... in the meantime, I’ve been searching the whole web in the attempt to give an answer to the following questions:

1. Does anybody know how to cross the border between Ukraine and Romania in such a way to avoid Moldova (.. and related odd tales about visas, cops, extra charges, etc. …)?

2. Is there any way to directly cross the border and Danube river from Izmail (UA) to Tulcea (RO)?

… well, the answer seems to be NO … and NO again !!!

So, starting from Odessa, the only solution appears to cycle to Reni (UA), then cross the border to Giurgiulesti (MD) and finally to pass the border again to Galati (RO) .... eventually pointing to Tulcea

However, here a positive note: all EU member states, USA , Canada, Switzerland and Japan no longer need visas, neither for visiting Ukraine nor for Moldova.
Good ...isn't it ??? But, for further details you can visit the following web sites: ROMANIA & MOLDOVA and UKRAINE
This obligatory Moldova passage however, unfortunately makes the overall trip Odessa to Budapest to become quite longer, something like 200 km or more.
The Danube Delta territory, on the other hand, remains something worth to be visited but very hard to be planned in terms of days, kms, ferries and any other accommodation and transport related service.
Leaving Tulcea it appears that there is no practical possibility to cycle to Sulina, same story from Sulina to a more southern mainland point where to resume the way to Costanta.

NEVERTHELESS …. EVERYTHING WILL BE WORTH TO BE INVESTIGATED DIRECTLY ON SITE !!!

For the time being and for further information about the Delta area, such as:
- from Tulcea to Periprava
- from Tulcea to Sulina
- from Tulcea to Sfantu Gheorghe
you can visit: DANUBE DELTA
(it’s a valuable mine of information about transportation, accommodation and any other practical and useful tip )

Hope that all above is somehow helpful for a more conscious trip understanding.
AN HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL THE GLOBE CYCLISTS
Corrado