Vienna to the Black Sea
Please go to the 2006 cruises index
A 10-day cruise along the River Danube from Vienna
to Romania and the Black Sea plus a 2-night extension to Bucharest
and an excursion to Transylvania
On this fascinating cruise, discover some of the most vibrant
and diverse countries of Eastern Europe and the Balkans. See
everything from Roman ruins to Ottoman forts,
Hapsburg palaces to the monumental relics of communism.
Sail through the broad Hungarian plains, and the dramatic
Iron Gates between Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria. Continue
all the way to the Black Sea, past villages where life has
changed little. Visit bustling Constanta on the Black
Sea Riviera and transfer to the Romanian capital Bucharest
for two nights and a visit to Bran Castle, home of Vlad the
Impaler, the model for Dracula.
Click here for route details
Click here to
view information about your cruise ship, the River Duchess
| Cruise
departure dates for 2005 |
May |
July |
Aug |
Sept |
Nov |
20 |
1 |
12 |
23 |
4 |
27* |
8* |
19* |
30* |
|
* These dates operate
from Bucharest to Vienna
Dates
marked in red: Sold out
|
|
Holiday BWH561
£ price per person
|
| Cabin Category |
May
July
Sept |
August
|
Nov |
| 4: Outside Twin/Double |
1399 |
1349 |
1149 |
| 3: Outside Twin/Double |
135 supplement |
| 2: Outside Twin/Double |
250
supplement |
| 1: Outside Twin/Double |
360
supplement |
| Suite |
925
supplement |
Single Supplement: 50% of cruise
category shown plus £120 for hotel
|
Prices include
the cruise and excursions as below. If
required, travel from the UK or flights from USA
can be added - please contact us for details.
Price is also available in USD. |
|
| The
cruise price includes |
| • |
9 nights full board
accommodation in an outside cabin onboard the River
Duchess***** |
| • |
2-night deluxe hotel stay in Bucharest
(Intercontinental or similar), including buffet
breakfast daily |
| • |
Cruise Manager throughout your cruise |
| • |
8 guided shore excursions as follows: |
| - |
Budapest –
City tour with a visit to St. Matthias Church and
Fisherman’s Bastion |
| - |
Kalocsa - City
tour and horsemanship display |
| - |
Belgrade - City
tour |
| - |
Svistov –
Full day excursion to Veliko Turnovo and Arbanassi
with lunch |
| - |
Constanta –
City tour & Black Sea excursion |
| - |
Bucharest –
City tour and visit to the Parliament Palace |
| - |
Bucharest –
Full day excursion to Transylvania with lunch and
visits to Sinaia Monastery and Bran Castle |
| - |
Bucharest –
Illuminations Tour with a traditional dinner and
folklore show. |
|
Check availability of this
cruise
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|
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Call us to check availability:
UK: 0845 226 2475
Overseas: +44 1756 693609
| |
Vienna
Embark your ship in the romantic Austrian capital. Enjoy
the remainder of the day at leisure to explore Vienna.
Cruise overnight to Budapest. |
| DAY
2 |
Budapest
Be on deck as your ship cruises through the heart of the
city, passing the Houses of Parliament and Castle Hill.
After lunch onboard, disembark for a sightseeing tour
featuring the city’s most interesting landmarks.
Enjoy a splendid view of Buda and Pest from historic Buda
Castle and Fisherman’s Bastion. |
Budapest
Enjoy another full day exploring the delights of historic
Budapest. This city offers a relaxed and friendly atmosphere,
good food and wine, along with 2,000 years of history.
Join the optional half-day excursion to the artists’
village of Szentendre. Your ship remains overnight in
Budapest. |
Kalocsa
Cruise this morning to charming Kalocsa, renowned for
paprika production. Your tour of the district will include
the town and a spectacular display of horsemanship by
the local “cowboys.” Depart this evening for
a relaxing cruise down the beautiful Danube. |
Cruising
At daybreak, you cross the border and sail on the tranquil
Danube with Croatia on one side and Serbia on the other.
You will continue for the day-long cruise to Belgrade,
passing the impressive Petrovaradin Fortress on the high
right bank of the Danube. |
Belgrade
You arrive in Belgrade early in the morning for a full
day in this interesting city. Your morning tour highlights
the city’s main attractions, including Kalemegdan
fortress looming over the confluence of the Sava and Danube
rivers, Saint Sava Cathedral - the largest Orthodox Church
in the world. In the afternoon, you are free to explore
this charming city on your own. |
Iron
Gates
Morning finds you cruising through picturesque scenery.
Some very impressive sights are coming up on the right
bank of the mighty Danube. The medieval fortresses of
Smederevo and Golubac, and the Trajan Table mark the spot
where the Roman Emperor crossed the Danube to conquer
Dacia (modern Romania). The scenery becomes truly spectacular
as you cruise through the Iron Gates, a narrow Danube
gorge between the Carpathian and Balkan Mountains. The
gorge, one of the most dramatic sights in Europe, forms
a natural border between Serbia and Romania. Continue
cruising overnight to Svistov. |
Svistov
- Veliko Turnovo - Rousse
This morning, you will arrive in Svistov. Depart by motor
coach for a full-day tour to Veliko Turnovo, the capital
of Bulgaria from 1187 to1393. The city was a natural fortress,
located on three hills surrounding the Yantra River. A
palace, fortifications and churches were built into the
terrain. Across the river, ancient stone houses seemingly
perched on top of each other cling to the steep riverbank.
On Tsarevets Hill, see the old fortress walls, royal palaces
and patriarchal church. After lunch in a local restaurant,
there will be time to shop for handicrafts in the town
market. Visit the museum town of Arbanassi on the way
back to the ship in Rousse, once the Danube base of the
Roman fleet, and today Bulgaria’s busiest inland
port. |
| DAY
9 |
Cernavoda
- Constanta - Black Sea
Early this morning, arrive in Cernovada where you will
board your motor coach for the excursion to Constanta
and the Black Sea. Tour this popular resort city. Its
history dates back to ancient Greek and Roman times when
seafarers established trading colonies along the coast. |
| DAY
10 |
Oltenita
- Bucharest
Disembark and drive across the Romanian countryside to
Bucharest, the capital of Romania. After checking into
your hotel, enjoy an included lunch. In the afternoon,
tour this “Paris of the East” with its wide
boulevards and Arc de Triomphe. See the Parliament Palace
- the largest building in the world after the Pentagon
- the Opera House, and the elegant Queen Elizabeth Boulevard.
This evening, enjoy your farewell dinner in a local restaurant. |
| DAY
11 |
Transylvania
- Sinaia - Bran Castle
Depart this morning on a full day excursion through the
Transylvanian countryside, by far the most romantic in
Romania. At Sinaia, a visit is made to the Sinaia Monastery.
After an included lunch, it is on to Bran Castle, legendary
home of Prince Vlad Tepes the Impaler, who inspired Dracula’s
legend. Visit the 14th century castle which guards the
narrow pass connecting Transylvania with Wallachia. Standing
on a 200 ft. high rock, the castle affords great views
of the surrounding countryside. |
| DAY
12 |
Bucharest
With wonderful memories of this exceptional cruise, transfer
to the airport for your flight home. |
|
