Grand European Explorer

Basel to Bucharest - 30 days

CRUISE HIGHLISTS INCLUDE:

• 26-night cruise in a riverview stateroom on the stunning River Countess
• 2 nights at the superior first class JW Marriott Bucharest (or similar) with breakfast
• All meals onboard
• Complimentary fine wine during dinner, bottled water in your stateroom, and 24- hour specialty coffee during your cruise
• 21 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 during your cruise
• Exciting onboard entertainment
• Exclusive Epicurean Adventurer Program
• 2 Captain’s Welcome & 2 Captain’s 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 German?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. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 7: Würzburg
  Featured Excursion: Würzburg Residenz and wine tasting Visit German?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 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
  Enjoy a day at leisure, exploring this fascinating city at your own pace.
• DAY 10: Nuremberg
  Featured Excursion: Nuremberg city tour Toda?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 Irresistible Optional Tour: Palais Thurn & Taxis 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: Enjoy a classical music performance of Mozart and Strauss Vienn?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
  Enjoy the day at leisure exploring this beautiful city at your own pace. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 17: Vienna
  Featured Excursion: Schönbrunn Palace Irresistible Optional Tour: Vienna Woods From former hunting lodge to stunning palace rivaling Versailles, Schönbrunn Palace is a must see on any visit to Austria. Our visit will concentrate on the Imperial rooms and the era of Franz Joseph and his beloved Empress Sissi, whose popularity throughout Europe through the Gilded Age was unmatched by any before her. Mozart, Austria’s most famous citizen was at the height of his creative powers when he lived here, writing perhaps his most famous works:
• DAY 18: Bratislava
  Featured Excursion: Bratislava city tour During your tour through the†Coronation City of Kings? get acquainted with a sampling of the town’s eclectic architecture. Pass the 17th-century palace, Old Town’s Freedom Square, Peace Square, Bratislava Castle, Mirbach Palace and Primatial Palace. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 19: Budapest
  Featured Excursion: Budapest city tour Irresistible Optional Tour: Budapest by night Your tour features the famous 19th-century Chain Bridge, the Great Synagogue, the Opera House, St. Stephen’s Basilica, the Parliament Building, the Castle Hill district, and the 19th-century Fisherman’s Bastion. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 20: Budapest
  Irresistible Optional Tour: Puszta with horse show and lunch. Half-day Szentendre Enjoy the day at leisure in Budapest or take an optional excursion to the countryside where you’ll see the Hungarian horsemanship of the Puszta. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 21: Batina
  Featured Excursion: Full day Vukovar and Osijek with home-hosted lunch and school visit
• DAY 22: Belgrade
  Featured Excursion: Belgrade city tour We start our tour with a panoramic drive through Belgrade, which means “White City” as it was destroyed 40 times and resurrected as many times. We will see Republic Square and the Belgrade Fortress in Kalemegdan Park. We’ll cap things off with a visit to St. Sava Cathedral. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 23: Belgrade, Kostolac
  Featured Excursion: Viminacium Archeological Site Explore the archeological site of Viminacium, a former Roman city with luxurious villas and an amphitheater. Over 32,000 unearthed artifacts and well-preserved structures show their former grandeur. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 24: Scenic Cruising Iron Gates, Vidin
  Relax onboard as we cruise the Iron Gates, a spectacular 80-mile long Danube gorge. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 25: Vidin (Belogradchik)
  Featured Excursion: Half-day Vidin. Children's dance group & Belogradchick Rock formations
• DAY 26: Rousse (Veliko Turnovo and Arbanassi)
  Featured Excursion: Veliko Turnovo and Arbanassi In Veliko Turnovo, see the Tzarevetz Fortress and enjoy a traditional Bulgarian lunch. After lunch, tour the Nativity Church in Arbanassi. (BB, L, Captain’s Farewell Dinner)
• DAY 27: Silistra (Varna, Balchik and Black Sea Cruise)
  Featured Excursion: Balchik, Varna & Black Sea Enjoy the Balchik Botanical Gardens. Visit Varn?s Archeological Museum, savor Bulgarian cuisine during lunch at a local restaurant, and enjoy an exclusive cruise on the Black Sea. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 28: Rousse, Giurgiu
  Featured Excursion: Transfer from ship in Oltenita to hotel in Bucharest with city tour & lunch
• DAY 29: Bucharest
  Irresistible Optional Tour: "Full day Bran Castle w/lunch OR 3/4 day Peles Castle w/lunch at Rhine Cellars and Sparkling Wine tasting (AM)"
• DAY 30: Bucharest, transfer to airport (return flight)
  Transfer from the hotel to the airport in Bucharest for your flight home.

2009 Cruises

*On these dates cruise operates from Bucharest to Basel.

Prices:Prices are per person, based on two people sharing a stateroom or hotel room. Cruise prices are based on costs, charges, tariffs, rates, taxes, levies and exchange rates as of June 15, 2008. Should the total cruise 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 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. Single supplements are available in select categories 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.