Danube Dellta Odyssey

Itinerary: Budapest to Budapest

Day 1 Depart Canada. Board your overnight flight to Budapest, Hungary.

Day 2 You embark on the vessel in the late afternoon in Budapest and enjoy a welcome dinner on board. Later this evening there is an included cruise past Budapest’s illuminations, to the strains of gypsy violins, after which the ship remains moored in Budapest overnight.

Day 3 Budapest is a city made up of two parts: Buda and Pest, built on opposite banks of the Danube. Buda is the older and more graceful part, with its cobbled streets and medieval architecture, while Pest is the administrative and commercial centre, with wide avenues and impressive 19th-century public buildings. East meets West in this fascinating city, and this can be seen in the variety of shops and restaurants. This morning there is an included city sightseeing tour, while in the afternoon you may explore Budpest independently or just relax on the sun deck until the vessel leaves in the afternoon.

Day 4 The vessel docks at Vukovar, where the excursion Osijek and the Croatian Danube Basin (€ 25) starts. Osijek is the administrative and economic centre of Eastern Croatia. It is the country’s 4th biggest city, and is situated on the Drava river. This tour includes the church of the Raising of the Holy Cross and the Tvrda that was built from 1712 – 1722 as a military fortress. The vessel leaves in the evening, while dinner is served, and heads downstream to the border into Serbia. We cruise overnight towards Belgrade.

Day 5 We reach Belgrade, capital of Serbia and Montenegro, in the morning. This city is built at the junction of the rivers Danube and Save, and has been destroyed and rebuilt many times during its 2,000-year history. An included half-day city tour of Belgrade is available this morning, including a visit to the Kalemegdan fortress. This evening there is an optional evening excursion (€ 36), visiting the well-known artists’ district of Skadarlija. We sail from Belgrade before midnight.

Day 6 Spend a leisurely day cruising upstream past Romania and into the waters of Serbia and Montenegro further to Kazan Gorge. A tablet with a Latin inscription commemorating the emperor Trajan can still be seen let into the rock at this point.

A little further on, you reach the so-called Iron Gates. In ancient times the Iron Gates were a hazardous part of a journey along the Danube, as ships had to steer carefully through a narrow gorge with high cliffs on either side. Today, the water level has been raised and the shipping hazards removed, but the journey is still of interest, and you will be able to watch the manoeuvres as the ship passes through two locks by the Djerdap power stations. This afternoon you cruise along a particularly scenic stretch of the river, as the Danube passes through the Carpathians and the foothills of the Balkans.

Day 7 Your ship continues downstream this morning past the Wallachian Plain to the small Bulgarian port of Svistov, where you moor in the morning. Your stop here is simply to allow participants to join an excursion to Veliko Tarnovo (€ 44), the former capital of Bulgaria. From Svistov, Vessel sails to Rousse, docking noon below the impressive Rousse Hotel. Rousse is a colourful Bulgarian city with a range of shops, and you may go ashore here if you want to see a glimpse of typical Bulgarian life. Participants in the excursion to Veliko Tarnovo rejoin the ship in Rousse. You sail from Rousse in the afternoon, and spend the night sailing downstream towards.

Day 8 Today the vessel arrives at the Danube Delta. The Danube Delta covers an area of about 4,340 square kilometres. It is famous for the diversity of its wildlife, which include 20 pairs of white-tailed eagles and 3,000 meadow vipers. In total, there are 5,140 species of flora and fauna residing in the delta, including 300 species of birds and 30 of fish. The Vessel continues upstream along St George’s Channel to the very first kilometre of its length, almost to the point where the Danube meets the Black Sea. You will have some time to enjoy a walk in St. Gheorge.

