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Passage to Eastern Europe - Bucharest to Budapest - 2027

From Bucharest, Romania to Budapest, Hungary
Length: 11 Days - Departs: Sat, Apr 24, 2027
Operator
Departure
Apr 24, 2027
Arrival
May 04, 2027

Please see below brochure cabin pricing

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Your Choice Sale, up to $2000 Credit or Free Beverage Package & Tips

Mention Promo Code: PT3508
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Your Choice Sale, up to $2000 Credit or Free Beverage Package & Tips

Your Choice Sale, up to $2000 Credit or Free Beverage Package & Tips

Promotion Details
For a limited time, receive up to $4000 off, plus choose your bonus savings between up to $1000 onboard credit or a Free Beverage package and Included gratuities. Also, receive our exclusive $400 off per couple and up to $1000 onboard credit. (Not all sailings apply, contact your Travel Consultant for full details.)
Must Book By Thu, Apr 30, 2026
View Promotion Terms & Conditions ›

Your choice of shipboard credit (SBC36) or a FREE beverage package & included gratuities (BEV36). Shipboard credit based on cruise length. Up to 8 days: $500 per couple ($250 per person); 9 to 12 days: $750 per couple ($375 per person); 13+ days: $1,000 per couple ($500 per person). No beverage package on Egypt ships. Excludes World Cruise itineraries. A limited-time $25 per person deposit is due at time of booking for all featured itineraries; remaining deposit is due with final payment (excludes World Cruise itineraries). Oceans: Save up to $4,000 per couple ($2,000 per person) based on select departures and categories of Iconic Western Mediterranean, Journey to Antiquities, Ancient Mediterranean Treasures and West Indies Explorer; other itineraries, dates and categories may vary. FREE roundtrip airfare based on select departures of Panama Canal & Central America. Rivers: Save up to $4,000 per couple ($2,000 per person) based on select departures and categories of Grand European Tour; other itineraries, dates and categories may vary. FREE roundtrip international airfare based on select departures of Grand European Tour and Magnificent Mekong. FREE roundtrip airfare based on select departures of Mississippi Delta Explorer and New Orleans & Southern Charms. Expeditions: FREE roundtrip international airfare based on select departures of Antarctic Explorer. FREE roundtrip airfare based on select departures of Niagara & the Great Lakes. FREE Airfare offer available from most gateways and is subject to change: Based on inventory availability at time of purchase and may be withdrawn at any time. Additional restrictions may apply

Exclusive, $400 Off + up to $1000 Onboard Credit

Mention Promo Code: PT3013
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Exclusive, $400 Off + up to $1000 Onboard Credit

Exclusive, $400 Off + up to $1000 Onboard Credit

Promotion Details
Only at AffordableTours.com will you save an additional $400 per couple ($200 per person) and up to $1000 onboard credit on any Viking cruise.
Must Book By Thu, Dec 31, 2026
View Promotion Terms & Conditions ›

Offer applies to new bookings deposited from April 9, 2024 and is capacity controlled which may be removed at any moment without notice. Promotion is not combinable with Viking vouchers. Offer is combinable with all Viking offers Additional restrictions apply. Onboard credit amount varies by length of cruise and has no monetary value and is non-refundable and non-transferable, may not be used toward service charges, cannot be redeemed for cash, and unused portions will become void after sailing is complete.

Save 2% On Your River Cruise!

Mention Promo Code: PT2191
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Save 2% On Your River Cruise!

Save 2% On Your River Cruise!

Promotion Details
Enjoy the convenience of paying for your trip by echeck and save 2%. (Speak with your Travel Consultant for full details.)
Combinable with all current offers
Must Book By Thu, Dec 31, 2026
View Promotion Terms & Conditions ›

You may use echeck to pay for your Viking cruise or cruisetour, and for airfare. Every dollar paid for cruise, air, taxes, fees or surcharges can be paid by echeck, including regular-priced itineraries and airfare, any special offers or Viking Air Plus services to receive a 2% discount. Additional restrictions may apply.


