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Israel and Jordan

2012 Prices from $4,990 for 14 Days – Tauck World Discovery

Israel and Jordan explores all the threads – civilizations, cultures, history, traditions, religions and the arts – that are so intricately woven together throughout this compelling area of the world. Gain special insights into its diversity from knowledgeable local guides and experts in their fields as our Israel travel itinerary takes you from bustling modern-day Tel Aviv to ancient sites such as 4,000-year-old Jaffa, King Herod’s port city of Caesarea, mountaintop Masada and Jerusalem’s Old City. Expand your understanding of the religions that have so much to do with Israel and Jordan, past and present, during a Tauck Exclusive private panel discussion. Sail on the Sea of Galilee, relax at a resort along the Dead Sea, travel on Jordan’s King’s Highway to the fabled pink city of Petra, and dine Bedouin-style at a traditional feast. Privately guided tours and special cultural experiences for Tauck guests only bring it all to life. Throughout our Jordan and Israel travel days, superb hotels put you in the best locations, such as The David Citadel Hotel, a five-star hotel within walking distance of Jerusalem’s Old City walls.

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Itinerary

Day 1 Welcome to Israel – arrive Tel Aviv

Meals D

Tauck’s Jordan and Israel travel days begin at 7:00 PM at the InterContinental David Tel Aviv. A transfer is included from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport to the InterContinental David Tel Aviv, set on a beachfront promenade, with sweeping views of the Mediterranean, in the city’s most fashionable neighborhood. Please join us this evening for our welcome cocktail reception and dinner where you’ll meet your fellow travelers and Tauck Director.

Lodging

InterContinental David Tel Aviv

Day 2 Ancient Jaffa and contemporary Tel Aviv

Meals B, L

On your first full day in Israel travel excursions around Tel Aviv reveal some of the striking contrasts that define the country. Our guide will give you a little Hebrew lesson with handy words to know during our welcome briefing before you set off for a walking tour through the maze of narrow, cobblestone streets of 4,000-year-old Jaffa, believed to be the oldest port city in the world. Explore the Visitors’ Center in Kedumim Square and its museum with exhibits on the history of Jaffa and archaeological treasures. Have lunch at a local café, then travel from the romantic eccentricity of Jaffa to the Bauhaus architecture of Rothschild Boulevard… a true leap of time! Many Jewish refugees from Germany in the 1930s brought functional, modern design with them, and the plethora of square white buildings with curved balconies on every street earned Tel Aviv the nickname “The White City” and a UNESCO World Heritage designation as you’ll learn on a city tour. But there the austerity of Tel Aviv ends; for the remainder of the day, spend time exploring this hip, young, city on your own. Your hotel is within easy walking distance of the beach, restaurants and a nightlife that is second to none.

Lodging

InterContinental David Tel Aviv

Day 3 In northern Israel travel to Caesarea and Haifa

Meals B, L, D

Over a period of just 12 years, Herod transformed Caesarea into a grand city and major seaport – and dedicated it to Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus, who had returned it to Herod after wresting it away from Cleopatra. During a walking tour, view the spectacular Roman amphitheatre, still used as a performing venue today; what was once the great harbor Herod built; the hippodrome that held 20,000 spectators for chariot races; and what remains of Herod’s palace. After lunch, continue on to Haifa, international headquarters of the Baha’i Faith, and the Baha’i Shrine and Gardens on famed Mount Carmel. A succession of 19 manicured garden terraces lead to the Shrine of the Bab, entombing the remains of the Bab, Baha’i Allah, the herald of the Baha’i Faith. Your hotel, The Colony Hotel Haifa, is located in the historic German Quarter, a neighborhood of 19th-century houses that are distinctly European, bustling with shops and cafés. Dine this evening from a selection of restaurants, after which you may want to explore a bit or just enjoy the intimacy of the hotel, closeness of the sea, and amazing vision of the Baha’i terraces rising above the city, illuminated at night.

Lodging

The Colony Hotel Haifa

Day 4 From coastal Israel travel to the Sea of Galilee

Meals B, L

A day excursion from Haifa – from the Mediterranean coast of northern Israel travel inland to the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus gathered his first disciples among the fishermen. At Yigal Alon Museum, you’ll discover an archaeological treasure that rocked the worlds of archaeology, history and religion when it was found in 1986 – the Galilee Boat, a 2,000-year-old fishing vessel discovered in the mudflats of Galilee. Exhaustive scientific research places the fishing boat in the time and place of Jesus along the Sea of Galilee. Board a working replica of the boat and sail the waters of Galilee on a guided tour to see how fishermen in Jesus’ time lived and worked; you’ll even have an opportunity to learn to dance the Horah! Learn about this rural area’s many kibbutzim – farming communities which teach self-reliance, collective action and civic responsibility, and have lunch at a local restaurant in Nazareth. Return to Haifa, where you can participate in a “Prophet Sharing” panel discussion, a unique opportunity to ask questions and share information about the major religions that co-exist in this multicultural land. The evening is free in Haifa to enjoy as you please.

Lodging

The Colony Hotel Haifa

Day 5 Akko, a place ruled by many

Meals B, L, D

Today in Israel travel to one of the oldest continuously inhabited cites in the world, Akko, dating back to the era of the Egyptian Pharaoh Thutmose. Begin your visit to this richly historical city with a visit to the Jezzar Pasha Mosque, an excellent example of Ottoman architecture, named for Ahmed al-Jezzar Pasha, who defeated Napoleon at the 1799 French siege of Acre. A walking tour through the walled city takes in the Knight’s Hall, the citadel and prison, as well as the ancient tunnels. Traces of the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Muslims, Crusaders, Ottomans, Bedouins and the British, who have all ruled here, as well as of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, can be seen. Next up is a Tauck Exclusive – lunch at one of the city’s best-known, most sought-after restaurants, Uri Buri, run by famed Chef Uri Yirmias; casual with understated elegance, his seafood is famous all over Israel. Continue on to Jerusalem, with a stop at the Mount of Olives for a scenic view out over the city. Your hotel, The David Citadel Hotel, is one of the newest and most luxurious in the city, located at the doorstep of the Old City. Tauck guests enjoy views of the David Citadel and Tower and the picturesque city walls from their private balconies! Dine à la carte tonight at Scala, one of the best restaurants in Jerusalem.

Lodging

The David Citadel Hotel

Day 6 Jerusalem, city of diverse cultures

Meals B, L

For three of the world’s great religions, Judaism, Islam and Christianity, Jerusalem is indeed a city of great significance. A walking tour led by an expert local guide and your Tauck Director begins in the Jewish Quarter of the city and the Cardo, today a bustling marketplace with intriguing goods for sale built atop a site dating back, in part, to the time of Emperor Justinian in the 6th century BC. Descend into the ornate, ingeniously engineered Sephardic Synagogues, built below street level during Ottoman rule in obeyance of a law that no Jewish temple could be higher than the surrounding houses. Your visit reveals a restored complex of four synagogues, Yochanan ben Zakai, Istanbuli, Eliahu Ha’navi and Emtsai, each built in a different time period to accommodate the needs of the Sephardic community of the day. Following lunch at a local café, visit the iconic Western Wall, the last remnant of Solomon’s temple, which held the Ark of the Covenant. The wide plaza before the wall is an open-air synagogue where Jews gather daily to pray; it has been among Judaism’s most holy prayer sites for over 2,000 years – people of many religions leave prayer notes in the cracks and crevices of the wall. The afternoon and evening are at your leisure in Jerusalem.

Lodging

The David Citadel Hotel

Day 7 A day in Jerusalem ends with pizzazz

Meals B, L

This morning, return to the Old City for a visit to Temple Mount where the revered 7th-century Islamic shrine, the Dome of the Rock, is built atop Temple Mount – its golden dome shelters the rock from which the Prophet Mohammed ascended to Heaven. For Jews, it covers the holiest spot on Earth, the Foundation Stone of Solomon’s inner temple. For many Christian pilgrims, a walk on the Via Dolorosa, along which Jesus carried the cross to the site of the crucifixion after Pilate’s condemnation, is a most meaningful experience. Explore the winding path before continuing on to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which encloses the place where Jesus was crucified and buried. Following lunch at a local restaurant, visit Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial Museum, where a guide accompanies you through the images, survivors’ accounts, and artifacts that put human faces on the Holocaust; it will be one of the most deeply moving experiences of your Israel travel days. Join us tonight for a private wine and hors d’oeuvres reception, and get set for a magical evening at the Tower of David – as the sun sets, watch the story of Jerusalem unfold in breathtaking images projected on the walls, archaeological ruins and hidden pathways of the Citadel, completely surrounding you in a multi-sensory experience.

Lodging

The David Citadel Hotel

Day 8 All about Masada and the Dead Sea Scrolls

Meals B

Travel to the cliff-top fortress at Masada, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built by King Herod between 37 and 31 BC and the mighty stronghold of the Jewish Zealots who fled Jerusalem rather than submit to Roman rule during the First Jewish-Roman War in the 1st century AD. Take a cable car to the top of the mountain with a knowledgeable guide to explore the site, learn the story of what happened here over 2,000 years ago and discover why Masada has such tremendous significance today. Drive by the place where the Dead Sea Scrolls were unearthed and view them later at the Israel Museum, where they are exhibited. Spend the afternoon and evening as you wish in Jerusalem.

Lodging

The David Citadel Hotel

Day 9 A visit to Bethlehem and on to Jordan

Meals B, L, D

Following breakfast, you have a choice of spending additional time in Jerusalem or joining us for a guided sightseeing excursion. Go through the security barriers to the West Bank for a visit to Bethlehem. Take a walking tour of the Church of the Nativity, built over what is traditionally thought to be the birthplace of Jesus, one of the oldest continuously operating churches in the world. Beneath the elaborate church lies the Grotto of the Nativity; a silver star in the floor marks the very spot where Jesus was believed to have been born, with the Chapel of the Manger just steps away. Visit the Milk Grotto, where the Holy Family took refuge before their flight into Egypt, then return to Jerusalem. Following lunch, your Israel travel days end and your Jordan travel days begin as you drive to Jordan and a luxury resort and spa on the Dead Sea.

Lodging

Movenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea

Day 10 Journey to Jerash or a leisurely resort day

Meals B, L

Today is a day of personal choice. You may be ready to just kick back and relax today, enjoying the amenities of your spa resort on the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is the “Great Salt Lake” of the Middle East, and true to its name, devoid of life except for the many visitors who come to marvel at its mineral-rich, therapeutic qualities. Or, join your Tauck Director for a visit to the ancient city of Gerasa, today called Jerash. Step back in time 2,000 years as you explore the exceptionally well-preserved remains of Roman architecture in the Middle East, including Hadrian’s Arch, the Hippodrome, the Oval Plaza, temples, theatres, arches, walls, baths and more in this fascinating archaeological site. After lunch, return to your resort to spend the rest of the afternoon and evening as you wish.

Lodging

Movenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea

Day 11 On the road… to Petra

Meals B, L, D

Today, your Jordan and Israel travel adventure takes you from the Dead Sea to Petra along the King’s Highway, the oldest continuously used trading route in the world. Traveling south through ancient biblical lands, you’ll stop first at Mount Nebo, where Moses looked out upon the “Promised Land.” On a clear day, Jericho, the Dead Sea, the River Jordan and even Jerusalem can be seen from Mt. Nebo; visit the Memorial Church of Moses to see the well-preserved ancient mosaics that are located inside the excavated Old Baptistery. Biblical history is everywhere en route, most notably in Madaba; visit St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church to view an incredible 6th-century map detailing the major biblical sites of the time. Enjoy a lunch of traditional Jordanian specialties before heading on to Petra, where dinner is at your leisure at your hotel – just a short walk to the entrance of the 2,000-year-old city of Petra.

Lodging

Movenpick Resort Petra

Day 12 The Pink City of Petra and a Bedouin Dinner

Meals B, L, D

The 2,000-year-old city of Petra, which the ancient Nabataeans carved out of colorful sandstone cliffs, was named one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World” – it is quite truly amazing. Almost forgotten for over a thousand years, Petra is one of the best-preserved biblical sites in the world. You’ll travel through the narrow, high-walled canyon called the Siq… and suddenly, there it is, the huge, world-famous Treasury – your first sight is one of those life-transformational moments. Explore this incredible site on foot where you’ll view Petra’s tomb facades, royal tombs, temples and other structures on foot. Have lunch at the Basin Restaurant in the Old City, and return by camel. The afternoon is spent as you please – then get set for tonight’s special farewell dinner! Join us this evening for a real taste of Jordan when you dine Bedouin-style at a traditional feast within Little Petra. A dance troupe of Jordanian men, dressed in customary Bedouin garments, entertains with a performance of the Dabkeh sword dance for a look at centuries-old traditions.

Lodging

Movenpick Resort Petra

Day 13 Your Jordan and Israel travel experience ends in Amman

Meals B, L, D

Drive along the winding 5,000-year-old King’s Highway, through golden canyons and ancient villages, to Amman; this is one of the oldest continuously used roads in the world. Tauck’s Jordan and Israel travel experience ends in Amman. Guests with early evening flights will be taken directly to Queen Alia International Airport while those departing late night or early the next morning will stay at Le Méridien Amman.

