Grand Voyage to the Black Sea Spirit of the Danube

16 nightsFULL BOARDfrom£3399 GRAND VOYAGE TO THE BLACK SEA aboard Spirit of the Danube – see pages 144-149 for details

Includes insurance and cancellation cover§ Price reduction available if not required.

Admire the changing riverscapes as you sweep through six unique countries.

Buda Castle

Day 1: UK to Budapest. Fly to Hungary's capital and embark Spirit of the Danube. Enjoy a welcome cocktail reception and dinner on board as your ship remains moored here overnight. Day 2: Budapest An included city tour this morning reveals the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Buda Castle on the west bank and the Hungarian Parliament buildings in Pest on the east bank. Alternatively, opt to sample the local food and culture as part of a small group on a culinary themed included excursion. Set sail over lunch and cruise through the remainder of the day and night. Day 3: Novi Sad. Enjoy an included short walking tour of the old town centre, which boasts a fine selection of 18th and 19thcentury architecture, before visiting a familyrun wine cellar to sample the wine and honey. Set sail again this evening. Day 4: Sailing through the Iron Gate. This morning sail through a particularly scenic stretch of the Danube – the Iron Gate gorge. This is where the Danube passes through the Carpathian Mountains and the foothills of the Balkans. The ship manoeuvres through two locks by the Djerdap power stations and continues sailing overnight.

Day 5: Rousse Arrive this morning in Rousse, the largest port in Bulgaria and often referred to as ‘Little Vienna’. You can see more of the city on an optional morning tour. Resume your cruise at lunchtime and sail through the day and night to Romania. Day 6: Danube Delta. Admire the scenery as you cruise the wildlife-rich Danube Delta. This afternoon an optional small boat cruise heads further into this UNESCO-listed Biosphere Reserve. Set sail at in the afternoon and cruise overnight towards Fetesti. Day 7: Fetesti. Disembark after breakfast in Fetesti for a full-day trip to Bucharest. An included tour of this lively city reveals attractions such as the Palace of the Parliament, Cotroceni Palace where the President of Romania resides, and historic Cretulescu Palace. Rejoin your ship in time for dinner on board.

Day 8: Cruising the Danube. Relax on board Spirit of the Danube and admire the changing scenery as you cruise into Serbia.

Day 9: The Iron Gates to Donji Milanovac.

Spend the day on a leisurely journey along the Danube, passing through the Iron Gates gorge on your way to Donji Milanovac, a Serbian town located in the Djerdap National Park. An optional excursion visits the Lepenski Vir Mesolithic site in the Derdap Gorge this afternoon. Set sail for Belgrade this evening. Day 10: Belgrade This morning you’ll arrive in Serbia's capital, where an included coach tour takes in Republic Square home to the National Theatre and Museum. You’ll also visit Saint Sava basilica and the Kalemegdan Fortress. This afternoon an optional excursion visits the Royal Palace and Tito’s Memorial. Depart late tonight and cruise overnight towards Croatia.

Day 11: Vukovar. Arrive in Vukovar during breakfast. Vukovar was a thriving town before the Yugoslav War and its unscathed belle époque architecture can be compared with shell-scarred buildings preserved in memoriam. An optional excursion visits the Ovcara Memorial. Set sail later this afternoon.

Day 12: Mohács to Kalocsa. Early this morning arrive in Mohács, an important port of call for Danube trafc for many centuries. Disembark to spend the morning and afternoon on an optional excursion into the Hungarian plains to see a demonstration of traditional Hungarian horsemanship by local Magyar cowboys. Your ship continues to Kalocsa pausing briefly for excursion participants to rejoin her before sailing this evening and overnight. Day 13: Esztergom. Arrive before breakfast and spend the morning exploring independently or instead join an optional tour to the artistic community of Szentendre. Sail on over lunch and cruise through the remainder of the day and overnight. Day 14: Bratislava This morning you arrive in Slovakia's capital. Explore the city’s old quarter, overlooked by the vast rectangular castle, and admire the Habsburg architecture on an included morning tour. Stroll through cobbled streets to Bratislava Castle for a bird’s-eye view of the city and see the Gothic-style Cathedral. This afternoon optional excursions include beer tasting at the UFO observation tower or a visit to a Majolica pottery workshop. Before dinner set sail again, cruising overnight for Melk.

