2025 - Viking's Capitals Of Eastern Europe River Cruise: September 2025

Saturday, September 27, 2025

2025 - Viking River Cruise

We went on our first Viking River Cruise “Capitals Of Eastern Europe” from August 28 to September 14, 2025. This was Fei’s 2nd river cruise and Tony’s first river cruise. It was a new experience to us. Eastern Europe has been on our travel list for quite some time, finally we decided to do it and trying river cruise at the same time.

A few days prior to our departure of this trip, we got a notice from Viking saying the water level of Danube River between Constanta and Pleven was too low, so they changed the itinerary for us to stay in Bucharest for 3 days and embarking Viking Kadlin at Turnu Măgurele, Romania. After embarkation, Kadlin just sailed across the Danube to Bleven, Bulgaria to start the river cruise. They did provide a bus tour to Constanta, Romania for touring Constanta and visiting the Black Sea. However, it did disappointed us with no sailing through the Black Sea.

The Viking River Cruise itinerary is as the following:

Aug 28, 2025 - Departed Houston TX

Aug 29, 2025 - Arrived Bucharest, Romania, Checked into JW Marriott in Bucharest

Aug 30, 2025 - Touring Bucharest, Romania; Panoramic Bucharest (Viking); Self booked tour to visit the Palace of Parliament

Aug 31, 2025 - Touring Constanta, Romaina; Constanta on Foot (Viking)

Sep 1, 2025 - Embarked Viking Kadlin at Turnu Magurele, Romania then sailed to Nikopol, Bulgaria

Sep 2 2025 - Pleven, Bularia; Panoramic Pleven (Viking)

Sep 3, 2025 - Vidin, Bulgaria; Vidin on Foot (Viking); Belogradchik Rocks Hike & Fortress (Viking optional tour)

Sep 4, 2025 - Scenic Saling : The Iron Gates; Donji Milanovac, Serbia; Charming Donji Milanovac (Viking)

Sep 5, 2025 - Belgrade, Serbia; Panoramic Belgrade (Viking)

Sep 6, 2025 - Novi Sad, Serbia; The Town of Novi Sad (Viking)

Sep 7, 2025 - Ilok, Croatia; Self touring Ilok

Sep 8, 2025 - Mohacs, Hungary; Historic Pécs (Viking)

Sep 9, 2025 - Budapest, Hungary; Panoramic Budapest (Viking); Self tour Budapest

Sep 10, 2025 - Budapest, Hungary; Self touring Parliament and Budapest

Sep 11, 2025 - Bratislava, Slovak Republic; Bratislava Walking Tour (Viking); Self touring Bratislava Castle

Sep 12, 2025 - Vienna, Austria; Panoramic Vienna (Viking); Self touring St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna; Mozart & Strauss Concert (Viking optional tour)

Sep 13, 2025 - Vienna, Austria; Self touring Schoenbrunn Palace & Gardens

Sep 14, 2025 - Disembark in Vienna; Flight to Venice

The original cruise map is as the following:

Aug 28, 2025 - Departed Houston TX and Flew to Bucharest, Romania

Our flight from Houston was at 6:20pm, so we did not have to rush to the airport. As a matter of fact, we got there earlier and enjoyed a nice lunch at the airport lounge. We transferred our Lufthansa flight at Frankfurt, Germany and then Bucharest, Romania on Aug 29, 2025. At Bucharest, Viking staff took us via airport transfer services to the JW Marriott Hotel. It is a very nice hotel in the center of the town right next to Palace of the Parliament.

Aug 30, 2025 - Bucharest, Romania

Viking provided a tour of “Panoramic Bucharest” by bus around Bucharest to see some of the most important areas in Bucharest, and then took us to walk around the Old Town with attractions such as Palace of the Parliament, Revolution Square, CEC Palace, Kretzulescu Church, Saint Nicholas Church and Curtea Vecho Church.

The Palace of the Parliament

Revolution Square

Kretzulescu Church

In the afternoon, we went to an Viator tour to visit Palace of the Parliament. We did not want to walk under the hot sun, so we called an Uber to take us to the meeting point of the tour. Viator only gathered us together and walked us to the palace. There was an official guide from the palace to provide the tour. So we think Viator’s charges were too high.

The Palace of Parliament, also known as the People’s House, is a massive government building in Bucharest, Romania. It is the heaviest building in the world and one of the largest administrative buildings globally. The significance lies in its historical and architectural importance as well as its association with the country’s communist past. It is one of Bucharest's most visited tourist attractions.

