Black Sea Cruising
Sail the Danube through Romania and Bulgaria then up to Ukraine on this inland sea
You can cruise the Danube along the border of Romania and Bulgaria, reaching the Danube Delta just south of Ukraine; and then the entire Black Sea is at your fingertips.
If you want your Eastern European holiday to be on water, then a great option is to explore the Black Sea, along with the mighty Danube River as it flows into it. Hundreds of cruising options exist covering Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine and other border countries of the Black Sea.
Cruising the Danube Towards the Black Sea
You can hardly go wrong with a cruise along the romantic Danube River. To see a vast chunk of Eastern Europe, you could start in Vienna, and follow the river through Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia and Montenegro, Bulgaria and Romania to the Black Sea. Cruises through Romania usually include a trip up to Bucharest, and in Bulgaria you’ll often enjoy the Black Sea at the resort town of Nessebur – one of Europe’s oldest towns.
Taking a Cruise Around the Black Sea
This might be a good cruise for seasickness sufferers – the waters of the Black Sea are known to be calm. It also is around the point that separates Europe from Asia, giving you a great variety of culture to explore, from Ukraine and Russia to Turkey and Georgia. Key stops are usually are the Ukrainian ports of Odesa and Sevastapol, Varna in Bulgaria and Istanbul in Turkey.
Other Black Sea Holiday Options
Cruising through Ukraine is becoming a popular trip: you can start at Crimea and Sevastopol, move along to Odesa on the Black Sea and then follow the Dnipro River north, making stops at cities like Kremunchuk and Dniprpetrovsk before reaching Kyiv. Other travelers prefer to link their Black Sea trip with a cruise from Istanbul through the Bosphorus; and of course the well-known Crimean resort of Yalta is always a popular destination.
Black Sea Cruise Tips and Information
Winter’s not really on: although the sea won’t be frozen, you will be, and it’s also subject to some severe winter storms. May to November are the peak cruising months on and around the Black Sea. Most major European cruise companies offer variations of a Black Sea cruise – check around to find the itinerary that suits what you really want to see and do.
Other Eastern European cruising options: check out cruises that run between Moscow and St Petersburg in Russia.
