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The Iron Gates Gorge- Belgrade, on the banks of the Sava River
- Rousse has a mix of architectural styles
Through the Carpathian Mountains: Bucharest to Budapest
£2,413 per person
10 nights Including optional travel insurance or a price reduction of £66 if not required
save up to 15%
save £350 per person on Apr 13, 2024
How our discounts work
On all cruises we set aside a number of cabins within each grade at a discounted fare, with the highest discount of 35% for ocean cruises and 25% for river cruises available on selected grades. These cabins are sold on a first come, first served basis. As cabins are sold, the discount begins to reduce, and continues to reduce until those selected cabins are sold. This means that the earlier you book, the higher the chance of securing a greater discount. Our price panels clearly show the full cruise price, along with the current discount fare. Please note: During busy periods for holiday bookings, the early booking discount can reduce rapidly. We recommend that you book early to benefit from the best booking discounts and to secure your preferred cabin and grade. When promoting new cruises for the first time, we contact customers on our Advanced Registration list first, allowing then to secure the cabin of their choice and benefit from the best savings. Our brochures are then sent out to loyalty club members first, followed by past cruise goers and then everyone else.-
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Explore the culture and scenery of the Danube
Discover the highlights of Bucharest, such as the Palace of the Parliament and Cotroceni Palace, during an overnight hotel stay in the city.
Then, embark Spirit of the Danube for an all-inclusive river cruise through the scenic Danube Delta and along the Danube. Enjoy an included tour of Rousse, which is characterized by grand buildings with Austrian-style architecture.
Continue through the dramatic scenery of the Iron Gates gorge, where the river is framed by towering rock cliffs. Explore Belgrade on an included tour and visit to Kalemegdan Fortress, before spending a morning in the Croatian city of Vukovar.
Finally, discover the rich history of Budapest on an included tour.
This cruise is also available with a reverse itinerary, with slightly different ports: Through the Carpathian Mountains: Budapest to Bucharest.
Itinerary
Hotel
Travel to Bucharest and stay overnight at a 4-star hotel in the city.
Romania’s capital city is known for its wide tree-lined avenues and Belle Epoque architecture. Highlights include the Palace of the Parliament, Cotroceni Palace where the President of Romania resides and historic Cretulescu Palace.
Spirit of the Danube
After breakfast at your hotel, check out and transfer to Harsova where you will embark Spirit of the Danube.
Scenic Cruise, Danube Delta.
Arrive St Georghe, 0800. Depart 1100.
Enjoy the scenery as you cruise the Danube Delta. Much of it is a protected reserve, as the meandering river, reed beds and groves of willow, oak and poplar provide sanctuary for over 300 species of bird.
From St Georghe you may like to join an optional small boat cruise further into this UNESCO-listed Biosphere Reserve.
Arrive 1800.
The city of Rousse prospered from its location on the Danube and is home to many grand buildings with Austrian-style architecture. A good example is the Building of the Tax Administration with its elaborate facade.
Your ship will pause in Oltenița on the way to Rousse in order for you to join an included tour of Rousse this afternoon.
Depart Rousse, 0400.
Arrive Svistov, 0900. Depart 1400.
The riverside town of Svistov is a centre for fishing and agriculture.
Relax on board Spirit of the Danube as she passes through the dramatic Iron Gates gorge and on past the Decebalus Face, a colossal carving in the rocks depicting the last king of Dacia.
This strikingly scenic stretch of river is framed on both sides by sheer cliffs that are dotted with frills of greenery. In ancient times the water level in the Iron Gates gorge was much lower and it was considered one of the most dangerous stretches of river in Europe to navigate.
The riverbed rocks and low water levels combined to make this part of the river particularly treacherous for passing ships, but now a complex system of dams and locks ensures this is no longer the case.
Arrive 0900. Depart 2200.
Set at the confluence of the Sava and Danube Rivers, Belgrade is considered to be the meeting point of Eastern and Western Europe. It's a city with a chequered past, having been destroyed and rebuilt 20 times during its 2,000-year history!
This morning, on an included excursion you'll be able to see its key attractions including the cathedral and St Sava Temple and visit the Kalemegdan fortress, which dates mostly from the late 18th century and contains the tomb of the Turkish Grand Vezir, Ali Pasha.
Arrive 1000. Depart 1300.
The city of Vukovar lies in Slavonia, a region of Croatia which was ruled by Rome until the 5th century, and later settled by the Slavs – hence the name.
A thriving city before the Yugoslav War, Vukovar was also the site of one of the biggest battles during the break up of Yugoslavia and many shell scarred buildings have been preserved in memoriam – the baroque and classical pre-war architecture can be seen in the historic city centre.
Arrive 1600.
Budapest is a city made up of two parts: Buda and Pest, built on opposite banks of the Danube. The cities have been officially united since 1873, but they are still very different in character.
Buda is the older and more graceful, with its cobbled streets, medieval architecture and UNESCO-listed Buda Castle, while Pest is the administrative and commercial centre, with wide avenues and 19th-century public buildings.
An included excursion this morning will reveal some of the city’s highlights.
Disembark Spirit of the Danube after breakfast and begin your return journey.
Including...
1 night Half Board at the hotel
9 nights All Inclusive† on the ship
Cruise Director
Plus…
- Drinks reception and Captain's dinner
- Complimentary Wi-Fi on board
- Entertainment and activities on board
- All gratuities on board
- Return flights and transfers
Included excursions
- Rousse city tour
- Belgrade city tour and visit to the Kalemegdan Fortress
- Budapest city tour
Interactive maps and audio headsets for independent exploration.
†The included drinks are available from 9am to midnight and include non-branded alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
£2,413 per person
10 nights Including optional travel insurance or a price reduction of £66 if not required
save up to 15%
save £350 per person on Apr 13, 2024
How our discounts work
On all cruises we set aside a number of cabins within each grade at a discounted fare, with the highest discount of 35% for ocean cruises and 25% for river cruises available on selected grades. These cabins are sold on a first come, first served basis. As cabins are sold, the discount begins to reduce, and continues to reduce until those selected cabins are sold. This means that the earlier you book, the higher the chance of securing a greater discount. Our price panels clearly show the full cruise price, along with the current discount fare. Please note: During busy periods for holiday bookings, the early booking discount can reduce rapidly. We recommend that you book early to benefit from the best booking discounts and to secure your preferred cabin and grade. When promoting new cruises for the first time, we contact customers on our Advanced Registration list first, allowing then to secure the cabin of their choice and benefit from the best savings. Our brochures are then sent out to loyalty club members first, followed by past cruise goers and then everyone else.£2,413 per person
10 nights Including optional travel insurance or a price reduction of £66 if not required