Lodging

Le Meridien Amman

Day 14 Journey home for those not departing on Day 13

Meals B

Tauck’s Jordan and Israel travel ends: Amman. A transfer is included from Le Méridien Amman to Queen Alia International Airport. You should allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in.

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2012 Prices from $4,990 for 14 Days

Single

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Double

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Triple

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Tauck Value Includes

* Guided visits to diverse sites such as the Western Wall, Dome of the Rock, Sephardic Synagogues, Via Dolorosa, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Mt. Nebo, and Jezzar Pasha Mosque

* Walking tours exploring Israel’s and Jordan’s antiquities, guided by local experts & professional Tauck Directors; modern-day discussions including a “Prophet Sharing” panel discussion

* A special farewell evening in Petra – a Bedouin-style traditional feast featuring a sword dance

* A cruise on the Sea of Galilee aboard a working replica of a 2,000-year-old fishing boat

* A private wine and hors d’oeuvres reception prior to the amazing sound and light show splashed across the walls of the Tower of David

* Guided visit to Bethlehem for a tour of the Church of the Nativity and the Milk Grotto

* Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted

* 31 meals (13 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 7 dinners); gratuities to local guides, service charges, admission fees, taxes and porterage

Small Group Departures – Select small group departures averaging 24 Tauck guests, priced from $5990 per person double; specific dates apply – select “Small Group” in the pull-down menu above for complete pricing.

Special Single Savings – save $450 (already reflected in above prices) on select departure dates; specific dates apply – select “Singles Departures” in the pull-down menu above.

Essence of South America

2012 Prices From $5,540 plus on-tour air for 14 Days – Tauck World Discovery

Tauck’s 14-day Essence of South America inspires with in-depth discoveries of the many wonders of South America. From the western coast of Chile to the eastern coast of Brazil by way of Patagonia, the Andes and through some of the world’s most breathtaking scenery, we’ll share the pleasures of this wonderfully diverse continent with you. Discover the very best of a trio of world-class South American cities – Santiago, Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro – from the finest hotels in the heart of each city. Cross the Andes and cruise on lovely lakes in full view of those mighty mountains. View spectacular Iguazu Falls from both Brazil and Argentina. Sample the fine wines of Chile and famous Argentinean beef; get a behind-the-scenes look at Rio’s colorful Carnaval; feel the passion and the heat of the tango and the samba. This most enriching of South America tours is the experience of a lifetime!

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Itinerary

Day 1 Welcome to Chile

Meals D

This most comprehensive of South America tours begins at The Ritz-Carlton, Santiago at 6:30 PM. A transfer from Santiago Airport to The Ritz-Carlton, Santiago is included. Please join us for our welcome cocktail reception and dinner tonight.

Lodging

The Ritz-Carlton, Santiago

Day 2 Spectacular Santiago and world-renowned wines

Meals B, L

On your first full day in South America tour the city of Santiago up-close and from a scenic hilltop perch. Visit the historic and lively Plaza de Armas, with its fountains, sculptures and intriguing people-watching opportunities, and Catedral Metropolitana de Santiago, whose classic and Baroque style was designated a National Monument. Venture outside of the city, where a special gourmet wine-pairing lunch invites you to drink in the bounty of the vine at Tarapaca winery, celebrating generations of wine-making traditions. Ride the funicular up San Cristóbal for a panoramic view of city sights, and spend the remainder of the day at leisure in Santiago. Your Tauck Director can offer suggestions for a memorable evening in this exciting city.

Lodging

The Ritz-Carlton, Santiago

Day 3 Gateway to Patagonia

Meals B, L, D

Patagonia is said to be one of the most beautiful areas on Earth. Fly from Santiago to the Patagonian port city of Puerto Montt, founded by German immigrants in 1853. Continue on through the rolling countryside of scenic Patagonia, viewing lovely lakes and mountains, to Puerto Varas, the lakeside “city of roses,” where the influence of those German settlers is seen in both architecture and beautiful gardens. Explore the interesting sights of this charming city on your own and have dinner at your leisure in your hotel. Simply sign the check to Tauck!

Lodging

Hotel Cumbres Patagonicas

Day 4 A day full of adventure in the Andes

Meals B, L, D

Today, we begin our two-day crossing of the majestic Andes Mountains, one of the most eagerly anticipated adventures on any South America tour, with a walk to Petrohué Rapids and a catamaran sail across Lago Todos Los Santos to Peulla, a paradise for nature lovers situated in the midst of Vincent Perez Rosales National Park. Choose to see the park on a 4 X 4 vehicle excursion*, from the back of a horse*, or on a zip-line ride* through the treetop canopy. Spend the night in a lakeside wilderness lodge and have dinner à la carte this evening.

Lodging

Hotel Natura

Day 5 Adios, Chile! Hola, Argentina!

Meals B, L, D

Continue on through the stunning mountain peaks and alpine scenery of the Andes. After crossing the border into Argentina, take a short cruise across Lago Frias before boarding another boat for a cruise on Lago Todos Los Santos; keep an eye out for Andean condors floating above the surrounding mountains. Arrive at the luxurious Llao Llao Hotel & Resort, located in a spectacular area known as the “Switzerland of South America,” for a two-night stay.

Lodging

Llao Llao Hotel & Resort

Day 6 Your day, your way

Meals B, D

All South America tours should include a leisurely day to spend doing just what you please and today’s the day. There are many amenities and activities to enjoy at your resort (some at an additional charge) including tennis, swimming, sailing, archery, spa treatments, Pilates and tango lessons, among others. If you decide to do some more exploring of Nahuel Haupi National Park on your own, you might enjoy taking the chairlift to the top of a high hill to take in the magnificent, 360-degree views of the Andes’ soaring mountain peaks and the lake below. Or, discover the ski-resort town of Bariloche, the largest city in the Lakes District and famous for its chocolates, as you wish.

Lodging

Llao Llao Hotel & Resort

Day 7 Buenos dias, Buenos Aires

Meals B, L, D

After lunch, fly to the “Paris of South America,” beguiling Buenos Aires, as your most exhilarating of South America tours continues.  Dinner tonight is at your home for the next three nights, the Caesar Park Buenos Aires, set among the boutiques and cafés of the elegant La Recoleta district.

Lodging

Caesar Park Buenos Aires

Day 8 Cosmopolitan delights in Argentina’s Big Apple

Meals B, L

Guided city sightseeing includes the Colon Opera House, where legendary stars such as Maria Callas, Enrico Caruso and Luciano Pavarotti have performed; the pink La Casa Rosada, which is the Presidential Palace and seat of the executive branch of government; and a visit to La Boca, a colorful bohemian barrio (neighborhood) whose early settlers included many immigrants from Italian cities such as Genoa, retaining a distinctly European flair. Today’s lunch at the historic Café Tortoni entices with a taste of the rich cultural history of this centuries-old coffee house, founded in 1858.  Dinner is on your own tonight – you may want to take the opportunity to sample some of the city’s famous Argentine beef at dinner!

Lodging

Caesar Park Buenos Aires

Day 9 The art of living in Buenos Aires

Meals B, D

Discover the heart of Latin American art during a fascinating visit to the Museo de Arte Latinamericano de Buenos Aires (MALBA) showcasing the private collection of Eduardo Costantini. View more than 200 works by Latin American artists from the 20th century to the present day, including works by Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and Antonio Berni. Freshen up for an evening of dinner and dancing! Tauck has made reservations for you to enjoy a sumptuous dinner and experience the power and passion of the traditional tango, the beloved dance of Argentina, at Rojo Tango, considered to be among the finest tango shows in Buenos Aires.

Lodging

Caesar Park Buenos Aires

Day 10 In Argentina, it’s Iguazu

Meals B, L, D

See more of the city this morning, paying a visit to the tomb of Evita (Eva) Peron in the unique and impressive Recoleta Cemetery, famous for its elaborate marble mausoleums.  South America tours are not complete without experiencing one of nature’s greatest wonders. Fly from Buenos Aires to the Argentinean side of the mighty Iguazu Falls – deeper and twice as wide as Niagara Falls – for a two-night stay. As you explore Iguazu National Park, you’ll be amazed by the sheer size of the falls and the natural beauty that surrounds them. Wherever you look, the views are breathtaking. Your hotel is set in the heart of the national park; dine tonight at the hotel’s restaurant, boasting wonderful views of the thundering waters!

Lodging

Sheraton Iguazu Resort & Spa

Day 11 Explore Iguazu National Park

Meals B

Spend the day exploring the natural treasures of Iguazu National Park, designated a World Heritage Site for its rare and endangered flora and fauna. Guided hikes take you to the Superior and Inferior Circuit and Devil’s Throat, through which the falls’ largest volume of water passes. The afternoon is free for you to do as you wish. Your hotel concierge can tell you about the optional boat rides, helicopter excursions and hikes that are available here.

Lodging

Sheraton Iguazu Resort & Spa

Day 12 In Brazil, it’s Iguaçu… Fly to remarkable Rio

Meals B, L, D

Cross the Tancredo Neves Bridge from Argentina to Brazil to view the famous falls from a different perspective this morning. Within Brazil’s Iguaçu National Park, you’ll find 275 cascades that form a waterfall a mile-and-a-half long. You’ll never forget your walk through the rainforest at the base of the falls. Later, fly to rollicking Rio de Janeiro and your oceanfront hotel on beautiful Copacabana Beach.

Lodging

JW Marriott Hotel Rio de Janeiro

Day 13 Rio, the colorful capital of Brazil

Meals B, L, D

Arise in amazing Rio for an unforgettable excursion up Corcovado Hill by train to Tijuca National Park, and then by gondola to see the world-famous statue of Christ the Redeemer… a true highlight of the best of South America tours! Next up is a trip back down to Rio’s historic center to view the intriguing new cathedral and many of the city’s Belle Epoque architectural treasures. Later, discover the passionate nature of Rio’s beloved Carnaval celebration, which draws visitors from around the world each year, on a visit to Samba City – where a local guide leads you on a behind-the-scenes look at the business of Carnaval and the creation of its dazzling costumes and floats, which includes an exclusive samba performance. A two-stage cable car to the 1,390-foot summit of iconic Sugarloaf Mountain rewards with stunning views. Enjoy a wonderful farewell dinner to night!

Lodging

JW Marriott Hotel Rio de Janeiro

Day 14 Journey Home

Meals B

Tour ends: Rio de Janeiro. Spend your last day in Rio as you wish, browsing in the city’s museums and shops or savoring the sights on Rio’s beautiful beaches. While hotel check-out time from the JW Marriott Hotel Rio de Janeiro is 12:00 noon, Tauck has reserved a hospitality room for our guests to refresh and relax before making your journey back home. Airport transfers are included; plan to arrive at the airport at least 3-1/2 hours before your flight departs.

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2012 Prices From $5,540 plus on-tour air for 14 Days

Single

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Double

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Triple

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Tauck Value Includes

* Gourmet wine-pairing lunch in Chilean vineyards

* A choice of wilderness adventures in Patagonia, including a 4 X 4 vehicle safari, an exhilarating zip-line ride or horseback riding into a forested national park with a local guide

* Spectacular two-day Andes crossing with scenic lake cruises and unsurpassed views of the alpine scenery

* Two nights in Bariloche, the “Switzerland of South America”

* Two-night stay in Rio de Janeiro featuring ocean views overlooking Copacabana Beach

* Museum visit, Rojo Tango dinner and tango show during three nights in Buenos Aires

* Walk along the base of Iguazú Falls during two nights at a hotel boasting views of the waterfalls

* Private tour of Rio’s Samba City for a behind-the-scenes look at colorful Carnaval costumes and floats

* Airport transfers upon arrival and departure

* 32 meals (13 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 10 dinners); gratuities to local guides, service charges, taxes and porterage

Small Group Departures – Select small group departures averaging 24 Tauck guests, priced from $6865 per person double plus on-tour air; specific dates apply – inquire at time of booking.

Special Singles Savings  – save $400 (already reflected in above prices) on the single room price of select departure dates; specific dates apply – select “Singles Departures” in the pull-down menu above.

Empire of the Incas: Peru & Bolivia

2012 Prices From $4,855 plus on-tour air for 13 Days – Tauck World Discovery

Explore the world of the Incas on Tauck’s 13-day Bolivia and Peru tour, and witness the impact of the Spanish conquistadors on cultures from out of the mists of history. Wonders await at every turn, from Francisco Pizarro’s colonial Lima and Cusco, to the Sacred Valley of the Incas and Machu Picchu to Lake Titicaca to La Paz. Discover ancient Inca strongholds and sacred sites surrounded by the majestic Andes Mountains… admire the skill and craftsmanship of ancient artisans whose true medium was gold… learn the secrets of the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, and have your journey blessed by a local shaman. See the incredible Nazca Lines – only visible from the air – on an optional flightseeing excursion. Attend a folkloric performance based on Inca mythology… chug through spectacular Andean scenery on a vintage rail car… meet locals living like their ancestors did on floating reed islands on Lake Titicaca… watch a Peruvian chef – and famous Peruvian Paso horses – demonstrate their skills… and discover the cultural and architectural diversity of La Paz, highest capital city on earth.