River Cruise Itinerary

  1. Day 1
    Bucharest
    Sat, Apr 24, 2027

    Bucharest is Romania's cultural capital. Its original fortress, the first of many, was built to protect the Walachian state from the Turks. Today, it is a city of elegant French-style boulevards, lush gardens and green expanses, including the tranquil Bucharest Botanical Garden. The historic Lipscani district exudes the old-world charms of cobblestone alleys, inns and shops. The sprawling Palace of Parliament is the world's largest civilian building, said to contain 1,100 rooms.

  2. Day 2
    Bucharest
    Sun, Apr 25, 2027

    Communism changed the face of Bucharest and has left in its wake a city brimming with imposing socialist architecture. Dotted among today's cityscape are wonderful art nouveau buildings, ancient churches and monasteries that were rescued from the bulldozer. From the 18th-century church Schitul Maicilor to the 16th-century Mihai Vodă Church, it is best to discover these treasures on foot. Bucharest is also home to an array of world-class museums, including the George Enescu National Museum, which features a beautiful oyster-shaped glass awning.

  3. Day 3
    Ruse
    Mon, Apr 26, 2027

    The most integral Danube city in Bulgaria, Ruse enjoys a setting amid a rolling countryside blanketed in sunflower and wheat fields. Once an outpost of the Roman Empire, it was known as Sexaginta Prista, or Sixty Ships, for the fleet that once docked here. Today, it is more known for its colorful atmosphere and as a gateway to Romania's fabled Transylvania region. Best explored on foot, the city features many fine examples of 19th- and 20th-century neobaroque and neorococo architecture.

  4. Day 4
    Vidin
    Tue, Apr 27, 2027

    One of Bulgaria's oldest riverside towns, Vidin is home to the only entirely preserved medieval Bulgarian castle. Perched impressively on the riverbank, its striking pose, thick ring walls, stout towers and solid gates form a fortress known as Babini Vidini Kuli, which means Granny Vida's Towers. Around the castle rose a fairy-tale town of 25 minarets, domes and other charming architecture of the period. Though many of these features have been shadowed by today's city, Vidin retains its charms. Today it is largely an agricultural and trade center renowned for its wines.

  5. Day 5
    Scenic Sailing: The Iron Gate
    Wed, Apr 28, 2027

    Sail through one of Europe's most dramatic natural wonders, the picturesque stretch famously known as the Iron Gate. Meander through narrow gorges that slice through the Carpathian Mountains to the north and the Balkan Mountains to the south, and marvel at the towering white limestone cliffs draped with forest. Be on the lookout for ancient remains upon the dramatic walls. On the Serbian side, Trajan's Tablet was laid to mark the construction of a Roman military road; on the Romanian side, marvel at the enormous rock sculpture of Dacian king Decebalus.

  6. Day 6
    Belgrade
    Thu, Apr 29, 2027

    The Serbian capital and former capital of the state of Yugoslavia, Belgrade is one of the oldest cities in Europe. Its location at the confluence of the Sava and Danube Rivers has long made it a contested region. Throughout its history, the "White City,” as its Serbian name translates, has been destroyed and rebuilt 20 times. Fortunately, the wide-reaching citadel remains, housing the Kalemegdan Fortress, Orthodox churches, Turkish baths and green parkland. Its Church of St. Sava is one of the largest Orthodox buildings in the world. 

  7. Day 7
    Osijek
    Fri, Apr 30, 2027

    The fourth-largest city in Croatia, Osijek is located near the confluence of the Drava and Danube Rivers. It is the largest city and the economic and cultural capital of the eastern Croatian region of Slavonia. In its early days, Osijek was a Roman settlement called Mursa Maior ("major”). It was later rebuilt by the Ottomans and ruled by the Hapsburg Empire. Today, with an abundance of farmland and game, as well as plentiful baroque architecture and musical and outdoor venues, Osijek has become a gastronomic and cultural center of Croatia. Its cathedral can host 3,000 people.

  8. Day 8
    Kalocsa
    Sat, May 01, 2027

    Once the seat of the archbishop, the cultural center of Kalocsa is more than 1,000 years old. The quaint town, surrounded by 8,000 acres of farmland growing fiery red peppers, is brimming with traditional Hungarian culture and steeped in the piquant flavors of paprika, the "red gold” that has been giving local goulash its distinctive taste for centuries. The world's first Paprika Museum chronicles the spice's history. The streets are adorned with bright murals of floral motifs, which create a cheery ambience for browsing craft-filled shops. Hungary's artistic heritage takes center stage at the House of Folk Arts museum.

