Prepare for the cruise of a lifetime as you travel the length of Europe through eight nations, exploring wonders of the Old World and the New, the East and the West. Sail the romantic Rhine, the serene Main and the captivating Danube, witnessing dazzling natural beauty and incomparable architectural feats. Visit no fewer than five capital cities (Amsterdam, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade and Bucharest) and a dozen towns and villages, with time to explore each. Enjoy numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the castle-dotted Upper Middle Rhine Valley and the magnificent Cologne Cathedral. From Amsterdam to Bucharest, you’ll visit the best of Europe with its spectacular architecture and stunning history on this truly remarkable journey. Ultimate European Journey is a combination of Highlights of Eastern Europe and European Jewels.

1. Day 1
   Bucharest

   Mon, Jul 14, 2025

   Arrive at Bucharest Henri Coandă International 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 hotel.
   Meals: Dinner
2. Day 2
   Bucharest

   Tue, Jul 15, 2025

   Get to know the bustling heart of Romania's capital city with a full day to explore Bucharest on your own.
   Meals: Breakfast
3. Day 3
   Bucharest, Transfer to Giurgiu (Embark)

   Wed, Jul 16, 2025

   Bucharest is a fascinating combination of Communist grandiosity, elegant French-influenced 19th-century buildings and surprising survivors dating from the 1500s. Today in Bucharest you’ll enjoy a panoramic city tour and a visit to People’s Palace. Later, you'll travel via motorcoach to Giurgiu, where your ship awaits.
   Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
4. Day 4
   Ruse

   Thu, Jul 17, 2025

   Bulgaria’s foremost Danube port, Ruse is sometimes called “Little Vienna” for its elegant 19th-century mansions and public buildings.
   Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
5. Day 5
   Vidin

   Fri, Jul 18, 2025

   Vidin is a port town on the Danube that once played an important role in medieval Bulgarian politics, as the great fortress Baba Vida attests. It’s your base for an unusual excursion today—a visit to the fascinating Belogradchik rock formations. Or you can indulge in a tasting at a local winery.
   Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
6. Day 6
   Cruising the Iron Gates, Donji Milanovac, Golubac

   Sat, Jul 19, 2025

   Today’s main attraction will be the spectacular scenery along the Danube, as you cruise a stretch of gorges known as the Iron Gates. Later, head ashore to explore a Paleolithic site and an extraordinarily well-preserved medieval fortress. All along the way, history lines the banks of the river. Keep an eye out for Trajan’s Plaque, which the ancient Romans erected to commemorate the road they anchored in the steep cliffs above the water, and Golubac Castle, built in the 14th century and attacked successively by the Serbs, Magyars, and Turks.
   Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
7. Day 7
   Belgrade

   Sun, Jul 20, 2025

   Belgrade, the modern-day capital of Serbia, is one of Europe’s oldest cities, dating back some 7,000 years. Signs of its tumultuous history are visible everywhere, juxtaposed with the city’s vibrant modern-day present.
   Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
8. Day 8
   Ilok, Aljmas

   Mon, Jul 21, 2025

   Welcome to Croatia! This ancient country, which has made a remarkable recovery from a brutal civil war, is noted for its beautiful countryside and thriving folk traditions, as well as simple, delicious local rustic food. You’ll dock in Vukovar, Croatia’s biggest port, at the confluence of the Danube and Vuka rivers.
   Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
9. Day 9
   Budapest

   Tue, Jul 22, 2025

   Located on opposite sides of the Danube, Buda and Pest each have their own distinctive character and allure. Explore this dynamic and multifaceted city with your choice of excursions—you can see it from a local’s perspective on our walking tour, or cover more ground with a panoramic tour. Vibrant Budapest, Hungary’s capital, offers an enchanting combination of East and West.
   Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
10. Day 10
    Budapest

    Wed, Jul 23, 2025

    Other passengers are heading home today, but you are only halfway through your marvelous holiday. Enjoy a day of leisure exploring beautiful and historic Budapest.
    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
11. Day 11
    Budapest

    Thu, Jul 24, 2025

    Called the “Queen of the Danube,” in part because of the way the city hugs the banks of the river, Budapest is an enchanting city that vibrantly mixes East and West, medieval and modern. Made up of two parts— Buda (the hills) and Pest (the flatlands)—and divided by the Danube, Hungary’s capital presents an array of architectural styles that reveal its long and varied history. You’ll have two enticing ways to experience the city—a panoramic guided tour aboard a motorcoach with a visit to the Parliament, or discover the Budapest that locals love on a special walking tour of the city’s most important landmarks.
    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
12. Day 12
    Cruising the Danube River, Vienna

    Fri, Jul 25, 2025

    Today is your day to relax onboard, enjoying the luxuries of your river cruise ship while soaking in the spectacular scenery all around you as your ship heads for Vienna. Come up to the Sun Deck to admire the city’s landmarks strung along the riverbanks. This evening enjoy a night out with a private Johann Strauss experience.
    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
13. Day 13
    Vienna

