A journey down the Danube from imperial Vienna to the Serbian capital, Belgrade, through Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia and Romania. We stay overnight in Vienna, Budapest and Belgrade and visit Bratislava, the cathedral town of Esztergom, Vukovar in Croatia and Novi Sad. Furthest east we reach the Iron Gate, where the Danube flows through a narrow gorge between the Carpathians and the Balkan Mountains, and Turnu Severin in Romania. Drinks and crew tips are included on board MS Gloria. The cruise can also be sailed in the opposite direction from Belgrade to Vienna.
Highlights
- Overnight stays in Vienna, Budapest and Belgrade
- Esztergom and Hungary's largest church
- Vukovar and Novi Sad
- Sailing through the Iron Gate
- Six countries on one cruise
- Drinks and crew tips included on board
Itinerary
Day 1Embarkation, Vienna
After you arrive on MS Gloria, the ship's cruise manager welcomes you and goes through safety procedures and practical information. Overnight in Vienna.
Day 2Vienna
A full day in Vienna. The city is known for its imperial palaces, St Stephen's Cathedral, the Ringstrasse and its classic coffee houses. At 23:30 we sail towards Slovakia.
Day 3Bratislava
We arrive in Bratislava during the night and stay until 18:00. The Slovak capital has a charming old town with narrow streets and squares, and the distinctive square castle stands above the city.
Day 4Esztergom and Budapest
The morning is spent in Esztergom, where the ship stays until 11:00. The basilica on the hill above the Danube is Hungary's largest church. We then sail through the Danube Bend and arrive in Budapest at 14:30, where we stay overnight.
Day 5Budapest
A full day in Budapest until 21:00. Walk up to Castle Hill with the Fisherman's Bastion and Matthias Church, see the Parliament building and the Chain Bridge, or visit one of the thermal baths.
Day 6Vukovar
We arrive in Vukovar in Croatia at 13:30, where we stay overnight. The town lies where the Vuka river joins the Danube. It has a baroque centre with Eltz Castle, and the water tower has become a symbol of the town's reconstruction after the war in the 1990s.
Day 7Novi Sad
We arrive in Novi Sad at 07:00 and stay until 23:00. Serbia's second-largest city has a pleasant centre, and across the river stands the great Petrovaradin Fortress with views over the Danube.
Day 8Donji Milanovac
We arrive in Donji Milanovac at 11:30 and stay until 20:00. The small town lies in Đerdap National Park at the Iron Gate, surrounded by wooded mountains.
Day 9Turnu Severin and the Iron Gate
We arrive in Drobeta-Turnu Severin in Romania during the night and stay until 12:00. The town has remains of the Roman fortress of Drobeta and of Emperor Trajan's bridge across the Danube. In the afternoon we sail back through the Iron Gate, where the Danube narrows between steep cliffs.
Day 10Belgrade
Early in the morning we arrive in Belgrade, and the whole day is free. The Serbian capital lies where the Sava joins the Danube, and Kalemegdan Fortress offers views over both rivers. Overnight in Belgrade.
Day 11Belgrade
Disembarkation at around 09:00. Our cruise down the Danube comes to an end.
Please note: Sailing times are approximate and may change due to water levels, weather, locks or other conditions.
What is included?
Included
- 11 days / 10 nights on MS Gloria
- English-speaking staff on board
- All meals on board
- Drinks on board
- Crew tips
- All cabins are outside cabins with window
- Port and passenger fees
Not included
- Excursions – available to purchase on board
- Transfers – available to purchase on board
- Transport to and from the ship
Prices and dates come straight from our booking system and are always up to date. We are happy to help with transfers, excursions and flights – just ask in your enquiry.
