NEW
GREAT EUROPEAN ODYSSEY
20 nights FULL BOARD from £3599 Includes insurance and cancellation cover§ Price reduction available if not required.
aboard Spirit of the Rhine
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– see pages 144-149 for details
This epic river cruise from Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast along the Danube and Rhine visits four historic capital cities and a host of riverside towns in Germany and Austria.
Fisherman’s Bastion in Budapest
SPIRIT OF THE RHINE THE DANUBE
Nuremberg is divided by the River Pegnitz
Day 1: UK to Bucharest to Rousse. Embark Spirit of the Rhine and enjoy a welcome reception and dinner as you remain moored in Rousse overnight. Day 2: Rousse to Svistov. Perhaps join an optional tour of Rousse this morning before cruising to Svistov. Alternatively embark on a full-day optional excursion to Veliko Tarnono, rejoining your ship in Svistov later in the day. Spirit of the Rhine moors overnight in Svistov. Day 3: Svistov to Nikopol. This morning an included excursion visits Pleven to see the historic panorama depicting the events of the Russian-Turkish War of 1877, rejoining your ship in Nikopol. Spirit of the Rhine will continue cruising overnight. Day 4: The Iron Gates. Cruise along a particularly scenic stretch of the river, as the Danube passes through the southern stretch of the dramatic Carpathian mountains and the foothills of the Balkans to the ‘Iron Gates’, a gorge framed by sheer cliffs. The passage was infamous in ancient times as the water level was much lower, making navigation treacherous. Your cruise continues this evening and overnight. Day 5: Belgrade to Novi Sad. Enjoy an included morning tour of Belgrade and visit to Kalemegdan Fortress, where the tomb of the Turkish Grand Vizier, Ali Pasha, is housed. From here perhaps join an optional tour of Novi Sad, or stay on board your ship and sail through the afternoon to Novi Sad. After excursion participants have rejoined Spirit of the Rhine she continues sailing overnight towards Mohács. Day 6: Mohács. Arrive early this morning in Mohács where you can join an optional excursion to Puszta to see displays of traditional Hungarian horsemanship. Meanwhile your ship continues to Kalocsa, arriving this afternoon and pausing briefly for excursion participants to rejoin the ship. Afterwards you’ll continue cruising overnight towards Budapest. Day 7: Budapest
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This morning an included
city sightseeing tour reveals the capital's highlights, including the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Buda Castle, Matthias Church and Fisherman's Bastion. Alternatively, join an included visit to the First Strudel House for a live strudel-making demonstration, followed by a walking tour with a culinary theme. This afternoon, an optional excursion to Lazar Equestrian Park is available. Your ship moors here overnight. Day 8: Budapest . This morning you may like to join an optional excursion to Gödöllo Palace, former summer residence of Queen Elizabeth and Franz Joseph, Hapsburg Emperor and King of Hungary between 1867 and 1916. This afternoon Spirit of the Rhine begins the overnight journey to Bratislava. Day 9: Bratislava to Vienna. This morning you arrive in Bratislava. An included trip aboard the miniature city tourist train is a great way to see the city’s highlights including Bratislava Castle, before you disembark in the Old Town for a walking tour past the Archbishop’s Palace, St Martin’s Cathedral, the Market Square and more… This afternoon you can visit a Majolica pottery workshop or perhaps sample beer at the UFO observation tower during optional excursions. Continue sailing to Vienna late this afternoon, arriving late this evening. Day 10: Vienna Set off on an included morning tour of this dynamic city – steeped in imperial and musical history – including a drive around the Ringstrasse, encircling the old city, alternatively opt for an included culinary walking tour. This afternoon an optional excursion visits Schönbrunn Palace. After an early dinner on board you may choose to enjoy an optional excursion to a performance of music by Mozart and Strauss in one of the great formal concert houses of Imperial Vienna. Spirit of the Rhine will begin the overnight journey towards Dürnstein tonight. Day 11: Dürnstein to Melk Dürnstein is overlooked by the ruins of Kuenringer Castle, where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned
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during the late 12th century. Perhaps join an optional morning walking tour, which includes an organ concert, before your ship sets sail again late morning. Cruise through the Wachau Valley to Melk where an optional excursion visits the Benedictine Abbey this afternoon. Day 12: Passau . Passau, the most easterly city in Bavaria, is home to a baroque cathedral containing the largest church organ in the world. Arrive here early this afternoon and perhaps join an optional walking tour. Your ship leaves Passau early evening and continues overnight towards Regensburg. Day 13: Regensburg This morning you may like to join an optional city walk in Regensburg, which has been a religious centre since the 7th century and has numerous medieval churches. This afternoon another optional excursion visits Weltenburg Abbey and includes a short boat trip through the Danube Gorge before rejoining your ship in Kelheim and sailing overnight to Nuremberg. Day 14: Nuremberg Arrive in the historic Bavarian city of Nuremberg early this morning and see the elegant architecture and major sights during an included tour, from its medieval beginnings to the present. Once famous for the manufacture of toys, it achieved infamy in the 20th century as the setting for the notorious Nazi rallies, and later for the war crimes trials of 1945-46. Sail from Nuremberg late afternoon and continue towards Bamberg. Day 15: Bamberg Arrive in Bamberg early this morning. Take in this UNESCO-listed town's medieval treasures on an included afternoon tour, including the cathedral and the historic town hall, set in the centre of a bridge. Alternatively you may like to join an optional food-themed walking tour. Sail overnight towards Würzberg. Day 16: Würzburg Spend the afternoon in the centre of Franconia's wine industry where an included guided tour explores the town, which was once the ancient seat of the prince-
