Grand European Discovery

Basel to Vienna - 16 days

CRUISE HIGHLISTS INCLUDE:

• 14-night cruise in a riverview stateroom on the stunning
• All meals onboard
• Complimentary fine wine during dinner, bottled water in your stateroom, and 24-hour specialty coffee
• 13 shore excursions fully hosted by English-speaking guides
• State-of-the-art Quietvox portable audio headset system on all shore excursions
• Complimentary use of bicycles
• Exciting onboard entertainment and insightful lectures
• 2 Captain’s Welcome & 2 Farewell Dinners
• An experienced Cruise Manager and attentive, all English-speaking staff
• All transfers on arrival and departure days

ITINERARY

• DAY 1: Depart Home Gateway City to Basel Departing Flight
• DAY 2: Basel (embark)
  Arrive in Basel Airport where you’ll be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the ship. (D)
• DAY 3: Strasbourg, Speyer
  Featured Excursion: Strasbourg canal cruise
  Situated halfway between Paris and Prague, the Alsatian town of Strasbourg is known as the “Crossroads of Europe.” It is home to a magnificent gothic cathedral, beautiful half-timbered houses and also the seat of the European Parliament. See Strasbourg in the way it has been seen through the centuries—on a canal cruise. You’ll also see Petite France, the picturesque old quarter that seems as if it has been lifted from the pages of a fairy tale with its timberland houses adorned with flower boxes. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 4: Speyer (Heidelberg), Rüdesheim
  Featured Excursion: Full-day tour of Heidelberg, Gondola ride to Niederwald Heights
  Irresistible Optional Tour: Dinner, wine and entertainment at a local restaurant in Rüdesheim
  Heidelberg, home of Germany’s oldest university and forever immortalized by Sigmund Romberg’s operetta The Student Prince, is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe. Your tour of Heidelberg takes you to the romantic ruins of the courtyard of Heidelberg Castle and through Old Town. Rüdesheim is one of the most scenic wine towns of the Rhine Valley. Upon arrival, board a mini-train for the short trip to the Niederwald Gondola. During the ride and once on top, you will be stunned by scenic vistas of Rüdesheim, the vineyards of the Rheingau and the Niederwald monument, a symbol of German unity, perched on top of the heights. (BB, D)
• DAY 5: Aschaffenburg
  Featured Excursion: Aschaffenburg Old Town stroll
  Relax this morning as we cruise the peaceful Main River before docking right in the heart of Aschaffenburg. King Ludwig I called it his “Bavarian Nice” due to its Mediterranean flair. The imposing landmark, the mighty castle “Schloss Johannisburg” and the “Pompeiianum” – a Roman villa rebuilt on plans discovered in Pompeii – are only two of the many examples of the long and rich history of this town which we will discover during our guided Old Town stroll. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 6: Miltenberg
  Featured Excursion: Miltenberg walking tour
  Miltenberg, nestled tightly below wooded hills on a bend of the Main River, enjoys a wonderfully photogenic setting. Explore the “Pearl of the Main River” with your local guide. See the half-timbered houses that give the town its fairy tale feel, along with the Crooked House and the famous Royal Inn which has been preparing meals without interruption since the 15th century.
• DAY 7: Würzburg
  Featured Excursion: Würzburg Residenz and wine tasting
  Visit Germany’s immaculate example of baroque architecture, the stunning Würzburg Residenz, dating back to 1744 and another breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Site. This magnificent baroque palace with its magnificent gardens is one of the largest and most beautiful in Germany. It was built and decorated in the 18th century by an international team of architects and painters, including Tiepolo, sculptors and stucco-workers. Your tour will be capped off with a tasting of fabulous Franconian wines in the historical Residenz cellar. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 8: Bamberg
  Featured Excursion: Bamberg walking tour
  Irresistible Optional Tour: Bamberg beer experience
  Awake in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Bamberg in the morning. Endowed with one of Europe’s largest intact Old Town centers, you will see the imperial cathedral, the four-winged New Residence, the Town Hall lapped by the River Regnitz and the fisherman’s village, “Little Venice,” on your walking tour. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 9: Nuremberg, Cruising Main-Danube Canal
  Enjoy a day at leisure, exploring this fascinating city at your own pace.
• DAY 10: Nuremberg
