Esprit, 12 Night Budapest to the Black Sea – Eastbound ex Budapest, Hungary to Bucharest, Romania

Explore the romantic lower Danube through the heart of Central Europe, where East and West meet and intertwine in fascinating cultures and turbulent history… Glide past medieval monasteries, citadels and villages…
Discover resort towns along Romania’s Black Sea Coast, explore an ancient Christian necropolis in Pecs, and visit “Dracula’s” castle in Transylvania… dine in a palace in Bucharest… Share homemade refreshments in the home of a Croatian family rebuilding their lives in postwar Vukovar… and experience authentic local cuisine, music and dance, and a wealth of architectural wonders as your river cruise winds its way through Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania, with nights on land at luxury hotels in the popular cities of Bucharest and Budapest (the Paris of Eastern Europe).

Day 1
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Al Habtoor Palace Budapest. A transfer is included from Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport and Budapest-Keleti Station to Al Habtoor Palace Budapest in the heart of the city. Meet your fellow travelers and Tauck Directors tonight at the welcome cocktail reception and dinner.

Day 2
Once independent cities located on opposite sides of the Danube, Buda and Pest joined together when they were linked by the Chain Bridge in the mid-19th century to become Hungary’s cosmopolitan capital, Budapest. You have a choice of Budapest discoveries this morning. You can choose to join Tauck’s local guides for sightseeing in Pest starting with a visit to St. Stephen’s Basilica, Budapest’s neo-Renaissance cathedral completed in 1905; continuing with Pest’s impressive mix of architectural masterpieces and historic monuments, including City Park, patriotic Heroes’ Square with its statues of Hungarian leaders through the ages, the Gothic-Revival Parliament building and tree-lined Andrassy Avenue; and time spent wandering through bustling Central Market Hall, a veritable showcase of Hungarian life from food to gifts and cafés. Or you can choose to spend the morning touring the Pest side of the city by bicycle with a local guide (you’ll need to be comfortable riding a bicycle in a city environment). The rest of the day and evening are yours to enjoy the city as you like.

Day 3
Today’s exploration of Buda begins with a visit the Hungarian Parliament building, rich with history; it is nothing short of an architectural masterpiece. Next, travel to Castle Hill, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where a guided walking tour introduces architectural landmarks such as well-known Fisherman’s Bastion. Go back to the days of World War II and the Cold War at the Sziklakórház (“Hospital in the Rock”), a museum recreating underground military medical and civil defense facilities in a former secret nuclear bunker hidden beneath Buda Castle. Following lunch at a local restaurant, enjoy some time to explore more of Budapest as you please, then board your riverboat to begin your cruise. Join us tonight for a welcome toast followed by dinner onboard.

Day 4
Arrive in Mohacs this morning and travel to Pécs for a walking tour. Here you’ll also explore the fascinating Christian Necropolis, a complex dating back to the 4th century that includes underground burial chambers and chapels adorned with early Christian art and frescoes, a UNESCO World Heritage site. In the 19th century, Pécs was famous worldwide for the exquisite Zsolnay porcelain manufactured here, and your visit includes a stop at the Zsolnay Museum for a look at its stunning examples of Art Nouveau stoneware, tiles and pottery. Visit a winery in Villány for lunch (this region is renowned for its red wines) then return to Mohacs for dinner aboard ship.

Day 5
Your riverboat exploration of the lower Danube cruises into Croatia; an onboard lecture by a local expert provides insights into the country’s culture and history. Dock in the Baroque city of Vukovar, once showcasing opulent 18th-century mansions, but now poignantly symbolizing the effects of the 1990s war as it rebuilds; visit the home of a Vukovar family who have recently returned to resume their lives in the city after the conflict, who will share homemade refreshments with you. Reboard your riverboat for lunch and cruise to Novi Sad, Serbia, enhanced by commentary by your Tauck Directors. You’ll have a little free time this evening to explore Novi Sad before your cruise continues to Belgrade.

