 |
Cruise Categories |
 |
|
|
|
|
Quick Find |
 |
|
|
Follow Us |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Black Sea Danube Cruise Journey With Bucharest Extension - from Budapest2012 Season |
From 2,984EUR |
 |
|
|
Length: 13 days from Budapest to Bucharest
Overview
See the best of Eastern Europe on this exhilarating Black Sea adventure. Your vacation begins with two overnights in the lively Hungarian capital of Budapest. Board your ship and head south, enjoying guided sightseeing in each city, including inside visits of Fishermen’s Bastion in Budapest, Kalemegdan Fortress in Belgrade, Patriarch’s Church in Veliko Târnovo, Arbanassi’s Ethnographical Museum and Church of the Nativity, Varna’s National Archaeological Museum, and the National Art Museum in Bucharest. Other highlights: an organ concert in Kalocsa, sailing past the Petrovaradin Fortress at Novi Sad, and passing through the dramatic Iron Gates gorge. Your journey ends with three overnights in Bucharest, including an excursion to Transylvania to visit Dracula’s Bran Castle—built in 1377—and the amazing Sinaia monastery in the breathtaking Carpathian Mountains.
Duration: 13 Days
Ships Serving this Tour: Imagery Tranquility
| Start Date |
End Date |
| 25 May, 2012 |
06 June, 2012 |
| 13 July, 2012 |
25 July, 2012 |
| 21 September, 2012 |
03 October, 2012 |
| 28 September, 2012 |
10 October, 2012 |
City Highlights
CRUISE: Deluxe 7-night cruise from Budapest to Oltenita in an outside stateroom with hotel-style bedsBUDAPEST: Guided sightseeing, visit Fishermen’s BastionKALOCSA: Orientation; organ concertPECS: OrientationNOVI SAD: Guided sightseeing, see Petrovaradin FortressBELGRADE: Guided sightseeing, visit Kalemegdan FortressIRON GATES: Cruise through the dramatic Iron Gates gorge; see the Trajan TableVELIKO TÂRNOVO: Guided sightseeing, visit the Patriarch’s ChurchARBANASSI: Guided visit of the Ethnographical Museum and the Church of the NativityVARNA: Guided sightseeing, visit the National Archaeological MuseumBUCHAREST: Guided sightseeing, see the Parliament Building and visit the National Art Museum. Guided full-day excursion to Transylvania, vist Dracula’s Bran Castle and Sinaia Monastery.
Day 1 Arrive in Budapest, Hungary. Welcome to Budapest, Hungary’s lively capital. The remainder of the day is free to start exploring Eastern Europe’s most cosmopolitan metropolis.
Day 2 Budapest. Budapest straddles both banks of the Danube, with seven bridges, including the famous Chain and Elisabeth Bridges, connecting ancient Buda on the right bank with Pest on the left. The massive hilltop castle complex with FISHERMEN’S BASTION and the Matthias Church is among the many sights your Local Guide will show you. Shop for renowned peasant embroidery, Herend porcelain, and paprika. (B)
Day 3 Budapest (Embarkation). The morning is free for you to explore on your own. This afternoon, board your river cruise vessel and meet your crew at a welcome reception. (B,D)
Day 4 Kalocsa–Pecs. Kalocsa was founded by St. Stephen in 1009 as an archbishopric and has a most turbulent history. This quiet town that is best known for paprika and folklore art is dominated by the Archbishop’s Palace and Kalocsa Cathedral. Here, enjoy an ORGAN CONCERT before continuing to Pecs, Hungary’s fifth-largest city and the richest in terms of Turkish architecture. (B,L,D)
Day 5 Novi Sad, Serbia. Overlooking the city of Novi Sad, with a spectacular view of the Danube and surroundings, is Marshal Vauban’s unconquerable Petrovaradin Fortress. Dramatic events in the recent past have shaped both the present and the future of this region, resplendent with natural beauty and a proud history of struggle, victory and defeat alike. (B,L,D)
Day 6 Belgrade. The capital of Serbia is situated at the confluence of the Danube and Sava Rivers. A local expert will be proud to show you its main sights, which include the city’s principal landmark, KALEMEGDAN FORTRESS; St. Sava, the world’s largest Orthodox Church; and Marshal Tito’s tomb and monument. The city center has a lively pedestrian area and charming outdoor cafés. (B,L,D)
Day 7 Iron Gates. The Serbian fortresses of Smederevo and Golubac and the Trajan Table marking the Roman conquest of Dacia are impressive sights on the right bank of the Danube. The most spectacular scenery must surely be the dramatic gorge of the IRON GATES, a narrow and formerly very dangerous passage dividing Europe’s Alps in the northwest from the Carpathians in the southeast and forming a natural border between Serbia and Romania. (B,L,D)
Day 8 Svistov, Bulgaria–Excursion to Veliko Târnovo & Arbanassi–Rousse. A comfortable ride from the river port of Svistov is the ancient Bulgarian capital of Veliko Târnovo. Situated on three hills surrounding the Yantra River, the city was a natural fortress with ancient stone houses clinging to the steep slopes. The oldest part is Tsarevets Hill, home of the Royal Fortress, palaces, and the PATRIARCH’S CHURCH. The historic village of Arbanassi is best known for its ETHNOGRAPHICAL MUSEUM and the outstanding collection of frescoes in the CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY. Rousse today is Bulgaria’s largest inland port. (B,L,D)
Day 9 Silistra, Bulgaria–Excursion to Varna, Black Sea. Located in northeastern Bulgaria at the country’s border with Romania, Silistra is a port city and the capital of an important agricultural region. After breakfast, travel by road to Varna. This city on the Black Sea is not only an important naval base and sea resort, but also has a long history. Roman baths are among the younger artifacts. During your sightseeing you will visit the NATIONAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM, home of the Gold of Varna, as featured in National Geographic some years ago. (B,L,D)
Day 10 Oltenita, Romania (Disembarkation)–Bucharest. Bucharest, Romania’s lively capital, is only a short drive from Oltenita. Its wide boulevards and Arc de Triomphe have gained it the name “Paris of the East.” Much recent history has taken place in the city. During the included tour this afternoon, see the impressive Parliament Building, the second-largest building in the world after the Pentagon. The Royal Palace Square was the scene of riots in 1989, which led to the collapse of the communist dictatorship. The former Royal Palace now houses the NATIONAL ART MUSEUM. (B)
Day 11 Bucharest. Excursion to Transylvania. Head out of the city to your first stop, BRAN CASTLE of Dracula fame, built in 1377 and assumed to be the home of Romanian vampires. Then, into the Carpathians to SINAIA to visit the monastery of the same name, built in memory of Mihail Cantacuzino’s visit to Mount Sinai. This afternoon, head slowly back to Bucharest. (B,L)
Day 12 Bucharest. A day to rest and explore Romania’s capital city. Your Cruise Director will have suggestions for things to do. (B)
Day 13 Bucharest. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
Meals: Full buffet breakfast (B) in Budapest. Full buffet breakfast (B) and one lunch (L) in Bucharest; superb dining with all meals on board daily featuring full breakfast (B), lunch (L), and dinner (D), including a welcome reception, Captain’s reception and farewell dinner; quality wines from Europe’s most famous wine regions with every dinner; one sitting with open seating arrangements.
Hotel Information: BUDAPEST InterContinental (SF), BUCHAREST Athénée Palace Hilton (SF) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Currencies |
|
|
|
|
|
Questions? |
|
|
|
Information |
|
|
|
Affiliate Program |
|
|
|
|
|
Danube
