Compare Balkan Discovery by Avalon Waterways vs Along the river Danube, Budapest and the Balkan peninsula by CroisiEurope
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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4.5 | Great
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| Duration | 8 days | 9 days |
| Price From | $ 3,999 | $ 3,682 |
| Price Per Day | $ 500 | $ 401 |
| Highlights |
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CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS
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| Trip Style | River cruise | River cruise |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Premium |
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| Countries Visited | ||
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| Flights & Transport | No | Internal airfare and ground transport included |
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| Meals Included | N/A | N/A |
| Description | Experience the extraordinary destinations of Eastern Europe on this Danube River cruise adventure through the Balkans. You’ll cruise through the rich landscapes and cultural locales of Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania. Embark on your Avalon Suite Ship® in Budapest, the lively Hungarian capital, and sail into beautiful Croatia. Enjoy a guided sightseeing in Vukovar and discover Ilok with its 1,000-year-old winemaking tradition. Take a fascinating guided tour of the Serbian capital of Belgrade, one of the oldest cities in Europe, where the Sava River meets the Danube. Cruise through the dramatic views of Iron Gates Gorge—a natural border between Serbia and Romania. Visit Bulgaria’s Belogradchik, and see the fascinating rock formations sculpted by natural elements for over 200 million years. On an excursion to the ancient Bulgarian capital of Veliko Târnovo, you’ll visit Arbanassi’s Church of the Nativity, housing an impressive collection of frescoes. |
From Hungary to Romania via Serbia, you'll be surprised and delighted by this cruise that will take you to the heart of Eastern Europe. You will discover cities with remarkable landscapes and elegant architecture such as Novi Sad, the capital of the province of Vojvodina regarded as the "Serbian Athens", whose cultural and artistic backgrounds will surprise you. Do not miss out on Ruse, one of the largest ports in Bulgaria and a true melting pot of Bulgarian and Romanian cultures. |
Day 1: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (EMBARKATION)
Welcome to Hungary. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding.
Flights into Budapest must arrive by 2 pm.
Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VUKOVAR
(Dinner)
BUDAPEST-PARLIAMENT.jpg
Day 2: VUKOVAR
History and Beer
Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.
DISCOVERY Join a Guided Walking Tour to discover the heritage, culture, and tradition of Vukovar and enjoy a beer tasting, OR:CLASSIC Join a Guided City Tour to discover the captivating culture and tradition of Vukovar and learn about its rich history and heritage.Enjoy a brief cruise to Ilok while having lunch onboard.
ILOK, CROATIA
History and Culture in Croatia
CLASSIC Join a Guided tour of Ilok, with its 1,000-year-old wine making traditions still thriving and its medieval fortress protected for its Croatian cultural heritage. Refresh your spirit with a wine tasting in a local cellar and hear the stories of culture and tradition in the natural beauty of Eastern Croatia, OR:
ACTIVE Explore more of Croatia on a Guided Bike Tour along Ilok’s city walls, into the central church, and the towns’ museum on your way to Principovac Castle and Estate.OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN NOVI SAD
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
ILOK.jpg
Day 3: NOVI SAD, SERBIA
The Athens of Serbia
ACTIVE Enjoy a Guided Hike Tour to the Petrovaradin part of the town. Located on the right bank of the Danube, across from the main part of Novi Sad, this area will amaze you for its scenic views, OR:DISCOVERY Get to learn more about the beekeeper profession on this Guided Tour of Novi Sad by stopping to the Honey Museum and by tasting local honey specialties. OR:CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of Novi Sad, the second largest town in Serbia. Admire its Austro-Hungarian old town, with its baroque buildings, and ancient fortifications.
ACTIVE Get your daily dose of exercise, join your Adventure Host on this walk in and around town. Later, enjoy live entertainment on board.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BELGRADE
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
NOVI-SAD.jpg
Day 4: BELGRADE
Fortresses and Folklore
ACTIVE Discover Belgrade's central walkway with your Adventure Host, OR:CLASSIC Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Belgrade—where the Danube and Sava Rivers converge—and see the city’s many fascinating sights, including Saint Sava—one of the world’s largest Orthodox churches.
DISCOVERY Attend an onboard Lecture to learn about the rich history, destinations, and culture of the Balkan states.Spend your free time exploring the city on your own this afternoon on Knez Mihailova Street—Belgrade’s central pedestrian thoroughfare with many lively cafés, shops, and cultural spots.
This evening, you might like to join an Optional Excursion for an authentic Bohemian Dinner in the Quarter of Skadarlija.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO GOLUBAČ
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
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Day 5: GOLUBAČ–DONJI MILANOVAC. EXCURSION TO LEPENSKI VIR–IRON GATES GORGE
Ancient Artifacts and the Iron Gates
CLASSIC Visit the Fortress of Golubač, one of the best preserved medieval fortresses in Europe. You’ll hear about its tumultuous history as a border control for defense in the Middle Ages, and a source of conflict between Serbia, the Habsburg Monarchy and the Ottoman Empire, OR:CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour to the Mesolithic archaeological site of Lepenski Vir with unique views of the Danube Gorge.Sail through the spectacular and narrow Iron Gates Gorge—a natural border between Serbia and Romania.
