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10 nights from

£3405

Secret Danube

Save up to £70 per person

NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
(limited dates/availability)
EARLY BOOKING OFFER EXTENDED - ENDS 31 DECEMBER 2024 
Book early and save on selected dates

Sailing from the Black Sea to Budapest, this is a fascinating and multi-faceted journey, revealing the less-known reaches of the Danube, and cruising through the ravishing riverscapes which connect the countries, capitals, and cultures along its remarkable route

Covering 1,780 miles from its Black Forest source to the Blue Danube course and the Black Sea delta, this revered river never fails to live up to its legends. We travel upstream on its multi-cultural journey, as it flows through cosmopolitan capitals, medieval towns, and splendid landscapes; and forms national borders for Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, and Hungary. Abbeys and palaces, castles and cathedrals punctuate the Danube’s banks; and the river’s own landmarks include Belgrade’s Great War Island at the confluence with the Sava, and Margaret Island mid-stream between Buda and Pest, the spectacular Iron Gate gorge and its dam, carving a passage between the Carpathian and Balkan mountains, and the sweeping curve of the Danube Bend as it changes direction in Hungary. Bookended by Bucharest and Budapest, and cruising on the premium MS Vivaldi of the CroisiEurope river fleet, the tour visits elegant Ruse, on the river’s Bulgarian bank, and Veliko Tarnovo, tiered on the hills of its Yantra valley setting; Serbia’s capital, Belgrade, and its ‘city of art and music’, Novi Sad; and intriguing Osijek in Croatia’s Slavonia region.

Overview

  • Days 1 & 2  - Bucharest
  • Day 3  - Constanta
  • Day 4  - Bucharest
  • Day 5  - Veliko Tarnovo
  • Day 6  - Ruse
  • Day 7  - Iron Gate
  • Day 8  - Belgrade/Novi Sad
  • Day 9  - Osijek
  • Day 10  - Budapest
  • Day 11  - Return Flight
Book Tour

Tour Highlights

  • Discover tree-lined Bucharest
  • Visit medieval Veliko Tarnovo
  • Marvel at the Iron Gate gorge
  • Explore Serbia’s capital Belgrade
  • Marvel at Petrovaradin Fortress
  • Wander through Budapest

Sailing from the Black Sea to Budapest, this is a fascinating and multi-faceted journey, revealing the less-known reaches of the Danube, and cruising through the ravishing riverscapes which connect the countries, capitals, and cultures along its remarkable route

Notes:

The programme may be altered due to navigational factors with locks, water levels or congestion at certain sites.

Accommodation

Mercure City Center - Bucharest

Modern 4-star hotel, a few steps from the Romanian Athenaeum and Victoriei Avenue. Restaurant, bar, gym, WiFi (free) and 114 air-conditioned rooms with hairdryer, safe, tea/coffee making facilities and satellite TV.

Hilton Garden Inn Budapest City Centre – Budapest

A comfortable 4-star hotel in downtown Budapest, next door to the Hungarian State Opera House and St. Stephen’s Basilica. Restaurant, bar, gym, WiFi (free). 214 air-conditioned rooms with hairdryer, safe, mini-fridge, tea/coffee making facilities and satellite TV.

Vessels

MS Vivaldi

A Premium vessel launched in 2009, MS Vivaldi is registered in France with a mainly European crew and announcements in French and English. For 20 years Jules Verne has been the main UK partner of the innovative French cruise company, CroisiEurope established over 40 years ago, now boasting the largest European river fleet (over 40 ships), yet still operated by the same family.

All drinks, except premium brands are included throughout the cruise (except 1/4 Dec, where drinks are included with meals only). Enjoy International and French cuisine in an elegant one-sitting dining room. Breakfast is a buffet, lunch and dinner waiter service. The vessel does sail at night.

Reception, lounge bar with small dance floor, sun deck, lift and WiFi (free/limited). 88 air-conditioned cabins with private facilities, hairdryer, safe and satellite TV. 41 twin/double cabins with picture windows and French balcony (145 sq. ft.) on the Upper Deck, 21 twin/double cabins with picture windows (145 sq. ft.) on the Middle Deck And 26 twin/double cabins with porthole (145 sq. ft.) on the Main Deck.

Extra Nights

Stay in Bucharest before you start your tour, or spend extra nights in Budapest before flying back to the UK

Extra nights are on request, please call to discuss your requirements

Mercure City Center
(per night) £65 (2025 £75; Sep 2025 £85)
Single supplement £65 (2025 £68; Sep 2025 £75)

Hilton Garden Inn
(per night) £98 (2025 £100)
Single supplement £90

Mercure City Center - Bucharest

Modern 4-star hotel, a few steps from the Romanian Athenaeum and Victoriei Avenue. Restaurant, bar, gym, WiFi (free) and 114 air-conditioned rooms with hairdryer, safe, tea/coffee making facilities and satellite TV.

Hilton Garden Inn Budapest City Centre – Budapest

A comfortable 4-star hotel in downtown Budapest, next door to the Hungarian State Opera House and St. Stephen’s Basilica. Restaurant, bar, gym, WiFi (free). 214 air-conditioned rooms with hairdryer, safe, mini-fridge, tea/coffee making facilities and satellite TV.

Optional Excursions

From £13pp

Budapest Retro Experience

Enjoy a visit to the Budapest Retro Interactive Museum. You can patrol a communist housing estate in a real LADA police car, see what Bertalan Farkas, the Hungarian astronaut of the Soviet-Hungarian space flight took into space, or even try your hand at being an anchor in the studio of the TV Newscast of the time. And these are just a few of the many experiences offered by this ultra-modern facility, which displays thousands of special objects. The Museum in downtown Budapest is a fantastic adventure for everyone.

Dates & Prices

per person in a twin/double Main Deck cabin 

Fri 23 May 2025
From London Gatwick
  • No Single Supplement (1 Room Remaining)

Was £3845

£ 3775

Fri 12 Sep 2025
From London Heathrow

Was £3475

£ 3405

Price Includes:

Air travel and taxes, all port charges, transfers, 2 night’s hotel, 8-night cruise, breakfast daily, 1 lunch, full board and drinks on cruise vessel, excursions, Jules Verne Representative, local expert guides and representatives. If our specially negotiated airfares are unavailable at the time of booking, a supplement may apply.

Not Included:

Travel insurance, optional excursions, tipping, any government taxes or compulsory charges introduced after publication.

Supplements per person

Single Supplement
  • No Single Supplement (limited availability)
  • 2025: May 23

  • Single Supplement
  • £915
Upgrades
  • MS Vivaldi (RO) - Middle Deck Standard Twin/Double Cabin from £185
  • MS Vivaldi (RO) - Upper Deck Standard Twin/Double cabin from £215
  • MS Vivaldi (RO) - Main Deck Standard Single Cabin from £915 (On Request: Please Call)
  • MS Vivaldi (RO) - Middle Deck Standard Single Cabin from £1100
  • MS Vivaldi (RO) - Upper Deck Standard Single Cabin from £1130
Flight Options
  • British Airways Club Europe
  • On request, please call
Optional Excursions
  • Budapest Retro Experience (2025)
  • £13
Tour Only
  • Save
  • up to £250
  • Arrival transfer
  • £30
  • Departure transfer
  • £60
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