Bucharest
Pre and Post Land Programs with River Cruise, October 25th-November 7th, 2025.  Vienna to Bucharest

Exclusive Pricing

* Prices listed include cruise, taxes, and port charges. Airfare & transfers can be arranged. All pricing is based on double occupancy. Insurance can be purchased through AmaWaterways at 13% of the total package price, or I can provide you additional Travel Insurance options.

SPACIOUS STATEROOMS

• 7 nights luxury accommodation in an outside stateroom (most with twin balconies)

• Entertainment-On-Demand in all staterooms featuring free high-speed internet access, movies, a music library and English language TV stations

• Mini-fridge, desk and sitting area

• Bottled water replenished daily

AN ARRAY OF AMENITIES

• Wellness Activities with a dedicated Wellness Host leading various exercise classes as well as discussions on healthy eating and relaxation techniques, both on board and on shore.

• Personalized service from a highly trained Cruise Manager during both cruise and land packages

• Internet and Wi-Fi access

• Sun Deck pool with swim-up bar and walking track

• Fitness room, massage services and hair salon

• Main Lounge with panoramic views and bar

• Daily entertainment including cultural performances

AWARD-WINNING DINING

• All onboard dining in a variety of venues

• Regionally inspired cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients

• The Chef’s Table specialty restaurant

• Welcome Cocktail, Welcome Dinner, La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Dinner, Captain's Cocktail and Gala Dinner

• La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs exclusive dining experience

• Unlimited fine wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner

• Unlimited sparkling wine and fresh juice with breakfast

• Sip & Sail Cocktail Hour with complimentary wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks

• Tapas, sandwiches, snacks and refreshments served daily in the Main Lounge

A WORLD OF EXPLORATION

• Immersive tours in every destination

• Gentle, regular, active and late-riser tour options

• Bike tours and hikes

• Special interest tours

• Knowledgeable guides

• Personal headset for easy exploration

• Airport transfers with purchase of air from AmaWaterways

LAND PROGRAM

• 2 nights hotel in Vienna at the Intercontinental Vienna (or similar), including city tour and daily breakfast

• Transfer from the hotel in Vienna to Budapest with city tour

• Transfer from the ship in Giurgiu to Bran Castle and then Brașov

• 2 nights hotel in Brașov at the Kronwell Brașov Hotel (or similar), including city tour, Sighișoara excursion and daily breakfast

• Transfer from the hotel in Brașov to Peleș Royal Castle in Sinaia and then to Bucharest

• 2 nights hotel in Bucharest at the Radisson Blu (or similar), including city tour and daily breakfast

Enjoy reading about our day-to-day cruise itinerary:

VIENNA TO BUCHAREST or - Budapest to Bucharest

DAY 1

ARRIVE IN VIENNA, AUSTRIA

Arrive in Vienna and transfer to your hotel.

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. (B)

DAY 3
VIENNA – BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – EMBARKATION
Transfer from Vienna via motorcoach to Budapest where you’ll be taken on a city tour. Visit the UNESCO-listed Castle Hill district, Fisherman’s Bastion, St. Stephen’s Basilica and the Chain Bridge. (B,D)

DAY 4

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 5

VUKOVAR, CROATIA

Enjoy your morning in Vukovar on a guided city tour where you may visit sites such as Eltz Manor House and Vukovar’s famous water tower. Alternatively, you may see Osijek on a guided tour. For those looking for a more active experience, you may explore Vukovar on an active bike tour. In the afternoon, enjoy a Croatian wine tasting and tour in the Old Cellars, famous for their Grasevina, Traminac and Frankovka wines. You can also choose to explore the Vucedol Museum, home to fascinating exhibits on prehistoric culture and one of the most important archaeological sites in Europe. (B,L,D)

