Grand River Voyage II – The North Sea to the Black Sea

Accompanied flight to Amsterdam, where Royal Crown awaits

2,000-year-old Cologne spans the Rhine River and has a distinctive historical charm. Here, we embark on an exciting journey of discovery into the city’s past, and visit a landmark of High Gothic architecture set amid the reconstructed Old Town, the twin-spired Cologne Cathedral which still stands proud after being hit by 14 large aerial bombs during World War II.

Standing on the foundations of an urban Roma villa, with the world-famous Dionysius mosaic, the Romano- Germanic Museum houses Roman antiquities and explores the archaeological heritage of the city and the surrounding area from the Palaeolithic period to the early Middle Ages.

Cruising through the dramatic UNESCO World Heritage site of the Rhine Gorge, we are immersed in a stunningly beautiful landscape of fairytale castles atop the steep, terraced banks before passing the legendary Lorelei Rock, where it is said the sweet songs of lovelorn maidens lured enchanted sailors to their doom.

From Rüdesheim, we venture to Schloss Vollrads, one of the oldest wineries in Germany. Situated above Oestrich- Winkel in the Rheingau it is attractively nestled in a cultivated landscape and an ideal venue at which to enjoy our tour and wine tasting. Only Riesling grapes are cultivated on the 80 hectares of vineyards, used to make unique and authentic wines. All vineyards around Schloss Vollrads descend down to the Rhine in a southerly direction and, using knowledge and a tradition of over 800 years of viticulture, they create very special Riesling wines.

This morning is spent cruising the Rhine Valley and the Main, with the opportunity to perhaps attend an enlightening talk by our guest speaker in the Lounge, or enjoy panoramic vistas from the Sun Deck.

After exploring the Old Town of Aschaffenburg, we travel to Schloss Mespelbrunn, a true jewel in the heart of Bavaria. The romantic castle is surrounded by a water- filled moat and, due to its hidden location in a quiet valley, it has never suffered any war damage. The present Renaissance building is mostly from the mid- 16th century. Still a private residence, it provides a great insight into life in a castle of yesteryear.

This morning we step ashore in the delightful Franconian town of Miltenberg, famed for its magnificent half- timbered buildings, where our walking tour allows us to discover the Old Market Place, known as the ‘Schnatterloch’ and the Gasthaus zum Riesen, Germany’s oldest royal inn.

Our next port of call is Wertheim am Main. Situated at the confluence of the Main and Tauber rivers, it is famed for its landmark castle and the medieval buildings of its Old Town. Here, we discover one of the best-preserved Cistercian monasteries in southern Germany. Bronnbach Monastery was established in 1151 and wine growing was an integral part of the cloister life of the Cistercians. The long history has left a rich legacy such as the Romanesque church with baroque altars and choir stalls and the Gothic cloister.

Today, we join Germany’s ‘Romantic Road’ in Würzburg. The city is set in a beautiful hilly location on the River Main and possesses a wealth of history, as well as playing host to a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Residence Palace. A walking tour of the city’s main attractions takes us to the Prince Bishop’s Palace for a tasting of renowned local Franconian wines.

The vine-clad hills of the Main valley glide gently by as we navigate the river to join the continent’s greatest man-made waterway, The Rhine-Main-Danube canal, at Bamberg.

Standing on seven hills, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bamberg, with its 11th century Romanesque cathedral, welcomes our arrival. Exploring on foot, we embrace the old town and its preserved medieval buildings, including the muraled Altes Rathaus, located on an island in the Regnitz river.

Before departing Bamberg, we travel to the New Residence, which served as the seat of Bamberg’s prince bishops. We enjoy an exclusive Champagne

reception prior to a private string quartet recital with musicians from the world- renowned Bamberg Symphony Orchestra in the newly renovated Imperial Hall.

Nuremberg – City tour and Albrecht Durers house / Roth Castle and city tour.

Situated at the northernmost point of the Danube River, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Old Town of Regensburg is the best-preserved medieval city in Germany. Founded by the Romans in 179 AD, Regensburg has a special charm and offers world renowned sights such as Porta Praetoria, the gate to the Roman Castra Regina, the Old Stone Bridge and St.Peter’s Cathedral.

In 1146, German builders completed work on a stone bridge crossing the Danube. With the project finished, the tiny construction office, next to the bridge, found new life as a food stand serving meat dishes. Today, it still serves customers, making it one of the oldest restaurants in the world and we sample the local speciality of Bavarian sausages.

Constructed at the confluence of three rivers, the Inn, Ilz and Danube, the Baroque design of Passau is dominated by large squares, romantic promenades, winding lanes and majestic bridges. Framed by the Veste Oberhaus castle and the pilgrimage monestary Mariahilf, the historical city centre of Passau looks like a floating ship. We take a guided walk through the 2,000 year old city which culminates in a visit to the breathtaking Cathedral of St Stephen, which houses one of the world’s largest pipe organs.

We while away the afternoon on board as the stunning scenery of the UNESCO protected Wachau Valley glides gently by.

The enchanting Artstetten Castle is situated high above the Danube in a charming park and is flanked by seven characteristic towers. This is a place of commemoration for Crown Prince Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie Duchess of Hohenberg. Both were assassinated in Sarajevo in 1914 and have found their final resting place here. The Archduke Franz Ferdinand Museum provides us with a look into the eventful life of the crown prince and his family.

On the banks of the Danube River, the ancient city of Dürnstein is best known for its grape growing, historic character, and castle that imprisoned English King Richard the Lionheart. Narrow cobbled streets surrounded by historic buildings are hidden behind a fortification wall, all waiting to be discovered on our walking tour. From Dürnstein, we travel to the picturesque wine-growing village of Weissenkirchen to sample the excellent local wines.

