YOUR PERFECT
FIRST RIVER CRUISE The Definitive Guide to
2019 RIVER CRUISES BOOK BEFORE
31 Aug ‘18
FOR FREE AIRPORT LOUNGE PASS
EXCLUSIVE INTRODUCTORY OFFERS For River Cruises on The Rhine, Danube, Main & Douro
Book early to secure your chosen cabin cabins are limited (on average 60 cabins per ship)
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Only pay deposit at time of booking
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CRUISE THE DANUBE
June - October 2019 • 7 Nights The River Cruise Line - MS Serenity
to Vienna & Budapest
Included as standard: 99 Return London Heathrow Flights & Overseas Transfers 99 7 Nights Full Board Danube River Cruise 99 Welcome Drinks, Captain’s Get-Together & Party Night 99 Visits to Passau, Melk, Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava and Dürnstein 99 Nightly Entertainment 99 Services of a Cruise Manager & Cruise Director 99 All Port Charges & Taxes 99 No Fly Options Available - Call For More Details
Budapest
Day 1
Fly to Germany & Embark your ship in Passau On arrival, you will be met by a River Cruise Line representative and transferred to the port on Passau. Once onboard, you can then relax as the ship sets sail towards Melk.
Day 2
Melk - Vienna Optional Excursion - Visit to Benedictine Abbey This morning you will arrive in the small town of Melk, which lies in the beautiful Wachau valley. Here you can join River Cruise Line’s optional excursion visiting the Benedictine Abbey. This is one of the most famous monastic houses in Austria and has been occupied by monks for over 900 years. You can relax onboard for the remainder of the day as you cruise to Vienna for an overnight stop.
Day 3
EXCLUSIVE FREE Airport Lounge Pass
Germany
RIVER DANUBE
France
Austria
Italy
Budapest Optional Excursions - Budapest City Tour & Budapest by Night Tour Today you have a full day to explore Budapest, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Here you can visit both sides of Hungary’s capital – traditional Buda and the more cosmopolitan Pest. Start the day by joining River Cruise Line’s optional city tour which introduces you to the highlights and helps you get your bearings in the city known as the ‘pearl of the Danube’. In the evening you can join a optional excursion to experience Budapest by night with a traditional folklore show.
Mediterranean Sea
Danube
Czech Republic Durnstein
Passau
Vienna Optional Excursions - Vienna City Tour & Visit to Schönbrunn Palace Spend a full day experiencing the delights of Vienna. Grand palaces, baroque castles, magnificent squares and striking monuments are just some of the key features of this beautiful city, which is a world heritage site. In the morning you can join River Cruise Line’s optional city tour and in the afternoon you can join an optional excursion to Schönbrunn Palace, which takes you on a journey through time as we explore some of the 1,441 rooms. In the early evening the ship casts off and cruises towards Budapest.
Switzerland
Day 4
Poland
Vienna
Slovakia
Melk Bratislava
Budapest Hungary
Croatia
Adriatic Sea
Bosnia Serbia
Day 5
Budapest Optional Excursion - Visit a Traditional Stud Farm & watch a live Puszta Horse Show Enjoy a morning in Budapest or join River Cruise Line’s optional excursion which takes you through the sweeping plains of Hungary to Lajosmizse. Here you will visit a traditional stud farm and enjoy a tour of the grounds in a horse-drawn carriage, before watching a spectacular live Puszta horse show. You will set sail in the afternoon and cruise towards Bratislava.
Day 6
Bratislava Optional Excursions - Bratislava City Tour You will reach Bratislava in the early morning. This historic city is dominated by its castle and unique suspension bridge. Join River Cruise Line’s optional excursion to take in the sights of this Slovakian capital and experience its rich culture, before the ship sets sail in the afternoon and cruises towards Dürnstein.
Day 7
Durnstein The town of Dürnstein nestles among Austria’s most famous vineyards and is crowned by the ruins of the castle that once imprisoned Richard the Lionheart. It’s a beautiful place filled with cobbled streets, pretty courtyards and 16thcentury houses. After some free time you will set sail for the final time and cruise towards Passau.
Day 8
Disembark in Passau After breakfast, you will disembark the ship and be transferred back to the airport for your return flight back to the UK
THE RIVER DA N U B E Flows through: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Moldova, Ukraine & Romania
Budapest
19
5.5
2860
Locks in total
Width in km
Length in km
DID YOU KNOW?
Vienna Opera House
• The Iron Gate is the longest and largest gorge in Europe and on the Danube River • Around 20 million people in Europe get their drinking water from the Danube • The Danube’s Delta is the second largest in the world and is home to over 5000 species of plants, birds and animals
Your Ship MS Serenity 9Bright 9 Modern Cabins with en suite, satellite TV and air conditioning 9A 9 spacious restaurant to enjoy delicious meals and take in views of the river beyond 9Breakfast, 9 lunch and dinner included on your river cruise holiday 9A 9 sun deck offering 360-degrees panoramic views, as you enjoy a refreshing drink 9A 9 comfortable lounge bar with an instantly inviting ambiance and large picture windows
Pre Book Your Shore Excursions Package Now For £170pp
9A 9 low-key lido Bar offering great views and where you can enjoy drinks alfresco
MS Serenity
Cabin Type
Main Deck
Middle Deck
Panorama Deck
Single
Prices from (£pp)
949
1099
1249
1424 Prices based on 20 Oct 19
RHINE CRUISE to Switzerland
Apr - Oct 19 • 7nts Riviera Travel - MS Emily Bronte, MS Oscar Wilde, MS George Eliot, MS Jane Austen & MS Charles Dickens
Included as standard: 99 Return London Heathrow Flights & Overseas Transfers 99 Regional Flights Available from Birmingham, Bristol, Dublin, Edinburgh, London Southend & Manchester* 99 No Fly Rail Travel Options Available 99 7 Nights 5* Full Board River Cruise 99 Tea & Coffee Making Facilities in All Cabins 99 7 Visit and Tours including guide tours in Strasbourg, the Black Forest & Lucerne and visits to Koblenz, Rudesheim & Breisach 99 Experienced Riviera Travel Tour Manager onboard 99 All Port Charges & Taxes 99 Complimentary Wi-Fi Onboard
Cologne
Day 1
Netherlands
Fly to Cologne On arrival, you will be met by a Riviera Travel representative and transferred to the port for you to embark your 5* River Cruise Ship
Day 2 Koblenz Spend the morning at leisure onboard enjoying the spectacular river scenery before arrive in Koblenz. Founded by the Romans, this historic city is beautifully located at the confluence of the Rhine and its sister river the Moselle. Your afternoon is free to explore Koblenz’s maze of medieval buildings in the Altstadt – Old Town – which is studded with a fine array of traditional shops and classic Rhineland cafés.
Belgium Cologne
Rudesheim
Day 3 Rhine Gorge & Rudesheim Cruise through the world famous and dramatic Rhine Gorge before arriving in the renowned wine town of Rudesheim. The afternoon is free to relax in its bustling cafés, find a traditional Weinstube to enjoy a glass of excellent local wine, take a quiet stroll through the vineyards or maybe a gondola ride to the striking statue of Germania overlooking the river’s exit from the Gorge.
Rudesheim
rranean Sea
RIVER rhine Germany Koblenz
Strasbourg
France
Breisach Basel
Adriatic Switzerland Sea
EXCLUSIVE FREE Airport Lounge Pass
Aust
Italy
Day 4 Speyer Unwind onboard whilst cruising through the picturesque wineland, before berthing in delightful Speyer. Explore on of Germany’s oldest cities which is celebrated for its illustrious past. The breathtaking Imperial Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is among the largest Romanesque churches in the world. Day 5 Strasbourg Included Excursions - Guided Tour of Strasbourg More beautiful landscapes unfold on out cruise this morning which takes us to Strasbourg. This afternoon enjoy a walking tour of its picturesque Old Town, bisected by canals and made up of a maze of narrow streets lined with timber-framed houses and sculptured portals. Unforgettable sites include the stupendous Gothic Notre-Dame Cathedral, multi-towered Ponts Couverts – covered bridges – and the pretty Petite France quarter of pastel-coloured former artisans’ houses lining the canals.
Day 6 Breisach & Black Forest Included Excursion - Drive through the Black Forest Absorb the breathtaking vistas of the Vosage and Black Forest as you arrive in historic Breisach. This afternoon enjoy a drive through some of Central Europe’s most stunning scenery, the Black Forest Mountains, before arriving at the idyllic village of Titisee, which is nestled on the shores of its crystal-clear lake.
THE RIVER RHINE
Day 7 Bernese Oberland & Lucerne Included Excursion - Full Day Excursion to Lucerne & the Bernese Oberland For many today will be the highlight of the cruise, after a short drive to Lucerne - often considered Switzerland’s most beautiful city. You will then enter Bernese Oberland, this is the grand alpine heart of Europe with some of the finest mountain scenery on earth, described by the composer Mendelssohn as ‘the most wonderful of all in this unbelievably beautiful country’.
Flows through: Switzerland, Austria, Liechtenstein, Germany, France, Netherlands
Day 8 Disembark in Basel After breakfast, disembark your ship in Basel and transfer back to the airport for your return flight back to the UK
12
550
1233
Locks in total
(up to) Width in
Length in km
Strasbourg
metres
DID YOU KNOW? • Between Bingen and Koblenz, there are more castles than in any other river valley in the world. • Around 58 million people live within the communities that lie along the river • The name for the River Rhine comes from a Celtic word, which means ‘raging flow’
Your Ship - Ms Oscar Wilde 99Spacious All Suite Accommodation with In-Suite Tea & Coffee making facilities 99Stunning restaurant on the Main Deck serving buffet breakfast, buffet lunch and four-course dinner 99Lounge and bar to enjoy cocktails and the early risers’ breakfast 99Bistro with open kitchen, large panoramic windows and outside seating area 9924hr self service station for complimentary tea & coffee 99Spa and wellness area featuring Nail Salon and Hairdressing Service
No Single Supplement
MS Oscar Wilde
99Small splash pool and putting green on the Sun Deck 9924 Hour Reception, Lift, Boutique Gift Shop & Laundry Service
Dates • Prices from (£pp)
Cabins
River View
French Balcony
Superior Suite
Single
Prices from (£pp)
1299
1599
1799
1299 Prices Based on 16 Oct 19
w
EUROPEAN GEMS
April - December 19 • 14nts APT Essentials - 4* Premium River Cruise Ship
Amsterdam to Budapest
Included as standard: 99 Return London Flights & All Overseas Transfers
TRAVEL MARVEL
99 Regional Flights Available From Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Cardiff & Belfast 99 14 Breakfasts, 13 Lunches & 14 Dinners 99 Complimentary Drinks with Lunch & Dinner 99 Unique cultural experiences in up to 18 towns, villages & cities 99 14 Nights Premium River Cruise along the Danube & Rhine Rivers 99 Travelmarvel Cruise Director & Expert Local Guides 99 All Gratuities, Port Charges & Taxes
Vienna
Day 1
Fly to Amsterdam On arrival, you will be met and transferred to the port for you to embark your Premium River Cruise Ship. After settling into your comfortable stateroom, head for the Captain’s Welcome Reception this evening where you’ll get to know your fellow travellers and meet your crew.
Day 2 Amsterdam - Utrecht Included Excursions - Amsterdam Canal Boat Ride & Visit Rembrandt’s Windmill Today, you’ll board a glass-top boat and glide past the city’s impressive waterside facades, watching the bicycle-loving locals ride along with carefree abandon as you drift through the city’s waterways. Back on land, enjoy some free time before travelling by coach via Rembrandt’s Windmill to Utrecht where you will then join back up with your river ship.
Amsterdam
Belgium
Day 5 Miltenberg Inside Experience - Learn about the local culture of Miltenberg Be greeted by the friendly locals of Miltenberg and learn about their culture as you are welcomed into their homes for coffee and cake. Return to your ship and enjoy time at leisure, taking advantage of the onboard facilities as you travel along the Main River.
Day 6 Wurzburg Included Excursion - Visit Wurzburg Residence The architectural beauty that further defines Würzburg is on show today as you see the gardens of the Würzburg Residence. Here, a walk through Würzburg Court Garden is a delight, with its terraced gardens and water basin encircled by stunning yew trees.
Germany
Bruhl
Poland
Wurzburg Rudesheim
Day 3 Cologne - Bruhl Included Excursion - Visit Bruhl & Tour Augustusburg Castle As you cruise into the riverside city of Cologne, head to the Sun Deck and watch as the magnificent twin spires of its famous cathedral, the Kolner Dom, appear on the horizon. Disembark your ship and take a short drive to the townFrance of Brühl. Later this afternoon, return to Cologne and enjoy some time to wander through this enchanting city at leisure and perhaps inspect the exterior of Cologne Cathedral from up close. Day 4 Rhine Gorge - Rudesheim Included Excursions - Ride the Winzerexpress Mini-Train and visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum Adriatic Sail through the awe-inspiring wonder of the Rhine Gorge, watch in delight as Sea steep slopes covered in vineyards drift past, dotted with ancient castles. Your ship then docks in Rüdesheim, the perfect example of a Rhine Valley wine town. Here, the Winzerexpress mini-train will take you through town to the fascinating Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum, home to the most beautiful collection of automated musical instruments in Germany.