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Itinerary

Day 1 Welcome to Peru!

Meals (No meals included)

Our Bolivia and Peru tour begins in Lima. Upon arrival at Lima’s Jorge Chavez International Airport, you’ll be met by a Tauck representative and transferred to the Miraflores Park Hotel, your home for your first three nights.

Lodging

Miraflores Park Hotel

Day 2 Explore Lima, “City of Kings”

Meals B, L, D

Your Peru tour begins in the lovely colonial center of Lima, originally mapped out by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro, which appears on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. You’ll be inspired by its age-old beauty and venerable traditions during a tour this morning. Some of Lima’s most historic buildings surround the splendid Plaza Major – see the Archbishop’s Palace, with its fine carved balcony; the opulent Government Palace, the official residence of the president of Peru; and the 17th-century Church of San Pedro, an excellent example of Peruvian Baroque architecture. Visit the impressive, 16th-century Cathedral of Lima, whose first stone was laid by Pizarro himself in 1535, and in which he is buried.  Get a sense of what life was like for the wealthy of Lima centuries ago during lunch at Casa de Aliaga, a beautifully preserved colonial mansion that has been owned by the same family for 17 generations; then visit the privately owned Museo Larco, housing one of the world’s largest collections of pre-Columbian artifacts and art. Please join us for a special welcome cocktail reception and dinner at Casa Luna, the private hacienda of your hosts Javier and Eva Luna, where an eclectic art collection containing over 1,500 nativities is on display.

Lodging

Miraflores Park Hotel

Day 3 Lima’s culture and cuisine… or the Nazca Lines

Meals B, L

Discover Lima’s rich artistic heritage – representing some 3,000 years and a mix of cultures including pre-Hispanic, colonial and contemporary Peruvian art – on this morning’s walking tour of the city’s “Bohemian” district, Barranco, followed by a visit to one of Lima’s fine art museums with a local guide. Enjoy lunch at Cala, a local seaside restaurant that’s truly one of Lima’s spots to “see and be seen,” where you’ll sample authentic Peruvian cuisine – a tantalizing fusion of Andean and Spanish flavors. Or you may choose to join us for an optional, full-day excursion (available for an additional $349 per person – ask at time of booking) to see the amazing Nazca Lines from the air!  You’ll drive across one of the driest deserts on Earth along part of the Pan American Highway to Pisco, where you’ll take off on a flightseeing trip to observe these massive animal figures, visible only from the air, carved into the desert floor many centuries ago by the Nazca people. Return to Lima this evening, where dinner is on your own tonight.

Lodging

Miraflores Park Hotel

Day 4 Meet alpacas and Peruvian Pasos in the Sacred Valley

Meals B, L, D

A short flight this morning takes you from cosmopolitan Lima to Cusco; continue overland to the Sacred Valley of the Incas for a two-night stay. Did you know that South America’s iconic llama and the ubiquitous camel of the Middle East are both camelids – and thus “kissing cousins” – although they live half a world apart? That’s just one fact you’ll learn when you meet the llamas, alpacas, vicuñas and guanacos that are so associated with the Andes during a visit to the Awanacancha farm that raises them. Enjoy lunch and an equestrian demonstration starring famous Peruvian Paso horses at Wayra Ranch en route to your Sacred Valley hotel, where you can relax, have dinner and adjust to the higher altitude this evening.

Lodging

Casa Andina Priv.Coll.Sac.Vall

Day 5 Incan mysteries and a performance by Kusiwasi

Meals B, L, D

Like Egypt’s pyramids, mystery surrounds the construction methods used to build the massive stone fortress of Ollantaytambo. One of the best preserved of the Inca settlements, this living museum reveals much about what life was like here in the 15th century during a tour; the people of the town of Ollantaytambo still practice a very traditional lifestyle, as you’ll discover on a visit to a private home. Return to your hotel for a demonstration of Peruvian cuisine preparation by a chef, followed by a scrumptious buffet lunch – and you’ll learn how to make a Pisco Sour! Later, meet a local shaman who will bless your journey and share insights on the spiritual nature of Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley. Tonight, you’ll be treated to a performance of The Apus of the Andes, representing Quechua lore and Inca mythology, by the folk-arts group Kusiwasi, followed by dinner.

Lodging

Casa Andina Priv.Coll.Sac.Vall

Day 6 A rail journey to another time at Machu Picchu

Meals B, L, D

Board the Vistadome train in Ollantaytambo and travel through mist-shrouded peaks that the Incas believed to be sacred to Aguas Calientes, gateway to the “lost city of the Incas,” Machu Picchu. Spending the afternoon exploring this incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site, recently named one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World,” with our local guides will be an unforgettable highlight of your Peru tour. Inspiration is everywhere amidst the architectural and aesthetic genius evidenced in the palaces, temples, houses and baths of this mountaintop, totally self-contained retreat. It is said by some that if you are a spiritually sensitive person and touch your forehead to the Intihuatana stone – still a precise indicator of the two annual equinoxes – you’ll be able to see into the spirit world! Return to Aguas Calientes for an overnight stay at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel… where you can enjoy a complimentary Pisco Sour at the bar (between 5:00 and 6:00 PM) prior to dinner at your leisure.

Lodging

Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel

Day 7 From the past to the present

Meals B, L, D

This morning is yours to do as you please… which might include returning before sunup to Machu Picchu to explore more of the site on a memorable guided sunrise tour; enjoying a nature walk through your hotel’s stunning gardens, home to many species of orchids and birds; checking out local shops and such in Aguas Calientes; or indulging in a soothing treatment employing local botanicals and a mystical Andean approach at the hotel’s spa (for an additional charge). After lunch, again board the Vistadome train for the scenic rail journey to Ollanta, and drive to Cusco for a two-night stay. The beautiful Hotel Monasterio, named the “Best Hotel in South America” by Condé Nast Traveler in 2007, will be your home for the next two nights. Originally built in 1592, this former monastery in the center of Cusco will indulge you with its unique atmosphere, unequaled charm and gracious hospitality.

Lodging

Hotel Monasterio

Day 8 South America’s oldest city… Cusco

Meals B

Just about everywhere you look in Cusco – once capital of the Inca Empire, and South America’s oldest continuously inhabited city – you’ll see traces of its Incan past and its importance to the Inca people as the “navel of the world,” as well as of the early Spanish colonial city built above it. Begin the day with a walk through the bustling modern-day market. Discover the ruins of the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, “the House of the Sun,” an important Inca stronghold. Nowhere is the collision between the European and Inca cultures more apparent than at the Baroque Convent of Santo Domingo; after the Inca Temple of the Sun at Koriqancha was ransacked by Spanish conquerors, its amazing stone walls became the foundation for the convent, built atop the temple. The 16th-century Cathedral of Cusco, whose massive altar is made of solid silver, is a splendid example of Spanish colonial churches in the “New World.” Perhaps you’ll hear the tolling of the Maria Angola bell, the largest in South America, during your visit, as your local guide shares insights about the conversion of Incan sites to Spanish churches. Your afternoon and evening are at leisure in Cusco; the city’s many fine restaurants offer a range of opportunities for lunch and dinner on your own today.

Lodging

Hotel Monasterio

Day 9 Into the Andes and on to Lake Titicaca

Meals B, L, D

Board the Andean Explorer for a highlight of Tauck’s Peru tour – a spectacular rail journey meandering through majestic peaks and across the Andean plains from Cusco to the shores of Lake Titicaca, the most sacred lake in the Inca world. Settle in for a pleasant and leisurely ride aboard your vintage rail car in the style of Europe’s famous Orient Express; lunch and afternoon tea will be served on the train. You’ll spend the next two nights lakeside at Libertador Lake Titicaca Puno Hotel; the region’s only five-star hotel, this lovely property on Isla Esteves provides wonderful views of the world’s highest navigable lake.

Lodging

Libertador Lago Titicaca Puno Hotel

Day 10 Lake Titicaca, where time stands still

Meals B, L, D

Legend has it that the Inca Empire began at Lake Titicaca when the sun god summoned his children from its chilly waters and sent them forth to establish Cusco. Centuries later, some of the indigenous people of the area – the Uros – dwell on forty-five Islas Flotantes de los Uro, floating islands made from reeds that dot the lake, living much as their ancestors did and still following their ancestral customs. View and visit some of these islands via powerboat, going ashore to meet the inhabitants and discover what their lives are like. Later, on Taquile Island, visit the home of an Aymara family who will prepare lunch for you and perform some of their traditional dances. You’ll no doubt notice that on Taquile all the men seem to be industriously knitting, and you’ll see some of the items that they produce. After returning to the hotel, you’re free to spend the afternoon as you choose.

Lodging

Libertador Lago Titicaca Puno Hotel

Day 11 Bolivia bound

Meals B, L, D

Begin the day with a drive along the coast of Lake Titicaca, then head across the lake via private hydrofoil to Sun Island, Bolivia, the legendary birthplace of the Incas. The ancient Aymara and Quechua peoples believed that the sun and the gods were born here and founded the Inca Empire… and many of their descendants still hold that belief; the only means of transportation between the five villages on the island, home to about 5,000 people, is the donkey. Savor a typical Bolivian lunch against the scenic backdrop of Titicaca’s blue waters, its many islands, and the snow-capped Andes beyond. Hop back aboard a hydrofoil and pass through the narrow Straits of Tiquina to Huatajata, where you’ll stop at the museum of the Limachi family, builders of the reed boats Tigris and RA II, used by famed explorer Thor Heyerdahl to prove his theory that ancient vessels could cross vast oceans. Continue overland to La Paz, the highest capital city on Earth, for a two-night stay; enjoy dinner à la carte at your leisure in the hotel this evening.

Lodging

Camino Real Hotel

Day 12 Lively La Paz

Meals B, D

Begun on the site of an existing Aymara village, La Paz was founded in 1548 by Spaniards. The highest capital city in the world above sea level, La Paz is also home to the highest golf course on Earth; in the thin air, a good tee shot will travel an amazing distance! Venture just outside the city to explore the lunar-like badlands dubbed the Valle De La Luna (Valley of the Moon), a stone landscape of deep gullies and bizarre rock formations, before heading to La Paz’s city center to soak up some local color in the bustling Indian Market… and browse in the Mercato de las Brujas (Witches’ Market) for magic amulets, potions, spells or plants reputed to have healing powers. From the Plaza Murillo, you’ll see the colonial-era Government Palace, known as the Burned Palace because it was set on fire during eight different revolutions; the Congress building had been a convent, a jail and a university before being renovated in 1904 to house the congress of Bolivia. Explore more of La Paz as you please this afternoon, and have lunch on your own; this evening, join us at Bolivia’s National Art Museum for Tauck’s exclusive farewell reception including a private tour of the museum followed by dinner in the courtyard.

Lodging

Camino Real Hotel

Day 13 Say adios to the Andes

Meals B

Tauck’s Bolivia and Peru tour ends in La Paz. A transfer from the Camino Real Hotel to La Paz El Alto International Airport is included. Please allow 3 hours for airport check-in formalities. Thank you for traveling with Tauck; we wish you a safe and pleasant journey home. Hasta la vista!

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2012 Prices From $4,855 plus on-tour air for 13 Days

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Double

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Tauck Value Includes

* Spectacular rail journeys through the Andes from Cusco to Lake Titicaca aboard a vintage rail car on the “Andean Explorer,” and to Machu Picchu aboard “Vistadome”

* A private family-hosted hacienda dinner in Lima and a private dinner at Bolivia’s National Art Museum in La Paz

* A performance based on Quechua & Inca mythology by the renowned Peruvian folkloric group, Kusiwasi

* Visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites including Cusco, historic Lima, Machu Picchu, and optional Nazca Lines flight

* A special cooking demonstration by a Peruvian chef; luncheon and Paso horse demonstration at Wayra Ranch; private nature walks; excursion to Lake Titicaca’s floating reed islands

* Blessing of your journey by a local shaman in the Sacred Valley

* Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted

* 30 meals (12 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 9 dinners); gratuities to local guides, taxes, service charges, admission fees and porterage

Small Group Departures – Select small group departures averaging 24 Tauck guests, priced from $5755 per person double plus on-tour air; specific dates apply – inquire at time of booking.

Special Singles Savings  – save $300 (already reflected in above prices) on the single room price of select departure dates; specific dates apply – select “Singles Departures” in the pull-down menu above.

Costa Rica Adventure

2012 Prices from $2,690 for 8 Days – Tauck World Discovery

Active volcanoes, misty cloud forests, inland rivers, coffee plantations, tropical gardens and the mysterious jungle – all on an eco-rich Costa Rica travel adventure! Visits to a butterfly garden and serpentarium within Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, a float trip along an inland jungle river, and sightseeing excursions with expert naturalists offer insights into the region’s unique ecosystems, birds and wildlife. A lake cruise in the shadow of Volcano Arenal… stays at acclaimed eco-resorts… a guided tour of a working coffee plantation… your choice of a horseback ride, forest canopy tour, zip-line adventure, organic farm visit or spa treatment at Tizate Wellness Gardens… a visit with with a farm family that has lived on a jungle river for many generations… close-up views of a dizzying array of native flora and fauna… and an exclusive dinner at San José’s Museo del Oro are all among the highlights of Tauck’s Costa Rica travel experience!