Day 15: Melk to Weissenkirchen. Arrive after breakfast to explore the historic town of Melk. Its jewel is the baroque abbey which sits above the town and can be visited on an optional tour. At lunchtime you'll

The wildlife-rich Danube Delta

cruise to Weissenkirchen where you can join an optional walking tour and wine tasting. Set sail late tonight and cruise towards Austria.

Day 16: Vienna Before breakfast arrive in Vienna. This morning join an included city tour with a drive around the Ringstrasse encircling the old city or opt for an included culinary walking tour with the opportunity to sample local specialities, such as the Mozart Thaler chocolate biscuits. This afternoon an optional excursion visits Schönbrunn Palace and after dinner on board, you can attend an optional performance of music by Mozart and Strauss in one of the formal concert houses of Imperial Vienna.

Day 17: Vienna to UK. Disembark after breakfast and travel to the airport for your return flight to the UK.

RIVER CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS

An included tour of historic Belgrade

Serbia's capital Belgrade is one of the oldest cities in Europe and an included tour is a great way to see some of the city’s highlights. You’ll also visit Saint Sava basilica, one of the world’s largest churches, and Kalemegdan Fortress, parts of which date back to the 18th century.

Exploring Bratislava

The city’s old quarter, which sits in the shadow of a huge castle, features attractive Habsburg architecture. Take a stroll through the ancient

Cruise through the Iron Gates

Vienna’s Town Hall

EXTEND YOUR HOLIDAY

Budapest 2 nights full board.

Before your cruise stay at the locally rated 4-star Ensana Grand Margaret Island Hotel (4Q) or at the locally rated 4-star Hilton Garden Inn (4Q).

Vienna 2 nights full board. After your cruise stay at the locally rated 4-star Imperial Riding School (4Q) located in the city centre. Please see page 143 for details.

LOOK WHO’LL BE JOINING YOU ON BOARD

Terry Waite Humanitarian and author Terry Waite will join the first seven nights of this cruise on April 18, 2022.

cobbled streets to Bratislava Castle for a bird’s-eye view of the city and see the Gothic-style Cathedral during an included tour.

The best of Bucharest

From Chiciu you’ll head to Romania’s lively capital Bucharest for an included tour of the city. See sights such as the Palace of the Parliament, Cotroceni Palace where the President of Romania resides, and Cretulescu Palace, which was designed by Romanian architect Petre Antonescu for the Cretulescu family.

SO MUCH INCLUDED…

Included travel insurance

VIP door-to-door travel service – see page 155

47 meals: 16 breakfasts, 15 lunches and 16 dinners

Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner

Cruise Host

Interactive maps and audio headsets for independent exploration

Plus... Drinks reception and Captain’s dinner • Complimentary Wi-Fi on board • All gratuities on board • Return flights and transfers.

INCLUDED EXCURSIONS

• Budapest city tour OR culinary walking tour of Budapest • Tour of Novi Sad • Bucharest city tour • Belgrade and the Kalemegdan Fortress • Bratislava city tour • Vienna city tour OR culinary walking tour of Vienna.

AUSTRIA

Melk Weissenkirchen Bratislava

Vienna SLOVAKIA

Danube

HUNGARY

Esztergom

Budapest

Kalocsa Mohács

Vukovar

Belgrade Novi Sad ROMANIA

Donj Milnovac

SERBIA

Iron Gate Gorge

Danube

Bucharest

Rousse FetestiBULGARIA Danube Delta

Prices are £s per person from: Apr 18, 2022 Aug 24 Lower Deck Twin (Forward - E) Sold Out 3799 3399 Lower Deck Twin (D) 3949 3549 4049 3649 Middle Deck Twin, French Balcony (Forward - C) Sold Out Sold Out Middle Deck Twin, French Balcony (B) 4949 4549 5049 4849 Upper Deck Twin, French Balcony (A) 5299* Sold Out Lower Deck Sole occupancy (D) 5049 4849 5149 4749 Middle Deck, French Balcony Sole occupancy (B) 6449 6049 6549 6349 Upper Deck, French Balcony Sole occupancy (A) 7049* Sold Out Cruise code DA335 DA335 Grand Voyage to the Black Sea. 16 nights §If you choose to opt out of the included insurance and cancellation cover, a reduction applies of £60 – see page 150 for details. TRAVEL OPTIONS: Prices based on flights from Heathrow to Budapest, returning from Vienna with the scheduled services of British Airways.

Be quick – to be guaranteed the best price, book early as flights can sell out and prices sometimes increase.