Andante Travels River Cruise 2020 UK

The Archaeology of Europe’s Great Rivers Rhône Rhine Danube In partnership with A-ROSA River Cruises Including exclusive, expert-led Andante excursions From just £1,629pp

LEBRATING CE

35 Years

INTRODUCING OUR BRAND NEW RANGE OF RIVER CRUISES

Travel in style to the heart of a city to discover the stories behind the Roman and Celtic history accompanied by one of our expert Guide Lecturers.

We are excited to introduce you to our new 2020 Andante Travels river cruises, bringing you an archaeological exploration of some of Europe’s great waterways.

We’ve combined the pleasures of river cruising with Andante’s expert-led visits to iconic archaeological and historic sites.

Travelling onboard the A-ROSA ships – namely A-ROSA Donna, A-ROSA Stella or A-ROSA Aqua – everything is practically on your doorstep as the vessels berth generally in the centre of towns, just moments from shops, restaurants and attractions. With a maximum capacity of 206 passengers (A-ROSA Donna), these river cruise ships offer personal service, convivial atmosphere and a range of facilities offering the comforts of a home away from home. A superb range of amenities include a swimming pool, outdoor relaxation spaces, sauna and spa, and comfortable bar and dining options. Cabins are both spacious and intelligently designed.

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We have five brand new itineraries to share with you. Explore the archaeological jewels on the Rhône, a comprehensive 8-day exploration of French archaeology and Roman history, including the amphitheatre of Arles and the rock art of Chauvet. On our 6 or 8-day Danube cruise, historic cities, archaeological sites and museums await. For something extra special, we are also pleased to share with you a 5-day Christmas river cruise of the Danube, with the added delight of Vienna’s spectacular Christmas market.

Further north, but also for a Christmas experience with a twist, our Christmas on the Rhine itinerary is a magnificent journey of architecture, Gothic cathedrals and the transition from the Roman Empire through to the glory of the medieval. Alongside you on these inspiring trips will be one of our expert Guide Lecturers to describe the stories behind the sites we visit. Through their research, knowledge and passion, the cities and their history will most certainly come to life.

I hope you enjoy our new range of river cruises and we will see you onboard in 2020.

Jackie Willis, CEO

For more information visit andantetravels.com or call 01722 239266

The Papal Palace and the Pont St Bénézet in Avignon, France

CONTENTS

Arles, France

Village near Vienna, Austria

Strasbourg, France

The Rhône

The Danube

The Rhine

The 813km Rhône was a key trading route in Greek and Roman times and the legacy of this period can be seen along its banks as you cruise through the beautiful French countryside.

Once the frontier of the mighty Roman Empire, the second-longest river in Europe passes through or touches the borders of 10 countries, flowing through four capital cities on its path.

Discover historical treasures along the Rhine, from the architectural marvels of Cologne to Strasbourg’s enchanting halftimbered old town.

Cruising the Rhône: Romans, Popes & Cruising the Danube: Highlights & Cruising the Rhine: Medieval Cathedrals at Cave Paintings...........................................pg 10 Archaeology - 6 & 8-day options ............ pg 12 Christmas .................................................. pg 14 Cruising the Danube: Christmas Markets & Festivities .............................................. pg 15 3

THREE GREAT RIVERS OF EUROPE

Belgium

Cologne Koblenz

Germany Mainz

Poland France

Engelhartszell

Strasbourg Munich

Melk

Austria Switzerland

Chalon-sur Saône Mâcon Trévoux

Lyon

Vienne

Italy

Viviers Avignon

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Arles

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For more information visit andantetravels.com or call 01722 239266

Br

The Papal Palace and the Pont Saint Bénézet in Avignon, France

The Rhône In antiquity, the Rhône was the most important artery connecting the Mediterranean to Southern and Eastern Gaul, which explains the spread of Hellenisation after the Greek foundation of Massalia (ancient Marseilles), as well as Roman culture after Caesar’s conquest of Gaul. So strongly felt was Roman culture in the Rhône valley that Pliny the Elder described it as more akin to Italy than a province. The wealth from the production of wheat, olive oil and wine, which flowed down the river, resulted in an incredible development of the cities of the Rhône valley, starting in Lugdunum, ancient Lyon, continuing to Vienne and onto Arles, the epicentre of the trade tours and Nîmes. It’s for this reason that the Rhône valley is home to the most spectacular Roman monuments in all of France.

