Cruise itinerary : The Danube from Romania to Budapest
Day 1: Oltenita, Romania (Embarkation)
Your Balkan Adventure Begins
Flights into Bucharest must arrive by 2 pm
Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.
Explore your Avalon Suite Ship® this evening and enjoy a dinner onboard.
Evening/Overnight cruise to Rousse. Dinner
Day 2: Rousse, Bulgaria. Veliko Tarnovo & Arbanassi Excursion
Fortresses and Fountains in “Little Vienna”
Join a bike tour in Rousse with your Avalon Adventure Host, OR:
Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Bulgaria’s largest inland port and visit its impressive Holy Trinity Church. Later, enjoy a short scenic drive to explore the rock-hewn churches of Ivanovo, a UNESCO World Heritage. OR:
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 Bulgarian Revival architecture in the 15th-century town of Arbanassi.
Sail to Svistov or join your ship there if you opted for the full-day tour.
Evening/Overnight cruise to Vidin. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Vidin
Rocks, Ruins, and Balkan Beauty
Ask about today’s energizing or relaxing Adventure Host activities.
Wander and discover this town, join your Adventure Host for a bike ride, OR:
Join a Guided Tour of Belogradchik. See the remarkable rock formations on the slopes of the Balkan Mountains, sculpted by 200 million years of nature’s elements. Then, visit the mighty Baba Vida Fortress in nearby Vidin.
This evening, enjoy live entertainment on board with a Bulgarian folklore show.
Overnight cruise to Donja Milanovac. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Iron Gates Gorge-Golubac,Serbia, Excursion to Lepenski Vir
Ancient Artifacts and the Iron Gates
Before lunch on board, you’ll sail through the spectacular and narrow Iron Gates Gorge—forming a natural border between Serbia and Romania.
Join a Guided Tour to Lepenski Vir—an important Mesolithic archaeological site chronicling prehistoric cultures, settlements, and art. Marvel at the ancient discoveries and artifacts, as well as the unique views the site affords of the Danube Gorge. Continue to the Fortress of Golubač, one of the best-preserved medieval fortresses in Europe.
Overnight cruise to Belgrade. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Belgrade
Fortresses and Folklore
Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.
Discover Belgrade's central walkway with your Adventure Host, OR:
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.
You may choose to join an Optional Guided Biking tour or spend free time in Belgrade exploring Knez Mihailova Street—Belgrade’s central pedestrian thoroughfare with many lively cafés, shops, and cultural spots.
Attend an onboard Lecture to learn about the rich history, destinations, and culture of the Balkan states.
Overnight cruise to Novi Sad. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Nova Sad
A Capital of Culture
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.
Enjoy a walking tour in Novi Sad along the narrow streets that climb slowly to the top of the hill above the city to Petrovaradin Fortress, OR:
Experience the sweet life in Serbia with a visit and tasting at the Museum of Beekeeping and Živanović Wine Cellar in Sremski Karlovci.
Overnight cruise to Ilok. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Ilok, Croatia-Vukovar, Croatia
Croatian Heritage and Hilltop Vintages
Take a walking tour of Ilok with a wine tasting in a local cellar with stories of Croatian tradition.
Enjoy a short sailing to Vukovar during lunchtime
Enjoy a walking tour of Vukovar, the city the largest river port in Croatia.
This evening enjoy live entertainment on board
Overnight cruise to Mohács. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Mohács, Hungary. Excertion to Pécs
Join a morning Guided Sightseeing Tour of Mohács—the quiet Danube harbor town with its historical memorial parks, statues, and distinctive churches. Tour the remarkable medieval St. Nicholas Watermill—one of only a few remaining watermills performing stone-ground grain processing, OR:
Take a Guided Tour to nearby Pécs to see its 4th-century Christian underground tombs, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with fascinating murals. You’ll also enjoy an organ concert on your tour.
Afternoon/Overnight cruise to Budapest. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9: Budapest (Disembarkation)
Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.
