
We invite you to join us on what will seem to be a journey through time. The old highways of Europe are its rivers and by travelling by river right through the heart of Europe, we enter each town and city as its visitors have from time immemorial. We settle into our spacious comfortable staterooms and only unpack once. We can then enjoy the passing scenery from the airy lounge with floor to ceiling windows or in comfortable chairs on the sundeck of the rivership. This allows us to experience Europe's historic and romantic sides.
We will follow in the footsteps of the adventurers
of days gone by as we embark on a history laden
European journey taking us through four countries
and along three great rivers, where we will experience
“Jewels of Europe.” From the soaring spires of
Cologne's Cathedral to the stunning exotic beauty
of Budapest “Queen of the Danube” to music-rich
Vienna, “City of Waltzes” - there are incomparable
sights on this trip that you won't want to miss.
As we cruise along the Rhine, we'll find ourselves transfixed like
artists, composers and poets of the past, as we see fairytale castles,
sloping vineyards, and hear the legends surrounding the river throughout our trip.
We'll cruise through the spectacular 106-mile Main-Danube Canal, an engineering marvel, en route to the beautiful Danube.
We will cruise Austria's lush vineyard-rich Wachau Valley, and along the way, we'll discover the diverse cultural heritage and rich history of these great rivers - the Rhine, Main and Danube.
Many times our clients have mentioned that arriving into a European city by its port really gives each city a storybook quality.
Along with having all our accommodation, transportation, and sumptuous meals taken care of each day, we will also have guided excursions in each port to introduce us to each city's culture, history and beauty.
Our Itinerary :
Sep. 01 Overnight flight from Canada to Amsterdam
Sep. 02 Arrive into Amsterdam and transfer to our home for
the next 14 nights, the elegant River Princess.
(inaugurated in 2001 and refurbished in 2005 she
accommodates a maximum of 136 passengers.
Welcome dinner on board - overnight in Amsterdam
Sep 03 We will arrive in Cologne, Germany. A guided walking tour will take
us back in time through the narrow streets of the 'Old Town', tiny
squares and little churches as we make our way to the magnificent
Cologne Cathedral - the largest façade of any church in the world!
Over 7000 square meters, it took over 632 years to build.
from every angle, it is a work of art
B, L, D
Sep 04 We spend the day cruising the Romantic Rhine - Cameras Ready!
B.L.D.
Sep 05 After a morning of cruising the Rhine we will arrive into
Rüdesheim. From here we will board a mini-train for the trip to
Siefgried's Museum, where one of the world's best collections of
mechanical musical instruments is housed.
B. L. D.
Sep 06 We will arrive in Miltenberg and travel to Heidelberg -one of the
best preserved medieval cities in Europe. This is a full day tour
including the romantic ruins of Heidelberg Castle.
B. D.
Sep 07 Still docked in Miltenberg we will go this morning to Wertheim to be
introduced to a local tradition of glass blowing on our visit to the glass
museum. We will also enjoy a walking tour of Miltenberg with a local
guide who will tell us the stories of the half-timbered houses that give
the town its fairytale feel including the 'Crooked House and the famous
Royal Inn.
B.L.D.
Sep 08 We are now travelling the Main River and arrive in Würzburg.
We have arranged to visit Germany's most pristine example
of Baroque architecture, the great Würzburg Residenz. Dating
from 1744 it is surrounded by beautiful gardens. Our tour will
be capped off with a winetasting of fabulous Franconian wines
in the Residenz cellar.
B.L.D.
Sep 09 Today we are in Bamberg and the heart of Bavaria. Here a guide
will lead us on a stroll through Bamberg, a UNESCO World
Heritage Site, consisting of a rare collection of more than 1000
buildings that have been extensively preserved in their original
form. Today we will learn about the Danube-Main Canal
allowing us to transverse the European continental divide of the
Franconian Alps. First attempted by Charlemagne in 793 and
again by Barvarian King Ludwig I (the mad - albeit more genius
than mad) between 1837 and 1846. Today's canal was completed
in 1992 (from 1960) allowing modern river traffic to sail from the
North Sea to the Black Sea.
B. L. D.
Sep 10 Today we arrive in Nuremberg, an archetypal German
Medieval city enriched by defensive walls (mostly
15th century) and red-roofed buildings. A bustling city still
producing toys, honey, the favourite spice cake - Lebkuchen
and production of precision instruments.
We will enjoy a comprehensive city tour.
B. L. D.
Sep 11 We are now cruising the Danube and our first port on this famous river
is Regensburg, an unspoiled gem. A friendly town with quaint
cobblestone streets, medieval alleys and historic Roman remnants.
On our tour we will see the Cathedral of St. Peter, with magnificent
stained glass windows dating from the 14th century and the town's
famous 12th century Stone Bridge spanning the Danube bringing
commerce to the city from the north.
B.L.D.
Sep 12 We spend our day in Passau - an old town boasting a delightful layer of Italian style on quintessential German foundations. Along with our guided walking tour we will have time to explore the well-preserved old town and St. Stephan's Cathedral, home to Europe's largest pipe organ, and site of our organ recital.
B. L. D
Sep 13 We journey today visiting the 900-year-old abbey of Melk, situated
high atop the granite cliffs of the Danube. Our guided tour of the abbey
will reveal a splendid example of Baroque art and architecture.
After lunch we will enjoy cruising through the lush vineyard-rich
Wachau Valley toward our next destination - Vienna.
B.L.D.
Sep 14 Vienna never disappoints our passengers - it still wears a cloak of regal significance. During our panoramic overview of Austria's capital city we will proceed along the 'Ringstrasse',
where the surrounding state buildings exude an Imperial air. We will visit St. Stephen's Cathedral, where Mozart was married and then stroll pass Fagaro House, a former Mozart home before
enjoying some free time on Vienna's pedestrian Kartner Strasse.
After dinner our group will enjoy an evening Mozart/Strauss concert in central Vienna.
B.L.D
Sep 15 Today we are in Budapest - a vibrant mix of East and West, and
medieval and modern. Made up of two parts - Buda, the hills, and Pest,
the flat lands - it is divided by the Danube and is an architectural dream.
Our city tour features the famous Chain Bridge, the 19th -century
Fisherman's Bastion, and UNESCO-listed Castle Hill district.
B.L. Captain's Farewell Dinner
Sep 16 after breakfast we disembark the River Princess and transfer to the airport for our flight home.
All Inclusive Rate: $5999.00 Canadian Funds per person -INCLUDES RETURN AIRFARE !*
(based on sharing twin accommodation in Category 5 on board the River Princess)
Rate includes:
- Return airfare from Ottawa, Toronto, or Montreal (into Amsterdam and out of Budapest)
- *Return airfare from other cities also available
- Return transfers between airport and River Princess
- 15 Day River Cruise aboard the elegant River Princess in Category selected
- All meals on board ship as per itinerary
- 13 guided shore excursions and tours
- Fully escorted by Debbie Lloyd of The Travel Broker
Additional costs: All air and port taxes $280.00 Canadian funds per person
Deposit required : $750.00 /person (CAD)
Balance due by : May 31, 2007
Optional Upgrades in Accommodation on board River Princess River ship
- Upgrade from Cat. 5 to Cat 4 ---------------------- $ 375.00 Cad per person
- Upgrade form Cat 5 to Cat 3 ---------------------- $ 1120.00 Cad per person
- Upgrade from Cat 5 to Cat 2 ---------------------- $ 1400.00 Cad per person
- Upgrade from Cat 5 to Cat 1 ---------------------- $ 1680.00 Cad per person
Ship Details - Click Here