Danube Delta to the Austrian Lake District

After meeting our group in London Heathrow, we take an evening flight to Bucharest, the lively capital of Romania, where we check into our hotel and have dinner.

• Dinner

We set out on a guided city tour, discovering the palaces, medieval homes and 21st century skyscrapers that make this a remarkable and surprising destination. We transfer to our ship this afternoon, the Amadeus Imperial, where we are welcomed on board with a drink. There's time to settle in before our first five-course dinner.

• Breakfast, 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

After breakfast 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. We begin sailing towards Rousse, in Bulgaria.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We dock into Rousse today 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

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 Ro-mania. 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 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 free to continue exploring independently. Following lunch on board we set sail for Mohács, close to the Hungarian border.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We embark on a puszta tour by coach. 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. We meet the Amadeus Imperial in Kalocsa, with some free time before tonight's gala dinner.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we sail into beautiful Budapest where we see the city's main sights. A city of two halves divided by the mighty River Danube, we pass impressive buildings and monuments on both sides of the Danube, including the neo-Gothic Parliament building, the magnificent State Opera House and St Stephen's Basilica, Budapest Castle, Matthias Church and Fishermen's Bastion. You have some free time to go sightseeing and a light lunch will be available on board. This evening we stay aboard the Amadeus Imperial for a Budapest Illuminations tour and dinner, followed by a performance from a Hungarian folk band in the panoramic lounge bar.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today includes a guided coach tour of this fascinating city. This evening we take an atmospheric cruise along the Danube Bend at sunset.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Your morning is at leisure on board before we moor in Bratislava early this afternoon. After lunch, we set out on a guided coach tour of the Slovakian capital. Located in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, Bratislava straddles the Danube which neatly divides the city into the Baroque Old Town (Stare Mesto) and the new city. This picture-postcard city features Gothic buildings, several universities, a wealth of museums and galleries, and a refreshing cosmopolitan atmosphere. The historic centre has delightful cobblestoned roads, plazas, pastel-hued Rococo buildings, and street cafés galore. Following our excursion, we return to our ship for another 5-course dinner.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a calm night of cruising, we arrive into glorious Vienna for a comprehensive sightseeing tour. This is a chance to relish in Austria's Imperial heritage, rich in architecture, art and music. You'll see many of Vienna's finest ornate buildings, including the impressive Hofburg Palace. This vast complex of buildings demonstrates the awesome power and wealth commanded by the Habsburgs. You'll also take in the impressive Opera House, one of the leading opera venues in the world, as well as the grand Parliament Building. Tonight a treat awaits us on board. After dinner we are joined by musicians from the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra for an exclusive, private recital.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we reach Austria's Wachau Valley, a scenic wine-making region. We arrive in the idyllic village of Dürnstein where we then journey by coach to Melk Abbey, with included entrance. This 11th century Benedictine Abbey stands on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube and is home to the Abbey Church, considered one of the most beautiful Baroque churches north of the Alps.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today there's a choice of excursions. You could spend a day in the spectacular scenery of the Austrian lakes, stopping in UNESCO listed Hallstatt, one of Austria's most photographed villages and Hallstättersee Lake, as well as Mondsee. This pretty town is set on the lake of the same name, and its most famous sight is the 15th-century parish church, featured in the wedding scenes of 'The Sound of Music'. Or travel by coach to Salzburg, via Mondsee, one of Austria's most acclaimed cities and the birth place of Mozart. A guided sightseeing tour reveals the city's beautiful Baroque architecture, a World Heritage site.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Regensberg is our port of call this morning, which we explore on foot. This medieval town contains many buildings that testify to its history as a trading centre and to its influence on the whole region from the 9th century onwards. We enjoy a gala dinner back on board this evening, the final night of our cruise.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Following breakfast, we disembark and are transferred to the airport for our flight back to London Heathrow.

• Breakfast