BLACK SEA DISCOVERY 11 DAYS FROM $3,249 US Details below or
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See the best of Eastern Europe on this exhilarating Black Sea adventure. Your cruise 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 an overnight in Bucharest, Romania’s vibrant capital and the “Paris of the East.”
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. (Breakfast)
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. (Breakfast, Dinner)
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. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
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. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
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. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
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. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
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. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
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. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
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. (Breakfast)
Day 11 Bucharest
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (Breakfast)
Highlights & Sightseeing
CRUISE:
Deluxe 7-night cruise from Budapest to Oltenita in an outside stateroom with hotel-style beds
IRON GATES:
Cruise through the dramatic Iron Gates gorge; see the Trajan Table
VELIKO TÂRNOVO:
Guided sightseeing, visit the Patriarch’s Church
ARBANASSI:
Guided visit of the Ethnographical Museum and the Church of the Nativity
VARNA:
Guided sightseeing, visit the National Archaeological Museum
BUCHAREST:
Guided sightseeing, see the Parliament Building and visit the National Art Museum
Meals
Full buffet breakfast in Budapest and Bucharest; superb dining with all meals on board daily featuring full breakfast, lunch, and dinner, 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.
Hotels
BUDAPEST InterContinental (SF), BUCHAREST Athénée Palace Hilton (SF)
Notes:
In the event of water level problems or any problems of a technical nature, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or to alter the program.
Included visits and special features are subject to change. If a change is necessary, a substitute will be offered.
Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.
Avalon Imagery
What better way to see Europe and some of its most scenic rivers - the Rhine, Main, and Danube - than from the comfort of a small ship, where you unpack only once and spend the rest of your time enjoying the architecture, sumptuous cuisine, diverse culture, and amazing sights only available in Europe's most historic cities. After a day of sightseeing, experience the Imagery's innovative attributes and top-notch amenities - a panoramic Sky Deck, lounge, bar, and fitness center. Featuring the largest staterooms on the European rivers today, all rooms and suites feature premium bedding, nightly turn-down service, a large private bathroom with full shower, a well-stocked minibar, Wi-Fi access, and more. The Avalon Imagery was designed with your comfort in mind, including the Silent Drive System which separates the engines from the guests - providing a quieter and more enjoyable cruise experience.
Always Included
It's about you. You are the reason we've used our 80-plus years of travel expertise to design the very best river cruise experience. Inspired by you, we've taken everything special about river cruising and made it even better. Here are some of the features and amenities you'll experience on board our ships.
Panoramic windows throughout every ship.
Spacious designs provide personal space.
Included shore excursions with Local Guide.
Headsets for shore excursions.
Complimentary Wi-Fi access.
Personalized room options & excursions.
Highest-quality craftsmanship.
Premium coffees, cappuccinos and lattes.
Coffee self-serve beverage station.
A lounge serving premium spirit cocktails.
Maintain your routine in the fitness center.
The Comfort Collection by AvalonSM.
Premium L'Occitane bath amenities.
Daily early- and late-riser breakfast.
Full buffet breakfast with sparkling wine.
Complimentary juices with breakfast.
Made-to-order egg station at breakfast.
Complimentary soft drinks with lunch.
Chef-inspired regional recipes.
Four-course dinners with open seating.
Choice of appetizers, soups & salads.
Nightly option of entree, dessert or cheese.
Complimentary regional wines at dinner.
Free soft drinks or beer with dinner.
Night Fare served at 10:30 p.m.
Remarkable service through the cruise.
English-speaking crew.
Non-smoking interior.
Large bathrooms - showers w/ glass doors.
Flatscreen satellite TV with movie channels.
Spacious 3-door closets for ample storage.
And, much more.
Optional Excursions
Important Note:
the following list of optional excursions are examples only for this vacation as they are the excursions that are being offered for this vacation in the current travel year. These optional excursions might or might not be offered next year, as well as new optional excursions might be offered. Information about what optional excursions will be offered for your vacation will be available later this year into next year. If no example excursions are listed, please check back later.
Here's a list of optional excursions you can enjoy during your vacation. Whether it's a special dinner, a local show or a special behind-the-scenes glimpse into an historical site, optional excursions are a wonderful way to enrich your vacation even further. Plus, they give you flexibility. We include the must-see sites and experiences, and we also understand that people take interest in different activities and may want to craft a more personal vacation by hand-picking optional excursions that appeal to them.
Availability is subject to sufficient participation, weather conditions, seasonal suitability, days of operation, group interests, and general feasibility for your vacation. The approximate value listed gives you a good, general idea of what you can expect to pay but may vary once you are on your vacation. Some information provided might be in a foreign currency; you can use our online currency converter for exchange rate information.
CITY: Belgrade
Dinner at Belgrade's Skadarlija District
Once the home of many Serbian poets, writers, artists, and actors, the cobble-stoned Skadarlija (or Skadarska) street today hosts some of the best restaurants in town, all of which strive to preserve bohemian traditions from the early 19th century. Definitely the place to go if you want to get a feel of the atmosphere of Belgrade's old times, cruise art galleries, shop for antiques or souvenirs, or taste the best of local food.
Approximate value: EUR €42 per person
CITY: Novi Sad
Excursion to Sremski Karlovci
Fruska Gora is a long ridge of low hills running east-west to the south of Novi Sad. Although it reaches heights of only 500 m / 1640 ft, the hills add welcome variety to the flat relief of Vojvodina. These southern valleys also shelter more than a dozen monasteries, which often blend in style of the byzantine and Baroque of which the best known is Krusedol. But the Srem region is also one of the oldest viticulture areas in Europe. The grapevine has sprouted on Mt. Fruska Gora's fertile hills for over 1,700 years, ever since it was first planted by Roman Emperor Probus of the ancient Sirmium. And finally where the wooded slopes of the Fruska Gora meet the Danube there is Sremski Karlovci, once an important town, that history seems to have passed by for the last hundred years.
Approximate value: EUR €29 per person
Departure Dates: May
July
September
Prices From approx $3,249 US
per person based on double occupancy
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See the best of Eastern Europe on this exhilarating Black Sea adventure. Your cruise 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 an overnight in Bucharest, Romania’s vibrant capital and the “Paris of the East.”