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Romance of the Rhine & Danube

Romance of the Rhine & Danube
Explore Imperial palaces, Baroque gardens and other treasures once reserved for European royalty along the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers aboard ms Swiss Jewel on this comprehensive journey combining two Tauck European riverboat cruises with two-night stays in Strasbourg and Budapest.

Itinerary:

Day 1 – Welcome to Strasbourg
This most extraordinary of European riverboat cruises begins at 6:00 PM at the Sofitel Strasbourg Grande Île.  Transfers from Strasbourg International Airport to the Sofitel Strasbourg Grand Île are included. Meet your Tauck Directors and fellow travelers at our welcome reception and dinner this evening.
Meals: Dinner
Lodging: Sofitel Strasbourg Grande Île, Strasbourg, France

Day 2 – Strasbourg old and new
Strasbourg has one foot firmly in the present and one foot rooted in the past. As the capital of the European Union, the EU Parliament district bustles with the in-the-moment business of modern-day government; see the impressive, modern Parliament buildings en route to the past this morning. Step into the medieval world of La Petite France – with its historic cobbled streets, half-timbered houses and meandering canals – during a walking tour with a local guide, and visit Strasbourg’s 11th-century Gothic Cathedral of Our Lady, once the tallest building in Europe.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Lodging: Sofitel Strasbourg Grande Île, Strasbourg, France

• Day 3 – Authentically Alsace
Head out of town this morning for a drive along the famous Route des Vins d’Alsace (Alsatian Wine Road), through enchanting villages of France’s Alsace region, and past endless terraced vineyards that produce the area’s renowned white wines on the way to the picturesque town of Obernai. Here, you’ll enjoy lunch in a former manor house, complete with local wines offering a true taste of the Alsace. Later, board the ms Swiss Jewel to begin this most extraordinary of Europe riverboat cruises along the Rhine. This evening, the Captain welcomes you aboard with a special reception in your honor.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Aboard ms Swiss Jewel

• Day 4 – Good times in Baden-Baden
Set in the foothills of Germany’s Black Forest, the spa town of Baden-Baden, with its healing waters, has been a popular destination since Roman times and its thermal springs have been known for over 2,000 years. The likes of Queen Victoria, Brahms, Napoleon III and Marlene Dietrich have wandered its streets, “taken the waters” and played in its casino. After a walking tour during which you’ll discover ruins of castles and Roman baths, visit the extravagantly beautiful Belle Epoque Casino, the Kurhaus, which has been the place to see and be seen for nobility and the elite for over 250 years.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Aboard ms Swiss Jewel

• Day 5 – It happens in Heidelberg
A full-day excursion to Heidelberg showcases many facets of this intriguing city, which has been a happening place for students since the University of Heidelberg was founded in 1386. Take in the charm of Old Town during a guided walking tour revealing Gothic gates and walls, Renaissance and Baroque homes and palaces… and life here in the 21st century. Ride a funicular up to the ruins of the famous Gothic-Renaissance castle, Heidelberger Schloss, Return to the ms Swiss Jewel after lunch in a Heidelberg restaurant and some free time to explore the city on your own before your riverboat cruise continues on along the River Main.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Aboard ms Swiss Jewel

• Day 6 – Rollin’ on the River Main
The opportunity to just kick back and relax on your riverboat cruise is yours this morning as your riverboat glides down the Main River bound for Bavaria. Or, see what fun things your Tauck Directors have up their sleeves, work out in the fitness center or find something to challenge you on the on-board Wii game system. Spend the afternoon exploring Miltenberg, with its hilltop castle, lively market square and half-timbered houses. Bavaria comes aboard ms Swiss Jewel this evening for a special dinner spotlighting this lovely area of Germany.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Aboard ms Swiss Jewel

• Day 7 – Feel like royalty at the Residenz
By 1000 BC, the Celts had built a fortress, and in the 8th century, Charlemagne himself consecrated the cathedral that is the focal point of the historic and charming town of Würzburg. 90% of the town was destroyed in World War II and then painstakingly reconstructed by its citizens, most of whom were women at that time. The magnificent Würzburg Residenz, a beautiful complex of palaces begun in 1720 for the Würzburg prince-bishops, was completed, start-to-finish, almost within a single generation. During a tour today, you’ll see a magnificent sequence of rooms containing a wonderful array of paintings, tapestries, furniture and other 18-century treasures. Return to the Residenz this evening for a memorable dinner in its wine cellar, complete with a wine tasting and entertainment – a highlight of this most enjoyable of riverboat cruises!
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Aboard ms Swiss Jewel

• Day 8 – Bound for Bamberg
Spend the morning participating in the on-board activities offered by your Tauck Directors and gaining some new insights about this part of the Main River during your riverboat cruise to Bamberg; you can even listen to your Tauck Director’s commentary in the comfort of your cabin! What the Alsace is to wine in France, the Franconia region of Germany is to beer. Following a walking tour of Bamberg’s Old Town, you’ll have a chance to sample the excellent local brews during a brewery tour and beer tasting.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Aboard ms Swiss Jewel

• Day 9 – The Main-Danube Canal and historic Nürnberg
It wasn’t until 1992 that the dream of linking the North Sea to the Black Sea, and making a riverboat cruise all the way from Holland to Romania possible, was realized with the completion of the Main-Danube Canal. A local expert will tell you all about it as ms Swiss Jewel transits the canal this morning. After docking in Nürnberg, disembark for an orientation tour of this significant Bavarian city, perhaps best known for its role during and after World War II. But Nürnberg also has a fascinating medieval heart, as you’ll discover on a walking tour following lunch and special entertainment at a local restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Aboard ms Swiss Jewel

• Day 10 – Regensburg revealed
Talk about a long history – humans settled on the banks of the Danube near Regensburg during the Stone Age and the Romans arrived around 90 AD. Regensburg bills itself as “Germany’s best-preserved medieval city,” and you’ll understand why when you explore the town during a walking tour. Sightseeing in Old Town Regensburg today includes the Stone Bridge, completed in 1146, magnificent Dom St. Peter, the 15th-century Town Hall and remains of the Roman wall.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Aboard ms Swiss Jewel

• Day 11 – The “three river city” of Passau
Located on the Danube at the confluence of the Inn and Ilz rivers, Passau is a treasure trove for history buffs, as the city began with a Roman fortress. Today a local guide shares residents’ passion for lovely Passau with you during a walking tour through the cobblestone streets of this Baroque town renowned for its lovely stained glass and nearly 100 churches. See the Altes Rathaus, the old town hall with 15th-century origins, murals on the façade and a glockenspiel in the tower; and visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral, home to the largest pipe organ in Europe. Return to the riverboat for lunch as you cruise to Linz, Austria.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Aboard ms Swiss Jewel

• Day 12 – Salzburg sights or relaxation in Linz
With your riverboat docked in Linz, you can choose to enjoy this Austrian port city, or take a full-day excursion to old Salzburg… a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the location for numerous scenes in the movie The Sound of Music, and composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s hometown on the Salzach River. The day trip includes visits to Mozart’s birthplace and beautiful Mirabell Gardens, and a guided walking tour through the historic district of ornate church towers and grand palaces. Enjoy dinner aboard the riverboat, docked in Linz this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Aboard ms Swiss Jewel

• Day 13 – The wonderful Wachau Valley and Dürnstein
Austria’s Wachau Valley seems straight out of a picture book; vine-covered hillsides, quaint villages, impressive structures and castle ruins line the riverbanks of this region of the Danube. Considered by many to be the most beautiful and historic stretch along the river, what you’ll see around you today is a highlight of any riverboat cruise.  Gain some insights about the valley from the commentary provided by your Tauck Directors as you glide along this morning. When you arrive in tiny Dürnstein, you’ll find history all around you on a walking tour; along its one main street, there are Baroque houses and a 13th-century Romanesque church. Perhaps you’ll climb the path up to Kuenringerburg Castle, where Richard the Lionhearted was imprisoned during the Crusades, to take in the spectacular view. Later, join us for a wine tasting in an authentic local tavern, where you’ll sample the fruits of the Wachau Valley vineyards surrounding this charming town.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Aboard ms Swiss Jewel

• Day 14 – Viva Vienna
From the lilting strains of the waltz to the glory and grandeur of the Habsburgs, Vienna is absolutely enchanting. After your riverboat arrives overnight, wake up for an overview of one of Europe’s grandest cities with a morning sightseeing tour that includes the Ringstrasse, the Opera House, City Hall and Parliament. Then choose a tour of Schönbrunn Palace, built by the Habsburgs to rival Versailles, or a special visit to the Imperial Silver Room inside the Hofburg, now Austria’s presidential residence. Tonight, indulge in a bit of royal treatment with a gala, private Imperial Viennese evening at a traditional palace in the heart of the city, featuring a sumptuous dinner and a live classical music performance… an unforgettable highlight of this grandest of riverboat cruises.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Aboard ms Swiss Jewel

• Day 15 – Vienna as you please & on to Slovakia
Pursue your own interests this morning in glorious Vienna – which boasts over a hundred museums of all kinds – and then return to the riverboat to continue your Danube River cruise from Austria to Slovakia. Gliding along the “river of kings,” admire the pastoral scenery and immerse yourself in Slovak culture aboard the riverboat, as you enjoy a taste of regional cuisine at dinner… and join in as Slovakian folkloric entertainers in traditional costumes perform for you tonight.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Aboard ms Swiss Jewel

• Day 16 – Slovakian surprises in Baroque Bratislava
Welcome to Bratislava, capital of Slovakia. This fascinating city, once one of the most important in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, is a true melting pot of the various nations and nationalities that have shaped it over the centuries. Many local residents fluently speak four languages – Slovak, German, Hungarian and “mishmash,” a combination of words from each in a single sentence. Your local expert shares insights and anecdotes about this beloved city on a guided walking tour; view several Baroque Habsburg-era palaces, the Opera House, Slovak Philharmonic Hall and St. Martin’s Cathedral; visit the 13th-century Old Town Hall; and savor some delectable Slovakian pastry at a local café. After some exploring on your own, return to the riverboat and celebrate your memorable cruise with the Captain and crew at a shipboard farewell reception and dinner tonight, as you near final destination, Budapest.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Aboard ms Swiss Jewel

Day 17 – Goodbye, riverboat… hello, Budapest
Your memorable cruise ends this morning in Budapest, Hungary, split into the sections of Buda and Pest by the Danube River. After disembarking your riverboat and bidding the crew farewell, explore the city’s Buda side on a walking tour of Castle Hill, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; see Fishermen’s Bastion with its neo-Romanesque design, and admire the stained glass windows and centuries of history in Matthias Church. After lunch at a local café, spend the rest of the day pursuing what interests you most in Budapest; later, dig into dinner at your choice of select city restaurants. Note: Matthias Church may be closed on some departures due to services.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: InterContinental Budapest, Hungary

Day 18 – Passionate about Pest
On the flat lands on the east bank of the Danube lies Pest, with a personality all its own, revealed on a visit to Heroes’ Square – bounded by some of the finest architectural works in Hungary – and sightseeing including the spectacular Parliament building and tree-lined Andrassy Avenue. There may be some surprises in store on a special visit to the opulent State Opera House, opened in 1884, with its gilded vaulted ceiling, murals, royal boxes and three-ton chandelier. Conclude your Danube River cruise adventure by spending the rest of the day exploring what interests you most in Budapest; you may want to stroll along fashionable Váci Utca, one of the city’s grandest boulevards. Sample Budapest’s wide variety of cuisines as you enjoy lunch and dinner on your own in a city abounding with fine restaurants and romantic cafés.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: InterContinental Budapest, Hungary

Day 19 – Homeward bound
Your most remarkable of Rhine and Danube riverboat cruises ends in Budapest. Fly home anytime; a transfer is included from the InterContinental Budapest to Budapest’s Ferihegy Airport. Allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home.

Meals: Breakfast
This itinerary combines the cruise portions of Strasbourg to Prague Serenade and The Blue Danube with 2-night stays in Strasbourg and Budapest

Note: Tour of Oct 13 (eastbound) will not stay in Strasbourg nights 1 and 2 due to the meeting of the European Parliament and will stay outside of the city.

19-Day Land/Cruise prices from $7,390

Cat. 1                         Cat. 2                      Cat. 3                              Cat. 4                   Cat. 5                                    Cat. 6
Date                          Dbl               Sgl           Dbl        Sgl          Dbl                Sgl             Dbl        Sgl            Dbl               Sgl                Dbl                Sgl               Tpl
5/12/2011*      $8790     $12,306     N/A     N/A     $10,090     $14,126      N/A      N/A      $11,540     $19,618     $12,740     $21,658     $11,465
5/26/2011        $8990     $11,586     N/A      N/A     $10,290     $13,406      N/A      N/A     $11,740     $19,958     $12,940     $21,998     $11,645
8/18/2011*      $7590     $10,626     N/A     N/A     $8890          $12,446     N/A      N/A     $10,340     $17,578     $11,540     $19,618     $10,385
9/1/2011           $8590     $12,026     N/A     N/A     $9890          $13,846      N/A     N/A     $11,340     $19,278     $12,540     $21,318     $11,285
9/29/2011*     $8590     $12,026     N/A      N/A     $9890         $13,846       N/A     N/A     $11,340     $19,278     $12,540     $21,318     $11,285
10/13/2011     $7390     $9346         N/A     N/A     $8690         $11,166         N/A     N/A     $10,140     $17,238     $11,340     $19,278     $10,205

All prices are per person in U.S. dollars.

Prices include Special Singles Savings – $1000 per cabin on May 26 and Oct 13 departures. Certain restrictions apply; please ask at time of booking.

**Please note**

Land / cruise price per person includes cruise fare, most meals, port charges, wine with dinner aboard ship, shore excursions, applicable fuel surcharges, and gratuities to Tauck Directors, Tauck Cruise Director, ship staff, local guides & drivers, as well as on all included meals.

Itinerary Changes – Although not expected, Tauck reserves the right to alter the sequence of ports or omit or substitute scheduled ports or attractions at any time without prior notice. Museums and attractions may be subject to closure due to state, local or religious holidays. This cruise includes a fair amount of walking in each city.

Please ask at time of booking about additional hotel nights before or after your cruise.

Inclusive Prices

Tour prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All hotel and riverboat accommodations, riverboat and motor coach transportation, port charges, sightseeing, admissions, land excursions, porterage, wine with dinner aboard the riverboat, and the services of the Tauck Directors, the Tauck Cruise Director, hotel, ship and restaurant staff, and local guides and drivers are included. Transportation is included from Strasbourg International Airport to the Sofitel Strasbourg Grande Île, provided we have received accurate international flight arrival information at least two weeks prior to the tour departure date. Transportation is also included from the InterContinental Budapest to Budapest Ferihegy International Airport when you choose to depart. Transfers to and from airports may be shared with other Tauck guests.

Hotel and Riverboat Accommodations – The tour price includes all hotel and riverboat accommodations with private baths. Our standard is to provide the best available accommodations without sacrificing value. Although the quality of accommodations may differ slightly from one hotel to another, our commitment to your comfort is unwavering. Two-bedded rooms are reserved in most hotels. Triples are two-bedded rooms plus a rollaway cot, where available, and are not recommended for comfort. Quadruple accommodations are not available.

If you request an adjacent, adjoining or connecting room, we will try to accommodate your request. However, we cannot guarantee such accommodations will be available. Please note that a hotel may define “adjacent” as “located across the hall”.

Children under the age of 18 must be booked in a room or cabin with at least one adult.

The Boat: The ms Swiss Jewel accommodates only 118 guests. Your well-appointed, outside-facing cabin is equipped with a plasma television, mini-bar, radio, international direct-dial telephone, safe and hair dryer. Your cabin also features adjustable air-conditioning and a private bathroom with shower. Most cabins have two twin beds that can be placed together. Triple accommodations are only available in Category 6 cabins on this tour.

Other riverboat facilities include a lounge with a panoramic bar and a dance floor, a spacious restaurant, which can accommodate all guests in one seating, a large sun deck with deck chairs and a whirlpool, a library, a fitness center and a small boutique.

Meals – Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary.

On the riverboat, an ample cold and hot buffet breakfast is served in the spacious restaurant. At lunch, you are presented with a choice of entrée with several courses, or a delicious buffet. Dinner’s choice of entrée is accompanied with an international selection of wines. Please let us know about your special dietary requirements when booking your cruise; vegetarian and special diets are available, however kosher meals cannot be accommodated. We will be pleased to meet your special dietary requirements whenever possible.

The legal drinking age aboard the riverboat is 18.

Tauck Director –The Romance of the Rhine & Danube cruise has one Tauck Director for every 40 guests and one Tauck Cruise Director who will remain with the group throughout the tour. Your Tauck Directors are professional, fully trained employees of Tauck.

Gratuities Included – All customary gratuities for the hotel, restaurant and ship staff, local guides and drivers, Tauck Directors and the Tauck Cruise Director are included.

