Lower Danube River Cruise | April 26 to May 4, 2028
April 26, to May 4 2028 Lower Danube River Cruise
Discover the captivating charm, rich history, and hidden treasures of Eastern Europe on an unforgettable journey along one of the world’s most iconic rivers. Personally hosted by Prince George travel advisor Kyla Belobaba, this intimate Lower Danube River cruise invites you to experience the beauty and culture of the region as you travel between Budapest, Hungary and Bucharest, Romania.
Trade the crowds and chaos of large ocean cruises for a more relaxed, boutique-style experience. Your elegant river ship will glide effortlessly into the heart of storybook villages, medieval fortresses, and stunning landscapes that larger vessels simply can’t reach. Each day offers a new destination, a new culture to explore, and a deeper connection to the places you visit—all while enjoying the comfort of unpacking just once.
With your trusted Travel Best Bets advisor traveling alongside you, every detail—from flights and excursions to onboard experiences—is thoughtfully managed, so you can simply relax and enjoy the journey.
Itinerary Route: Bucharest to Budapest
Highlights: Medieval castles, authentic Eastern European culture, and regional culinary experiences
Travel Style: Intimate boutique river cruising with personalized group hosting
Pricing is per person and in CDN dollars
Royal Suite - $10092.00
Panorama Suite - $7921.00
---- only one Royal Suite left ------
Royal Suites offer the ultimate in river cruise indulgence with 300 square-feet of expansive accommodations, featuring a generous living area with seating and river cruising's only Open-Air Balcony®. The bedroom features a king-sized bed, second television, second sliding panoramic door, spacious bathroom with oversized shower, double sinks, and separate half-bath with toilet and sink. Thoughtfully designed for cruisers who want to go all in on space and style, Royal Suites combine elegance with comfort.
Panorama Suite - $7921.00
Panorama Suite - $7921.00
At 200 square feet – an average of 30% larger than the industry standard – Panorama Suites make up 80% of our staterooms across two full decks. These boutique-hotel-inspired spaces feature wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows that open seven feet wide, creating Avalon’s signature Open-Air Balcony. Every Comfort CollectionSM bed faces the ever-changing scenery, so your first sight each morning is a castle vineyard, or spire – not a wall. It’s the perfect fusion of indoor elegance and outdoor wonder, designed to immerse you in every destination.
Deluxe Stateroom - $5407.00
Deluxe Stateroom - $5407.00
At 172 square feet, Avalon’s Deluxe Staterooms are more spacious than the river cruise average (typically 150 square feet or less). Though compact in footprint, they’re big on thoughtful design, smart storage, and inviting comfort. Each stateroom features Avalon’s signature touches and plenty of room to relax and unwind after a day of adventure. Ideal for cruisers who prefer cozy, well-appointed spaces without sacrificing comfort, Deluxe Staterooms deliver surprising style and functionality in every detail.
Itinerary and Excursions
April 26, 2028 Oltenița, Romainia
April 26, 2028 Oltenița, Romainia
April 26, 2028 Oltenița, Romainia
Your Balkan Adventure Begins
Explore your Avalon Suite Ship® this evening and enjoy a dinner onboard.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ROUSSE
April 27, 2028 Rousse, Bulgaria
April 26, 2028 Oltenița, Romainia
April 26, 2028 Oltenița, Romainia
Fortresses and Fountains in “Little Vienna”
Active Excursion Join a bike tour in Rousse with your Avalon Adventure Host.
OR:
Classic Excursion Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Bulgaria’s largest inland port and visit its impressive Holy Trinity Church. Later, enjoy a short scenic drive to explore the rock-hewn churches of Ivanovo, a UNESCO World Heritage.
OR:
Classic Excursion 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 Bulgarian Revival architecture in the 15th-century town of Arbanassi.
Sail to Svistov or join your ship there if you opted for the full-day tour.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIDIN
April 28, 2028 Vidin, Bulgaria
April 26, 2028 Oltenița, Romainia
April 29, 2028 Iron Gates Gorge
Rocks, Ruins, and Balkan Beauty
Active Excursion Join your Adventure Host on a hike to Baba Vida Fortress.