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Itinerary

Day 1 Welcome to Costa Rica

Meals D

Your Costa Rica travel experience begins at 6:00 PM at the Hotel Bosque del Mar, Playa Hermosa in Guanacaste. A transfer from Liberia International Airport to the Hotel Bosque del Mar, Playa Hermosa in Guanacaste is included. Meet your Tauck Director and travel companions at the welcome reception followed by an à la carte dinner at your secluded Pacific Ocean resort as you begin your Costa Rica travel adventure.

Lodging

Hotel Bosque del Mar, Playa Hermosa

Day 2 From a trail ride to a soothing soak at Tizate Wellness Gardens

Meals B, L, D

Kick off your Costa Rica travel with a memorable day at Tizate Wellness Gardens Hot Springs & Spa, nestled within a dry tropical forest on the Tizate River near Rincon de la Vieja National Park. Take your choice of activities including a trail ride over mountainous terrain; a tour of the forest canopy; a thrilling zip-line adventure* over the river and through the trees; an organic farm visit; a relaxing massage in the spa; or a luxurious soak in a volcanically heated thermal pool.

Lodging

Hotel Bosque del Mar, Playa Hermosa

Day 3 Sky walk through the treetops in misty Monteverde

Meals B, L, D

Howler monkeys, agouti, sloths and toucans are just a few of the species you might spot as you join our expert naturalist to “sky walk” across suspension bridges through the tree canopies at Selvatura Park in Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, where you’ll spend the next two nights at Monteverde Lodge and become a part of the cloud forest’s unique ecology. Thousands of plant and animal species call the reserve home – with 400 bird species alone, including 30 hummingbird species – from monkeys to the Resplendent Quetzal. Before dinner this evening, a lecture by one of the original American Quaker settlers who created the cloud forest reserve in the 1950s gives you a new perspective on conservation.

Lodging

Monteverde Lodge

Day 4 Wildlife galore in marvelous Monteverde

Meals B, L, D

An exciting day of biodiversity awaits in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve! Meet a wide variety of reptiles at the Serpentarium, and see more than 50 of over an estimated 1,000 native Costa Rican butterfly species, including the stunning blue morpho, at the enclosed Butterfly Garden; our naturalists pass along their expert insights on the butterflies’ complex life cycles. The Hummingbird Gallery introduces you to several species of these fascinating birds, and you’ll see photos and slides by noted wildlife photographers. After lunch at Sofia featuring eclectic Costa Rican and fusion cuisine in a lovely tropical setting, spend the afternoon on a guided visit to a nearby private reserve; keep your binoculars at the ready to spot wildlife that may reveal themselves. Tonight, relax amidst the orchid-filled gardens of your eco-lodge, where your room boasts bay windows looking out on the cloud forest!

Lodging

Monteverde Lodge

Day 5 Lakes, volcanoes, a sky trek & a jungle resort

Meals B, L, D

Take in vistas of coffee plantations and cattle farms as your Costa Rica travel takes you to Lake Arenal in Arenal Volcano National Park, home to eight distinct biological zones as well as to Volcano Arenal, one of the world’s most active volcanoes – it’s been erupting continuously for over 40 years! Cruise across the lake to see the Lake Arenal Dam, and go for an exhilarating Sky Tram / Sky Trek in a jungle canopy, offering an opportunity to zip-line through the treetops of the rainforest for a fast-paced, bird’s-eye view of nature. Or keep your feet firmly planted on the ground for an informative guided rainforest walk. Continue to Tilajari Resort, where you’ll spend the next two nights nestled in a rainforest overlooking the San Carlos River.

Lodging

Tilajari Resort Hotel

Day 6 Meet a farm family as you float through the jungle

Meals B, L, D

Your Costa Rica travel adventure continues in the jungle today with a float trip* down the scenic Peñas Blancas River aboard a raft; your bilingual guide helps you look for wildlife ranging from sloths to crocodiles to giant iguanas along the shore. Meet a local farmer and his extended family who have lived on the river for generations; visit their private home for a glimpse of their daily life. Return to your resort in the heart of one of Costa Rica’s most richly diverse ecosystems for lunch, followed by an afternoon spent enjoying all there is to see and do – from swimming and playing tennis to strolling through botanical and butterfly gardens – as well as optional activities (available at additional cost) such as horseback riding, zip-line and rafting adventures, and a massage at the spa.

Lodging

Tilajari Resort Hotel

Day 7 Doka Estate, where coffee is king, and the treasures of San José

Meals B, L, D

There’s nothing like fine Costa Rican gourmet coffee… and you’ll get to see how it’s produced, from the seed to the cup, with your local guide on a tour of the Doka Estate coffee plantation, perched on the slopes of Alajuela Poas Volcano. Continue after lunch to the capital city of San José. You’ll have plenty to talk about with your Costa Rica travel companions tonight at Tauck’s exclusive farewell reception and dinner at the Museo del Oro (Gold Museum), home to a priceless collection of thousands of artifacts and artworks from the pre-Columbian period.

Lodging

Real InterContinental Hotel & Club Tower Costa Rica

Day 8 Adios, Costa Rica!

Meals B

Your Costa Rica travel adventure ends in San José. A transfer is included from Real InterContinental Hotel & Club Tower Costa Rica to San José’s Juan Santamaria International Airport. Allow 3 hours for flight check-in.

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2012 Prices from $2,690 for 8 Days

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Double

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Triple

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Tauck Value Includes

* Special, privately guided ecotourism experiences within Costa Rica’s renowned Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve and within the private Tilajari Reserve

* Choice of activities at Tizate Wellness Gardens ranging from a horseback ride, canopy tour or zip-line adventure to an organic farm visit, a massage or a soak in a thermal pool

* Exclusive farewell reception and dinner at the acclaimed Museo del Oro (Gold Museum) in San José

* Guided tour and lunch at Doka Estate coffee plantation

* Exotic wildlife viewing on a float trip along the Peñas Blancas River and a Lake Arenal cruise

* Visits to the private home of a local farmer and Monteverde Reserve’s Serpentarium & Butterfly Garden

* Two-night stays at acclaimed “eco-resorts” in the heart of Costa Rica’s rainforests

* Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted

* All meals – 20 (7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners); gratuities to local guides, taxes, service charges, admission fees and porterage

Small Group Departures – Select small group departures averaging 24 Tauck guests, priced from $3290 per person double; specific dates apply – ask at booking

The Rhine and Moselle – Northbound

2012 Prices from $4,890 for 13 Days – Tauck Cruising

So many delights lie along the Rhine and Moselle rivers – let us share them with you on a 12-night cruise between Amsterdam and Basel aboard ms Swiss Sapphire. From Switzerland to the Netherlands, through Germany, France and Luxembourg, see the marriage of French and German culture in Strasbourg; mingle with jet setters in Baden-Baden; enjoy lunch at a grand hotel overlooking Bonn and the Rhine; check out the ancient university town of Heidelberg, 2,000-year-old Boppard, and medieval masterpieces like Bernkastel, Trier and Cochem. Pay tribute to those who fell in the Battle of the Bulge at the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial; get a true taste of Europe with regional specialties, local wines and folk traditions; and on select departures August through October, visit the once-in-a-decade floral wonders of Floriade! It’s all waiting for you aboard Tauck’s most enchanting of Moselle and Rhine river tours.

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Itinerary

Day 1 Willkommen nach Basel

Meals D

Tour begins: 4:00 PM, Basel, Switzerland. A transfer is included from Basel-Mulhouse International Airport to the ms Swiss Sapphire. Your cruise begins when all guests check in at 4:00 PM.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 2 Walking tour of Old Town Basel

Meals B, L, D

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.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

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

Meals B, L, D

Awaken in 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.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

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

Meals B, L, D

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.”

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 5 Heidelberg, realm of “The Student Prince”

Meals B, L, D

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.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 6 Cruising the Middle Rhine Valley

Meals B, L, D

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.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 7 In the shadow of Reichsburg Castle

Meals B, L, D

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.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 8 History galore in Bernkastel and Luxembourg

Meals B, L, D

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.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 9 Trier and the rhythm of the river

Meals B, L, D

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.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 10 The many faces of Bonn

Meals B, L, D

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 used to host visiting dignitaries, set in a spectacular location overlooking Bonn and the Rhine.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

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

Meals B, L, D

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.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 12 All about Amsterdam

Meals B, L, D

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 the famed Rijksmuseum, home to one of the world’s most important collections of artwork by the Dutch Masters, including Rembrandt’s The Night Watch. 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.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 13 Journey’s end

Meals B

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.

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2012 Prices from $4,890 for 13 Days

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Double

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Triple

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Tauck Value Includes

* Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director

* All private Tauck shore excursions – a $605 Value!

* Insider tour of the Gothic-Renaissance Heidelberger Schloss, a cable car ride and lunch at a popular local restaurant

* Wine tasting at a family-owned winery in Cochem

* A scenic cruise along the canals of Amsterdam

* A very special luncheon in Bonn at a historic grand hotel overlooking the River Rhine

* A guided tour in Luxembourg and a visit to the American War Cemetery and Memorial

* Excursion to De Hoge Veluwe National Park and the Kroller-Muller Museum to view world-famous art

* Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted

* All meals (12 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 12 dinners); select meals in local restaurants; wine with dinner on the riverboat; service charges, taxes, porterage, and applicable fuel surcharges

Special Singles Savings – $1000 per cabin (reflected in prices above) on July 22 and October 18 departures. Certain restrictions apply; ask at time of booking.

Visit the Floriade – Cruise departures of August 31, September 12, September 24, October 6 and October 18 will visit the Floriade; ask at booking.

Tours of August 31 and October 6 will not visit the Kröller-Müller Museum.

The Blue Danube – Eastbound

2012 Prices from $4,290 for 12 Days – Tauck Cruising

Glide past fairy-tale castles and medieval villages aboard Tauck’s ms Swiss Jewel and ms Treasures  (new-for-2011), on this popular Danube River cruise. Explore Prague, Vienna, Salzburg, Cesky Krumlov, Bratislava and Budapest – plus the castle-studded Wachau Valley – taking in views of the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary. Attend a private Imperial evening with dinner and music at a palace in Vienna… a wine tasting in Dürnstein… spend a day in Mozart’s Salzburg or medieval Cesky Krumlov… take an exclusive private tour of Baroque monastery libraries in Prague… discuss contemporary issues and historic events in Slovakia with a resident expert… and enjoy evenings of cultural entertainment on and off your riverboat. In Vienna, see the Imperial apartments at the Hofburg or tour opulent Schönbrunn Palace. Admire frescoes, stained glass windows, and stunning architecture as you spend two nights each in Budapest and Prague in city-center hotels, checking out remarkable bridges, cathedrals, museums, and grand Habsburg palaces… it’s a Danube River cruise to remember!

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Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Prague

Meals D

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, ranked among the Top 100 Best Luxury Hotels of the World. Tauck brings you inside Prague’s soaring cathedrals and city architectural riches with sightseeing hosted by local guides. Begin your amazing Danube river cruise with a royal welcoming reception, tour and dinner at 16th-century Lobkowicz Palace at Prague Castle. Immerse in an evening of classical cultural treasures – music and art played an important role in the aristocratic world of the Lobkowicz family.

Lodging

Prague Marriott Hotel

Day 2 Behind-the-scenes in Prague

Meals B

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. Exquisite European architecture awaits on a guided excursion that takes you to the Hradcany (Castle) district and the magnificent Gothic Cathedral of St. Vitus – an exclusive private tour of the grand libraries of Strahov Monastery is a highlight. Spend time at leisure exploring the courtyards and squares of Prague’s winding cobblestone streets, or join us on a walking tour through ethereal Old Town; see the famous Astronomical Clock, Tyn Church, iconic 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. Tomorrow – your Danube river cruise begins.