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Europe

Grand European Cruise

Explore European landscapes on Tauck’s ultimate North Sea to Black Sea tour by riverboat! Set off aboard ms Swiss Sapphire or Tauck’s new-for-2011 riverboat on a grand 3-week cruise through nine European countries along the Rhine, Main and Danube, plus two nights at a city-center hotel in Bucharest.

• Day 1 – Embark on your cruise in Amsterdam

Your North Sea to Black Sea tour starts at 4:00 PM in Amsterdam, Netherlands.   A transfer is included from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport directly to ms Swiss Sapphire or Tauck’s new-for-2011 riverboat. Kick off your Rhine cruise – and your North Sea to Black Sea tour – with a traditional toast featuring Dutch gin, followed by dinner aboard the riverboat.

Meals: Dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 2 – Great art, a canal cruise and more in Amsterdam

You’ll be inspired by the acclaimed art by the Dutch Masters, including Rembrandt’s The Night Watch, and many others you’ll see on a guided tour of Amsterdam’s renowned Rijksmuseum this morning. Then enjoy views of the city’s remarkable architectural styles on a canal boat cruise along its network of 17th-century canals. The fun continues with a festive evening aboard the riverboat including the Captain’s welcome reception, a special welcome dinner and a live musical performance.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 3 – Köln, namesake of Eau de Cologne

Fascinating commentary by your Tauck Director (which you can listen to in your cabin if you choose) and lunch al fresco on the riverboat’s sun deck enhance your morning’s sail to the next stop on your Rhine cruise – Köln (Cologne), Germany’s oldest city. Your guided walking tour includes the lofty, twin-spired Kölner Dom, elaborately decorated with pinnacles and buttresses; it is the tallest Gothic structure in the world, and took over 600 years to complete. Stroll through Köln’s Hohe Strasse pedestrian area at your leisure in the afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 4 – Koblenz or Marksburg Castle, and merry music machines

Dock in Koblenz, and choose either a walking tour of Old Town, or a trip to 13th-century Marksburg Castle, built high above the Rhine. Relax as your Tauck Director shares a tale or two during the afternoon’s cruise through the scenic – and literally legendary – Lorelei Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A visit to Siegfrieds Mechanisches Musikkabinett, an eclectic collection of mechanical musical instruments housed in a 15th-century castle in Rüdesheim, precedes tonight’s entertaining dinner in a local German restaurant with an old-world ambiance.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 5 – Rhine Cruise to the Main River

As your North Sea to Black Sea tour continues through scenic valleys studded with castles, cathedrals, and fortified towns, on-board activities may include informative lectures, cooking classes and demonstrations of such time-honored skills as glassblowing. Arrive in Miltenberg, a walled medieval city with Roman roots, for a look at its centuries-old market square, hilltop castle and half-timbered houses. A Bavarian-themed dinner awaits aboard the riverboat tonight as you cruise to Worth.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 6 – Discover Rothenburg and Würzburg

Today’s shore excursion takes you to medieval Rothenburg, on Germany’s “Romantic Road,” to see its Gothic cathedrals and gabled houses. Later, a visit to charming Würzburg reveals the town’s 18th-century Residenz and the ornate Alte Mainbrücke, a centuries-old bridge over the River Main. And you’ll know you’re cruising through Bavaria when an oompah band plays for you tonight!

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 7 – Bound for Bamberg

Continue along the Main to the Bavarian town of Bamberg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated atop seven hills. After discovering the town’s lovely gardens, medieval architecture and 13th-century Gothic cathedral with its four imposing towers on a walking tour of Old Town, you’ll have time to explore more of this charming town on your own.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 8 – Main-Danube Canal & historic Nürnberg

Tauck’s Main, Danube and Rhine cruise negotiates the Main-Danube Canal today, a major engineering achievement that ultimately makes your North Sea to Black Sea tour possible – and which you’ll learn all about from a local expert during your transit. The idea goes back as far as Charlemagne, but wasn’t realized until this canal was completed in the 1990s; pass through 16 locks as the waterway traverses the mountains. Sail on to historic Nürnberg, where you’ll have a choice of a walking tour of the city’s walled medieval center, or a visit to the Documentation Center and other city sites associated with World War II and its aftermath. Enjoy lunch and entertainment at a local restaurant; dinner is aboard the riverboat this evening.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 9 – Ancient Regensburg and on to Passau

Stop in the well-preserved medieval town of Regensburg, once a campsite for the Roman legions. On a walking tour with our local guide, you’ll stroll past the Steinerne Brücke, a medieval stone bridge over the Danube that’s the oldest in Germany; Altes Rathaus, the 15th-century town hall that was once the seat of the Imperial Diet; and Dom St. Peter, the town’s towering Gothic cathedral. After exploring Regensburg as you please this afternoon, cruise along the Danube to Passau.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 10 – Explore Baroque Passau

The riverboat docks in the port city of Passau, dating way back to Roman times. Spend time exploring this lovely Bavarian town – well-known for its Baroque architecture including unique four-story homes, scores of churches and marvelous stained glass – on a walking tour. Listen to commentary from your Tauck Director or take advantage of other onboard activities, such as a galley tour, as you continue your North Sea to Black Sea tour in the afternoon, bound for Melk, Austria.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 11 – Medieval Austrian abbeys and castles

Your next destination is the town of Melk, Austria, where you’ll step back in time on a guided tour of its 900-year-old Benedictine Abbey, perched on a rocky outcrop above the River Danube. Inside this Baroque masterpiece are fine frescoes, early manuscripts, and a high altar. Enjoy views of medieval castles while cruising through the Wachau Valley to picturesque Dürnstein; stroll along its twisting lanes on a walking tour, and, if you wish, walk up to the hilltop ruins of a castle where King Richard the Lionhearted was held for ransom during the Crusades – the vistas are simply spectacular! A wine-tasting in a local restaurant and dinner back on board cap a delightful day as you riverboat makes its way to legendary Vienna.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 12 – Music and more in Imperial Vienna

Get an overview of Vienna, Austria’s capital and one of Europe’s greatest cities, with a morning sightseeing tour of this historic former center of the Habsburg Empire. Take your choice of a guided visit to Schönbrunn Palace, built to rival Versailles, or a tour of the Imperial Silver Room inside the Hofburg, a former Imperial palace that today is the official residence of Austria’s president. Tonight, a Tauck Exclusive – a private, gala Imperial Evening at a traditional palace in Vienna, featuring a sumptuous dinner and live Viennese music – just might sweep you off your feet!

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 13 – A bit of Baroque in Bratislava

Wake up this morning in Bratislava, capital of Slovakia, where 17 centuries of history are chronicled on a walking tour led by a local guide. Highlights include Baroque palaces from the Habsburg era, along with St. Martin’s Cathedral, the Opera House, Slovak Philharmonic Hall, and a visit to Old Town Hall. Please join the Captain and crew for a cocktail reception, dinner and musical entertainment aboard ship tonight.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 14 – Buda + Pest = Budapest

Your riverboat arrives in Budapest, Hungary’s capital, today, the mid-point of your North Sea to Black Sea tour. Join us for a guided tour of landmark sites in this remarkable city divided by the Danube into the separate sections of Buda and Pest, including a special visit to the opulent, 19th-century neo-Renaissance Hungarian State Opera House.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 15 – Discover Budapest on both sides of the Danube

Spend a memorable day exploring Budapest sites on both sides of the Danube with your local guide, including patriotic Heroes’ Square; the Parliament building, a neo-Gothic masterpiece; Fishermen’s Bastion overlooking the river; and revered Matthias Church, with its famed stained glass windows. Our North Sea to Black Sea tour continues on to Hungary this evening. Note: Matthias Church may be closed on some departures due to services.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 16 – Paprika, art and wine in Hungary

Upon your riverboat’s arrival in Solt, Hungary, spend some time discovering the town before cruising to Kalocsa – celebrated for its paprika and folk art – where you’ll learn about paprika production at the Paprika House; visit the beautiful Baroque library in the Bishop’s Palace, housing one of the finest early collections in Europe; and attend a tasting at a Hungarian winery.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 17 – Vukovar, Croatia and on to Serbia

As your cruise along the lower Danube progresses into Croatia, attend an on-board lecture on the country’s culture and history. Travel overland to the Baroque city of Vukovar, once showcasing opulent 18th-century mansions, but now poignantly symbolizing the effects of the 1990s war as it rebuilds; you’ll visit with a Vukovar family who have recently returned to resume their lives in the city after the conflict. Your North Sea to Black Sea tour continues on to Serbia this afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 18 – Serbia’s cosmopolitan capital, Belgrade

Dock early morning in Belgrade, Serbia’s modern capital at the juncture of the Danube and Sava rivers, with roots dating back to 3 BC. A shipboard lecture sets the stage for sightseeing including visits to Tito’s Memorial, St. Sava Church, and Kalemegdan Fortress, one of the city’s key historic sites. You’ll also see busy Slavija Square in the heart of Belgrade, Serbia’s Parliament complex, Republic Square, the National Theatre and City Hall. Back aboard your riverboat, enjoy some leisure time before dinner, which is followed by a music and dance presentation.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 19 – The Iron Gate, King Decebalus and more

Continuing your North Sea to Black Sea tour, relax on a day’s cruise past the fields and vineyards of Eastern Europe; shipboard activities which may be offered during your cruise range from cooking demonstrations to folkloric, music and dance performances. Pass into Romania and through the Kazan Narrows and the Iron Gate of the Danube, a two-mile-long series of narrow gorges between the Carpathian and Balkan mountain ranges. As you glide along the Bulgarian / Romanian border, look for the massive monument to the 2nd-century Dacian King Decebalus – Europe’s tallest rock sculpture, completed in 2004 – carved into the riverbank on the Romanian side, as well as spectacular views of the Transylvanian Alps.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 20 – Big day in Bulgaria

Learn all about Iconography with a lecture and demonstration as your journey along the lower Danube cruises to Svishtov, Bulgaria, for excursions to nearby towns. Travel to the medieval capital of Bulgaria, Veliko Turnovo, whose ancient walled fortress and castle are set atop three hills overlooking the Yantra River. In the nearby town of Arbanassi, you’ll enjoy a unique opportunity to meet and share local specialties with your Bulgarian contemporaries at a private, home-hosted lunch. A busy day concludes with an on-board presentation on Bulgarian customs, as well as special music and dance perfomances.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 21 – Fun and folkways along Romania’s Black Sea coast

Arrive in Cernavoda and head off on a day trip to Romania’s Black Sea coast. Your first stop is the historic port of Constanta, originally the Greek colony of Tomis in ancient days; see the city’s numerous Greek and Roman antiquities, a monument to the poet Ovid (who was exiled here in Roman times) and the distinctive 19th-century waterfront casino on your guided tour. Continue on to the seaside resort of Eforie Nord to enjoy a traditional Romanian folk wedding performance featuring Romanian wine and local specialties for lunch. As the cruise portion of your remarkable North Sea to Black Sea tour approaches its conclusion, celebrate with us aboard the riverboat at the Captain’s farewell cocktail reception and dinner tonight.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

Day 22 – Bucharest beckons

After disembarking your riverboat and bidding the crew goodbye in Cernavoda, travel through the Romanian countryside to Bucharest, capital of Romania and once regarded as the “Paris of the Balkans.” A sightseeing tour includes Revolution Square and the Triumphal Arch; erected to commemorate Romania’s reunification and those who fell in World War I, it is a smaller but otherwise exact copy of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. You’ll also pay a visit to the massive People’s Palace, home to Romania’s Parliament; the world’s second-largest building after the Pentagon, some parts of it are reportedly still unfinished! Tonight you’ll spend the first of two nights close to the People’s Palace at the JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel in the heart of the city.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel, Bucharest, Romania

Day 23 – Castles, monasteries and mysteries in Romania

A choice of sightseeing in Romania today features the legacy of the 15th-century Romanian prince Vlad Tepes (a.k.a. “Vlad the Impaler”), thought to be the historical model for Bram Stoker’s character of Dracula. You may choose to take a full day’s excursion to tour Transylvania’s 14th-century Bran Castle, which Tepes once used as a fortress during his military campaigns and is now a Romanian national monument, returning to Bucharest early evening. Or you can opt for a boat ride to Snagov Island to visit isolated Snagov Monastery, whose grounds are said to contain the final resting place of the infamous prince, as well as a stop at Caldarusani Monastery, followed by an afternoon at leisure back in Bucharest. The night is free to explore more of Bucharest as you please and enjoy dinner on your own.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Lodging: JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel, Bucharest, Romania

Day 24 – Homeward bound

Tauck’s amazing North Sea to Black Sea tour ends in Bucharest, Romania. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel to Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport; please allow 3 hours for flight check-in at the airport.

Meals: Breakfast

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24 Day Land/Cruise prices from $8,990

Cat. 1                              Cat. 2                             Cat. 3                                 Cat. 4                               Cat. 5                                 Cat. 6

Date                      Dbl                    Sgl            Dbl           Sgl           Dbl                      Sgl              Dbl            Sgl              Dbl                  Sgl                Dbl                     Sgl                 Tpl

5/27/2011      $10,390       $14,546     N/A        N/A     $12,540           $17,556        N/A        N/A       $14,890       $25,313      $16,790          $28,543        $15,110

6/15/2011*   $10,090        $14,126     N/A        N/A     $12,240           $17,136         N/A        N/A       $14,590       $24,803     $16,490         $28,033        $14,840

9/6/2011        $10,490         $14,686    N/A        N/A      $12,640          $17,696         N/A        N/A       $14,990       $25,483     $16,890          $28,713        $15,200

9/22/2011      $10,090        $14,126    N/A        N/A      $12,240           $17,136         N/A        N/A       $14,590       $24,803     $16,490         $28,033        $14,840

10/11/2011*  $8990            $11,586    N/A        N/A      $11,140            $14,596         N/A        N/A        $13,490     $22,933      $15,390         $26,163         $13,850

All prices are per person in U.S. dollars.

Prices include Special Singles Savings – $1000 per cabin on Oct 11 departure. Certain restrictions apply; please ask at time of booking.

Land / cruise price per person includes cruise fare, most meals, port charges, wine with dinner aboard ship, shore excursions, applicable fuel surcharges and gratuities to Tauck Directors, Tauck Cruise Director, ship staff, local guides & drivers, as well as on all included meals.

Itinerary Changes – Although not expected, Tauck reserves the right to alter the sequence of ports or omit or substitute scheduled ports or attractions at any time without prior notice. Museums and attractions may be subject to closure due to state, local or religious holidays.

Note: This cruise includes a fair amount of walking in each city.

Please ask at time of booking about additional hotel nights before or after your cruise.

Inclusive Prices

All riverboat and hotel accommodations, motor coach transportation, port charges, land excursions, admissions, entertainment, special dinners, wine with dinner aboard the riverboat, all-day soft drinks while onboard, sightseeing, porterage, and the services of the Tauck Directors, the Tauck Cruise Director, hotel and ship staff, and local guides and drivers are included. Transportation is included from Schiphol Airport to the riverboat, or to the Sofitel Amsterdam The Grand, if you have made arrangements through us to spend additional nights before the start of the tour at the hotel, provided you have furnished us with accurate flight arrival information at least two weeks prior to the start of the tour. Transportation from the JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel to Henri Coanda (Otopeni) Airport in Bucharest is also included whenever you decide to depart. Transportation to and from airports and train stations may be shared with other Tauck guests.

Hotel and Riverboat Accommodations – The cruise price includes all hotel and riverboat accommodations. Our standard is to provide the best available accommodations without sacrificing value. Although the quality of accommodations may differ slightly from one hotel to another, our commitment to your comfort is unwavering. Two-bedded rooms are reserved in most hotels. Triples are usually two-bedded rooms plus a rollaway cot and are not recommended for comfort.

The Boat – The ms Swiss Sapphire and Tauck’s new-for-2011 riverboat each accommodate only 118 guests. Your well-appointed, outside-facing cabin is equipped with a plasma television, mini-bar, radio, international direct-dial telephone, safe and hair dryer. Your cabin also features adjustable air-conditioning and an en suite bathroom with shower. Most cabins have two twin beds that may be separated or combined. Triple accommodations are only available in Category 6 on this cruise.

Facilities - Other riverboat facilities include a lounge with a panoramic bar and dance floor, a spacious restaurant that can accommodate all guests in one seating, a large sun deck with deck chairs as well as a whirlpool, a sauna, a solarium, a library, a fitness center and a small boutique.

Meals – Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary.

Complimentary all-day soft drinks, coffee and tea service, cookies and fruit are available in the Lido Bar on the riverboat. A continental breakfast of muffins, pastries, fruit and yogurt is served here daily.

The legal drinking age aboard the riverboat is 21 years old.

Tauck Director – Grand European Cruise has one Tauck Director for every 40 guests and one Tauck Cruise Director who will remain with the group throughout the tour. Your Tauck Directors are professional, fully trained employees of Tauck. Because of the length of this tour, there will be two teams of Tauck Directors devoted to this journey; the first team will accompany you from Amsterdam to Budapest, the second team will replace them in Budapest and continue on to Bucharest.