  9. Day 9
    Budapest
    Sun, May 02, 2027

    Riverside beauty and a vibrant cultural scene blend together in Budapest to form one of Europe's most rewarding cities. Hungary's enchanting capital straddles the banks of the Danube, with traditional hillside Buda on one side and modern Pest on the other. By day, stunning art nouveau buildings, stalwart castles and grand palaces set the stage for inspiring strolls and long soaks in thermal spas. By night, the shimmering lights of the Parliament building dance across the waters of the Danube, the Chain Bridge uniting it all as a dramatic centerpiece.

  10. Day 10
    Budapest
    Mon, May 03, 2027

    Budapest's old town is a fascinating medieval patchwork of narrow streets and colorful houses. In the Castle District, the Matthias Church soars in Gothic glory. Adjacent, the expansive wall and seven turrets of Fisherman's Bastion overlook the Danube, the graceful Chain Bridge and the Pest side of the river. The centerpiece of the district is the sprawling Buda Castle. Constructed in the 13th century and expanded to its current baroque splendor during the 18th century, this edifice was home to Hungary's kings for almost 700 years.

  11. Day 11
    Budapest
    Tue, May 04, 2027

    Bid farewell to your fellow guests and journey home. Or spend more time exploring, perhaps joining one of our extensions.

Countries Visited

Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Serbia

Rivers Visited

Danube

OR Call Us For a Free Quote 1-800-342-0019

Inclusions

11 Days 8 Guided Tours / 5 Countries

Daily Shore Excursions: 8 included guided tours
Port Charges: Included on all itineraires

OR Call Us For a Free Quote 1-800-342-0019

Ship Information

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Cabins

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Life on Board

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Questions & Answers
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Question: Will the day-by-day itinerary change?

Yes, the river cruise itineraries may change due to reasons such as inclement weather or unforeseen events. Your safety is the number one concern aboard and all precautions necessary will be taken in order to ensure passenger safety, including changing itineraries. Please note that when itineraries do change, the ship staff will do their best to substitute any missed port with an alternative destination.

Question: In what language is the river cruise conducted?

The river cruise will be conducted in English only.

Customer Reviews

Overall Rating
4.3
Accommodations
4.2
Itinerary
4.4
Professional Staff
4.6
Repeat with Operator
4.1
Value for Money
4.1

Ratings based off 49 reviews - currently showing 24 reviews with comments only

This was our first experience taking a Viking River Cruise. For the most part, it was a wonderful experience and I would consider taking Viking again, although I might want to try one of the other companies for comparison. Pros: The food was excellent. The service was excellent. The ship was very nice for a smaller boat. Cons: The rooms were quite small. I noticed others had a chair in the room and I wonder what the cost difference was for that bit of extra room. The step up to the bathroom felt dangerous. The bed was quite hard and uncomfortable. I expected that to be better on Viking. The excursions did not offer enough free time for shopping and exploring. Most of the excursions we took left about 40-50 minutes at the end of the tour. With the quaint towns to explore, that was not enough time for much of anything. Some tours did not include entrance into a palace or abbey and that would have made the tour much more interesting.

The eight day trip through Hungary, Austria, and Germany on the Danube to visit historic sights and the various Christmas Markets was a wonderful experience. The Viking cruise met our highest expectations. Be prepared for a range of temperatures from the 40's to below freezing.

The staff on the Viking Cruise were phenomenal. They were very pleasant, attentive and accommodating. The Program Director, David, was energetic and enthusiastic. He skillfully managed problems that arise that were beyond his control(climate related). He did so in a positive and update manner. Lufthansa Airlines was very disappointing. The loading procedures both here and in Germany were very disorganized. We almost missed a connecting flight! On our return.

This was our 3rd Viking Tour and it seemed to us that staff in general was not as trained as previous cruises. Of course there were 2-3 very well trained staff members that were terrific, but we noticed a little less overall welcome in general from the staff. We see it as a lack in training. We did feed that back directly to Viking on our post trip review. Other than that food was exceptionally good on this cruise and tour guides outstanding. It would not stop us from taking another cruise with Viking.

