Grand European Highlights 2013
(Belgrade to Basel)

Day 1: Belgrade (embark) 
Arrive at the Belgrade 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 your ship, where you will begin your amazing journey. (D)

Day 2: Belgrade 
Featured Excursion: Belgrade city tour with walking tour of Kalemegdan fortress

One of the oldest cities in Europe, with a turbulent 2,500-year history, Belgrade has retained its vibrant character, rich in culture and eclectic architecture. The day begins with a look into the region’s Roman and medieval past at Kalemegdan Fortress. To contrast Belgrade’s distant past with its more recent history, you’ll ride through the upscale district where high-ranking Communist leaders once lived, and past the grim Communist housing projects built for ordinary citizens on the other side of the Danube. You’ll have an opportunity to photograph St. Sava Cathedral, the largest active Orthodox church in the world, with a dome that can be seen throughout the city. Finally, you’ll pass the tomb and memorial of longtime Yugoslavian prime minister and president Josip Broz Tito, located at the site of his former residence in Belgrade’s affluent neighborhood of Dedinje. (BB, L, Captain's Welcome Dinner)

Day 3: Vukovar (Osijek) 
Featured Excursion: Full-day tour of Osijek, school visit, and home-hosted lunch

Morning finds the ship docking in the Croatian port of Vukovar, where you’ll begin one of the most intriguing and personal adventures of this entire cruise. Meet modern-day Croatians in an intimate setting as you have lunch with a family in Osijek and chat with students at their school. Osijek, the largest city in eastern Croatia, was founded by the Romans in the second century and has seen its share of trouble in the centuries since then. The Tvrda complex, built in the 18th century by Austrian military engineers, was designed as the military nerve center of eastern Slavonia after the Austrians wrested control of the region from the Ottoman Turks. They created a planned community, well fortified with moats and walls that have largely disappeared, but the handsome Baroque buildings and squares remain, making up the best-preserved Baroque complex in Croatia—though some structures were slightly damaged by the shelling the city endured in the early 1990s. (BB, L, D)

Note: School visit not available during school holidays.

Day 4: Cruising the Danube River, Budapest 
This morning and afternoon your ship cruises through the Hungarian countryside toward Hungary. This evening, your ship arrives in the fabled capital of Hungary this afternoon. Budapest, formerly two towns, Buda and Pest, on opposite sides of the river, began as a Roman encampment in the second century and has been controlled by Germans, Austrians, Ottomans and Communists over the centuries, all of whom have left their mark. (BB, L, D)

Day 5: Budapest 
Featured Excursions: Choice of Budapest city tour OR Budapest walking discovery of national treasures

Savor the beauty of Buda and Pest, on opposite sides of the Danube, with a panoramic coach tour that shows all the key highlights of this gorgeous city, including the Hungarian State Opera House, the national museum, St. Stephen’s Basilica, and Castle Hill, a UNESCO-designated district that has been called the heart of the nation. Or join a walking tour that begins with an exploration of the remarkable Hungarian Parliament building. Its Neo-Gothic façade is ornamented with striking turrets and arches, and its outer walls feature more than 200 statues of notable Hungarian monarchs and military commanders. You’ll have an hour-long guided tour, seeing the sweeping main staircase; the soaring Dome Hall; the Deputy Council Chamber, where the Hungarian legislature sits today; and the richly decorated Old Upper House Hall. Then, you’ll head to the Central Market Hall. Intoxicating aromas and vibrant colors strike you as you step inside. Your guide will introduce you to the dazzling array of fresh produce, spices, meats, pastries, and wines on display and will even arrange a few tastings for you. You’ll then have time to wander among the stalls and pick up souvenirs before heading outside to stroll Váci Street, Budapest’s most famous pedestrian mall and shopping boulevard. For generations, this is where the city’s wealthiest residents have come to see and be seen. (BB, L, D)

Note: The Parliament may be closed for official business without prior notice. If the Parliament is closed, we will visit St. Stephen’s Basilica instead.

Day 6: Cruising the Danube River, Bratislava 
Featured Excursion: Bratislava walking tour

Bratislava’s compact Old Town contains an eclectic collection of handsome Gothic, Baroque, and Art Deco buildings. Today, you’ll find a lively mix of designer galleries, old-fashioned shops, and coffee houses in lovely Art Deco buildings, as well as an international population of young bohemians reveling in a dynamic art scene. (BB, L, Captain’s Farewell Dinner)

Day 7: Vienna 
Featured Excursions: Walking tour with visit to royal treasury chambers OR choice of an exclusive "See Vienna as the Viennese do" walking tour