Sailing further east, the romantic city of Vienna and former capital of the Habsburg Empire beckons. A panoramic tour of this elegant capital takes us around the famous Ringstrasse and the Old Quarter, including St Stephen’s Cathedral and one of the oldest opera houses in the world.

In the evening, we are treated to a private tour, exclusive concert, drinks reception and dinner at the magnificent imperial palace of Schönbrunn, the main summer residence of the Habsburg rulers. At the end of the 17th century, Emperor Leopold I

commissioned the Baroque architect, Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach, to design an imperial hunting lodge for his son, Crown Prince Joseph, later to become Emperor Joseph I. Replacing the château de plaisance,

built on this site for the dowager empress Eleonora of Gonzaga in 1642, it was to grow into a palatial imperial residence over the course of the 18th century. During the reign of Maria Theresa, as an imperial summer residence, Schönbrunn Palace became the glittering focus of court life. From this time on, it played host to the leading statesmen of Europe.

Our cruise continues along the Danube into Slovakia, where we visit the capital, since the country’s independence in 1993, Bratislava. Bratislava is a mosaic of illustrious history: a medieval and Gothic old town, baroque palaces commissioned by Hungarian nobles, and the crowning castle, rebuilt to Renaissance finery.

Our tour of the old town includes many of the city’s historic buildings, such as the only remaining medieval fortification, St Michael’s Gate, St Martin’s Cathedral, the Baroque Grassalkovich Palace and the Neo Classical Primate’s Palace.

We conclude our visit with a string quartet recital in the gothic Klarissen Church, part of a complex of medieval buildings forming the former Convent of Poor Clares in the old town of Bratislava.

Budapest – Hungarian Parliament and Market Hall / Buda Castle Gardens & Museum of Fine Arts.

Set on the left bank of the Danube, Kalocsa is one of Hungary’s oldest towns and dates back to the early 11th century. This quaint town, filled with culture, is famed for its paprika, commonly known as ‘red gold’, and its intricate hand-crafted embroidery.

Built in the 1760’s, the Baroque-style Archbishop’s Palace houses astronomical devices and maps dating to the Middle Ages, and the 150,000-volume library includes a bible written by Martin Luther. Here we enjoy a concert of organ music before embarking on a fascinating excursion into the Puszta, the hinterland of Hungary, renowned for its paprika production and where we are treated to an impressive display that showcases the exceptional riding skills of the Puszta horsemen.

Our morning is spent exploring Serbia’s second largest city, Novi Sad. Overlooking the Danube, Novi Sad is a city of history and culture overlooked by the impressive Petrovaradin Fortress.

The pretty town of Sremski Karlovci has a huge history that belies its modest size. Originally home to an ancient Roman Fortress, the village became a major cultural and spiritual centre during the 18th century, a legacy still visible in its beautiful baroque edifices. Sremski Karlovci is also famous for its local wines, and we visit a local winery to sample the regional varietals.

Our tour of Serbia’s ancient capital reveals the story of this remarkable city and highlights include the Orthodox Cathedral, the Square of the Republic and the mighty Kalemegdan Fortress which once contained the whole city within its walls and affords breathtaking river views over the Sava towards the Danube.

The highlight of our tour is a private visit to the Royal Place. Built between 1924 and 1929, with the private funds of His Majesty King Alexander I, today the palace is inhabited by

Crown Prince Alexander who, if in residence, will welcome us to his home at our exclusive reception.

Dominating a rocky promontory where the river narrows, the 14th century fortress of Golubac guards the entrance to the Iron Gates Gorge. It was a formidable structure, fought over by the Ottomans, Bulgarians, Hungarians and Serbs.

This afternoon, we will cruise through the Iron Gates, which originally consisted of four narrow gorges and three wide basins until a huge lock and dam was built in the 1960s to control the speed of the river and make navigation safer. A haven for wildlife and birds, the Iron Gates is one of Europe’s most dramatic natural wonders and areas of outstanding beauty. The spectacular fjord- like scenery is to be enjoyed as Royal Crown sails between the Carpathian and Balkan mountains.

The rocks of Belogradchik are rock sculptures situated in the fore hills of the western Balkan mountain range. They contain groups of rock figures resembling people, animals, fortresses and pyramids, their red colour contrasting beautifully with the green broadleaf forests, the lush meadows and small vineyards around the site.

From Svishtov, we venture to Veliko Turnovo, the evocative capital of the medieval Bulgarian Tsars and dramatically set amidst forested hills, divided by the Yantra River. Commanding pride of place is the impressive Tsarevets fortress, citadel of the second Bulgarian empire, which is complemented by scores of churches and other ruins, many of which are still being unearthed.

The village of Arbanassi became a wealthy crafts and trade hub during the 17th and 18th centuries. Today Arbanassi is a picturesque open-air museum of cultural heritage and architecture. We re-join Royal Crown in Ruse.

We spend the day relaxing on board as we sail along the border of Romania and Bulgaria. Watch the scenery glide gently by from the comfort of the Sun Deck or perhaps attend a lecture by our guest speaker.

Arriving in Sulina at sunset, this most easterly point of our journey is where the River Danube meets the Black Sea. The Danube stretches for 2,845km and kilometre markings can be seen along the length of the river; today, we celebrate the end of its journey at ‘Km 0’ with Champagne on the Sun Deck.

Tulcea is the gateway to the Danube Delta, and from here we embark on a boat tour of this UNESCO protected aquatic wilderness which has the third largest biodiversity in the world, hosting over 5,500 flora and fauna species. Resident species include cormorants, white tailed eagles and glossy ibises whilst millions of Egyptian white pelicans arrive here every spring to raise their young.

We disembark Royal Crown in Fetesti, before being transferred to Bucharest airport for our flight home.