from $3098pp
Ultimate River Cruise - Budapest to Paris

Duration
21 Days
Spend 2 nights in Budapest, then savor a stunning 14-day river cruise from Budapest to Trier, then end you holidays with 3 fascinating nights in Paris 21 Days Fly to Budapest & return from Paris

Tour Description
Combine the highlights of the legendary Main and Danube with the picturesque Rhine and Moselle and experience a voyage of cultural and scenic diversity through the four countries of Hungary, Slovakia, Austria and Germany. Start your European vacation with two grand old capitals, vibrant Budapest and magnificent Vienna. Journey on the Main-Danube Canal across the Continental Divide, and visit charming towns with beautiful vistas. Cruise through the lush and scenic Moselle valley, famous for its many historical castles and the steepest vineyards in the world, and be close to the heart of the people living in the medieval cities along the Rhine and Main river. Conclude your European vacation with Paris, the "City of Lights."



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Note: On Air & Land Pkgs, Most airlines do not permit more then an 11-month advanced booking.


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Daily Program Features
Day Destination Activities
1 Overnight flight to Hungary
2 Budapest Transfer to hotel
3 Budapest City tour
4 Budapest Optional excursion to the Puszta region
    Transfer to ship
    Embarkation
    Wecome Cocktails & Welcome Dinner
5 Bratislava City tour
  Vienna Optional evening Mozart & Strauss concert
6 Vienna City tour
    Optional tour
7 Duernstein Walking tour
  Melk Benedictine Abbey Tour
    Wine tasting
8 Linz City walk
    Optional excursion to Salzburg
  Passau Walking tour
    Evening Bavarian music
9 Regensburg Walking tour
  Regensbrug Evening folkloric music on board
10 Hilpoltstein Crossing Continental Divide
  Nuremberg City tour
Day Destination Activities
10 Nuremberg Moor overnight
11 Nuremberg Esxcursion to Munich
12 Bamberg Walking tour
13 Wurzburg City tour and Residenz visit
14 Wertheim Free time ashore
  Miltenberg Walking tour
15 Mainz Full day Heidelberg tour or Mainz walking tour
    Frankfurt city walk
  Koblenz City walk by night
16 Cochem Tour Reichsburg Castle
  Zell Welcome by Mayor
    Wine tasting & Oompah music
17 Bernkastel Walking tour
  Trier City tour
    Moor overnight
18 Trier Disembarkation
    Motorcoach to Luxembourg
  Luxembourg City tour
  Paris Motorcoach to hotel in Paris
19 Paris City tour
20 Paris Optional tours
21 Paris Transfer to airport - Depart for USA

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Itinerary - 2009
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Day 1, DEPART USA.
Overnight flight to Hungary.

Day 2, ARRIVE IN BUDAPEST, HUNGARY.
Arrive in Budapest and transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the day is free to relax or begin exploring this beautiful city.

Day 3, BUDAPEST, HUNGARY.
Your morning sightseeing tour includes historic Buda Castle, and also features 500-year-old Matthias Church, St. Stephen's Basilica, distinctive Fisherman's Bastion, the marvelous Royal Palace and much more. The balance of the day is at your leisure. (B)

Day 4, BUDAPEST - EMBARKATION.
Enjoy a free morning in Budapest or join an optional Puszta excursion. This afternoon transfer to your luxurious river cruise ship docked in the center of the city; tonight, gather onboard for a Gala Welcome Dinner. The ship sets sail after midnight for Slovakia. (B,D)

Day 5, BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA.
A guided morning tour of Bratislava reveals the city's major sights, including the Old Town Hall, the stunning Mirbach Palace and the Gothic St. Martin's Cathedral. The afternoon is free to shop or explore on your own. Perhaps, visit the 13th-century Bratislava Castle where you'll enjoy breathtaking views overlooking three countries - Slovakia, Austria and Hungary. An eventful day is followed by an evening filled with an enchanting music performance onboard. After midnight the ship departs for Vienna. (B,L,D)

Day 6, VIENNA, AUSTRIA.
Savor the baroque elegance of romantic Vienna during your guided sightseeing tour, including the lavish Hofburg Palace, the impressive Vienna Opera House, the majestic Ringstrasse, awe-inspiring St. Stephen's Cathedral and visit to the National Library. The afternoon is free to stroll along the Kärtnerstrasse or sample Vienna's famous pastries. Tonight, explore the vibrant capital on your own or join an optional evening Mozart and Strauss concert. The ship moors overnight. (B,L,D)

