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10 Day Blue Danube Cruise from Passau to Bucharest on the Amadeus Royal
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One journey - numerous countries, the Blue Danube Adventure is a magnificent cruise through the heart of Europe. Discover the scenic and cultural diversity of seven of the former territories of the splendid imperial monarchy on just one cruise. Cross the wildly romantic Great Plain of Hungary, and sail through the famous Danube rise in the Carpathians to the nature reserves of the Danube delta. Whether you wish to start your voyage of discovery following in the footsteps of the Hapsburgs from the former imperial city of Vienna, or in Bucharest with its wealth of history, this cruise provides not only insights into the continent's loveliest and most impressive landscapes but also all sorts of cultural delights, such as the tours of Budapest, Belgrade and Bucharest - these "New Europe" metropolises that are now beginning to flourish. The Amadeus Diamond and Amadeus Royal, part of the luxurious Amadeus Premium Class fleet, offer guests remarkable comfort in an atmosphere of classic elegance. Cabins on both vessels are spacious and outside facing with a large proportion of them featuring glass doors that stretch across most of the width of the cabins. Other features of this cruise include: 8-nights' cruise accommodation in an outside stateroom 1 nights' hotel accommodation in a 4/5* hotel in Bucharest (Hilton Bucharest or similar) with buffet breakfast Superb dining with all meals included during your cruise Quality red and white wines from Europe's great wine regions with every dinner on board the ship Cocktail Reception, Welcome Dinner and Captain's Gala Dinner Special highlights including folklore programs, lectures, theme dinners, on-board music performances and afternoon and evening music as outlined in the itinerary Services of an experienced, multilingual cruise director |
| Details | | eWaterways | | | | Day | Destination | Description | | Day 1 | Passau | The cruise embarks in Passau, the city where three rivers meet. The ship leaves port in the afternoon and takes you through a lovely stretch of the Danube known as the Scloegener Schlinge. After these first scenic impressions of the Danube, our courier on board will welcome you with a cocktail. | | Day 2 | Vienna | At morning the vessel arrives in Vienna, the Austrian capital. The city of music and joie de vivre where Sachertorte and Heuriger are just as famous as St. Stephen's Cathedral and the Imperial Palace. See all the important sights on our Vienna sightseeing tour or explore this city full of tradition on your own. In the afternoon passengers who start the cruise in Vienna embark the vessel. The vessel leaves Vienna in the evening and spends the night cruising east towards Hungary. After these first scenic impressions of the Danube, our Tour Manager on board the official welcome dinner will be taken in the evening. | | Day 3 | Budapest | The vessel arrives in Budapest, capital of Hungary, in the morning. 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. In the morning there is an included a city tour or you may look around Budapest independently. In the evening there is an included cruise, passing floodlit buildings on both sides of the river and going under the illuminated Chain Bridge. A gypsy band will be playing, and there will also be a performance on board by a Hungarian folklore group, before the vessel leaves Budapest in the evening and sails downstream overnight through Hungary. | | Day 4 | Kalocsa | On this morning the cruise reaches Kalocsa. This small town of about 15,000 inhabitants is about 130 kilometers south of Budapest. A tour of Kalocsa is available, which includes admission to a display of Hungarian horsemanship and a visit to the Paprika Museum. Kalocsa is a centre for popular handicrafts, tablecloths, napkins, and items of pottery. The vessel sails from Kalocsa at midday and continues east. | | Day 5 | Belgrade | The capital of Serbia and Montenegro, Belgrade, is the next stop on the cruise. This city is built at the junction of the rivers Danube and Sava, 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 you can join an evening excursion, visiting the well-known artists' district of Skadarlija. You sail from Belgrade before midnight. | | Day 6 | Iron Gates | This morning the cruise moves along a particularly scenic stretch of the river, as the Danube passes through the Carpathians and the foothills of the Balkans to the "Iron Gates". In ancient times the Iron Gates were a hazardous part of the 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 maneuvers as the ship passes through two locks by the Djerdap power stations. A little further on, the ship enters the narrow Kazan Gorge. A tablet with a Latin inscription commemorating the Roman Emperor Trajan can still be seen etched into the rock at this point. The vessel continues cruising overnight towards Bulgaria and Romania. | | Day 7 | Svistov and Rousse | Early this morning the ship crosses the Wallachian Plain, reaching the small Bulgarian port of Svistov in the morning. It stops here simply to allow participants to join an excursion to Veliko Tarnovo the former capital of Bulgaria. The vessel then continues from Svistov to the colorful Bulgarian city of Rousse, docking before lunch below the impressive Rousse Hotel. Rousse has many shops, and you may go ashore here for a glimpse of typical Bulgarian life. Those who have taken the excursion to Veliko Tarnovo rejoin the ship in Rousse. We sail from Rousse in the afternoon, and continue downstream towards the Danube Delta. In the evening you enjoy the Captain's Gala Dinner and a show by the crew. | | Day 8 | Danube Delta | Today the vessel reaches the Danube Delta, which covers an area of about 4,340 square kilometers. It is famous for the diversity of its wildlife, which includes 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. We continue along St George's Channel to the very first kilometer of the Danube, almost to the point where it meets the Black Sea. You will have some time to enjoy a walk in St. George. | | Day 9 | Chiciu | This morning the cruise docks in Chiciu. After disembarkation a coach takes you to the Romanian capital of Bucharest. There is an included city sightseeing tour. This shows you the main city centre sights, including the parliament 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 farm houses from all over the country, complete with their furniture and fittings, and other buildings such as barns, granaries and windmills. Check in at the hotel in Bucharest, where the evening meal has been included. | | Day 10 | Bucharest | After breakfast in your hotel, you are free to explore Bucharest independently or you can book an optional transfer to the airport. |
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