Riviera Travel Budapest to The Black Sea

– Cruise through the magnificent Iron Gate Gorge
– Enjoy welcome cocktails and the Captain’s Dinner
– Guided tours of Budapest, Belgrade and Bucharest

– 14 nights on board a 5-star ship
– Return flights & transfers
– 16 visits & tours
– Full board (except one lunch)
– Complimentary on-board tea & coffee
– Complimentary on-board Wi-Fi
– Expert Cruise Director & Concierge
– All port charges & airport taxes
– Checked Luggage

Day 1 – Arrive in Budapest
Fly to Budapest, before transferring by coach to the cruise ship. Enjoy a friendly welcome and settle into your spacious suite. The ship will remain docked overnight.

Day 2 – Kalocsa
Your adventure begins when you arrive in the city of Kalocsa, discovering its Cathedral and Archbishop’s Palace. You can choose to take a walking tour of the town including a visit to the Paprika Museum. Take a drive to a paprika house outside the city before heading on the Puszta, Hungary’s Great Plain, famed for its horses. Visit a nearby equestrian farm to watch a performance by the region’s skilled riders.
Return to the ship for lunch and a welcome drink and dinner in the evening.

Day 3 – Belgrade
In the morning, arrive at the historic city of Belgrade. Enjoy a guided tour seeing its main sights. After lunch, you’ll have free time to explore the city at your own pace.

Day 4 – Iron Gates Gorge
Sail down one of the Danube’s most memorable stretches. Pass through the Great Kazan and admire the huge sculpture of the Romanian Hero Decebalus, carved into the rock. Head to the ship’s Sun Deck to watch the scenery glide past in comfort.

Day 5 – Pleven
Cross the board into Bulgaria overnight and awake in Nikopol. After breakfast, you’ll drive across the Danubian Plain to Pleven. Enjoy some free time here to discover the town. After lunch, enjoy an afternoon of cruising.

Day 6 – Bucharest
Take a guided tour of Bucharest, visiting the Palace of Parliament and the former royal palace, now a national museum, along with the other main sights. Lunch isn’t included today, giving you the chance to seek out a cosy restaurant in the Old Town. Return to the ship to relax before dinner.

Day 7 – Danube Delta
Cruise towards the city of Tulcea, gateway to the Danube Delta. After lunch, board a small boat for an excursion into the delta itself, with a guide to help you spot the fascinating flora and fauna.

Day 8 – Constanta
Begin your return journey today, departing for the ancient city of Constanta. Enjoy so free time to explore it’s 2,500 years of history.

Day 9 – Veliko Tarnovo, Arbanassi & Ivanovo
Sail into Bulgaria, driving to the former capital Veliko Tarnovo where you can admire the scenery and architecture. Later, venture to the village of Arbanassi. Here you can discover ornamental mansions and the Church of the Nativity, filled with dazzling frescoes. Finish the day of sightseeing with a visit to the Churches of Ivanovo.

Day 10 – Belogradchik
Take in the views during a morning of cruising before mooring in Vidin. From here, drive into the wilderness to admire the Belogradchik Rock, immense sandstone cliffs. Return to the ship for dinner

Day 11 – Iron Gates & Lepenski Vir
Sail back through the splendid Iron Gates Gorge before docking and driving to Lepenski Vir, one of the most important archaeological sites in Europe. Enjoy a guided tour which reveals more about this fascinating place and how its inhabitants lived.

Day 12 – Novi Sad
Pass the medieval Smederevo Fortress in the morning and continue on to Novi Sad, Serbia’s second largest city. Take a guided tour and see its impressive squares, buildings and the mighty Petrovaradin Fortress including a visit to its museum.

Day 13 – Osijek & Vukovar
Cross into Croatia, where you’ll stop in Vukovar, the country’s largest river port. Enjoy guided tour learning about its past before driving to the city of Osijek. Explore the old town and the Upper city. Cross back into Hungary in the evening.

Day 14 – Budapest
Explore Budapest with a guided tour to see its main sights before having the rest of the day at leisure. This evening, enjoy the Captain’s Dinner, with a superb menu reflecting the places visited on the journey.

Day 15 – Return Home
Return to the airport for your organised flight home.

Please note, ship will depend on departure.

MS Thomas Hardy

MS Oscar Wilde

MS Emily Brontë

MS William Wordsworth

Fact File

– Currencies: Euro (ship and Croatia), Forint (Hungary), Lev (Bulgaria), Leu (Romania), Dinar (Serbia)

– Flight Time: Approx. 2 hrs 45 mins

– Languages: Serbian, Bulgarian, Romanian, Croatian, Hungarian

– Time Zone: GMT+1 / +2

– Countries: Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Hungary

Wi-Fi

Complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout the ship for the duration of your cruise. Please note that speeds may vary.

Transfers

Budapest Airport to ship: Approx. 45 minutes

City Stay in Vienna – 3 nights

In 2023 – add four days to your holiday, staying at the centrally located Austria Trend Hotel Savoyen Vienna.

You’ll have seen many highlights of Vienna during your cruise. Now you are free to explore at your own pace. Hire a bicycle, view the city from the iconic Wiener Riesenrad ferris wheel or relax amidst the elegant café culture, there’s an absolute wealth of things to do and see.

Speak to our sales team for pricing and availability.