Grand standing capitals and quaint seaside villages, hidden mountain hamlets and a city set on water – Eastern Europe flaunts a pretty impressive display of attractions. Discover the best of this entrancing region, plus a whole host of its lesser-known spots, making your way down from Hungary through the Balkans and east over to Italy. Encounter the up-and-coming vibes of once war-ravaged Sarajevo, fall in love with the popular Dubrovnik, kick into adventure mode in Ljubljana and feast until your tastebuds are content in Italy. Get expert local guidance and travel with a small group of likeminded travellers on this exciting 26-day adventure.

Soak up soothing steam at a Budapest thermal bath. Learn to waltz at a Viennese dance school. Savor Austro-Hungarian cuisine in Vienna and Budapest. Admire the Wachau Valley’s beauty. Explore lesser-known Central European cities like Bratislava and Passau. Witness daily monastic life on an exclusive visit to Göttweig Abbey. This eight-day itinerary reveals the best of these places while cruising leisurely through spectacular scenery.

Make the holidays even more magical for your family aboard our family river cruise departing December 23 (eastbound, from Munich) aboard ms Joy or ms Savor... a weeklong celebration filled with European holiday festivities both onboard and ashore, sure to delight both the young and the young at heart.

14 Days, featuring: Amsterdam–heidelberg, Germany–rhineland

10 Days, featuring: Budapest

Admire Rhine Valley vistas from a 900-year-old castle. Sample the culinary delights of Austria’s Wachau Valley. Learn the Viennese waltz, visit Melk’s Benedictine Abbey and delve into Nuremberg’s World War II history. Indulge your senses on this 15-day journey spanning the best of Europe, tracing the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers between the windmill-dotted waterways of Holland and the stunning landscapes of Hungary, with engaging encounters at every bend.

11 Days, featuring: Vienna, Austria