Experience Budapest's beauty with your private expert guide. Visit Budapest downtown and the beautiful Royal Palace before you embark on your Danube River Cruise. Discover the rolling hills and vine-clad slopes of Pecs before departing Hungary. Soon, you will cruise the portion of the Danube that makes up the boundary between Serbia and Croatia. Traverse the narrow gorges of the Iron Gates, a stunning passage that divides Europe's Balkan and Carpathian mountains. Then, sail along the Romanian-Bulgarian border to Bucharest, the capital and largest city in Romania. Visit Bucharest and the beautiful Bran Castle, before your return home. Cruise Departure Dates: 2012 From Budapest-Giurgiu/Ruse, 13 Apr, 13 Jun, 22 Jul, 5 Sep, 12 Oct From Ruse/Giurgiu - Budapest 20 Apr, 20 Jun, 29 Jul, 12 Sep, 21 Oct Cruise Departure Dates 2013 From Budapest- Ruse/Giurgiu 27 May, 8 Jul, 14 Aug, 25 Sep From Ruse- Budapest :3 Jun, 15 Jul, 21 Aug, 2 Oct

Budapest was originally two cities on each side of one of the most beautiful stretches of the Danube River – Buda, the older, more graceful part, with cobbled streets and medieval buildings, and Pest, the commercial center. In Buda, Gellért Hill gives a wonderful view of the city, river and mountains. On the hill is the Citadella fort, the Royal Palace which houses the National Gallery, the rampart of Halászbástya (Fisherman’s Bastion), so called because it was the duty of the city’s fishermen to protect the northern side of the Palace during the Middle Ages, and the great Mátyás Templom (church) with its multicolored tiled roof. On the Pest side are the Parliament; the Hungarian National Museum, containing remarkable treasures ranging from the oldest skull found in Europe to Franz Liszt’s gold baton; the Belvárosi Templom, Hungary’s oldest church, dating from the 12th century, the Museum of Fine Arts housing European paintings and the Ethnographic Museum. Margaret Island, connected to both Buda and Pest by bridges, is a park with a sports stadium, swimming pool, spas, a rose garden and fountains. Budapest has about 100 hot springs.

Airport transfer with private vehicle and driver.

Buda Castle Hotel (4*) can be found at the heart of the castle district, one of Budapest's more elegant quarters on the Buda side of the city. The local area is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the historical streets, which were once the commercial and governmental centre of the city, provide a fascinating view of the city’s glorious past. Holy Trinity Square, Mathias Church and the Fishermen’s Bastion are all a few steps from the hotel. The 25 rooms of the Hotel Buda Castle are all generously sized and elegantly furnished in a modern style. All enjoy such contemporary amenities as WiFi internet access, a laptop-size safe, a large flat-screen television and individually controlled air-conditioning. Rooms face onto either the quiet surrounding streets or the beautiful and tranquil interior courtyard. Breakfast is served in the Orangerie lounge, and the hotel also has a café and snack bar open daily until midnight.

Overnight at Buda Castle (4*).

Enjoy a full city tour of Budapest with your own guide and car. On the Pest side, visit the impressive Heroes’ Square, City Park, Széchenyi Spa, Grand Circus, and view the Vajdahunyad castle. The tour continues along Andrássy Avenue with its stately mansions. Take the opportunity and visit the impressive House of Parliament. After a walk around the largest building of Hungary, see the magnificent neo-gothic Parliament inside with a guide and walk along the splendid boardrooms and impressive staircases. Entrance fees to Matthias Church, Fisherman's Bastion and Parliament are included in the tour price).

Overnight at Buda Castle (4*).

Visit the former summer-residence of Queen Elisabeth (Sissi) and Francis Joseph in Godollo, one of the largest baroque palaces in the world. You will have a glimpse of the times under the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Take a break to enjoy coffee and cake at the Palace Cafe.

Overnight at Buda Castle (4*).

Meet your private vehicle and driver for a port transfer.

Embark your ship which is docked in the city center. This evening, meet your fellow passengers at the Welcome Dinner.

Welcome aboard MS AmaBella, AmaPrima, AmaCerto, AmaLyra or AmaDolce ships. MS AmaBella, AmaPrima and AmaCerto offer the ultimate in custom-designed luxury. This 162-passenger vessels feature a combination of amenities and design details never before seen on the great waterways of Europe. Featuring an impressive range of stateroom categories, dining options and public lounges, MS Amabella will transport you on the river cruise of a lifetime.

The MS AmaLyra and MS AmaDolce vessels carry 148 passengers in unequaled luxury, comfort and style and is staffed by a highly-trained professional crew, with an ongoing emphasis on personal service.

Overnight at MS AmaBella/AmaPrima/AmaCerto or MS AmaLyra/AmaDolce .

Arrive in Mohacs during breakfast and then depart for your excursion to Pecs, EU Cultural Capital 2010. Founded more than 2,000 years ago by the Romans, Pecs became an important early Christian bishopric and Turkish cultural base during the many centuries of Ottoman rule. Upon arrival, visit the Mosque Church, the largest structure surviving from the Ottoman period as well as the underground burial chambers dating back to the 4th century. You will also see St. Peter’s Basilica, the main Catholic cathedral in the city, as well as the restored Synagogue, before returning to the ship in Mohacs. After lunch, enjoy a wine-tasting excursion, where you will sample aromatic, spicy wines from the vineyards of Vilany. In the alternative, a guided bicycle tour to Mohacs is available in the afternoon (capacity controlled

Overnight at MS AmaBella/AmaPrima/AmaCerto or MS AmaLyra/AmaDolce .

