Eastern European Odyssey 2010

 

Daily Shore Excursions

13 included guided tours

Included Meals All onboard meals: 14 breakfasts, 12 lunches & 14 dinners

Port Charges Included on all itineraries

Air Taxes, Fees, Fuel Surcharges & Transfers Included with airfare

Day 1 Oltenita
We meet you at the Bucharest airport and transfer you to Oltenita to board your ship.* Depart late this evening. (D)

Day 2 Constanta
Today, sail along the Danube to Constanta, Romania on the Black Sea coast. The oldest living city in Romania, Constanta was founded around 600 B.C. by Greek settlers, and is now a fashionable resort town. Arrive midmorning for a city tour featuring the iconic seaside casino and Art Nouveau architecture, and a stroll along Mamaia Beach, the “Palm Beach” of the Black Sea. Return aboard for dinner and evening cruising. (B, L, D)

Day 3 Russe
Sail into Russe, Bulgaria during breakfast, then embark on a full-day excursion to Bulgaria’s former capital, Veliko Tarnovo, where you see Tsaravets Hill and the ruins of the royal castle. During free time, shop for local crafts along Samovodska Charshia. Proceed to Arbanasi for lunch in a local restaurant and a guided tour of the Nativity Church with its intricate floor-to-ceiling murals and icons. Rejoin your ship at Nikopol/Svishtov and dine aboard. (B, L, D)

Day 4 Vidin & Belogradchik
Arrive in the picturesque Bulgarian port of Vidin during breakfast, then take an excursion to see Belogradchik Fortress, built right into the striking Belogradchik Rocks, and enjoy breathtaking views. Lunch aboard is followed by free time to explore Vidin’s city center, Baba Vida fortress, Orthodox churches and the ruins of the city’s once-grand synagogue. Depart during dinner. (B, L, D)

Day 5 Iron Gate & Kostolac
Cruise along one of the most scenic areas of the Lower Danube, flanked by enormous white chalk cliffs and spectacular scenery. The day’s journey is punctuated with an excursion to Kostolac, Serbia. See the archeological site at Viminacium, a former Roman capital with wide streets, luxurious baths and an amphitheater, recently opened to the public. (B, L, D)

Day 6 Belgrade
Wake up in Belgrade, capital of Serbia. Take a guided walk through the grounds of Kalemegdan Fortress, now a beautiful park; also see the Orthodox cathedral and stop at the Square of the Republic. Lunch aboard, then free time to explore Belgrade’s gracious architecture or visit one of its many museums, like the Nikola Tesla Museum. Dine aboard or experience some of Belgrade’s nightlife—we depart very late this evening. (B, L, D)

Day 7 Osijek
Cruise along the Danube, arriving at Vukovar around noon. This afternoon’s excursion takes you to the Croatian city of Osijek. Inhabited by humans since Neolithic times, this area has had several heydays under the Romans, the Ottomans and the Habsburgs; now it is a pleasant town popular for its baroque buildings, parks and monuments. Return aboard for dinner. (B, L, D)

Day 8 Kalocsa
Sail into Hungary this morning, arriving in Kalocsa after lunch. Visit the House of Folk Arts, showcasing the area’s time-honored farming traditions. Then, you are treated to a performance of traditional Puszta horsemanship. Return to the ship and dine during departure. (B, L, D)

Day 9 Budapest
This morning’s city tour explores both sides of Hungary’s capital. Start in “Pest,” seeing Heroes’ Square, the Parliament and St. Stephen’s Basilica. Cross the river and tour the Castle District of older “Buda.” Walk to Fishermen’s Bastion and Matthias Church. Return to your ship for lunch; enjoy afternoon at leisure—as always your Program Director can help you plan your free time. Dine aboard and cruise through the night. (B, L, D)

Day 10 Bratislava
Cruise through the morning, arriving in Bratislava after lunch. Take a walking tour of Slovakia’s charming capital; see its medieval fortifications, Michael’s Tower, Trinity Church and St. Martin’s Cathedral. Pass several Habsburg-era palaces before returning aboard for dinner. You might like to take an evening stroll in Bratislava to see the castle lit up at night and the juxtaposition of medieval and modern structures. (B, L, D)

Day 11 Vienna
Today’s tour of Vienna takes you to the Opera House and Hofburg Palace. Have lunch aboard; your afternoon is free to explore the city’s gracious architecture and delightful cafés. Return to the ship for dinner followed by an optional evening concert of classical music. (B, L, D)

Day 12 Melk & Linz
Arrive in Melk during breakfast and tour the 900-year-old Benedictine abbey to see its collection of medieval manuscripts, ceiling paintings and frescoes. Return aboard for lunch and cruise through the famous Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this afternoon. After dinner, arrive in Linz; take a walk or sample local wines. (B, L, D)

Day 13 Budweis & Ceský Krumlov
Today we have a full-day excursion to two iconic Bohemian Czech cities: Budweis, with an impressive town square featuring Gothic, Renaissance and baroque buildings, and Ceský Krumlov, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will have free time to explore and get some lunch at a local café. Rejoin your ship in Linz for dinner and late departure. (B, D)

Day 14 Passau
Enjoy a morning walking tour of this Bavarian town’s Italianate Old City, featuring views of the Veste Oberhaus, a 13th-century fortress that served as a bishop’s stronghold for several centuries. Stop in to St. Stephan’s Cathedral and enjoy a concert on Europe’s largest pipe organ there.† Relax on board before dinner. (B, L, D)

Day 15 Passau & Munich
After breakfast, disembark and we take you to the Munich airport for your return flight.* Or, extend your journey with 3 nights in another country—Prague, Czech Republic. Stay near the Old Town and explore the landmark Prague Castle. (B)

Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
9/5/2010 - 9/19/2010	$3,862
9/19/2010 - 10/3/2010	$3,862
10/31/2010 - 11/14/2010	$2,662
11/14/2010 - 11/28/2010	$2,662
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

Price Guarantee Once you have paid in full for your trip, you are safe from any additional charges. Airfare increases, currency fluctuations, increased fuel surcharges, new government taxes—none of these will apply to you.

Fares are per person, based on CAT E double occupancy and include port charges. Limited single pricing is available; call for details. Offers listed above are valid on new bookings only as of August 1, 2009 and expire September 30, 2009; must request offer code EBD at time of reservation and pay in full by offer deadline. Complimentary wine (two glasses with dinner on board) is included with cruise purchase; international air does not have to be purchased to receive cruise offer. The 2-for-1 pricing applies to cruise portion only; 2-for-1 pricing, air discount and complimentary wine are considered a single offer and are not combinable with any other offer except Past Guest and Referral Rewards travel credit. Offers and fares are subject to availability and additional restrictions may apply. Additional fuel surcharges may be applied. Viking River Cruises reserves the right to correct or revise pricing or dates throughout the season.

Travel Protection You are looking forward to your trip, and we are looking forward to welcoming you aboard. But sometimes illness or an emergency at home may create the need to postpone or cancel your vacation. If that happens, make sure you are protected. Our new, updated travel protection plan provides 100% protection if you must cancel or interrupt your trip for any reason, including a pre-existing medical condition.

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