AVALON 2009: THE RHINE & MOSELLE (WAT)

Mehrangarh Fort,built in 1459,is one of the largest forts in Rajasthan.

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16 days incl. air, or 15 days from Amsterdam to Basel

This exciting vacation has it all! Explore Holland's colorful capital as you cruise through Amsterdam's enchanting canals; see the city highlights in Cologne, Bernkastel, and Strasbourg; and visit Koblenz, Trier, Mainz, and Reichsburg Castle above charming Cochem. Sail past the famous Lorelei rock and through the dramatic Rhine Gorge. In Rudesheim, sample the area's famous Riesling wines, and enjoy excursions to majestic Heidelberg and to Germany's legendary Black Forest.

Details

Tour Operator

Globus

Duration

16 Days

Escorted

Escorted - Yes

Itinerary

Day	Destination	Description
Day 1	Board your flight	(Sat.) Board your overnight flight to Amsterdam.
Day 2	Amsterdam	(Sun.) Welcome to Amsterdam! Holland's capital is sophisticated and modern, with a rich and fascinating history. The works of famous Dutch masters can be seen in world-renowned museums such as the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh. This afternoon, the crew of your vessel awaits to welcome you on board. (D)
Day 3	Amsterdam	(Mon.) There is no better way to see the city than by CANAL BOAT, cruising through the elegant grachten lined with stately homes dating back to Amsterdam's "Golden Age." There is plenty of free time to explore on your own. Your Cruise Director will have suggestions of how to make the most of your stay. (B,L,D)
Day 4	Dordrecht-Rotterdam Excursion to Delft	(Tue.) Sitting between two branches of the Rhine, charming Dordrecht inspired many painters in the 17th and 18th centuries. Nearby is KINDERDIJK with its picturesque row of windmills. Rotterdam is a bustling city that was leveled by German bombs in WWII, and now boasts the world's busiest PORT. Traditionally a city of weavers and brewers, Delft is now best known for its distinctive blue and white porcelain. (B,L,D)
Day 5	Arnhem	(Wed.) One of the major tragedies of World War II was the Battle of Arnhem, featured vividly in the AIRBORNE MUSEUM HARTENSTEIN and the inspiration for the movie A Bridge Too Far. (B,L,D)
Day 6	Cologne	(Thu.) Cologne is the capital of the Rhineland and one of Germany's largest cities. The soaring twin steeples of the magnificent gothic cathedral dominate the river skyline. The Germano-Roman Museum next to the cathedral is a must for history buffs! The Old Town abounds with taverns, cafes, and shops. Try a Kolsch, the favorite local beer, and shop for a bottle of 4711, the original "eau de cologne." (B,L,D)
Day 7	Koblenz	(Fri.) Situated at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers, 2,000-year-old Koblenz is the cultural and business center of the Middle Rhine region. The DEUTSCHES ECK, located on a tongue of land where the two rivers converge, holds an impressive equestrian statue of Wilhelm I. The Moselle River is some 312-miles long, rising in the Vosges Mountains of northeastern France and entering Germany at Trier. The entire Moselle Valley is famous for its beautiful and tranquil scenery. (B,L,D)
Day 8	Bernkastel	(Sat.) In the middle of the Moselle region is the charming wine village of Bernkastel with its well-preserved half-timbered houses surrounding the beautiful MARKET PLACE. Wine growers in this area look after Germany's largest expanse of vineyards, the most celebrated of the vintages being the Bernkastel Doktor. Before dinner, visit a local WINE CELLAR and taste several of this region's varietals. (B,L,D)
Day 9	Remich Excursion to Luxembourg	(Sun.) The capital of the Grand Duchy of the same name, Luxembourg is proud of its rich and turbulent past. The city boasts a large array of historical and cultural sights which will come to life as you visit the city with your Local Guide. (B,L,D)
Day 10	Trier	(Mon.) The venerable Episcopal city of Trier is the oldest in Germany and, some claim, even older than Rome! A house on the marketplace bears the inscription, "Trier was standing 1,300 years before Rome." The famous PORTA NIGRA is the only surviving fortified gate from the original Roman settlement and still gives access to the town center. Trier's most famous son was socialist revolutionary Karl Marx. (B,L,D)
Day 11	Cochem	(Tue.) Visit REICHSBURG CASTLE, which sits atop a conical hill covered in vines. From here the views of the little town of Cochem nestled down below and of the river valley are splendid. Cruising the wide, peaceful curves of the river, it quickly becomes obvious that the Moselle is an important wine-growing region. Most notably, the Riesling grape is cultivated, producing a dry to sweet, floral white wine. (B,L,D)
Day 12	Rhine Gorge-Rudesheim-Mainz	(Wed.) The dramatic RHINE GORGE is the most beautiful stretch of river. Pass the legendary rock of the Lorelei, where sweet songs of local beauties lured enchanted sailors to their doom. Rudesheim is the perfect example of a Rhine Valley wine town and SIEGFRIED'S MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM is a real surprise! A SPECIAL TREAT is planned before you have free time to explore the Drosselgasse and pick up some souvenirs. Situated on the left bank of the Rhine, opposite the mouth of the Main River, Mainz is Germany's largest and most important wine market. Gutenberg, the father of modern printing, was born here and you'll visit the GUTENBERG MUSEUM. (B,L,D)
Day 13	Excursion to Heidelberg	(Thu.) Heidelberg is Germany's oldest university town. The ruins of the imposing red sandstone CASTLE tower above the city. Of particular interest is the GIANT VAT, an 18th-century wine cask holding 49,000 gallons! (B,L,D)
Day 14	Strasbourg	(Fri.) Situated on the border of France and Germany, Strasbourg is influenced by the culture of both countries and is the capital of the Alsace region. It is the seat of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament. Noteworthy sights are the GOTHIC CATHEDRAL, the lovely LA PETITE FRANCE district, Place Kleber, and Place Gutenberg with the statue of the inventor of the printing press. An optional excursion to the Alsace wine region is available today. (B,L,D)
Day 15	Breisach, Germany Excursion to the Black Forest	(Sat.) Located at the foot of Kaiserstuhl Mountain on the French-German border is the gateway to Germany's BLACK FOREST region, an area of unrivaled natural beauty with its forests of thick pine trees. Surely the most well-known products from this region are Black Forest ham and Black Forest cherry cake. (B,L,D)
Day 16	Basel, Switzerland (Disembarkation)	(Sun.) Homebound flights should not leave Zurich Airport before 10 am. (B)