Gratuities Included – All customary gratuities for hotel, retaurant and ship staff, local guides, drivers, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director are included.

Strasbourg to Prague Serenade

The romance of idyllic Alsatian villages and vineyards in France, magnificent medieval cities and colorful Bavarian culture in Germany, and the magic of Prague… all waiting for you on this most memorable of Tauck’s Europe river cruises on the Rhine, Main and Danube!

Day 1 – Welcome to Strasbourg

This most magical of Europe river cruises begins at 6:00 PM at the Sofitel Strasbourg Grande Île.   Transfers from Strasbourg International Airport to the Sofitel Strasbourg Grand Île are included. Meet your Tauck Directors and fellow travelers at our welcome reception and dinner this evening.

Meals: Dinner

Lodging: Sofitel Strasbourg Grande Île, Strasbourg, France

Day 2 – Strasbourg old and new

Strasbourg has one foot firmly in the present and one foot rooted in the past. As the capital of the European Union, the EU Parliament district bustles with the in-the-moment business of modern-day government; see the impressive, modern Parliament buildings en route to the past this morning. Step into the medieval world of La Petite France – with its historic cobbled streets, half-timbered houses and meandering canals – during a walking tour with a local guide, and visit Strasbourg’s 11th-century Gothic Cathedral of Our Lady, once the tallest building in Europe.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Lodging: Sofitel Strasbourg Grande Île, Strasbourg, France

• Day 3 – Authentically Alsace

Head out of town this morning for a drive along the famous Route des Vins d’Alsace (Alsatian Wine Road), through enchanting villages of France’s Alsace region, and past endless terraced vineyards that produce the area’s renowned white wines on the way to the picturesque town of Obernai. Here, you’ll enjoy lunch in a former manor house, complete with local wines offering a true taste of the Alsace. Later, board the ms Swiss Jewel to begin this most extraordinary of Europe river cruises along the Rhine. This evening, the Captain welcomes you aboard with a special reception in your honor.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Aboard ms Swiss Jewel

• Day 4 – Good times in Baden-Baden

Set in the foothills of Germany’s Black Forest, the spa town of Baden-Baden, with its healing waters, has been a popular destination since Roman times; its thermal springs have been known for over 2,000 years. The likes of Queen Victoria, Brahms, Napoleon III and Marlene Dietrich have wandered its streets, “taken the waters” and played in its casino. After a walking tour during which you’ll discover ruins of castles and Roman baths, visit the extravagantly beautiful Belle Epoque casino, the Kurhaus, which has been the place to see and be seen for nobility and the elite for over 250 years.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Aboard ms Swiss Jewel

• Day 5 – It happens in Heidelberg

A full-day excursion to Heidelberg showcases many facets of this intriguing city, which has been a happening place for students since the University of Heidelberg was founded in 1386. Take in the charm of Old Town during a guided walking tour revealing Gothic gates and walls, Renaissance and Baroque homes and palaces… and life here in the 21st century. Ride a funicular up to the ruins of the famous Gothic-Renaissance castle, Heidelberger Schloss. Return to the ms Swiss Jewel after lunch in a Heidelberg restaurant and some free time to explore the city on your own before you continue one of the most unique Europe river cruises along the River Main.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Aboard ms Swiss Jewel

• Day 6 – Rollin’ on the River Main

The opportunity to just kick back and relax is yours this morning as your riverboat glides down the Main River bound for Bavaria. Or, see what fun things your Tauck Directors have up their sleeves or work out in the fitness center. Spend the afternoon exploring Miltenberg, with its hilltop castle, lively market square and half-timbered houses. Bavaria comes aboard ms Swiss Jewel this evening for a special dinner spotlighting this lovely area of Germany.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Aboard ms Swiss Jewel

• Day 7 – Feel like royalty at Würzburg’s Residenz

By 1000 BC, the Celts had built a fortress, and in the 8th century, Charlemagne himself consecrated the cathedral that is the focal point of the historic and charming town of Würzburg. About 90% of the town was destroyed in World War II and then painstakingly reconstructed by its citizens – most of them women. The magnificent Würzburg Residenz, a beautiful complex of palaces begun in 1720 for the Würzburg prince-bishops, was completed, start-to-finish, almost within a single generation. During a tour today, you’ll see a magnificent sequence of rooms containing a wonderful array of paintings, tapestries, furniture and other 18th-century treasures. Return to the Residenz this evening for a memorable dinner in its wine cellar, complete with a wine tasting and entertainment – a highlight of your riverboat cruise!

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Aboard ms Swiss Jewel

• Day 8 – Aboard ms Swiss Jewel

Spend the morning participating in the on-board activities offered by your Tauck Directors and gaining some new insights about this part of the Main River during your riverboat cruise to Bamberg; you can even listen to your Tauck Director’s commentary in the comfort of your cabin! What the Alsace is to wine in France, the Franconia region of Germany is to beer. Following a walking tour of Bamberg’s Old Town, you’ll have a chance to sample the excellent local brews during a brewery tour and beer tasting.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Aboard ms Swiss Jewel

• Day 9 – The Main-Danube Canal and historic Nürnberg

It wasn’t until 1992 that the dream of linking the North Sea to the Black Sea, and making a riverboat cruise all the way from Holland to Romania possible, was realized with the completion of the Main-Danube Canal. A local expert will tell you all about it as ms Swiss Jewel transits the canal this morning. After docking in Nürnberg, disembark for an orientation tour of this significant Bavarian city, perhaps best known for its role during and after World War II. But Nürnberg also has a fascinating medieval heart, as you’ll discover on a walking tour following lunch and special entertainment at a local restaurant. Celebrate your unforgettable cruise this evening at the Captain’s farewell reception and dinner aboard the riverboat.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Aboard ms Swiss Jewel

Day 10 – Regensburg revealed and on to Prague

Talk about a long history – humans settled on the banks of the Danube near Regensburg during the Stone Age and the Romans arrived around 90 AD! Regensburg, where you’ll disembark ms Swiss Jewel, bills itself as “Germany’s best-preserved medieval city” and you’ll understand why when you explore the town during a walking tour. Sightseeing in Old Town Regensburg today includes the Stone Bridge, completed in 1146, magnificent Dom St. Peter, the 15th-century Town Hall and remains of the Roman wall. Then it’s on to Prague for a two-night stay in this ancient city, now the capital of the Czech Republic.

Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Lodging: Hilton Prague Old Town, Prague, Czech Republic

Day 11 – A day across the centuries in Prague

Start today’s exploration of this “city of 100 spires” in the ancient Hradcany (Castle) district with your local guide; see 1,000-year-old Prague Castle’s complex of palaces, courtyards and gardens, visit the Cathedral of St. Vitus and enjoy a Tauck Exclusive – a private tour of Strahov Monastery’s grand Baroque libraries. You’re free to spend the afternoon as you please in Prague, or join us if you like on a walking tour of Prague’s Old Town – a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s home to the Astronomical Clock and Tyn Church – along with Charles Bridge and Wenceslas Square. Sample the culinary pleasures of Prague with dinner on your own tonight; the city’s many fine restaurants and cafés feature a wide range of cuisines… and some of the best schnitzels, goulashes, strudels, dumplings and beer the region has to offer.

Meals: Breakfast

Lodging: Hilton Prague Old Town, Prague, Czech Republic

Day 12 – Homeward bound

This most memorable of Europe river cruises ends in Prague, Czech Republic. A transfer is included from the Hilton Prague Old Town to Prague’s Ruzyne International Airport. Allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in at the airport.

Meals: Breakfast

12-Day Land/Cruise prices from $3,990

Cat. 1                          Cat. 2                     Cat. 3                          Cat. 4                       Cat. 5                              Cat. 6

Date                              Dbl         Sgl            Dbl           Sgl            Dbl            Sgl           Dbl          Sgl           Dbl            Sgl                 Dbl            Sgl                Tpl

5/19/2011            $4590    $6426    $4840    $6776    $5440    $7616    $5740    $9184    $6340    $10,77        $7040    $11,968         $6335

5/26/2011*         $4590    $5426    $4840    $6776    $5440    $6616    $5740    $9184    $6340    $10,778      $7040    $11,968         $6335

8/25/2011            $3990    $5586    $4240    $5936    $4840    $6776    $5140    $8224    $5740    $9758         $6440    $10,948         $5795

9/1/2011*           $4390    $6146    $4640    $6496    $5240    $7336    $5540    $8864    $6140    $10,438      $6840    $11,628           $6155

10/6/2011            $4390    $6146    $4640    $6496    $5240    $7336    $5540    $8864    $6140    $10,438    $6840    $11,628           $6155

10/13/2011*       $3990    $4586    $4240    $5936    $4840    $5776    $5140    $8224    $5740    $9758         $6440    $10,948          $5795

12-day Land / Cruise tour includes 28 meals.

8 Day Cruise-Only prices from $2,990

Cat. 1                        Cat. 2                       Cat. 3                         Cat. 4                        Cat. 5                       Cat. 6

Date                             Dbl         Sgl            Dbl           Sgl           Dbl            Sgl           Dbl            Sgl           Dbl          Sgl             Dbl            Sgl                Tpl

5/19/2011            $3590    $5026    $3840    $5376    $4440    $6216    $4740    $7584    $5340    $9078    $6040    $10,268      $5435

5/26/2011*         $3590    $4026    $3840    $5376    $4440    $5216    $4740    $7584    $5340    $9078    $6040    $10,268      $5435

8/25/2011            $2990    $4186    $3240    $4536    $3840    $5376    $4140    $6624    $4740    $8058    $5440    $9248         $4895

9/1/2011*           $3390    $4746    $3640    $5096    $4240    $5936    $4540    $7264    $5140    $8738      $5840     $9928        $5255

10/6/2011            $3390    $4746    $3640    $5096    $4240    $5936    $4540    $7264    $5140    $8738    $5840     $9928         $5255

10/13/2011*       $2990    $3186    $3240    $4536     $3840     $4376     $4140    $6624    $4740    $8058     $5440    $9248         $4895

8-day Cruise-Only tour includes 20 meals.

All prices are per person in U.S. dollars.

Prices include Special Singles Savings – $1000 per cabin on May 26 and Oct 13 departures. Certain restrictions apply; please ask at time of booking.

Land / Cruise price per person includes cruise fare, most meals, port charges, wine with dinner aboard ship, shore excursions, applicable fuel surcharges and gratuities to Tauck Directors, Tauck Cruise Director, ship staff, local guides & drivers, as well as on all included meals.

Itinerary Changes – Although not expected, Tauck reserves the right to alter the sequence of ports or omit or substitute scheduled ports or attractions at any time without prior notice. East and west itineraries are similar. Museums and attractions may be subject to closure due to state, local or religious holidays. Please note that this cruise includes a fair amount of walking in each city.

Tour of Oct 13 (eastbound) will not stay in Strasbourg due to the meeting of the European Parliament and will stay outside of the city.

Please ask at time of booking about additional hotel nights before or after your cruise.

Inclusive Prices

All hotel and riverboat accommodations, riverboat and motor coach transportation, port charges, sightseeing, admissions, land excursions, porterage, wine with dinner aboard the riverboat, and the services of the Tauck Directors, the Tauck Cruise Director, hotel, ship and restaurant staff, and local guides and drivers are included. Transportation is included from Strasbourg International Airport to the Sofitel Strasbourg Grande Ile, provided we have received accurate international flight arrival information at least two weeks prior to the tour departure date. Transportation is also included from the Hilton Prague Old Town Hotel to Prague Ruzyně Airport when you choose to depart. Transfers and from airports may be shared with other Tauck guests.

Hotel and Riverboat Accommodations – The tour price includes all hotel and riverboat accommodations with private baths. Our standard is to provide the best available accommodations without sacrificing value. Although the quality of accommodations may differ slightly from one hotel to another, our commitment to your comfort is unwavering. Two-bedded rooms are reserved in most hotels. Triples are two-bedded rooms plus a rollaway cot, where available, and are not recommended for comfort. Quadruple accommodations are not available.

If you request an adjacent, adjoining or connecting room, we will do all we can to accommodate your request. However, we cannot guarantee such accommodations will be available. Please note that a hotel may define “adjacent” as “located across the hall”.

Children under the age of 18 must be booked in a room or cabin with at least one adult.

The Boat – The ms Swiss Sapphire accommodates only 118 guests. Your well-appointed, outside-facing cabin is equipped with a plasma television, mini-bar, radio, international direct-dial telephone, safe and hair dryer. Your cabin also features adjustable air-conditioning and a private bathroom with shower. Most cabins have two twin beds that can be placed together. Triple accommodations are only available in Category 6 cabins on this tour.

Facilities – Other riverboat facilities include a lounge with a panoramic bar and a dance floor, a spacious restaurant, which can accommodate all guests in one seating, a large sun deck with deck chairs and a whirlpool, a sauna, a solarium, a library, a fitness center and a small boutique

Meals – Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary.

On the riverboat, an ample cold and hot buffet breakfast is served in the spacious restaurant. At lunch, you are presented with a choice of entrée with several courses, or a delicious buffet. Dinner’s choice of entrée is accompanied with an international selection of wines. Please let us know about your special dietary requirements when booking your cruise; vegetarian and special diets are available, however kosher meals cannot be accommodated. We will be pleased to meet your special dietary requirements whenever possible.

The legal drinking age aboard the riverboat is 18.

Tauck Director – Strasbourg to Prague Serenade has one Tauck Director for every 40 guests and one Tauck Cruise Director who will remain with the group throughout the tour. Your Tauck Directors are professional, fully trained employees of Tauck.

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Europe

French Escapade: Monte-Carlo to Paris

New for 2011! From Monte-Carlo on the Mediterranean, travel to Arles… cruise the Rhône and then the Saône rivers through Provence and into rich wine lands… and on to Lyon, France’s gastronomic capital… and then overland to legendary Paris. Enjoy a true taste of all things Francais on one of Tauck’s new France river cruises!

Day 1 – Welcome to Nice and Monte-Carlo

Tauck’s cruise-tour begins at 6:00 PM at the Fairmont Monte Carlo.  A transfer in included from the Nice Cote d’Azur Airport to the Fairmont Monte Carlo; guests in Category 6 aboard the riverboat will enjoy sea-view rooms in this world-class hotel on Monte-Carlo’s famed waterfront. Join us for a cocktail reception and dinner as we welcome you to one of our two new France river cruises here in Monaco.

Meals: Dinner

Lodging: Fairmont Monte Carlo, Monaco

Day 2 – Monte-Carlo magic

Mega-yachts from around the world bobbing in the bay… the rich, the famous, the jet setters… a casino world-renowned for its glamour… a real-life royal fairy-tale romance… it’s all part of Monte-Carlo’s magic spell. Get the lay of the land during an orientation tour this morning and then spend the rest of the day exploring as you please.

Meals: Breakfast

Lodging: Fairmont Monte Carlo, Monaco

• Day 3 – It’s always nice in Nice… then start your cruise in Arles

Today you’ll discover why Nice is a perennial favorite of sophisticated travelers. During a city walking tour this morning as well as time to explore as you please, you may encounter the Promenade des Anglais winding its way along the shore of the beautiful Bay of Angels and the medieval streets of Old Town that make Nice so nice. After lunch on your own, travel on to Arles, where you’ll board ms Swiss Emerald and begin one of the most enjoyable France river cruises along the Rhône and the Saône. The Captain welcomes you aboard with a reception and special dinner this evening.

Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Lodging: Aboard ms Swiss Emerald

• Day 4 – The many charms of Arles and country life in the Camargue

It may seem strange to encounter Roman ruins in Provence but Arles was, after all, once a Roman city; while the gladiators are gone, the arena they left behind – just one of the town’s many Roman remnants – still hosts performances and bullfights today. Explore Arles’ medieval streets and city walls and be sure to look out across the surrounding countryside to what van Gogh found so enchanting. After lunch, it’s off to La Camargue, France’s “wild west,” where cowboys tend to herds of bulls destined for bullfighting rings in Spain. Visit a working farm to see what these cowhands and their charges do during a demonstration – not something usually experienced on France river cruises – followed by dinner featuring traditional Provençal fare and entertainment.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Aboard ms Swiss Emerald

• Day 5 – Avignon and Châteauneuf-du-Pape

The fortified city of Avignon was probably a much more peaceful place before Rome became “inconvenient” for the popes who moved the papacy here about 700 years ago. Although they stayed for less than a century, they kept busy during those years… as you’ll see at the impressive Palais des Papes that they built for themselves during this morning’s sightseeing in this medieval city. As well versed in Latin as they all were, they surely understood what “in vino veritas” means, and they all shared a fondness for wine – and the “truth” it brings – which was very convenient, because wine has been grown in the area for over 2,600 years. Taste locally produced wine named for the “new castle of the popes,” the world-renowned Châteauneuf-du-Pape, on a wine-tasting excursion this afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Aboard ms Swiss Emerald

• Day 6 – Vibrant Viviers and the pleasures of cruising

The walled city of Viviers, which retains much of its medieval character, is a delightful stop on Tauck’s France river cruises. A walking tour reveals ancient homes and its unusual cathedral, which looks more like a castle than a church in the opinion of some, high up on the riverbank. After some free time to soak up the character of this lovely town on your own, reboard ms Swiss Emerald for lunch, followed by an afternoon and evening cruising along the Rhône. As you glide past the scenic shoreline, try your hand at the French game of pétanque on deck (weather permitting) and savor the flavor of gourmet French chocolate.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Aboard ms Swiss Emerald

• Day 7 – Tournon, Tain-l’Hermitage and a tasting

Once upon a time, feudal rulers looked down on the town of Tournon-sur-Rhône from the castle you’ll see perched on a rock high above the city; its pre-Renaissance roots are evident during a walking tour and time at leisure to poke around as you please. Following lunch aboard the riverboat, we’ll be off to Tain-l’Hermitage, known for its excellent Côte du Rhône wines; you’ll understand why after you visit a vineyard and taste what it produces! An afternoon spent on the river leads to Vienne, where we’ll arrive in time for a nice evening stroll… it’s the perfect way to end the day.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Aboard ms Swiss Emerald

• Day 8 – Veritable Vienne, and on to the Saône

It seems that the Romans were everywhere along the Rhône, and Vienne (which they called “Vienna” in their day) was no exception. During your time here this morning, look for the theatre and temple they left behind, as well as other sights straight out of history. Then it’s another languid, lazy and perfectly wonderful afternoon of cruising as ms Swiss Emerald leaves the Rhône and charts a course for Chalon-sur-Saône on the River Saône. Take advantage of all that your riverboat offers… perhaps challenging new friends to a Wii game would be amusing… or just settle into a deck chair on the Sun Deck and watch the world along the river go by.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Aboard ms Swiss Emerald

• Day 9 – It’s better in Burgundy

The Sâone River flows through the southern part of France’s famous Burgundy region, home to some of the world’s finest wines. But Chalon-sur-Sâone, with a history dating back to the time of Charlemagne, should be world famous for an entirely different reason; this is considered the birthplace of photography. So, as you’re lining up great shots of all the interesting things you’ll see here in your viewfinder, whisper a little “thank you:” to local inventor Nicéphore Niépce, who achieved several photographic firsts right here back in the 1820s. Now… ready to taste some more wonderful wine? Then come with us to Mercurey to sample its noted reds, born here in the largest wine-producing area of the Côte Chalonnaise, at a tasting at one of the region’s 30 local premier cru vineyards.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Aboard ms Swiss Emerald

• Day 10 – Heritage, horses, an abbey and more

In Mâcon on the Saône, follow the Heritage Trail as you explore the town’s rich history and traditions. Continue on to the Abbey of Cluny, the center of a major monastic reform movement in the Middle Ages after its founding in 910 AD by Benedictine monks, and the largest Christian building in the world until St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome was erected in the 16th century. Later, tour France’s renowned Haras Nationale, where the horse and everything about them is the centerpiece, before reboarding the riverboat and cruising back down the Saône to gastronomic Lyon.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Aboard ms Swiss Emerald

• Day 11 – Luscious Lyon

If you’re still hungry after all the wonderful meals you’ve eaten aboard ms Swiss Emerald, Lyon is the place for you! Regarded as the culinary capital of France, there are more restaurants here per capita than anywhere else in the country. A city tour includes the stunning Basilica of Notre-Dame-de-Fourvière, built over an ancient Roman forum in the 1870s; although the exterior may seem a bit austere, the richly decorated interior reveals exquisite marble work, stained glass windows, colorful mosaics and gilt galore. You’re bound to find something delicious for an included lunch in town, perhaps in one of the city’s traditional bouchons. This afternoon, join us for a visit to Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon with its extensive collection of works of art by noted artists that is said to be second only to the Musée du Louvre in Paris, or explore the city a bit more on your own. As ms Swiss Emerald spends the night docked in Lyon, join us aboard ship for the Captain’s farewell reception and dinner this evening.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Aboard ms Swiss Emerald

Day 12 – Bound for Beaune and on to Paris

As all France river cruises must, the cruise portion of your vacation ends today as you bid a fond farewell to the ms Swiss Emerald. Ahead lies the walled city of Beaune, billing itself as the “Capital of Burgundy Wines,” surrounded by prestigious vineyards, like Corton-Charlemagne and La Romanée-Conti, whose very names put a gleam in the eyes of wine lovers. The Hospice de Beaune, also known as the Hôtel-Dieu, is the city’s best-known landmark, and you’ll discover why during a visit. Receiving its first patient on January 1, 1452, this unique charitable institution welcomed the elderly, the disable and sick, orphans and the poor, providing them with badly needed treatment and refuge, for centuries. After lunch on your own, it’s off to Paris, where you’ll arrive at your ideally located hotel in time for dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Lodging: The Westin Paris, France

Day 13 – Paris as you please

If this is your first visit to Paris, you’ll find it an awesome place.  If you’ve been here many times, today might be the day that you discover something about the city that you didn’t know before. After a guided tour this morning to help you get your bearings, the rest of the day is free to explore and enjoy as you please. We’ve included admission to your choice of the Musée National de l’Orangerie, Musée Rodin, Musée d’Orsay or Musée National Picasso Paris. Or, if you’re not in a museum mood, poke around Paris as you choose to see what you might discover about the “City of Light.”

Meals: Breakfast

Lodging: The Westin Paris, France

Day 14 – Homeward bound

After this most memorable of France river cruises ends in Paris, fly home anytime. A transfer from The Westin Paris to Charles de Gaulle Airport is included. Please allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home.

Meals: Breakfast

Dates and Rates:

14-Day Land/Cruise prices from $5,990

Cat. 1                          Cat. 2                     Cat. 3                              Cat. 4                             Cat. 5                                  Cat. 6

Date                          Dbl            Sgl           Dbl            Sgl           Dbl          Sgl                Dbl           Sgl                  Dbl             Sgl                 Dbl               Sgl                  Tpl

8/10/2011*         $5990    $8386    $6240    $8736    $6840    $9576        $7140    $11,424       $7740      $13,158         $8440       $14,348        $7595

8/19/2011            $6190    $8666    $6440    $9016    $7040    $9856       $7340    $11,744       $7940      $13,498         $8640       $14,688        $7775

9/18/2011*         $6590    $9226    $6840    $9576    $7440    $10,416     $7740    $12,384      $8340      $14,178         $9040       $15,368        $8135

9/27/2011            $6590    $9226    $6840    $9576    $7440    $10,416    $7740    $12,384       $8340      $14,178        $9040       $15,368        $8135

10-Day Cruise-Only prices from $4,990

Cat. 1                         Cat. 2                      Cat. 3                        Cat. 4                             Cat. 5                                   Cat. 6

Date                            Dbl         Sgl            Dbl             Sgl          Dbl         Sgl            Dbl            Sgl                Dbl               Sgl             Dbl              Sgl                             Tpl

8/10/2011*         $4990    $6986    $5240    $7336    $5840    $8176    $6140    $9824        $6740    $11,458       $7440      $12,648                 $6695

8/19/2011            $5190    $7266    $5440    $7616    $6040    $8456    $6340    $10,144   $6940    $11,798       $7640       $12,988                 $6875

9/18/2011*         $5590    $7826    $5840    $8176    $6440    $9016    $6740    $10,784     $7340    $12,478     $8040        $13,668                 $7235

9/27/2011            $5590    $7826    $5840    $8176    $6440    $9016    $6740    $10,784    $7340    $12,478      $8040       $13,668                 $7235

All prices are per person in U.S. dollars.

**Please note**

*Indicates Paris to Monte-Carlo direction. Cruise will be aboard ms Swiss Emerald.

Land / cruise price per person includes cruise fare, most meals, port charges, wine with dinner aboard ship, shore excursions, applicable fuel surcharges and gratuities to Tauck Directors, Tauck Cruise Director, ship staff, local guides & drivers, as well as on all included meals.

Itinerary Changes – Although not expected, Tauck reserves the right to alter the sequence of ports or omit or substitute scheduled ports or attractions at any time without prior notice. North and south itineraries are similar. Museums and attractions may be subject to closure due to state, local or religious holidays. Please note that this cruise includes a fair amount of walking in each city.

Note: Guests in Category 6 suites aboard ms Swiss Emerald will enjoy sea-view rooms at the Fairmont Monte Carlo on nights 1 and 2.

Please ask at time of booking about additional hotel nights before or after your cruise.

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Europe

The Rhine and Moselle

Explore two of Europe’s most scenic rivers on a 12-night cruise between Basel and Amsterdam aboard ms Swiss Emerald, ms Swiss Sapphire or Tauck’s newest riverboat. Glide along the Rhine in Holland, Germany, France and Switzerland; visit Luxembourg; and discover the castles, wineries and market towns of the Moselle Valley on one of Tauck’s popular Rhine River tours.

Itinerary

• Day 1 – Willkommen nach Basel

Tour begins: 4:00 PM, Basel, Switzerland.  A transfer is included from Basel-Mulhouse International Airport to the ms Swiss Emerald, ms Swiss Sapphire, or Tauck’s new-for-2011 riverboat. Your cruise begins when all guests check in at 4:00 PM.

Meals: Dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 2 – Beguiling Basel

This lovely city on the banks of the Rhine River will engage you today during an orientation tour followed by a walking tour in the Old Town, where you’ll see the bright-red Rathaus, Basel’s Town Hall. After lunch, explore more of one of Europe’s most attractive and best-preserved Old Towns on your own or perhaps visit one of the city’s 40 museums. This evening, the Captain welcomes you aboard with a festive dinner on the riverboat.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 3 – A taste of France, past and present, in old Strasbourg

Awaken in stunning Strasbourg, France, seat of the European Council, the European Parliament and the European Court of Human Rights. You’ll see the Parliament buildings before stepping back in time to discover La Petit France, noted for its medieval half-timbered houses set beside its lovely canals, on a walking tour. While visiting the famous Gothic Cathédrale de Notre-Dame de Strasbourg on this most extraordinary of Rhine River tours, you’ll be inspired by the graceful, expressive statuary of the Pilier des Anges (Pillar of Angels), and the magnificent stained glass windows. Return to the riverboat for lunch or choose to dine at one of the city’s many intriguing restaurants on your own.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 4 – Lifestyles of the rich and healthy in Baden-Baden

An excursion to the beautiful spa town of Baden-Baden reveals that the elegant Belle Èpoque period is still alive and well. For many generations, wealthy folks have flocked here to see and be seen, and to take the healing thermal waters for which the town is famous. Join us on a walking tour and time spent on your own discovering some of the town’s treasures ranging from the ruins of Roman baths to the ornate, 250-year-old Belle Èpoque casino, the Kurhaus, which movie star Marlene Dietrich once described as “the most beautiful casino in the world.”

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 5 – Heidelberg, realm of “The Student Prince”

A full day in the historic college town of Heidelberg, home to one of the oldest universities in Europe, as well as the setting for the famous operetta, The Student Prince, awaits you today during your most captivating of Rhine River tours. Take a walking tour of Heidelberg for a close-up look at the Old Town, and ride a funicular up to the imposing Heidelberger Schloss, perched 300 feet above the city; view its examples of medieval, Renaissance and Baroque architecture, and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Perhaps you’ll be as captivated by this lovely old city as America’s first travel writer, Mark Twain, was when he spent three months here with his family. Rejoin the riverboat in Speyer.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 6 – In the Middle Rhine Valley

While your riverboat glides through the Middle Rhine Valley en route to Boppard, listen to the legend of the Lorelei and see for yourself why this beautiful part of the river – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – has inspired composers, writers and artists for centuries. During its 2,000-year history, Celts, Romans and Franconians have all called Boppard home; discover this marvelous medieval town and have lunch at the Old Monastery Cellar. Your riverboat continues on to Koblenz, where you’ll be indulged with some lively local entertainment aboard ship.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 7 – In the shadow of Reichsburg Castle

Stepping ashore at Cochem in the Moselle Valley is like stepping into the pages of a medieval fairy tale. Tour picture-perfect 1,000-year-old Reichsburg Castle, which looks down on Cochem’s quaint market square. Explore this jewel of a town – complete with Baroque town hall and ancient town gates – breathing in its historic charm and ambiance. Honor the area’s centuries-old winemaking traditions with a tasting of the excellent locally produced vintages at a family-owned winery / wine museum before returning to the riverboat.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 8 – History galore in Bernkastel and Luxembourg

Dock in Bernkastel this morning for a journey to the tiny Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. A walking tour of its well-preserved old town reveals the Cathedral, Parliament, the Palace of the Grand Duke, and centuries-old battlements that are today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pay a poignant visit to the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial; over 5,000 American casualties of World War II’s Battle of the Bulge lie buried here, as does General George S. Patton. Later, return to charming Bernkastel, known as both the “Pearl of the Moselle” and the “international town of vines and wine.” The town is celebrated not only for its wines, but also for its medieval market square surrounded by half-timbered houses, which you’ll see on a walking tour, along with its castle ruins, fortress-like 14th-century church and Renaissance-era town hall.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 9 – Trier and the rhythm of the river

On an excursion to Trier, discover this ancient city – which lays claim to being the oldest in Germany – during a walking tour that includes both medieval treasures and sites dating back to Roman times. After some leisure time back in Bernkastel, reboard your riverboat and enjoy an afternoon of classic river cruising, watching the scenery slip by from the Sun Deck as your riverboat glides along the Moselle.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 10 – The many faces of Bonn

This most enriching of Rhine River tours continues in Bonn; tracing its roots back to the Romans, the city engages with history spanning ancient times to the present day. Beethoven’s birthplace, the home of musicians Robert and Clara Schumann, and the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1949 to 1991, it is still a center of German administration, politics and culture. Discover it all during a sightseeing tour and a walk through Old Town; enjoy a memorable lunch in a grand hotel in Petersberg used to host visiting dignitaries, set in a spectacular location overlooking Bonn and the Rhine.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 11 – Works of art by Mother Nature and Vincent van Gogh

Depart your riverboat in Rees and set off for Arnhem and the 5,500-hectare De Hoge Veluwe National Park, home to many endangered plant and animal species. In the midst of this natural glory, you’ll find the inspiring Kröller-Müller Museum, featuring works of such luminaries as Pablo Picasso, Georges Seurat and Vincent van Gogh, along with Europe’s largest sculpture garden. Rejoin the ship in Nijmegen for lunch, followed by a free afternoon to spend exploring this 2,000-year-old city – the oldest in the Netherlands – as you choose. Whether you’re intrigued by Roman and medieval history, the legacy of World War II, African art or modern-day Dutch life, you’ll find something interesting here. Please join us for the Captain’s farewell reception and dinner aboard the riverboat this evening.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 12 – Amazing Amsterdam

As your cruise – and this most extraordinary of Moselle and Rhine River tours – comes to an end in Amsterdam, indulge yourself in the many charms of the Dutch capital today. You’ll be introduced to the city’s remarkable architecture on a sightseeing cruise of its 17th-century canals, winding up at Museumplein, where you’ll visit one of Amsterdam’s engaging museums. Enjoy the rest of the day exploring this fascinating metropolis, at once one of Europe’s most modern and most historic cities, on your own.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

Day 13 – Journey’s end

Tour ends: Amsterdam. Your Moselle and Rhine River cruise ends today after breakfast. A transfer is included from the riverboat to Amsterdam’s Schiphol International Airport for your flight home; allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home.

Meals: Breakfast

Cat. 1                            Cat. 2                        Cat. 3                        Cat. 4                          Cat. 5                            Cat. 6

Date                      Dbl              Sgl             Dbl            Sgl          Dbl           Sgl           Dbl         Sgl               Dbl            Sgl               Dbl                 Sgl                             Tpl

5/3/2011              $4590    $6426    $4940    $6916    $5740    $8036    $6175     $9880      $6995    $11,892      $7995          $13,592                 $7195

5/15/2011*         $4990    $5986    $5340    $7476    $6140    $7596    $6575     $10,520   $7395    $12,572     $8395           $14,272                 $7555

6/1/2011              $4990    $6986    $5340    $7476    $6140    $8596    $657        $10,520   $7395    $12,572     $8395           $14,272                 $7555

6/13/2011*         $4990    $6986    $5340    $7476    $6140    $8596    $6575     $10,520    $7395    $12,572    $8395            $14,272                 $7555

7/8/2011              $4190    $5866    $4540    $6356    $5340    $7476    $5775    $9240         $6595    $11,212     $7595            $12,912                 $6835

7/20/2011*         $4190    $5866    $4540    $6356    $5340    $7476    $5775     $9240        $6595    $11,212    $7595            $12,912                 $6835

8/13/2011            $4390    $6146    $4740    $6636    $5540    $7756    $5975      $9560        $6795    $11,552    $7795           $13,252                 $7015

8/25/2011*         $4590    $5426    $4940    $6916    $5740    $7036    $6175       $9880        $6995    $11,892   $7995           $13,592                 $7195

8/29/2011            $4590    $6426    $4940    $6916    $5740    $8036    $6175      $9880         $6995    $11,892   $7995           $13,592                 $7195

9/10/2011*         $4990    $6986    $5340    $7476    $6140    $8596    $6575      $10,520     $7395     $12,572   $8395          $14,272                 $7555

Cruise prices are per person in U.S. dollars

**Please note**

Cruise will be aboard ms Swiss Sapphire, ms Swiss Emerald or our new-for-2011 riverboat; ask at booking.