Flights should not leave Budapest airport before 8 am. Breakfast
Departure dates and prices 2026 The Danube from Romania to Budapest : 7% discount on all dates
Prices shown exclude flights and transfers
Avalon brochure price in black
Travel 55 discount price in red
Telephone Avalon on 0330 0588 237 and quote the code TRAVEL55
| Cruise Wob 9 Day River Cruise Oltenita to Budapest. The price listed does not include your airfare, taxes or fees, call Avalon for a quote. Don't forget to quote TRAVEL55 for your 7% discount off cruise only price | ||||
| Departure Dates | Ship (Avalon) | Stateroom | Suite | Royal Suite |
| May 31 | Passion | £3386 £3149 |
£5100 £4744 |
Sold Out |
| June 15 | Passion | £2250 £2093 |
£3050 £2837 |
Sold Out |
| June 30 | Passion | £2250 £2093 |
£2950 £2744 |
Sold Out |
| July 15 | Passion | £2250 £2093 |
£3050 £2837 |
Sold Out |
| July 30 | Passion | Sold Out | £2950 £2744 |
Sold Out |
| August 14 | Passion | £2250 £2093 |
£3050 £2837 |
£6422 £5973 |
| August 29 | Passion | £2250 £2093 |
£2950 £2744 |
£6734 £6263 |
| September 13 | Passion | £3620 £3367 |
£5334 £4961 |
Sold Out |
| September 28 | Passion | £3820 £3553 |
£5591 £5200 |
Sold Out |
| October 13 | Passion | £3264 £3036 |
£4863 £4523 |
£6578 £6118 |
| October 28 | Passion | £2250 £2093 |
£3050 £2837 |
£6144 £5714 |
|
Prices above do not include international air travel. To add flights anPoetry IId overseas transfers to your holiday, please call Cosmos. Prices are per person, based on double room occupancy. Extra nights before and after your tour may be available, call Cosmos. Please see Cosmos Terms & Conditions for further details. Please check tour details with the operator at time of booking as Cennet Ltd cannot be held responsible for any errors showing on it’s website |
||||
Avalon Waterways
The Danube from Romania to Budapest
7% discount on cruise price - 9 Days
2026 price from £2093
We have only a small number of Avalon cruises on our site, they really do have a very wide choice of cruises. To see the collection request a brochure here
Travel 55 in association with Avalon Waterways. To book a luxury cruise call direct on 0330 0588 237 and quote the code TRAVEL55 you will then receive a 7% discount off the cruise only price as listed in brochure or Avalon website.
Avalon choice
Avalon has designed included activities with a choice of experiences. We invite you to select the tours, activities, and events that interest you most, so you can experience your cruise your way. Plus, we offer independent exploration options and the use of our exclusive AvalonGO APP on most of our cruises.
Below are 3 types of included shore excursions for you to experience.
Classic - Your local expert is ready to guide you through the history and heritage of local destinations. You’ll marvel at the legends, lore, and spectacular architecture of iconic and historic sites.
Discovery - We’ve found inspiring and interactive activities to speak to your interests - from cooking classes, to painting workshops - to immerse yourself in each culture you explore.
Active - Embark on energetic excursions to keep you in motion and on the go - from a guided jogging tour of Amsterdam, to biking, paddling, and hiking your way through scenic locales.
A view with a room
Avalon Passion
We're so passionate about our Suite Ships, we christened this Suite Ship the Avalon Passion. Gracing Europe's waterways with style and relaxed luxury as only Avalon can deliver, the Avalon Passion lives up to its name. Avalon guests experience this passion for new discoveries aboard this home-away-from-home to find two full decks of Panorama Suites, featuring wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows that create river cruising's only Open-Air Balcony. Spanning 200 square feet, the Passion's Panorama Suites are 30% larger than the industry standard. It's the perfect place to stretch out on your window-facing Comfort Collection bed with the world at your feet. Host a private cocktail party in the spacious sitting area-comfortably accommodating six guests. On board, passengers enjoy complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi access, complimentary computer use in public areas, a Fitness Center, an elevator, and an expansive Sky Deck with shade system, premium lounge chairs, whirlpool, deck games, and the delightful Sky Bistro for al fresco lunches of light grill fare. Pack your own passions and cruise your way on the Avalon Passion.
Start sooner, stay longer
Avalon makes it easy to experience holiday your way with seamless extension options before and after your cruise.
YourWay offers added nights in a selection of locales. From Budapest to Bucharest, you can spend a little or a lot more time getting to know more on shore with YourWay custom itineraries.
Call Avalon for more details - their number is 0330 0588 237, don't forget to quote TRAVEL55 for 7% discount off cruise price only
Air arrangements
Hassle free complete holiday booking
Rather than spending hours researching flights to coordinate with your holiday start and end dates, let Avalon handle the details. When they book your flights, if there are any changes to your holiday schedule, they make the air changes for you (subject to airline revision fees and/or airline-imposed change or cancellation fees).
As a completely independent travel company, they have no ties to any one airline. Avalon negotiate the lowest possible airfares with the world's finest carriers on your behalf. Plus, Avalon’s buying power means generally better rates for you.