Dates/Pricing

Disclaimer

US$ Price Details

Port charges: $196 per person.

Please call for single accommodation price. Triples not available.

Extra nights per person in Amsterdam:
in single room $490, in twin room $280

Extra nights per person in Zurich:
in single room $175, in twin room $115

Prices shown above include cruise in Category E in a deluxe outside stateroom on Indigo Deck.

To upgrade to a higher category (all staterooms Twin/Double), add per person:

Category / Affinity Decks / Price
B / Sapphire Deck / $998
A / Sapphire Deck / $1,098
P / Royal Deck / $1,298
Jr. Suite / Royal Deck / $2,398

Our Volume Buying Power Saves You Money!
-We may be able to provide you with flight arrangements from your gateway city.
-Additional accommodations before or after your tour may be available at our low prices.

Additional Information:
-Departure/arrival taxes and fares from other cities will be advised at the time of booking.
-2008, 2009 & 2010 vacation itineraries and prices are subject to change.

Guaranteed Air-Inclusive Price:
Air-inclusive prices do not include a September 11th fee up to $10, passenger facility charges of up to $18, Federal domestic flight segment fees of up to $3.50 per segment and U.S. and International arrival and departure and other government imposed fees of up to $300 depending on your itinerary. Please see the Applicable Airfare Taxes and Fee link above for more information.

Air booked in conjunction with a land vacation is considered an air-inclusive vacation. Air can only be booked by Globus in conjunction with a land package and is only available for passengers traveling from the United States. For vacation departures in 2008, your final air-inclusive vacation price is guaranteed when your air schedule had been confirmed and your entire vacation package has been paid in full. For vacation departures in 2009, an additional $250 non-refundable deposit (total $500 non-refundable) is required for air booked in conjunction with any land vacation and your final air-inclusive vacation price is guaranteed when your flight information is confirmed and Globus has received your full land and air deposit.

Not Included in the Vacation Price:
Federal inspection fees for the Federal U.S. Customs and Immigrations; International Air Transportation tax; agricultural tax; other per person taxes imposed by government entities; airport taxes and fees including the September 11th Security fee up to $10 per person, Passenger facility charges up to $18 per person, Federal domestic flight segment fees up to $3.50 per segment and U.S. and International arrival and departure, and other government imposed fees up to $300 per person; port taxes; passports; visas and vaccinations; tips to your Tour or Cruise Director, Local Host, driver, Local Guides, and/or ships' crew; gratuities on ferries, trains, and cruise ships; laundry; telephone; minibar; alcohol, beverages, and food outside of the contracted Globus menu as presented at a hotel or restaurant (these extra items will be billed to you before leaving the hotel, ship, or restaurant); optional excursions; airport transfers on non-qualifying flights; porterage at airports and train stations; Travel Protection premiums; all airline imposed baggage fees (including internal flights); and all other items of a personal nature.

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