Prices Include Special Singles Savings – $1000 per cabin – on May 15 and Aug 29 departures. Certain restrictions apply; ask at time of booking.

Cruise price per person includes cruise fare, most meals, port charges, wine with dinner aboard ship, shore excursions, applicable fuel surcharges and gratuities to Tauck

Itinerary Changes – Although not expected, Tauck reserves the right to alter the sequence of ports or omit or substitute scheduled ports or attractions at any time without prior notice. North and south itineraries are similar. Museums and attractions may be subject to closure due to state, local or religious holidays.

Inclusive Prices

All riverboat accommodations, motor coach transportation, port charges, land excursions, admissions, entertainment, special dinners, all-day soft drinks and wine with dinner aboard the riverboat, sightseeing, porterage, and the services of the ship staff, the local guides and drivers, the Tauck Director and the Tauck Cruise Director are included. Transportation from the Basel-Mulhouse Freiburg International Airport  to the ms Swiss Emerald, ms Swiss Sapphire or Tauck’s new-for-2011 riverboat (depending on your cruise departure date) is included regardless of the time of your arrival, provided you have furnished us with accurate flight arrival information at least two weeks prior to the start of the tour. If you choose to arrive earlier than the tour departure date and arrange with us for additional night (s) at the Swissotel Le Plaza Basel, we will provide you with transportation from the airport to the hotel and from the hotel to the riverboat.  Transportation is also included from the riverboat to Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam or to the Sofitel Amsterdam Hotel if you arrange with us to extend your stay at the hotel. Transportation will be provided to the airport from the hotel whenever you choose to depart.Transportation to and from airports and train stations may be shared with other Tauck guests.

Riverboat Accommodations – The cruise price includes all riverboat accommodations. The ms Swiss Emerald, ms Swiss Sapphire and Tauck’s new-for-2011 riverboat accommodate only 118 guests. Your well-appointed, outside-facing cabin is equipped with a plasma television, a mini-bar, a radio, an international direct-dial telephone, a safe and a hair dryer. Your cabin also features adjustable air-conditioning and an en suite bathroom with shower. Most cabins have two twin beds that may be separated or combined. Triple accommodations are only available in Category 6 on this cruise.

Other riverboat facilities include a lounge with a panoramic bar and dance floor, a spacious restaurant that can accommodate all guests in one seating, a large sun deck with deck chairs as well as a whirlpool, a sauna, a solarium, a library, a fitness center and a small boutique.

Meals – Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary.

A formal lunch is not included on the first day; however, beverages, snacks, and a light lunch of soup and sandwiches will be served in the riverboat lounge.

An ample cold and hot buffet breakfast is served in the spacious restaurant. At lunch, you are presented with a choice of entrée with several courses, or a delicious buffet. Dinner’s choice of entrée is accompanied with an international selection of wines. Please let us know about your special dietary requirements when booking your cruise; vegetarian and special diets are available, however kosher meals cannot be accommodated. We will be pleased to meet your special dietary requirements whenever possible.

Complimentary all-day soft drinks, coffee and tea service, cookies and fruit are available in the Lido Bar on the riverboat. A continental breakfast of muffins, pastries, fruit and yogurt is served here daily.

The legal drinking age aboard the riverboat is 21 years old.

Tauck Director – The Rhine and Moselle riverboat cruise is conducted by one Tauck Director for every 40 guests and one Tauck Cruise Director who will remain with the group throughout the tour. Your Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director are professional, fully trained employees of Tauck.

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Europe

Budapest to the Black Sea

Explore Central Europe’s ancient heart on one of Tauck’s popular Danube cruises along the river’s lower reaches between Budapest and the Black Sea. Discover dramatic castles, centuries-old monasteries, and myriad cultural treasures as you sail aboard one of Tauck’s state-of-the-art riverboats, and enjoy two-night stays at city-center hotels in Budapest and Bucharest.

Day 1 – Your adventure begins in Budapest

This most exciting of Danube cruises and tours begins at 6:00 PM at Le Méridien Budapest.  A transfer is included from Budapest’s Ferihegy Airport to Le Méridien Budapest in the heart of the city’s Pest section. Meet your fellow travelers and Tauck Directors at the welcome cocktail reception followed by dinner in the hotel this evening.

Meals: Dinner

Lodging: Le Méridien Budapest, Hungary

Day 2 – Discover bustling Budapest, past and present

Your exploration of Budapest begins with a special visit to the opulent State Opera House in Pest, opened in 1884. Later, view the Parliament building, a neo-Gothic masterpiece; Heroes’ Square, bounded by some of the finest architectural works in Hungary; and such Budapest treasures as City Park, Central Market Hall, and tree-lined Andrassy Avenue.

Meals: Breakfast

Lodging: Le Méridien Budapest, Hungary

• Day 3 – Visit Budapest landmarks and set off on your cruise

After a morning at leisure, tour Buda’s Castle Hill, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on a guided walking tour; see architectural landmarks such as iconic Fishermen’s Bastion and 700-year-old Matthias Church. Board your Tauck luxury riverboat to launch this most extraordinary of Danube cruises, bound for Solt. Note: Matthias Church may be closed on some departures due to services.

Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 4 – Paprika, art and wine in Hungary

Spend some time discovering Solt before cruising to Kalocsa – celebrated for its paprika and folk art – where you’ll learn about paprika production at the Paprika House; visit the beautiful Baroque library in the Bishop’s Palace, housing one of the finest early collections in Europe; and attend a tasting at a Hungarian winery.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 5 – Vukovar, Croatia and on to Serbia

As your discovery of the lower Danube cruises into Croatia, attend an on-board lecture on the country’s culture and history. Travel overland to the Baroque city of Vukovar, once showcasing opulent 18th-century mansions, but now poignantly symbolizing the effects of the 1990s war as it rebuilds; you’ll visit with a Vukovar family who have recently returned to resume their lives in the city after the conflict. Continue cruising to Serbia this afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 6 – Serbia’s cosmopolitan capital, Belgrade

Dock early morning in Belgrade, Serbia’s modern capital at the juncture of the Danube and Sava rivers, with roots dating back to 3 BC. A shipboard lecture sets the stage for sightseeing including visits to Tito’s Memorial, St. Sava Church, and Kalemegdan Fortress, one of the city’s key historic sites. You’ll also see busy Slavija Square in the heart of Belgrade, Serbia’s Parliament complex, Republic Square, the National Theatre and City Hall. Back aboard your riverboat, enjoy some leisure time before dinner, which is followed by a music and dance presentation.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 7 – The Iron Gate, King Decebalus and more

Continuing one of Tauck’s popular Danube cruises, relax on a day’s cruise past the fields and vineyards of Eastern Europe; shipboard activities which may be offered throughout your cruise range from cooking demonstrations to folkloric, music and dance performances. Pass into Romania and through the Kazan Narrows and the Iron Gate of the Danube, a two-mile-long series of narrow gorges between the Carpathian and Balkan mountain ranges. As you glide along the Bulgarian / Romanian border, look for the massive monument to the 2nd-century Dacian King Decebalus – Europe’s tallest rock sculpture, completed in 2004, carved into the riverbank on the Romanian side – as well as spectacular views of the Transylvanian Alps.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 8 – Big day in Bulgaria

Learn all about Iconography with a lecture and demonstration as your journey along the lower Danube cruises to Svishtov, Bulgaria, for excursions to nearby towns. Travel to the medieval capital of Bulgaria, Veliko Turnovo, whose ancient walled fortress and castle are set atop three hills overlooking the Yantra River. In the nearby town of Arbanassi, you’ll enjoy a unique opportunity to meet and share local specialties with your Bulgarian contemporaries at a private, home-hosted lunch. A busy day concludes with an on-board presentation on Bulgarian customs, as well as special music and dance perfomances.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 9 – Fun and folkways along Romania’s Black Sea coast

Arrive in Cernavoda and head off on a day trip to Romania’s Black Sea coast. Your first stop is the historic port of Constanta, originally the Greek colony of Tomis in ancient days; see the city’s numerous Greek and Roman antiquities, a monument to the poet Ovid (who was exiled here in Roman times) and the distinctive 19th-century waterfront casino on your guided tour. Continue on to the seaside resort of Eforie Nord to enjoy a traditional Romanian folk wedding performance featuring Romanian wine and local specialties for lunch. Please join us aboard the riverboat for the Captain’s farewell cocktail reception and dinner tonight.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

Day 10 – Bucharest beckons

After disembarking your riverboat and bidding the crew goodbye in Cernavoda, travel through the Romanian countryside to Bucharest, capital of Romania and once regarded as the “Paris of the Balkans.” A sightseeing tour includes Revolution Square and the Triumphal Arch; erected to commemorate Romania’s reunification and those who fell in World War I, it is a smaller but otherwise exact copy of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. You’ll also pay a visit to the massive People’s Palace, home to Romania’s Parliament; the world’s second-largest building after the Pentagon, some parts of it are reportedly still unfinished! Tonight you’ll spend the first of two nights at the JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel in the heart of the city.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel, Bucharest, Romania

Day 11 – Castles, monasteries and mysteries in Romania

A choice of sightseeing in Romania today features the legacy of the 15th-century Romanian prince Vlad Tepes (a.k.a. “Vlad the Impaler”), thought to be the historical model for Bram Stoker’s character of Dracula. You may choose to take a full day’s excursion to tour Transylvania’s 14th-century Bran Castle, which Tepes once used as a fortress during his military campaigns and is now a Romanian national monument, returning to Bucharest early evening. Or you can opt for a boat ride to Snagov Island to visit isolated Snagov Monastery, whose grounds are said to contain the final resting place of the infamous prince, as well as a stop at Caldarusani Monastery, followed by an afternoon at leisure back in Bucharest. The night is free to explore more of Bucharest as you please and enjoy dinner on your own.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Lodging: JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel, Bucharest, Romania

Day 12 – Homeward bound

Tour ends in Bucharest, Romania. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel to Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport; please allow 3 hours for flight check-in at the airport.

Meals: Breakfast

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Dates and Rates:

Cat. 1                          Cat. 2                      Cat. 3                              Cat. 4                      Cat. 5                                           Cat. 6

Date                          Dbl           Sgl            Dbl           Sgl           Dbl                Sgl            Dbl            Sgl          Dbl             Sgl                          Dbl                       Sgl                            Tpl

6/8/2011              $4990    $6986    $5240    $7336    $5840         $8176    $6140    $9824    $6740    $11,458                 $7440                 $12,648                 $6695

6/15/2011*         $4990    $6986    $5240    $7336    $5840          $8176    $6140    $9824    $6740    $11,458                 $7440                 $12,648                 $6695

9/18/2011            $4990    $6986    $5240    $7336    $5840         $8176    $6140    $9824    $6740    $11,458                 $7440                 $12,648                 $6695

9/25/2011*         $4790    $5706    $5040    $7056    $5640         $6896    $5940    $9504    $6540    $11,118                 $7240                 $12,308                 $6515

10/4/2011            $4590    $6426    $4840    $6776    $5440         $7616    $5740    $9184    $6340    $10,778                 $7040                 $11,968                 $6335

10/11/2011*       $4290    $5006    $4540    $6356    $5140          $6196    $5440    $8704    $6040    $10,268                 $6740                 $11,458                 $6065

8 Day Cruise-only prices from $3,290

Cat. 1                        Cat. 2                        Cat. 3                        Cat. 4                      Cat. 5                       Cat. 6

Date                          Dbl             Sgl          Dbl            Sgl          Dbl           Sgl             Dbl         Sgl           Dbl            Sgl           Dbl              Sgl                            Tpl

6/8/2011              $3990    $5586    $4240    $5936    $4840    $6776    $5140    $8224    $5740    $9758    $6440    $10,948                 $5795

6/15/2011*         $3990    $5586    $4240    $5936    $4840    $6776    $5140    $8224    $5740    $9758    $6440    $10,948                 $5795

9/18/2011            $3990    $5586    $4240    $5936    $4840    $6776    $5140    $8224    $5740    $9758    $6440    $10,948                 $5795

9/25/2011*         $3790    $4306    $4040    $5656    $4640    $5496    $4940    $7904    $5540    $9418    $6240    $10,608                 $5615

10/4/2011            $3590    $5026    $3840    $5376    $4440    $6216    $4740    $7584    $5340    $9078    $6040    $10,268                 $5435

10/11/2011*       $3290    $3606    $3540    $4956    $4140    $4796    $4440    $7104    $5040    $8568    $5740    $9758                       $5165

All prices are per person in U.S. dollars.

Inclusive Prices

All hotel and riverboat accommodations, motor coach transportation, port charges, land excursions, admissions, entertainment, special dinners, all-day soft drinks and wine with dinner aboard the riverboat, sightseeing, porterage, and the services of the ship staff, the local guides and drivers, the Tauck Director and the Tauck Cruise Director are included.  Transportation from Budapest Ferihegy International Airport to Le Méridien Hotel Budapest is included, regardless of the date and time of your arrival, provided that you have furnished us with accurate air arrival information at least two weeks prior to the start of your tour. Transportation from the JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel to Henri Coandă International Airport, formerly known as Bucharest Otopeni International Airport is also included, whenever you decide to depart.Transportation to and from airports and train stations may be shared with other Tauck guests.

Hotel and Riverboat Accommodations – The tour price includes all hotel and riverboat accommodations. Our standard is to provide the best available hotel accommodations without sacrificing value. Although the quality of one hotel may differ slightly from another, our commitment to your comfort is unwavering. Two-bedded rooms are reserved in most hotels.

The River Boats – The ms Swiss Sapphire and Tauck’s new-for-2011 riverboat each accommodate only 118 guests. Your well-appointed, outside-facing cabin is equipped with a plasma television, a mini-bar, a radio, an international direct-dial telephone, a safe and a hair dryer. Your cabin also features adjustable air-conditioning and an en suite bathroom with shower. Most cabins have two twin beds that may be separated or combined. Triple accommodations are only available in Category 6 on this cruise.

Other riverboat facilities include a lounge with a panoramic bar and dance floor, a spacious restaurant that can accommodate all guests in one seating, a large sun deck with deck chairs as well as a whirlpool, a sauna, a solarium, a library, a fitness center and a small boutique.

Meals – Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary.

An ample cold and hot buffet breakfast is served in the spacious restaurant. At lunch, you are presented with a choice of entrée with several courses, or a delicious buffet. Dinner’s choice of entrée is accompanied with an international selection of wines. Please let us know about your special dietary requirements when booking your cruise; vegetarian and special diets may be requested, however kosher meals cannot be accommodated. We will be pleased to meet your special dietary requirements whenever possible.

Complimentary all-day soft drinks, coffee and tea service, cookies and fruit are available in the Lido Bar on the riverboat. A continental breakfast of muffins, pastries, fruit and yogurt is served here daily.

The legal drinking age aboard the riverboat is 21 years old.

Tauck Director – Each Budapest to the Black Sea riverboat cruise has one Tauck Director for every 40 guests and one Tauck Cruise Director who will remain with the group throughout the tour. Your Tauck Directors are professional, fully trained employees of Tauck.

*Indicates Bucharest to Budapest itinerary. Cruise will be aboard ms Swiss Sapphire or Tauck’s new-for-2011 riverboat.

View deck plans for Tauck’s European Riverboat Fleet

Prices Include Special Singles Savings – $1000 per cabin – on Sep 25 and Oct 11 departures. Certain restrictions apply – ask at time of booking.

Land / cruise price per person includes cruise fare, most meals, port charges, wine with dinner aboard ship, shore excursions, applicable fuel surcharges, and gratuities to Tauck Directors, Tauck Cruise Director, ship staff, local guides & drivers, as well as on all included meals.

Itinerary Changes – Although not expected, Tauck reserves the right to alter the sequence of ports or omit or substitute scheduled ports or attractions at any time without prior notice. West and east itineraries are similar. Museums and attractions may be subject to closure due to state, local or religious holidays. This cruise includes a fair amount of walking in each city.

Please ask at time of booking about additional hotel nights before or after your cruise, or about our Cruise Protection Product.

Belgium & Holland in Spring

Colorful flowers, picturesque windmills, art museums, canal-laced medieval towns, and a look at the art of making chocolate highlight this most memorable of springtime European river cruises aboard ms Swiss Sapphire, ms Swiss Emerald or ms Swiss Jewel.