Day 7, DĂśRNSTEIN - MELK.
Early this morning, reach the Wachau Valley. Stop in Dürnstein and marvel at the magnificent blue façade of the baroque Stiftskirche. Above the town, you'll spot the ruins of the castle where Richard the Lionheart, King of England, was imprisoned in 1192. Your walking tour through medieval cobblestone streets reveals 16th-century town houses and wine taverns. Enjoy your lunch cruising to Melk, followed by a guided tour of the Benedictine Abbey, one of Europe's largest baroque monasteries. An evening wine tasting highlights your visit to the Wachau Valley. (B,L,D)

Day 8, LINZ - PASSAU, GERMANY.
After breakfast, take an optional full-day excursion to fascinating Salzburg and the Sound of Music sights, or cruise through Upper Austria to Passau in Germany, where the rivers Inn and Ilz join the Danube. Your city tour takes you on an exploration of this fairytale city founded more than 2,000 years ago. (B,L,D)

Day 9, REGENSBURG.
At lunchtime, arrive in Regensburg, one of Germany's best preserved medieval cities. During your guided tour, see the city's architectural highlights, including the Old Town Hall, and the Porta Pretoria - gates to a Roman fort built in 179 AD. (B,L,D)

Day 10, NUREMBERG.
This morning, enter the Main-Danube Canal and relax during a leisurely cruise through the beautiful AltmĂĽhl Valley. In the afternoon enjoy a guided tour of Nuremberg, capital of Franconia. Moor overnight in Nuremberg. (B,L,D)

Day 11, NUREMBERG- MUNICH.
Take the train to Munich, the capital of Bavaria and one of Germany's largest cities, often given the nickname "Germany's secret capital” for some free time. Your escort today will offer suggestions of to what to do while you are there and take you to lunch in the world famous Hofbrauhaus. Tonight, you will meet fellow travelers embarking from Prague (B,L,D)

Day 12, BAMBERG.
Enjoy your breakfast as you cruise along and marvel at the engineering feat of the Main-Danube canal which straddles the Franconian Alps via 16 locks. Then arrive in Bamberg and enjoy a walking tour of this medieval gem, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. There is free time before you continue your cruise, now on the Main River. (B,L,D)

Day 13, WĂśRZBURG.
This morning arrive in WĂĽrzburg, the capital of Lower Franconia. "The Pearl of the Romantic Road" is surrounded by sloping hills covered with vineyards. During your tour, see the major sights including the magnificent Residential Palace. This afternoon explore WĂĽrzburg on your own, or take an optional tour to Medieval Rothenburg. A beautiful walled city situated on the Romantic Road. (B,L,D)

Day 14, WERTHEIM - MILTENBERG.
Arrive in Wertheim after breakfast to enjoy some free time browsing the market square and the shops. Then cruise to Miltenberg for a guided walking tour along narrow, cobble-stoned streets, seeing the gabled, half timbered houses. Tonight, the ship sails leaving Bavaria, Franconia and the Main River behind. (B,L,D)

Day 15, MAINZ - HEIDELBERG - RĂśDESHEIM - KOBLENZ.
Today, choose between a city tour in Mainz or an excursion to Heidelberg. If you decide to travel by coach to Heidelberg, you will visit the red-walled Castle, see the Great Vat, a 49,000-gallon 18th-century wine cask and beautiful views of the Neckar Valley and Heidelberg below. Take a walking tour of old Heidelberg with free time for lunch on your own, then drive to RĂĽdesheim to rejoin your ship. If you choose to stay in Mainz, enjoy a walking tour of charming Mainz, including a visit to the Gutenberg Museum, before cruising on the Main and Rhine rivers to the wine village of RĂĽdesheim. Enjoy a tour of RĂĽdesheim by minitrain and visit Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. Late this afternoon, everyone will cruise the most beautiful and famous part of the Rhine River and arrive in Koblenz after dinner. (B,L,D)

Day 16, COCHEM - ZELL.
After breakfast, enjoy a guided visit of Reichsburg Castle, situated above Cochem with spectacular views of the River Mosel. This afternoon continue past hillside vineyards to Zell, home of the famous "Zeller Schwarze Katz" wine. A surprising wine fest awaits you this evening. (B,L,D)

