Across the Continent Spirit of the Danube

Includes insurance and cancellation cover§ Price reduction available if not required. aboard Spirit of the Danube – see pages 144-149 for details

Cruises across the continent, visiting five countries on this two-week voyage from Amsterdam to Budapest.

Würzburg riverfront

Day 1: UK to Amsterdam. Fly to Amsterdam and embark your ship. Enjoy a welcome drink reception and dinner on board as your ship remains moored here overnight. Day 2: Amsterdam This morning enjoy the local food and culture on an included culinary walking tour with a guide or join an included tour of Amsterdam by coach and see the Royal Palace on Dam Square, the floating flower market and 19th-century Rijksmuseum. Afterwards, enjoy a canal cruise to see the Skinny Bridge, Montelbaanstoren tower and Jewish Quarter. Spirit of the Danube sets sail at lunchtime to spend the rest of the day and night cruising towards Cologne. Day 3: Cologne Arrive at lunchtime in Cologne, Germany's cultural capital. An optional city tour is available this afternoon – see the Gothic cathedral, started in 1248 to house the relics of the three Magi. Depart later this evening and cruise overnight towards Koblenz.

Day 4: Koblenz to Rüdesheim Spend the morning in Koblenz, where you can visit the hilltop Festung Ehrenbreitstein citadel on an optional excursion. Later this morning your cruise continues through the UNESCO-listed Middle Rhine to the wine town of Rüdesheim, passing the Lorelei Rock en route. This evening, you can visit Siegfried's Museum of Mechanical Music or enjoy a wine tasting on optional excursion. Set sail over dinner and cruise overnight towards Miltenberg. Day 5: Miltenberg. The ancient town of Miltenberg sits on the banks of the Main. Arrive early afternoon and discover the old town with its 13th-century castle and timberframed houses or join an optional brewery visit and tasting before departing this evening and cruising overnight. Day 6: Würzburg Spend the afternoon in Würzburg, the centre of Franconia's wine industry where you can enjoy a guided tour and visit to the 18th-century Residenz Palace. Set sail again before dinner and cruise through the night bound for Bamberg.

Day 7: Bamberg Arrive in Bamberg after lunch. This UNESCO World Heritage city is characterised by quaint streets full of delightful old buildings. Take in the town's well-preserved medieval architecture on an optional tour, including the unusual cathedral and town hall, set in the centre of a bridge. Alternatively, join an optional food-themed walking tour. Sail overnight towards Nuremberg. Day 8: Nuremberg Arrive in Nuremberg early this morning and see the city’s medieval architecture on an included tour. Depart late afternoon bound for Regensburg. Day 9: Kelheim to Regensburg. Spirit of the Danube will pause briefly in Kelheim over breakfast to allow passengers to disembark for an optional excursion to Weltenburg Abbey, a masterpiece of German baroque architecture overlooking the Danube Gorge. Alternatively, remain aboard the ship as she continues to Regensburg, where you can explore the old town on an optional afternoon walking tour. Set of again this evening for Passau.

Day 10: Passau Spend the early morning cruising east along the Danube, arriving early in Passau with its cobbled streets and arcades, set at the confluence of the Danube, Inn and Ilz Rivers. An included walking tour will help you discover how Passau’s wealthy past is reflected in its many fine buildings. Alternatively, join a full-day optional excursion to Salzburg. Depart Passau this evening.

Day 11: Emmersdorf or Melk to Dürnstein

Melk is best known for its baroque abbey, where the library has over 70,000 books. An optional tour of Melk Abbey is available this morning. During lunch cruise through the Wachau Valley to Dürnstein. Its ruined Kuenringer Castle is where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned during the late 12th century. An optional walking tour here concludes with an organ concert. Set sail again later this evening. Day 12: Vienna Having arrived in the early hours, you’ll spend a full day in Vienna. This morning an included sightseeing tour reveals the Ringstrasse and Opera House among other attractions. Alternatively, join an included excursion which focuses on the city’s cuisine and traditions. After lunch an optional excursion visits Schönbrunn Palace. You can also attend a concert on an optional excursion this evening before setting sail again late tonight. Day 13: Bratislava Early this morning arrive in the capital of Slovakia. Stroll through ancient cobbled streets to Bratislava Castle for a bird’s-eye view of the city; the old town is easily explored on foot too. Alternatively, join an optional guided tour of the city or head up to the UFO observation tower for panoramic views and the opportunity to sample local beer. Set sail again this afternoon and cruise overnight to Budapest.

