15 Days Budapest to the Black Sea River Cruise - MS William Wordsworth
Duration:
14 Nights
From €4,749 per person
04 May 2026 - Other dates available
From the magnificent history of the Iron Gates Gorge to the romantic capital city of Bucharest, explore the extraordinary sights along the Danube River on this cruise through the heart of the Balkans.
On this long river cruise through the Balkans, we start by exploring the sights of Kalocsa and Belgrade, with its magnificent Kalemegdan Fortress. Then it’s off to Pleven passing through the Iron Gates Gorge and the Djerdap locks before visiting Bucharest, the capital of Romania. Known as ‘Little Paris,’ this gem of a capital city will capture your heart with its romantic buildings and boulevards. Then we explore the very best of The Danube Delta and enjoy a cruise through Europe’s largest area of wetlands – a UNESCO-listed site. We visit Constanța on the Black Sea coast, where you can explore its charming Old Town. From Ruse, either explore Veliko Tarnovo, the village of Arbanasi and the rock hewn churches at Ivanovo, or Ruse and the churches at Ivanovo and Basarbovo. From Vidin we take a scenic drive to the rock formations at Belogradchik, then we visit Lepenski Vir – one of the most important Mesolithic archaeological sites in Serbia and marvel at the views from Kapetan Mišin breg. Entering Croatia, you can choose to see Osijek & Vukovar, or take a boat ride in the Kopački rit nature park nestled between the Danube and Drava rivers.
Finally, we discover the imperial capital city of Hungary – Budapest.
Highlights
Explore Belogradchik Rocks, Pleven and Veliko Tarnovo, Arbanasi and Ivanovo, or Ruse and the rock-hewn churches of Ivanovo & Basarbovo in Romania on guided tours.
Discover the only European capital built at the confluence of two rivers, Belgrade, Serbia's second largest city, Novi Sad, and Mesolithic Lepenski Vir.
Visit Romania's Bucharest with its tree-lined boulevards, the Orthodox churches and squares that this 'Little Paris' has to offer, and the ancient city of Constanța on the Black Sea coast.
Marvel at the natural beauty of the Danube Delta, Europe’s largest wetlands with UNESCO status, and sail through the impressive Iron Gates Gorge.
See Croatia's Vukovar and Osijek or visit Kopački Rit nature park, tour Hungary's Kalosca or take a scenic drive into the Puszta to an equestrian farm, and explore the imperial city of Budapest.
Day 1 Arrival in Budapest
Arrive to your five-star cruise ship
Upon arrival meet your friendly crew, who will welcome you on board and help you settle into your spacious, luxuriously appointed suite. The ship remains here overnight, so watch dusk descend over Hungary’s capital as you enjoy your first dinner on board.
Day 2 Kalocsa & Paprika Museum or Puszta with equestrian farm
Discover Kalocsa and learn all about paprika, or drive into the Puszta with a visit to an equestrian farm.
Day 3 Belgrade
Uncover the contrasting faces of Belgrade on a guided tour in the shadow of the Kalemegdan Fortress, then enjoy a folklore show.
Day 4 Iron Gates Gorge
Experience the Iron Gates Gorge, a famously breathtaking stretch of the Danube.
Day 5 Pleven
Discover Pleven’s Panorama Museum and its old town on a guided tour and enjoy an on-board Bulgarian folk music show.
Day 6 Bucharest
Enjoy a guided tour of Bucharest, ‘Little Paris’, with its tree-lined boulevards and elegant belle-époque villas.
Day 7 Danube Delta
Experience the Danube Delta, Europe’s second largest river delta and birdwatcher’s paradise.
Day 8 Constanța
Visit Constanța with its rich Greek and Roman legacy and landmark Art Nouveau casino.
Day 9 Veliko Tarnovo, Arbanasi & Ivanovo
See Ruse and the churches of Ivanovo and Basarbovo, or visit Veliko Tarnovo, Arbanasi & Ivanovo.
Day 10 Belogradchik
Moor in Vidin, home to the fortress of Baba Vidin, to visit the rock formations of Belogradchik.
Day 11 Iron Gates, Lepinski Vir & Kapetan Mišin breg
Cruise the Iron Gates Gorge, visit Lepenski Vir, an important archaeological site and Kapetan Mišin breg.
Day 12 Novi Sad
Explore on a guided tour of Novi Sad with its maze of underground tunnels. Tonight enjoy a performance of popular Serbian melodies.
Day 13 Osijek and Vukovar, or Kopački Rit Nature Park
Enjoy guided tours of Vukovar and Osijek ports, or enjoy a boat ride in Kopački Rit Nature Park.
Day 14 Budapest
Return to Budapest for a guided tour this afternoon, and a Hungarian folklore show as a fitting finale to your cruise.