  Featured Excursion: Nuremberg city tour
  Today’s tour takes you through Nuremberg, an archetypal German medieval city encircled by mighty defensive walls and red-roofed buildings. The second largest city in Bavaria is the birthplace of Albrecht Dürer and home to world-famous gingerbread and the pocket watch. It is also where the infamous Nazi rallies were held during World War II, and its courthouse (Room 600) held the memorable trials after the war. Discover the sights of Nuremberg during your panoramic tour before exploring the walled Old Town on foot. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 11: Regensburg
  Featured Excursion: Regensburg walking tour
  Regensburg, one of the finest medieval towns in Europe, captures 2000 years of living history with outstanding manmade monuments like the 12th-century stone bridge and the towering gothic cathedral. Our walking tour explores the architectural treasures of Old Town as well as the Cathedral of St. Peter, with magnificent stained glass windows dating back to the 14th century. Genuine Bavarian hospitality adds to the vibrant mix of art and culture of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 12: Passau
  Featured Excursion: Passau walking tour and St. Stephan’s organ concert
  Irresistible Optional Tour: Venture through the Bavarian forest to the Bavarian Village Museum, or spend an afternoon cycling along the Inn River
  Passau boasts a delightful layer of Italian style on quintessential German foundations. Explore the well-preserved town and visit St. Stephan’s Cathedral, home to Europe’s largest pipe organ, and site of your organ recital. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 13: Melk
  Featured Excursion: Melk Abbey
  Upon arrival in Melk, be greeted by the 900-year-old Benedictine abbey situated high atop the granite cliffs of the Danube. The beautiful complex is a masterpiece of baroque art and architecture. During your tour through the abbey complex, the guide will bring history to life as you discover one work of art after another. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 14: Cruising Wachau Valley, Krems, Vienna
  Featured Excursion: Krems wine experience
  Start the day with a scenic cruise through the Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape representing one of the most beautiful stretches of river valleys in Europe, en route to Krems. Today, we invite you on a different kind of journey to discover the fascination of wine. We’ll take you to the best traditional and state-of-the-art wine domain where you’ll experience a treat for all the senses, from the vineyards to the cellars. See, feel, smell the wines on a walk through the estate and taste the noble juice of the vine. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 15: Vienna
  Featured Excursion: Vienna city tour
  Irresistible Optional Tour: Visit Schönbrunn Palace, and/or enjoy a classical music performance of Mozart and Strauss
  Vienna’s compact historic city center is an exciting array of cafés and grand places, culminating at the magnificent gothic cathedral. Your city tour will take you along the stately Ringstrasse to the most beloved architectural wonder in all of Vienna, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, where Mozart was married in 1782. On the way you’ll pass Figaro House, where Mozart once lived and wrote
• DAY 16: Vienna (disembark) Return Flight
  Disembark the ship and transfer to Vienna Airport for your flight home.

2009 Cruises

*On these dates cruise operates from Vienna to Basel.

Prices: Prices are per person, based on two people sharing a stateroom or hotel room. Cruise/tour prices are based on costs, charges, tariffs, rates, taxes, levies, and exchange rates as of June 15, 2008. Should the total cruise/tour price increase by more than 10%, passengers will have the right to cancel their cruise within 7 days of notification of the surcharge without penalty. No surcharges in respect of cost or currency fluctuations will be made once payment for the deposit of your cruise/tour is received. This does not apply to fuel surcharges and any taxes, charges, or levies imposed by any government or their agencies. Air-inclusive pricing is provided from NYC, CHI, and LAX only. Other gateway cities are available at additional costs. Please ask your Reservations Consultant at the time of booking for details. A limited number of singles are available for an additional supplement. Reservations and Payments: A deposit of at least $200 per person is required at the time of reservation. Final payment is due at least 90 days prior to departure. Reservations will be cancelled if final payment is not received in a timely manner.