Day 1 – Welcome to Brussels

Tour begins at 6:45 PM at Hotel Amigo.  Upon arrival, a transfer is included from Brussels Airport to the Hotel Amigo, your five-star center-city hotel adjacent to Grand Place, among the most beautiful market squares in Europe. Tonight, join us for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner to kick off one of our enjoyable European river cruises.

Meals: Dinner

Lodging: Hotel Amigo, Brussels, Belgium

Day 2 – Bruges beckons and your cruise begins

Journey to historic Bruges, one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval cities, the birthplace of Flemish painting and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. View its celebrated architecture on a walking tour through cobbled lanes, along quaint canals and over arched bridges. After free time in this fascinating city, travel to Antwerp, where you’ll board your riverboat and sample Belgian beer and cuisine at a buffet dinner of regional delights.

Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

Day 3 – Antwerp & the Albert Canal

See Antwerp’s grand railway station, opera house, and city park on this most enjoyable of European river cruises. Visit the city’s historic Jewish quarter – among the largest Jewish communities in Europe – as well as the Rubenshuis, a museum in the reconstructed home of renowned 17th-century artist Peter Paul Rubens (may be subject to weekly closures). Discover the secrets of Belgian chocolate making with a tasting at a local chocolatier. Back aboard the riverboat, enjoy the views from the sun deck or lounge as you cruise the Albert Canal from Belgium to the Netherlands, arriving in Maastricht; join your the Captain and crew for a welcome reception followed by dinner aboard ship.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

Day 4 – Magic of Maastricht & Château Neercanne

Maastricht entices with more than 1,000 historic buildings and monuments. On a walking tour, explore its Old Town, including the 16th-century Spanish Government House, Vrijthof Square, and Helpoort, an entry through the medieval town wall built in 1229. Visit the 1,000-year-old Sint-Servaasbasiliek (Basilica of St. Servatius), one of the oldest churches in the Netherlands. Pay respects at the Netherlands American Cemetery, final resting place of thousands of U.S. World War II soldiers. For lunch today, enjoy a Tauck Exclusive – an interactive culinary experience at Château Neercanne, a castle whose garden terraces are protected by UNESCO. You’ll don a chef’s hat and visit the kitchen before an extraordinary meal is served to you within the castle’s grottoes! Later, spend some free time in historic Maastricht, then return to the riverboat for dinner and your cruise on the Maas River.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

Day 5 – Maas River cruising & antiquities of Nijmegen

Sail through the beautiful Dutch countryside along the Maas River this morning, arriving in Nijmegen, the Netherlands’ oldest town. Explore the ancient ruins of the Valkhof, Charlemagne’s 8th-century stronghold, and the artifact-filled Museum Het Valkhof; Sint-Stevenskerk, a 14th-century church; and the Grote Markt. Continue this most extraordinary of European river cruises to Arnhem; local performers come aboard the riverboat to entertain you after dinner tonight.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

Day 6 – WWII history or nature & van Gogh in Arnhem

Choose between two excursions today. You can explore sites associated with the World War II airborne assault on Arnhem, and the Airborne Museum in a former Allied headquarters in Oosterbeek. Alternatively, you can visit De Hoge Veluwe National Park, the country’s largest nature reserve, and then peruse works by Vincent van Gogh and others at the Kröller-Müller Museum set right within the park. This most delightful of European river cruises continues as you rejoin your ship at Deventer and travel along the picturesque Lek and Rhine Rivers, stopping in Kampen for a walking tour before dinner aboard the riverboat.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

Day 7 – Living history in villages and windmills

Dock in Enkhuizen, a picturesque seaside town laced with canals and historic buildings. A walking tour includes a visit to the Zuiderzee Museum, a reconstructed 19th-century fishing village with costumed guides, recreating “south sea” life as it was over a century ago. Continue on to the centuries-old port of Hoorn, where you’ll choose between shore excursions – either a walking tour of Hoorn, with its intact 16th- and 17th-century houses and rich maritime legacy, or a trip to the Alkmaar region for visits to the Schermer Museum Molen (Windmill) and the Zeezicht cheese farm, including a cheese-making demonstration.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

Day 8 – Amsterdam and the blooms of Keukenhof

After arriving in the amazing Dutch city of Amsterdam, journey to Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse where millions of blooming tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths create colorful carpets of flowers. Explore the treasures of Amsterdam on your own in the afternoon, from historic sites within its medieval core to the gabled houses lining its 17th-century canals. Enjoy lunch and dinner aboard the riverboat today.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

Day 9 – The Rijksmuseum & Amsterdam’s historic canals

More of Amsterdam’s wonders await as one of Tauck’s unique European river cruises draws to a close. Admire masterpieces by Rembrandt and other Old Dutch Masters at the world-renowned Rijksmuseum, stroll through the Museumplein, and take a luncheon canal cruise through the city’s picturesque Renaissance-era canals. Back on the riverboat for the final night of your cruise, we invite you to join us for the Captain’s festive farewell reception and dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

Day 10 – Disembark for your journey home

Your most memorable of European river cruises ends in Amsterdam, Netherlands. After disembarking and bidding your Captain and crew adieu, a transfer is included from the riverboat to Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. Allow 3 hours for departure flight check-in.

Meals: Breakfast

Note: Cruises of Apr 1 & Apr 12 will not visit the Kröller-Müller Museum in Arnhem due to weekly closures.

Cat.1                     Cat. 2                     Cat. 3                     Cat. 4                    Cat. 5                    Cat. 6

Date                           Dbl         Sgl          Dbl         Sgl          Dbl         Sgl          Dbl         Sgl          Dbl         Sgl          Dbl         Sgl          Tpl

3/29/2011            $3590    $5026    $3875    $5425    $4560    $6384    $4900    $7840    $5585    $9495    $6385    $10,855                 $5746

4/1/2011              $3590    $4026    $3875    $5425    $4560    $5384    $4900    $7840    $5585    $9495    $6385    $10,855                 $5746

4/4/2011              $3590    $5026    $3875    $5425    $4560    $6384    $4900    $7840    $5585    $9495    $6385    $10,855                 $5746

4/5/2011*           $3890    $4446    $4175    $5845    $4860    $5804    $5200    $8320    $5885    $10,005                 $6685    $11,365                 $6016

4/8/2011*           $3890    $5446    $4175    $5845    $4860    $6804    $5200    $8320    $5885    $10,005                 $6685    $11,365                 $6016

4/11/2011*         $3890    $5446    $4175    $5845    $4860    $6804    $5200    $8320    $5885    $10,005                 $6685    $11,365                 $6016

4/14/2011            $3990    $5586    $4275    $5985    $4960    $6944    $5300    $8480    $5985    $10,175                 $6785    $11,535                 $6106

4/17/2011            $3990    $5586    $4275    $5985    $4960    $6944    $5300    $8480    $5985    $10,175                 $6785    $11,535                 $6106

4/21/2011*         $3990    $5586    $4275    $5985    $4960    $6944    $5300    $8480    $5985    $10,175                 $6785    $11,535                 $6106

4/24/2011*         $3990    $4586    $4275    $5985    $4960    $5944    $5300    $8480    $5985    $10,175                 $6785    $11,535                 $6106

All prices are per person in U.S. dollars.

**Please note**

Indicates Brussels to Amsterdam itinerary.
10-day Land / Cruise tour includes 25 meals.

Prices Include Special Singles Savings – $1000 per cabin – on Apr 1, 5 and 24 departures. Certain restrictions apply; ask at time of booking. Cruise will be aboard ms Swiss Jewel, ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Emerald; ask at booking.

Land / cruise price per person includes cruise fare, most meals, port charges, wine with dinner aboard ship, shore excursions, applicable fuel surcharges and gratuities to Tauck Directors, Tauck Cruise Director, ship staff, local guides & drivers, as well as on all included meals.

Itinerary Changes – Although not expected, Tauck reserves the right to alter the sequence of ports or omit or substitute scheduled ports or attractions at any time without prior notice. North and south itineraries are similar. This cruise includes a fair amount of walking in each city.

Please ask at time of booking about additional hotel nights before or after your cruise, or about our Cruise Protection Product.

Note: Museums and attractions may be subject to closure due to state, local or religious holidays; tours of Apr 1 and 12 will not visit the Kröller-Müller Museum due to weekly closures.

Cruise Prices: are per person in U.S. dollars. All riverboat accommodations, motor coach transportation, port charges, land excursions, admissions, entertainment, special dinners, all-day soft drinks and wine with dinner aboard the riverboat, sightseeing, porterage, and the services of the ship staff, the local guides and drivers, the Tauck Director and the Tauck Cruise Director are included. Transportation from Brussels Airport to the Hotel Amigo are included, regardless of the time and day of your arrival, provided you have furnished us with accurate fight arrival information at least two weeks prior to your departure date. Transportation from the riverboat to Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport is also included at the conclusion of your tour. Transportation to and from airports and train stations may be shared with other Tauck guests.

Hotel and Riverboat Accommodations – The tour price includes all hotel and riverboat accommodations. Our standard is to provide the best available hotel accommodations without sacrificing value. Although the quality of one hotel may differ slightly from another, our commitment to your comfort is unwavering. Two-bedded rooms are reserved in most hotels.

The Boats: The ms Swiss Emerald, ms Swiss Sapphire and ms Swiss Jewel accommodate only 118 guests. Your well-appointed, outside-facing cabin is equipped with a plasma television, a mini-bar, a radio, an international direct-dial telephone, a safe and a hair dryer. Your cabin also features adjustable air-conditioning and an en suite bathroom with shower. Most cabins have two twin beds that may be separated or combined. Triple accommodations are only available in Category 6 on this cruise.

Facilities: Other riverboat facilities include a lounge with a panoramic bar and dance floor, a spacious restaurant that can accommodate all guests in one seating, a large sun deck with deck chairs as well as a whirlpool, a sauna, a solarium, a library, a fitness center and a small boutique.

Meals – Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary.

An ample cold and hot buffet breakfast is served in the spacious restaurant. At lunch, you are presented with a choice of entrée with several courses, or a delicious buffet. Dinner’s choice of entrée is accompanied with an international selection of wines. Please let us know about your special dietary requirements when booking your cruise; vegetarian and special diets are available, however kosher meals cannot be accommodated. We will be pleased to meet your special dietary requirements whenever possible.

Complimentary all-day soft drinks, coffee and tea service, cookies and fruit are available in the Lido Bar on the riverboat. A continental breakfast of muffins, pastries, fruit and yogurt is served here daily.

The legal drinking age aboard the riverboat is 21 years old.

Tauck Director – Belgium & Holland in Spring riverboat cruise has one Tauck Director for every 40 guests and one Tauck Cruise Director who will remain with the group throughout the tour. Your Tauck Directors are professional, fully trained employees of Tauck.

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Europe

The Blue Danube

Wind your way past medieval landscapes on a Danube River cruise aboard ms Swiss Emerald, ms Swiss Jewel or Tauck’s new-for-2011 riverboat to discover castles, cathedrals, frescoes and Habsburg palaces in five European countries. Includes land stays featuring two nights each in Prague and Budapest at centrally located 5-star hotels.

Day 1 – Arrive in Prague

Tour begins at 6:00 PM at the Prague Marriott Hotel.  A transfer is included from Prague’s Ruzyne Airport to the Prague Marriott Hotel. Meet your fellow travelers and Tauck Directors for a preview of your Danube River cruise at tonight’s grand kickoff event – a royal welcome reception, tour and dinner celebrating European culture, art and music at 16th-century Lobkowicz Palace at Prague Castle! Get an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at the Lobkowicz family in this recent Vanity Fair article.

Meals: Dinner

Lodging: Prague Marriott Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic

Day 2 – The legacy of many centuries in Prague

Start today’s exploration of Prague in the ancient Hradcany (Castle) district, where you’ll see 1,000-year-old Prague Castle’s complex of palaces, courtyards and gardens; visit the Cathedral of St. Vitus and enjoy a Tauck Exclusive – a private tour of Strahov Monastery’s grand Baroque libraries. You’re free to spend the afternoon as you please in Prague, or join us if you like on a walking tour of Prague’s Old Town – a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s home to the Astronomical Clock and Tyn Church – along with Charles Bridge and Wenceslas Square. Sample the culinary pleasures of Prague with dinner on your own tonight; the city’s many fine restaurants and cafés feature a wide range of cuisines… and some of the best schnitzels, goulashes, strudels, dumplings and beer the region has to offer.

Meals: Breakfast

Lodging: Prague Marriott Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic

Day 3 – Ancient Regensburg / Danube River cruise begins

Drive to the well-preserved German cathedral town of Regensburg, whose roots stretch back to Roman days. The best way to explore this treasure-trove of history is on foot, as our local guide leads you on a walking tour that includes the Steinerne Brücke, a medieval stone bridge over the Danube; the Gothic Dom St. Peter; the 15th-century town hall; and the remains of the town’s Roman wall. Enjoy lunch on your own – perhaps opting for some of the town’s celebrated Bavarian sausage – before boarding your riverboat in Regensburg to launch your 7-night Danube River cruise. Join your shipmates, the Captain and crew at the Captain’s welcome reception and dinner aboard the riverboat tonight.

Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

Day 4 – Spend the day in lovely Passau

Enjoy the views from your riverboat’s sun deck, lounge, or the windows of your outside cabin. Your first port of call on your Danube River cruise is Passau, Germany; accompanied by a local guide whose love for Passau is evident, take a walking tour through the cobblestone streets of this Baroque town renowned for its lovely stained glass and nearly 100 churches. See the Altes Rathaus, the old town hall with 15th-century origins, murals on the façade and a glockenspiel in the tower; and visit St. Stephan’s Cathedral, home to the largest pipe organ in Europe. Return to the riverboat for lunch as you cruise to Linz, Austria.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

Day 5 – Salzburg sights or relaxation in Linz

With your riverboat docked in Linz, you can choose to enjoy this Austrian port city, or take a full-day excursion to old Salzburg… a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the location for numerous scenes in the movie The Sound of Music, and composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s hometown on the Salzach River. The day trip includes visits to Mozart’s birthplace and beautiful Mirabell Gardens, and a guided walking tour through the historic district of ornate church towers and grand palaces. Enjoy dinner aboard the riverboat, docked in Linz this evening.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

Day 6 – Wachau Valley cruise and picturesque Dürnstein

Your Danube River cruise continues through the Wachau Valley, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well-preserved medieval landscapes. Dock in Dürnstein and take a walking tour amidst its cobblestone streets, 16th-century houses, and former Augustinian monastery; if you like, hike up to the ruins of Kuenringerburg, a hilltop castle above the town where Richard the Lionhearted was held for ransom during the Crusades. Enjoy some free time in this charming riverside town, and sample the fruits of the Wachau Valley vineyards surrounding it during a wine tasting at an authentic Austrian tavern.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

Day 7 – Music and more in Imperial Vienna

Your riverboat arrives overnight in Vienna, Austria, where you’ll wake up for an overview of this former capital of the old Habsburg Empire – and one of Europe’s grandest cities – with a morning sightseeing tour that includes the Ringstrasse, the Opera House, City Hall and Parliament. Then choose a tour of Schönbrunn Palace, built by the Habsburgs to rival Versailles, or a special visit to the Imperial Silver Room inside the Hofburg, now Austria’s presidential residence. Tonight, indulge in a bit of royal treatment with a gala, private Imperial Viennese evening at a traditional palace in the heart of the city, featuring a sumptuous dinner and a live classical music performance… an unforgettable highlight of your Danube River cruise!

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

Day 8 – Along the Danube to ancient Slovakia

Pursue your own interests this morning in glorious Vienna – which boasts over a hundred museums of all kinds – and then return to the riverboat to continue your Danube River cruise from Austria to Slovakia. Gliding along the “river of kings,” admire the pastoral scenery and immerse yourself in Slovak culture aboard the riverboat, as you enjoy a taste of regional cuisine at dinner – and join in as Slovakian folkloric entertainers in traditional costumes perform for you.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

Day 9 – Baroque in Bratislava

Wake up today in ancient Bratislava, capital of modern Slovakia – and, strangely enough, the long-ago capital of Hungary! Your local expert shares insights and anecdotes about this beloved city on a guided walking tour; view several Baroque Habsburg-era palaces, the Opera House, Slovak Philharmonic Hall and St. Martin’s Cathedral; visit the 13th-century Old Town Hall; and savor some delectable Slovakian pastry at a local café. After some exploring on your own, return to the riverboat and celebrate your memorable cruise with the Captain and crew at the Captain’s shipboard farewell reception and dinner tonight.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

Day 10 – Goodbye, riverboat… hello, Budapest

Your extraordinary Danube River cruise ends this morning in Budapest, Hungary, split into the sections of Buda and Pest by the Danube River. After disembarking your riverboat and bidding the crew farewell, explore the city’s Buda side on a walking tour of Castle Hill, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; see Fishermen’s Bastion with its Neo-Romanesque design, and admire the stained glass windows and centuries of history in Matthias Church. After lunch at a local café, spend the rest of the day pursuing what interests you most in Budapest; later, dig into dinner at your choice of select city restaurants. Note: Matthias Church may be closed on some departures due to services.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: InterContinental Budapest, Hungary

Day 11 – Discover the landmarks of Pest

The Pest side of the city reveals itself to you today on a visit to Heroes’ Square – bounded by some of the finest architectural works in Hungary – and sightseeing including the spectacular Parliament building and tree-lined Andrassy Avenue. There may be some surprises in store on a special visit to the opulent State Opera House, opened in 1884, with its gilded vaulted ceiling, murals, royal boxes and three-ton chandelier. Conclude your Danube River cruise adventure by spending the rest of the day exploring what interests you most in Budapest; you may want to stroll along fashionable Váci Utca, one of the city’s grandest boulevards. Sample Budapest’s wide variety of cuisines as you enjoy lunch and dinner on your own in a city abounding with fine restaurants and romantic cafés.

