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2006 Europe Grand Cruise - Sample Itinerary
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Amsterdam to Budapest (v.v.) - 16 Day / 14 Night - MS Amadagio
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Day 01
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USA - AMSTERDAM:
Depart the USA on your plane bound to Amsterdam. Meals and services on
board as per airline policy. Sit back and enjoy your flight.
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Day 02
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AMSTERDAM - EMBARKATION:
Upon arrival to Amsterdam, you will be met at the airport and
transferred to your luxurious river cruise ship which is moored near the
city center. Start discovering the town before meeting your fellow
travellers at the Welcome Coctail Reception. Following dinner, enjoy
piano music in the beautiful lounge, or head back into town to
experience Amsterdam's fascinating nightlife. (D)
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Day 03
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CRUISE - AMSTERDAM:
After breakfast, admire the wonderful architecture of the city from a
guided canal boat tour. Sail in the glass-top boat past beautiful
17th-century homes, charming churches with bell towers and 16th century
merchant houses. Spend some free time in this beautiful city before MS
Amadagio sets sail around lunch time. As you cruise towards Germany,
meet your fellow travellers during an afternoon briefing. In the
evening, enjoy the Captain's Gala Welcome Dinner. (B, L, D)
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Day 04
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CRUISE - COLOGNE - KOBLENZ:
In the early morning hours, you sail past one of Germany's carnival
capitals, the city of Dusseldorf. Shortly after, your floating hotel
docks in Cologne where a guided walking tour introduces you to the old
part of the city and the fabled 13th-century Gothic Cathedral. At
lunchtime continue to 2,000-year-old Koblinz, located at the confluence
of the Rhine and the Moselle Rivers. Join an after dinner walk through
this charming town. (B, L, D)
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Day 05
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CRUISE - RUDESHEIM:
Save yourself a nice spot on the sun deck as you sail through the
dramatic Rhine George, the most beautiful stretch of the river. Every
mile along the river you will see a different, magnificent castle,
including the legendary Lorelei Rock, where sweet songs of local
beauties lured enchanted sailors to their doom. Stop at the quaint Rhine
Valley town of Rudesheim where the "Winzerexpress" mini-train takes you
to Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum for a guided tour.
During dinner bid farewell to the Rhine and enter the Main River.
Tonight's Crew Revue will conclude your day. (B, L, D)
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Day 06
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CRUISE - MILTENBERG - WERTHEIM:
Arrive at Miltenberg for a guided morning walking tour along narrow
cobblestone streets to view gabled, half-timbered houses. Shop for
souvenirs before a coach takes you to charming Wertheim where you will
experience the bustling atmosphere of a traditional German market.
Afterwards, return to the ship for lunch. The rest of the day, cruise
through the sunny valleys of the meandering Main. (B, L, D)
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Day 07
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CRUISE - WURZBURG:
Today, the vessel will dock at Wuerzburg, also known as "The Pearl of
the Romantic Road." The picturesque city is surrounded by sloping hills
covered with vineyards. During your morning tour, visit the major sights
including the magnificent Residential Palace. Your afternoon cruise
takes you past charming Volkach and through the Franconian wine region.
After dinner join your fellow travellers in the lounge to listen to an
enchanting medieval music performance. (B, L, D)
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Day 08
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CRUISE - BAMBERG - NUREMBERG:
Enter the Main-Danube Canal at Bamberg, which was declared a UNESCO
World Heritage Site in 1993. Disembark for a guided tour of this
medieval gem. Marvel at the breathtaking cathedral, the Old Town Hall
straddling the river and serpentine streets with charming houses and
18th-century mansions. From here your coach will take you through the
picturesque countryside to rejoin your ship in Erlangen. Continue along
the Main-Danube Canal to ancient Nuremberg. (B, L, D)
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Day 09
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CRUISE - NUREMBERG:
Enjoy a guided morning tour of this historic city famous for the WW II
Criminal Tribunal. See the storybook 900-year-old ramparts, the Imperial
Castle and the Justice Palace where the War Crimes Tribunal took place
in 1946. Later, you arrive at the highest point of your cruise - 1,332
feet above sea lever - before descending again though a series of
stair-step locks. (B, L, D)
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Day 10
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CRUISE - REGENSBURG:
This morning, you sail through the final stretch of the Main-Danube
Canal. Today's port of call is magnificent Regensburg, one of Germany's
best preserved medieval cities. A guided tour will show you the city's
architectural highlights, including the Old Town Hall and the Porta
Pretoria - gates to an ancient Roman fort built in 179 AD. A Bavarian
folklore group will entertain you on board tonight. (B, L, D)
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Day 11
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CRUISE - PASSAU - LINZ:
After breakfast the ship arrives at Passau, located at the confluence of
the three rivers - Inn, Ilz and Danube. Enjoy a walking tour through
this quaint town, or take an optional full-day tour to Salzburg and its
most popular Sound of Music sights. For those staying on board, enjoy a
scenic cruise from Passau into Austria and on to Linz, Austira's third
largest city. (B, L, D)
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Day 12
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CRUISE - MELK - DURNSTEIN - VIENNA:
Cruise through the narrow Strudengau and reach the Wachau Valley. Take a
guided tour to Melk's magnificent Benedictine Abbey, one of Europe's
largest baroque monasteries. Continue to Durnstein, famous for its
baroque "Stifts-church". Above town you are able to spot the ruins of
the castle where Richard the Lionheart, the King of England, was
impresoned in 1192. Your walking tour through medieval cobble-stone
streets reveals 16th-century town houses and wine taverns. At night, the
vessel docks in Vienna, the "City of Music." (B, L, D)
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Day 13
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CRUISE - VIENNA:
An exciting day lies ahead. Start with a guided sightseeing tour which
includes the lavish Hofburg Palace, the impressive Vienna Opera House,
the majestic Ringstrasse and awe-inspiring St. Stephen's Cathedral. In
the afternoon you have free time to stroll along Karntnerstrasse or
sample Vienna's famous pastries in one of the cozy coffee houses.
Tonight explore the vibrant Austrian capital on your own, or come along
for an optional Mozart and Straus concert. (B, L, D)
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Day 14
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CRUISE - BRATISLAVA:
After midnight, the ship slips away from Vienna and continues to nearby
Slovakia. A guided morning tour of Bratislava reveals the city's major
sights. From the 13th-century Bratislava Castle you will enjoy
breathtaking views overlooking three countries - Slovakia, Austria and
Hungary. In the afternoon, use your time to explore some more on your
own. This eventful day is followed by an evening filled with an
enchanting music performance on board. Before midnight, depart for
Hungary. (B, L, D)
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Day 15
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CRUISE - BUDAPEST:
Today's sightseeing includes historic Buda Castle, from where you will
have a splendid view of the twin cities of Buda and Pest spread over
both banks of the river. Your tour also features the 500-year-old
Matthias Church, St. Stephen's Basilica, the distinctive Fishermen's
Bastion, marvelous Royal Palace and much more. Your afternoon is at
leasure. In the evening, gather for the Gala Farawell Dinner with Gipsy
violins. (B, L, D)
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Day 16
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BUDAPEST - USA:
After breakfast, bid farewell to your floating hotel as you are
transferred to the airport for your homebound flights. Cruise Only
services end after breakfast. (B)
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