The capital city of the Habsburgs is home to vast imperial palaces and countless treasures, yet it is also a lively and fun urban center. You can begin to discover this glorious city in one of two ways. You can come with us on a walking tour to see the astonishing collection of imperial treasures on display in the Hofburg Palace, which include the imperial crown and sword of the Holy Roman Emperors, the Austrian crown jewels, the 15th-century Burgundian Treasury, and one of the largest emeralds in the world. The exquisite craftsmanship of the pieces here is rivaled only by their splendor. If you'd prefer a more intimate look at the city, we will take you on a walking tour through a park popular with locals, pause for coffee and pastry at a traditional Viennese coffee house, and show you one of the best-known Art Nouveau sites in a city famous for its Art Nouveau art and architecture. (BB, L, D)

Day 8: Vienna 
Today you have time to explore this amazing city on your own—there's still much to see in Vienna. Ask your Cruise Manager for suggestions—see historical sites, wander through museums, or enjoy a lingering cup of coffee at a Viennese café. A light buffet-style lunch will be provided onboard this afternoon. Also today, some of your fellow passengers will be leaving the ship to go home, and some new passengers will be coming onboard. Please offer them a warm welcome as you meet them during the welcome briefing. (BB, L, D)

Day 9: Vienna 
Featured Excursions: Walking tour with visit to the National Library OR choice of an exclusive “See Vienna as the Viennese Do” walking tour

If you opted for the city tour on your first day here, you can choose now to take a more intimate look at Vienna. We will take you on an exclusive walking tour through a park popular with locals, pause for coffee and pastry at a traditional Viennese coffee house, and show you one of the best-known Art Nouveau sites in a city famous for its Art Nouveau art and architecture. Or, you can choose to take a panoramic tour that carries you around Ringstrasse, past some of Vienna's most famous landmarks, and then sets you down at the Hofburg Palace complex, where the emperors lived. Guides will lead you through the palace grounds, stopping in to see the most beautiful library in the world, State Hall, the epitome of Baroque taste. (BB, L, D)

Day 10: Cruising the Wachau Valley, Melk 
Featured Excursion: Melk Abbey with library visit

Today, you’ll cruise the scenic, vineyard-rich Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape and one of the most beautiful river valleys in Europe. Tour Melk’s 900-year-old Benedictine abbey, a master- piece of Baroque art and architecture situated high atop the granite cliffs of the Danube. The views from the terrace are spectacular, but the splendid frescoes, marble, and gilded plasterwork of its interior will be just as memorable. (BB, L, Captain’s Welcome Gala)

Day 11: Passau 
Featured Excursions: Passau walking tour with St. Stephan’s organ concert and exploring “Bavarian Traditions,” Weisswurst and Lederhosen

Passau boasts a delightful layer of Italian style on top of quintessential German foundations. Step off the ship to discover an accessible, intriguing, and well-preserved town on your guided walking tour, with time to roam on your own before you hear the magnificent pipe organ, the largest in Europe, at St. Stephan’s Cathedral. In the afternoon, discover how traditional Bavarian clothing, such as lederhosen and dirndls, is designed and made in the small town of Obernzell, and then indulge in weisswurst (Bavaria’s beloved aromatic white sausage) along with a crispy pretzel and a refreshing weissbier (a local pale beer). (BB, L, D)

Note: St. Stephan’s organ concert is only available from May 2 to October 31, excluding Sundays and Catholic holidays. An alternate venue will be organized before and after these dates.

Day 12: Deggendorf (Theresienthal) 
Featured Excursion: Exclusive Bavarian Forest horse-drawn carriage ride and Theresienthal visit
 
Early this morning you’ll arrive in Deggendorf, gateway to the Bavarian Forest. The Bavarian Forest, called the “green roof of Europe,” is Germany's oldest national park. You get to discover it in the most traditional way imaginable, riding through the woods in a horse-drawn carriage. Keep a sharp eye out for some of the rare species that still survive in the forest as you enjoy the fresh air and sylvan atmosphere. Then you'll continue to the world-famous glass studio, Theresienthal, which has produced glassware cherished by princes for centuries. Tour the workshop to learn how glass is made and see some of the exquisite pieces produced over the years in the glass museum. You'll also have a chance to pick up some treasures of your own in the shop.