Meals: Breakfast

Lodging: InterContinental Budapest, Hungary

Day 12 – Homeward bound

Tauck’s delightful Danube River cruise ends in Budapest, Hungary. Fly home anytime; a transfer is included from the InterContinental Budapest to Budapest’s Ferihegy Airport. Allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in.

Meals: Breakfast

Dates and Rates:

8 Day Cruise-Only prices from $2990 plus airfare

Terms and Conditions:

Cruise prices are per person in U.S. dollars.

All riverboat accommodations, motor coach transportation, port charges, land excursions, admissions, entertainment, special dinners, all-day soft drinks and wine with dinner aboard the riverboat, sightseeing, porterage, and the services of the ship staff, the local guides and drivers, the Tauck Director and the Tauck Cruise Director are included. Transportation from Prague Ruzyne Airport to the Prague Marriott Hotel is included, regardless of the date and time of your arrival, provided you have furnished us with accurate flight arrival information at least two weeks prior to the start of your tour. Transportation from the InterContinental Budapest to Budapest Ferihegy International Airport is also included whenever you choose to depart. Transportation to and from airports and train stations may be shared with other Tauck guests.

Hotel and Riverboat Accommodations – The tour price includes all hotel and riverboat accommodations. Our standard is to provide the best available hotel accommodations without sacrificing value. Although the quality of one hotel may differ slightly from another, our commitment to your comfort is unwavering. Two-bedded rooms are reserved in most hotels.

The Boats: The ms Swiss Emerald, ms Swiss Sapphire, ms Swiss Jewel and Tauck’s new-for-2011 riverboat each accommodate only 118 guests. Your well-appointed, outside-facing cabin is equipped with a plasma television, a mini-bar, a radio, an international direct-dial telephone, a safe and a hair dryer. Your cabin also features adjustable air-conditioning and an en suite bathroom with shower. Most cabins have two twin beds that may be separated or combined. Triple accommodations are only available in Category 6 on this cruise.

Facilities: Other riverboat facilities include a lounge with a panoramic bar and dance floor, a spacious restaurant that can accommodate all guests in one seating, a large sun deck with deck chairs and a whirlpool, a sauna and solarium, a library, a fitness center and a small boutique.

Meals – Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary.

An ample cold and hot buffet breakfast is served in the spacious restaurant. At lunch, you are presented with a choice of entrée with several courses, or a delicious buffet. Dinner’s choice of entrée is accompanied with an international selection of wines. Please let us know about your special dietary requirements when booking your cruise; vegetarian and special diets are available, however kosher meals cannot be accommodated. We will be pleased to meet your special dietary requirements whenever possible.

Complimentary all-day soft drinks, coffee and tea service, cookies and fruit are available in the Lido Bar on the riverboat. A continental breakfast of muffins, pastries, fruit and yogurt is served here daily.

The legal drinking age aboard the riverboat is 21 years old.

Tauck Director – The Blue Danube riverboat cruise has one Tauck Director for every 40 guests and one Tauck Cruise Director who will remain with the group throughout the tour. Your Tauck Directors are professional, fully trained employees of Tauck.

*Indicates Budapest to Prague itinerary. Cruise will be aboard ms Swiss Jewel, ms Swiss Emerald, or Tauck’s new-for-2011 riverboat; ask at time of booking.
*Cruise-only tour includes 20 meals. Land / Cruise tour includes 27 meals.
*Prices Include Special Singles Savings – $1000 per cabin – on May 9, Jun 2, Jun 16, Jul 28, Oct 20 and and Oct 27 departures. Certain restrictions apply; ask at time of booking.
*Land / cruise price per person includes cruise fare, most meals, port charges, wine with dinner aboard ship, shore excursions, applicable fuel surcharges, and gratuities to Tauck Directors, Tauck Cruise Director, ship staff, local guides & drivers, as well as on all included meals.
*Itinerary Changes – Although not expected, Tauck reserves the right to alter the sequence of ports or omit or substitute scheduled ports or attractions at any time without prior notice. West and east itineraries are similar. Museums and attractions may be subject to closure due to state, local or religious holidays. This cruise includes a fair amount of walking in each city.
*Please ask at time of booking about additional hotel nights before or after your cruise.

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Europe

Budapest to Amsterdam by Riverboat 2011

Northbound Itinerary:

• Day 1 – Welcome to Budapest

Your Danube, Main and Rhine river cruise starts at 4:00 PM in Budapest.  A transfer is included from Budapest’s Ferihegy Airport directly to ms Swiss Emerald, ms Swiss Sapphire, ms Swiss Jewel or Tauck’s new riverboat. Kick off Tauck’s two-week Danube, Main, and Rhine River cruise with dinner aboard the riverboat.

Meals: Dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 2 – Budapest on the Danube

Explore Budapest on both sides of the Danube River. Sites include Heroes’ Square, bounded by some of the finest architectural works in Hungary; the Parliament building, a Neo-Gothic masterpiece; and Fishermen’s Bastion. Enjoy some free time in the city, then join us aboard the riverboat for the Captain’s welcome reception and dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 3 – Baroque in Bratislava

First port of call is Bratislava, capital of Slovakia, where 17 centuries of history are chronicled on a walking tour. Highlights are Baroque palaces from the Habsburg era, St. Martin’s Cathedral, the Opera House, Slovak Philharmonic Hall, and a visit to the Old Town Hall. Back on board the riverboat, Slovakian performers entertain you after dinner; continue your Danube, Main and Rhine river cruise to Vienna this evening.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 4 – Music and more in Imperial Vienna

Get an overview of grand old Vienna, Austria, with a morning sightseeing tour of this historic city, once the center of Europe’s Habsburg empire. Then take your choice of a tour of grandiose Schönbrunn Palace, built to rival Versailles, or a visit to the Imperial Silver Room inside the Hofburg – the former Imperial Palace and today the residence of Austria’s president. Tonight, you’ll receive the royal treatment with a private Imperial Evening at a traditional palace in Vienna featuring a sumptuous dinner and live Viennese music.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 5 – Medieval Austrian abbeys and castles

Your riverboat continues along the Danube to Dürnstein, whose twisting medieval lanes you’ll explore on a walking tour. High above the town lie the ruins of Kuenringerburg, the castle where English King Richard the Lionhearted was held prisoner during the Crusades; an invigorating walk up the hill to the ruins leads to beautiful vistas of the river, town and surrounding countryside. Enjoy more great views of castles and lush vineyards from the top deck or through the panoramic windows of your riverboat while cruising through the wine-growing Wachau Valley. Stop in Melk for a guided tour of its 900-year-old Benedictine Abbey, perched on a rocky outcrop above the river. Inside this Baroque masterpiece are fine frescoes, early manuscripts, and a high altar. Your evening aboard the riverboat includes a wine tasting and a performance by local entertainers.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 6 – Baroque Passau and cruising the Danube

After crossing the border from Austria to Germany, dock in the Bavarian town of Passau on the Danube and Inn rivers, whose history dates back to the days of the Roman empire. A walking tour reveals the Baroque treasures of this lovely riverside town, known for its stained glass and its many churches; visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral, home of the largest cathedral organ in the world. Your Danube, Main and Rhine river cruise continues to Regensburg.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 7 – Along the Danube to ancient Regensburg

It’s on to the well-preserved medieval town of Regensburg, once a campsite for the Roman legions, today. Our local guide leads you on a delightful walking tour of Old Town including the Steinerne Brücke over the Danube, the oldest stone bridge in Germany; massive Dom St. Peter, the town’s 14th-century Gothic cathedral; and Altes Rathaus, the 15th-century town hall that was once the seat of the Imperial Diet.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 8 – Main-Danube Canal & historic Nürnberg

Your Danube, Main and Rhine river cruise negotiates the Main-Danube Canal, which ultimately links the North Sea with the Black Sea; learn about the canal’s history from a local expert during your transit. The idea goes back as far as Charlemagne, but wasn’t realized until the canal’s completion in the 1990s; pass through 16 locks as the waterway traverses the mountains. After lunch on the riverboat, arrive in historic Nürnberg; take a walking tour of the walled medieval Old Town, or see the city’s sites associated with World War II and its aftermath, including the Documentation Center. Sample Nürnberg’s traditional sausage at dinner aboard the riverboat tonight.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 9 – Bound for Bamberg

Awaken in Bavaria’s charming town of Bamberg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated atop seven hills. See the town’s magnificent 13th-century cathedral with four imposing towers, its lovely gardens, and its unique medieval architecture during a walking tour and time to explore as you please.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 10 – Treasures of Rothenburg and Würzburg

Today’s travels take you to medieval Rothenburg, on Germany’s “Romantic Road,” to see its Gothic cathedrals and gabled houses. In charming Würzburg, discover the town’s 18th-century Residenz and the ornate Alte Mainbrücke, a bridge over the River Main. And you’ll know you’re cruising through Bavaria when an oompa band plays for you aboard the riverboat this evening!

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 11 – Cruising the Main to Miltenberg

Meander along the River Main, through through scenic valleys studded with castles, cathedrals, and fortified towns, to the ancient town of Miltenberg; en route, enjoy an on-board glassblowing demonstration by practitioners of this time-honored craft. Enclosed by a wall with gate towers under a steep hill crowned by a castle, Miltenberg boasts many half-timbered houses and a charming Marktplatz.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 12 – From the Main to the Rhine & Rüdesheim

Leave the Main behind today as your Rhine River cruise continues on to Rüdesheim. A visit to Siegfrieds Mechanisches Musikkabinett – an eclectic collection of mechanical musical instruments housed in a 15th-century castle in Rüdesheim – precedes tonight’s entertaining dinner in a local German restaurant with an old-world ambiance.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 13 – Koblenz or castles & Köln, a.k.a. Cologne

Arrive in Koblenz, where you can choose a walking tour of its Old Town or a visit to Marksburg Castle; set high above the Rhine, it dates back to the 13th century and offers a taste of medieval life. Your Rhine River cruise continues through the scenic Lorelei Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to Köln (Cologne). A guided walking tour includes the lofty Kölner Dom, elaborately decorated with pinnacles and buttresses; the tallest Gothic structure in the world, it took over 600 years to complete. Have a great time celebrating a wonderful cruise at the Captain’s farewell dinner aboard the riverboat tonight.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

• Day 14 – Art and more in Amsterdam

Dock in Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands, where you’ll take a close-up look at acclaimed works by the Dutch Masters – including Rembrandt’s The Night Watch and many others – at the world-renowned Rijksmuseum. Enjoy views of medieval and Renaissance architecture on a sightseeing cruise along Amsterdam’s 17th-century canals, and check out other treasures along the Museumplein before returning to the riverboat for dinner and a special musical performance tonight.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

Day 15 – Journey home

Your Danube, Main, and Rhine river cruise ends in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Disembark in Amsterdam; a transfer is included from the riverboat to Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. Allow 3 hours for departure flight check-in. A transfer will also be provided to the airport for guests enjoying a stay at Tauck’s selected Amsterdam hotel following their cruise.

Meals: Breakfast

All prices are per person in U.S. dollars.
41 meals included.

Terms and Conditions:

Special Singles Savings – $1000 per cabin – on Apr 20, May 27, Aug 15 and Oct 20 departures. Certain restrictions apply; ask at time of booking.
Land / Cruise price per person includes cruise fare, most meals, port charges, wine with dinner aboard ship, shore excursions, applicable fuel surcharges, and gratuities to Tauck Directors, Tauck Cruise Director, ship staff, local guides & drivers, as well as on all included meals.
Itinerary Changes – Although not expected, Tauck reserves the right to alter the sequence of ports or omit or substitute scheduled ports or attractions at any time without prior notice. North and south itineraries are similar. Museums and attractions may be subject to closure due to state, local or religious holidays.
Note: This cruise includes a fair amount of walking in each city.
Please ask at time of booking about additional hotel nights before or after your cruise.
* Indicates Budapest to Amsterdam direction. Cruise will be aboard ms Swiss Sapphire, ms Swiss Emerald, ms Swiss Jewel or Tauck’s new-for-2011 riverboat.

Every Tauck river cruise features the Tauck Difference:

• Europe’s most spacious luxury riverboat fleet – ms Swiss Jewel, ms Swiss Sapphire, ms Swiss Emerald and a new-for-2011 ship
• No more than 118 guests aboard each Tauck riverboat, while similar- sized riverboats average 140 guests
• 14 suites (300 sq. ft.) and 7 junior suites on every ship – four times more than most other European riverboats
• 85% of cabins have floor-to-ceiling windows with French balconies
• Bicycles available for shore excursions;
• Fitness center aboard every riverboat
• Only riverboat company to include a Tauck Cruise Director on every riverboat along with one Tauck Director for every 40 guests
• All shore excursions included, led by Tauck Directors, local experts and local guides
• All gratuities to Tauck staff & ship staff included
• Wine included with dinner aboard the riverboats
• Alternative bistro dining in the Lido Bar – choice of dining venue on board
• Dine ashore with included meals at local restaurants
• Beer and soft drinks included with lunch and dinner aboard ship
• Room service breakfast available in Category 6 suites
• Informative lectures and cultural performances
• Attentive, do-it-for-you service from Tauck staff & ship staff

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Europe

Spain | Spanish Serenade
8 days from Barcelona

* Barcelona’s boutiques, bars and beach
* Cultural and colourful Madrid
* Old city of Cordoba and jasmine-scented Seville
* Stunning landscapes
* Tapas tastings

This is not a group departure and itinerary dates are flexible. You travel at your own pace with your chosen companion and your own guide and driver.

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Itinerary:

Day 01 Arrive Barcelona

A warm A&K welcome to the Catalan capital and a private transfer to your hotel.

Barcelona (Choice of category)

Day 02 Barcelona

Today you will encounter the masterpieces of Catalonia’s most famous architect, Gaudi. Visit the Casa Mila with its wave-like façade, and the impressive but unfinished Sagrada Familia Basilica. Continue to the Parc Güell, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Gaudi’s most colourful creations. As evening approaches, immerse yourself in some of Barcelona’s lively new haunts with a private tapas tour around the city. Along with paella, tapas (roughly translated as snacks or appetizers), is Spain’s major contribution to world food. Originally a free snack served in a small earthenware dish placed on top of a drink, today these small samplings of mouth-watering Spanish delicacies make up a popular culinary art form. Your tour will take you to some of Barcelona’s trendiest new tapas bars (B).

Barcelona (Choice of category)

Day 03 Barcelona – Madrid

Travel by train to the Spanish capital and transfer to your hotel. Madrid is a vibrantand sophisticated city with much to see. Choose one of the following activities: a walking tour of the city, including a visit to the sumptuous Palacio Real, the king’s official residence; or, for a more cultural emphasis, see some of the city’s renowned museums and art collections, including the Prado Museum, primarily known for its collection of more than 8,600 paintings by Goya, Velazquez and El Greco, and the Reina Sofia Art Centre, where you will find Picasso’s famous ‘Guernica’ (B).

Madrid (Choice of category)

Day04 Design Your Day Madrid

Another day to explore at your own pace. You may opt to travel to the fortified city of Toledo, which dates to Roman times. It was the capital of Visigothic Spain and is home to the famous 6th-century Cathedral. See the nearby church of Santo Tome, where El Greco’s famous ‘The Burial of Count of Orgaz’ hangs; the 14th century El Transito Synagogue; and the House and Museum of El Greco. Or, an excursion north-west of the city to the World Heritage Site of El Escorial may tempt you. Built by King Philip II of Spain in the 16th century, it was designed both as the burial place for his father Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, and a summer residence. Originally planned in the classic style, it shows strong influences of Spanish Baroque as well.

At El Escorial’s heart is the church, with its cloistered chapter-rooms, and the royal palace, whose dimensions are remarkable. A rectangle 207m long and 161m wide, the grey-white granite pile contains 16 courtyards, 2673 windows, 1250 doors, 86 staircases and 88 fountains, and the corridors comprise a total length of 16 km. In the Royal Panteon de los Reyes lay the sarcophagi of most of the kings of Spain. Before returning to Madrid you will visit Avila, one of the most perfect walled cities in Europe (B).

