Danube Waltz

Bratislava was built on a smaller scale than other European capitals, so you will explore with ease on this excursion. Join your guide and set off along the Amber Road, tracing the ancient trade route that once linked Northern and Southern Europe. Stop to view the Gothic-style Universitas Istropolitana, the first university to have been founded in present-day Slovakia. Though it operated for only 25 years, it proved highly influential in the fields of mathematics and astrology. In the main square, admire the Roland Fountain, built in 1572 to provide water to the public. Around the square, you will see the rococo, late-baroque Grassalkovich Palace, residence of the president, and the rose-hued Archbishop’s Palace, home to today’s mayor. You will also see the outside of the Gothic St. Martin’s Cathedral, home of Hungarian coronations for more than 250 years.

Dine at one of Bratislava’s brewery houses and sample a selection of beers. Slovakia’s brewing scene is enjoying a surge in popularity, with a number of pubs offering a range of innovative beers alongside tasty traditional fare. Disembark your ship and meet your local guide, then board a tram for the journey to the “Klastorny Pivovar,” or Abbey Brewery. Here, your guide will explain the range of brews on offer, and you will enjoy two of its finest. Once a monastic cellar, and later a cinema hall, you will hear about the history of this magnificent building and its transformation into the establishment that it is today. Afterward, sit down for an evening meal of traditional local fare, accompanied by a glass of beer. Following dessert and with your appetite sated, you will return by tram to your awaiting ship.

Explore Bratislava during a scenic hike that includes sweeping views over the city from its namesake castle. Set out with your guide through the old town’s cobblestone lanes and alleys. Pass the impressive baroque-style Slovak Philharmonic Hall and into Hviezdoslav Square, which is bordered by the 19th-century opera house and stunning Ganymede’s Fountain. You will also see the Gothic St. Martin’s Cathedral, home of Hungarian coronations for more than 250 years. Continue with an ascent to Bratislava Castle, located high above the city on a rocky promontory. Here, wander its expansive courtyard and baroque garden and enjoy striking views over the city and the Danube. After a refreshment stop, stroll through the city’s narrowest street to the old city walls, then admire the elegant Primatial Palace, beautiful Franciscan Square and the medieval Old Town Hall before ending at your ship.

Go to the heart of Slovakian wine country to see a spectacular castle and taste the region’s specialty white wines. Meet your guide and drive through the picturesque towns and villages of the Little Carpathians winemaking region. Here, you will visit one of the country’s most stunning sites, the well-preserved Red Stone Castle. Named for the color of the stone it sits upon, Red Stone Castle was a 16th-century fortress, constructed atop the site of a 13th-century castle, until it was taken over by one of Hungary’s most important aristocratic families, the Pálfis. They altered it into the stately residence that it is today, living here until it became a museum in 1945. Explore its lavish ballroom, bedrooms, dining hall and cellar complex and take in the ornate stucco and breathtaking frescoes. Then, head to a local winery to sample a selection of the region’s specialty white wines.