Begin with a stay in Ljubljana, Slovenia, an underrated beauty just waiting to be discovered by the masses. Take in the quiet charisma of the city, the stunning nature of Lake Bled, and the awe-inspiring Postojna Caves before joining our one-of-a-kind cruise of the Venetian Lagoon. In Italy, your Floating Boutique Hotel (TM) will whisk you away to colorful Burano, romantic Venice, and charming Chioggia. Then set off on a private train journey to Istanbul, during which you’ll sleep on the luxury Golden Eagle Danube Express with ever-changing views at your window—the perfect addition to a river cruise. Along the way, visit Alpine lake towns, historic cities across Eastern Europe, and more.

1. Day 1
   Ljubljana

   Thu, Apr 30, 2026

   Arrive at Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport. If your cruise/tour package includes a group arrival transfer or if you have purchased a private arrival transfer, you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the InterContinental Ljubljana.
2. Day 2
   Ljubljana

   Fri, May 01, 2026

   In the pedestrian city center of Ljubljana, a little capital city with outsized charm, you’ll find a postcard in the making everywhere your eyes turn. Pastel buildings, attractive architecture—and no cars or throngs of tourists getting in the way of it all.
   Meals: Breakfast
3. Day 3
   Ljubljana (Lake Bled)

   Sat, May 02, 2026

   A popular day trip destination from Ljubljana, Lake Bled offers a beautiful natural landscape with unique character. Surrounded by forest-covered mountains—upon which the imposing Bled Castle is perched—the expansive, strikingly blue lake feels preserved from the outside world. Sitting in the center of the lake is its iconic island, barely large enough for the little church whose tower pokes out from amongst its greenery.
   Meals: Breakfast
4. Day 4
   Ljubljana (Postojna), Transfer to Venice (Embark)

   Sun, May 03, 2026

   En route to Venice today, stop for a visit at the Postojna Caves, a breathtaking subterranean world of stalactites and stalagmites.
   Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
5. Day 5
   Venice

   Mon, May 04, 2026

   With your early morning arrival at Doge’s Palace, you’ll be able to marvel at the estate in total peace. Wander through a Venetian neighborhood and experience daily life in an authentic Venetian residential quarter. Later in the evening, cap the day off with a private once-in-a-lifetime experience at an after-hours lighting ceremony inside St. Mark’s Basilica without the crowds.
   Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
6. Day 6
   Venice, Mazzorbo (Burano)

   Tue, May 05, 2026

   Start your morning in one of two of the Veneto region’s UNESCO World Heritage cities, Vicenza or Padua. In the afternoon, you'll reboard the ship for scenic sailing across the lagoon as we head towards Mazzorbo and Burano. In the evening, you may wish to take your free time to stroll into town to appreciate this charming island when most of the tourists have left for the evening. Burano’s brightly painted fishermen’s cottages are an artist’s dream —hot pink, chartreuse, orange, lemon yellow, and more.
   Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
7. Day 7
   Mazzorbo, Burano, Chioggia

   Wed, May 06, 2026

   Spend the day exploring the northern lagoon of Venice and its captivating islands. Start with a visit to Torcello's famous basilica with an art historian, then stroll through the agricultural island of Mazzorbo and the rainbow-hued island of Burano during your free time after lunch. Alternatively, you can take the afternoon to see the renowned glassblowing artisans of Murano at work.
   Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
8. Day 8
   Chioggia

   Thu, May 07, 2026

   Today, you’ll admire the greatest sites of charming and coastal Chioggia, including a stop at the local and lively market.
   Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
9. Day 9
   Chioggia, Venice

   Fri, May 08, 2026

   This morning, join a sailing excursion where you’ll explore the Po Delta where the Po River and the Adriatic Sea meet. Later, during lunch, we sail back to Venice.
   Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
10. Day 10
    Venice

    Sat, May 09, 2026

    As your water taxi glides past narrow side canals and the Canal Grande, you’ll arrive in style at the Rialto Bridge. The iconic stone arch bridge sits at the narrowest point of the Canal Grande and holds numerous shops and restaurants.
    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
11. Day 11
    Venice (Disembark), Transfer to Train (Embark), Trieste

    Sun, May 10, 2026

    Disembark the ship and join the Golden Eagle Danube Express at Venice Santa Lucia Station. As you settle into your cabins, the train will thread its way out of the station and onto the causeway across the lagoon that links Venice to the mainland. Your first stop is the ancient port of Trieste for a tour of the city.
    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
12. Day 12
    Postojna, Ljubljana

    Mon, May 11, 2026

    Our morning tour takes us to the Postojna Cave. Ride an underground train deep into the cave and tour the network of magnificent halls, a myriad of cave formations, and mysterious animals. Later, we arrive in Ljubljana, the delightful capital of Slovenia. Discover the city’s combination of ancient architecture and youthful culture on our afternoon walking tour of Ljubljana’s Old Town, which includes a visit to Preseren Square, the Three Bridges, Dragon Bridge, and Plecnik Market.
13. Day 13
    Sarajevo, Mostar