d

Parliament of Budapest, Hungary

The Danube

ratislava Slovakia Dürnstein Vienna

Budapest

Hungary

Due to its immense size, the Danube functioned both as a border and as an important trading artery. Predominantly, it served as the border of the Roman empire for much of the extent of the river, which both made it an obstacle for those outside the empire and an important passage for materials supplying the army stationed along its banks. Crucially, the Danube was also an important part of the Amber Road, a facet of ancient history which is, perhaps, overlooked. Although the Silk Road has captured modern imaginations, there has been less attention on the amber, which was one of the most important longdistance routes in the ancient world. Prized by Romans for its appearance and perceived therapeutic qualities, the Danube was an avenue by which the gem reached Italy via Aquileia. Both Carnuntum, established as a Roman colony because it is a meeting point of the North-South and East-West trans-European routes, and Aquincum were important stopping points along the Amber Road.

Bridge over the Rhine in Mainz, Germany

The Rhine The Rhine acts not only as an artery for trade, as evidenced by the spread of the Hallstatt and La Tene cultures in the Late Bronze – Iron Ages, but as a formidable barrier. Unknown to Greek writers, Roman writers characterise the Rhine as a boundary. Servius describes the river as the border between Gallia and Germania, while Augustus sees it as the limits of the civilised world. Roman colonisation began with the Julio Claudian emperors starting with the foundation of Cologne. From this period, there is a flourishing of Roman culture and the development of Roman cultures. This was aided by an enormous military presence on the Rhine: a staggering eight legions were kept along the Rhine, including legions in Argentoratum and Moguntiacum. With the metamorphosis of the Roman empire into the Frankish empire and the Holy Roman Empire, the legions of the Roman empire settled along the Rhine gave way to castles in the Medieval period as competing elites fought over fragmented territory. It is this landscape which has shaped the modern vision of the Rhine, with its extraordinary proliferation of castles along its banks.

5

LIFE ONBOARD What’s included with Andante Stay aboard an A-ROSA cruise ship as per itinerary An expert Guide Lecturer throughout the tour Return flights from London All meals and specified drinks onboard Archaeological excursions throughout as stated in the itinerary All taxes & gratuities Transfers throughout as stated in the itinerary

What to expect onboard Air-conditioned cabins with private bathroom Spacious sundeck with relaxed atmosphere, sufficient recliners, sunshades and awnings Heated outdoor whirlpool/swimming pool Onboard activities including shuffleboard, putting green and giant chess board Restaurant, café/bar, lounge area FullBoardPlus: breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets rich in variety, along with embarkation snack and tea/coffee Special Andante dinner one evening All-inclusive drinks package Free Wi-Fi in public areas Evening live music entertainment

Exceptional value for money Your tour price includes every key element of the Andante river cruise experience. Meticulously planned shore excursions in every port, featuring some of Europe’s greatest archaeological sites, medieval architecture and historic landscapes, alongside the wonderful knowledge and insight of an expert Guide Lecturer. International flights from London, FullBoardPlus dining, all-inclusive drinks package, gratuities and leisure facilities. On-board entertainment is also included, adding to the wealth of opportunity to relax and make lifelong friends over a drink on the ships’ sundecks. Live evening music accompanies your dining experience while your expert Guide Lecturer regales further tales of the ancient world through early evening lectures.

Casual dress code Evening lectures with your Andante Guide Lecturer Attentive, quality service The A-ROSA Stella, cruising the Rhône 86 air-conditioned cabins with private bathrooms, alongside plenty of outside space to relax and enjoy the scenery. andantetravels.com/stella

The A-ROSA Donna, cruising the Danube Newly refurbished in 2019 and complete with 100 air-conditioned cabins with private bathrooms. andantetravels.com/donna

The A-ROSA Aqua, cruising the Rhine 99 air-conditioned cabins with private bathrooms, alongside plenty of outside space to relax and enjoy the scenery. andantetravels.com/aqua Outside C cabin with Juliette balcony (deck 2) on the A-Rosa Donna

