Stay active on your cruise down the Danube! In addition to morning onboard stretching and yoga offerings (features vary by departure), you’ll enjoy a bevy of active endeavors. Here are but a few:

• Extend your walks! Your Cruise Director or local guide can suggest scenic routes by location
• Reserve a complimentary bicycle aboard ship and explore designated biking routes in select cities
• Make use of your ship’s fitness room and spa services, including massage

• Enjoy an exclusive Hungarian folklore program in Kalocsa, including a welcome drink, paprika bread-making workshop, folk painting, and wine and sausage tasting — a Vantage exclusive!
• Learn about Croatia’s independence firsthand when you meet a Croatian family for lunch in their home
• Engage in lively conversation over lunch with university students in Veliko Tarnovo
• Learn about the intricate art of Orthodox Christian icons in an onboard demonstration by an icon painter
• Visit an elementary school in Vukovar (when school is in session)

Take advantage of complimentary bicycles aboard ship! Simply see your Concierge once you're onboard to reserve (keep in mind, bikes are first-come, first-served). Lock and helmet are provided, so all you need are firm-soled shoes, and appropriate attire.

• Budapest: Enjoy the most magnificent sites of Budapest, including Freedom Bridge, Chain Bridge, and the Hungarian Parliament Building during a medium-paced 9-mile route
• Belgrade: Explore the sites along Belgrade’s River Sava with an easy and flat 11-mile route.
• Reserve a bicycle on your ship for exploring in any town, and ask your Cruise Director for the best routes!

Eastern Europe is known for hearty, homey cooking and though there are certainly overlapping traditions among the five nations on your trip, there is also a world of nuanced variety. You’ll discover it as you dine in local restaurants, on board ship, and even in local homes.

• Enjoy a savory Balkan-style barbecue on board when your chef grills up some savory ćevapčići, a kebab dish that is popular all over eastern Europe
• Onboard cooking demonstrations introduce you to the regional specialties. Perhaps you’ll learn how to make Hungarian gulyás, which is quite different from the goulash you may have had at home. Or maybe you’ll kick your stuffed peppers recipe up a notch when you learn how to make the Romanian version, ardei umpluți
• See our professional chefs at work during a tour of your ship’s galley, and perhaps pick up a tip or two
• Take part in a folklore workshop to explore the importance of paprika to Hungarian culture. You’ll discover its many grades, from sweet to spicy hot, and see how a tasty paprika bread is made
• Enjoy lunch and conversation with university students in the ancient Bulgarian capital of Veliko Tarnovo, who are eager to meet Americans and practice their English
• Sit down with a Croatian family to share stories, laughs, and traditional dishes at a home-hosted lunch
• Raise a toast with daily demonstrations teaching you how to make cocktails — then enjoy them with fellow travelers

• Listen to an organ concert during your city tour of Kalocsa
• Enjoy live music, dancing performances, and more during nightly entertainment onboard your river ship

You’ll want to have your camera ready at all times to capture the baroque splendors of all five countries featured on this epic cruisetour. Here are a few tips to help you along the way:

• Don’t be afraid of the dark! Exploring cities and landmarks at night offers different lighting and unique new perspectives — just make sure you have a tripod or your camera comes equipped with a night feature!
• Change your point of view. Try shooting from a different angle and enjoy the adventure. For example, climb a stairwell and shoot a landscape from up high or, alternately, get low and shoot a scene from the ground. Wherever you are, embrace this artistic challenge by getting out of your comfort zone!
• Take a selfie! You’ll be glad to have a few portraits of yourself at the distinctive landmarks you’ll find on this journey
• Look beyond landmarks — sometimes everyday scenes are just as inspiring, and a lesson in embracing the unexpected and seizing the moment in front of you 

• St Stephen's Basilica visit in Budapest
• Hear an organ concert at a church in Kalocsa, Hungary
• Enjoy an Orthodox choir concert in a village church in Bulgaria
• Learn about the intricate art of Orthodox Christian icons in an onboard demonstration by an icon painter
• Chat with an Orthodox priest in Bulgaria

• Take in panoramic views from Fisherman’s Bastion on a city tour of Budapest — a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Discover the 2,500-year-old Serbian capital, Belgrade, on a city tour featuring Kalemegdan Fortress
• View the sprawling People’s Palace, the second-largest building in the world, on a city tour of Bucharest
• Visit the UNESCO-listed Early Christian Necropolis of Pécs (Sopianae), a 4th-century Roman site where Christians were buried in underground tombs topped by above-ground chapels and memorials. The site is notable for its high-quality murals depicting Christian themes
• Visit Budapest landmarks such as Castle Hill, Fisherman's Bastion, St. Stephen's Basilica, Heroes' Square and Andrássy Avenue
• Go inside Budapest’s Parliament building — a Vantage-exclusive!
• An informative lecture series on the sociopolitical state of the countries visited

Your solo-friendly river cruise has been enhanced with special features catering to independent travelers, including:

• Complimentary biking options — take a spin alongside your Destination Manager, who will lead small-group bike rides, or explore independently with our complimentary locks, helmets, and biking maps
• A lively social media night and musical performances most nights
• Solo-friendly social activities, including a Solo Connection mixer
• Onboard entertainment, lectures, and cooking demonstrations

Prior to your expedition cruise, our complimentary Concierge service will be available to help you customize your journey. Here are just a few services your Concierge can provide:

• Do you have a special birthday, anniversary, family reunion or other important event you want to celebrate on board? Let your Concierge know and he or she can make all the special arrangements, whether it’s a private reception in your suite, a gathering in the lounge, and more
• Restaurant reservations. Just notify your Concierge of your interests, and he or she will be happy to make recommendations, and will call ahead to reserve your table
• Special excursions. Would you like a limo to take you for a special night in the city? Perhaps you’d like to look up long-lost relatives. Your Concierge is here to help!
• Extend your stay! Your Concierge can help modify your hotel reservations and flights if you decide to stay on
• Tickets to local concerts, exhibits, theater, sporting events, and more

Take advantage of this free, start-to-finish service by making your requests prior to your journey or during your journey. We are one of the only companies to offer this level of service! Call 1-888-982-6824 or email Concierge@vantagetravel.com to speak to a Concierge today, or simply log into My Portfolio up to two weeks prior to departure.

During your journey, your onboard Destination Manager can assist with any special requests such as spa reservations, hotel reservations, and more.