The Danube from the Black Sea to Budapest

The Danube from the Black Sea to Budapest

11 Day River Cruise Bucharest to Budapest

Vacation Overview

Begin your exciting European vacation with one night in Bucharest, Romania, before embarking on your river cruise along the beautiful Danube River to Budapest, Hungary. Take in the sights in Bucharest, known for its wide, tree-lined boulevards and historical treasures. See the sights here, including the Arc de Triomphe—built in honor of WWI soldiers—and the historical Royal Palace Square. Join in an excursion to the Danube Delta where the river flows into the Black Sea. Enjoy guided sightseeing in Constanta and Bulgaria’s ancient capital of Veliko Tarnovo, and visit the Ethnographical Museum and Church of the Nativity in Arbanassi. Take pictures of Belogradchik’s eclectic group of rock formations and the spectacular views as you cruise through the Iron Gates Gorge. Visit Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, and one of the oldest cities in Europe. Continue up the Danube and take an excursion to the ancient city of Pécs, Hungary. These and countless other memorable moments await you on this fascinating Danube River cruise through Eastern Europe.

Itinerary 

Day 1 BUCHAREST, ROMANIA
Welcome to Bucharest—The “Paris of the East”
The day is yours to relax and enjoy Bucharest. Spend some free time exploring this fascinating city on your own to discover its trendy shops, cafés, museums, beautiful homes, and churches along Victory Avenue.

Day 2 BUCHAREST
Beautiful Boulevards and Bold History
CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of the Romanian capital city of Bucharest with its tree-lined boulevards and Arc de Triomphe—honoring WWI Romanian soldiers. See the Royal Palace Square—the scene of the city’s 1989 riots to overthrow the communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu.
Travel to Cernavoda to board your Avalon Suite Ship® this afternoon.
CERNAVODA (EMBARKATION)
Your Balkan Adventure Begins
Explore your Avalon Suite Ship® this evening and enjoy a dinner on board.
DISCOVERY After dinner, attend an onboard Lecture to learn about the Danube Delta.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ST. GHEORGHE

Day 3 ST. GHEORGHE. EXCURSION TO THE DANUBE DELTA
A River’s Entrance into the Sea
Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.
CLASSIC Join a small-boat Guided Tour of the best preserved of Europe’s deltas-2,200 square miles of rivers, canals, marshes, tree-fringed lakes and reed islands.
DISCOVERY Enjoy a Special Celebration to mark Kilometer “0”—the end of the Danube River’s 2,845 km journey—from the source in the Black Forest to its delta at the Black Sea.
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO HÂRȘOVA

Day 4 HÂRȘOVA. EXCURSION TO CONSTANTA
Romania’s Cultural Legacies
CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour to Constanta, the most important commercial center in Romania, situated on the Black Sea. Visit the Natural History and Archeological Museum to discover the history of early Romanian cultures.
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ROUSSE

Day 5 ROUSSE, BULGARIA. VELIKO TÂRNOVO & ARBANASSI EXCURSION
Fortresses and Fountains in “Little Vienna”
CLASSIC Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Bulgaria’s largest inland port and visit its impressive Holy Trinity Church, OR:
ACTIVE Join a walk through the park with your Avalon Adventure Host. Sail to Svistov, OR:
CLASSIC Join a full-day Guided Tour to the former Bulgarian capital of Veliko Târnovo—with its ancient stone houses clinging to the cliffs above the Yantra River. Discover one of the oldest towns in Bulgaria (circa 4300 BC), as well as Bulgarian Revival architecture in the 15th-century town of Arbanassi.
Later, join your ship in Svistov.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIDIN