Enchantment of Eastern Europe & Istanbul

11 nights Sep 29, 2027

The Enchantment of Eastern Europe & Istanbul is a 11-night Europe cruise aboard Emerald Astra, operated by Emerald Cruises. Departing Budapest on September 29, 2027, the voyage visits 11 ports. Fares start from $6,376 per person.

from $6,376

$579 / night per person, incl. taxes & fees

See prices

You'll continue on Emerald Cruises's official site. Affiliate disclosure

from $6,376 pp

Continues on Emerald Cruises's site

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Itinerary

Day 1 Sep 29, 2027 Budapest On one bank of the Danube is hilly Buda with its Fisherman’s Bastion and Castle Hill; on the other, there’s flat Pest with its House of Parliament. These two beautiful districts couldn’t be more different. Perhaps that’s why it took until 1873 for the two cities on opposite sides of the river to merge and form Budapest. Right from the start, the landmark of this new metropolis was Buda Castle, a monumental structure that rises high above Budapest and provides mesmerising views across the city. In terms of monumental grandeur, the House of Parliament is certainly on a par with Buda Castle. Erected to mark the millennium celebrations of 1896, this gigantic building was completed in just 22 years. Considering it is 96 metres high, 268 metres long and 118 meters wide, with a total of 691 rooms, that’s an incredible achievement. Budapest is a place where you keep coming across echoes from days gone by. There are traces of Ottoman rule, the extravagant Habsburg era and Soviet socialism – different cultural influences that have combined to create a vibrant, lively city that’s a must-see destination. Go to Budapest Cruises visiting Budapest

Day 4 Oct 2, 2027 Belgrade The meeting point of Central Europe and the Middle East is situated where the Sava flows into the Danube. This gateway to the Balkans is open, cosmopolitan and full of fun. By simply strolling through the city, you can travel back through the history of Belgrade, admire its architecture and encounter European modernism. And while you discover culinary specialties on every corner, your eye will be drawn to the magnificent influences of the Ottoman Empire, which gives way to socialist classicism on the next corner. Every visitor ends up in Belgrade’s medieval fortress sooner or later, which features moats and a beautiful park. It’s time for a little break. Go to Belgrade Cruises visiting Belgrade

Belgrade photo — Day 4 Oct 2, 2027 Belgrade The meeting point of Central Europe and the Middle East is situated where the Sava flows into the Danube. This gateway to the Balkans is open, cosmopolitan and full of fun. By simply strolling through the city, you can travel back through the history of Belgrade, admire its architecture and encounter European modernism. And while you discover culinary specialties on every corner, your eye will be drawn to the magnificent influences of the Ottoman Empire, which gives way to socialist classicism on the next corner. Every visitor ends up in Belgrade’s medieval fortress sooner or later, which features moats and a beautiful park. It’s time for a little break. Go to Belgrade Cruises visiting Belgrade

Day 8 Oct 6, 2027 Bucharest Bucharest, in southern Romania, is the country's capital and commercial center. Its iconic landmark is the massive, communist-era Palatul Parlamentului government building, which has 1,100 rooms. Nearby, the historic Lipscani district is home to an energetic nightlife scene as well as tiny Eastern Orthodox Stavropoleos Church and 15th-century Curtea Veche Palace, where Prince Vlad III (“The Impaler”) once ruled. Go to Bucharest Cruises visiting Bucharest

Bucharest photo — Day 8 Oct 6, 2027 Bucharest Bucharest, in southern Romania, is the country's capital and commercial center. Its iconic landmark is the massive, communist-era Palatul Parlamentului government building, which has 1,100 rooms. Nearby, the historic Lipscani district is home to an energetic nightlife scene as well as tiny Eastern Orthodox Stavropoleos Church and 15th-century Curtea Veche Palace, where Prince Vlad III (“The Impaler”) once ruled. Go to Bucharest Cruises visiting Bucharest

Day 9 Oct 7, 2027 Istanbul A shore excursion on your MSC Mediterranean cruise can be the opportunity to discover İstanbul which stands astride two continents, Europe and Asia. As if its spectacular geographical location were not enough, it can also boast of being the only city to have played capital to consecutive Christian and Islamic empires, a role that has shaped the region’s history for more than 2500 years and bequeathed to İstanbul a staggering wealth of attractions. Most cruise visitors spend all their holiday time in Sultanahmet, home to İstanbul’s main sightseeing attractions: the church of Aya Sofya, the greatest legacy of the Byzantine Empire; the Topkapı Palace, heart of the Ottoman Empire; and the massive Sultanahmet Camii (Blue Mosque). Here also are the ancient Hippodrome, the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art (housed in the former Palace of İbrahim Paşa), the eerily lit Yerebatan Sarnıcı, a fascinating Byzantine underground cistern, and the Grand Bazaar (Kapalı Çarşı), the largest covered bazaar in the world. The monumental architecture, attractive parks and gardens, street-side cafés, and the benefits of a relatively traffic-free main road combine to make this area pleasant for both sightseeing and staying on an MSC Mediterranean cruise excursion. İstanbul’s Ottoman-era Grand Bazaar gets more than its fair share of souvenir-hungry visitors. The area around it, however, is relatively little explored, which is a shame as it holds some very worthwhile attractions, from the historic Cembirlitaş Hamamı, one of the best Turkish baths in the country, to the city’s very best mosque, the hilltop Süleymaniye Camii. The best single reason to head across to the Asian shore of the city is to experience a Bosphorus cruise. The views from the Bosphorus are superb, with domes and minarets dominating the skyline of the Old City, and skyscrapers the business districts beyond Beyoğlu. Go to Istanbul Cruises visiting Istanbul