Day 6
Dock in Belgrade, Serbia’s eclectic, cosmopolitan capital at the juncture of the Danube and Sava rivers. You can choose to spend the morning touring the “New Belgrade” section of the city by bicycle with a local guide (you’ll need to be comfortable riding a bicycle in a city environment); or join our local guides for a city tour that includes visits to Tito’s Memorial and the formidable Kalemegdan Fortress, and views of busy Slavija Square (now one of the city’s major squares, but once a large pool where residents hunted wild ducks!), Parliament, Republic Square and City Hall. After lunch onboard your ship (or own your own in town), you have the afternoon free to spend as you please. Following onboard entertainment by Serbian performers during cocktail hour, you’ll return to shore for this evening’s sparkling Tauck Exclusive – dinner at the Royal White Palace of the Serbian Royal Family in Belgrade, built in the 1930s for members of the Yugoslavian royal family and set within the same complex as the Royal Palace of Dedinje, today home to HRH Crown Prince Alexander II of Serbia and his family.

Day 7
Continuing your Budapest river cruise, relax on a day’s sail past the fields and vineyards of Eastern Europe. Pass into Romania and through the Kazan Narrows and the Iron Gate of the Danube, a two-mile-long series of narrow gorges between the Carpathian and Balkan mountain ranges. As you glide along the Bulgarian / Serbian border, look for the massive monument of the 2nd-century Dacian King, Decebalus, the last king of Dacia who fought to preserve the independence of his country (now known as Romania). Completed in 2004, it’s Europe’s tallest rock sculpture, carved into the riverbank on the Romanian side. Savor views of the Transylvanian Alps as you cruise to Bulgaria. Join us tonight for the Chef’s signature dinner.

Day 8
Your Budapest river cruise along the Danube takes you to Bulgaria today; largely off limits during four centuries of Ottoman rule and decades behind the Iron Curtain, the country’s rich natural beauty and history is yours to discover for yourself. Disembark after lunch in Ruse – often referred to as “Little Vienna” for its Art Nouveau homes, Austro-Hungarian architecture and lively cafés – for a choice of afternoon sightseeing. You may join us for a guided walking tour of the Basarabov rock church, and its easily-accessible chapel, or alternatively, embark on a vigorous hike to the celebrated rock churches in the village of Ivanovo, whose stony chambers carved into steep, cliffside caves reveal stunning medieval frescoes inside; a visit is richly rewarding. Afterwards, both groups will convene in Ruse before returning to the riverboat.

Day 9
Spend the morning cruising the Danube all the way to Constanta, Romania on the Black Sea coast. Upon your arrival in the early afternoon, take a guided tour of this historic port city, originally the ancient Greek colony of Tomis and home to numerous Greek and Roman antiquities; sights include an Art-Nouveau casino and a monument to the Roman poet Ovid, who was exiled here by the Emperor Augustus. Then it’s on to Mamaia, the largest seaside resort on the Black Sea, for some time at leisure to enjoy the beach before returning to the riverboat, docked in Constanta, for your final night aboard your Budapest river cruise. Join us for the ship’s farewell reception and dinner onboard this evening.

Day 10
Disembark your riverboat in Constanta and travel to Bucharest, capital of Romania and once regarded as the “Paris of the Balkans.” A sightseeing tour of city landmarks includes Revolution Square and the Triumphal Arch; erected to commemorate Romania’s reunification and those who fell in World War I, it is a smaller but otherwise exact copy of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Lunch in the Old Town, the city’s charming historic center; a former enclave of artisans and merchants in the 16th century, it’s now a trendy district of old inns, antique shops, galleries, and cafes, riddled with winding networks of vaulted cellars, cobblestone streets and passageways. Settle in for the next two nights at at your historic hotel in the heart of the city; if you wish, have dinner at the hotel tonight, or choose to enjoy a lunch or dinner at the hotel at another time during your stay.

Day 11
A choice of sightseeing today echoes the legacy of 15th-century Romanian prince Vlad Tepes (a.k.a. “Vlad the Impaler”), thought to be the historical model for Bram Stoker’s Dracula. You may choose to take a full-day excursion to Transylvania’s 14th-century Bran Castle, which Tepes once used as a fortress during his military campaigns; the excursion includes a visit to the castle and free time in Bran. Alternatively, you can travel on a full-day excursion into the Carpathian Mountains to the mountain resort town of Sinaia for a visit to a nearby castle. Or, drive to Targoviste to visit the formal royal court of Vlad the Tepes a.k.a. Dracula, and the military barracks museum where the trial and execution of Romania’s Communist leader, Ceausescu, took place. Return to Bucharest for free time and dinner as you please.

Day 12
Discover more of Romania’s capital on a choice of morning sightseeing, either visiting the National Art Museum or the Ceausescu Villa, before ending in Bucharest’s Old Town. Following an afternoon spent pursuing what interests you most in the city, join us this evening as we travel to a Tauck Exclusive at the Bragadiru Palace (a.k.a the Palace of Culture). Named after founder Dumitru Marinescu Bragadiru, one of Romania’s most important industrialists, the palace was originally used as a brewery and a performance hall before being confiscated in the 1940’s (later returning to the descendants of Bragadiru in the early 2000’s). Your tour concludes this evening with a special farewell reception and dinner.

Day 13
Tour ends: Bucharest. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from InterContinental Athénée Palace Bucharest to Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport and Bucuresti Gara de Nord; please allow 3 hours for flight check-in at the airport.

One of our Jewel-class riverboats, ms Esprit and her sister ships accommodate no more than 118 guests, while similar-sized riverboats average about 160. Guest amenities inside her 14 lush 300-square-foot suites include brocade upholstery, roomy walk-in closets with built-in drawers, spacious marble baths with full-size tubs, and two French balconies with floor-to-ceiling windows that open to idyllic riverscapes. She also sports seven 183-square-foot cabins, similarly furnished. Standard cabins (150 square feet) are cozy and comfortable and are similar in décor and style to our larger suites. 85% have floor-to-ceiling windows with real French balconies that open on to a balcony in the fresh air; all have in-room movies, minibar, adjustable heating and cooling, private bathroom and shower with Molton Brown toiletries.

Inspirational cruising… and the promise of fun. Cruise travel at its best.

What makes Tauck’s Small Ship Cruising and River Cruising unique is our focus on the destination – in scenic ports of call that connect you with people and places… moving, compelling and heart-warming experiences onboard and ashore… inspiration through Tauck’s cruise travel. We cast anchor in pristine bays, off island beaches and at docks accustomed to personal yachts… in small towns and villages along the great rivers of Europe… and in some of the world’s favorite cities. Our time ashore is enriched by in-depth cultural exploration and insider access that ensures up-close-and-personal connections with the locals and daily life. Our cruise travel adventures include guided sightseeing with local experts such as naturalists, historians, and accomplished lecturers. You’ll dine on regional cuisine on land at aboard ship that showcases specialties of the destination. And after a day of extraordinary sightseeing, we welcome you back onboard our hand-picked vessels for warm camaraderie and lively conversation that’s inherent on every Tauck cruise travel experience. The stories are endless, the memories are timeless and the connections priceless.

Select the Deck to view detail.

Esprit - Emerald Deck

Esprit - Ruby Deck

Esprit - Diamond Deck

Esprit - Sun Deck

Select the Cabin to view detail.

Category 7 - Suite

14 luxurious 300-square-foot Category 7 suites on the Diamond Deck boast two floor-to-ceiling French balconies with sliding door and large marble baths with full-size tubs.

Suite Features:
Elegantly designed 300 sq. ft. suites
Bed size: 62 inches X 77 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration)
400 thread count cotton linenswhite duvets and pillows of mako cotton with hypoallergenic 90% down filling
Two floor-to-ceiling French Balconies, each 98 inches wide x 75 inches high each with one sliding door that opens
Quad cabin made possible by pullout couch (only for children)
Large bathroom with marble bath and separate shower and bathtub
Molton Brown toiletries – a Tauck Exclusive
Terry-cloth bathrobe plus slippers
Coffee maker plus mini-bar stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks replenished daily
32” LED TV
Breakfast room service
Iron plus ironing board
220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom
Pull-out couch, two club chairs & coffee table, a desk and a TV credenza
Walk-in closet and dresser
Easy under-bed luggage storage
Telephone, safe and individual climate control
Onboard wi-fi available

Category 6 - Cabin

Four 183-square-foot Category 6 cabins, each featuring a floor-to-ceiling French balcony with one sliding door, are situated in the fore and aft corners of the Diamond Deck.

Cabin Features:

Elegantly designed 183 sq. ft. cabins
Bed size: 62 inches X 77 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration)
400 thread count cotton linenswhite duvets and pillows of mako cotton with hypoallergenic 90% down filling
One floor-to-ceiling French Balcony (98 inches wide x 75 inches high) with one sliding door that opens
Marble bath with shower
Molton Brown toiletries – a Tauck Exclusive
Terry-cloth bathrobe plus slippers
Refrigerator stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks replenished daily
32” LED TV
220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom
Two chairs plus a desk
Built-in closet with drawers
Easy under-bed luggage storage
Telephone, safe and individual climate control
Onboard wi-fi available

Category 5 - Cabin

Set forward on the Ruby Deck, two spacious, well-appointed Category 5 cabins measure 183 square feet and sport one floor-to-ceiling French balcony with one sliding door.

Cabin Features:

Elegantly designed 183 sq. ft. cabins
Bed size: 62 inches X 77 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration)
400 thread count cotton linenswhite duvets and pillows of mako cotton with hypoallergenic 90% down filling
One floor-to-ceiling French Balcony (98 inches wide x 75 inches high) with one sliding door that opens
Marble bath with shower
Molton Brown toiletries – a Tauck Exclusive
Terry-cloth bathrobe plus slippers
Refrigerator stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks replenished daily
32” LED TV
220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom
Two chairs plus a desk
Built-in closet with drawers
Easy under-bed luggage storage
Telephone, safe and individual climate control
Onboard wi-fi available

Category 4 - Cabin

Thirty 150-square-foot Category 4 cabins, all located on the Ruby Deck, feature one floor-to-ceiling French balcony with one sliding door for superior views.

Cabin Features:

Elegantly designed 150 sq. ft. cabins
Bed size: 62 inches X 77 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration)
400 thread count cotton linenswhite duvets and pillows of mako cotton with hypoallergenic 90% down filling
One floor-to-ceiling French Balcony (98 inches wide x 75 inches high) with one sliding door that opens
Marble bath with shower
Molton Brown toiletries – a Tauck Exclusive
Terry-cloth bathrobe plus slippers
Refrigerator stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks replenished daily
32” LED TV
220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom
Two chairs plus a desk
Built-in closets with drawers
Easy under-bed luggage storage
Telephone, safe and individual climate control
Onboard wi-fi available

Category 3 - Cabin

Two 150-square-foot Category 3 cabins, located on the Ruby Deck, feature one floor-to-ceiling French balcony with one sliding door for superior views.

Cabin Features:

Elegantly designed 150 sq. ft. cabins
Bed size: 62 inches X 77 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration)
400 thread count cotton linenswhite duvets and pillows of mako cotton with hypoallergenic 90% down filling
One floor-to-ceiling French Balcony (98 inches wide x 75 inches high) with one sliding door that opens
Marble bath with shower
Molton Brown toiletries – a Tauck Exclusive
Terry-cloth bathrobe plus slippers
Refrigerator stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks replenished daily
32” LED TV
220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom
Two chairs plus a desk
Built-in closet with drawers
Easy under-bed luggage storage
Telephone, safe and individual climate control
Onboard wi-fi available

Category 2 - Cabin

One spacious, elegantly appointed Category 2 cabin is located forward on the Emerald deck, measuring 183 square feet and featuring a roomy marble bath with shower.

Cabin Features:

Elegantly designed 183 sq. ft. cabin
Bed size: 62 inches X 77 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration)
400 thread count cotton linenswhite duvets and pillows of mako cotton with hypoallergenic 90% down filling
Marble bath with shower
Molton Brown toiletries – a Tauck Exclusive
Terry-cloth bathrobe plus slippers
Refrigerator stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks replenished daily
32” LED TV
220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom
Two chairs plus a desk
Built-in closet with drawers
Easy under-bed luggage storage
Telephone, safe and individual climate control
Onboard wi-fi available

Category 1 - Cabin

Situated on the Emerald deck, eight 150-square-foot Category 1 cabins each feature a marble bath with shower with Molton Brown toiletries, a Tauck Exclusive.

Cabin Features:

Elegantly designed 150 sq. ft. cabins
Bed size: 62 inches X 77 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration)
400 thread count cotton linenswhite duvets and pillows of mako cotton with hypoallergenic 90% down filling
Two 2’ x 3’ windows
Marble bath with shower
Molton Brown toiletries – a Tauck Exclusive
Terry-cloth bathrobe plus slippers
Refrigerator stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks replenished daily
32” LED TV
220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom
Two chairs plus a desk
Built-in closet with drawers
Easy under-bed luggage storage
Telephone, safe and individual climate control
Onboard wi-fi available