Scenic Opal October 13-November 10 2026 Cruise & Offers | Scenic Cruises

Welcome to Istanbul. Home to more than 15 million people, it’s the largest city in Turkey and one of the largest in the world. Istanbul will inspire all your senses, an exhilarating blend of cultures, cuisines, architecture, history and style.

There have been settlements in what is now Istanbul, occupying both banks of the Bosphorus Strait, for thousands of years. The modern city began life as Constantinople in the 4th century, before changing its name to Istanbul in 1930. Wherever you go, you’re walking through history.

Today, we leave Istanbul behind and visit the city of Çanakkale. Sitting on the edge of the Dardanelle Strait, Çanakkale has been at the forefront of history for centuries. It’s the gateway to the World War One battlefield of Gallipoli and the ancient city of Troy.

Today you are bound for Gallipoli, a special place in the heart of Australians and New Zealanders. The Gallipoli peninsula where the eight-month WWI campaign took place is now a national park and your guide will take you through the most significant sites.

This morning you’ll be venturing to a place that is shrouded in mystery and legend, the ancient city of Troy. For more than 3,000 years, the tales of Troy and the Trojan War were thought to be mythical, made most famous by Homer’s Iliad.

Istanbul is a published destination on North Sea to the Black Sea with Turkey: Istanbul to Amsterdam aboard Scenic Opal. It provides the setting for this stage of the journey; arrival, departure, berthing and excursion details are displayed only when they appear in the stored Scenic schedule, and final operating information should be reconfirmed before sailing.

Before you farewell Istanbul, take a moment this morning to listen out for the call to prayer before the sun rises. The traditional Muslim call rings out over the city five times a day and is a reminder of the nation’s strong ties to its faith.

Today you’ll explore the city of Bucharest, with your selected Bucharest > Giurgiu is a published destination on North Sea to the Black Sea with Turkey: Istanbul to Amsterdam aboard Scenic Opal. It provides the setting for this stage of the journey; arrival, departure, berthing and excursion details are displayed only when...

Arrive in Silistra early this morning. This Bulgarian town has changed hands many times over the centuries. As a major Turkish fortress and trade centre in the 15th century, it played a significant role in the Russo-Turkish wars of the 1870s, briefly became part of Romania after the Second Balkan War and finally reverted to Bulgaria in 1940.

This morning you’ll arrive in Rousse, which has been described as ‘Little Vienna’. Rouse is a published destination on North Sea to the Black Sea with Turkey: Istanbul to Amsterdam aboard Scenic Opal. It provides the setting for this stage of the journey; arrival, departure, berthing and excursion details are displayed only...

Today you’ll cruise through the spectacular scenery of the Djerdap Gorge system, or Iron Gates. This stretch of the Danube is the natural border between Serbia and Romania, and features four narrow gorges, soaring cliffs and the mighty rock carving of Decebalus, the former Romanian king.

The capital of Serbia, Belgrade is known as the ‘Door to Central Europe’ and lies at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. This eclectic city is steeped in history, Brutalist and Art Nouveau buildings and a bohemian vibe. One of the oldest capitals in Europe, Belgrade has been rebuilt almost 40 times.

Arrive this morning in the Croatian town of Vukovar, a poignant city with a turbulent history. Over the past 500 years it has been part of the Ottoman, Habsburg and Austro-Hungarian empires, and in the 1990s was the epicentre of the Croatian War of Independence. Many of the grand Baroque buildings remain standing but bear the scars of the war.

You will arrive in Mohács this morning. Straddling the Danube, this small Hungarian town was the site of the 16th century Battle of Mohács, which led to the destruction of the Hungarian monarchy and the rise of Ottoman and Habsburg rule.

Budapest is often considered to be the most beautiful city in Europe and you have a full day at leisure to see why. Budapest is a published destination on North Sea to the Black Sea with Turkey: Istanbul to Amsterdam aboard Scenic Opal.

Divided by the Danube, with Buda on one side and Pest on the other, this city became united in 1873 when a newly built bridge connected the two. It’s an architectural treasure trove comprising styles from Gothic to Art Nouveau and everything in between.

Relax on board this morning as you cruise towards Vienna. You may like to ask your butler to bring coffee to your suite so you can savour it as the beautiful scenery rolls by your window. Arrive in the Austrian capital of Vienna this afternoon.

Wake this morning with Vienna on your doorstep. A city full of grandeur, Austria’s imperial capital is famous for having the world’s most beautiful boulevard, The Ringstrasse, and for the legacy of the Habsburg monarchy. Slow down and spend a full day exploring Vienna or venture further afield with

This morning, arrive in the charming town of Krems, located in the spectacular Wachau Valley. Krems > Dürnstein is a published destination on North Sea to the Black Sea with Turkey: Istanbul to Amsterdam aboard Scenic Opal.

After a short stop in Brandstatt, arrive in Passau. Set at the meeting point of three rivers and close to the border with Austria, Passau was an important trading point for centuries. It was also a significant town in the Holy Roman Empire and the charming Old Town was mostly built by powerful prince-bishops in an Italianate style.

Boasting a staggering 2,000-year history, Regensburg has one of Germany’s best preserved medieval town centres, with more than 900 of its Romanesque and Gothic buildings listed as World Heritage sites. Within its narrow laneways, the city lays claim to having the highest concentration of bars in the country.

Cruise into Nuremberg, Bavaria’s second-largest city, today, protected by an ancient city wall. The city is dominated by one of the most significant imperial forts of the Holy Roman Empire, the 12th century Imperial Castle, which was the preferred residence of German kings. Behind its charming façade, Nuremberg also has a turbulent history.

Built on seven hills, this World Heritage-listed town has surprises at every turn. Intersected by rivers and canals, Bamberg’s Old Town is resplendent with cobblestoned streets and well-preserved medieval buildings. Admire the charming Town Hall which occupies an island on its own, a Gothic and Romanesque-style cathedral, and the Old and New...

After a relaxed morning on board, dock in Würzburg. With its lavish Baroque and Rococo architecture, you’ll be captivating by this glamorous port. This city straddles the Main River in the heart of Franconian wine country.

Arrive in Wertheim this morning, a small town with a medieval centre sitting on the picturesque banks of the Main and Tauber Rivers. Look out for the distinctive Spitze Turm, a 13th-century pointed watchtower that stands tall above the town. Today is all about connecting with culture and meeting the locals.

This morning, disembark in Rüdesheim, a pretty town surrounded by steep vineyards that have been cultivating wine for more than two millennia. The charming town centre is filled with half-timbered houses lining cobbled streets, quaint shops selling trinkets such as traditional Christmas ornaments and cuckoo clocks, as well as a smattering of wine taverns and open-air beer gardens.

Dock in the 2,000-year-old city of Cologne today. Cologne suffered extensive damage during World War II but was painstakingly restored over the following decades. Set out on a walking tour of the Old Town, admiring its historic buildings, beautiful squares and the World Heritage-listed Cologne Cathedral. After lunch, we cruise to Amsterdam.

The Netherlands’ capital is a treasure trove of architectural beauty, galleries filled with masterpieces, 16th-century canals, narrow cobbled laneways, and streets busy with cyclists. Often referred to as the Venice of the North, much of the UNESCO-listed canal system exists today as it did hundreds of years ago, lined with well-preserved houses and intersected by charming bridges.

Your journey concludes this morning in Amsterdam. After one final breakfast on board, depart with a lifetime of memories. This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons such as high and low water. As such, the cruise may operate altered from that stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions.