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Our Grand European Cruise combines Amsterdam to Budapest by Riverboat with Budapest to the Black Sea to create an unforgettable 24-day North Sea to Black Sea tour through the heart of Europe, including a 21-day cruise aboard our new, exclusive-to-Tauck Swiss Sapphire or Swiss Emerald. This Danube, Main and Rhine River cruise takes you through the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania. Glide past grand cathedrals, medieval monasteries, and historic citadels – as well as through the Main-Danube Canal and the Iron Gate of Romania. Tauck’s private, inclusive shore excursions take in many UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and in-depth exploration of cities including Amsterdam, Köln, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, Belgrade and Bucharest.

 

Title:

Grand European Cruise – 2008

Highlights:

Amsterdam  ~ Köln ~ Vienna ~ Bratislava ~ Budapest ~ Belgrade ~ Bucharest

Cruise Features:
  • Two nights at the Athénée Palace Hilton Bucharest, a five-star historic landmark hotel in the heart of the city
  • A private Imperial Viennese evening at a traditional palace in Vienna featuring dinner and Viennese music
  • A visit to a winery in Rüdesheim, including a wine tasting in the winery cellar and dinner in town
  • A horse-drawn carriage ride to an equestrian center in Hungary, where local horsemen, craftsmen and folkloric entertainers share time-honored cultural traditions
  • Choice of excursions in Romania including Snagov Monastery with a tour of the Parliamentary Palace
  • Guided sightseeing in the European cultural capitals of Vienna, Bucharest, Budapest, Belgrade and Bratislava
  • Breakfast & dinner daily and most lunches. Many meals in local restaurants; wine with dinner on the riverboat
  • Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director

Itinerary:

1. Arrive Amsterdam
Tour begins: 4:00 PM, Amsterdam, Netherlands. A transfer is included from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport to the riverboat. Embarkation begins anytime after 4:00 PM aboard MS Swiss Emerald or MS Swiss Sapphire.
Aboard the Riverboat ~ Meals D

2. Discover Amsterdam
In the Netherlands’ capital, visit the Rijksmuseum and see the city’s historic architecture on a canal boat cruise.
Aboard the Riverboat ~ Meals BLD

3. Historic Treasures of Köln
Cruise the Rhine to Köln (Cologne). A walking tour includes Kölner Dom, one of Europe’s greatest cathedrals.
Aboard the Riverboat ~ Meals BLD

4. Lorelei Valley / Cruise to Rüdesheim
Choose a tour in Koblenz or a visit to Marksburg Castle.
Aboard the Riverboat ~ Meals BLD

5. Miltenberg / Cruise the Main
Wind your way along the Main; visit medieval Miltenberg.
Aboard the Riverboat ~ Meals BLD

6. Würzburg / Rothenburg
Choose to visit Würzburg or see Rothenburg’s cathedrals.
Aboard the Riverboat ~ Meals BLD

7. Explore Medieval Bamberg
Take a walking tour of Bamberg, home to a great cathedral.
Aboard the Riverboat ~ Meals BLD

8. Main-Danube Canal / Nürnberg
Spend a morning cruising the Main-Danube Canal; in Nürnberg, see the Hauptmarkt and the Schöner Brunnen.
Aboard the Riverboat ~ Meals BLD

9. Ancient Regensburg
Discover historic Regensburg on the Danube, once a campsite of the Roman legions, on a walking tour.
Aboard the Riverboat ~ Meals BLD

10. Discover Passau / Danube Cruise
Passau, known for its stained glass, entices with a rich heritage dating back to Roman times. Cruise to Melk.
Aboard the Riverboat ~ Meals BLD

11. Picturesque Melk / Dürnstein
Visit 900-year-old Melk Abbey; in Dürnstein, see the ruins of a castle where Richard the Lionhearted was imprisoned.
Aboard the Riverboat ~ Meals BLD

12. Experience Imperial Vienna
After morning sightseeing, choose a visit to Schönbrunn Palace or a tour of the Hofburg’s Imperial Silver Room. Enjoy a private Imperial Viennese evening tonight.
Aboard the Riverboat ~ Meals BLD

13. Historic Bratislava, Slovakia
In Bratislava, a walking tour chronicles 17 centuries of Slovak culture, from Baroque palaces to the Old Town.
Aboard the Riverboat ~ Meals BLD

14. Relax at a Spa / Budapest at Leisure
Arrive in Budapest, Hungary; relax on a spa visit, and spend time exploring Budapest on your own.
Aboard the Riverboat ~ Meals BLD

15. Hungary’s Capital, Budapest
A Budapest sightseeing tour includes Heroes’ Square and Matthias Church (may be closed some days due to services).
Aboard the Riverboat ~ Meals BLD

16. Visit Solt & Kalocsa, Hungary
Ride a horse-drawn carriage to see a demonstration by Puszta horsemen; visit Kalocsa’s Paprika House.
Aboard the Riverboat ~ Meals BLD

17. Cruise to Vukovar, Croatia
Discover Croatia’s storied history in the fortified city of Osijek and in the 1,100-year-old port city of Vukovar.
Aboard the Riverboat ~ Meals BLD

18.  Belgrade, Serbia’s Capital
Awaken dockside in Belgrade; sightseeing includes visits to Tito’s Memorial, St. Sava Church, and Kalemegdan Fortress; see Parliament and bustling Slavija Square.
Aboard the Riverboat ~ Meals BLD

19. Iron Gate of Romania
Spend a day cruising the Danube, gliding past the Iron Gate of Romania en route to Bulgaria; enjoy great views of the Transylvanian Alps, and look for Trajan’s Bridge.
Aboard the Riverboat ~ Meals BLD

20. Welcome to Bulgaria
Explore Veliko Turnovo, Bulgaria’s former medieval capital, and Arbanassi’s 16th-century Nativity Church.
Aboard the Riverboat ~ Meals BLD

21. Beaches of Romania
Visit the seaside resorts of Mamaia and Constanta on Romania’s popular Black Sea coast. Please join us tonight for the Captain’s farewell reception and dinner.
Aboard the Riverboat ~ Meals BLD

22. Disembark Ship / Bucharest
Disembark in Cernavoda; travel to Bucharest, where you’ll see Revolution Square and the granite Triumphal Arch.
Athénée Palace Hilton Bucharest ~ Meals BLD

23. Peles Castle / Snagov Monastery
Choose a visit to Peles Castle in Sinaia, or tour Snagov Monastery and Bucharest’s Parliamentary Palace.
Athénée Palace Hilton Bucharest ~ Meals BLD

24. Journey Home
Tour ends: Bucharest, Romania. A transfer is included from the Athénée Palace Hilton Bucharest to Bucharest Airport; allow 2 1⁄2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B

Dates

Begins Bucharest
Westbound – Bucharest to Amsterdam

June, August

Begins Amsterdam
Eastbound – Amsterdam to Bucharest

April, July

Go to www.tauck.com for up-to-the-minute space availability.

Pricing

24 Days from $8,090 plus airfare
(23 Breakfasts, 22 Lunches & 23 Dinners)

Land / Cruise Price Per Person
MS Swiss Emerald / MS Swiss Sapphire

                Date        CAT 1      CAT 3      CAT 6
                Apr 26     $8890      $11,040   $14,990
                Jun 12*   $8990      $11,140   $15,090
                Jun 20*   $8790      $10,940   $14,890
                Jul 13      $8090      $10,240   $14,190
                Aug 7*     $8290      $10,440   $14,390

* Indicates Bucharest to Amsterdam direction. Single prices start at 40% over the double price; please inquire at time of booking or visit www.tauck.com for complete single pricing and up-to-the-minute space availability.

Departure dates in blue will cruise aboard MS Swiss Sapphire; departure dates in green will cruise aboard MS Swiss Emerald.

Land / cruise price per person, based on double occupancy, includes cruise fare, most meals, port charges, wine with dinner aboard ship, shore excursions, and gratuities to Tauck Directors, Tauck Cruise Director, ship staff, local guides & drivers, as well as on all included meals.

International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air, in coach or business, for travel originating in the United States (subject to availability).

Itinerary Changes – Although not expected, Tauck reserves the right to alter the sequence of ports or omit or substitute scheduled ports or attractions at any time without prior notice. Museums and attractions may be subject to closure due to state, local, or religious holidays.

Note: This cruise includes a fair amount of walking in each city.

Please ask at time of booking about additional hotel nights before or after your cruise, or about our Cruise Protection Plan.

Note: Cruise of Jul 13 will not visit Peles Castle due to weekly closures.

Overnight Accommodations

Fine Hotels / Great Locations

Night 1-21      Aboard MS Swiss Emerald / MS Swiss Sapphire
Cruising the European Rivers

Night 22-23     Athénée Palace Hilton Bucharest
                      Bucharest, Romania
                               

Map

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