The Palace of Parliament

With approximately 1000 rooms of which 440 are offices, more than 30 ballrooms, 4 restaurants, 3 libraries, 2 underground parking lots, 1 big concert room, 1 unfinished pool, and thousands of square meters in which no one knows what is happening, the Palace of Parliament offers you contradictory feelings every time you step on its doorstep.

Beautiful Hallway in the Palace of Parliament

International Conference Centre

Aug 31, 2025 - Touring Constanta, Romania

In the morning, Viking took us via bus to visit Constanta. It was about 2 and half an hours drive to the lively city on the Black Sea Coast in south-eastern Romania. After we got there, the guide took us to walk around this largest Black Sea port. We walked by Ovid Square, the Roman Edifice, St. Peter & Paul Orthodox Cathedral, Constanta Archaeology Park, Constanta Casino, and strolled along the Promenade to enjoy the breeze from the Black Sea.

Muzeul de Artă Populară Constanța

Ovid Square

St. Peter & Paul Orthodox Cathedral & Constanta Archaeology Park

Constanta Casino

Constanta Promenade and Black Sea

Constanta Promenade

Finally, the guild gave us about half an hour to walk to Aloha Beach and we got the chance of stepping into Black Sea for the first time.

Aloha Beach

Dip into Black Sea

Later, Viking took us to a wine tasting place at Murfatlar Winery. They showed us the winery and also provided a wine tasting lunch. We also got a chance to check on their grape fields.

Murfatlar Winery

Wine Tasting at Murfatlar Winery

Grapes in Murfatlar Winery

With the long drive, we got back to Bucharest pretty late and Viking provided a buffer dinner for us.

Sep 1, 2025 - Embark Viking Kadlin at Turnu Magurele, Romania

After a long bus ride, we finally embarked Viking Kadlin at Turnu Magurele, Romania. The check-in was pretty easy, then we all enjoyed a nice lunch in the dining room. Kadlin has only one dining room for all three meals, one lounge for all functions, and a deck on 4th floor for relaxing and walking laps.

In the afternoon, Kadlin finally sailed cross the Danube to Nikopol - Turnu Magurele Ferry Port, Bulgaria. We got a chance to walk around the port a little bit. In the afternoon, Viking took us to Bleven, Bulgaria for a walking tour.

Nikopol - Turnu Magurele Ferry Port, Bulgaria

Viking Kadlin

Sep 2, 2026 - Pleven, Bulgaria

In the morning, the Kadlin’s program director provided a presentation to talk about History of the Balkans. It made us to realize that Balkans has a very complicated history with a lot of wars with the Ottomans and among themselves. He also talked about their departing from communism in recent years.

The guide took us walking along the city garden and finally to the St George the Conqueror Chapel Mausoleum. It is a mausoleum and memorial Bulgarian Orthodox chapel, as well as a major landmark of Pleven. It is dedicated to the Russian and Romanian soldiers who fell for the Liberation of Bulgaria during the Siege of Plevna of 1877.

St George the Conqueror Chapel Mausoleum

We also visited Pleven Panorama which is located in Pleven, Bulgaria, that depicts the events of the Russian-Turkish War of 1877–78, specifically the five-month Siege of Plevna (Pleven Epopee) which made the city internationally famous and which contributed to the Liberation of Bulgaria after five centuries of Ottoman rule.

Pleven Panorama

The panorama hall is 40 m in diameter. The 115 m-long and 15 m-wide panorama canvas that shows the dramatic episodes of the Third Battle of Pleven is hung there. The atmosphere of the trenches is reproduced at the foot of the canvas with replicas of typical objects and weapons from the period.

In front of panorama canvas

Panorama canvas

Display in Pleven Panorama

Sep 3, 2025 - Vidin, Bulgaria

In the morning, we attended Viking's “Vidin on Foot” excursion. Vidin is one of the lesser-known attractions in Bulgaria, which has a rich history, beautiful architectures, and stunning natural surroundings.

The Viking local guide took us strolling along the Danube River and describing the building architecture along the way. And finally we got to the Baba Vida Fortress which is the main landmark of Vidin and It is the only medieval fortress that’s been preserved in its original form.

