Imperial Cities and Danube Delta Cruise (Budapest-Bucharest)

From London St Pancras, we take the Eurostar to Brussels then continue by rail to Cologne where we have dinner and spend the night.

• Dinner

After breakfast we take the train journey to Berlin where we arrive in the afternoon to spend the night. The rest of your day is free to get to know this dynamic and multicultural city, before dinner at the our hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This morning we take a guided tour of Berlin, soaking up the sights of this once divided city. We see the incredible Brandenburg Gate, a monument important to Berliners because it was heavily bombed and fiercely fought over, prior to the surrender of Germany in 1945, surviving with only a few bullet holes. We also see a section of the Berlin Wall, and visit the Reichstag, meeting place of the current German parliament. We visit Potsdamer Platz, the Nikolaiviertel - a city quarter which makes us the reconstructed heart of Berlin - and the Gendarmenmarkt, a beautiful square and marketplace, surrounded by the Berlin concert hall and French and German churches. At lunchtime we continue our journey to Prague by rail where we arrive this after-noon. We check into our hotel where we dine this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast this morning we head out on a guided tour of the colourful Czech capital, starting at Prague's impressive Hradcany Castle, the largest medieval complex in Europe, where entry is included. We also walk across the 14th century Charles Bridge, and pass the Gothic spires of St Vitus' Cathedral, where entrance is included. The rest of your day is at leisure in this vibrant city, before dinner back at the hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Following breakfast, we head to Prague station for our train to Budapest. On arrival in Budapest this afternoon, we meet our Amadeus ship and are welcomed with a cocktail in the lounge before a 5-course dinner. Later we take in the illuminated sights of beautiful Budapest, as we sail around the city.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We arrive into the port of Mohács this morning and embark on a puszta tour by coach that takes us to Kalosca with stops along the way. The puszta is an area of Hungary defined by its grassland ecosystem set amongst the Great Hungarian Plains, and which has a 'wild west' feel to it. Our first visit here is to a paprika house. One of Hungary's most famous and important cooking ingredients, paprika was once known as 'red gold' in this region, and we taste it in a variety of dishes while learning about the spice's historic significance and how it shaped the lives of the people who lived here. We continue to the former home of a wealthy 19th century family where we watch a performance of traditional folk music and dancing. We then head out into the great plains to try more of the local delicacies, meet Hungarian half-blood horses and experience a wagon ride hauled by these magnificent creatures.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We moor in the Serbian capital of Belgrade this morning, then head out on a guided walking tour to see the attractions of a city whose history can be documented through its architecture. First we see the Kalemegdan Fortress, the oldest surviving part of the city dating back to the 3rd century BC, which offers wonderful views across the Danube and Sava rivers. Next we see Belgrade's National Museum before seeing the parliament building, Terazije Square and lastly, the Palace of Princess Ljubica. With its Asian influences, this is an unusual building for this part of the world; it was built in the 1800s for the wife of Prince Miloš, the eponymous Princess Ljubica. This afternoon you are at leisure in Belgrade or on the cruise ship before we set sail again this evening.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today is spent at leisure on board as we sail towards Vidin. During the afternoon we pass through the 'Iron Gate' Gorge. The gorge forms part of the boundary between Serbia and Romania. Enjoy the cruise director's informative commentary as we witness towering mossy cliffs interspersed with ornate and detailed carvings, hewn from the rock face.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We begin sailing towards Rousse, in Bulgaria. We dock there and take an excursion to Veliko Tarnovo. The city was once the cornerstone of Bulgaria's 14th century empire, and boasts impressive medieval churches and an Old Town of timber-framed buildings which we explore on our guided tour.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We have a free morning on board the ship. This afternoon we're driven by coach to the nearby port town of Constanta for a guided tour. Here we discover Constanta's ancient history - its Greek origins, Roman ancestry and Persian influences. Some of the attractions we'll see include the great mosque, art-nouveau casino and Genovese lighthouse. A short visit to the city's History and Archaeology Museum is also very enlightening, and there's time to take a stroll along the pristine beach before we return to our ship.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We hop aboard smaller safari boats today for a nature cruise through the UNESCO-listed Danube Delta, formed by the river as it splits into hundreds of tributaries on its way to the Black Sea. This biosphere reserve is packed with wildlife, including many rare and endangered species such as the golden jackal, European hoopoe, white-tailed eagle and lesser-spotted wood-pecker. Back on board we enjoy a relaxing afternoon sailing back to Fetesti.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We arrive in Bucharest this morning and set out on a guided city tour, discovering the palaces, medieval homes and 21st century skyscrapers that make this a remarkable and surprising destination. After lunch at a local restaurant, we transfer to our hotel for the night.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Following breakfast, we disembark and make for the airport for your flight back to the UK.

• Breakfast