Day 17, BERNKASTEL - TRIER.
Arrive in Bernkastel early this morning and explore this quaint little town on your included walking tour. Strategically located in the middle of the Mosel wine-producing region, Bernkastel boasts over 500 years of documented wine history. Then cruise on to Trier, Germany's oldest city, for a guided tour of the city's rich Roman past, including the Roman Baths and the Roman Amphitheater. (B,L,D)

Day 18, TRIER, DISEMBARK - LUXEMBOURG - PARIS, FRANCE.
This morning, bid farewell to your cruise ship and head to Luxembourg for a city tour of the Grand Duchy and some free time. After lunch, continue on to Paris. (B)

Day 19, PARIS.
Enjoy Paris’ famous sights during this morning's guided tour. Visit Notre Dame Cathedral, pass the Louvre Museum, the commemorative l’Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Madeleine, Les Champs Elysées and much more. The remainder of the day is yours to explore the many museums, galleries and other attractions that the city has to offer. (B)

Day 20, PARIS.
Enjoy a free day to explore the most romantic city in the world. Gaze at impressionist masterpieces at the Musée D'Orsay, or visit the top of the Eiffel Tower, built for the 1889 World's Fair. Paris at night sparkles with possibilities for every taste. (B)

Day 21, PARIS.
Your European vacation comes to an end as you transfer to the airport for your onward flight. (B)


Dates & Prices for 2009

Now that you have chosen your package, the following chart below shows “Land Only” rates. To add your airfare, go to Book your Package, select "Flight + Land", select your departure date and departure city and you will add our most competitive airfares to your land price.

Rates (except cruise portion) indicated on the website are subject to currency fluctuations.  The correct price is available by either booking your reservation online or through our Call Center at 1-800-935-5000.

 

Once we have received your deposit, the price is guaranteed from any future fluctuations in the rate of exchange.






Hotel Category

Dates: Type: Ship Name: Start City: Price:
Rates for 2009  * from 
May. 1, 09  Cruise Only from  Amalyra  Budapest  $4498 
May. 1, 09  Cruise & Land from  Amalyra  Budapest  $5598 
May. 21, 09  Cruise Only from  Amacello  Budapest  $4498 
May. 21, 09  Cruise & Land from  Amacello  Budapest  $5598 
Jun. 12, 09  Cruise Only from  Amalyra  Budapest  $4498 
Jun. 12, 09  Cruise & Land from  Amalyra  Budapest  $5598 
Jul. 2, 09  Cruise Only from  Amacello  Budapest  $5598 
Jul. 2, 09  Cruise & Land from  Amacello  Budapest  $6698 
Jul. 24, 09  Cruise Only from  Amalyra  Budapest  $4498 

Show rates for further dates? Yes No

Jul. 24, 09  Cruise & Land from  Amalyra  Budapest  $5598 
Aug. 13, 09  Cruise Only from  Amacello  Budapest  $4698 
Aug. 13, 09  Cruise & Land from  Amacello  Budapest  $5798 
Sep. 4, 09  Cruise Only from  Amalyra  Budapest  $4898 
Sep. 4, 09  Cruise & Land from  Amalyra  Budapest  $5998 
Sep. 24, 09  Cruise Only from  Amacello  Budapest  $4898 
Sep. 24, 09  Cruise & Land from  Amacello  Budapest  $5998 
Oct. 16, 09  Cruise Only from  Amalyra  Budapest  $4498 
Oct. 16, 09  Cruise & Land from  Amalyra  Budapest  $5598 
Nov. 5, 09  Cruise Only from  Amacello  Budapest  $3798 
Nov. 5, 09  Cruise & Land from  Amacello  Budapest  $4898 


City: Hotel Class:
 
Budapest        Sofitel Atrium 

Information/Restrictions
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Guaranteed Departures

Special Airfares are available for this selected packages.

Plus applicable airport taxes and fees.

Conditions for 2009

PORT CHARGES: $196 per person
SINGLE SUPPL. FOR CRUISE: 50% of twin price; Jr. Suites 100% of twin price
SINGLE SUPPL. FOR LAND: $600 per person

Prices are per person in Category E in a deluxe outside stateroom with window. To upgrade to a higher Category, add per person:

CAT.  DECK   STATEROOM   PRICE
D  Piano   Deck Window   $298
C  Cello   Deck French Balcony  $898
B  Cello   Deck French Balcony  $1198
A  Violin   Deck French Balcony  $1398
S  Violin   Deck French Balcony  $2998

NOTE: 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)