Réf : ABU
Cruise : From Amsterdam to Budapest AMSTERDAM - KOLN - RUDESHEIM - HEIDELBERG(1) -MANNHEIM ? STRASBOURG - MAINZ - FRANKFURT WURZBURG - NURNBERG - RATISBONNE - PASSAU - LINZ - VIENNA - BUDAPEST
Reasons to book with us DRINKS INCLUDED with on board meals
wine, water, beer, fruit juice, coffee
ALL DRINKS CONSUMED AT THE BAR (excluding Champagne & drinks from the wine list)
The combination of history, tradition and culture, a passionate encounter
Discover amazing cities and sites(1), such as :
Amsterdam, Keukenhof gardens, the historic city of Koln, RÜdesheim and Heidelberg
Frankfurt, Rothenburg, Nurnberg, Ratisbonne, the abbey of Melk, Vienna, Schoenbrunn castle and Budapest
DAY 1 AMSTERDAM Board in Amsterdam around 1.00pm. Lunch on board. Time to settle comfortably in your cabins. Discover the Dam place with your guide. Return on board around 6.00pm. Welcome drink at the lounge, while meeting the crew. Dinner on board followed by an optional guided tour of the city on board a river boat.
DAY 2 AMSTERDAM Breakfast on board. In the morning,optional guided tour of Amsterdam in the historic heart of this beautiful capital city, full of historic and architectural treasures. You will discover the striking contrast between monuments heavy with Dutch memories. Back to the boat for lunch. The afternoon will be devoted to theoptional visit to the Keukenhof gardens (open from mid-March until mid-May). You will see the harmonious disposition of the flower beds : tulips, narcissi and hyacinths amid trees hundreds of year old. In the other months, optional excursion to Volendam and the Zaanse Schans. Back to the boat for dinner. Free evening or optional trip to the city center for a stroll around the Red Light District. Overnight stopover.
DAY 3 AMSTERDAM - NIJMEGEN - KREFELD(3) Early morning start and breakfast on board while cruising towards Nijmegen, where we stop off at the Kröller MÜller museum(2) (optional) which is set in the heart of the Haute Veluwe National Park. This museum has gathered together the works of many great modern painters and sculptors and is home not only to a major collection of Van Gogh paintings but also some works of Picasso and the impres-sionist painters. Return to the ship for dinner before sailing on towards Krefeld, passing the towns of Wesel and Duisburg before arriving at our destination late evening. Overnight stop.
DAY 4 KREFELD - KOLN - KOENIGSWINTER
The ship sails at 8.00am. Breakfast on board. On our way towards Koln, we will pass some famous German towns like Dusseldorf, capital of the province of Westphalia, and Zons, a medieval city. Lunch on board before arriving in Koln around 3.00pm where we will call in for 2 hours. Choose either to look around the shops, or for those who wish, follow your guide and tour the old parts of the city. Return to the ship before cruising on towards Bonn (old university town). Dinner will be served on board before mooring for the night in Koenigswinter. Free evening. Overnight stopover.
DAY 5 KOENIGSWINTER - RUDESHEIM Breakfast on board before cruising off along the romantic Rhine passing Koblenz and the legendary Lorelei rock, along the most beautiful section of the Rhine, where lush vineyards and castles stretch as far as the eye can see along both banks of the river. Arrive in RÜdesheim then take the opportunity to leave on a shopping trip, or take part in the excursion (optional). Dinner on board then spend a free evening in the lively Drosselgasse, world famous for its open-air restaurants and taverns with their oompah bands. Overnight stop.
DAY 6 RUDESHEIM - SPEYER or MANNHEIM An early start and breakfast while cruising up the Rhine towards Speyer, passing Wiesbaden, Nierstein, Worms on the way before arriving in Mannheim around 1.00pm. After lunch leave on the coach excursion (optional) to visit Heidelberg. Return to the ship at the end of the afternoon for dinner and a gala evening while the ship leaves for Strasbourg and cruises overnight.
DAY 7 STRASBOURG Breakfast on board before arriving in Strasbourg. Panoramic tour & guide visit of Strasbourg. Lunch at the restaurant in Strasbourg. Free time. Transfer to the ship. The ship sails off at 8.00pm. Dinner on board.
DAY 8 MAINZ - FRANKFURT Arrive in Mainz around 8.00am. This city, the birthplace of Gutenberg, which lies at the confluence of the Rhine and the Main is a perfect blend of past and present with its thousand year old cathedral. Tour the city with your escort before we sail on around 11.00am towards Frankfurt. Lunch on board. The afternoon will be spent on a sightseeing tour (optional) of Frankfurt, a major business hub. You will be struck by the unusual combination of ancient and modern architecture that this city has to offer. Dinner will be served on board. The ship continues cruising over night.
DAY 9 MILTENBERG - WERTHEIM Stop off in Miltenberg early morning. Time to visit this peaceful town with its market place lined with half-timbered houses, its fine main street, hotel Reisen and old Town Hall. Lunch on board before continuing on to Wertheim where we will call in at the end of the afternoon. Enjoy some time to discover the town for yourselves before returning to the ship for dinner. Overnight stop.
DAY 10 WERTHEIM - WURZBURG - KITZINGEN The ship sails early morning towards Karlstad. Lunch on board. On arriving at our destination, set off by coach tovisit Wurzburg (optional) on the right bank of the Main, which is famous for its baroque palace, former residence of the prince-bishops. In the meantime, the ship cruises on to Wurzburg where we will join it late afternoon. Then on to Kitzingen. Dinner on board and an entertaining evening. Overnight stop.