Baba Vida Fortress

The fortress served as the main defensive installation of Vidin during the Middle Ages and acted as the most important fortress in northwest Bulgaria. Baba Vida endured a Byzantine siege that lasted eight months carried out by the forces of Basilio II, but it was destroyed and erected again during the mandate of Iván Sracimir, which used it as its capital. In 1388, the Ottomans invaded the lands of Sracimir and forced him to become his vassal.

Baba Vida Fortress

Legend says that Vida was the eldest daughter of a Bulgarian boyar with vast possessions. Taught by the failed marriage of her sisters, Kula and Gamza, she rejected all marriage proposals, built an inaccessible castle, and spent her entire life there, a medieval version of the concept of the Iron Maiden.

In the afternoon, we attended Viking’s optional excursion “Belogradchik Rocks & Fortress”. It is one of the best-preserved strongholds in Bulgaria and a cultural monument of national importance.

Belogradchik Rocks & Fortress

Entrance of the Belogradchik Rocks & Fortress

The initial fortress was constructed during the time when the region was part of the Roman Empire. The rock formations in the area served as a natural protection, as fortified walls were practically only built from the northwest and southeast, with the yard being surrounded by rocks up to 70 m (230 ft) high from the other sides.

The Bulgarian tsar of Vidin, Ivan Stratsimir extended the old fortress in the 14th century, building fortified garrisons in front of the existing rock massifs. During Stratsimir's rule, the Belogradchik Fortress became one of the most important strongholds in the region, second only to the tsar's capital fortress of Vidin, Baba Vida.

We had a lot of fun by hiking on the rocks and taking photos. It is considered as our only hike during this Viking River Cruise.

Hiking in the Belogradchik Rocks & Fortress

Village under the Belogradchik Rocks & Fortress

Hiking in the Belogradchik Rocks & Fortress

In front of the Belogradchik Rocks & Fortress

Sep 4, 2025 - Scenic Sailing : The Iron Gates; Donji Milanovac, Serbia

In the morning, we were invited by the program director to view the lock system on Danube River. Then we sailed through the famous Iron Gates. The program director explained the reason of naming this section of Danube as Iron Gates. The Iron Gates on the Danube are not gates in the literal sense but a spectacular gorge and a series of dams that form a natural border between Serbia and Romania.

Lock in the Iron Gate Area

Iron Gate Scenery

Originally, the natural gorge presented challenges for navigation, which led to the construction of the Iron Gate I dam and hydroelectric power plant, completed in 1972, to control the river and generate power. The region is now characterized by towering cliffs, protected national parks on both sides, and is a popular destination for river cruises and scenic sailing due to its dramatic beauty.

The area is home to Djerdap National Park in Serbia and Portile de Fier National Park in Romania, which protect both natural habitats and historical sites. The dramatic cliffs, deep waters, and surrounding national parks make sailing through the Iron Gates a major tourist attraction and a memorable part of many Danube River cruises.

Iron Gate in Danube River

In the afternoon, we attended Viking’s Charming Donji Milanovac excursion. Donji Milanovac is a very small town next to Danube river. The only attraction was a church -Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas. Then the guide took us to a school and explained the difficulty of various Serbia languages. It was educational, however, it still did not makes any sense to us.

Charming Donji Milanovac

Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas

Explaining the difficulty of various Serbia languages

Then, we just strolled along the waterfront to enjoy beautiful sceneries and nice weather.

At Donji Milanovac Waterfront

Sep 5, 2025 - Belgrade, Serbia

Belgrade is the capital of Serbia and the largest city in Serbia. We attended Viking’s “Panoramic Belgrade” excursion. The guide took us to Belgrade Fortress first and then looking around the fortress.

Belgrade Fortress

Later, we visited the Knez Mihailova Street which is Belgrade's main pedestrian and shopping artery, located in the Stari Grad (Old Town) area, connecting the Kalemegdan Fortress to downtown. This historic street is known for its elegant 19th-century architecture, vibrant atmosphere with street performers, cafes, shops, and art galleries, making it a central cultural and social hub in the city.

Knez Mihailova Street

Then, he took us to the Church of Saint Sava. The Church of Saint Sava is a Serbian Orthodox church in the Vračar plateau in Belgrade, Serbia. It is the largest Orthodox church in Serbia, one of the largest Eastern Orthodox churches and it ranks among the largest churches in the world. As far as our concern, this church is the most worthy site to visit in Belgrade.

Church of Saint Sava

In the evening, Viking provide a Serbian Folklore (live music) to entertain all of us.

Photo with Serbian Folklore Dancers