Lodging

Prague Marriott Hotel

Day 3 Ancient Regensburg / Danube River cruise begins

Meals B, D

Drive to the quintessential Bavarian 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 famous 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.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 4 A picturesque day in Passau

Meals B, L, D

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 14th-century origins, murals on the façade and a glockenspiel in the tower; and visit St. Stephan’s Cathedral, home to a magnificent pipe organ that is one of the world’s largest. Return to the riverboat for lunch as Tauck’s Danube river cruise continues to Linz, Austria.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 5 Salzburg… or Cesky Krumlov

Meals B, L, D

Your boat stays docked in Linz today, with a choice of how you spend your day – full-day excursions to Salzburg (Austria) or Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic. Salzburg is the hometown of Austria’s beloved composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The setting for The Sound of Music, Salzburg is a parade of beautiful Baroque architecture, painted wrought-iron signage, ornate church towers and grand palaces. You’ll visit Mozart’s birthplace and the very cleverly designed Mirabell Gardens, with some free time in Salzburg before rejoining the riverboat for dinner. Alternatively, travel through beautiful wine-producing country to Cesky Krumlov. This town has earned its place on the UNESCO World Heritage Site roster – and that’s the entire town – due to its incredibly well-preserved medieval heritage. A walking tour includes Krumlov Castle; the many steps are worth it to get a look at the mix of medieval, Renaissance and Rococo designs. Free time precedes your return to the riverboat for dinner; your riverboat stays docked in Linz this evening.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 6 Wachau Valley cruise and Dürnstein

Meals B, L, D

Your Danube River cruise continues through the Wachau Valley, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well-preserved medieval landscapes. Dock in Dürnstein for a closer look at its 16th-century Baroque houses and 13th-century Romanesque church on a walking tour along cobblestone streets. If you wish, take an invigorating climb up the steps 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 during a wine tasting at an authentic Austrian tavern. Depart early evening for Vienna.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 7 Music and more in Imperial Vienna

Meals B, L, D

Your riverboat arrives overnight in Vienna, Austria, where you’ll get an overview of this former capital of the old Habsburg Empire – and one of Europe’s grandest cities – on a brief morning sightseeing tour where you’ll see the Ringstrasse, the Opera House, City Hall and Parliament. A choice of sightseeing today features a tour of the Habsburgs’ Schönbrunn Palace, an architectural masterpiece and Austrian cultural treasure, or the amazing Imperial Apartments at the Hofburg, Austria’s official presidential residence. Nothing quite compares to the royal treatment – and pageantry – you will experience tonight at our private Imperial Evening in a historic Viennese palace. Welcome cocktails and dinner precede a spectacle of beautiful ball gowns, and a musical performance that celebrates the rich legacy of Mozart… an unforgettable highlight of your Danube River cruise!

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 8 Along the Danube to ancient Slovakia

Meals B, L, D

Pursue your own interests this morning in glorious Vienna – which boasts over a hundred museums of all kinds, magnificent boulevards, the intriguing Prater – and then return to the riverboat to continue your Danube River cruise to Slovakia. Dinner tonight introduces you to a glimpse of daily life in Slovakia with a taste of regional cuisine and an on-board performance by a talented troupe of Slovakian dancers.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 9 Baroque in Bratislava

Meals B, L, D

Martin Sloboda, our resident expert, takes you inside contemporary Slovakia and Bratislava for a look at politics, the economy, religion, the social order, preservation and emergence of the arts, and much more prior to a walking tour of this cobblestoned, vehicle-free city. See 17 centuries of history eloquently chronicled in its 13th-century Old Town Hall, Baroque Habsburg-era palaces, the Opera House, Slovak Philharmonic Hall, and St. Martin’s Cathedral, site of the coronation of many Hungarian kings and queens, and sample some of Slovakia’s delectable almond pastry at a local café. After some exploring on your own, return to the riverboat and celebrate your memorable Danube river cruise with the Captain and crew at the Captain’s shipboard farewell reception and dinner tonight.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 10 A river cruise ends and two nights in Budapest begin

Meals B, L

Your extraordinary Danube River cruise ends this morning in Budapest, Hungary, which is 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 (may be closed on some days due to services). After lunch at a local café, spend the rest of the day pursuing what interests you most in Budapest.

Lodging

Budapest Marriott Hotel

Day 11 Discover the landmarks of Pest and dine at the Akademia Club

Meals B, D

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 afternoon exploring what interests you most in Budapest; you may want to stroll along fashionable Váci Utca, one of the city’s grandest boulevards. Budapest has acquired quite an excellent reputation for its cuisine; tonight’s special farewell dinner is at the grand Akademia Club in the Hungarian Academy of Sciences – a fitting finale to Tauck’s enriching Danube river cruise.

Lodging

Budapest Marriott Hotel

Day 12 Homeward bound

Meals B

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

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2012 Prices from $4,290 for 12 Days

Single

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Double

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Triple

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Tauck Value Includes

* Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director

* All private Tauck shore excursions – $785 Value!

* Two nights each in Prague and Budapest at centrally located hotels in the heart of the cities

* Tauck Exclusive – Private Imperial Evening at a palace in Vienna featuring dinner and Viennese performers

* Tauck Exclusive – Private aperitif and dinner in Prague at Lobkowicz Palace, Prague Castle

* Tauck Exclusive – A private tour of Prague’s Baroque libraries, Strahov Monastery

* Choice in Vienna: Schönbrunn Palace or the Imperial Apartments at the Hofburg

* Choice of a full day in Salzburg or Cesky Krumlov

* Evenings of local performing artists and classical music aboard the riverboat

* Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted

* 27 meals (11 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 9 dinners); select meals in local restaurants; wine with dinner on the riverboat; service charges, taxes, porterage, and applicable fuel surcharges

Special Singles Savings – $1000 per cabin (reflected in prices above) on May 31, July 26, August 23 and October 18 departures. Certain restrictions apply; ask at time of booking.

The Black Sea to Budapest – Westbound

2012 Prices from $4,590 for 12 Days – Tauck Cruising

Chart a leisurely course on this romantic lower Danube cruise aboard Tauck’s new-for-2011 premium riverboat ms Treasures, exploring the rich cultural legacies of Central Europe’s ancient heart. Glide past medieval monasteries, citadels and villages, and through the Iron Gate of the Danube. Attend a Romanian folk wedding performance on the Black Sea coast, learn all about paprika in Hungary, and examine one of the finest Baroque libraries in Europe. Listen to Béla Bartók’s piano music at a recital in his Budapest home, and choose to visit a Transylvanian castle or the isolated island monastery where the original Dracula is said to be entombed. Share homemade refreshments in the home of a Croatian family rebuilding their lives in postwar Vukovar, and enjoy a private reception in a Belgrade palace that’s home to Serbia’s crown prince! Tauck’s memorable Danube cruise winds its way through Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania, and is complemented by two nights on land at ideally located hotels in Budapest and Bucharest.

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Itinerary

Day 1 Begin your Danube cruise in Bucharest

Meals D

Tour starts at 6:00 PM at the JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel. A transfer is included from Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport to the JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel in the heart of the city. Meet your fellow travelers and Tauck Directors at tonight’s welcome reception and dinner at your hotel, ideally located adjacent to Bucharest’s monumental People’s Palace.

Lodging

JW Marriott Bucharest Grand

Day 2 Castles and monasteries in Romania

Meals B, L

A choice of sightseeing in Romania features the legacy of Vlad Tepes (a.k.a. “Vlad the Impaler”), the historical model for the character of Dracula. Take a full-day trip to tour Bran Castle in Transylvania, which the 15th-century prince once used as a fortress during his military campaigns. Alternatively, take a morning visit by boat to isolated Snagov Monastery, set on a tiny island in the middle of a lake, said to be the infamous Tepes’ final resting place; stop at Caldarusani Monastery, home to centuries-old art, before returning to Bucharest for an afternoon spent as you please. Enjoy a free evening tonight – there is lots of great dining in Bucharest!

Lodging

JW Marriott Bucharest Grand

Day 3 Bucharest or the Black Sea before boarding

Meals B, L, D

More choices in sightseeing – and the start of your lower Danube cruise – await you today. Before embarking your riverboat, you can choose to explore Bucharest with our local guides, seeing Revolution Square and the Triumphal Arch, and visit the massive People’s Palace, home to the Romanian Parliament and the world’s second-largest building after the Pentagon. Or drive to Romania’s popular Black Sea coast – first to Eforie Nord for lunch at a traditional Romanian folk wedding performance, then to the port city of Constanta. Here, in what was originally the ancient Greek colony of Tomis, you’ll view numerous Greek and Roman antiquities, an Art-Nouveau casino, and a monument to the Roman poet Ovid, who spent years in exile here. Continue on to Cernavoda and board your riverboat to launch your lower Danube cruise.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 4 Big day in Bulgaria

Meals B, L, D

Arrive in Ruse, Bulgaria, for excursions to nearby towns. In Arbanassi, known for its richly ornamented architecture, you’ll have an opportunity to visit the Archangels Michael & Gabriel Church and the historic Konstant-Salieva House. Continue on to Bulgaria’s medieval capital of Veliko Turnovo, whose ancient walled fortress and castle are set atop three hills overlooking the Yantra River. Rejoin the riverboat in Svishtov; enjoy traditional cuisine for dinner and a Bulgarian cultural performance aboard ship this evening.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 5 Danube cruising, iconography and a visit to Vidin

Meals B, L, D

Kick back and enjoy the views of fields and vineyards studded with medieval towns as your riverboat cruises the Danube through the scenic heartland of Eastern Europe today. Learn all about imagery and symbolism in Iconography during an on-board lecture and demonstration in Vidin, where you can join us for a walking tour through its cobblestone streets and a visit to the imposing Baba Vida fortress. Bulgaria’s best-preserved medieval castle, it dates back a thousand years and is named for the legendary Danubian princess said to have built it – its name means “Granny Vida.”

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 6 King Decebalus and the Iron Gate of the Danube

Meals B, L, D

On another relaxing day on your Danube cruise, sail along the Bulgarian / Romanian border, enjoying great views of the Transylvanian Alps. As you cruise, keep an eye out for a kingly face carved into the Danube’s rocky bank on the Romanian side; it’s a monument to the 2nd-century Dacian King Decebalus, who defended his kingdom from the invading Romans – and it’s the tallest rock sculpture in Europe. Glide through Romania’s Kazan Narrows and the Iron Gate of the Danube, a spectacular two-mile-long series of gorges between the Carpathian and Balkan Mountains, en route to Serbia.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 7 Serbian history & culture in Belgrade

Meals B, L, D

Dock in Belgrade, Serbia’s modern capital at the juncture of the Danube and Sava rivers. Sightseeing includes visits to Tito’s Memorial and the formidable Kalemegdan Fortress, and views of St. Sava Church, busy Slavija Square (now one of the city’s major squares, but once a large pool where residents hunted wild ducks!), Parliament, Republic Square and City Hall. Following a Serbian lunch at Milos Palace, a former royal residence, enjoy a special private reception at the Royal Palace of Dedinje in Belgrade, built in the 1920s and now home to HRH Crown Prince Alexander II of Serbia and his family. Return to the riverboat, where a Serbian folkloric group entertains you this evening.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 8 Understanding Croatia’s history in Vukovar

Meals B, L, D

Your Danube cruise crosses the border from Serbia to Croatia and arrives in historic Vukovar. Preceded by an onboard lecture on Croatia’s turbulent history by a local expert, your tour of this venerable 10th-century city – once showcasing opulent 18th-century Baroque mansions, but now a mix of old and new – poignantly symbolizes the effects of the 1990s war. Visit with a Vukovar family who have recently returned to resume their lives in the city after the conflict, as they share homemade refreshments with you in their private home. You’ll have some time at leisure in Vukovar before the riverboat continues on to Hungary tonight.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 9 Paprika, architecture and culture in Hungary

Meals B, L, D

Continue your lower Danube cruise to Kalocsa, Hungary – known for its folk art and its paprika – where you’ll learn about the production and history in Hungary of this popular spice made from bell peppers at the Paprika House. Visit the beautiful Rococo library in the Baroque Bishop’s Palace in Kalocsa, housing one of the finest early collections in Europe, and enjoy a tasting of local vintages at Hungarian winery. Tonight, attend the Captain’s farewell cocktail reception and dinner aboard ship as your Danube cruise draws to a close.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 10 Disembark the Riverboat and explore Budapest

Meals B

Bid your Danube cruise – along with your Captain and crew – farewell as you disembark the riverboat in Budapest. Your exploration of the Hungarian capital, once the independent cities of Buda and Pest, begins in Pest with a visit to St. Stephen’s Basilica, the city’s neo-Renaissance cathedral, and continues with views of 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 and tree-lined Andrassy Avenue. Stop to browse at Central Market Hall before checking into your hotel; the rest of the day and evening is at your leisure in Budapest.

Lodging

Le Meridien Budapest

Day 11 The legacy of Bartók & more landmarks of Budapest

Meals B, D

In Budapest this morning, check out the musical legacy of composer Béla Bartók at a museum and memorial housed in his 1924 home on the outskirts of Buda, and listen to his melodies in a piano recital.  Revisit Budapest’s World War II and Cold War days at the Sziklakórház (“Hospital in the Rock”), a re-creation of underground military medical and facilities in a former secret bunker and hospital hidden below Buda Castle. Walk up to Castle Hill, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with your local guide to see architectural landmarks including Fishermen’s Bastion. After time to explore this fascinating city as you please, we invite you to join us at this evening’s farewell reception and dinner at the Akademia Club in the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

Lodging

Le Meridien Budapest

Day 12 Homeward bound

Meals B

Your lower Danube cruise tour ends in Budapest, Hungary. Fly home anytime; a transfer is included from Le Méridien Budapest to Budapest’s Ferihegy Airport. Allow 3 hours for departure flight check-in.