Day 14: Budapest Arrive before sunrise and, after breakfast, choose between an included sightseeing tour and an included food-themed guided walk. After lunch you can visit Gödöllo Palace or Lazar Equestrian Park Horse Farm on optional excursions.

Dutch Pancakes

Explore the heart of Nuremberg Dürnstein’s attractive riverfront

Day 15: Budapest to UK. Disembark after breakfast for your return flight to the UK.

EXTEND YOUR HOLIDAY

Amsterdam 2 nights with breakfasts

included. Before your cruise stay two nights in Amsterdam at the locally rated 4-star Westcord Fashion Hotel (4Q). The hotel is located close to a tram line which links with Amsterdam Central in 15 minutes.

Budapest 2 nights with breakfasts

included. After your cruise stay two nights at either Ensana Margitsziget (4Q), located on Margitsziget island, or at the Hilton Garden Inn (4Q), which is centrally located. Please see page 143 for details.

LOOK WHO’LL BE JOINING YOU ON BOARD…

Paul Rankin During the first week of the April 4, 2022 departure, you will be joined by celebrity chef, Paul Rankin – founder of Northern Ireland’s first Michelin Starred restaurant, Roscof.

SO MUCH INCLUDED…

Included travel insurance

VIP door-to-door travel service – see page 155

41 meals: 14 breakfasts, 13 lunches and 14 dinners

Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner

Cruise Host

Interactive maps and audio headsets for independent exploration

Plus... Drinks reception and Captain’s dinner • Complimentary Wi-Fi on board • All gratuities on board • Return flights and transfers.

INCLUDED EXCURSIONS

• Amsterdam city tour and canal cruise OR Amsterdam culinary walking tour • Wurzburg and the Residenz Palace • Tour of Nuremberg • Passau city walk • Vienna city tour OR culinary walking tour of Vienna • Budapest: A tale of two cities OR culinary walking tour of Budapest.

Amsterdam

Rhine

Koblenz

HOLLAND

Cologne

GERMANY

Rüdesheim

Wurzburg

Miltenberg Main

Bamberg Nuremburg

Kelheim Regensburg

AUSTRIA

Passau Melk Dürnstein

Vienna

Danube

HUNGARY Bratislava

SLOVAKIA Budapest

RIVER CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS

Historic Bratislava

Slovakia’s capital since the country’s independence in 1993, Bratislava is a tapestry of historic styles with baroque palaces, a medieval and Gothic old town and a splendid Renaissance castle. Perhaps take a trip aboard the miniature city tourist train on an optional excursion and disembark in the old town for a walking tour to see the Archbishop’s Palace, St Martin’s Cathedral, the Town Hall and more…

Nuremberg

Discover the elegant architecture and major sights of this historic Bavarian city, from its medieval beginnings to the present, during an included sightseeing tour. 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.

Lively Amsterdam

Explore the vibrant city of Amsterdam on an included coach tour that takes you past the Royal Palace, the floating flower market, the Central Railway Station, which is built on thousands of wooden piles, and the 19thcentury Rijksmuseum. The tour also includes a cruise on the canals to see historic bridges and gabled houses. Alternatively, join an included culinary walking tour and experience the local food and culture.

Prices are £s per person from: Lower Deck Twin (Forward - E)

Apr 4, 2022 3149* Lower Deck Twin (D) 3349 3149 Middle Deck Twin, French Balcony (Forward - C) Sold Out Middle Deck Twin, French Balcony (B) 4249* Upper Deck Twin, French Balcony (A) Sold Out Lower Deck Sole occupancy (D) 4499* Middle Deck, French Balcony Sole occupancy (B) 5649* Upper Deck, French Balcony Sole occupancy (A) Sold Out Cruise code RH271 Across the Continent. 14 nights. *These grades have limited availability. §If you choose to opt out of the included insurance and cancellation cover, a reduction applies of £40 – see page 150 for details. TRAVEL OPTIONS: Prices based on flights from Heathrow to Amsterdam, returning from Budapest with the scheduled services of British Airways.

Be quick – to be guaranteed the best price, book early as flights can sell out and prices sometimes increase.