6

The A-ROSA Aqua

Dinner onboard

Home comforts on holiday

Delightful range of culinary tastes

A relaxed and comfortable experience onboard is paramount. Each A-ROSA ship offers a spacious sundeck for admiring the passing scenery and relaxing with the included drinks from the bar in a deckchair or sun lounger. There is a mobile bar, heated outdoor whirlpool or swimming pool and activities such as shuffleboard. Other public areas are the restaurant, cafĂŠ/bar, a shop, day lounge, SPA-ROSA with sauna, massage and beauty treatments (you receive 15% discount on spa treatments), relaxation area and gym. All ships have air-conditioned cabins with twin/double beds, including a private bathroom with shower and bathroom amenities, TV, mineral water, bathrobe, hairdryer, safe, telephone and slippers. All cabins are a minimum 14.5 sqm in size and you can choose between cabins with portholes or delightful Juliette balconies to enhance the river cruise experience, with views and fresh air. Free Wi-Fi is available in public areas on all ships. Each cruise ship is equipped to a high standard to ensure your onboard experience is as memorable as the sites you visit, sit back and relax as the wondrous world passes by.

Our itineraries include all meals and specified drinks onboard. Meals are predominantly gourmet buffet-based with live cooking. Breakfast serves up a mix of continental and a freshly cooked offering to set you up for a day of archaeological exploration.

Evening meals are influenced by the local area of the country you are sailing through. Tea and coffee are available throughout the day and cabin water is refreshed daily. With your all-inclusive drinks package, enjoy the delectable range of favourite tipples whilst onboard and throughout mealtimes.

Choose from house wines, beer, a selection of spirits and cocktails, tea, coffee, soft drinks and water.

Deck 1

Deck 2

Deck 3

Deck 4 Deck plan: A-ROSA Donna.

Other ships may differ. For more information, please see our website: andantetravels.com

For full tour details on any of the boat information visit andantetravels.com or call 01722 239266

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EXCLUSIVE ANDANTE PRIVATE EXCURSIONS What makes each Andante river cruise stand out is the package of fully exclusive, private excursions which have been skilfully crafted to enhance each itinerary. No other river cruise company offers the range or number of excursions, let alone the kind of tour which combines the joy of cruising with itineraries created and led by archaeological and historical experts.

Each of the rivers we cruise tells a different story, which our carefully chosen Guide Lecturers elucidate through daily, private and informal evening talks. We uncover the ancient ruins which lie on the rivers, as well as the modern architectural splendours which are found alongside them. We also explore how these major European rivers have functioned both as limits of empire and conduits of trade.

While cruising the Rhône, we explore how the river was one of the most important commercial arteries for trade in antiquity.

We will be making excursions to a number of sites on this tour, from museums and sites in Lyon and Vienne to the iconic sites in Provence, including the Pont du Gard, Nîmes and Arles.

Additionally, we make a special visit to the unique replica cave, Chauvet II which brings 36,000 year old cave paintings to life.

The Danube was both the formidable barrier shaping the Roman empire and the spine of the Amber Road. We will be making excursions to the two capitals of Roman Pannonia, namely Carnuntum and Aquincum, which are found near Vienna and Budapest respectively. In addition to the ancient Danube, we will also marvel at the Baroque masterpieces found in the three modern capital cities we visit, namely Vienna, Budapest and Bratislava.

The Rhine has a unique collection of medieval cathedrals and castles, built over centuries. We will be exploring the awe-inspiring cathedral at Cologne, as well as the magnificent cathedral at Strasbourg, while also enjoying the Chagall stained glass windows in the Mainz Cathedral.

“I only travel with Andante as I enjoy the sites visited, the accommodation and the expertise of the Guide Lecturers, and the whole way in which the tours are put together.”

- Guest, 2019 Tunnel entrance to Buda Castle in Budapest, Hungary

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Be accompanied by an Andante expert Guide Lecturer Choosing Andante means choosing quality, passion and expertise. All of our Guide Lecturers are leading archaeologists and historians who accompany our tours and bring ancient sites back to life. Their knowledge, insight and personable nature inspire guests to return year after year.

Our Guide Lecturers stay onboard with you throughout your river cruise, delivering insights into ancient life during evening lectures. During the day, our experts tell the stories unearthing the facts behind the archaeological sites we visit.

Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Austria

Dr Eireann Marshall

Esther Unterweger

An Honorary Research Fellow for the Open University, Eireann is bilingual and has led many tours for Andante Travels. Eireann is also a finalist in the Wanderlust Guide Awards 2019, which recognises the heroes of travel around the world.

