BUDAPEST - ISTANBUL 2008
Day	Port	Arr	Dep	Tour
Thu	USA			Transatlantic flight
Fri	Budapest		O/n	Hotel Check-in
Sat	Budapest		O/n	City Tour
Sun	Budapest hotel		1500	Pustza Tour
	Budapest ship	1530	2130	Embark
Mon	Mohacs	0730	2300	Pecs Excursion & Vilány wine-tasting
Tue	Vukovar	0500	1130	City tour
	Novi Sad	1530	0000	Novi Sad Fortress
Wed	Belgrade	0600	0000	City tour
Thu	Babaqui Rocks	0800	0800	Enter Iron Gates
	Kladovo	1700	1700	Exit Iron Gates
	Vidin	2100	O/n
Fri	Vidin		1400	City tour & Castle
Sat	Giurgui	0800	1800	Bucharest Excursion
	Rousse	1830	O/n
Sun	Rousse		0800	Disembark
	Veliko Turnavo	0930	1330	City Tour & visit to Tsarevets Hill w /lunch
	Nesebar Hotel	1830	O/n	City tour & dinner
Mon	Nesebar		0900
	Istanbul hotel	1830	O/n	Hotel Check-in
Tue	Istanbul		O/n	City tour
Wed	Istanbul		O/n	Visit Topkapi Palace
Thu	Istanbul-USA			Return to the USA

Nautical schedules are subject to water levels, cruising conditions & subject to change without notice

Day 1, Thu. USA - BUDAPEST.
Overnight flight to Hungary.

DAY 2, Fri. BUDAPEST.
Arrive in Budapest and transfer to the hotel.

Day 3, Sat. BUDAPEST.
Morning sightseeing includes historic Buda Castle, where you have a splendid view of the twin cities of Buda and Pest spread over both banks of the river. Your tour also features 500-year-old Matthias Church, St. Stephen's Basilica, distinctive Fisherman's Bastion, the marvelous Royal Palace and much more. The balance of the day is at your leisure. (B)

Day 4, Sun. BUDAPEST.
The Puszta is the region of Hungary most widely known throughout the world. The vast flat Great Hungarian Plain stretches across to the east, where Hungarian cowboys still wear traditional garb and practice the skills of their Magyar ancestors. Upon arrival, you will be met by horse-herds and greeted with warm hospitality, brandy and scones. Try a lunch of Goulash, the national dish, before returning to Budapest to embark onto your ship. (B,L,D)

Day 5, Mon. MOHACS - PECS - VUKOVAR, CROATIA.
This morning, the ship arrives in Mohacs, where you depart for an interesting excursion to Pecs. Charming Old Pecs will be brought alive by your local guides during your walking tour. See the Synagogue, Christian Basilica and visit the former Turkish Mosque. After lunch onboard ship, enjoy a wine-tasting excursion, where you will sample aromatic, spicy wines from the vineyards of Vilány. (B,L,D)

Day 6, Tue. VUKOVAR - NOVI SAD, SERBIA.
This morning, a guided bus and walking tour of Vukovar will show you the Franciscan Monastery of St. John Capistrano, the Manorhouse Eltz and the St. James and St. Nicholas churches. During lunch, continue your cruise to Novi Sad, Serbia, where you will tour the 18th-Century Austrian-Hungarian Petrovaradin Fortress. (B,L,D)

Day 7, Wed. BELGRADE.
This morning, arrive in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, where you have a chance to explore both the old and the new town. Your guided tour features Tito's memorial, the Town Hall, the Federal Parliament Building, Terazije Street, Republic Square and Mihajlova street, "Varos" Gate and the mighty Kalemegdan Fortress. (B,L,D)

Day 8, Thu. CRUISING THROUGH THE IRON GATES – VIDIN, BULGARIA.
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. (B,L,D)

Day 9, Fri. VIDIN.
The "Bada Vida" Fortress sits guard over the Danube at the Bulgarian frontier town of Vidin. The 14th-century castle has massive walls and dark towers, which strongly contrast the natural park which surrounds the castle. From here, take an excursion to Belogradschik, a beautifully restored 6th-century castle, located in a fairytale landscape of unusual rock formations. (B,L,D)

Day 10, Sat. GIURGIU - BUCHAREST, ROMANIA – ROUSSE, BULGARIA.
Today, enjoy a full day excursion to Bucharest, capital and largest city in Romania. The city is famed for its Belle Epoque era buildings dating from the 19th century. During the morning city tour, you will see the Arch of Triumph, Soseaua Kiseleff, the Athenaeum, the Library and visit the Parliament Palace - the world's largest palace. Enjoy lunch in a typical Romanian restaurant, then choose to shop, explore on your own or visit the open air museum, which was dedicated to the traditional architecture and buildings of rural Romania. This evening, the ship departs for Rousse. (B,L,D)

Day 11, Sun. ROUSSE - VELIKO TARNOVO - NESSEBAR, BULGARIA.
This morning, disembark in Rousse and continue your tour by motorcoach. Your first stop is the ancient capital of Bulgaria, Veliko Tarnovo. Here you will tour Tsarevets Hill, the citadel of the city, the old fortress walls, the Royal Palaces, the Patriarchal church and Baldwin's Tower. Shoppers can explore the traditional street market, Samovodska Charshia. Enjoy a traditional Bulgarian lunch before continuing onto the Black Sea resort town of Nessebar. This evening, see the main highlights of Nessebar Old Town, before dinner at a local restaurant. (B,L,D)


Day 12, Mon. NESSEBAR - ISTANBUL, TURKEY.
After breakfast, continue on to magical Istanbul for the grand three-night conclusion of your Black Sea Voyage. (B)

Day 13, Tue. ISTANBUL.
This morning's comprehensive city tour will show you the old city, with its numerous Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman monuments of her historic past. Admire the mighty defensive walls, the Roman aqueduct and the hippodrome. See the Galata Tower and visit the Suleymaniye Mosque and Blue Mosque. This evening, you may wish to join some your fellow passengers for the optional Istanbul By Night where you will enjoy a belly dancing show with dinner. (B)

Day 14, Wed. ISTANBUL.
Today, your guided sightseeing tour will take you to the Ottoman Sultans' Grand Palace of Topkapi, home to every single Sultan from the 15th century until the end of the 19th century. During your tour, admire the private chambers of the Sultans, marvel at the world famous Harem and also see the treasury, home to the Topkapi Diamond. This afternoon, enjoy an optional Bosporus cruise and visit to the Spice Bazaar or use the remainder of the day to shop for souvenirs or relax at one of the charming tea houses or restaurants. (B)

Day 15, Thu. ISTANBUL - USA.
Transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B)