In the afternoon, you'll have the opportunity to explore Deggendorf on your own—discover the quaint shops and intimate streets, enjoy a glass of local beer or wine, or take a stroll or bike-ride along the beautiful Danube river. (BB, L, D)

Day 13: Regensburg 
Featured Excursions: Choice of “2000 Years in One Hour” Regensburg walking tour OR Jewish Regensburg OR Audi factory visit

Regensburg, one of the best-preserved Medieval towns in Europe, captures 2,000 years of history with outstanding monuments like the 12th-century Stone Bridge and the towering Gothic cathedral. Your walking tour takes you past the architectural treasures of Old Town as well as the Cathedral of St. Peter, with its magnificent 14th-century stained- glass windows. For a different view of Medieval Regensburg, tour sites associated with Germany’s oldest Jewish community, dating back more than a thousand years. Or visit the Audi factory in Ingolstadt for a fascinating look at how a well-engineered German car is built. (BB, L, D)

Day 14: Cruising the Main-Danube Canal, Nuremberg 
Featured Excursions: Nuremberg city tour OR choice of a Nuremberg WWII historical tour, with Documentation Center visit

This morning, your ship traverses the most impressive section of a modern marvel of engineering: the Main-Danube Canal. This masterwork, more than 100 miles long, allows ships of all shapes and sizes to readily cruise from Amsterdam to the Black Sea. Nuremberg, the second largest city in Bavaria, attracted artists and intellectuals from all over Europe between 1200 and 1600, making it one of the cultural centers of the continent. Albrecht Dürer was probably its most famous resident during the Renaissance, and his house is now a museum. You can choose to explore the archetypal German medieval city or sites associated with its darker 20th-century history. We will show you the medieval ramparts around the old city and take you to the Kaiserburg, where the emperors of Germany resided from 1050 to 1571. Or you can see the sites where filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl immortalized Hitler during his infamous parades and rallies, including the unfinished coliseum, Kongresshalle, and the courtroom where the Nuremberg trials took place. (BB, L, Captain's Farewell Dinner)

Note: Courtroom 600 is an active court. Visitors will only be permitted to see the courtroom during trial breaks.

Day 15: Nuremberg 
Enjoy at day at leisure in Nuremberg.

Day 16: Bamberg
Featured Excursion: Bamberg walking tour

Awaken in charming Bamberg, an accessible, lively small city with one of Europe’s largest intact Old Town centers (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Like Rome, Bamberg is built on seven hills—only here, a church
tops each hill. Your tour takes you past the imperial Cathedral of St. Peter and St. George; the huge 17th-century bishop’s palace and its glorious rose garden; the Town Hall on the banks of the Regnitz River; and Little Venice, an area of colorful fishermen’s houses. You’ll have time to ramble through the cozy town center, browsing through the delightful shops. Beer drinkers will want to check out the local brew, famous for its smoky flavor. In the late afternoon, you will cruise the peaceful Main River. (BB, L, Captain’s Welcome Gala) 

Day 17: Cruising the Main River, Würzburg (Rothenburg) 
Featured Excursion: Tour of Rothenburg

After a morning of scenic cruising, enjoy a guided tour of picturesque Rothenburg, a well-preserved Medieval walled town. Then venture on your own to see even more of the treasures this delightful time capsule has to offer—like the extraordinary 15th-century altar-piece in St. Jacob’s Church that was carved by Tilman Riemenschneider, Germany’s Gothic contemporary of Michelangelo. Or explore the Christmas world of Käthe Wohlfahrt’s museum, which is enchanting any time of the year. After dinner onboard, you might like to ramble through Würzburg; though the city was founded in the ninth century, the 25,000 students attending its university—one of the oldest in Germany—give Würzburg a vibrant atmosphere. Stroll across the Alte Mainbrücke, begun in the 15th century and the oldest surviving bridge spanning the Main, for a great view of the city lights. (BB, L, D)

Day 18: Würzburg, cruising the Main River 
Featured Excursion: Würzburg Residenz visit OR choice of exclusive Franconian village visit

This morning you may choose to chat with the residents of a Franconian village over cake and coffee before joining them on a guided tour of their town to learn about daily life in the region. Alternately, you can tour the magnificent Würzburg Residenz, an immaculate example of Baroque architecture and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. This grand palace was built and decorated in the 18th century by an international team of architects, sculptors, stucco- workers, and painters. Particularly noteworthy is Tiepolo’s ceiling fresco—the largest in the world. Enjoy the magnificent garden, one of the most expansive and beautiful in Europe. Then relax onboard for an afternoon of scenic sailing on the Main River through the Franconian countryside. (BB, L, D)

Day 19: Miltenberg, cruising the Main River 
Featured Excursion: Miltenberg walking tour

Delightful, romantic Miltenberg, the “Pearl of the Main River,” is still protected by its Medieval walls and two gates—one facing east, and another facing west. On your walking tour, you will discover a town that seems to embody a German fairytale, with its 14th- and 15th- century half-timbered, gabled houses, including the famed Crooked House, and its venerable Royal Inn, which has been a working hotel since the 17th century. (BB, L, D)

Day 20: Nierstein (Nierstein or Heidelberg) 
Featured Excursions: Choice of exclusive Nierstein village vineyard tractor ride with Riesling wine tasting and naturalist-led vineyard hike OR tour of Heidelberg*