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2012 Prices from $4,590 for 12 Days

Single

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Double

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Triple

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Tauck Value Includes

* Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director

* All private Tauck shore excursions – $614 Value!

* Two nights at a hotel in Budapest and two nights in Bucharest at a hotel next to Parliament

* Visit with a Croatian family in their private home in Vukovar

* Private piano performance on a visit to the Béla Bartók Memorial House in Budapest

* Visits to Bucharest’s massive People’s Palace and to the Baroque Bishop’s Palace Library in Hungary

* Private visit to the Royal Palace of Dedinje in Belgrade, once home to Serbian kings

* Passage through the celebrated Iron Gate, a dramatic series of gorges and narrows on the Danube River

* Choice of Romanian excursions – to Bran Castle in Transylvania, or to Snagov Monastery, reputed burial place of the original Dracula, and Caldarusani Monastery

* Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted

* 28 meals (11 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 9 dinners); wine with dinner on the riverboat; service charges, taxes, porterage, and applicable fuel surcharge

Special Singles Savings – $1000 per cabin (reflected in prices above) on August 19 departure. Certain restrictions apply; ask at time of booking.

Musical Magic Along the Blue Danube

2012 Prices From $4,890 for 12 Days – Tauck Cruising

Join Tauck’s “maestros” to walk in the footsteps of musical giants like Mozart, Beethoven, Bartók, Schubert, Liszt, Strauss, Haydn and others as you cruise the Blue Danube on a 12-day trip through the heart of Europe including a 7-night cruise aboard ms Swiss Jewel. Visit homes these musical greats lived and composed in, concert halls and palaces where they performed and more… enveloped by their glorious music throughout a magical journey chock full of Tauck Exclusives! Along with your Tauck Cruise Director and Tauck Directors, your cruise is accompanied throughout by Tauck’s “maestros.” Active music scholars and performers, our maestros include current doctoral candidates in music history who are passionate and knowledgeable about European music and the destinations you’ll visit. They’ll guide your explorations ashore and enrich your onboard experience with interactive music workshops, seminars and performances.

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Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Budapest

Meals D

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Budapest Marriott Hotel. A transfer is included from Budapest’s Ferihegy Airport to the Budapest Marriott Hotel. Your musical odyssey begins when you meet your fellow travelers at Tauck’s exclusive welcome reception and dinner at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, accompanied by a local trio performing traditional Hungarian music.

Lodging

Budapest Marriott Hotel

Day 2 Discovering Franz Liszt’s Budapest

Meals B

Statues of Mozart, Beethoven, Verdi and Liszt greet you at the 1884 State Opera House in Pest; expect some surprises on a guided tour of this neo-Renaissance masterpiece, including the private box of Habsburg Empress Elisabeth (“Sisi”). Join us for a private tour of Franz Liszt’s reconstructed Budapest flat, where he lived between 1881 and 1886; you’ll see many of the beloved Hungarian composer and piano virtuoso’s instruments, scores and personal effects. After time sightseeing or rehearsing with our guest choir, join us for a performance at one of Budapest’s premier concert venues, boasting superb acoustics.

Lodging

Budapest Marriott Hotel

Day 3 Bartók & more… and your cruise begins

Meals B, D

Head to Buda for a walking tour and time to check out the Museum of Music History, whose exhibits portray centuries of Hungarian musical life in a former palace on Castle Hill. Next, the legacy of Béla Bartók lives on in his 1924 home, now a museum and memorial dedicated to the composer and musicologist; hear his melodies in a piano recital during your visit. Embark your Tauck riverboat at the dock in Budapest; meet the Captain and crew at tonight’s reception and dinner, where Tauck’s “maestros” welcome you aboard with a musical performance!

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 4 Bratislava, City of Prodigies

Meals B, L, D

After a morning’s cruise with lectures, workshops and a guest choir rehearsal, arrive in Bratislava, Slovakia, the Baroque stomping grounds of great musical prodigies. A walking tour features an exclusive behind-the-scenes visit to the 1886 Opera House, where you’ll meet a former director. Stroll down a lane where 6-year-old Mozart performed and 9-year-old Liszt played across the street 58 years later – around the corner, 30 years after that, one of Liszt’s young students inspired him to write a sonata for the boy! There’s a treat in store on your visit to the Primate’s Palace; tonight, attend an interactive traditional Slovak wedding dinner filled with music and dance at a 16th-century winery.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 5 Vienna, Austria… A Musical Feast

Meals B, L, D

If you had to choose only one European city to musically explore, Vienna – home to Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms and Strauss – would be it! Get your bearings on a city tour, then choose a visit to Schönbrunn Palace of the Habsburgs, or join us for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at world-famous Bösendorfer pianos at their salon in the celebrated Musikverein concert hall. View custom-made instruments, and discuss the Viennese “klang” piano sound that Bösendorfer has preserved through the centuries. Enjoy a tour of the Musikverein, explore on your own and have an early dinner before a performance tonight at the Staatsoper (Vienna State Opera), where Mahler and Strauss made musical history, or at an alternate venue in magical Vienna (subject to opening and performance availability).

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 6 A tale of an orchestra & a palace

Meals B, L, D

Vienna springs to musical life on a day featuring a pair of Tauck Exclusives. First, sit in on a rehearsal at beautiful Auersperg Palace as an orchestra prepares for a performance. Later, nothing quite compares to the royal treatment you’ll receive at Tauck’s private Imperial Evening in the historic Palais Pallavicini, an incomparable setting for welcome cocktails and apéritifs, an amazing dinner, an orchestra, ballet, Mozart – Tauck’s Vienna at its best!

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 7 Melk Abbey & some musical cruising

Meals B, L, D

Melk Abbey, a beautiful Benedictine monastery complex overlooking the Danube, has been a significant center of learning and culture since its founding over 900 years ago. Get a sense of the importance of music to the abbey’s cultural life through the ages as you tour its lovely Baroque buildings dating to the early 18th century, which often host concerts and musicals today. Back on the riverboat, enjoy lectures by our Maestros, a guest choir rehearsal, and an onboard concert by trio Donau Klang.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 8 Everything Mozart in Salzburg

Meals B, L, D

Picture a boy of 5 wowing a royal audience with his piano virtuosity… then crawling up on the lap of the Empress of half of Europe, and giving her a kiss! That was little Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, born in Salzburg in 1756. Walk in his footsteps today on an excursion from Linz to his Baroque hometown, visiting his birthplace, among other locations – and enjoying lunch and informal scenes from his operas at the centuries-old Stiftskeller St. Peter, where the composer himself may have dined. Following time to explore Salzburg – where much of The Sound of Music was filmed – at leisure, return to the ship for dinner, guest choir rehearsal and karaoke with a twist!

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 9 Organ Music in Passau & cruising

Meals B, L, D

Dock in Passau, Germany, to visit St. Stephan’s Cathedral, home to Europe’s largest pipe organ, for an interactive tour and demonstration of this amazing instrument. En route to Regensburg, enjoy seminars, workshops, a guest choir rehearsal, and an evening of musical trivia fun!

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 10 Regensburg and on to Prague

Meals B

Disembark ms Swiss Jewel in Regensburg, Germany’s largest surviving medieval city, where walking is a delight; a local guide leads the way to Germany’s oldest stone bridge, the Altes Rathaus, and Gothic Dom St. Peter, home to the world-renowned Regensburger Domspatzen boys’ choir. Explore and enjoy lunch on your own, perhaps sampling some of Regensburg’s famous Bavarian sausage, before traveling to historic Prague for a two-night stay.

Lodging

Prague Marriott Hotel

Day 11 Beethoven, Mozart & More in Prague

Meals B, D

Many musical giants have left their mark on beautiful Prague, as you’ll discover on a walking tour of the Czech capital’s medieval Old Town. See the Estates Theatre, where Mozart himself conducted the premiere of his opera Don Giovanni, and enjoy free time in Prague this afternoon. Tonight, it’s a final Tauck Exclusive: view original Beethoven manuscripts as a string quartet plays the composer’s works during a private evening in Lobkowicz Palace at Prague Castle. Your memorable evening includes a reception, dinner, concert, tour of the Lobkowicz family collection and our guest choir performance!

Lodging

Prague Marriott Hotel

Day 12 Head Home With A Song in Your Heart

Meals B

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2012 Prices From $4,890 for 12 Days

Single

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Double

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Triple

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Tauck Value Includes

* Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors, Tauck Cruise Director and “Maestros”

* All private Tauck shore excursions – $1,385 Value!

* Tauck Exclusive – Interactive onboard workshops, seminars and performances by Tauck’s “maestros”

* Tauck Exclusive – A Q&A session with a former opera director at the historic Opera House in Bratislava

* Tauck Exclusive – Interactive Folk Wedding, dinner and musical performance at 15th-century Slovakian winery

* Tauck Exclusive – Private Imperial Evening at a Vienna palace with gala dinner and performance

* Tauck Exclusive – Behind-the-scenes visit to the Bösendorfer piano salon & to Vienna’s Musikverein

* Tauck Exclusive – Private gala dinner, tour & concert at Lobkowicz Palace featuring Beethoven’s original scores

* Performance at a premier concert venue in Budapest

* Music-themed sightseeing in Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Salzburg, Prague and other cities

* Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted

* 26 meals (11 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 9 dinners); select meals ashore, and wine with all dinners on the riverboat; service charges, taxes, porterage and applicable fuel surcharges

French Waterways and Vineyards

2012 Prices From $4,590 for 10 Days – Tauck Cruising

When it comes to France cruises, it’s hard to imagine a more enjoyable one than gliding along the Rhône through the vineyard country from which come some of the world’s most exceptional wines. But first, spend two nights at the Hilton Arc de Triomphe Paris to explore as you please, and perhaps discover things you don’t yet know about the “City of Light.” After riding the high-speed TGV through the French countryside to Lyon, embark aboard the ms Swiss Emerald to begin this crème de la crème of France cruises. All along the river, centuries-old towns, each with its own unique personality, compete for your attention with winery visits to sample the unique flavors of the wines produced in different regions on the river’s banks. Add the pleasures of Provence in Avignon, Arles and Roussillon… and France cruises by riverboat don’t come any better!

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Itinerary

Day 1 Bonjour, Paris

Meals D

Tauck’s most memorable of France cruises begins at the Hilton Arc de Triomphe Paris at 6:00 PM. After our included transfer from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to your centrally located hotel, you may want to relax a while before joining us for our special welcome cocktail reception and dinner at le Fouquet’s on the Champs-Elysées, an iconic landmark for celebrity dining for over a century, followed by an Illuminations tour of the city’s glittering lights!

Lodging

Hilton Arc de Triomphe Paris

Day 2 A day of Parisian pleasures

Meals B

From the grand boulevards and manicured gardens of the Right Bank to the artsy Left Bank, favorite haunt of writers, dreamers and musicians, Parisian neighborhoods reflect the true essence of the city. Explore one of them with Tauck on a guided tour of le Marais, with its stately mansions, half-timbered houses, covered passageways, and narrow cobbled streets, visiting the Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis Church, Victor Hugo’s home, Hotel de Sully, Village Saint-Paul and la rue des Roisers, Paris’ medieval Jewish quarter. Then, Paris is yours to experience in whatever way pleases you for the rest of the day and evening. Perhaps you’ll visit one of the city’s lesser-known museums… a little jewel of a church tucked away on a quiet side street… or an agreeable sidewalk café for some Parisian-watching… and remember: in Paris, you’re never more than 400 meters from a subway station.