Cologne
Bamberg Miltenberg Nuremberg Regensburg
Switzerland
Italy
Czech Republic Slovakia
Passau Melk
Durnstein
Austria Vienna
Budapest
Croatia BlackEXCLUSIVE Sea FREE Airport
Bosnia Lounge Pass Mediterranean Sea Day 7 Bamberg Included Excursion - Guided Tour of Bamberg One of the few German cities that wasn’t destroyed during World War II, the World Heritage-listed city of Bamberg beckons this morning. You’ll be treated to a guided tour, during which the history will come to life as you gaze upon such sights as the Old Town Hall and the Bamberg Cathedral. Day 8 Nuremberg Included Excursions - Guided Tour of Nuremberg Today continue to Nuremberg, the site of Hitler’s infamous rallies, held annually from 1927 to 1938. Nuremberg played a pivotal role for the Nazis and you’ll learn all about the city and indeed the era during a World War II tour that includes such sites as the Zeppelin Field and the Palace of Justice. Finish your day cruising the Main-Danube Canal, crossing Europe’s Continental Divide (435 metres above sea level) thanks to the canal’s 16 stair-step locks.
Day 9 Regensburg Insider Experience - Onboard Traditional Bavarian Evening Arrive in the medieval town of Regensburg, for a guided tour tells of the medieval city’s journey through the ages. See such sites as the iconic Old Town Hall, the World Heritage-listed city centre, and the remains of the Romanesque fortress walls. Onboard your ship, you’ll enjoy your very own traditional Bavarian experience as you sample flavoursome local beer and Bavarian snacks, accompanied by traditional folk music, song and dance. Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Passau Included Excursions - Walking Tour of Passau On a fascinating guided tour, you’ll discover that Passau flaunts a distinctly baroque character and intriguing history. This pretty town was rebuilt in the style after two catastrophic fires that left it in ruins in the 1600s. Melk - Durnstein Included Excursions - Guided Tour of Melk Abbey Today, dock in the picturesque city of Melk and join a local guide for a tour through magnificent Melk Abbey, an active Benedictine monastery since 1089. Sitting atop a rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube River, this magnificent abbey is home to around two dozen practising monks. Cruise to the quaint town of Dürnstein, where you can walk over cobbled streets past 16th-century town houses and taverns. Vienna (Overnight) Insider Experience - Walking Tour of Vienna & Visit the famous Naschmarkt On arriving in the city centre, join a walking tour for an insider’s view on a number of landmarks, including St Stephen’s Cathedral, the Graben, Hofburg Palace and the Albertina. Embrace the splendour of the former Habsburg empire and the sheer elegance of the Austrian capital as you drive around the famed Ringstrasse.
THE RHINE - MAIN DA N U B E R I V E R Flows through: Switzerland, Austria, Liechtenstein, France, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Moldova, Ukraine & Romania
68
3
5
Locks in total
Rivers
Countries
DID YOU KNOW?
Day 13
Vienna Enjoy a day at leisure in Vienna, perhaps you may pay a visit to the Hofburg area, or might like to head to a cosy coffee house where you can try a traditional Sachertorte.
• Did you know? Construction of the Main-Danube Canal started in 1960, but was only completed in 1992 taking 32 years to complete.
Day 14
Budapest Included Excursions - Guided Tour of Budapest After breakfast, the history, beauty and charm of Budapest is illuminated as a local guide leads you through the city. See Matthias Church, a breathtaking symphony of colour that displays flawless beauty, then visit the Fisherman’s Bastion and Heroes’ Square.