Esther completed a BA in Art History and an MA in Provincial Archaeology at Karl-Franzens University in Graz, Austria. While the focus of her work has been on maritime archaeology, including trade routes, Esther also has an interest in 19th century art.

Join Eireann on Cruising the Rhône (page 10)

Join Esther on Cruising the Danube (page 12)

Matthias Grebien

Dr Jamie Sewell

A Magister of Archaeology since 2014 and close to submitting his dissertation for his Ph.D at Karl-Franzens University in Graz, Austria, Matthias has excavated extensively in Austria, Greece, Turkey and Italy.

Jamie has over 15 years’ experience supervising excavations in Britain, Germany, Romania and Italy, including Pompeii. He has authored books and articles on the archaeology of towns in Hellenistic Italy.

Join Matthias on Cruising the Danube (pages 12 & 15)

Join Jamie on Cruising the Rhine (page 14)

Why travel with Andante • We offer a unique blend of wonderful archaeology and the relaxation of a river cruise • Enjoy the evening lectures with a cocktail or glass of wine • Every cruise is accompanied by an expert Guide Lecturer who will bring the rivers to life • We have created a fully inclusive excursion package, which is integrated into the cruising programme

Arles amphitheatre, France

• All-inclusive drinks package and FullBoardPlus meals are included in the price

Nîmes amphitheatre, France

For more details or to book visit andantetravels.com or call 01722 239266

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8 days from

£2,389

Cruising the Rhône: Romans, Popes & Cave Paintings 10th - 17th October 2020

Cruise along France’s historic Rhône, from Chalon-sur-Saône all the way down to Arles, discovering its rich past through visits to sites that include a Roman amphitheatre, temples and even a replica museum that showcases breathtaking examples of 36,000-year-old rock art.

France

Day One

Bibracte Chalon-sur Saône

Exclusive Andante excursion: We pay a visit to the Gallo-Roman Museum of LyonFourviere, where collections showcasing the area’s past are displayed. We also visit the stunning Roman theatre.

Mâcon Trévoux Lyon Vienne

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Avignon

10

Day Two We arrive in Chalon-sur-Saône and have an early lunch. After our day’s visits, we return to the ship in the evening and sit down to dinner onboard.

Exclusive Andante excursion: Our first stop today is the Gallo-Roman site of Bibracte – a training ground for archaeologists, where new discoveries are constantly made.

This site is located in the centre of a protected wood. We also visit the Museum of Celtic Civilisation, where we can learn all about the ancient Aedui who lived here.

Viviers

Arles

Today we fly to Lyon and prepare for our afternoon of touring. In the evening, we join the A-ROSA Stella, which will gently guide us along the Rhône.

Day Three This morning, we wake in Mâcon and set off for our archaeological explorations.

We return to the ship in Trévoux and enjoy another evening of dining and cruising.

What’s Included?

7 nights aboard the A-ROSA Stella Joined by expert Guide Lecturer Dr Eireann Marshall throughout the tour All meals and specified drinks onboard included Archaeological excursions throughout as stated in the itinerary Return flights from London to Lyon All taxes & gratuities Transfers throughout as stated in the itinerary

Cluny Abbey, France

The Pont du Gard, France

Cabin

From

Single Supp

Single beds outside S cabin (deck 1)

£2,389

N/A

Twin/double outside A cabin (deck 1)

£2,549

£240

Twin/double outside C cabin with Juliette balcony (deck 2)

£2,829

£295

Twin/double outside D cabin with Juliette balcony (deck 3)

£2,899

£315

Exclusive Andante excursion: The iconic Pont du Gard is our first port of call today. This is the tallest-surviving aqueduct, which carried water over 50km to Nîmes.

We then continue to the city of Nîmes to explore the impressive Roman amphitheatre. Next, we visit the Maison Carrée, a well-preserved temple façade, and we end at the Musée de la Romanite.

Day Six We enjoy cruising this morning and head out for more touring. We return to our ship in Arles, later.

Roman amphitheatre in Arles, France

Exclusive Andante excursion: We travel to Arles to visit the amphitheatre, theatre and the Roman necropolis of Alyscamps.

Day Seven Exclusive Andante excursion: Today we visit the world-famous abbey at Cluny, a Benedictine monastery that was destroyed during the French Revolution, but whose remains testify to its power and wealth. Later, we continue to the Roche de Solutré, a prehistoric site that was the centre of Solutrean palaeolithic culture. Here, we will also visit the Prehistoric Museum.

