Amadeus Waterways Paris to Istanbul Cruise

Overview

Spend 3 nights in Paris, take a 21-night cruise from Trier to Romania, stay 1 night in a Black Sea resort and end with 3 nights in Istanbul

30 days - Fly to Paris & return from Istanbul.

Begin your European vacation with Paris, the “City of Lights.” See charming towns and historical castles as you cruise along the Rhine and Main river. Sail along the Romanian/Bulgarian border before continuing to Serbia and through the Iron Gates, a very narrow passage dividing the Alps from the Carpathian mountains. Continue to Nessebar, one of the oldest towns in Europe, before joining your cruise in Romania. See the very best of Europe’s highlight and enjoy the history and beauty along the Danube River before ending your vacation in what was known for centuries as the greatest city in the world, Istanbul.

Brief Itinerary

DAY	DESTINATION	ACTIVITIES
Day 1		Flight to Paris
Day 2	Paris	Transfer to hotel
Day 3	Paris	City tour
Day 4	Paris	Optional tours available
Day 5	Paris Luxembourg Trier	Coach to Luxembourg City tour Embarkation Welcome Cocktails & Dinner
Day 6	Bernkastel Zell	Walking tour Evening wine fest
Day 7	Cochem Koblenz Rhine Valley Rüdesheim	Tour Reichsburg Castle OR: Koblenz city walk Rhine Castle Cruise Siegfried’s Music Museum
Day 8	Mainz	Full day Heidelberg tour OR: Mainz & Frankfurt tours
Day 9	Miltenberg Wertheim	Walking tour Glass-blowing demonstration
Day 10	Würzburg	City tour & Residenz
Day 11	Bamberg	Walking tour
Day 12	Nuremberg	Excursion to Munich
Day 13	Nuremberg Hilpoltstein	City tour Main-Danube Canal lecture Crossing Continental Divide
Day 14	Regensburg	Walking tour Evening folklore music
Day 15	Passau Salzburg Linz	City walk Optional Salzburg excursion Evening walk
Day 16	Melk Vienna	Benedictine Abbey Tour Optional evening concert
Day 17	Vienna	City tour
Day 18	Budapest	City tour
Day 19	Budapest	Optional tour
Day 20	Mohacs	Pecs excursion
Day 21	Vukovar Novi Sad	City tour Tour of Fortress
Day 22	Belgrade	City tour
Day 23	Iron Gates	Full day cruising
Day 24	Vidin	Tour Bada Vida Fortress
Day 25	Bucharest	City tour
Day 26	Rouse Veliko Turnavo	Disembark City tour
Day 27	Nessebar	City tour
Day 28	Istanbul	City tour & optional tour
Day 29	Istanbul	Tour Topkapi Palace
Day 30	Istanbul	Airport transfer

Your Travel Value Includes

3 Nights Hotel Accommodation in Paris with daily Buffet Breakfast
Transfer from the Hotel in Paris via Luxembourg to the Ship in Trier
21-night Deluxe Cruise Accommodation in an Outside Stateroom - 82% of the Staterooms with large French Balconies
Infotainment System in all Staterooms with Internet, Movie and Music Library & English Language TV Stations
Terry Bathrobes and White-on-white plush Bedding in all Staterooms
Superb Dining with all Meals included during your Cruise
Unlimited Quality Red & White Wines from Europe's great Wine Regions with every Dinner on board the Ship
Cocktail Reception, Welcome Dinner & Captain's Gala Dinner
Fully escorted Motorcoach Tour from the Ship in Rousse, Bulgaria to Istanbul
1 Nights Hotel Accommodation in Nessebar at the Black Sea including daily Buffet Breakfast
3 Nights Hotel Accommodation in Istanbul including daily Buffet Breakfast
Daily Sightseeing Program as outlined in the Itinerary
Special Highlights including Folklore Dances, Lectures, Theme Dinners, on board Music Performances and aftenoon & evening Piano Music
Use of Amalegro Bicycles to explore
All English Language on board in a non-smoking Environment (smoking permitted only on the Sun Deck)
All local taxes

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1, Wed. DEPART USA
Board your overnight flight.

Day 2, Thu. ARRIVE IN PARIS,FRANCE
Time to rest or start exploring the city during the balance of the day.

Day 3, Fri. PARIS
Enjoy Paris' famous sights during this morning's guided tour. The remainder of the day is yours to explore the many museums, galleries and other attractions that the city has to offer.

Day 4, Sat. PARIS
Enjoy a full day to explore the amazing "City of Light" on your own.