    Tue, May 12, 2026

    Early in the morning, you’ll arrive in the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo, which has an intriguing blend of Eastern and Western culture. It has mosques and minarets, an ancient bazaar, and an atmospheric old Turkish quarter.Discover the city’s poignant history through a truly absorbing tour detailing the horrors of the Balkan War. Sarajevo suffered from the longest siege of a capital city in the history of modern warfare. The scars of war are still evident in the war-torn buildings you’ll pass before making a special visit to the Tunnel Museum under Sarajevo Airport. Your guide, who lived through the 1992-1996 conflict, brings to life in a touching fashion the struggles the citizens of Sarajevo faced during the siege of the city.Following lunch, you’ll travel along a very scenic line to the historic city of Mostar, the crossroads of many civilizations, cultures, and religions. Mostar was one of the most important cities of the Ottoman Empire. The town’s renowned stone arch bridge linking the Christian and Muslim areas was rebuilt in the summer of 2004. Visit the Turkish House and the mosque before walking through the narrow bazaar streets, where you can shop for traditional souvenirs and handicrafts.
14. Day 14
    Belgrade

    Wed, May 13, 2026

    Arrive this morning in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, the former Yugoslavian capital. Located at the strategic meeting point of the Danube and Sava Rivers, this truly cosmopolitan city has fortifications from Celtic times, medieval tombs, and Turkish baths. We spend a full day here, and our city tour includes the ‘House of Flowers’—the mausoleum of Josip Tito, the Town Hall, Republic Square, and Knez Mihajlova Street, as well as ‘Varos’ Gate and a visit to the mighty Kalemegdan Fortress.
15. Day 15
    Bar, Podgorica

    Thu, May 14, 2026

    This morning, we cross the border into Montenegro, still one of Europe’s largely undiscovered locations. Blessed with glorious beaches and spectacular landscapes of rugged mountains, gentle lakes, and medieval towns, Montenegro has a combination of incredible natural beauty and captivating history that makes it a fascinating place to visit. We'll arrive in the coastal town of Bar for a sightseeing tour before getting back on the train and heading to our next destination.During lunch onboard, we travel onto the capital city of Podgorica. The city has passed through the empires of the Romans, the Ottomans, and the Austro-Hungarians. Its streets are an interesting blend of Ottoman oddments, Austrian shopfronts, communist tower blocks, and modern shopping malls.
16. Day 16
    Skopje

    Fri, May 15, 2026

    This afternoon, you’ll arrive in the little-visited Skopje and discover a city where the Ottoman influences are still strong. Explore the narrow streets of the Old Town with tiny shops and mosques with ceramic-tiled interiors. Meander through the Old Bazaar area, brimming with things to buy, and cross the 15th-century stone bridge that links the bazaar to the modern town.
17. Day 17
    Sofia, Plovdiv

    Sat, May 16, 2026

    After breakfast, your train arrives in Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital at the foot of Mt Vitosha. On your morning tour, you will visit sections of the Roman wall and admire the ancient church of St George, the golden-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, and the Turkish Bashi Mosque.Enjoy lunch on the train as you travel from Sofia to Plovdiv. The second largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia, ‘The City of Seven Hills’ is one of the oldest cities in Europe with more than 200 known archaeological sites. You’ll visit the charming Old Town, including its medieval walls and Ottoman baths. Enjoy the final night’s dinner onboard this evening as you head for Turkey.
18. Day 18
    Istanbul (Disembark)

    Sun, May 17, 2026

    This morning we arrive in Istanbul, where we stay for two nights at the stunning Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet. Today we visit the crown jewel of the Ottoman Empire, Topkapi Palace. This stunning monument is the largest and oldest palace in the world and was the primary residence of the Ottoman Sultans from 1465 to 1853. With its treasury and exotic buildings overlooking the Golden Horn, your visit to Topkapi promises to be a truly fascinating experience.We also visit the Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s largest covered markets with 58 streets and over 4,000 shops. In operation since the 14th century, the bazaar is especially known for its jewelry, leather, pottery, spices, and carpets.
19. Day 19
    Istanbul

    Mon, May 18, 2026

    Today see how old meets new and east meets west as we visit a selection of Istanbul’s must-see historic sites, including Hagia Sophia. Hagia Sophia was built in the 6th century by the Emperor Justinian and was one of the largest basilicas in the Christian world. After the Ottoman conquest, it was converted to a mosque and is today one of the most magnificent Grand Mosques in the world. One of the most famous monuments in both the Turkish and Islamic worlds, the Sultan Ahmet Mosque (the Blue Mosque) is a superb creation in the classical Ottoman style. We will have time to marvel at the exterior of the building, which features six towering minarets and 260 windows illuminating its vast main chamber. In the afternoon, we'll embark on a cruise of the legendary Bosphorus and visit the Grand Bazaar. On the final evening, we enjoy a Farewell Dinner in a local restaurant.
20. Day 20
    Istanbul

    Tue, May 19, 2026

    This morning, you’ll check out of the hotel and be transferred to Istanbul Airport for your departure.