Day Four Back in Lyon this morning, we have breakfast before making our way to our first site visit. We return to our ship for lunch and cruise onwards to Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Exclusive Andante excursion: We depart for Vienne, the erstwhile capital of the Allobroges, transformed into a Roman colony under Julius Caesar and later the provincial capital. During our time here, we explore the Roman theatre, which could hold around 11,000 spectators within its 46 tiered rows, and we also pay a visit to the Temple of Augustus and Livia.

Day Five Today we arrive in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and leave our ship to visit a series of sites and museums. Later, we continue to Avignon, where we have some free time and can visit the Papal Palace.

This morning we awake in Viviers and cruise onwards to Ardèche. Our return to the ship follows later in La Voulte-sur-Rhône and, from here, we cruise to Lyon.

Exclusive Andante excursion: In Ardèche, we visit the facsimile Cave of Chauvet II, which recreates the 36,000-year-old paintings discovered in 1994 and closed to the public since. This is the largest facsimile cave ever built and offers full-sized reproductions of the paintings of animals.

Day Eight After breakfast onboard, we disembark for one final visit. Later, we transfer to Lyon airport and fly home.

Exclusive Andante excursion: Our last excursion of the tour is to Le Jardin Archéologique, a UNESCO-listed site that is home to the excavated ruins of two churches.

For full tour details or to book visit andantetravels.com/rrr or call 01722 239266 11

6 days from

ÂŁ1,729

Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Austria

Cruising the Danube | Highlights & Archaeology

25th - 30th October 2020 | 30th August - 6th September 2020 & 18th - 25th October 2020 Be enchanted by the scenic winding route of the Danube by way of grand historic cities with stories to tell.

From Upper Austria’s Engelhartszell to Budapest, discover an opulent palace that houses master artworks, pore over artefacts at a museum whose collection includes a 22,000-year-old iconic figurine and visit beautiful castles.

Germany

Austria

Slovakia

Hungary

Engelhartszell Vienna Munich

Bratislava

Melk

Budapest 12

6-day

For full tour details visit andantetravels.com/rdh

8-day

For full tour details visit andantetravels.com/rda

Day One

Day One We fly to Munich and upon arrival we transfer to Engelhartszell, where we join our ship – the A-ROSA Donna.

We fly to Munich and upon arrival we transfer to Engelhartszell, where we join our ship – the A-ROSA Donna.

Day Two

Day Two

Our cruising brings us to Vienna, the city of music and Habsburg splendour. After an early lunch, we disembark for a city tour.

Exclusive Andante excursion: In Vienna, we visit the Hofburg Palace, first built in the 13th century and expanded many times since. Next, we discover the Schloss Belvedere, where we admire Klimt’s The Kiss, among other artworks.

Day Three

After lunch in Vienna, we begin our visits for the day.

Exclusive Andante excursion: Our first visit of the trip is to the city’s Natural History Museum, made famous by the 30,000 BCE Venus of Willendorf figurine. Afterwards, we explore Hofburg Palace, which was first built in the 13th century.

Day Three Still in Vienna, more cultural and archaeological discoveries await us.

We cruise into Budapest and leave our ship for a day of exploring.

Exclusive Andante excursion: Today we visit Buda Castle, once the palace complex of the Hungarian kings and today home to the Budapest History Museum. Free time follows, why not explore the Varnegyed or climb the terrace of the Fisherman’s Bastion for glorious parliment views.

Day Four After an early lunch, we disembark to discover the delights of Bratislava.

Exclusive Andante excursion: Here we visit Bratislava Castle, the symbol of the capital. From here, we also visit the Slovak National Museum, home to the 22,000-year-old Venus of Moravany. Time to explore independently follows later.

Day Five We disembark in Krems for a tour and rejoin the ship later on in Melk.

Exclusive Andante excursion: Today we discover the UNESCO-listed Benedictine Abbey of Melk, which was founded in the 11th century and famed for its scriptorium.

Day Six

Exclusive Andante excursion: We travel to the impressive Roman remains of Carnuntum today, the ancient capital of Pannonia Superior. Here, we see the amphitheatre and Heidentor. Later, at the Schloss Belvedere, we can admire The Kiss by artist Gustav Klimt.

Day Four After a stoping Esztergom, we arrive in Budapest where we disembark and go exploring.