Madrid (Choice of category)

Day 05 Madrid – Cordoba

Journey by train to Cordoba, one of Spain’s oldest cities. Upon arrival, enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city. Walk through the flower-filled streets of the Jewish Quarter and visit the Mezquita, built as a mosque between the 8th and 10th centuries and considered to be one of the most extraordinary buildings in all of Europe. In the 1520s, a Christian Baroque cathedral was constructed in the heart of the mosque. The remainder of today is at leisure (B).

Cordoba (Choice of category)

Day 06 Cordoba – Seville

Enjoy a morning at leisure before being transferred to the station where you will take the afternoon train to Seville (B).

Seville (Choice of category)

Day 07 Design Your Day Seville

Today is yours to design. A morning excursion will take you to Jerez de la Frontera, where you will visit the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art for a dressage performance by skilled riders in 18th-century riding costume. Upon return to Seville, your guide escorts you on a walking tour to view the Alcazar, a magnificent 14th-century Mudejar palace which is one of the oldest royal residences in Europe still in use, and the Cathedral. Time permitting, your guide will walk you through part of the picturesque Barrio Santa Cruz neighbourhood. Or you may prefer to journey beyond Seville to a traditional cortijo. Cortijo El Esparragal is a 7,400-acre estate devoted to breeding Andalusian horses and cattle. Enjoy a private Flamenco lesson before dining in the 19th century manor, and return to Seville for the remainder of the afternoon at leisure. This evening, attend a Flamenco Show (B).

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Platinum Itinerary departs: Daily – except Wednesdays & Friday

Price is land only.
Supplements apply over Christmas & New Year please enquire for pricing

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Gold Dates and Rates:

Price is land only.
Supplements apply over Christmas & New Year please enquire for pricing

Russia | Jewel of Russia
9 days from Moscow

* Cosmopolitan Moscow
* Red Square, the Kremlin and travel on the metro
* Beautiful and cultural St. Petersburg
* Learn the traditional art of painting Matryoshka dolls
* Afternoon guided tour of Moscow Space Museum
* Lunch at a traditional Russian country restaurant
* Choice of accommodation

This is not a group departure and itinerary dates are flexible. You travel at your own pace with your chosen companion and your own guide and driver

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Itinerary

Day 01 Arrive Moscow

A welcome to the Russian capital with assistance through immigration & customs by an airport representative. Private transfer to your hotel where your A&K Guardian Angel will be waiting to brief you and answer any questions you may have.

Moscow (Choice of category)

Day 02 Moscow

Moscow is the largest city in Europe, and your day begins in magnificent Red Square with its famous landmarks: St. Basil’s cathedral with its colourful onion domes, and Lenin’s Tomb. Take a ride on the famous Moscow metro, renowned for the ornate splendour of its stations, and explore the Kremlin, the historic fortified complex at the city’s heart. Visit the Assumption and Archangel Cathedrals, the Armoury Museum and the Diamond Vaults where the dazzling crown jewels of the Romanovs are on display (B).

Moscow (Choice of category)

Day 03 Moscow

Today’s highlights include a visit to the Tretyakov Gallery, which houses the world’s best collection of Russian icons and an outstanding collection of pre-Revolutionary Russian art. This afternoon, visit the Pushkin Museum of Fine Art, which houses many fine impressionist and post-impressionist works. Alternatively this afternoon you may choose to be guided through the newly-opened Moscow Space Museum by a professional astronaut(B).

Moscow (Choice of category)

Day 04 Sergiev Posad – St. Petersburg

Venture further afield today to Sergiev Posad, still commonly referred to by its Soviet name, Zagorsk, where you will visit the Trinity Monastery of St. Sergius and its opulent treasury. An important religious and historical site, it was the foremost place of pilgrimage in Russia for many centuries. Return to Moscow for late-afternoon travel by high-speed Sapsan train in business class to St. Petersburg. On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel (B,D).

St. Petersburg (Choice of category)

Day 05 St. Petersburg

This morning, visit the famed Baroque museum of the Hermitage, where a guided tour will introduce you to selected aspects of the collection, and you may also enter the Gold Vault to see the exquisite royal jewels. Originally commissioned by Catherine the Great as a winter palace, the museum now houses over two million exhibits. Some of the interior highlights include the Ambassador’s Staircase, the Throne Room and the Ballroom. This afternoon is free to relax (B).

St. Petersburg (Choice of category)

Day 06 St. Petersburg

Your day begins at the Peter and Paul Fortress, which is the oldest building in the city. Situated on its own island, it is the burial site of most of the pre-revolutionary leaders of Russia. Later, visit St. Isaac’s Cathedral and cruise the canals of St. Petersburg on a private vessel. Afternoon tea in the home of a Russian family provides a special ending to the day (B).

St. Petersburg (Choice of category)

Day 07 St. Petersburg – Pushkin – Pavlovsk – St. Petersburg

Visit Tsarskoe Selo, ‘the Tsar’s village’ – more commonly known as Pushkin – to see the beautiful Catherine’s Palace, Rococo summer residence of the Tsars. It is surrounded by lovely formal parks, pavilions and woodland. Enjoy lunch at the rustic Podvorie Dacha before continuing to Pavlovsk Palace, a royal residence until 1917 (B,L).

St. Petersburg (Choice of category)

Day 08 St. Petersburg – Petrodvorets – St. Petersburg

Travel to Petrodvorets, the splendid summer palace of Peter the Great on the Gulf of Finland. Built in the early 1700s to rival Versailles, it is set in a magnificent garden estate of 300 acres with myriad fountains and gilded statues. A hydrofoil cruise (weather permitting May-Sep) on the Neva River will bring you back to St. Petersburg. On arrival, visit the Church of the Spilled Blood (B).

St. Petersburg (Choice of category)

Day 09 Depart St. Petersburg

This unforgettable private journey finishes today as you transfer to the airport (B).

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Itinerary departs: Fridays

Price is land only.Supplements apply over Christmas & New Year please enquire for pricing

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Platinum Itinerary departs: Mon-Thu & Sat-Sun

Price is land only.Supplements apply over Christmas & New Year please enquire for pricing

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Gold – Mon – Sun

Price is land only. Supplements apply over Christmas & New Year please enquire for pricing

Portugal | Portugal Extension
Jewels of Russia
* Grand 18th-century European capital
* Moorish walled towns and ruins
* Whitewashed villages & mountaintop palaces
* Choice of accommodation

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Itinerary:

Day 01 Arrive Lisbon

A&K welcome to the Portuguese capital, where you will be met by your Guardian Angel and transferred to your hotel.

Lisbon (Choice of category)

Day 02 Lisbon

Full day in Lisbon with private guide and vehicle. Lying north of the River Tagus estuary and spread over a series of seven hills, Lisbon has much to offer. Visit the magnificent Jeronimo’s Monastery, the splendid Coach Museum in the Belem Royal Palace and the priceless treasures of the Gulbenkian Museum, many purchased from The Hermitage in St. Petersburg in the 1920s (B).

Lisbon (Choice of category)

Day 03 Lisbon – Queluz – Sintra – Lisbon

Enjoy a full day exploring the Monserrate Palace and Sintra. On arrival at Monserrate you will be privately guided by an experienced botanist through the wonderful gardens of the palace. Continue to the town of Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site once popular as the summer residence of Portuguese kings and aristocrats. See the National Palace of Sintra, a former royal residence characterised by a variety of architectural styles and rich interior decoration (B).

Lisbon (Choice of category)

Day 04 Lisbon – Obidos – Alcobaca – Batalha – Coimbra

Drive to Coimbra via Obidos, Alcobbaca and Batalha. The whitewashed medieval town of Obidos is considered by many to be Portugal’s most beautiful. Afterwards you will visit the Abbey of Alcobaca, the largest church in the country, and the 14th-century Abbey of Batalha, whose intricate honey-coloured exterior belies an interior of graceful charm (B).

Quinta das Lagrimas

Day 05 Coimbra – Porto

This morning, enjoy a short walking tour of this attractive university town with its Old Cathedral Cloister and Library. Afterwards, you will be driven to Porto to spend the afternoon exploring the city, gloriously located on a steep hillside above the River Douro. Visit the Cais da Ribeira, the quayside of the fascinating Ribeira district, and some of the city’s most beautiful monuments including the opulent 19th-century Stock Exchange, the cathedral and Bishop’s Palace (B).

Porto (Choice of category)

Day 06 Porto – Vila Real – Porto

Explore the history of Porto’s famous wine in one of its celebrated Port Houses before continuing on to Vila Real, where you will visit the Solar de Mateus, an exceptional Baroque mansion dating from the mid-18th century (B)

Porto (Choice of category)

Day 07 Depart Porto

Transfer by private car to Porto airport, where your journey ends (B).

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Jewels of Russia
9 days from Moscow
Itinerary departs: Fridays

Price is land only.
Supplements apply over Christmas & New Year please enquire for pricing

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Itinerary departs: Mon-Thu & Sat-Sun
Platinum – Mon-Thu & Sat-Sun Arrivals

Price is land only.
Supplements apply over Christmas & New Year please enquire for pricing

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Gold – Mon – Sun Arrivals

Price is land only.
Supplements apply over Christmas & New Year please enquire for pricing

Poland Extension

6 days from Warsaw
Departs Daily
* Private tour of Jasna Gora Monastery by a resident monk
* Flexible Design Your Day options in Krakaw
* UNESCO World Heritage site of the Wieliczka Salt Mine
* A&K’s Guardian Angel Service
* Choice of accommodation

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Itinerary

Day 01 Arrive Warsaw

A&K welcome into the Polish capital and private transfer to the hotel. Warsaw (Choice of category)

Day 02 Warsaw

Much of Warsaw was destroyed during WWII but reconstructed after the 1980s. Touring today includes the Old Quarter with its Gothic churches, defensive walls, and the fairy tale facades of the Renaissance and Baroque tenement houses. Plus the Royal Castle, symbol of Polish statehood, and the 14th century Cathedral of Saint John. An afternoon at leisure (B).

Warsaw (Choice of category)

Day 03 Warsaw – Krakow

Drive to the former capital of Poland, Krakow. Stop en route in Czestochowa, located northwest of Krakow, to visit the Pauline Monastery at Jasna Gora which houses the Black Madonna, the holiest icon in Poland. This 15th century painting brings pilgrims from all over the country, some on foot. Your private tour will be led by one of the resident monks (B).

Krakow (Choice of category)

Day 04 Krakow

Discover Krakow, one of the oldest and most beautiful cities of Eastern Europe. Krakow, the royal capital of Poland until the 17th century, is known for its impressive medieval architecture, and is also on the UNESCO list of the 12 great historic cities of the world. Visit the Royal Castle and Cathedral, the magnificent Market Square and St. Mary’s Church with its famous 15th century altar by Wit Stwosz. Afternoon at leisure (B).

Krakow (Choice of category)

Day 05 Design Your Day Krakow

Today choose one of the following activities. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Wieliczka Salt Mine. Descend 150 feet by private elevator into the network of chambers and lakes that have been carved out over the centuries including the underground Chapel of the Blessed Kinga. Continue on to the site of the infamous Auschwitz concentration camp, a memorial to the 4 million people of 28 nationalities who perished there. Or enjoy a full day exploring the Tatra Mountains National Park and the town of Zakopane, Poland’s winter sports centre. The quaint timber buildings here are charming and the Tatra Museum an interesting highlight. Opportunity for a cable car ride to the ridge of Gubulowka for fantastic mountain scenery (weather permitting) (B).

Krakow (Choice of category)

Day 06 Depart Krakow

A&K wishes you well as your private journey concludes with a transfer to Krakow airport (B).

Note: Itinerary departs daily. Christmas & New Years Eve supplements apply.

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Dates and Rates:

Platinum

Price is land only.
Supplements apply over Christmas & New Year please enquire for pricing

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Gold

Price is land only.
Supplements apply over Christmas & New Year please enquire for pricing

Italy – Inside Italy

* The classic Italian cities
* Art, architecture, food and wine
* Siena’s Duomo and the Pinturicchio frescoes
* Behind the scenes in a Florentine gelateria
* A private after-hours visit of St. Mark’s Basilica
* Choice of accommodation

This is not a group departure and itinerary dates are flexible. You travel at your own pace with your chosen companion and your own guide and driver.

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Itinerary

Day 01 Arrive Rome

Ciao Roma! A warm A&K welcome to the ‘Eternal City’ and private transfer to your hotel.

Rome (Choice of category)

Day 02 Rome

Today you are introduced to the historic, cultural and archaeological masterpieces of Italy’s capital. Marvel at the Vatican Museum, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. There are also visits to the Roman Forum and Colosseum, as well as some of the lesser-known treasures such as the Pantheon and Castel Sant’Angelo (B).

Rome (Choice of category)

Day 03 Rome-Siena-Florence

Travel by road to Siena and visit one of the finest city squares in Italy, the Piazza del Campo, which is surrounded by 13th and 14th century palazzi. Visit also the Duomo, Siena’s majestic medieval cathedral containing many priceless artworks, including pieces by Bernini and the young Michelangelo. The frescoes by Pinturicchio in the Piccolomini Library are a highlight. Continue through the glorious Tuscan hills to San Gimignano, then on to Florence (B).

Florence (Choice of category)

Day 04 Florence

This morning a walking tour introduces you to the beautiful and romantic Tuscan capital, widely considered the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. Start with the Duomo, the city’s famous cathedral with its much-photographed dome by Brunelleschi, and the Uffizi Gallery, one of the finest in the world. If time permits, visit the church of Santa Croce, where many famous Florentines, including Michelangelo and Galileo, are buried. This afternoon, explore at your leisure (B).

Florence (Choice of category)

Day 05 Design Your Day Florence

Beloved by artists and writers through the centuries, Florence is a romantic city of bridges, cobbled streets, medieval piazzas and churches. Tailor your own perfect day in Florence. Choose two of the following activities: explore the city’s rich cultural heritage with a visit to the Bargello Museum, where a fine collection of Renaissance sculptures, including Michelangelo’s Bacchus and Donatello’s bronze David, is housed; or discover one of Florence’s hidden gems with a tour of the Brancacci Frescoes at the church of Santa Maria del Carmine. Or Ice-cream lovers can visit one of the city’s best-known gelaterias with their Guardian Angel for a tasting, and a look behind the scenes at how the ice-cream is made according to artisan traditions. (B).

Florence (Choice of category)

Day 06 Florence-Venice

Enjoy A&K’s Concierge Rail service as you travel by train north to Venice, with its network of islands, canals and magnificent architecture. A private motor launch takes you to your choice of hotel. This afternoon, discover this dazzling city at your own leisure (B).

Venice (Choice of category)

Day 07 Venice

A walking tour of Venice this morning takes you to St. Mark’s Basilica, with its rich ornamentation of marble and golden mosaics, and the Doge’s Palace, filled with artworks by the greatest Venetian artists, including Veronese and Tintoretto. The afternoon is at leisure. Later today, enjoy a special treat with a private after-hours visit to view the illuminated mosaics of St. Mark’s Basilica (B).

Venice (Choice of category)

Day 08 Depart Venice

Arrivederci Italia. Transfer by private motor launch to Venice airport (B)

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Inside Italy
8 days from Rome
Itinerary departs: Daily (except Saturdays)

Platinum Prices

**Price is land only.
**Supplements apply over Christmas & New Year please enquire for pricing

Italy  Amalfi Coast Extension

*Stunning Amalfi Drive

*Enchanting village of Ravello

*Ancient Pompeii

*Choice of accommodation

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Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Naples – Amalfi Coast

An A&K welcome at Naples Airport and transfer to your hotel.

Amalfi Coast (Choice of category)

Day 2 Amalfi Coast

Drive along one of the most stunning coastlines in the world where vertical cliffs plunge dramatically into the blue Mediterranean waters and seaside towns shaded by umbrella pines give way to terraced olive groves. Stop in the town of Amalfi and see the 10th century Duomo fronted by a beautifully colored 13th century façade, before continuing on to the enchanting village of Ravello, said to have the best views along the coast. Your afternoon is at leisure (B).

Amalfi Coast (Choice of category)

Day 3 Amalfi Coast – Pompeii – Rome

Leave the Amalfi Coast and head north to the ancient site of Pompeii. Once an opulent town, the extensive and varied ruins of Pompeii now provides a rich history of life at the time of the Roman Empire. There are theatres, thermal baths, shops and lavish dwellings, many of which have been incredibly well preserved. Vesuvius dominates the Neapolitan landscape at over 4000 feet above sea level. The sheer size of the crater is amazing and the summit affords a wonderful panorama of the Bay of Naples. This afternoon drive to the Eternal city of Rome where you commence your Inside Italy private journey (B).

Note: This extension must be combined with another A&K Private Journey and cannot be booked as a stand alone itinerary. Itinerary departs daily (April to October).

Choose to combine your journey with another of A&K’s fantastic journeys. Not to be missed, these additions are specially selected by our travel consultants.

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Departure Dates and Rates

Platinum

Price is land only.

Must be booked in conjunction with another A&K Europe itinerary

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Gold

Price is land only.

Must be booked in conjunction with another A&K Europe itinerary