Cruise the Danube with our very own Shelley Picard!

Budapest to Bucharest with 1 Night in Budapest & 2 Nights in Transylvania
June 14-25, 2021 • 12 Days • Aboard Avalon Illumination 

See the highlights of Eastern Europe on this Balkan river cruise adventure along the Danube River! This vacation has something for everybody—relaxing time on your ship and stops in the most fascinating cities, with free time and guided sightseeing—so you don’t miss a thing! You’ll begin with two overnights in the lively Hungarian capital of Budapest. On an excursion to Pécs, Hungary, you’ll visit underground burial chambers with fascinating murals, now part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, is one of the oldest cities in Europe, where the Sava River meets the Danube. Continue your river cruise through the dramatic views of Iron Gates Gorge, and Bulgaria’s ancient capital of Veliko Tarnovo. In Arbanassi, visit the Church of the Nativity, housing an impressive collection of frescoes. From Oltenita, transfer to Bucharest for guided sightseeing. Known as the “Paris of the East,” a local expert will show you many of its historical treasures. Take a trip to Transylvania to visit the Bran Castle—of Dracula Fame—the city of Brasov, and beautiful Peles Castle.


VACATION HIGHLIGHTS: Budapest • Mohács • Ilok–Novi Sad • Belgrade • Golubac Donji Milanovac–Iron Gates • Vidin • Rousse • Oltenita • Brasov–Sinaia–Bucharest


Price fr.  $6458
per person, double occupancy
Airfare extra


SAVE THE UPGRADE!! Deposit now for this escorted departure and enjoy the upgrade to a Juliet Balcony at NO CHARGE.


PLEASE CALL FOR DETAILS:
Maritime Travel Abbotsford: Clearbrook Town Square
280-32500 South Fraser Way
abbotsford@maritimetravel.ca
(604) 746-4041


Price quoted is per person, based on double occupancy, Cruise/Land Only, and includes tax. To reserve your spot, a non-refundable deposit of $550 per person is due at time of booking. Final payment is due on or before April 5, 2021. Single rates are available on request. Airfare is extra and can be quoted later in date. Travel insurance is highly recommended and will be quoted time of booking. Prices and availability are subject to change at any time. A Passport is required and must be valid at least 6 months past return date. BCCP #51188

DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY

(B) = Breakfast   (L) = Lunch   (D) = Dinner

DAY 1  BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
Welcome to Budapest—Hungary’s Captivating Capital

The day is yours to relax and enjoy Eastern Europe’s shining city on the Danube.

DAY 2  BUDAPEST (B, D)
The Pearl of the Danube in the Heart of Europe
CLASSIC
Enjoy a Guided City Sightseeing, including the iconic Heroes’ Square.

This afternoon, board your Suite Ship®. This evening enjoy a dinner on board.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MOHÁCS

DAY 3  MOHÁCS (B, L, D)
Hungarian History in a Harbor Town
Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.
CLASSIC
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:
CLASSIC
Take a Guided Tour of 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.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ILOK

DAY 4  ILOK, CROATIA (B, L, D)
History and Culture in Croatia
CLASSIC
Join a Guided Tour of Ilok, with its 1,000-year-old winemaking tradition still thriving and its medieval fortress protected for its Croatian cultural heritage.

Enjoy a brief cruise to Novi Sad while having lunch onboard.

NOVI SAD

The Athens of Serbia
CLASSIC
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.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BELGRADE

DAY 5  BELGRADE, SERBIA (B, L, D)
Fortresses and Folklore
CLASSIC
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.
DISCOVERY
Attend an onboard Lecture to learn about the rich history, destinations, and culture of the Balkan states.

Spend your free time exploring the city on your own this afternoon on Knez Mihailova Street—Belgrade’s central pedestrian thoroughfare with many lively cafés, shops, and cultural spots.

This evening, you might like to join an Optional Excursion for an authentic Bohemian Dinner in the Quarter of Skadarlija.

OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO DONJI GOLUBAC

DAY 6  GOLUBAC–DONJI MILANOVAC. EXCURSION TO LEPENSKI VIR–IRON GATES GORGE (B, L, D)
Ancient Artifacts and the Iron Gates
CLASSIC
Visit the Fortress of Golubac, one of the best preserved medieval fortresses in Europe. You’ll hear about its tumultuous history as a border control for defense in the Middle Ages, and a source of conflict between Serbia, the Habsburg Monarchy and the Ottoman Empire.

Enjoy a brief sailing to Donji Milanovac. CLASSIC
Join a Guided Tour to the Mesolithic archaeological site of Lepenski Vir with unique views of the Danube Gorge.

Sail through the spectacular and narrow Iron Gates Gorge—a natural border between Serbia and Romania.

AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIDIN

DAY 7  VIDIN, BULGARIA (B, L, D)
Rocks, ruins and Balkan Beauty

Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.
CLASSIC
Join Guided Sightseeing in Vidin, followed by a Guided Tour of Belogradchik. Marvel at the remarkable rock formations on the western slopes of the Balkan Mountains, sculpted by 200 million years of natural elements.

AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ROUSSE

DAY 8  ROUSSE. VELIKO TÂRNOVO & ARBANASSI EXCURSION  (B, L, D)
Fortresses, and Folklore
CLASSIC
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 the Bulgarian Revival architecture in the 15th-century town of Arbanassi, OR:
CLASSIC
Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Bulgaria’s largest inland port and visit its impressive Holy Trinity Church, OR:
ACTIVE
Join a walk through the park with your Avalon Adventure Host.

Later, enjoy live entertainment on board with a Bulgarian folklore show.

OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO OLTENITA

DAY 9  OLTENITA, ROMANIA (DISEMBARKATION)–BUCHAREST–BRASOV (B, D)
Disembark your Ship and transfer to Bucharest.
CLASSIC
Take a Guided Tour of the Romanian capital city of Bucharest with its tree-lined boulevards and Arc de Triomphe—honoring WWI Romanian soldiers. See the Royal Palace Square—the scene of the city’s 1989 riots to overthrow the communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu.

After the visit drive to Brasov for the night.

DAY 10  BRASOV (B, D)
CLASSIC
Enjoy a Guided Tour of Brasov and admire its gothic, baroque and renaissance architecture.

In the evening depart for Bran Castle of Dracula lore.

CLASSIC
Take a Guided Tour of Bran Castle—the 1377 legendary home of the famed Romanian vampire, followed by a dinner in this amazing location.

DAY 11  BRASOV–SINAIA–BUCHAREST (B)
The “Paris of the East.”
CLASSIC
Enjoy a Guided Tour of Visit Peles Castle the summer residence of the royal family until 1947.

Drive out the Carpathians to Bucharest and spend some free time exploring this fascinating city on your own to discover its trendy shops, cafés, museums, beautiful homes, and churches along Victory Avenue.

DAY 12  BUCHAREST (B)

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.


• In the event of technical or water level issues, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or alter the program, including hotel overnight when necessary.
• Guided Tours, Optional Excursions, activities, sailing and docking schedules may be contingent on weather conditions or other issues outside of our control and could therefore be subject to change at any time.
• Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.