My first ever river cruise was with Viking River Cruises on their Romantic Danube cruise. Exploring the Christmas Markets from Nuremberg to Budapest was an unforgettable, if not magical experience for my wife, Denise, and I. I am unbelievably excited to be heading back to Europe for another adventure on the eastern section of the Danube as Viking is hosting me on on their Passage to Eastern Europe cruise – from Bucharest, Romania, to Budapest, Hungary! Check out the incredible itinerary below the map.
This trip won’t be nearly as romantic as my first trip as I’ll be traveling with my brother, Ron. Still, I haven’t been this excited about a trip in a long, long time. I don’t think we’ve been on a real vacation together since he was in college and I was in junior high.
Though Ron has traveled all over the world on business, he has never been on a cruise – ocean or river. So I’m looking forward to experiencing this part of Europe through his eyes. I’m also looking forward to sharing Looking forward to sharing our adventures (and inevitable misadventures) LIVE on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Just follow the #MyVikingStory hashtag!
What would you most like to experience in Eastern Europe?
Day | Bucharest, Romania | This vibrant capital city is the center of Romanian culture, art and architecture. |
Day | Bucharest, Romania | Bucharest is Romania’s cultural capital. Its original fortress, the first of many, was built to protect the Walachian state from the Turks. |
Day | Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria | Often referred to as the “City of the Tsars”, Veliko Tarnovo is located on the Yantra River. |
Day | Vidin, Bulgaria | The city retains its old-world charm with its fairy-tale minarets, domes and other charming architecture. |
Day | Iron Gate, Serbia | Today, sail through one of Europe’s most dramatic natural wonders, the picturesque stretch famously known as the Iron Gate. |
Day | Belgrade, Serbia | Situated at the confluence of the Sava and Danube Rivers, Belgrade is one of the oldest cities in Europe. |
Day | Osijek, Croatia | Osijek is the largest city and the economic and cultural capital of the eastern Croatian region of Slavonia. |
Day | Kalocsa, Hungary | The quaint town overflows with Hungarian culture and is steeped in the piquant flavor of paprika, the “red gold” that flavors the local goulash. |
Day | Budapest, Hungary | Budapest is aptly called “Paris of the East” for its beautiful evening illumination and reflected lights in the Danube’s waters. |
Day | Budapest, Hungary | Riverside beauty, a vibrant cultural scene and elegant Art Nouveau architecture converge in Budapest. |
Day | Budapest, Hungary | Hungary’s enchanting capital straddles the banks of the Danube, the majestic Chain Bridge uniting it all as a dramatic centerpiece. |
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We traveled the same route on Viking starting in Budapest. One of my favorite cities in the world. Such proud and warm people. The Viking commercial is always great memories of us enjoying lunch on the patio behind our hotel looking at the government building which is pictured above. Our trip along the river was memorable ending in Bucharest. We extended out tour and hired a driver to visit Transylvania and the towns where my grandparents were born.
The beauty of Romania is the countryside and small towns.
We taking a Viking Ocean Cruise , Visiting: Rome, Cyprus, Jerusalem and Athens.
Thanks for sharing Ralph. Having just returned from the trip I couldn’t agree more. You’re going to love Viking’s ocean cruise. I sailed on a segment of the Viking Star’s maiden voyage from Barcelona to Lisbon. It was truly a great experience!