Lodging

Hilton Arc de Triomphe Paris

Day 3 Take the fast train to Lyon

Meals B, D

Enjoy the views from the TGV high-speed train en route to Lyon, set at the confluence of the rivers Saône and Rhône. There, board the ms Swiss Emerald and settle into your cabin before joining the Captain for his welcome reception and dinner as your cruise gets underway.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 4 There’s a lot to like in Lyon

Meals B, L, D

Lyon is considered the “culinary capital of France,” which is quite a compliment in a country famed for its cuisine and fine vintages. You’ll discover why during a city tour today, including a tasting lunch at the famous Les Halles de Lyon, the celebrated indoor food market that’s been a fixture in Lyon since 1850 and offers an unbelievable array of breads, cheeses, fresh fruits and vegetables, sausages, wines, chocolates… the list goes on. Everything is fresh and delicious, and it’s said that the best chefs in Lyon shop here; you’ll enjoy tastings of various goodies paired with appropriate wines! But Lyon is also a city with a venerable history and considerable charm, as you’ll discover when you visit Vieux Lyon, the old Renaissance part of the city that is both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the first protected historic district in France. Sightseeing also includes the Basilica of Notre-Dame-de-Fourvière, built atop the ruins of an ancient Roman forum. Then it’s off to the celebrated wine-growing region of Beaujolais for a tasting in the countryside before continuing your cruise to Vienne.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 5 A Roman history lesson & more in Vienne

Meals B, L, D

In the great course of human events, the Romans were somewhat latecomers in Vienne – it was founded by the Gauls – but the town still abounds with ruins they left revealing its life as a Roman colony along the Rhône, which you can explore on a walking tour and during time at leisure. There’s a temple erected by the Emperor Claudius; the remains of roads, ramparts, aqueducts and a theatre; and the pyramid-like Plan de l’Aiguille, which one legend says was Pontius Pilate’s tomb! And you’ll have hilltop castle ruins, two intact Romanesque churches and a Gothic cathedral to check out as well. ms Swiss Emerald cruises on to Avignon this afternoon.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 6 Avignon’s charms

Meals B, L, D

Although the fortified city of Avignon was undoubtedly a pleasant place before they arrived, the 13th-century popes, who spent less than a century here when Rome became “tedious” for them, really put it on the map, and cultivated the local wine industry (Châteauneuf-du-Pape). Sightseeing today includes the Palais du Papes, the vast, fortress-like palace that they built for themselves during that time.  After discovering more of Avignon on your own during leisure time this afternoon, visit the Pont du Gard – a famous Roman aqueduct over the River Gardon. This evening, this engineering marvel becomes the amazing backdrop for a special treat for Tauck guests only… an extraordinary Provençal-style dinner accompanied by fine local wines.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 7 Arles and other Provençal pleasures

Meals B, L, D

It may seem that the Romans were everywhere along the Rhône, and Arles in no exception.  Some impressive Roman monuments attest to that; the gladiators who once did battle here are gone, but structures like the arena in which they fought remains and is still a venue for performances and bull fights today. Later, the city successfully made the transition from ancient to medieval life, as you’ll see during today’s sightseeing and free time to look around on your own in Arles. Do take time to look beyond the city walls at the incredible quality of the light here that so enraptured van Gogh. You’ll also venture deeper into Provence today on a visit to the yellow-and-brown town of Roussillon, in the Luberon region. This is a place that is all about color, from the ochre cliffs surrounding the town to the purple of the lavender during its blooming season and the lush, green pine forests. Since the 12th century, the peaceful Romanesque Abbey de Senanque has stood watching over the countryside. You’ll have views of the abbey and – depending on the time of year – the lavender fields surrounding it, tended by the monks who still live in this ancient retreat. The riverboat heads for Viviers tonight.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 8 Medieval Viviers and on along the Rhône

Meals B, L, D

If medieval history and authentic period architecture are your thing, Viviers is your kind of place… because it’s one of the best-preserved medieval towns that you’re likely to see on France cruises. Its winding streets and lanes reveal what life might have been like here in the Middle Ages during a walking tour, including the town’s 12th-century cathedral. A leisurely afternoon cruise along the Rhône bound for Tournon-sur-Rhône and Tain l’Hermitage is the perfect opportunity to just kick back and let the rhythm of the river soothe you as you glide between its banks, enjoying a lecture by your Tauck Director and (weather permitting) a demonstration of the popular Provençal game of pétanque on the sun deck.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 9 Savory Secrets of the Rhône Valley

Meals B, L, D

Tournon-sur-Rhône is a perfect spot to start the final day of your Rhône cruise with a guided walking tour. Wind your way up to a vantage point in this medieval town and admire the views of lush Côtes du Rhône vineyards and dramatic river vistas. After lunch, journey to Valence for an education in epicurean delights; the town is a major hub for fresh Rhône Valley produce and home to some of the finest culinary artists in the country. At an award-winning restaurant and cooking school in town, attend a multi-course tasting presentation illustrating how seasonal ingredients, contrasting flavors and time-tested techniques are combined to create mouth-watering local specialties. You’ll also have time for a wine tasting in Tain-l’Hermitage, known for its chocolate and excellent Côtes du Rhône wines. Tonight, celebrate the conclusion of an extraordinary cruise at the Captain’s farewell reception and dinner aboard the riverboat.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 10 Homeward Bound

Meals B

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2012 Prices From $4,590 for 10 Days

Single

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Double

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Triple

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Quad

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Tauck Value Includes

* Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director

* All private Tauck shore excursions – $985 Value!

* Reception and dinner at le Fouquet’s in Paris, followed by an Illuminations tour

* Ride in first-class from Paris to Lyon aboard the TGV

* Private wine tasting at a  Beaujolais vineyard

* A walking tour of historic Vieux Lyon and included tastings at Les Halles de Lyon in France’s culinary capital of Lyon

* Tasting presentation featuring seasonal ingredients and local techniques at an award-winning gourmet cooking school

* Wine tasting in the Rhône Valley

* Regional culinary and wine tastings aboard your riverboat

* Provençal dinner overlooking the famous Pont du Gard

* Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted

* 23 meals (9 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 8 dinners); select meals in local restaurants; wine with dinner on the riverboat; service charges, taxes, porterage, and applicable fuel surcharges

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Special Single Savings – $1000 per cabin – on April 18, May 27, August 24 and October 20 departures. Certain restrictions apply; ask at time of booking.

Culinary & Wine Experiences – While all departures of this cruise celebrate regional cuisine and wines, the April 25, June 28, August 17 & October 20 departures include additional culinary- and wine-themed experiences; ask at booking.

Family Departures – While children are welcome on all cruises, the June 21 and July 23 departures of this cruise are family-friendly departures; ask at booking.

Belgium & Holland Featuring Floriade – Northbound

2012 Prices From $3,890 for 10 Days – Tauck Cruising

Once every ten years, the Netherlands hosts Floriade – a World Horticulture Exposition showcasing garden-inspired exhibits from around the globe. In 2012, a full day visit to Floriade’s “theatre of nature” in Venlo is a highlight of our riverboat cruise through the inland waterways of Belgium and Holland aboard ms Swiss Sapphire, ms Swiss Jewel or new-for-2011 ms Treasures – making your ringside seat for nature’s colorful show that much more spectacular! Check out the Aalsmeer Flower Auction and visit Keukenhof Gardens or Haarlem in Holland’s bulb country. Take a private cruise through Amsterdam’s canals and experience the past at the Zuiderzee Museum. Taste Belgian beer, observe cheese-weighing in Gouda and porcelain-making in Delft, and enjoy an interactive culinary experience at Château Neercanne – a Tauck Exclusive! Tour renowned art museums and World War II sites, and visit Bruges or Ghent, Brussels, Amsterdam, Antwerp, the Hague and more on one of our most popular European river cruises.

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Itinerary

Day 1 Welcome to Brussels

Meals D

Tour begins at 7:00 PM at the Conrad Brussels. Upon arrival, a transfer is included from Brussels Airport to the Conrad Brussels, your grand hotel situated on fashionable Avenue Louise in the heart of the city. Tonight, join us for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner to kick off one of our enjoyable European river cruises.

Lodging

Conrad Brussels

Day 2 Discover Bruges or Ghent, and your cruise begins

Meals B, D

On a choice of sightseeing today in Belgium’s Flanders region, you can take an excursion to historic Bruges, one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval cities, the birthplace of Flemish painting and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, viewing its celebrated architecture on a walking tour through cobbled lanes, along quaint canals and over arched bridges. Or travel with Tauck to Ghent and discover a wealth of Gothic architectural details on a visit to St. Baafskathedral, home to one of Europe’s most remarkable paintings – Jan van Eyck’s 1432 masterwork, The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb. Travel to Antwerp, where you’ll board your riverboat and sample Belgian beer and cuisine at a buffet dinner of regional delights.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 3 Antwerp & the Albert Canal

Meals B, L, D

See Antwerp’s grand 1905 Centraal railway station, opera house, and city park during a half-day sightseeing tour of this key Belgian port city on this most enjoyable of European river cruises. Also visit the historic Jewish quarter, among the largest Jewish communities in Europe. 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 crew for the Captain’s welcome reception followed by a discovery briefing and a welcome dinner aboard ship.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 4 Magic of Maastricht & Château Neercanne

Meals B, L, D

Among the Netherlands’ oldest cities, 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 country. Pay your respects at the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, 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.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 5 A memorable day at the Floriade in Venlo

Meals B, L, D

Enjoy a once-in-a-decade opportunity to become “a part of the theatre in nature” as you spend the entire day in the floral wonderland known as Floriade – held every 10 years in the Netherlands to showcase green-inspired pavilions and garden exhibits created by over a hundred horticultural businesses from more than 25 different nations around the world. Tauck includes a full day at the 2012 Floriade in the Dutch border town of Venlo, celebrating visions of a greener world, on departures between April and October. If you wish, you can also explore the town of Venlo on a walking tour, then take a drive on Tauck’sYellow Roads along the “route of the roses” before returning to the riverboat for dinner.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 6 WWII history or nature & van Gogh in Arnhem

Meals B, L, D

Choose between two excursions after your riverboat docks in Arnhem today. You can tour battle sites associated with the World War II airborne assault on Arnhem and visit the Airborne Museum, located in a former Allied divisional headquarters in Oosterbeek. Alternatively, you may choose to explore 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 cruise to Schoonhaven; La Strada performs aboard the riverboat this evening.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 7 Delft porcelain, Gouda cheese & Den Haag

Meals B, L, D

Dutch cheese, renowned pottery and The Hague are spotlighted on your travels through Holland’s iconic countryside today. The charming town of Gouda takes its name from its home-produced cheese; visit a cheese-weighing facility and taste this traditional food favorite before some time to explore on your own. After lunch, travel to Delft to tour the famous porcelain factory where this distinctive blue and white tin-glazed pottery is made; the town has changed little since 1660, when Vermeer painted his View of Delft. Take to the Yellow Roads again to coastal Den Haag (The Hague) and its impressive sand dunes, upon which The Hague, known today as the seat of Dutch government, was originally built. Continue cruising to Amsterdam.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 8 Amsterdam, the blooms of Keukenhof & Haarlem

Meals B, L, D

After arriving in the amazing Dutch capital of Amsterdam, journey to Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse (open only until May), where millions of blooming tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, lillies, crocuses and bluebells create colorful carpets of flowers every spring. Cruise departures through May will have an opportunity to visit the gardens; other departures will continue on to Haarlem via the Yellow Roads along the scenic flower route through Holland’s bulb country, bursting with colorful flowers from May through October. Spend the morning in Haarlem, Amsterdam’s “little sister city” where Dutch Masters including Frans Hals, Jacob van Ruisdael, and Pieter Saenredam painted many of their famous works, and now home to one of Holland’s premier art museums.  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. Please join us for our farewell dinner this evening.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 9 The Rijksmuseum & Amsterdam’s historic canals

Meals B, L, D

More of Amsterdam’s wonders await as one of Tauck’s unique European river cruises draws to a close. Early risers may want to check out the colorful sights and sounds of the Aaslmeer Flower Auction (closed weekends), the largest of its kind in the world, where more than 20 million flowers and plants are auctioned every weekday. Enjoy a guided city orientation tour of Amsterdam, including a private canal cruise through Amsterdam’s network of centuries-old waterways dating back to the Renaissance era. Admire masterpieces by Rembrandt and other Old Dutch Masters at the world-renowned Rijksmuseum and stroll through the Museumplein.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 10 Disembark for your journey home

Meals B

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2012 Prices From $3,890 for 10 Days

Single

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Double

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Triple

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Tauck Value Includes

* Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director

* All private Tauck shore excursions – $756 Value!

* Overnight stay in Brussels at the Conrad Brussels

* Tauck Exclusive: Interactive culinary experience at Château Neercanne, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

* Visits to the Floriade, Keukenhof Gardens or Haarlem, and the Aalsmeer Flower Auction

* A scenic cruise along Amsterdam’s canals

* View world-famous art at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam

* A cheese-weighing demonstration in Gouda and porcelain making in Delft

* Visits to the World War II Airborne Museum in Oosterbeek, or Arnhem’s Kröller-Müller Museum

* A visit to the Netherlands American Cemetery

* 25 meals (9 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 9 dinners); wine with dinner on the riverboat

* Service charges, taxes, porterage and applicable fuel surcharges

* Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted

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Special Singles Savings – $1000 per cabin – on April 1, 3 and July 1 departures. Certain restrictions apply; ask at booking.

Note: Tours of Apr 3, 6, 24 and Aug 3 will not visit Gouda Cheese Weighing Market. Tour of Apr 12 will not visit the Kröller-Müller Museum. Tours of Apr 6, 13 and Aug 3, 10 will not visit Aalsmeer Flower Auction. Tours of Jun 24, Jul 1, Aug 3, 10 will not visit Keukenhof Gardens.

French Escapade: Paris to Monte-Carlo – Southbound

2012 Prices From $5,790 for 14 Days – Tauck Cruising

If you’re dreaming of a France river cruise vacation, come along with us on our 14-day French Escapade: Paris to Monte-Carlo on the rivers Rhône and Saône… and enjoy Paris, Provence and Monte-Carlo as well. After two nights in glorious Paris – during which you’ll dine at chic Fouquet’s on the Champs-Élysées – travel through the countryside along the rivers past vineyards where some of the world’s best grapes become some of the world’s best wines, stopping to taste some of the finest of them. Discover river towns with Roman roots and lingering traces of medieval magic in their streets, experience the cowboy traditions and cuisine of La Camargue, and taste your way through the famous Les Halles de Lyon food market. Explore a palace fit for a pope and an abbey that was once one of the most powerful in Europe. Let the peace of the rivers lull you as ms Swiss Emerald glides along, bound for something new and wonderful every day. And then there are two nights in glittering Monte-Carlo to look forward to at the end of this France river cruise!