DAY 6

BELGRADE

Explore Serbia’s capital, Belgrade, on a city tour, which includes the Nikola Tesla Museum, encompassing the world-renowned inventor’s life and inventions, as well as the Kalemegdan Fortress and the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava, the largest such church in the world. Alternatively, you can hike to Belgrade Fortress. In the afternoon, enjoy a taste of the region by sampling a few types of Serbian brandy paired with delicious local appetizers, including Šlivovitz, which was added in 2022 to UNESCO’s list of “Intangible Cultural Heritage.” For those wishing a more active adventure, join a guided bike tour. Or explore Novi Sad, a city rich in tradition and culture, on an afternoon walking tour. Begin your tour at the Dunavski (Danube) Park; stroll through Stari Grad, the old town center; and explore Liberty Square, which is dominated by the Old Town Hall. (B,L,D)

DAY 7

SCENIC CRUISING THROUGH THE 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 awe-inspiring 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 travelers. (B,L,D)

DAY 8

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. 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 9

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 10

GIURGIU – DISEMBARKATION – BRAȘOV

Disembark the ship in Giurgiu and continue to the legendary region of Transylvania, a place deeply rooted in myth and history. Your first stop on the road to Transylvania will be the quaint mountain town of Bran, where you will visit Dracula's Castle. After your tour, you will depart for Brasov. (B)

DAY 11

BRAN – SIGHIȘOARA

Enjoy a walking tour around Braşov. Afterward, dracula lovers will be in for another treat with an excursion to Sighişoara, birthplace to Transylvania’s most notorious ruler, Vlad Ţepeş, also known as Vlad the Impaler or Dracula. It’s hard to believe that this perfectly preserved UNESCO-designated town filled with resplendent pastel-colored buildings, stone lanes, medieval towers and pedestrian-friendly Old Town was Vlad’s place of birth. His home is still here, marked with a placard; however, today it houses a kitschy restaurant called “Casa Dracula.” (B)

DAY 12

BRAȘOV – BUCHAREST

En route to Bucharest, you’ll visit Transylvania’s legendary Bran Castle, forever linked with the legend of Dracula. Later in the day, transfer to Bucharest and check into your hotel. (B)

DAY 13

BUCHAREST

Bucharest, Romania’s capital, has earned its nickname, the “Little Paris of the East,” with its wide boulevards and Arc de Triomphe. Enjoy a visit to the city’s most impressive sites—including the historic city center. Alternatively, you can choose a walking tour the historic old town. (B)

Sailing on the AmaVerde

One of AmaWaterways’ remarkable twin-balcony river ships, the newly reimagined AmaVerde, is full of light, love and bold artwork showcasing vibrant, modern designs. The dashing ship is considered the captivating companion of the AmaBella as both ships were totally redesigned in 2021 and sail their imagined love story on the romantic Danube River. Spacious, sophisticated staterooms set the mind at ease for a restful slumber, while warmth attracts visitors to the comfortable fireside library and AmaVerde’s massage and hair salon. The Main Restaurant is the perfect home to exquisite meals and local wine pairings worthy of La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs — the internationally renowned gastronomic society. The Chef’s Table specialty restaurant, with its glass-enclosed kitchen and unique rolled lighting fixture, gives way to a vibrant multi-course parade of dishes with distinct regional flavors paired with hand selected wines. Enjoy a light lunch in our new “Café Bistro,” a perfect al fresco spot to play cards and mingle with your fellow guests. Additional amenities on AmaVerde include unlimited high-quality complimentary Wi-Fi, movies, music and English-language TV stations in the staterooms, a specialty coffee station, gift shop, sun-deck walking track, heated swimming pool, putting green, fitness room and fleet of bikes.

All payments are made directly to wholesale suppliers and any cancellations or changes are subject to their fee schedule and policies. Please be aware that deposits are non-refundable. If insurance has been purchased you may be entitled to a credit up to the full amount paid, minus the cost of the insurance. Exceptions may be made for medical reasons, but it is at the sole discretion of the insurance company. The Joy of Travel, LLC does not have any control over insurance claims or payments.