Five countries, all unique in their own way, accompany the Danube on its journey through Eastern Europe. Enjoy a city stay in Bucharest, the vibrant Romanian capital, before joining your cruise in Arbanasi where you will attend a choir concert.
Embark on a guided city tour of Belgrade, returning to your Star-Ship for a traditional Serbian folklore evening show. In Osijek, visit a local Croatian family for home-hosted lunch and then spend your day in rural Hungary for a Puszta Horse Show in Kalocsa.
Inclusions
- 7 night river cruise from Bucharest to Budapest (or in reverse) aboard an Emerald Cruises Star-Ship
- 1 night Pre-Cruise or Post-Cruise hotel in Bucharest with breakfast
- 21 superb meals including 8 Breakfasts (B), 6 Lunches (L), 7 Dinners (D)
- Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
- Excursions and guided tours
- Complimentary Wi-Fi on board
- Complimentary Bicycles on board (when available)
- All tipping and gratuities
- Airport transfers to and from the ship
- Port taxes and charges
- Exclusive Offer – Book by Dec 21: Second Guest Sails FREE! (pays taxes only)
| May 16 – June 27, 2025* | Guest 1 |
Guest 2 (pay taxes only) |
| Riverview | from $5549 | FREE |
| Balcony | from $6589 | FREE |
| Taxes & Fees | $476 | $476 |
| No Single Supplement | ||
*Sailing dates included in the promo: May 16, June 21, 23, or 27 (subject to change without notice)
Final payment is due at booking.
Looking for other 2 for 1 River Cruises, click here
Dining Highlights:
- 21 superb meals including 8 Breakfasts (B), 6 Lunches (L), 7 Dinners (D)
- Including a Welcome and Farewell Reception & Dinner
- Complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks served with lunch and dinner on boar
Included Excursions:
- Guided walking tour of Osijek Fortress
- Guided tour of Belgrade
- Visit to Lepenski Vir archaeological site and museum
- Visit to a local vineyard with wine tasting & a visit to Baba Vida Fortress
- Tour of Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanasi
- Guided drive through Bucharest with a visit to the Spring Palace
EmeraldPlus
- Traditional Hungarian folklore show on board
- Puszta horse show
- Serbian folklore evening show on board
- Choir concert in Arbanasi
EmeraldACTIVE
- Guide bike tour in Belgrade
- Guided hike to Belogradchick Fortress
- Guided hike to Ivanovo Church
Bucharest to Budapest (or in reverse)
Day 1 Bucharest
Welcome to Bucharest, where you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel, perfectly situated in the city, for your overnight stay.
Nicknamed the ‘Paris of the East’, the centre of Bucharest encapsulates a distinctive Parisian atmosphere, with wide avenues adorned by famous landmarks and quaint leafy boulevards that cross the city.
Day 2 Bucharest – Giurgiu (B,D)
After enjoying the plush surrounds of your hotel this morning, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about some of Bucharest’s most iconic attractions during a guided drive around the city, including a visit to the Spring Palace. Then, you’ll have time to explore the leafy boulevards at your leisure.
After your insightful tour, you’ll be transferred from Bucharest to Giurgiu, on the banks of the Danube, where a warm welcome from your captain and crew awaits on board your Emerald Cruises Star-Ship.
Included Excursion
Guided drive through Bucharest with a visit to the Spring Palace
EmeraldPLUS
Choir concert
Day 3 Rousse (B,L,D)
Today, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about Bulgarian history, as you explore the city that many call “The Little Vienna”. Immerse yourself in the beauty of its Neo-Baroque and Neo-Rococo architecture and stroll along the charming promenade.If you would prefer to do something more active, then instead, you could choose to embark on a guided hike to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo, known for their famous 14th-century frescoes.
Tonight, you’ll have the chance to mingle with your fellow guests while enjoying the welcome reception and dinner.
Included Excursion
Walking tour of Rousse
EmeraldACTIVE
Guided hike to Ivanovo Church
DiscoverMORE
Full day Tour of Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanasi (extra expense)
Day 4 Vidin (B,L,D)
Viticulture forms the heart of life in the most western town in Bulgaria, where sun-kissed vineyards pepper the banks of the Danube and winemaking has prospered for generations. Your included tour of Vidin will introduce you to a peaceful side of life that revolves around wine, as you weave through a local vineyard and learn about their produce, before enjoying a tasting session. Afterwards, your local guide will take you to Baba Vida, a fortress that was originally constructed at the turn of the 10th century and is known for being one of only a handful of beautifully preserved castles in the country.
If you’re feeling more active, you can instead choose to embark on a guided hike to Belogradchik Fortress, located on the northern slopes of the Balkan Mountains.