Exclusive Andante excursion: First up is Aquincum, the capital of Pannonia Inferior in which Marcus Aurelius wrote part of his Meditations. At this site, we visit the museum and amphitheatre. We also go to Florian Square to see the Thermae Maiores, which was a bath complex. Free time in Buda follows.

Day Five We enjoy a second day discovering Budapest’s delights on land.

Exclusive Andante excursion: Today we visit Buda Castle, which is now home to the National Gallery and Budapest History Museum. Later, we can explore independently.

Day Six The many wonders of Bratislava, Slovakia’s capital, await us today.

Today we transfer to Munich and fly home.

Exclusive Andante excursion: We start at Devin Castle, an impressive fortification whose history reaches back to the Neolithic period. Free time in this city comes later.

Day Seven After cruising down the scenic Wachau Valley, we disembark in Melk.

Aerial view of Budapest, Hungary

Exclusive Andante excursion: Visit the Benedictine Abbey of Melk, founded in the 11th century.

Day Eight Today we transfer to Munich and fly home.

What’s Included: 6-day tour

What’s Included: 8-day tour

5 nights aboard the A-ROSA Donna

7 nights aboard the A-ROSA Donna

Joined by expert Guide Lecturer Esther Unterweger throughout the tour

Joined by expert Guide Lecturer Matthias Greben in August and Esther Unterwegerin October

All meals and specified drinks onboard included

All meals and specified drinks onboard included

Archaeological excursions throughout as stated in the itinerary

Archaeological excursions throughout as stated in the itinerary

Return flights from London to Munich

Return flights from London to Munich

All taxes & gratuities

All taxes & gratuities

Transfers throughout as stated in the itinerary

Transfers throughout as stated in the itinerary

Tour

Cabin

From

Single Supp from

25th Oct (6-day)

Twin/double outside S cabin (deck 1)

£1,729

N/A

25th Oct (6-day)

Twin/double outside A cabin (deck 1)

£1,849

£155

25th Oct (6-day)

Twin/double outside C cabin with Juliette balcony (deck 2)

£1,969

£180

30th Aug & 18th Oct (8-day)

Twin/double outside S cabin (deck 1)

Aug £2,499 | Oct £2,209

N/A

30th Aug & 18th Oct (8-day)

Twin/double outside A cabin (deck 1)

Aug £2,659 | Oct £2,379

Aug £335 | Oct £215

30th Aug & 18th Oct (8-day)

Twin/double outside C cabin with Juliette balcony (deck 2)

Aug £2,949 | Oct £2,659

Aug £399 |Oct £270

For full tour details or to book visit andantetravels.com or call 01722 239266 13

5 days from

£1,649

Katz Castle, Germany

Cruising the Rhine: Medieval Cathedrals at Christmas 23rd - 27th December 2020

What better way to celebrate the festive period than with a glorious cruise along Germany’s Rhine. Magnificent buildings of religious significance, architecture and history come alive on this trip.

Germany

France

Cologne

Day One

Day Four

We arrive in Cologne and join the A-ROSA Aqua, which departs in the early evening for the city of Mainz.

This morning we cruise through the Middle Rhine Valley, whose iconic castles adorn the banks of the river. We arrive in Koblenz in the late afternoon and disembark for an excursion. Dinner is back onboard the ship, which then will cruise back to Cologne.

Day Two Late this morning we arrive into Mainz, where we disembark. We return to the ship for lunch, during which we begin our overnight cruise to Strasbourg.

Tonight, we will enjoy special Christmas Eve dinner onboard.

Exclusive Andante excursion: Upon arrival in Mainz, we disembark to visit the Church of St Stephan, a late medieval Gothic church famed for its Chagall stained glass windows.

Exclusive Andante excursion: The streets of Koblenz bring us to the Basilica of St Castor – the city’s oldest surviving church. Free time follows in the evening, which we can use to explore the city.

Why not visit its lovely squares, such as the Goerresplatz.

Day Five This morning we awake in Cologne and enjoy our final excursion of the trip.

Afterwards, we transfer to the airport and travel back home.

Cologne Cathedral, Germany

Day Three We wake up this morning – on Christmas Day – in Strasbourg. After a leisurely breakfast, we begin our visits.

We return to our boat later on for an overnight cruise to Koblenz.

