GRAND EUROPEAN RIVER CRUISE FROM PARIS TO ISTANBUL

DAY 3, PARIS
Enjoy a full free day to explore the "City of Lights. (B)

DAY 4, LUXEMBOURG – REMICH – EMBARKATION
Bid "Au Revoir" to Paris as you board your TGV high-speed train to Luxembourg. You will have a guided tour of Luxembourg before transferring to your ship in Remich. Tonight, gather on board for a Gala Welcome Dinner. (B,D)

DAY 5, TRIER-BERNKASTEL
After breakfast, arrive in Trier, Germany’s oldest city, for a guided tour. Continue to Bernkastel, located in the heart of the Mosel wine-producing region. Take a guided walking tour and visit the wine museum. (B,L,D)

DAY 6, COCHEM - KOBLENZ - RHINE CASTLES -RÜDESHEIM
Today, decide between an excursion to Cochem or to Koblenz. In Cochem, you will take a guided tour of the hilltop Reichsburg Castle. In the alternative, travel to Koblenz, to visit the Koblenz Flower Show. This special event features 120 acres of magnificent floral displays, exhibitions and events. Later, enjoy scenic cruising along the most beautiful and famous part of the Rhine. Arrive in Rüdesheim and take a mini train to Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum . Tonight, explore the Drosselgasse, a narrow alley lined with wine taverns and restaurants. The ship moors overnight in Rüdesheim. (B,L,D)

DAY 7, MAINZ - HEIDELBERG - FRANKFURT
Today, decide between two excursions: take a guided walking tour of beautiful Mainz and see the famous Gutenberg Museum, home of the world's first printed bible, then enjoy a lunchtime cruise to Frankfurt. In Frankfurt, you will have a walking tour of the city’s medieval section. In the alternative, travel by motor coach for an excursion to Heidelberg, Germany's oldest university town. Later this afternoon, return to the ship in Frankfurt. (B,L,D)

DAY 8, MILTENBERG – WERTHEIM
Arrive in Miltenberg for a walking tour of this delightful Franconian town. During lunch, the ship will cruise to Freudenberg. A motor coach tour will take you to Wertheim, where you will have free time to explore the town. A guided bicycle tour of Wertheim is also available (capacity controlled). (B,L,D)

DAY 9, WÜRZBURG – KITZINGEN
During your guided tour, visit the magnificent Residenz Palace and see the major sights. This afternoon, take an optional tour along the Romantic Road to medieval Rothenburg, and visit its world famous Christmas Museum. Or, relax on board as you cruise to Kitzingen. After dinner on board enjoy an evening walk and wine tasting in Kitzingen, at Germany’s oldest wine cellar. (B,L,D)

DAY 10, BAMBERG
Arrive this afternoon in enchanting Bamberg, where you will take a guided walking tour of this medieval gem. Enjoy free time in Bamberg before continuing your cruise this evening to ancient Nuremberg, capital of Franconia. (B,L,D)

DAY 11, NUREMBERG
Travel by train to Munich, the capital of Bavaria and one of Germany’s largest cities. Your escort will be on hand to offer you suggestions on what to see while in town and to take you to lunch at the world famous Hofbrauhaus. Tonight you will meet fellow travelers embarking from Prague. (B,L,D)

DAY 12, NUREMBERG - CROSSING THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE
Today decide to either tour the medieval history of Nuremberg or join the “modern tour” of the city’s role in the 20th-century and see the Zeppelin field and the Justice Palace where the War Crimes Tribunal sat in 1946. At lunch time, return to the ship and cruise the Main Danube Canal to the highest point of your cruise - 1,332 feet above sea level, where you cross Europe's Continental Divide, then start descending through stair-step locks. (B,L,D)

DAY 13, REGENSBURG
This morning’s scenic cruising takes you to magnificent Regensburg, one of Germany's best preserved medieval cities. A guided tour will show you the city's architectural highlights. In the alternative, you have the opportunity to tour the Audi Car Factory. In the afternoon, you are free to join the optional excursion to beautiful Weltenburg Abbey in the Danube Gorge (seasonal). In the evening enjoy a musical performance on board. (B,L,D)

DAY 14, PASSAU - LINZ, AUSTRIA
After breakfast, arrive in picturesque Passau for a city tour. Or, substitute the city tour with an optional excursion to Salzburg. For those staying on board, enjoy a scenic cruise from Passau into Austria and on to Linz. After dinner, take a walk through this delightful town, Austria's third largest city and a major river port. (B,L,D)

DAY 15, MELK - VIENNA
Cruise through the narrow Strudengau and reach the Wachau Valley early this morning. Your guided tour takes you to Melk's magnificent Benedictine Abbey. Return to the ship for lunch as you cruise the romantic Wachau Valley. Arrive in Vienna, the "City of Music" before dinner. Explore the magnificent Austrian capital on your own, or participate in the optional Mozart and Strauss concert. (B,L,D)

DAY 16, VIENNA
Enjoy a guided city tour followed by free time in the city center, then a walking tour from St. Stephen’s Cathedral. In the afternoon, enjoy your free time or join an optional tour to the Imperial Schönbrunn Palace, which includes entrance to the Carriage Museum. This evening, cruise overnight to Budapest, Hungary's vibrant capital. (B,L,D)

DAY 17, BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
This morning, your sightseeing tour takes you to historic Buda Castle from where you can enjoy a splendid view of the twin cities of Buda and Pest. Tonight, the ship will sail a special “Illuminations Cruise” past the illuminated river front of Budapest. (B,L,D)

DAY 18, BUDAPEST
Today, visit the Puszta, the famous Great Hungarian Plain where cowboys still wear traditional garb and practice the skills of their Magyar ancestors. Upon arrival, you will be met by horse-herds and greeted with warm hospitality, brandy and scones. Try their national dish of goulash for lunch. (B,L,D)

DAY 19, MOHÁCS – PECS – VILÁNY
Arrive in Mohács during breakfast and then depart for your excursion to Pecs, founded more than 2,000 years ago. The area around Pecs is made up of rolling hills, vine clad slopes and a modest climate that give the city a distinctly Mediterranean feel. Upon arrival, you will take a city tour that includes UNESCO underground excavations. After lunch on board ship, enjoy a wine-tasting excursion, where you will sample aromatic, spicy wines from the vineyards of Vilány. (B,L,D)

DAY 20, VUKOVAR, CROATIA – NOVI SAD, SERBIA
Your guided motor coach and walking tour of Vukovar will include the Manorhouse Eltz and the Ovcara Memorial (Croatian victims during the Yugoslav civil war). Enjoy lunch on board as you cruise to Novi Sad, Serbia. Enjoy a walking tour of Novi Sad in the afternoon. The ship sails for Belgrade this evening. (B,L,D)

DAY 21, BELGRADE
Wake up in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, and explore its myriad of streets, plazas and squares. Belgrade has over 5,500 streets, 16 plazas and 32 squares. Your guided tour features Tito's memorial, the Town Hall, the Federal Parliament Building, Terazije Street, Republic Square and Mihajlova street, "Varos" Gate and the mighty Kalemegdan Fortress. You will have free time in the city center after your tour. A shuttle bus will run from the city to the ship during the afternoon. (B,L,D)

DAY 22, CRUISING THROUGH THE IRON GATES - VIDIN, BULGARIA
Today, enjoy a full day of cruising through one of Europe's most awe-inspiring natural wonders, the Iron Gates. Here the Danube narrows, as it winds through a range of magnificent gorges between the southern Carpathian Mountains and the northwestern foothills of the Balkan Mountains. Forming the natural border between Serbia and Romania, today’s passage will be an unforgettable highlight of your cruise. Late this evening, the ship sails to Vidin. (B,L,D)

DAY 23, VIDIN
The 14th-century "Baba Vida" Fortress sits guard over the Danube at the Bulgarian frontier town of Vidin. From here, take an excursion to Belogradschik, a beautifully restored 6th-century castle, located in a stunning landscape of unusual rock formations. (B,L,D)

DAY 24, GIURGIU - BUCHAREST, ROMANIA - ROUSSE, BULGARIA
Enjoy a full day excursion to Bucharest, known as “Paris of the East.” Enjoy lunch in a typical Romanian restaurant, and then explore on your own or visit the Open Air Museum, dedicated to the traditional architecture and buildings of rural Romania. This evening, the ship departs for Rousse. (B,L,D)

DAY 25, ROUSSE - VELIKO TARNOVO - PLOVDIV, BULGARIA
Disembark in Rousse and continue your tour by motorcoach, where your first stop is the ancient capital of Bulgaria, Veliko Tarnovo. Here you will tour Tsarevets Hill, the citadel of the city, the old fortress walls, the Royal Palaces, the Patriarchal church and Baldwin's Tower. Shoppers can explore the traditional street market, Samovodska Charshia. Enjoy a traditional Bulgarian lunch before continuing on to Plovdiv. This evening, see the main highlights of Plovdiv Old Town on a walking tour before dinner at your hotel. (B,L,D)

DAY 26, PLOVDIV - ISTANBUL, TURKEY
After breakfast, continue on to magical Istanbul after stopping for lunch and transferring to another motor coach at Erdine. Arrive late afternoon and check into your hotel. (B)

DAY 27, ISTANBUL
A comprehensive city tour will take you through the old city, with its numerous Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman monuments of her historic past. Admire the mighty defensive walls, the Roman aqueduct and the hippodrome. See the Galata Tower and visit the Blue Mosque. This evening is free to explore the town on your own or join the optional “Turkish Delight” tour which includes visits to Hagia Sophia, underground Cistern and the Grnd Bazaar. (B)

DAY 28, ISTANBUL
Today, your guided sightseeing tour will take you to the Ottoman Sultans' Grand Palace of Topkapi. During your tour, admire the private chambers of the Sultans, marvel at the world famous Harem and also see the treasury, home to the Topkapi Diamond. This afternoon, enjoy an optional Bosporus cruise and visit to the Spice Bazaar or use the remainder of the day to shop for souvenirs or relax at one of the charming tea houses or restaurants. (B)

DAY 29, ISTANBUL – USA
Optional Transfer to the airport for your homeward flight. (B)

2011 Departure dates and prices (US$)

Port Charges: $399 per person

Single Supplement for Cruise: 50% of twin price; Jr. Suites 100% of twin price.

Single supplement for Land: $910 per person. Prices are per person in Category E in a deluxe outside stateroom with window.
To upgrade to a higher Category, add the following amount per person:

NOTE: Children are not accepted.

Please select bedding configuration at the time of booking.

The choices are:
Choice A: Two twin beds
Choice B: One large bed (larger than queen size)
 

Ms Amalegro Amadante Amadagio Amacello Amadolce Amalyra
cruiseship description