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Itinerary

Day 1 Bonjour, la belle France!

Meals D

Your France river cruise vacation begins at the Hilton Arc de Triomphe Paris at 6:00 PM. A transfer from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to this wonderfully situated hotel is included. After your arrival just relax or head out to do some exploring on your own before joining us to meet your Tauck Directors and fellow voyagers at a welcome cocktail reception and dinner to remember this evening at the exclusively chic Fouquet’s on the Champs-Élysées.

Lodging

Hilton Arc de Triomphe Paris

Day 2 Parisian pleasures

Meals B

Your day begins with an orientation tour to help you get your bearings and consider all the ways that you can enjoy the “City of Light” at your leisure and as you please for the rest of the day. Choose from a selection of the city’s finest museums, including Musée du Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay (subject to availability), to visit with admission included… or set off to discover all the pleasures of Paris in whatever you way you choose. Did you know that, in Paris, you’re never more than 400 meters from a subway station? How convenient!

Lodging

Hilton Arc de Triomphe Paris

Day 3 Beaune – trés bien… and embark your riverboat!

Meals B, D

This charming walled city in the Burgundy region calls itself the “Capital of Burgundy Wines,” and the many prestigious vineyards surrounding it whose very names make wine lovers salivate make that seem to be a very credible claim. Do sample of the area’s fine wines along with lunch on your own. Later, when you visit the Hospice de Beaune, the city’s best-known landmark, you’ll see that this place is about far more than just wine. Receiving its first patient in January of 1452, the Hôtel-Dieu provided free care, comfort and refuge to orphans, the elderly, the sick, the disabled and the indigent for centuries. Continue on to Lyon to embark ms Swiss Emerald as your France river cruise begins.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 4 Watch-the-birdie in Burgundy

Meals B, L, D

Chalon-sur-Sâone on the River Saône lies in the heart of southern Burgundy. Although its history dates back to the time of Charlemagne, it has another significant claim to fame – this is considered the birthplace of photography. You have local inventor Nicéphore Niépce, who produced several photographic firsts right here in the 1820s, to thank for the great photos of the town’s Romanesque churches and other monuments you’ll take during a walking tour. Then get your taste buds ready for a workout – first, to savor local culinary offerings on a guided tasting tour of some of Chalon-Sur-Saône’s noted food shops; then to sip some wonderful wines as we head off to Mercurey, the largest wine-growing area in the Côte Chalonnaise, to sample some of the notable reds produced here in a tasting at one of the 30 local premier cru vineyards.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 5 A historic abbey, horses and heritage

Meals B, L, D

While docked in Mâcon, see what lies along the town’s Heritage Trail on a walking tour plus some time to explore on your own, and tour the great Benedictine Abbey of Cluny; founded in 910, it was once at the center of a major monastic reform movement and also the largest Christian building in the world until the construction of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Its neighbor, the Haras Nationale – France’s national equestrian center – is all about horses and has an interesting history of its own, which you’ll discover on your visit to its age-old stables and other buildings. Later, ms Swiss Emerald continues your France river cruise to Lyon.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 6 Luscious Lyon

Meals B, L, D

If you’re a serious foodie, 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. Savor a bit of this gastronomic largess for lunch today on a tasting tour at the historic Les Halles de Lyon indoor food market, where you’ll sample the freshest breads, cheeses, meats, produce and more paired with local wines – they say the best chefs in Lyon shop here! Your day also includes the stunning Basilica of Notre-Dame-de-Fourvière, built in the 1870s and featuring exquisite marble work, stained glass windows, colorful mosaics and gilt galore; and a tour of medieval Vieux Lyon. Continue cruising to Vienne this evening.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 7 Veritable Vienne and cruising the Rhône

Meals B, L, D

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 a languid, lazy and perfectly wonderful afternoon spent cruising on the river as ms Swiss Emerald charts a course for Tournon-sur-Rhône. Take advantage of all that your riverboat offers, or perhaps just settle into a deck chair on the Sun Deck and watch the picturesque wine-growing world along the river go by.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 8 Tournon, Tain-l’Hermitage and a tasting

Meals B, L, D

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 Côtes du Rhône wines; you’ll understand why after you sample some of what the town produces at a wine tasting. ms Swiss Emerald sails to Viviers this evening.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 9 Vibrant Viviers and the pleasures of cruising

Meals B, L, D

The walled city of Viviers, which retains much of its medieval character, is a delightful stop on this France river cruise. 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 to Avignon. As you glide past the scenic shoreline, enjoy a demonstration of the French game of pétanque on deck (weather permitting).

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 10 Popes and Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Meals B, L, D

The fortified medieval 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. 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.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 11 Arles and country life in the Camargue

Meals B, L, D

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 a France river cruise – followed by lunch and traditional Provençal entertainment. Join us this evening for the Captain’s farewell dinner.

Lodging

Aboard the Riverboat

Day 12 Au revoir, ms Swiss Emerald

Meals B

The France river cruise portion of your journey ends as you disembark ms Swiss Emerald in Arles, and bid farewell to the Captain and crew. As much as you may find yourself missing the friends you made among them during your time aboard the riverboat, you still have Nice and Monte-Carlo to look forward to! It won’t be hard to understand why Nice is a popular playground for jet setters from around the world as you explore this lovely city on a walking tour, followed by some free time to discover what’s so nice about Nice as you please. Travel on to marvelous Monaco and the Fairmont Monte Carlo, your home for the next two nights. Guests who occupied suites in category 6 during the France river cruise will enjoy sea-view accommodations at this world-famous hotel.

Lodging

Fairmont Monte Carlo

Day 13 Monte-Carlo magic

Meals B, D

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. What a wonderful place it is to conclude your France river cruise vacation with a farewell dinner tonight at your premium hotel in the heart of it all.

Lodging

Fairmont Monte Carlo

Day 14 Homeward bound

Meals B

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2012 Prices From $5,790 for 14 Days

Single

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Double

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Triple

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Tauck Value Includes

* Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director

* All private Tauck shore excursions – $1,339 Value!

* Welcome dinner in Paris at the famous Fouquet’s brasserie on the Champs-Élysées

* Exploration of the Rhône and Saône wine country with vineyard visits and wine tastings in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Mercurey

* La Camargue excursion to meet the family of a working farm for a Provençal lunch & a cowboy demonstration with prized black bulls

* Mouth-watering discoveries during a day in Lyon, France’s culinary capital, with a tasting lunch at Les Halles de Lyon

* Tasting tour of local food shops in Chalon-sur-Saône

* Visits to historic Cluny Abbey, Avignon’s Palais des Papes, the Hospices de Beaune and France’s renowned Haras Nationale equestrian center

* Choice of art museum visits in Paris, including the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay

* Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted

* 32 meals (13 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 11 dinners); select meals in local restaurants; wine with dinner on the riverboat; service charges, taxes, porterage, and applicable fuel surcharges

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Special Single Savings – $1000 per cabin – on March 31, July 5, August 8 and October 11 departures. Certain restrictions apply; ask at time of booking.

Guests in Category 6 suites aboard ms Swiss Emerald will enjoy sea-view rooms at the Fairmont Monte Carlo for two nights.

Grand Christmas & New Year’s Cruise

Nuremberg to Budapest | 13 Days

Make your holiday season extra special and welcome 2013 in grand style

Have an unforgettable holiday season. Celebrate Christmas in Regensburg, one of the loveliest Medieval towns in Europe, where you will have time to attend Christmas Mass in one of Regensburg’s magnificent churches, followed by a grand celebration onboard your ship. Learn how the tradition of glassblowing has remained basically unchanged since the glassblower’s pipe was invented some 2,000 years ago, and take a horse-drawn carriage ride through the Bavarian Forest.

We have arranged for a private cocktail reception for you at Artstetten Castle with Princess Anita von Hohenberg, a descendant of the royal Habsburgs. You will also welcome the New Year at an exclusive gala dinner and dance in a Viennese palace. While here, you will be treated to a festive dinner and a private concert, at which you can even waltz to the famous tunes of Strauss and Mozart—all in the elegant ambience of this historic salon.

Three captivating countries—Germany, Austria, and Hungary—plus one enchanting river, the Danube, will provide the perfect backdrop for celebrating the holidays in grand style.

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Itinerary

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Pricing Details Per Person 2012

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†Prices exclude additional port charges of A$228 and are per person, cruise-only based on double occupancy. Other restrictions may apply.

A limited number of singles are available for an additional supplement.

To upgrade to a higher category, add per person the following prices below:

Rhine Holiday Markets

Basel to Cologne | 8 Days

Share in the joy of the season while cruising along the legendary Rhine through three wonderful countries

Switzerland, France, and Germany provide the perfect backdrop for this true connoisseur’s Christmas Markets cruise. Visit the delightful Christmas Markets of Basel, Switzerland, and Strasbourg, France.

Then continue on to Germany—where many of our signature holiday traditions began—with stops in lovely Medieval villages such as Heidelberg, Mainz, Rüdesheim, and Koblenz, as well as the majestic city of Cologne, with its UNESCO-listed Gothic cathedral. As you sail the legendary Rhine, especially the 40 miles along the Upper Middle Rhine Valley (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), you’ll be captivated by ancient fortresses, Medieval castles, and half-timbered villages—all set in a winter wonderland.

This cruise offers so much! The personality of each country shines even brighter at this time of year because of each area’s special holiday traditions. Share the joy and magic of the season and enter into a festive mood as you enjoy the cozy holiday atmosphere onboard your exquisitely decorated boutique hotel cruise ship.

Who will enjoy this cruise: Shoppers looking for unique gifts and Christmas enthusiasts looking for the origins of many holiday traditions, including Christmas trees, gingerbread, candy canes, and St. Nick!

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Itinerary

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Pricing Details Per Person 2012

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*On these dates cruise operates from Cologne to Basel .

†Prices exclude additional port charges of A$133 and are per person, cruise-only based on double occupancy. Other restrictions may apply.

A limited number of singles are available for an additional supplement.

To upgrade to a higher category, add per person the following prices below:

Parisian Winter Holiday

Paris to Paris | 8 Days

Be dazzled by Paris in all her winter splendor

The allure of Paris and Northern France during the holidays is like a dazzling holiday package just waiting to be unwrapped! Visit this magical place at this most festive time of year and create memories you will never forget. Sample traditional Normandy pancakes and cider while in Les Andelys. In the Medieval town of Rouen, browse through the traditional Christmas Market. Later in the day, be enchanted by an ethereal church choir recital at magnificent Rouen Cathedral, which was famously memorialized in Monet’s paintings.

You’ll have several days to enjoy Paris, with all of her famous landmarks decked out for the holidays. You will visit the incomparable Palace of Versailles and stroll down the famous Champs-Élysées. Take a moonlight drive through the “City of Light” and enjoy an Eiffel Tower light show.

Celebrate the holidays in high style on this memorable trip with the perfect blend of cruising, touring, and free time exploring the grand city of Paris.

Who will enjoy this cruise: Those with a romantic streak will relish this chance to see Paris dressed up in her finest holiday splendor. Art lovers, history buffs, and shoppers will all celebrate this gift of a winter holiday.

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Itinerary

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Pricing Details Per Person 2012

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†Prices exclude additional port charges of A$133 and are per person, cruise-only based on double occupancy. Other restrictions may apply.

A limited number of singles are available for an additional supplement.

To upgrade to a higher category, add per person the following prices below:

Classic Christmas Markets

Nuremberg to Frankfurt | 8 Days

Embrace the holiday spirit in Germany, the land where many Christmas traditions began

Germany, the origin of many beloved holiday traditions, is a truly special place to experience the magic of Christmas. Explore some of the country and world’s most celebrated Christmas markets in Nuremberg, Bamberg, Rothenburg, Wu¨rzburg, Wertheim, and Frankfurt. Be treated to a winter wonderland of stocking stuffers and sweet treats.

Sail in true holiday style along the peaceful Main River, stopping to marvel at Medieval villages and majestic stone castles. The merrymaking continues as you stroll through cobblestone streets dusted in snow. Mouth-watering aromas surround the festive stalls at the Christmas markets; shops and bakeries are laden with gingerbread, biscuits, and speciality cakes. Cozy up to a steaming mug of glu¨hwein (hot spiced wine) or indulge in some of the region’s famous Franconian sausage.

Everywhere you turn, you will find cities decked in holiday finery with glittering Christmas trees, bells pealing from cathedral towers, and children dressed as angels singing Christmas carols. With sights straight out of a classic Christmas tale, this is sure to be one of the most memorable holiday trips you will ever take.

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Itinerary

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Pricing Details Per Person 2012

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*On these dates cruise operates from Frankfurt to Nuremberg.

†Prices exclude additional port charges of A$133 and are per person, cruise-only based on double occupancy. Other restrictions may apply.

A limited number of singles are available for an additional supplement.

To upgrade to a higher category, add per person the following prices below: