MS Vivaldi, 11 Night Along the Danube, the Balkan peninsula and Budapest ex Bucharest, Romania to Budapest, Hungary

From Romania to Hungary via Serbia, you’ll be surprised and delighted by this cruise that will take you to the heart of Eastern Europe. You will discover cities with remarkable landscapes and elegant architecture such as Novi Sad, the capital of the province of Vojvodina regarded as the “Serbian Athens”, whose cultural and artistic backgrounds will surprise you. Do not miss out on Ruse, one of the largest ports in Bulgaria and a true melting pot of Bulgarian and Romanian cultures.

Day 1
You’ll be greeted by an English-speaking guide at the airport before being transferred to Predeal, the highest city in Romania at 1,060 m (3,477 feet) and a prominent winter sports resort. You’ll check into your 4-star hotel for dinner and the night.

Day 2
Full-day included excursion: Sighisoara. The colorful old town in Sighisoara contains a thousand years of history in its streets, along its ramparts, and at the hourly toll of the clock tower. The well-preserved medieval center has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll visit the house where Vlad the Impaler, the historical character who inspired Bram Stoker, was supposedly born. The ground floor hosts a restaurant, while a tiny weapon museum occupies the second floor. We’ll enjoy lunch in a local restaurant before continuing on to Brasov, founded by the Teutonic Knights in the 13th century. We’ll visit the Black Church, the largest Gothic structure in Romania. Its 4,000-pipe organ dates back to 1839. The stained glass windows, 119 oriental rugs from between the 15th and 18th centuries, statues, and Italian Renaissance paintings are simply superb. We’ll then head to the Old Town Hall Square, where colorfully painted Baroque buildings form an exceptional panorama. A Capitoline Wolf, one of the most recognizable icons of ancient mythology depicting the legend of the founding of Rome, stands in front of the City Hall.Our coach will then take you to the hotel for dinner and the night.

Day 3
Included full-day excursion: Guided tour of Sibiu, the Brukenthal National Museum, and the Lutheran Cathedral of Saint Mary. We’ll leave by coach for Sibiu. Located in the heart of Romania alongside the Cibin River, charming Sibiu entrances visitors all year round. Sibiu feels like a time capsule, with houses dating back to 1380 lining the narrow cobblestone streets, staircases leading to the lower town, the imposing Lutheran Cathedral whose construction spanned two centuries, and the “Large” and “Small” squares surrounded by traditional buildings. Brukenthal National Museum, once a palace, is worth a detour for its historical furniture and works of art. Admire the colorful friezes and 18th-century instruments under the chandelier in the Music Hall before strolling through the other rooms containing 17th-century portraits, satin-covered fainting couches, and old jewelry boxes—all in a sumptuously preserved environment. We’ll continue on to the impressive and beautiful cathedral, a Lutheran church that follows the Augsburg Confession. We’ll then head to Sibiel to visit the Museum of the Icons on Glass. The museum houses the largest exposition of icons on glass—art emerging from the Orthodox Christian Church tradition and the imagination of the Romanian peasant painters. The museum was named after Father Zosim Oance, a revered local priest who collected the vibrant icons. We’ll enjoy lunch in a local restaurant before taking the road to Bran Castle. Tour of Bran Castle. Legendary and popular Bran Castle, commonly called Dracula’s Castle, sits on a cliff between Transylvania and Wallachia. Built between 1377 and 1388, the castle is an important Romanian monument, whose illustration inspired Bram Stroker when describing Dracula’s imaginary castle. We’ll return to the hotel for dinner and the night.

Day 4
Join us for an included excursion to Peles Castle and the Sinaia Monastery.(3) We will leave by coach for Sinaia to visit the superb 19th-century Peles Castle, the former summer residence of the Romanian royal family. King Carol I commissioned the construction of the palace after falling in love with the mountain scenery, and it is now the small city’s major tourist attraction. The immense rooms within the castle are bursting with works of art and decoration, including giant Murano glass chandeliers, stained glass windows, teak woodwork, and all sorts of local touches. The monumental marble staircase leads up to the Hall of Honor, where the family received many royal guests. The next stop will be the Sinaia Monastery, home to a few dozen remaining monks. Notable sites at the monastery include the New Church built in 1846, with icons gifted by Czar Nicholas II of Russia in 1903, and the small history museum that holds several treasures, including the first translation of the Bible in Romanian from 1668.We’ll enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, you’ll take an approximate 3.5-hour trip to Oltenita. Passengers are welcome to board our ship at 6 p.m. Our ship will sail towards Cernavoda through the night.

Day 5
We’ll spend the morning cruising on the Danube-Black Sea Canal. The completion of the Danube-Black Sea Canal is a colossal work in the history of Communism in Romania and Eastern Europe. Arrival late in the morning in Constanta. Excursion for both packages: guided tour of Constanta and local wine tasting. Our ship will cruise through the night towards Cernavoda.

Day 6
Morning sailing to Oltenita.In the afternoon, excursion for both packages: visit Bucharest, nicknamed “Little Paris” in the ’30s. Welcoming and full of life, the Romanian capital leaves no one indifferent. Its monumental avenues are punctuated by beautiful gardens, parks and surprising alleyways. Communism may have changed the face of the city, as evidenced by the gigantic Palace of Parliament, but the “Little Paris of the Balkans” has retained the joie de vivre of a mixed-race city with a 19th-century feel. Return to Ruse.

Day 7
Join us on an optional excursion for both packages: Full-day excursion to Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi, including lunch at a restaurant. We’ll return on board in Ruse. Enjoy dinner and an evening of traditional folk entertainment on board.

Day 8
Join us on an optional excursion for both packages: Tour of Ruse, a very attractive town thanks to the wide avenues, large squares and wonderful buildings which pay tribute to the national Renaissance architecture. The afternoon will be spent cruising.

Day 9
The entire day will be spent cruising on the Danube. Our ship will pass through the Iron Gates, the gorge on the Danube that forms part of the boundary between Serbia and Romania. It was called “The Cauldrons” by ancient sailors, since the water, held tightly between two steep cliffs, seemed to be boiling.

Day 10
Join us for the optional excursions proposed:CLASSIC: Guided tour of Belgrade whose rich cultural heritage will surprise you.DISCOVERY: Discover Belgrade by bike. You’ll cycle along the history-filled streets with your guide who will explain the city’s recent past from World War II to current times.In the afternoon, join us on an optional excursion for both packages: Discover the multi-ethnic city of Novi Sad, the industrial and financial center of the Serbian economy and a major cultural center, and the Krusedol Monastery.We’ll return on board in Novi Sad and keep cruising towards Osijek.

Day 11
Join us for the optional excursions proposed:CLASSIC: Guided tour of Osijek.DISCOVERY: Discover Osijek by bike. The old part of the town, Tvr?a, was built at the beginning of the 18th century and is a dream to cycle through. It is the best-preserved, largest ensemble of Baroque buildings in Croatia.We’ll spend the afternoon cruising towards Mohacs and through customs before sailing on to Budapest. Tonight’s our gala dinner and evening. Our ship will cruise through the night.

Day 12
Enjoy one last buffet breakfast on board before disembarking at 9:00 a.m. End of our services.

The MS Vivaldi is named after one of the greatest virtuosos in the history of music, who notably composed “The Four Seasons”. The ship sails on the Danube, and takes passengers to discover the many wonders offered by this romantic river. The MS Vivaldi is a superb Premium ship, measuring 110 meters long and 11,40 meters wide. It can accommodate 176 passengers, in 88 cabins spread over three decks. The size of each cabin is between 9 m2 and 13 m2, offering amenities and providing guests with all the comforts they need during their stay. The decoration is stylish and its atmosphere, both elegant and friendly, and in perfect harmony with its surroundings. Located on the middle deck, the restaurant offers a delicate cuisine in a refined setting, where large bay windows allow guests to fully enjoy the panorama. Also situated on the middle deck is the lounge / bar with a dance floor, while a piano bar welcomes passengers on the upper deck, in an intimate and cozy atmosphere. Comfortable sun loungers are provided on the sun deck, with a large shaded area, the ideal place to relax and admire the surrounding landscapes.

CroisiEurope has a fleet of Prestige category boats with cabins, which ply the most beautiful rivers in Europe. Spacious and light, they offer a welcoming and refined setting. Accommodation capacity varies from 100 to 180 passengers depending on the boat’s design. At the cutting edge of technology, their facilities offer comfort and safety.

Carefully maintained and partially renovated each year, the CroisiEurope fleet is largely made up of recently built vessels, less than five years old, all with Veritas certification. The leading European river tour operator, our company owes its international reputation to its seriousness, its dynamism, its sense of innovation and its recognised value for money of long standing.

Vessels are rated four-star and food is superb – as you’d expect on a French-owned cruise line, staffed by French chefs and with top French and German wines aboard. One cruise of the Rhone and Saone Rivers in France concentrates on gastronomy and traditional French cusine, visiting Collonges Abbey, renowned for its great French chef, Paul Bocuse.

CroisiEurope is a family-owned and operated firm, with brothers and sisters running different aspects of the company and keeping a close eye on all operations to ensure excellence.

River cruising offers much free fun. Wake in the morning and observe the passing riverside scenery through your cabin window – perhaps from your bed. Gaze upon village churches or a patchwork of fields sparkling in the morning sun.

CroisiEurope’s network traverses a phenomenal number of European rivers and waterways. They range from the Guadalquivir and Guadiana (flowing through Spain and Portugal respectively); the Douro in Portugal, the Po and Venice Lagoon in Italy; the Rhone in Provence, plus the Seine from Paris to the Normandy Coast. And there’s more: the Moselle, the Neckar, the Saar, the Oder, the Havel, the Baltic Sea, the Camarge, the Rhine, the Main and the mighty Danube; the Tisza and the Black Sea; the Belgian and Dutch waterways. Everything from tulip time in Holland to Christmas Markets in Germany.

Drinks included with on board meals: mineral water, house wine, beer, fruit juice, and tea or coffee.

Select the Deck to view detail.

MS Vivaldi - Main Deck

MS Vivaldi - Middle Deck

MS Vivaldi - Upper Deck

MS Vivaldi - Sun Deck

Select the Cabin to view detail.

Main Deck 1 double bed

All cabins are fitted out to give them a maximum of space and light and feature warm colours and furnishings. Beds are 2 lower that can be joined to make a double if required. They have a Floor to Ceiling window. Main deck : 26 cabins (18 twins, 8 double cabins). Equipements : all cabins are equipped with shower and toilet, hairdryer, satellite TV, radio, safe.

Middle Deck 1 double bed

All cabins are fitted out to give them a maximum of space and light and feature warm colours and furnishings. Beds are 2 lower that can be joined to make a double if required. They have a Floor to Ceiling window. Middle deck : 21 cabins (12 twins, 8 double cabins, 1 HA G cabin). HA G = cabin equipped for disabled with double bed. Equipements : all cabins are equipped with shower and toilet, hairdryer, satellite TV, radio, safe.

Upper Deck 1 double bed

All cabins are fitted out to give them a maximum of space and light and feature warm colours and furnishings. Beds are 2 lower that can be joined to make a double if required. They have a Floor to Ceiling window. Upper deck : 41 cabins (39 twins, 2 double cabins). Equipements : all cabins are equipped with shower and toilet, hairdryer, satellite TV, radio, safe.

Middle Deck Double Bed - Reduced Mobility Cabin

All cabins are fitted out to give them a maximum of space and light and feature warm colours and furnishings. Beds are 2 lower that can be joined to make a double if required. They have a Floor to Ceiling window. Middle deck : 21 cabins (12 twins, 8 double cabins, 1 HA G cabin). HA G = cabin equipped for disabled with double bed. Equipements : all cabins are equipped with shower and toilet, hairdryer, satellite TV, radio, safe.

Upper deck 2 adjustable twin beds

All cabins are fitted out to give them a maximum of space and light and feature warm colours and furnishings.

Beds are 2 lower that can be joined to make a double if required. They have a Floor to Ceiling window. Upper deck : 41 cabins (39 twins, 2 double cabins). Equipements : all cabins are equipped with shower and toilet,
hairdryer, satellite TV, radio, safe.

Middle deck 2 adjustable twin beds

All cabins are fitted out to give them a maximum of space and light and feature warm colours and furnishings.

Beds are 2 lower that can be joined to make a double if required. They have a Floor to Ceiling window. Middle deck : 21 cabins (12 twins, 8 double cabins, 1 HA G cabin). HA G = cabin equipped for disabled with double bed. Equipements : all cabins are equipped with shower and toilet,
hairdryer, satellite TV, radio, safe.

Main deck 2 adjustable twin beds

All cabins are fitted out to give them a maximum of space and light and feature warm colours and furnishings.

Beds are 2 lower that can be joined to make a double if required. They have a Floor to Ceiling window. Main deck : 26 cabins (18 twins, 8 double cabins). Equipements : all cabins are equipped with shower and toilet,
hairdryer, satellite TV, radio, safe.