Day 9 You dock in Hirsova this morning. After disembarkation, you are taken by coach to the Romanian capital, Bucharest. On arrival in Bucharest, you are invited to an interesting city tour (incl.). This shows you the city centre, Parliament Buildings, and the Memorial to Freedom. A stop will be made during the course of the tour for an included lunch. The highlight of the tour is a visit to the open-air Village and Folk Art Museum in Herastrau Park, on the outskirts of Bucharest. Here you can see reconstructions of old peasant houses from all over the country, complete with furniture and fittings, and other farm buildings including barns, granaries and windmills. After the excursions the coach brings you back to Hirsova, where the vessel leaves in ther early evening.

Day 10 In the morning you dock in Constanta. Here starts the excursion (€ 22) from the pier directly to one of the oldest cities in Europe, Constanta. On the way to the Archeological Museum, the bus will pass by some of the most important buildings in town. Once arriving in front of the Archeological museum one will notice the statue of Ovidius Puplius Nasos, the exiled Roman poet, the singer of tender love. The museum displays the most representative exhibits gathered from all over Dobrogea, proving the presence of an industrious population. Afterwards the bus will take our passengers through the centre of the city to the resort of Mamaia. Allow passengers free time for shopping / walking. Afterwards we will return to the vessel, which sails upstream again in direction to Bulgaria.

Day 11 Arrival in Rousse in the afternoon. This city tour (€ 22) takes you all round Bulgaria’s biggest port, including an opportunity to get a wonderful view of it all from a vantage point. The tour will include sights such as the Pantheon, the old city centre with the summer residence of the Batenberg family, the first secondary school to be founded in Bulgaria, the house of Elias Kaneti (the famous writer, who was born in Rousse), the Neo-classical theatre, and the freedom monument. In the evening you can enjoy a typical Bulgarian evening on board.

Day 12 The ship leaves Rousse in the very early morning, and sails to the Bulgarian port of Nikopol, where she moors at midday. From here our excursion to Pleven (€ 34) today starts. Through the ancient Nikopolis ad Istrum the town brings us back to the ancient Roman times when it was known as the town of Victory. We drive through the picturesque Danube plain and reach the town Pleven, which is one of the biggest and important City of North Bulgaria. Therefore the city consists of famous museums. A walk in the centre of the town will make you feel the atmosphere of the town and you will have the possibility to buy some souvenirs. Besides you will invite for a glass of Bulgarian wine in the Balkan Hotel. You leave Nikopol in the evening, and spend the night sailing upstream.

Day 13 Another leisurely day, where you will pass again the Iron Gates. Lay back on the sun deck and enjoy the scenic stretch of the river, as the Danube passes through the Carpathians and the foothills of the Balkan or just join our board entertainment.

Day 14 We reach Belgrade, capital of Serbia and Montenegro, in the morning. This city was built at the junction of the rivers Danube and Save, and has been destroyed and rebuilt many times during its 2,000-year history. Our included half-day morning tour has a visit to the Kalemegdan fortress, and brings you to the port of Novi Sad, where our vessel will be waiting in the early afternoon. After lunch there is an optional sightseeing tour of Novi Sad (€ 19), including a stroll through the old quarter and a trip by coach up to the Peterwardein fortress, a massive defensive fortification that was the masterpiece of Vauban, an 18th century French architect. The evening includes a typical Serbian folklore show on board.

Day 15 At midday today, Vessel moors in the battlefield town of Mohacs.You may leave the ship here to join an excursion to Pecs (€ 27). By feet you will discover the small town and see the most important buildings. You will watch the Basilika and hear a short concert (except Sunday). Afterwards you will be taken by coach to Kalocsa and will rejoin the ship there.Your ship sails from Mohacs in the early afternoon and arrives in Kalocsa in the evening. Kalocsa is a small city of about 15,000 inhabitants, 130 kilometres downstream from Budapest. It is a centre for popular handicrafts, and tablecloths, napkins, items of pottery and high-quality red peppers and paprika are sold here. You sail from Kalocsa after dinner. On the last evening of your journey on the Danube, the captain will be delighted to welcome you to the Captain’s Gala Dinner.

Day 16 You dock in Budapest in the morning. Disembarkation after breakfast. End of the program. Transfer to airport for your flight home.

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