OR:
Classic Excursion Join Guided Sightseeing Tour to the western slopes of the Balkan Mountains and marvel at Belogradchik’s stunning rock formations, sculpted by 200 million years of natural elements.
OR:
Discovery ExcursionD iscover more than two centuries of a proud family history of Bulgarian winemaking with a tour and tasting at a local winery. Following, explore the nearby port town Vidin on a Guided Sightseeing.
This evening, enjoy live entertainment on board with a Bulgarian folklore show.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO DONJI MILANOVAC
April 29, 2028 Iron Gates Gorge
April 29, 2028 Iron Gates Gorge
April 29, 2028 Iron Gates Gorge
Ancient Artifacts and the Iron Gates
This morning, you’ll sail through the spectacular and narrow Iron Gates Gorge—forming a natural border between Serbia and Romania.
Classic Excursion Join a Guided Tour to Lepenski Vir—an important Mesolithic archaeological site chronicling prehistoric cultures, settlements, and art. Marvel at the ancient discoveries and artifacts, as well as the unique views the site affords of the Danube Gorge. Continue to the Fortress of Golubač, one of the best-preserved medieval fortresses in Europe.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BELGRADE
April 30, 2028 Belgrade, Serbia
April 29, 2028 Iron Gates Gorge
April 30, 2028 Belgrade, Serbia
Fortresses and Folklore
Active Excursion Join a Guided Bike Tour along the Danube and explore the nooks and crannies of Belgrade.
OR:
Classic Excursion 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.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO NOVI SAD
May 1, 2028 Novi Sad, Serbia
April 29, 2028 Iron Gates Gorge
April 30, 2028 Belgrade, Serbia
A Capital of Culture
Active Excursion Join your Adventure Host on a Hike to the Petrovaradin part of the town.
OR:
Discovery Excursion Experience the sweet life in Serbia with a visit and tasting at the Museum of Beekeeping and Živanović Wine Cellar in Sremski Karlovci.
OR:
Classic Excursion 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.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ILOK
May 2, 2028 Ilok, Croatia
Croatian Heritage and Hilltop Vintages
Active Excursion Explore more of Croatia on a Guided Bike Tour along Ilok’s city walls, into the central church, and the towns’ museum on your way to Principovac Castle and Estate.
OR:
Discovery Excursion Join a Guided tour of Ilok, with its 1,000-year-old wine making traditions still thriving and its medieval fortress protected for its Croatian cultural heritage. Refresh your spirit with a wine tasting in a local cellar and hear the stories of culture and tradition in the natural beauty of Eastern Croatia.
Enjoy a short sailing to Vukovar during lunchtime
VUKOVAR, CROATIA
The Heroic Town on the Danube
Discovery Excursion Join a Guided Walking Tour to discover the heritage, culture, and tradition of Vukovar and enjoy a beer tasting.
OR:
CLASSIC EXCURSION Enjoy a walking tour of Vukovar, the largest river port in Croatia.
This evening, enjoy live entertainment on board.
EVENING CRUISE TO BAJA
May 3, 2028 Baja, Hungary
Underground Tombs and Heavenly Music
Classic Excursion 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 Excursion Take a Guided Tour to 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.
AFTERNOON/ EVENING CRUISE TO BUDAPEST
May 4, 2028 Budapest, Hungary
May 4, 2028 Budapest, Hungary
Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.
Dining Aboard Avalon
Avalon's Flex Dining® puts a whole new meaning to "Where should we eat?" with your choice of when and where you dine on board. Mix it up with a variety of menus and venues without the strict schedules that cut into your fun. Dine in style in your ship's spacious and elegant glass-walled Panorama Dining Room or mix it up with bite-sized delights in the cozy Panorama Bistro. Al fresco dining more your style? Grab a complimentary picnic basket for a tasty takeaway on shore, pull up a chair for an al fresco lunch on the observation deck, or savour sizzling selections atop the Sky Deck with specialties served hot off the Sky Grill! Need an afternoon nosh? Be our guest for elegant tea service each afternoon in the Panorama Bistro to satisfy your sweet tooth!