Spend the day on an exclusive visit to the Rhine village of Nierstein, where renowned white wines have been made for centuries. Ride a tractor through the steeply sloping vineyards to sample some of the finest Rieslings in the world. A naturalist will discuss viniculture in the region as you walk through a vineyard for a close-up view of wine-grape growing. And of course you’ll get to taste some of these fabulous wines. Or opt to have a motorcoach take you to Heidelberg, a perfectly preserved Medieval city nestled in the Neckar River Valley along Germany’s Castle Road. Heidelberg is home to Germany’s oldest university and is forever immortalized by Sigmund Romberg’s operetta, The Student Prince. You’ll be guided through the romantic ruins of Heidelberg Castle’s courtyard, and then continue into downtown Heidelberg and through Old Town. After the tour, you will have free time to enjoy the bustling squares lined with cafés, or simply take in the serene atmosphere of this truly charming town. (BB, L, D)

*Note: Lunch is not included with the tour of Heidelberg.

Day 21: Strasbourg 
Featured Excursion: Strasbourg by canal with Notre Dame Cathedral

You will wake up in the beautiful Alsatian river port town of Strasbourg. Situated half way between Paris and Prague, Strasbourg is known as the “Crossroads of Europe.” It is home to a magnificent Gothic cathedral, Notre Dame, and beautiful half-timbered houses; it is also the seat of the European Parliament. See Strasbourg’s UNESCO-designated historic core in the way it has been seen for centuries—from its canals. A glass-enclosed water taxi will carry you under 600-year-old covered bridges and past the modern buildings that house the Council of Europe and
other international institutions, as well as Palais Rohan and its glorious museums. Petite France, the picturesque old quarter whose half-timbered houses are adorned with flower boxes, is a highlight  of your tour. (BB, L, Captain’s Farewell Dinner)

Day 22: Basel (disembark), transfer to the airport
Disembark the ship and transfer to EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg for your flight home. (CB/BB)

Cruise through the nations that made up the Habsburg Empire, from Strasbourg all the way to Belgrade, seeing imperial palaces, medieval villages and Baroque abbeys. Let three great rivers take you through the history of Europe, from the Middle Ages to the vibrant present, as you sail through six nations—Germany, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Croatia and Serbia—and visit splendid capital cities. Waltz through imperial Vienna, home to some of Europe’s finest music, art, and architecture. Discover the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Wachau Valley, the imposing 900-year-old Baroque Melk Abbey, and Passau, with its Italian-Baroque flair. Step back in time to the Middle Ages in beautifully preserved Rothenburg. Enjoy a canal cruise through Strasbourg with its half-timbered houses and quaint waterways. See Bratislava, where 19 Hungarian rulers were crowned; and majestic Budapest, overrun by conquerors through the centuries to emerge triumphantly vibrant in the 21st century. In Belgrade discover the remarkable fusion of Habsburg, Balkan and Communist influences.

This cruise provides scenic sailing with a relaxed pace, with plenty of time to enjoy both the shipboard experience and the intriguing destinations, from small-town Germany to bustling Belgrade. 

•  21-night cruise in a riverview stateroom on the stylish River Ambassador
• All transfers on arrival and departure days
• All meals onboard, prepared using the finest and freshest ingredients
• 21 breakfasts, 18 lunches, 21 dinners
• Captain’s Welcome Gala and Farewell Dinners
• Complimentary fine wine, beer, and soft drinks during lunch and dinner onboard; bottled water replenished daily in your stateroom; and 24-hour specialty coffee and tea station
• Explore 8 countries
• 26 excursions, including 8“Choice Is Yours” options, fully hosted by English-speaking local expert
• Exclusive Go Active Program and "Gentle Walking" Program
• 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
• Services of an experienced Uniworld Cruise Manager
• State-of-the-art Quietvox portable audio headset system on all shore excursions
• Use of bicycles and Nordic walking sticks
• Captivating onboard local entertainment
• Signature Lecture 

Cabin onboard River Ambassador

• Cabin upgrades are available.
• Prices exclude additional port charges of $420 and are per person.
• A limited number of singles are available for an additional supplement.
• Please ask your Vacations To Go travel counselor for more information.

* The prices shown are U.S. dollars per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability. Prices quoted for land/cruise arrangements are subject to increase without notice. Once we have received your deposit, land/cruise prices are guaranteed. Air prices quoted via phone or email are subject to increase and are guaranteed only from the time that full payment is received. Also, air prices or air promotions mentioned on this site or on the phone do not include baggage fees imposed by airlines. Sorry, we are unable to offer air from countries other than the U.S. However, for those international customers who are able to arrange their own transportation to the trip origination city, we are able to offer the land/cruise portion of the package at the price quoted.