DAY 1: UK - Prague.
Fly to Prague where you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel for three nights. You will have the rest of the day at leisure to discover the Czech Republic's vibrant capital.

DAY 2-3: Prague.
Begin your holiday exploring this exciting, beautiful city with an included tour on the morning of day 2. Graced by a magnificent medieval centre, winding cobbled streets and romantic courtyards, Prague is also full of gourmet restaurants, pavement cafés and great shopping. Your tour includes highlights such as the stunning National Theatre, stately Charles Bridge, a visit to Hradcany Castle and the Old Town Hall with its Astronomical Clock. The rest of your time in Prague can be spent exploring the city at leisure, your Cruise Director will have plenty of suggestions for things to do. (B)

DAY 4: Prague - Nuremberg.
Early this afternoon, head to Nuremberg where you'll join your ship, MS Avalon Tranquility, for your cruise along Europe's most romantic river. (B, D)

DAY 5: Nuremberg.
Surrounded by 13th century walls, medieval Nuremburg offers a wealth of beautiful sights. The city is famed for its traditional toymaking, handicrafts and fancy metalworking industries. At its heart is a quaint old quarter with a vast town square, stately patrician houses and Gothic churches. Today, see Nuremburg's old town, Imperial Castle and 900-year old ramparts, which are surprisingly well preserved. (B, L, D)

DAY 6: Regensburg.
Today, enjoy a sightseeing tour of Regensburg, one of Germany's largest and best preserved medieval cities. Admire the soaring spires of the Gothic St Peter's Church with its superb stained glass, see the glorious Town Hall, famous white and gold Old Chapel and the Porta Pretoria, gates to the Roman fort built in 179AD. (B, L, D)

DAY 7: Passau - Linz.
Your next port of call is Passau, straddling the meeting point of the Inn, Ilz and Danube rivers. Known for its elegant arcades and cobbled lanes, your included sightseeing encompasses St. Stephen's Cathedral, home to the world's largest church organ, and numerous other historic treasures. Alternatively, enjoy our optional day tour to Baroque Salzburg with its popular 'Sound of Music' sights. (B, L, D)

DAY 8: Melk - Vienna.
Enjoy a guided visit of Melk's magnificent Benedictine Abbey which dominates the town from a nearby hillside and is one of Europe's largest monasteries. The view from the terrace of the Danube and surrounding countryside is breathtaking! Continue to Vienna, where an optional concert is available tonight. (B, L, D)

DAY 9: Vienna.
Glorious sightseeing lies ahead, this time in Vienna, seat of the Habsburg emperors for over 600 years and bursting with Baroque palaces, lavish architecture and a rich cultural heritage. You'll see the main sights, from the stately Opera House and Ringstrasse to the magnificent Hofsburg Palace and St Stephen's Cathedral. Later enjoy some free time to discover the city's delights for yourself. (B, L, D)

DAY 10: Budapest.
Yet another of Europe's finest cities beckons, on an included tour of elegant Budapest, with its two halves - Buda and Pest - connected by seven splendid bridges, including the graceful Chain and Elizabeth bridges. Drink in the ambience of this lively city, with its broad avenues and fairytale castles, whilst enjoying visits to its round-towered Fisherman's Bastion. (B, L, D)

DAY 11: Budapest.
Enjoy an included excursion to the nearby Puszta or 'Great Plains', the vast grasslands where the country's beloved fiery horses are reared and which is so much a part of Hungarian rural life. (B, L, D)

DAY 12: Kalocsa.
Kalocsa is a charming Hungarian town renowned for its paprika and embroidery production, as well as its strong folkloric heritage. Founded by St Stephen in 1009, Kalocsa's serenity belies a turbulent past of Ottoman attacks and a terrible 19th century fire, which destroyed much of the town. Spend time today admiring its elaborate Baroque-style Archbishop's Palace and stately Cathedral, fronted by a handsome town square. (B, L, D)

DAY 13: Novi Sad.
Your guided tour includes a photo stop at the mighty Petrovaradin Fortress, overlooking Novi Sad. Known as the 'Gibraltar of the Danube', this vast edifice commands superlative views over the town. (B, L, D)

DAY 14: Belgrade.
Standing at the confluence of the Danube and Sava Rivers, Belgrade is bustling and vibrant. This elegant city is a feast for sightseers, with numerous historic monuments, museums and the mighty Kalemegdan fortress. Other highlights include the stately Church of St Sava and Marshal Tito's tomb, a reminder of the city's days as the capital of Yugoslavia. (B, L, D)

DAY 15: Iron Gates.
Today marvel at spectacular scenery as we cruise the dramatic Iron Gates gorge, dividing Europe's Alps from the Carpathian mountains, forming a natural border between Serbia and Romania. (B, L, D)

DAY 16: Svistov - Veliko Târnovo - Arbanassi - Rousse.
A day's excursion to Bulgaria's ancient capital of Veliko Târnovo to admire its royal fortress, palaces and the Patriarch's Church. Continue onto picturesque Arbanassi, offering a wonderful view of medieval Trapezitsa castle, and is best known for its fascinating Ethnographical Museum and the exquisite frescoes displayed in the Church of the Nativity, before rejoining your ship at Rousse, Bulgaria's largest inland port. (B, L, D)

DAY 17: Silistra - Varna.
Bulgaria's summer capital and largest Black Sea resort, Varna, has a wealth of history which you can explore on this sightseeing excursion, including the National Archaeological Museum located in a wonderfully ornate 19th Century building. The museum is also home to the famous Gold of Varna, the World's oldest recorded gold dating back to approximately 4500 BC. (B, L, D)

DAY 18: Oltenita - Bucharest.
Disembark your cruise ship and transfer to Bucharest for an overnight stay. With its wide, tree-lined boulevards, elegant buildings and own Arc de Triomphe, all of which earned it the title 'Paris of the East', Romania's capital is now an exciting fusion of classical architecture, Soviet-style monuments, exquisite churches and bustling café life. Enjoy an exciting tour of this lively city's main sights, including the fascinating National Art Museum and the colossal, 6000 room Palace of Parliament. Other gems include the impressive Royal Palace Square, the scene of the 1989 uprising that brought the fall of Communism.
(B)

DAY 19: Bucharest - UK.
Transfer to the airport for your flight to the UK. (B)