Day 15 Return home
It’s time to say goodbye to your crew and start the journey home.
MS William Wordsworth
It is extremely difficult to convey just how extraordinary this outstanding ship really is and exactly what distinguishes it from similar vessels. It would be very easy to just say ‘luxurious’ but it’s much more than that; we have deliberately avoided the current trend for a minimalist style where you could be anywhere in the world, creating instead a unique yet exquisite blend of understated taste, style and elegance at the highest level. Immediately striking is just how exceptionally spacious this new vessel is as you enter a gleaming, richly coloured marble-floored lobby flooded with natural light from a stunning atrium above. Moving inside, exceptional creativity from Europe’s finest design studio has produced a superbly balanced masterpiece of onboard style, utilising sustainable rich hardwoods, gleaming brass and polished copper, sparkling glass and intricate wrought iron. The ship is beautifully illuminated throughout – including the exterior and imaginatively furnished with harmonious colour schemes, all designed to create the serene atmosphere reflective of the golden age of cruising which time after time you tell us you adore.
The restaurant rivals the finest on shore establishments taking fine dining to another level complemented by delicate European porcelain, gleaming glassware and the intuitive service in which the Swiss excel. This superb vessel carries 44 in-house trained crew members serving just 169 guests (similar size vessels may carry well over 190 passengers) giving the ratio which our experience proves is concurrent with our first class service levels.
Cabins
A gleaming wood door opens revealing your exceptionally appointed suite. At 17 square metres (183 square feet), its generous dimensions are amongst the largest you will find on a cruiser gracing any European river. Imaginatively designed and appointed to the highest specification, with all the luxury you would expect to find in a smart ‘boutique style’ hotel, your comfort definitely won’t be compromised on any level!
The sparkling marble bathroom features a powerful fully glazed shower with a large ‘rainshower’ head, superbly refreshing after a hard day’s sightseeing. Clever design allows for ample space, and contemporary lighting, complimentary quality cosmetics and fluffy towels, makes preparing for the day ahead an absolute pleasure.
The chic styling of a talented designer’s eye extends to the entire suite with generous use of hand-crafted tropical hardwoods blended with premium fittings, discreet thoughtful lighting and a colour scheme of calming neutral tones, creating an ambience to put you in the most relaxed frame of mind from the very first minute! A full size bed assures a good night’s rest in crisp cotton linen of the finest quality - a turndown service each evening adds the finishing touch. Please note all suites have two twin beds with individual bedding which can be moved together or separated accordingly.
You will enjoy a particularly generous seating area with two chairs and a table, enabling you to unwind in comfort in the privacy of your own suite whilst a bow camera conveys live images of the ship’s progress to your flat screen TV, ensuring you won’t miss a thing. Careful consideration has been given to the tiniest details with individually controlled air-conditioning so you set the temperature that you desire, a hairdryer, safe, mini fridge, telephone and the convenience of tea (our meticulous planning even extends to familiar teabags!) and coffee making facilities ensure a home from home experience.
Suites on the Diamond and Ruby Decks have ‘French Balconies’ – panoramic floor to ceiling sliding glass doors bringing riverside life just that little closer!
*Please note: The colour scheme of the cabin interiors may vary.
Facilities
Air-conditioning
Lounge & bar
Spa & wellness
24-hour front desk
Restaurant
Bistro with open kitchen
Laundry service
Boutique gift shop
Small splash pool
Lift between Upper, Middle & Lower Decks
Extras & upgrades
Door-to-door service
Opt for a convenient door-to-door service with transport from your home to your choice of regional airport or train station, available as an added optional with every holiday. This can be added to your booking after you've booked online by giving our reservations team a call, or when you're booking over the phone.
Offers
Free drinks package
Raise a glass and enjoy a free drinks package on all European river cruises.
Superior Drinks package on 2025 cruises
With lunch in our restaurants:
Regional and house wines and draught beers, including non-alcoholic
Soft drinks and juices
From 6pm to midnight in our bars and restaurants, all of the above plus:
Cocktail and mocktail of the day
House spirits, mixers and regional wine
Selection of pre and after-dinner drinks
All Inclusive drinks on 2026 cruises
Enjoy all the drinks included in the Superior drinks package, but now enjoy them from 10am until midnight. Drink as much – or as little as you like.
This package includes:
Red, white, rosé and sparkling house wines, including non-alcoholic
A choice of draught beers, including non-alcoholic
A selection of soft drinks and juices
Our cocktail and mocktail of the day
House spirits and mixers including vodka, gin, rum, whisky, martini, sherry, brandy, port and Baileys (excluding liqueurs)
92 Patrick Street, Cork, Ireland Registration No 100308
Licensed by the Irish Aviation Authority,
TA0720.
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