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIDIN
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
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Day 6: VIDIN, BULGARIA
Rocks, ruins and Balkan Beauty
ACTIVE Join your Adventure Host for a bike tour around the city, OR:CLASSIC Join Guided Sightseeing to Baba Vida Fortress, followed by a Guided Tour of Belogradchik. Marvel at the remarkable rock formations on the western slopes of the Balkan Mountains, sculpted by 200 million years of natural elements, OR:
DISCOVERY Discover more than two centuries of a proud family history of Bulgarian winemaking with a tour and tasting at a local winery. Here, you’ll enjoy a wine tasting in the cellars. AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ROUSSE
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
VIDIN-BELOGRADSHICK.jpg
Day 7: ROUSSE. VELIKO TÂRNOVO & ARBANASSI EXCURSION
Fortresses and Folklore
ACTIVE Explore Rousse's old town by bike with your Adventure Host, 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 the Bulgarian Revival architecture in the 15th-century town of Arbanassi, OR:CLASSIC Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Bulgaria’s largest inland port and visit its impressive Holy Trinity Church.Later, enjoy live entertainment on board with a Bulgarian folklore show. OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO OLTENITA(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
VELIKO-TARNOVO.jpg
Day 8: OLTENITA, ROMANIA (DISEMBARKATION)
Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.
Flights should not leave Bucharest airport before noon.
(Breakfast)
BUCHAREST-PARLIAMENT.jpg
Day 1 BUDAPEST (Hungary)
Passengers are welcome to board our ship. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we'll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail. Tonight we'll enjoy dinner and start sailing towards Mohacs through the night.
Day 2 MOHÁCS (Hungary) - OSIJEK (Croatia)
We'll sail towards Osijek in the early morning. To help get your blood moving, join us for an aerobics class and onboard entertainment. This afternoon, join us for the excursions proposed: CLASSIC: Guided tour of Osijek. DISCOVERY: Osijek by bike. Afterwards, we'll continue cruising towards Novi Sad. Enjoy an evening of onboard entertainment.
Day 3 NOVI SAD (Serbia) - BELGRADE (Serbia)
Join us for an optional excursion for both packages: Guided tour of Novi Sad, the industrial and financial center of the Serbian economy and a major cultural center. We'll then drive to Sremski Karlovci for a visit. Afterwards, our ship will cruise to Belgrade. Join us this afternoon for the excursions proposed: CLASSIC: Guided tour of Belgrade. DISCOVERY: Belgrade by bike. Enjoy an evening of dancing on board. Our ship will cruise through the night.
Day 4 THE IRON GATES
The whole day will be spent cruising. Our ship will pass through the Iron Gates, the gorge on the Danube that forms part of the boundary between Serbia and Romania. We'll cruise throughout the night.
Day 5 RUSE (Bulgaria)
We'll arrive in Ruse in the early morning and spend the day on an excursion for both packages: Discover Veliko Tarnovo, famously known as the historical capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire, and Arbanassi (lunch included).Enjoy dinner and an evening of traditional folk entertainment on board.
Day 6 RUSE - OLTENITA (Romania)
This morning, join us on an excursion for both packages: Discover Ruse with its wide avenues, large squares and gorgeous monuments bearing testament to national Renaissance architecture. We'll then begin to cruise to Giurgiu.Join us this afternoon on an excursion for both packages: Bucharest and a visit to the Village Museum showcasing traditional Romanian village life.Return to Oltenita. Overnight sailing to Cernavoda and Constanta.
Day 6 RUSE - OLTENITA (Romania)
This morning, join us on an excursion for both packages: Discover Ruse with its wide avenues, large squares and gorgeous monuments bearing testament to national Renaissance architecture. We'll then begin to cruise to Giurgiu.Join us this afternoon on an excursion for both packages: Bucharest and a visit to the Village Museum showcasing traditional Romanian village life. We'll then cruise to Cernavoda/Fetesti.Return to Oltenita. Overnight sailing to Cernavoda and Constanta.
Day 7 CERNAVODA / FETESTI - Danube-Black Sea Canal - CONSTANTA (Romania)
Crossing the Danube-Black Sea Canal, arrival in Constanta in the morning. After our arrival, we'll leave on a full-day excursion to Constanta (lunch included.) The oldest continuously inhabited city in Romania, it was founded in 600 BC. We'll discover its diverse architectural styles, most evident in the Orthodox cathedral (interiors) and the Grand Mosque (exteriors). We'll enjoy lunch in a local restaurant. Afterwards, we'll cruise to Murfatlar, where Romania produces its best wines and have a tasting in a wine cellar*. Enjoy an evening of onboard entertainment.
Day 8 CONSTANTA - Danube-Black Sea Canal - CERNAVODA
A day's sailing on the Danube-Black Sea Canal. Construction began in the 1950s and the canal was inaugurated in 1984, making it the third longest in the world after the Suez and Panama canals. Take advantage of this day to relax on the sun deck and take part in the activities on board.Gala evening. Night sail to Oltenita.
Day 9 OLTENITA (Romania)
Enjoy one last buffet breakfast on board before disembarking at 9:00 a.m. End of our services.