Istanbul photo — Day 9 Oct 7, 2027 Istanbul A shore excursion on your MSC Mediterranean cruise can be the opportunity to discover İstanbul which stands astride two continents, Europe and Asia. As if its spectacular geographical location were not enough, it can also boast of being the only city to have played capital to consecutive Christian and Islamic empires, a role that has shaped the region’s history for more than 2500 years and bequeathed to İstanbul a staggering wealth of attractions. Most cruise visitors spend all their holiday time in Sultanahmet, home to İstanbul’s main sightseeing attractions: the church of Aya Sofya, the greatest legacy of the Byzantine Empire; the Topkapı Palace, heart of the Ottoman Empire; and the massive Sultanahmet Camii (Blue Mosque). Here also are the ancient Hippodrome, the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art (housed in the former Palace of İbrahim Paşa), the eerily lit Yerebatan Sarnıcı, a fascinating Byzantine underground cistern, and the Grand Bazaar (Kapalı Çarşı), the largest covered bazaar in the world. The monumental architecture, attractive parks and gardens, street-side cafés, and the benefits of a relatively traffic-free main road combine to make this area pleasant for both sightseeing and staying on an MSC Mediterranean cruise excursion. İstanbul’s Ottoman-era Grand Bazaar gets more than its fair share of souvenir-hungry visitors. The area around it, however, is relatively little explored, which is a shame as it holds some very worthwhile attractions, from the historic Cembirlitaş Hamamı, one of the best Turkish baths in the country, to the city’s very best mosque, the hilltop Süleymaniye Camii. The best single reason to head across to the Asian shore of the city is to experience a Bosphorus cruise. The views from the Bosphorus are superb, with domes and minarets dominating the skyline of the Old City, and skyscrapers the business districts beyond Beyoğlu. Go to Istanbul Cruises visiting Istanbul

Pricing

Lowest fare we've tracked over the observed 78-day span: $5,954 · range $5,954–$7,052

Lower than 74% of peers This longer-duration sailing's from-price per night is lower than 74% of comparable sailings.

same cruise line and duration · from-price per night · as of Jun 22, 2026 · Broader cohort: same cruise line and duration, compared by from-price per night.

Current prices

Per person · 2 guests · incl. taxes & fees

Inside

Not available

Oceanview

from $6,376

$579 / night

Fare rows

Emerald Stateroom

Cabin grade

Available

from $6,376

$579 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Emerald Stateroom

Cabin grade

Available

from $6,376

$579 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Emerald Stateroom

Cabin grade

Available

from $12,680

$1,152 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Balcony

Not available

Suite

from $7,231

$657 / night

Fare rows

Emerald Panorama Balcony Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $7,231

$657 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Emerald Panorama Balcony Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $7,231

$657 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Emerald Panorama Balcony Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $7,334

$666 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Emerald Panorama Balcony Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $7,334

$666 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Grand Balcony Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $7,699

$699 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Grand Balcony Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $7,699

$699 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Emerald Panorama Balcony Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $14,580

$1,325 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Emerald Panorama Balcony Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $14,810

$1,346 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Grand Balcony Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $15,620

$1,420 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Prices verified Jun 18, 2026

Prices come from third-party data feeds via Emerald Cruises and may differ from the cruise line's current fare. Confirm the final price before booking. How our pricing works

Price history

7 days

Cabin grades

Add a line to the chart

Oceanview

Lowest Oceanview $6,376 D Emerald Stateroom $6,376 E Emerald Stateroom

Suite

Lowest Suite $7,231 A Emerald Panorama Balcony Suite $7,334 B Emerald Panorama Balcony Suite $7,231 C Emerald Panorama Balcony Suite S Grand Balcony Suite $7,699

Lines step between recorded price changes. Plot up to 6 grades at once.

All cabin grades (8) Detailed cabin specs available at booking.

Name	Supplier code	Type
Emerald Stateroom	D	Oceanview
Emerald Stateroom	E	Oceanview
Emerald Single Stateroom	ES	Oceanview
Emerald Panorama Balcony Suite	A	Suite
Emerald Panorama Balcony Suite	B	Suite
Emerald Panorama Balcony Suite	C	Suite
Grand Balcony Suite	S	Suite
Owner's One Bedroom Suite	SA	Suite

Ship

Your ship Emerald Astra 5★ **180** guests Built **2025** Emerald Astra will mark the next evolution of Emerald Cruises’ award-winning river fleet. Designed to mirror the sleek elegance of the line’s luxury superyachts, the ship features a modern, grey-tinted glass exterior and will welcome 180 guests. The updated design focuses on both style and functionality, offering guests’ favorite amenities such as the pool/cinema combination, multiple dining options, and a sun deck dedicated to relaxation and panoramic views. All interiors have also been enhanced with a sleek, contemporary design, ensuring a sophisticated and spacious atmosphere for travelers on Europe’s rivers. Go to Emerald Astra Cruises on Emerald Astra

Similar cruises

Other sailing dates

Same itinerary, different dates. Prices per person · incl. taxes & fees.

View	From pp	Departs
	from $5,472 $497 / night	Apr 5, 2027Voyage EWBI050427.1
	from $5,642 $512 / night	Apr 17, 2027Voyage EWBI170427.1

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