Paris & the Heart of Europe

Paris to Vienna - 18 days

CRUISE HIGHLISTS INCLUDE:

• 14-night cruise in a riverview stateroom on the lovely
• 2 nights in Paris at a superior first class Tour Eiffel Suffren Hotel (or similar) with breakfast
• All meals onboard
• Complimentary fine wine during dinner, bottled water in your stateroom, and 24-hour specialty coffee
• 15 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
• Exclusive Epicurean Adventurer Program
• 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 Paris Departing Flight
• DAY 2: Paris
  Arrive at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport where you’ll be transferred to the hotel.
• DAY 3: Paris
  Featured Excursion: Paris city tour
  We begin our city tour with a drive up the grand boulevard Champs-Elysées, passing the Arc de Triomphe. We’ll stop for a photo opportunity at the Eiffel Tower before continuing to Place Vendôme, Hôtel de Ville, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Latin Quarter. We’ll then go to Les Invalides, the Louvre courtyard, and Luxembourg Gardens, where we will see a slice of daily Parisian life as well as view Bartholdi’s model for the Statue of Liberty. (BB)
• DAY 4: Paris, Trier
  Featured Excursion: Trier city tour
  Today, travel by motorcoach from Paris, France to Trier, Germany where you’ll board the ship. Your afternoon panoramic tour of Germany’s oldest city, also called the second Rome, showcases the former Roman Imperial Baths, the impressive Roman gate Porta Nigra and Emperor Constantine’s throne room, all of which are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. (BB, D)
• DAY 5: Bernkastel, Traben-Trarbach
  Featured Excursion: Bernkastel walking tour, Traben-Trarbach walking tour and wine experience.
  Discover Bernkastel's 500-plus years of winemaking history, with historic vineyards and delightful market squares. After a scenic cruise past the Moselle region’s vine-filled slopes and picturesque villages, discover the romantic twin town of Traben-Trarbach, where treasures of Art Nouveau architecture pay tribute to the wealthy wine merchants of the 19th century. Afterwards, savor delectable Riesling wines from local vineyards. (BB, L, Captain’s Welcome Dinner)
• DAY 6: Koblenz, cruising the romantic Rhine, Rüdesheim
  Featured Excursion: Koblenz walking tour
  In Koblenz, situated at the confluence of the Rhine and the Moselle, amble through picturesque streets while your local expert explains the town’s history and importance in the region. Later in the day, cruise along the UNESCO World Heritage-designated romantic Rhine with its more than 40 castles and famous Lorelei Rock. Enjoy leisure time in Rüdesheim, a celebrated wine town during the evening. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 7: Frankfurt
  Featured Excursion: Frankfurt city tour
  Your panoramic tour of dynamic Frankfurt takes you through the financial hub with its imposing skyline and past Old Town, Goethe University, and the Botanical Gardens. Then explore the historic area around Römer Square on foot, passing St. Paul’s Church and picturesque gabled houses. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 8: Miltenberg
  Featured Excursion: Miltenberg walking tour
  Visit historic Miltenberg, a quintessentially charming medieval village with its fairytale half-timbered houses, Crooked House, and Royal Inn, which has been serving meals since the 17th century. Take in the breathtakingly beautiful scenery along the meandering Main River as you relax onboard in the afternoon. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 9: Würzburg (Rothenburg)
  Featured Excursion: Full-day tour of Rothenburg
  Travel along the Romantic Road, a spec-tacular route winding through Bavaria to the Alps, past extravagant baroque palaces, medieval-walled towns, placid lakes, and beautiful mountains. Located on the Tauber River, a visit to Rothenburg is like taking a trip back in time to the Middle Ages.
• DAY 10: Bamberg
  Featured Excursion: Bamberg walking tour
  Irresistible Optional Tour: Bamberg beer experience
  Stroll through the UNESCO World Heritage city of Bamberg with your guide. See the unique town hall, the Imperial Cathedral, and the fishermen’s village known as Little Venice. (BB, L, Captain’s Farewell Dinner)
• DAY 11: Nuremberg
• DAY 12: 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 13: 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 14: 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 15: 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 16: Melk, Wachau Valley and Krems
  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 17: 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 The Marriage of Figaro. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 18: Vienna (disembark), transfer to airport Return Flight
  Disembark the ship and transfer to Vienna Airport for your flight home.

2009 Cruises

*On these dates cruise operates from Vienna to Paris.

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.