    Sat, Jul 26, 2025

    Vienna is a cultural treasure trove revered for its art and music (and sinfully rich pastries). Embark on a tour of the city's imperial highlights and a visit to Hofburg Palace or a visit to an interactive multimedia experience featuring the work of Mozart.
    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
14. Day 14
    Cruising the Wachau Valley, Weissenkirchen (Melk)

    Sun, Jul 27, 2025

    Awaken to the spectacular scenery of the Wachau Valley, one of the most beautiful stretches of river landscape in all of Europe. Named for its white church, Weissenkirchen may very well be the prettiest village in the Wachau Valley. A local expert will show you around and introduce you to some regional delicacies, including a wine tasting. Prefer to go for baroque? Visit the 900-year-old Melk Abbey and its extraordinarily opulent library. Later, you can stretch your legs with a vineyard hike.
    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
15. Day 15
    Passau

    Mon, Jul 28, 2025

    Just before reaching Passau, the ship will pass through the famous Schlögener Schlinge—a “gooseneck” or hairpin turn in the Danube. Located at the confluence of three rivers—the Danube, Inn, and Ilz— Passau is well known for its ornate baroque cathedral. Today, the city is unusually well preserved, having been spared the brunt of Allied bombing during WWII, as you’ll see on your walking tour.
    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
16. Day 16
    Regensburg

    Tue, Jul 29, 2025

    Bavaria’s first capital, Regensburg, owes its impressive historical lineage and rich architectural heritage to 600 years as a Free Imperial City, a fact recognized by UNESCO in 2006. Today, you’ll discover how the beautifully preserved medieval city coexists with a vibrant modern urban center.
    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
17. Day 17
    Nuremberg

    Wed, Jul 30, 2025

    Arrive in the archetypal medieval German city of Nuremberg. Nuremberg is justifiably famous for its gingerbread and pocket watches, and it was also the site of some key moments in 20th-century history. You’ll choose between two memorable ways of exploring this exceptional city. You can join a tour of a secret Nazi art bunker hidden underground, or you can accompany a local expert to the city’s most important WWII sites, including the enormous Nazi Party Rally Grounds—the actual site of the Nazi Party rallies.
    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
18. Day 18
    Bamberg

    Thu, Jul 31, 2025

    Your floating boutique hotel takes you to Bamberg today, a well-preserved town that offers a fascinating glimpse of medieval times. Explore the city on foot or opt to head deeper into the Franconian countryside to experience an authentic slice of rural life—including a tractor ride. Like Rome, the city is built on seven hills—but in Bamberg, a church tops each one.
    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
19. Day 19
    Würzburg (Rothenburg)

    Fri, Aug 01, 2025

    Your ship will dock in the charming Franconian town of Würzburg, where you can visit the extraordinary Würzburg Residence, one of the most opulent baroque palaces in Europe.
    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
20. Day 20
    Wertheim

    Sat, Aug 02, 2025

    After today, you may never eat a pretzel again without thinking of the town of Wertheim. You’ll meet one of Germany’s best pretzel makers, as well as the owner of a historic wine estate. If you’re more in the mood for a scenic bike ride, you are welcome to do that as well.
    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
21. Day 21
    Frankfurt (Heidelberg)

    Sun, Aug 03, 2025

    Frankfurt is known as the “Mainhattan” of Europe due to its profusion of bankers and soaring skyscrapers, which coexist with the city’s traditional Old Town architecture. Choose a brief tour that gives you an overview of this major European financial and trade center. Alternatively, visit romantic Heidelberg and its Renaissance castle.
    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
22. Day 22
    Rüdesheim

    Mon, Aug 04, 2025

    Experience Germany’s fabled Rheingau in one of two ways today. Take in spectacular views of the region from the Rüdesheim mini-train, or venture within an atmospheric medieval monastery and taste the Rieslings made on site. The town is best known for its narrow avenue of shops and wine bars called the Drosselgasse. Experience the most spectacular scenery on the Rhine later in the afternoon as you cruise past the famous Middle Rhine Valley.
    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
23. Day 23
    Cologne

    Tue, Aug 05, 2025

    Enjoy a delightful tour of Cologne’s Old Town, where three medieval gates remain standing, as does the old city hall with its stunning Renaissance façade. Wander through the historical center and take in its charming atmosphere and narrow alleyways flanked by old houses. No matter how you choose to explore Old Town, you’ll also have ample free time to explore the city on your own.
    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
24. Day 24
    Amsterdam (Disembark)

    Wed, Aug 06, 2025

    Disembark the ship. If your cruise package includes a group departure transfer or if you have purchased a private departure transfer, you will be transferred to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol for your flight home.
    Meals: Breakfast