This morning, choose between a tour of Vukovar or wine tasting in the town of Ilok. Your city tour of Vukovar includes the Ovcara Memorial, the monumental cross that is a memorial to those who lost their lives during Croatia’s struggle for independence. As an alternative, travel to the town of Ilok, which is famous for its wines. Here, you will visit a local winery and sample their vintages before your walking tour of the town.

 Enjoy lunch on board as you cruise to Novi Sad, Serbia. Enjoy a walking tour of Novi Sad in the afternoon, beginning at the Danube Park and then stroll through the old town center. You will also tour the 18th-century Austrian-Hungarian Petrovaradin Fortress.

Overnight at MS AmaBella/AmaPrima/AmaCerto or MS AmaLyra/AmaDolce .

Wake up in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia and explore its myriad of streets, plazas and squares. Belgrade has over 5,500 streets, 16 plazas and 32 squares. On your panoramic tour, you will see the Kalemegdan Fortress and the Serbian Orthodox Temple of St. Sava. As an alternative, choose to take the Tito’s Memorial tour which includes a visit to the House of Flowers, where the tomb of Josip Tito is located. You will also see some of the many gifts Tito received during his presidency. You will have free time in the city center after your tour to stroll along Prince Michael Street, the main pedestrian and shopping center of the city. A guided bicycle tour is available in the afternoon (capacity controlled).

Overnight at MS AmaBella/AmaPrima/AmaCerto or MS AmaLyra/AmaDolce .

Today, enjoy a full 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 passage will be an unforgettable highlight of your Black Sea adventure. Late this evening, the ship sails to Vidin.

Overnight at MS AmaBella/AmaPrima/AmaCerto or MS AmaLyra/AmaDolce .

The “Baba Vida” Fortress sits guard over the Danube at the Bulgarian frontier town of Vidin. The 14th century castle has massive walls and dark towers, in contrast to the natural park that surrounds the castle. From here, take an excursion to Belogradschik, a beautifully restored 6th century castle, located in a stunning landscape of unusual rock formations.

Overnight at MS AmaBella/AmaPrima/AmaCerto or MS AmaLyra/AmaDolce .

Bucharest is the capital city, industrial, and commercial centre of Romania. By European standards, Bucharest is not an old city, its existence first being referred to by scholars as late as 1459. Since then it has gone through a variety of changes, becoming the state capital of Romania in 1862 and steadily consolidating its position as the centre of the Romanian mass media, culture and arts. Its eclectic architecture is a mix of historical, interbellum, Communist-era and modern. In the period between the two World Wars, the city's elegant architecture and the sophistication of its elite earned Bucharest the nickname of the "Paris of the East" or "Little Paris" (Micul Paris). Although many buildings and districts in the historic centre were damaged or destroyed by war, earthquakes and Nicolae Ceau?escu's program of systematization, many survived. In recent years, the city has been experiencing an economic and cultural boom.

This morning, bid farewell to your fellow cruisemates as you disembark from your ship and meet your private transfer at the port.

Meet your driver for a private transfer to Bucharest.

Enjoy a full day tour of Bucharest, called "Little Paris". Start with The Palace of the Parliament – admire the luxurious display of crystal chandeliers, mosaics, oak paneling, marble, gold leaf, stained-glass windows. Visit Cotroceni Palace and Museum. Continue to the Village Museum with 50 buildings representing the history and design of Romania’s rural architecture. See Bucharest’s Arc of Triumph, built in honour of the Romanian soldiers who fought in the First World War.

Meet your driver for a transfer to Bucharest.

The Rembrandt Hotel (3*) situated in the historic city centre and housed in an original property from 1925, the contemporary Rembrandt Hotel is set 500 metres from the House of the People and the Contemporary Art Museum. The hotel’s services and rooms are designed to meet the needs of international and national business people, as well as leisurely guests. With professional and personal service, genuine hospitality and special features, the Rembrandt Hotel creates a warm and relaxed atmosphere which feels like a home away from home. Café Klein, on the mezzanine floor of the hotel, is a cozy and comfortable bistro, also popular with locals and non-hotel guests. Enjoy a complimentary drink upon arrival, and enjoy reading the daily newspaper over a coffee at Cafe Klein, on the mezzanine.

Overnight at Rembrandt Hotel (3*).

Morning drive north towards Transylvania. Before reaching Bran, optional stop in Azuga for a snack and wine-tasting (not included). While crossing the Southern Carpathians, stop in Sinaia to visit one of the most beautiful castles in Europe - the famous Peles Castle, a masterpiece of German New-Renaissance architecture, commissioned by King Carol I in 1873 and completed in 1883. Its 160 rooms are adorned with the finest examples of European art, Murano crystal chandeliers, German stained-glass windows, walls covered with Cordoba leather, Meissen and Sevres porcelains, ebony and ivory sculptures. Drive through the village of Bran to Brasov, the largest city in Transilvania. Once arrived in Bran, visit Dracula’s Castle, the place where Dracula was imprisoned before he was taken to Budapest. Bran Castle is home to a rich collection of Romanian and foreign furniture and art items from the XIVth-XIXth centuries. It sits up atop a 200 ft. tall rock, overlooking the picturesque village of Bran. On the grounds bellow there is an open-air ethnographic museum of old village buildings with exhibits of furniture, household objects and costumes. Continue to Brasov with a visit to Prejmer Fortress. Brasov the city  where Dracula was betrayed by the rich merchants of Brasov and because of this betrayal he ended up to be imprisoned for 12 years in Pesta and Visegrad by his cousin - Mathias Corvinus, King of Hungary.

Overnight at Rembrandt Hotel (3*).

Airport transfer with private vehicle and driver.

Depart from International Airport. End of itinerary.

Overnight at Depart (Int`l Airport).