This extraordinary journey from the Habsburgs’ imperial capital of UNESCO-inscribed Vienna to the captivating Black Sea features two nights in Romania’s elegant capital of Bucharest and a nine-night river cruise through the Iron Gates to discover the eastern Danube River Valley. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage-designated castles, palaces and squares of Budapest; Hungary’s fabled Puszta (plains); the young territories of Serbia and eastern Croatia; and the ancient land of Bulgaria. Enhance your experience with the Vienna Pre-Program and/or Transylvania Post-Program Options.
Program Details
- Program Highlights
- Itinerary at a Glance
- Vessel Sailing
- Program Extension Options
- Rates
- Guest Speaker
- Exclusively chartered, 13-day, 13-night voyage featuring two nights in Bucharest, Romania, and a nine-night luxury cruise along the fabled Danube River—one of the greatest river journeys in the world.
- Visit seven countries (Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania) and five capital cities.
- Experience the best of Eastern Europe during an ideal time of year on this exclusive land and river itinerary.
- Cruise through the dramatic Iron Gates dividing the Carpathian and Balkan Mountains.
- See the best of Eastern Europe during autumn, an ideal time of year to visit.
- Vienna Pre-Program and Transylvania Post-Program Options.
Day 1 - Depart Home City
Day 2 - Vienna, Austria / Embark Amadeus Silver III
Day 3 - Bratislava, Slovakia
Day 4 - Budapest, Hungary
Day 5 - Kalocsa
Day 6 - Vukovar, Croatia / Novi Sad, Serbia
Day 7 - Belgrade
Day 8 - Donji Milonavac for Lepinski Vir / Cruise through the Iron Gates
Day 9 - Nikopol, Bulgaria / Veliko Târnovo / Ruse
Day 10 - Fetești, Romania for Constanța
Day 11 - Fetești / Disembark boat / Bucharest
Day 12 - Bucharest
Day 13 - Bucharest / Return to home city
Amadeus Silver III
Exclusively Chartered Deluxe River Boat
• Only 84 stylish suites and staterooms, each with a river-view.
• All meals are included on board the river boat, as well as wine and beer served with lunch and dinner.
• Luxury amenities of a stylish deluxe hotel.
Vienna Pre-Program Option
Vienna showcases an open‑air museum of splendid Baroque architecture in its historical center—a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Along the famous Ringstrasse, see this remarkable city’s most important landmarks. Visit Hofburg Palace and see the Gothic‑style Stephansdom (Saint Stephen’s Cathedral). Learn more about the Austrian Empire in Schönbrunn Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the Habsburgs’ summer estate. Accommodations are for two nights in the 5‑star InterContinental Vienna hotel
Transylvania Post-Program Option
Extend your tour by three nights to explore the treasures of medieval Transylvania. Highlights include the 19th‑century Peles Castle; the imposing, 14th‑century Bran Castle (believed to have inspired the Dracula story); the Black Church in Brasov; the UNESCO World Heritage‑designated Sighisoara; and UNESCO‑inscribed Prejmer, the largest fortified church in southeast Europe. Spend two nights in the Aro Palace in Brasov and one night in the 5‑star InterContinental Athénée Palace Hotel Bucharest.
Pre- and Post-Program Options are available at an additional cost. Details will be provided with your reservation confirmation.
Jonna Mendez
A retired CIA intelligence officer, Jonna Hiestand Mendez served as a Chief of Disguise for the agency’s Office of Technical Services. During her 27-year career, her responsibilities included preparing the CIA’s most highly placed foreign assets to gather intelligence using espionage technology and techniques. With expertise in operational disguise and identity transformation, Jonna later focused her efforts in the most difficult and hostile areas, where she and her colleagues matched wits with the Soviet KGB, the East German Stasi and the Cuban DGI.
Over her career, Jonna has briefed presidents and prime ministers and has lectured extensively. In addition, she and her late husband Antonio Mendez co-wrote several books, including Spy Dust, Argo and The Moscow Rules.
A recent recipient of the Patriot Award from the Daughters of the American Revolution for “lifelong service to America in the defense of freedom,” Jonna is also a founding Advisory Board member of the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C.