Included Excursion
Visit to a local vineyard with wine tasting & a visit to Baba Vida Fortress
EmeraldACTIVE
Guided hike to Belogradchik Fortress
DiscoverMORE
Traditional Bulgarian pastry making (extra expense)
Day 5 Donji Milanovac – Golubac (B,L,D)
This morning, relax on board and admire your surroundings as we sail along the mighty Danube to Donji Milanovac, where a visit to the Lepenski Vir archaeological site, one of Europe’s best-hidden gems, awaits. Located right on the riverbanks, the Palaeolithic site is one of the most important of its kind on the continent, effortlessly capturing more than eight millennia of history. Archaeologists from around the world have used this site to learn about a number of different Stone Age settlements and the way that prehistoric cultures moved across Europe.
Included Excursion
Visit to Lepenski Vir archaeological site and museum
DiscoverMORE
Golubac Castle Visit (extra expense)
Day 6 Belgrade (B,L,D)
Serbia’s vibrant capital is yours to explore today. Your local guide will take you on a coach tour through the heart of the city, highlighting its many landmarks. The coach will pass through the centre, where you’ll notice reminders of the country’s turbulent history, set amongst the quiet and peaceful streets. Witness the ornate beauty of the Church of Saint Sava, one of the largest religious buildings in Europe, before stopping for a tour of the Museum of Yugoslavia. If you’re feeling more active, then you may instead choose to learn about Belgrade’s history during a guided bike tour.
This evening, you will be invited to the Horizon Lounge where a traditional Serbian folklore show will provide spectacular entertainment.
Included Excursion
Highlights of Belgrade
EmeraldPLUS
Serbian folklore evening show on board
EmeraldACTIVE
Guided bike tour in Belgrade
DiscoverMORE
Routes of Nikola Tesla (extra expense)
Day 7 Vukovar – Osijek (B,L,D)
Today, you will have the opportunity to enjoy a truly unforgettable EmeraldPLUS experience, as you’re invited into the home of a local family for a traditional Croatian lunch.
Enjoy an afternoon of sailing further up the Danube towards Hungary, before joining your fellow passengers for a farewell dinner.
EmeraldPLUS
Home-hosted lunch with a Croatian family
DiscoverMORE
Vucedol Culture Museum (extra expense)
Day 8 Kalocsa (B,L,D)
In the morning, we will sail to Kalocsa, a place known for its paprika production and colourful festivals. Discovering Hungary’s culture is an easy task in Kalocsa, where traditional folk art can be found around every corner and old traditions pave the way for daily life.
Later, you will venture to the Puszta, or Great Hungarian Plain, to visit a traditional Puszta horse farm. Your guide will teach you about the traditional performances of the Magyar cowboys, and you’ll have the opportunity to witness some of their exceptional equestrian skills first-hand as they showcase some of their exercise drills.
This evening, enjoy an authentic Hungarian folklore show on board, followed by a traditional dinner.
EmeraldPLUS
Puszta Equestrian Heritage
EmeraldPLUS
Traditional Hungarian folklore show on board
Day 9 Budapest (B)
After breakfast, it is time to say farewell to your fellow guests and transfer to the airport, taking memories of a traditional Puszta equestrian performance and viticulture on the banks of the Danube with you.
This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons such as high and low water. As such, the cruise may operate altered from that stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information.
Flexible Booking Plan
| River Cruising | Yacht Cruising |
| $125 | $200 |
- Should you choose to defer or cancel your booking, the total monies paid to us (less third-party fees) will be applied as a Future Travel Credit which is valid for 24 months for you to use on an alternate tour/cruise.
- If you do not re-book within 24 months, your FTC it will be forfeited.
- Non-refundable. Non commissionable.
- Excludes Russia cruising.
- Not available to guests using COVID Future Travel Credits
Platinum Protection Plan
The Platinum Protection Plan (“PPP”) is available for new river and ocean cruising bookings for travel after 1 January 2022 for Scenic and Emerald Cruises (“Eligible Booking”). By adding this plan, you are covered if you unable to travel due to health reasons, or your travel plans are impacted by COVID-19, up to 31 days prior to departure with a 100% refund (less airline cancellation fees and PPP cost), or a 70% refund between 15 and 30 days prior to departure (less PPP cost). The PPP must be purchased together with the Eligible Booking at time such booking is made and may not be added at a later date. The PPP is provided at a cost of $395 per person per river cruise, $495 per person per cruise on Emerald Cruises yacht cruising and $595 per person per cruise on Scenic Eclipse voyages (“PPP Fee”).
Visa Requirements
Australian, New Zealand, Canadian and US passport holders may require an ETIAS visa waiver from late 2023 when traveling to the E.U.
United Kingdom passport holders do not require visas (excluding tours that feature Russia and Turkey, where guests are required to obtain a Visa).
Visa regulations are subject to change at short notice, Scenic recommends that you contact the relevant Consulates for the latest information regarding visa requirements.