Day 5, Sun.PARIS-LUXEMBOURG-TRIER, GERMANY
This morning say "Au Revoir" to Paris as you drive through the scenic French countryside of Champagne to Luxembourg. There is free time for lunch and a guided city tour before continuing to Trier and embarkation on the ship. Tonight gather on board for a Welcome Dinner.

Day 6, Mon. BERNKASTEL-ZELL
This morning, arrive in the charming village of Bernkastel. Take a guided walking tour through the old town center with its many medieval and Renaissance buildings, before continuing on to Zell, a delightful town famous for its wine "Zeller Schwarze Katz."

Day 7, Tue. GONDORF/COCHEM-KOBLENZ-RHINE CASTLES-RUDESHEIM
This morning you decide, you can either disembark in Gondorf and take the included excursion to Cochem and then continue with a motorcoach ride that brings you to Koblenz. Or, you can continue cruising the Moselle to it's confluence with the Rhine at Koblenz and enjoy a walking tour of this beautiful town. Together, this afternoon, cruise along the most beautiful and famous part of the Rhine. Arrive in Rüdesheim, the perfect example of a Rhine Valley wine town. Visit Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum and explore the Drosselgasse, a narrow alley lined with wine taverns and restaurants.

Day 8, Wed. MAINZ-HEIDELBERG-FRANKFURT
Today, again you decide: Either disembark in Mainz and travel by motorcoach to Heidelberg for a walking tour and free time for lunch on your own. In the afternoon drive to Frankfurt, where you rejoin your ship. Or, you can enjoy a leisurely walking tour of Mainz before taking a lunchtime cruise on the Main and Rhine rivers to the wine village of Rüdesheim. Here tour the town by mini-train 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.

Day 9, Thu. MILTENBERG-WERTHEIM
Arrive in Miltenberg and disembark for a guided morning walking tour of this old Franconian town, which reveals narrow cobblestone streets and gabled, half-timbered houses. Shop for souvenirs before your coach takes you to charming Wertheim where you can browse the market square before re-boarding the ship.

Day 10, Fri. WÜRZBURG
Würzburg, "the Pearl of the Romantic Road," is the capital of Lower Franconia, and a center of wine and trade. Visit the major sights including the magnificent Residence Palace. This afternoon why not join an optional excursion to medieval Rothenburg. A walking tour helps you appreciate its ramparts and towers, cobbled lanes and 16th-century houses. Free time to explore before returning to Würzburg.

Day 11, Sat. BAMBERG
Enjoy a leisurely morning cruise before you enter the Main-Danube Canal at enchanting Bamberg, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. Disembark for a guided tour of this medieval gem, with its uniquely intact townscape. Late tonight arrive in Nuremberg.

Day 12, Sun. NUREMBERG
Today travel by train to Munich, the capital of Bavaria and one of Germany's largest cities, often given the nickname "Germany's secret capital" Your Cruise Director will escort your day, offer suggestions of what to do whilst you are there and take you to lunch in the world famous Hofbrauhaus. Tonight you will meet fellow travelers embarking from Prague .

Day 13, Mon. NUREMBERG - CONTINENTAL DIVIDE - RIEDENBURG
Enjoy a guided morning tour of this historic city with its fabulous Gothic churches and elegant patrician houses. At lunchtime rejoin the ship further along the Main-Danube Canal and continue to the highest point of your cruise - 1,332 feet above sea level - before descending through stair-step locks to stop in the Bavarian town of Riedenburg.

Day 14, Tue. REGENSBURG
Arrive in 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. In the evening enjoy folklore music on board .

Day 15, Wed. PASSAU - LINZ, AUSTRIA
After breakfast, arrive in picturesque Passau, where the rivers Inn and Ilz join the Danube. During your walking tour, gaze at this fairy-tale city founded more than 2,000 years ago. Or, take an optional full day tour to Salzburg. For those staying on board, enjoy a scenic cruise from Passau into Austria and on to Linz. After dinner, take a walk through this delightful town, Austria's third largest city and a major river port.

Day 16, Thu. MELK - VIENNA
Cruise through the narrow Strudengau and reach the Wachau Valley early this morning. A tour takes you to Melk's magnificent Benedictine Abbey. At lunchtime, continue through the romantic Wachau Valley. Late this afternoon arrive in Vienna, the "City of Music." Tonight explore the vibrant Austrian capital on your own, or come along for an optional Mozart and Strauss concert.

Day 17, Fri. VIENNA
A tour of Vienna includes Hofburg Palace, the Vienna Opera House, Ringstrasse, and awe-inspiring St. Stephen's Cathedral. Then enjoy a free afternoon to shop or to explore on your own. This afternoon continue cruising overnight to Hungary and Budapest.

