23 Days Prague/Istanbul
from $5538 cruise only
YOUR TRAVEL VALUE INCLUDES
- Airport transfers in Prague on day 2 and Istanbul on day 23
- 3 nights hotel accommodation in Prague including buffet breakfast daily
- Transfer from Prague to the ship in Nuremberg
- 14 nights deluxe cruise accommodation in outside cabin with hotel-style beds
- Guided transfer from the ship in Rousse to Plovdiv and Istanbul
- Superb dining with all meals included while cruising, quality wine and beer with dinner
- Sightseeing as detailed in the itinerary
- Special highlights including local entertainment and enriching lectures
- Services of a professional Cruise Manager throughout your cruise
- On board facilities including a fitness center, massage and beauty salon, and souvenir shop
- All English language on board in a non-smoking environment (smoking only on the Sun Deck)
- All local taxes
- Portfolio of travel documents
ITINERARY
- DAY 1 DEPART USA*
Board your overnight transatlantic flight. - DAY 2 ARRIVE IN PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
Arrive in Prague and transfer to your hotel. The balance of the day is free to start exploring this beautiful city. - DAY 3 PRAGUE
On a morning tour, see thousand year old Hradcany Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral, then walk over the Charles Bridge to the Old Market Square. This afternoon why not join the optional tour to Terezin, the infamous Nazi WWII labor camp, now a memorial to those who perished. The evening is at leisure. (B) - DAY 4 PRAGUE
Today is a free day; stroll through a museum or gallery, relax in a café or shop for local handicrafts. (B) - DAY 5 PRAGUE / NUREMBERG, GERMANY / EMBARK SHIP
Leaving Prague, stop in the spa town of Karlovy Vary. Then, continue to Nuremberg. Tonight gather on board for a Gala Welcome Dinner. (B,D) - DAY 6 NUREMBERG / CONTINENTAL DIVIDE / DIETFURT
Enjoy a guided morning tour of this historic city. See the 900 year old ramparts that surround the city, the Imperial Castle and the Justice Palace where the War Crimes Tribunal sat in 1946. At lunch time, reboard the ship and continue to the highest point of your cruise 1,332 feet above sea level before descending through stair step locks to the Bavarian town of Dietfurt. (B,L,D) - DAY 7 REGENSBURG
This morning takes you through the final stretch of the Main-Danube Canal to Regensburg. A tour will show you the city’s architectural highlights, including the Old Town Hall and the Porta Pretoria gates to an ancient Roman fort built in 179 A.D. (B,L,D) - DAY 8 PASSAU / LINZ, AUSTRIA
After breakfast, arrive in Passau. On a walking tour, gaze at this fairytale city founded more than 2,000 years ago. Or, take an optional full day tour to Salzburg, birthplace of Mozart and location of the movie, The Sound of Music. For those staying on board, cruise into Austria and on to Linz. (B,L,D) - DAY 9 MELK / VIENNA
Cruise through the narrow Strudengau and reach the Wachau Valley early this morning. A tour takes you to Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey. At lunch time, continue through the Wachau Valley. Later, arrive in Vienna, the “City of Music.” Tonight explore the vibrant capital on your own, or come along for an optional Mozart and Strauss concert. (B,L,D) - DAY 10 VIENNA
A tour of Vienna includes Hofburg Palace, the National Library, Ringstrasse, and awe-inspiring St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Then enjoy a free afternoon to shop, explore or visit one of the many fine museums or palaces. (B,L,D) - DAY 11 BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
Budapest is a vibrant mix of East and West, of medieval and modern. The morning is free for shopping or sightseeing on your own. In the afternoon, your city tour includes Buda Castle, offering a splendid view of the twin cities of Buda and Pest, the Fisherman’s Bastion, the Royal Palace, St. Stephen’s Basilica, and much more. (B,L,D) - DAY 12 BUDAPEST
An excursion takes you to the Puszta, to see the famous Hungarian cowboys in their traditional garb. Enjoy Hungarian goulash, see a Gypsy village and marvel at their equestrian skills. (B,L,D) - DAY 13 MOHACS / PECS EXCURSION / VUKOVAR, CROATIA
