Eastern Europe to the Black Sea (2012)

Hungary: Budapest, Kalocsa • Osijek, Croatia • Belgrade, Serbia • Bulgaria: Vidin, Ruse • Romania: Constanta, Bucharest
  • 12 days
  • from only:
  • $1895
  • $158 per day
    River Cruise Only
  • 13 days
  • from only:
  • $2845
  • $219 per dayIncludes international airfare and government taxes
IN THIS SECTION:
Detailed Itinerary
Video: Travelers' experiences of Eastern Europe to the Black Sea
It's Included
Hotel & Ship Accommodations
Pre- & Post-Trip Extensions
Optional Tours
Local Team & Insider Tips
Grand Circle Foundation
Photos From Our Travelers
Your Travel Handbook
Air information
LearnMore
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Customize your trip

Learn how to customize your River Cruise, or view standard air routing and travel times. The choice is yours with our True Choice program.

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Customize your trip

With our True Choice Program, you can choose to stay longer before or after your trip on your own, or combine two vacations to maximize your value. Here are more ways to create the Grand Circle Cruise Line River Cruise that’s right for you:

  • Choose our standard air routing, or work with us to select the airline and routing you prefer
  • Make your own international flight arrangements directly with the airline, applying frequent flyer miles if available
  • International airport transfers to and from your ship or hotel are available for purchase
  • Stay overnight in a connecting city before or after your trip
  • Request to arrive a few days early to get a fresh start on your vacation
  • Choose to “break away” before or after your trip, spending additional days or weeks on your own
  • Extend your vacation with our optional pre- and post-trip extensions
  • Combine your choice of Grand Circle Cruise Line vacations to maximize your value
  • Upgrade to business or premium economy class

The air options listed above will involve an additional fee of $100 per person for confirmed requests (as well as incremental airfare costs based on your specific choice). This service fee will be waived for Inner Circle/Sir Edmund Hillary Club members.

Or, when you make your reservation, you can choose our standard air routing, for which approximate travel times are shown below.

(Budapest to Bucharest)

GATEWAY

TRAVEL TIME*

Atlanta, Boston, New York (JFK), Washington, DC (Dulles)

12hrs

Baltimore, Phoenix

18hrs

Chicago, Philadelphia

13hrs

Dallas, Minneapolis, Seattle

14hrs

Denver

16hrs

Detroit, Newark

11hrs

Los Angeles, San Francisco

15hrs

Tampa

17hrs

* Estimated total time, including connection and layover. Actual travel time may vary.

The information above reflects approximate flight times from the gateway cities listed to Budapest, Hungary. Routing is based on availability and subject to change. You will receive your final air itinerary approximately 14 days prior to departure.

(Bucharest to Budapest)

GATEWAY

TRAVEL TIME*

Atlanta, Chicago, Newark, New York (JFK), Philadelphia, Washington, DC (Dulles)

13hrs

Baltimore, Phoenix

18hrs

Boston, Detroit

12hrs

Dallas, Minneapolis

14hrs

Denver, San Francisco

17hrs

Los Angeles

20hrs

Seattle

15hrs

Tampa

16hrs

* Estimated total time, including connection and layover. Actual travel time may vary.

The information above reflects approximate flight times from the gateway cities listed to Bucharest, Romania. Routing is based on availability and subject to change. You will receive your final air itinerary approximately 14 days prior to departure.

REFER and EARN

Earn increasing rewards as a Vacation Ambassador

REFER and EARN as a Vacation Ambassador with
the BEST referral program in the industry

Inspiring new travelers to join the Grand Circle Cruise Line family is a rewarding experience—both for you and your new travelers.

Share your love of travel with others and, for each referral who embarks on a Grand Circle Cruise Line trip, you will earn $100 in CASH or credit. With your 4th referral departing on a 2012 departure, your reward increases to $200 in CASH or credit per person. And once you refer 8 travelers departing in either 2012 or 2013, you'll earn a FREE trip valued up to $4,500 per household—which will bring the total value of your earned rewards up to $5,600.

And you are also passing along savings to your new traveler: We'll instantly deduct $100 off the cost of their reservation when they mention your name and Customer Number while reserving.

To learn more about the benefits of our Vacation Ambassador Referral Program, please call us toll-free at 1-800-221-2610
or click here.