Day 18, Sat. BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
This morning is free for shopping, or sightseeing. In the afternoon your sightseeing tour includes Buda & Pest and features Buda Castle, the distinctive Fisherman's Bastion, the marvelous Royal Palace, St. Stephen's Basilica and much more. Tonight enjoy a Gala Farewell Dinner.

Day 19, Sun. BUDAPEST
Upon arrival you will be met by horse-herds and greeted with warm hospitality, brandy and scones. You can take a ride in an Ox-cart, see a typical Gypsy village and will marvel at the equestrian skills of the riders and drivers during the horse show. Try a light lunch of Goulash, the national dish, before returning to Budapest.

Day 20, Mon. MOHACS - PECS EXCURSION, HUNGARY - CRUISE TO CROATIA
This morning the ship arrives in Mohacs, where you depart for the excursion to Pecs. Tonight the ship will arrive in Vukovar, Croatia.

Day 21, Tue. VUKOVAR-NOVI SAD (CROATIA & SERBIA)
There will be a bus and walking tour during which you will see the Franciscan Monastery of St.John Capistrano, the Manorhouse Eltz and Churchs St. Philip and St. Roch. During lunch, cruise to Novi Sad Serbia, where you will tour the Petrovaradin Fortress.

Day 22, Wed. BELGRADE, SERBIA
This morning you arrive in the Capital of Serbia, Belgrade. During your tour, you will see both old and new towns, Tito's memorial, the Town Hall, Federal Parliament Building, Terazije Square, Republic Square and Mihajlova street; as well as Belgrade Fort, "Varoš" Gate and visit the mighty Kalemegdan Fortress.

Day 23, Thu. CRUISING - IRON GATES
Today is a full day of cruising through one of Europe's most impressive natural wonders, the Iron Gates.

Day 24, Fri. VIDIN, BULGARIA
The "Bada Vida" fortress sits guard over the Danube at the Bulgarian frontier town of Vidin. You will also travel overland to see Belogradschik, a beautifully restored 6th century castle, located in a fairytale landscape of unusual rock formations.

Day 25, Sat. GUIRGUI-BUCHAREST, ROMANIA
Today enjoy a full day excursion to Bucharest and see the Arch of Triumph, Soseaua Kiseleff, Athenaeum and Library, as well as visit the Parliament Palace. Followed by lunch in a typical restaurant, in the afternoon you can choose to have free time for shopping and exploration on your own or visit the open air museum, a museum dedicated to the traditional architecture and buildings of rural Romania.

Day 26, Sun. ROUSE-VELIKO TURNAVO-NESSEBAR, BULGARIA
This morning you will disembark in Rouse and continue your tour by coach to the Black Sea and Istanbul. First stop this morning is the ancient capital of Bulgaria Veliko Turnavo. Those pax who wish to shop can instead visit Samovodska Charshia, traditional market street. You will enjoy a traditional Bulgarian lunch before continuing onto the Black Sea and the town of Nessebar.

Day 27, Mon. NESSEBAR-ISTANBUL, TURKEY
Situated on a small peninsula, Nessebar is one of the oldest towns in Europe. During this mornings walking tour you will visit St.Stephan's, Pantocrator church and Nessebars oldest church the 5th-6th century Basilica on the Beach. After free time for lunch, you continue onto Istanbul, Turkey, arriving late this afternoon.

Day 28, Tue. ISTANBUL
This morning's comprehensive city tour will show you feature the old city of Istanbul, the many Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman monuments of her long past. Later you have the choice to see more of Byzantine Constantinople and visit one of Christendoms greatest church St.Sophia, or explore more of Ottoman Istanbul and visit the Grand Bazaar.

Day 29, Wed. ISTANBUL
Today, you will visit the Ottoman Sultans Grand Palace of Topkapi. During your tour you will see the private chambers of the Sultans, the world famous Harem, treasury home to the Topkapi diamond, holy relics room, Hagia Eirene Church originally constructed by Constantine the Great in the 4th century and reception rooms of the Imperial court.

Day 30, Thu. ISTANBUL-USA
Transfer to the airport for your onward flight.

Cost of This Itinerary

Total of 28 nights

The least expensive stateroom costs
$248 per person per night in low season and
$255 pp pn in high season

The most expensive suite costs
$376 pp pn in low season and
$383 pp pn in high season

Where in the World Travel
A Villages travel agency
424 Bishopville Loop
The Villages, FL 32162
352-751-0621

SBI!