This morning the ship arrives in Mohacs, where you depart for an excursion to Pecs. A walking tour of the town shows you the Synagogue, the former Turkish Mosque and the Christian Basilica. Return to the ship and cruise out of Hungary. Tonight, arrive in Vukovar, Croatia. (B,L,D) - DAY 14 VUKOVAR / NOVI SAD, SERBIA
Take a tour by bus and foot to see the Franciscan Monastery of St. John Capistrano, the Manorhouse Eltz and churches St. James and St. Nicholas. Back on board, cruise to Novi Sad, dominated by the huge Petrovaradin Fortress. (B,L,D) - DAY 15 BELGRADE
This morning, arrive in the capital of Serbia, Belgrade. Enjoy a city tour which includes views of the home of the Patriarch, St. Sava’s, the largest Orthodox church in the country, Tito’s memorial, the Town Hall, Terazije Street, "Varos" Gate and the mighty Kalemegdan Fortress. (B,L,D) - DAY 16 CRUISING / THE IRON GATE
Today is a full day of cruising through one of Europe’s most impressive natural wonders, the Iron Gate. Here the Danube passes through narrow gorges as the river winds between the Carpathian and Balkan Mountains. (B,L,D) - DAY 17 VIDIN, BULGARIA
The Baba Vida fortress stands guard over the Danube at the Bulgarian frontier town of Vidin. Travel overland to see Belogradschik, a beautifully restored 6th century castle, located in a landscape of unusual rock formations. (B,L,D) - DAY 18 BUCHAREST, ROMANIA
Today enjoy a full day excursion to Bucharest, the capital of Romania. On your morning city tour, see the Arch of Triumph, Soseaua Kiseleff, and the Parliament Palace. After lunch in a typical restaurant, you have free time to shop, explore or visit the open air museum, dedicated to the traditional architecture of rural Romania. (B,L,D) - DAY 19 DISEMBARK IN ROUSSE, BULGARIA / VELIKO TURNOVO / PLOVDIV
Disembark in Rousse and travel by motorcoach to the ancient capital of Bulgaria, Veliko Turnovo. See Tsarevets Hill, the old citadel of the city, the old fortress walls, Royal Palace and the Patriarchal Church. Enjoy a traditional Bulgarian lunch before continuing to Plovdiv. See the highlights of the Old Town before dinner at a favorite restaurant. (B,L,D) - DAY 20 PLOVDIV / ISTANBUL, TURKEY
Travel to Istanbul, where the balance of the day is at leisure. (B) - DAY 21 ISTANBUL
Orginally called Byzantium, then renamed Constantinople, and finally Istanbul, the city has a rich history dating back thousands of years. This morning, a tour will show you the old city of Istanbul, and the many Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman monuments of her long past. See the Roman aqueduct and hippodrome, the Suleymaniye Mosque, Church of the Pantocrator, the Galata Tower and the Blue Mosque. Then your time is free to continue exploring on your own, shop, or take one of the optional tours available. (B) - DAY 22 ISTANBUL
Visit the Ottoman Sultans’ Grand Palace of Topkapi, home to every Sultan from the time of the conquest of Constantinople in the 15th century until the end of the 19th century. During your tour, see the private chambers of the Sultans, the world famous Harem, the Treasury, home to the Topkapi diamond, Hagia Eirene Church, and the reception rooms of the Imperial court. The rest of the day is free. (B) - DAY 23 DEPART ISTANBUL
Transfer for your onward flight. (B)
2009 Cruises
| Departs On | Returns On | Cruise Price |
| April 9, 2009 | May 1, 2009 | $5,538.00 |
| April 29, 2009 | May 21, 2009 | $6,038.00 |
| May 28, 2009 | June 19, 2009 | $6,038.00 |
| June 10, 2009 | July 2, 2009 | $6,038.00 |
| July 22, 2009 | August 13, 2009 | $6,038.00 |
| September 2, 2009 | September 24, 2009 | $6,438.00 |
| September 15, 2009 | October 7, 2009 | $6,438.00 |
| October 27, 2009 | November 18, 2009 | $5,538.00 |
These dates operate in reverse: "April 29, 2009; June 10, 2009; September 15, 2009 " "April 09+, 2009" Istanbul to Prague with slight modifications. + Itinerary slightly modified. Cruise only sails from/to Nuremberg to/from Rousse. The above prices are per person based on double occupancy. Please call for single rates. Triples are not available. Port charges: $196 per person. *Your Brendan Specialist will quote you the lowest airfare available from your hometown at the time of booking.