ALSO SEE:
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View all River Cruises in Europe
Solo Friendly Travel
Frequently Asked Questions
See all Program Directors, read Insider Tips, and more
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Optional Tours

Tailor your vacation with our optional tours

Select an Itinerary:
Day 3:
 Hungarian Jewish Heritage $45 per person
G33534

Join us for an optional tour exploring Hungarian Jewish Heritage. The journey begins at the Great Synagogue, the largest in Europe, with its Moorish design further enhanced by Byzantine, Romantic and Gothic elements. You'll also visit the Kazinczy Street orthodox synagogue—center of traditional orthodox Jewish life here—then, the Emanuel Memorial Tree (a sculpture in the form of a weeping-willow tree, a memorial to Hungarian victims of the Holocaust) and the Jewish Museum.
Day 4:
 Herend & Lake Balaton $85 per person

Discover Herend, a town world-famous for its hand-painted porcelain. Learn how these beautiful, delicate creations are made on a visit to the Herend Porcelain Museum, and enjoy some free time to grab a cup of coffee or browse the local shops. Next, take a picturesque drive along Lake Balaton—the largest body of water in Central Europe—and stop for lunch in a traditional Csarda (tavern). After lunch, you'll explore the ancient and imposing Tihany Benedictine Abbey, and enjoy free time to stroll around the village before reboarding the ship.
Day 5:
 Kalocsa Visit with Horse Show $85 per person

Enjoy a closer look at life in the Great Hungarian Plain on this optional tour. First, you’ll explore the provincial town of Kalocsa, where you’ll learn about the country’s iconic herb at the Paprika Museum and view colorful embroidery at the Regional House of Folk Arts. Then, head to a genuine Hungarian horse farm to watch the legendary csikos (horse herders—similar to American cowboys) display their skills.
Day 10:
 Veliko Tarnovo & Arbanassi $85 per person

Discover two key Bulgarian historic sites: Veliko Tarnovo & Arbanassi. First, travel by motorcoach to Veliko Tarnovo, the capital of Bulgaria from 1186 until 1394. This cultural center rewards visitors with views of the fortification wall atop Zarevez Hill, the cobblestoned old city, ancient ruins, and a steep ravine plunging down from two towering promontories. Then continue on to Arbanassi, an open-air museum of Bulgarian heritage. Its 80 house, five churches, and two monasteries reflect a unique, fortress-like architectural style of the 17th and 18th centuries, when the village flourished. Enjoy free time to make your own discoveries. Perhaps you'll visit the Church of Archangels Michael and Gabriel, whose plain exterior conceals colorful frescoes depicting some 3,500 figures. While here, you'll savor typical Bulgarian fare at a local restaurant.

Day 5:
 Veliko Tarnovo & Arbanassi $85 per person

Discover two key Bulgarian historic sites: Veliko Tarnovo & Arbanassi. First, travel by motorcoach to Veliko Tarnovo, the capital of Bulgaria from 1186 until 1394. This cultural center rewards visitors with views of the fortification wall atop Zarevez Hill, the cobblestoned old city, ancient ruins, and a steep ravine plunging down from two towering promontories. Then continue on to Arbanassi, an open-air museum of Bulgarian heritage. Its 80 house, five churches, and two monasteries reflect a unique, fortress-like architectural style of the 17th and 18th centuries, when the village flourished. Enjoy free time to make your own discoveries. Perhaps you'll visit the Church of Archangels Michael and Gabriel, whose plain exterior conceals colorful frescoes depicting some 3,500 figures. While here, you'll savor typical Bulgarian fare at a local restaurant.

Day 10:
 Kalocsa Visit with Horse Show $85 per person

Enjoy a closer look at life in the Great Hungarian Plain on this optional tour. First, you’ll explore the provincial town of Kalocsa, where you’ll learn about the country’s iconic herb at the Paprika Museum and view colorful embroidery at the Regional House of Folk Arts. Then, head to a genuine Hungarian horse farm to watch the legendary csikos (horse herders—similar to American cowboys) display their skills.
Day 11:
 Hungarian Jewish Heritage $45 per person
G33534

Join us for an optional tour exploring Hungarian Jewish Heritage. The journey begins at the Great Synagogue, the largest in Europe, with its Moorish design further enhanced by Byzantine, Romantic and Gothic elements. You'll also visit the Kazinczy Street orthodox synagogue—center of traditional orthodox Jewish life here—then, the Emanuel Memorial Tree (a sculpture in the form of a weeping-willow tree, a memorial to Hungarian victims of the Holocaust) and the Jewish Museum.
Day 12:
 Herend & Lake Balaton $85 per person

Discover Herend, a town world-famous for its hand-painted porcelain. Learn how these beautiful, delicate creations are made on a visit to the Herend Porcelain Museum, and enjoy some free time to grab a cup of coffee or browse the local shops. Next, take a picturesque drive along Lake Balaton—the largest body of water in Central Europe—and stop for lunch in a traditional Csarda (tavern). After lunch, you'll explore the ancient and imposing Tihany Benedictine Abbey, and enjoy free time to stroll around the village before reboarding the ship.