DAY 11 KITZINGEN - ROTHENBURG - BAMBERG Early morning start cruising along the Main to reach Volkach. Breakfast on board before leaving on a guided tour (optional) to Rothenburg, a magnificent walled town set up high on the hills over the river, with its narrow streets lined with picturesque halftimbered houses and craftsmen’s workshops. It is indeed one of the most beautiful towns on the Romantic Road. In the meantime the ship cruises on to Schweinfurt where we will join it, before continuing on to Bamberg. Dinner on board. Overnight stop.
DAY 12 BAMBERG - NURNBERG - MUHLHAUSEN Breakfast while cruising on the Rhine-Main-Danube canal, which was opened on 25th September 1992. Lunch on board before arriving in Nurnberg around 2.00pm. Take a guided visit of the city (optional) which transports its visitors back to medieval times. This old town and is market place surrounded with gothic buildings, half-timbered houses and elegant burgher houses. A true imperial setting ! Return to the ship during the afternoon and sail on to reach Muhlhausen in the evening. Dinner on board followed by a crew show. Overnight stop.
DAY 13 MUHLHAUSEN - REGENSBURG Morning spent cruising, Lunch on board before arriving in Kelheim, from where to take anexcursion (optional) to Regensburg, which is the fourth biggest town in Bavaria and also a major industrial hub - with major firms such as BMW, Siemens and Triumph. The historic centre of the city has kept all its original charm with souvenirs of over 20 centuries. In the meantime, the ship cruises on to join us in Regensburg. Dinner on board.
DAY 14 REGENSBURG - PASSAU Breakfast while cruising towards Passau where we will call in the end of the morning. Lunch on board. Visit the town on your own. Its baroque buildings and narrow romantic streets are unforgettable. Return to ship and sail on through the attractive region of Engelhartszell. Dinner and an entertaining evening on board.
DAY 15 PASSAU - MELK - VIENNA Breakfast while cruising to reach Melk around 8.00am from where an excursion (optional) is organised to the Benedictine abbey of Melk, perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube. It is the symbol of Austrian baroque at its finest. Return to the ship at the end of the morning and sail on to DÜrnstein, arriving there for lunch around noon. Enjoy some free time to explore this picturesque village,and its baroque church, which is the most famous in the Wachau region thanks to the legend of King Richard the Lion Heart. Back on board around 3.30pm before sailing on to Vienna. Dinner on board before putting in for the night in Vienna. Disembark for a tour of the illuminated sights of the city (optional). Overnight stop.
DAY 16 VIENNA - ESZTERGOM After breakfast, join the visit (optional) to the palace of Schoenbrunn with its magnificent park. It used to be the summer residence of the Emperor of Austria and his family. Lunch on board before enjoying a free afternoon to tour this magnificent city on your own. Back on board by 6.00pm before sailing on towards Esztergom, passing Bratislava on the way. Dinner and gala evening on board.
DAY 17 ESZTERGOM - BUDAPEST
Breakfast on board before visiting Esztergom, the former capital of Hungary, under the reign of the Arpad kings. Today, it is still a prominent town and the seat of the Hungarian archbishops. Esztergom is decidedly full of treasures with its neo-classical basilica and former Royal palace. We set sail once again around noon. Enjoy lunch on board before arriving in Budapest mid afternoon. The Hungarian capital which lies along the banks of the Danube, also known as the “pearl of the Danube”is one of the most attractive cities in Europe. Enjoy some free time to explore the city before returning to the ship for dinner. Optional visit of the Budapest by night.
DAY 18 BUDAPEST Breakfast on board before having a day on your own, or join the sightseeing tour (optional) of the city. Budapest embodies the contrast between the twin cities of Buda and Pest, which were separated one from the other along each bank of the Danube before being reunited in 1872. Buda, the higher of the two cities, with its winding cobble-stoned streets and baroque palaces, Turkish baths and Royal castles, and, Pest, the “fiery”, which offers its visitors a marvellous display of different architectural styles. Return to the ship for lunch. Have a free afternoon to stroll round this attractive city. After dinner, enjoy a free evening or attend a traditional folk evening (optional) in Budapest.
DAY 19 BUDAPEST Breakfast on board. Disembarkation. End of our journey.
TRANSPORTATION Formula port/port, without transfer.
FORMULA This offer includes : the cruise on a full board basis commencing with dinner on Day One and ending with buffet breakfast on the final morning - the drinks included on board are unlimited mineral water, wine, beer and fruit juice only, with a tea or coffee after each meal, served by CroisiEurope during on-board meals in the restaurant, as well as all drinks consumed in the lounge bar (excluding Champagne and wines on the wine list) - an air-conditioned twin main deck cabin with en suite shower/wc - transfers specified in the itinerary - visits and / or hikes as detailed in the programme - the services of a qualified mountain guide - the Gala evening - the services of our hostess on board - welcome cocktail - all port taxes - insurance covering emergency aid and repatriation - transfer & service mentioned in Strasbourg for the day 7.
This offer does not include : all drinks on the wine list as well as all drinks taken during meals while on excursions or transfers, including Champagne ordered at the bar - transport options - airport taxes - booking fees - cancellation and baggage insurance -personal expenses - all items not specified in the programme.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION After 20th May, the excursion to Keukenhof gardens will be replaced by the excursion to Vollendam and Zaanse Schans.
FORMALITIES Valid national identity card or passport required. Non-EU nationals are advised to consult their embassy or consulate. Please note : Your passport must be valid for six months beyond the last day of your travels.
For navigational reasons and passenger safety, the company and the captain reserve the right to modify the cruise itinerary if necessary.
(1) Optional excursion. (2) Except on Mondays : optional visit of the Dutch open air museum of Arnhem. (3) Depending on piers availabilities, the stopover at Krefeld can be replaced with a stopover at Duisbourg. Alcohol abuse can damage your health. Drink in moderation.