This was by far the best trip we have ever taken, and we will likely go on another Viking River cruise after this experience. Viking is very organized and the included tours are interesting and well done. Everywhere we traveled, we had local guides so we got an insiders look at the cities and additional interesting information.

Katherine did an excellent job suggesting a Viking River Tour. We had a fabulous time.

Viking takes excellent care of their guests.....felt very safe and very secure

Excellent trip and arrangements.

Overall the trip itself was better than expected. Nina was extremely helpful and patient, especially as I had no prior river cruise experience. The Viking Crew from the captain on down was exceptional and always willing to answer any question at any time. The dining room staff was personal and quick to respond. The young lady who waited on us in the lounge and dining room treated us like family. Viking is lucky to have her. We were also bowled over by the attention to detail given by the housing staff person. I swear that every time we left the room he cleaned it. We would always recommend Affordable Tours and Viking. The only negative that I have relates to the pre-trip extension to Prague arrangements. First, we upgraded from premium economy to business class. This upgrade is expensive and I see no reason to have to pay $50.00 per person just to ask for an upgrade. The expense of business class should cover the cost of requesting it. Additionally, we had a terrible experience in arriving into Prague with the loss of one of our bags. While this was not Viking's fault, they should have provided some assistance at the airport. I had to call the hotel twice to arrange a meeting with the Viking Representative at the airport.

We booked 1 of 2 Explorer Suites on the ship. The room size and view was great, but we were not told the room was over the noisy and vibrating engine room. We had a hard time sleeping at night, and were too exhausted to enjoy the tours during the days. The ship has a fatal flaw.

The low water on the Danube did not allow us to see the tour we intended. In fact, our Avalon bus tour a few years ago (Imperial Europe), has less "bus time" than the river cruise.

Any time I had a question it was answered promptly and professionally.

We did not have a river tour, we had a BUS tour. We were not told far enough in advance that the river was too low to cruse to be able to reschedule when we could have actually had a river cruse. We did not arrive on the Jarl until late Thursday, instead of Sunday as scheduled. We saw corn fields, and sunflower fields instead of castles. Because we didn't follow the schedule everything else was off schedule and there was hardy no shopping. This was the vacation I was most looking forward to and the worst vacation I have ever taken. I will NEVER take another.

Loved the service and the food. Very friendly staff.

Be prepared to be "on-the-go" every day during the trip. Food was excellent. Excursions were well done. Ship was clean and smartly decorated. Met many nice people.

The only negative about this trip is that the WiFi connection on the Viking ship was quite poor. My phone would not connect to their WIfi but my Samsung table would connect. However, in general the Wifi was quite a bit slower than we are used to. Never the less the service and organization was fantastic. The food was very high quality. I would mention also, that the river cruise on the Danube at this time of year was quite calm so no worries for someone like me who is prone to motion problems.

I very much liked the passenger size of 200. I don't care for the large capacity ships. I felt like I received much better personal service

My husband and I loved our trip on the Danube and would highly recommend it.

We booked a Viking river cruise, pre and post extensions, and airfare, all of which were a very good value for the money.

Excellent tour and from start to finish everything was top notch!

Viking provided outstanding service even provide an escort to ensure we got our boarding passes on the way home. Food was excellent and the staff most accommodating. My only complaint is that we were booked on British Air which meant going through Heathrow which is a mess for the transient passengers ( bus, train, long lines, just to get to the next gate). The short holdover between flights in London resulted in my suitcase not making it to Nuremberg. Also did not appreciate having a two-stop on the way over. It would seem to me that it would have been easy to get a one-stop via Frankfurt to Nuremberg.

There were a few issues. Internet connections were not working for first day or two. Part of "river cruise" was by bus, but Viking tried to make up by dropping cost for optional tour, and otherwise went out of their way to compensate. One problem for many was that notification was made at list minute (after many were already in Europe), though there was reason to believe Danube would be too low for cruises at spots several weeks ahead of time.

This was an excellent trip throughout. I look forward to many more bookings with you.

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