Exclusive Andante excursion: The Cathedral of St Peter will be our last visit on this memorable festive tour. A UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site, it is also Germany’s most visited. It was completed in the 19th century and is the largest Gothic cathedral in Europe.

Exclusive Andante excursion: Discover the beautiful city of Strasbourg at this special festive time. After a walk around and a hot drink, we visit the pink-hued, stone-built Cathedral de Notre-Dame. A delicious Christmas lunch follows and then we have a walking tour of the city, which takes in the La Petite France neighbourhood.

Koblenz

Mainz

Strasbourg

What’s Included?

4 nights aboard the A-ROSA Aqua Joined by expert Guide Lecturer Dr Jamie Sewell throughout the tour All meals and specified drinks onboard included Archaeological excursions throughout as stated in the itinerary Return flights from London to Cologne All taxes & gratuities Transfers throughout as stated in the itinerary Cabin

From

Single Supp

Twin/double outside S cabin (deck 1)

£1,649

N/A

Twin/double outside A cabin (deck 1)

£1,789

£160

Twin/double outside C cabin £1,929 with Juliette balcony (deck 2)

£185

Twin/double outside D cabin £1,969 £195 with Juliette balcony (deck 3) Christmas in Strasbourg, France

14

For full tour details or to book visit andantetravels.com/rrx or call 01722 239266

5 days from

£1,629

Dürnstein in the Wachau Valley, Austria

Cruising the Danube: Christmas Markets & Festivities 23rd - 27th December 2020 Immerse yourself in the festivities with a visit to Vienna’s charming Christmas markets, get lost in history at a spellbinding 11th century abbey and gaze upon dazzling scenery.

Day One Today we fly to Munich and upon arrival we travel to Engelhartszell, where we join our ship – the A-ROSA Donna.

Day Two We cruise from Engelhartszell and arrive at Dürnstein this morning. After breakfast, we disembark for our first visit of the tour. Later, we return to the ship and pass through the Wachau Valley, which offers some of the Danube’s most scenic views. We arrive into Vienna this evening, and enjoy a walk around the Christmas markets.

Exclusive Andante excursion: We make the most of our first full day with a fascinating visit to Dürnstein Abbey, an 18th century Baroque jewel on the banks of the Danube.

Day Three Today is Christmas Day and we celebrate it in Vienna. Our adventures end with a delicious dinner onboard the ship, during which we cruise to Melk.

Exclusive Andante excursion: The festivities begin at the Christmas market in front of the Schönbrunn Palace. After Christmas lunch, we visit the Cathedral of St Stephen, which has 18 altars including the famous Neustaedter Altar.

Germany

Austria

Engelhartszell

Day Four

Munich

Dürnstein Melk

Vienna

We disembark in Melk, where we enjoy a morning visit. Later, we rejoin our ship in the same area and cruise to one of the most scenic parts of the Danube.

Exclusive Andante excursion: Tour the Benedictine Abbey of Melk, which is a UNESCO-listed site. Founded in the 11th century and famed for its scriptorium – an important centre of the production of manuscripts, today’s abbey was built in the 18th century.

Day Five This morning we arrive into Engelhartszell and transfer to Munich, where we catch our flights back home.

What’s Included?

4 nights aboard the A-ROSA Donna Joined by expert Guide Lecturer Matthias Grebien throughout the tour All meals and specified drinks onboard included Archaeological excursions throughout as stated in the itinerary Return flights from London to Munich All taxes & gratuities Transfers throughout as stated in the itinerary

Cathedral of St Stephen in Vienna, Austria

Cabin

From

Single Supp

Twin/double outside S cabin (deck 1)

£1,629

N/A

Twin/double outside A cabin (deck 1)

£1,729

£125

Twin/double outide C cabin deck 2 with Juliette balcony

£1,839

£145

For full tour details or to book visit andantetravels.com/rdx or call 01722 239266

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Travel by water to discover Egypt’s little-known, rarely visited sites.

EGYPT CRUISE: IN THE WAKE OF THE PHARAOHS • Explore Seti I’s temple at Abydos • Visit the renowned Nubian Site of the temples at Abu Simbel • Discover the remains of the royal cemetery of Egypt’s most intriguing Pharaoh, Akhenaten and Nefertiti • Be accompanied by one of our Expert Guide Lecturers, Dr Luigi Prada or Dr Xavier Droux

For more information on this tour or to book visit andantetravels.com/egc or call a member of our team today 01722 239266