Included on Your Cruise
Celebrate every meal! Complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks are served with lunch and dinner, as well as sparkling wine with breakfast. Welcome and farewell cocktails with sparkling wine and canapés are served for a bon voyage with jolly good fellows that nobody can deny!
When your Suite Ship® docks, the world comes into view in all new, all you ways. With Avalon Choice® Excursions, you don’t just step off the ship – you step into extraordinary experiences crafted to inspire. Whether you’re drawn to art, adventure, culture, cuisine – or all the things in-between – we’ve curated multiple excursions along the world’s waterways to match your passions and your pace.
Stay connected with complimentary Wi-Fi via Starlink, free infotainment systems in every stateroom with 50+ free movies, and the AvalonGO app to keep you informed and on course before and during your cruise.
A detailed pre & post cruise itinerary will be coming soon
Bucharest, Romainia
Transylvania, Romania
Transylvania, Romania
Bucharest, Romania’s storied capital, is a city of dramatic contrasts where 19th-century Parisian elegance meets the colossal scale of 20th-century Communist ambition. Often called "Little Paris" for its wide, tree-lined boulevards and the majestic Arcul de Triumf, the city’s skyline is now dominated by the Palace of the Parliament, the heaviest building in the world and a massive feat of marble and steel. At its heart lies the Lipscani district, or Old Town, a resilient enclave of cobblestone streets filled with medieval ruins like the Curtea Veche (the court of Vlad the Impaler), ornate Orthodox churches, and the world-famous Cărturești Carusel bookstore. From the tranquil, lake-filled Herăstrău Park and the open-air Village Museum to the vibrant nightlife and "spectacular fountain" shows in Unirii Square, Bucharest offers a high-energy blend of Balkan spirit and European sophistication.
Transylvania, Romania
Transylvania, Romania
Transylvania, Romania
Transylvania is a storied historical region in central Romania, famously cradled by the arc of the Carpathian Mountains and renowned for its mist-shrouded landscapes and medieval preserved towns. While its name is globally synonymous with the legends of Count Dracula, the region’s true history is a rich tapestry of Saxon, Hungarian, and Romanian heritage, most visible in the "Seven Cities" founded by German settlers, including the colorful, cobblestoned Sighișoara and the vibrant, baroque center of Brașov. Its skyline is defined by soaring Gothic spires and formidable fortified churches—such as those in Biertan and Viscri—which served as communal refuges during centuries of border conflicts. Beyond the iconic silhouette of Bran Castle, visitors discover the jagged beauty of the Piatra Craiului National Park, the subterranean wonder of the Salina Turda salt mine, and the high-altitude thrills of the Transfăgărășan highway. Today, Transylvania remains a place where traditional pastoral life, characterized by horse-drawn carts and ancient craftsmanship, exists alongside a growing reputation for world-class hiking, sustainable ecotourism, and deep cultural resilience.
Budapest, Hungary
Transylvania, Romania
Budapest, Hungary
Budapest, often hailed as the "Queen of the Danube," is a majestic Central European capital formed by the 1873 unification of hilly, historic Buda and the vibrant, flat expanse of Pest. The city’s landscape is defined by the river that flows between them, spanned by the iconic Széchenyi Chain Bridge and overlooked by the fairytale spires of Fisherman’s Bastion and the massive Hungarian Parliament Building. Deeply rooted in history, the area has transitioned from the Roman settlement of Aquincum through Ottoman rule and the grandeur of the Austro-Hungarian Empire to its resilient modern identity. Today, it is world-renowned as the "City of Spas" for its mineral-rich thermal baths like Széchenyi and Gellért, while its unique "ruin bars" and grand coffee houses offer a spirited blend of grit and elegance that makes it one of Europe’s most captivating destinations