• Did you know? The Main River is the only river lying entirely in German, it is also the Rhine’s longest tributary
Day 15
Disembark in Budapest After breakfast, disembark in Budapest and transfer to the airport for your return flight back to the UK
• The River Danube is 26ft deep at its deepest point
Your Ship - 4 Premium River Cruise Ship 9All 9 staterooms are outside with River Views 9Large 9 Private Bathroom with shower and premium bath products 9Flatscreen 9 Satellite TV with movie channels 9Telephone, 9 safe, hair-dryer & individual climate control 9Lounge 9 Areas with floor-to-ceiling windows for panoramic views 9Sun 9 Deck with shaded sitting area & games area
Save Over £3000pp Must End 31st Aug 18
9Onboard 9 Boutique, Fitness Centre & Hair Salon Travel Marvel Jewel
Prices from (£pp)
Cabin Type
Window Stateroom
French Balcony
French Balcony
Cabin Grade
E
C
A
Was
4695
5795
5995
Now
1995
2539
2639
Single
3589 Prices Based on 29 Apr 19
ALL INCLUSIVE - PORTUGAL, SPAIN
27 Jun 19 •7 Nights Shearings - MS Infante Don Henrique
& the Douro Valley
Included as standard:
Porto
99Return London Gatwick Flights
EXCLUSIVE FREE Airport Lounge Pass
99Regional Flights Available at a supplement from Birmingham & Manchester 997 Nights All Inclusive Douro River Cruise 99FREE drinks on board including beer, fine wine, spirits, mineral bottled water, fruit juice, soft drinks, speciality coffees and tea 99Services of a Shearings Cruise Manager 99All Overseas Transfers 99All Port Charges & Taxes
Day 1 Fly to Porto Optional Excursion - Porto by Night On arrival, you will be met by a Shearings representative and transfer to the port. Once onboard, enjoy a welcome cocktail. After dinner, join Shearings’ optional Porto by Night excursion. Day 2 Porto Optional Excursion - Guided City Tour of Porto Enjoy breakfast; then join an optional guided tour of Porto, one of Europe’s oldest cities. Following lunch on board, travel downtown by Rabello and explore Porto at leisure. Enjoy a traditional fado evening tonight.
Ferradosa
Porto
Day 3 Porto - Regua Optional Excursion - Visit Guimaraes Why not take Shearings’ optional trip to charming Guimaraes? Admire scenic views as we travel through the Carrapatelo lock, Europe’s highest. Dinner is served as you arrive in Regua.
Vega de Teron
Regua Pinhao Barca d’Alva
All Inclusive River Cruise
Day 4 Regua - Vega de Teron Optional Excursion - Visit Vila Real Join the optional Vila Real excursion after breakfast or sail to Pinhao. Continue through the Valeira and Pocinho locks to reach Vega de Teron and enjoy a traditional flamenco evening. Day 5 Vega de Teron - Barca d’Alva Optional Excursion - Visit Salamanca Following breakfast, there’s an optional trip to Salamanca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and beautiful old town. Return to the ship in Barca d’Alva for dinner and an evening of entertainment.
THE DUORO RIVER
Day 6 Barca d’Alva - Ferradosa - Pinhao Optional Excursion - Wines of Porto Excursion Cruise through the Pocinho and Valeria locks to Ferradosa this morning. Consider an optional Wines of Porto excursion or sail to Pinhao for free time. Enjoy a gala dinner this evening.
Flows through: Spain & Portugal
Day 7 Pinhao - Porto Optional Excursion - Guided Tour of Lamego After breakfast, take an optional Lamego guided tour. This afternoon we cruise back to Porto. We enjoy our final dinner on board tonight. Day 8 Disembark in Porto After breakfast, disembark your ship in Porto and transfer back to the airport for your return flight back to the UK.
68
6
897
Locks in total
Rivers
Length in KM
Prices from (£pp)
Cabin Type
Main Deck
Middle Deck
Upper Deck
Single
Now
1444
1599
1629
1999 Prices Based on 27 Jun 19
Call a River Cruise Specialist on 0333 300 2871
www.cruise.co.uk
7 8 0 2 4
Job No: 1761
Terms and Conditions: www.CRUISE.co.uk are fully bonded by the civil Aviation Authority under Air Travel Organisers Licence (ATOL) number 3385 to protect your holiday payments and repatriation. All fares are per person in £sterling based on two adults sharing the lowest grade of cabin within the applicable category. Prices are correct at the time of publication. Every effort has been made to ensure fares quested are correct, however customers are advised to confirm by calling www.CRUISE.co.uk as availability is limited. www.CRUISE. co.uk reserve the right to withdraw any offer at any time without prior noticed. The cruise lines reserve the right to withdraw any offer at any time without prior notice. Deposit paid is non-refundable. Holiday insurance is required. Free airport lounge pass is subject to availability, change and may be withdrawn at any time. All flights are based on London airports, *however regional flights may be available at a per person supplement – please enquire at time of booking.. Riviera Travel No Single Supplements are limited availability on selected cruises and only available on River View Cabins. Please note cruise lines terms and conditions also apply which can be found on their websites. All offers are valid until 31 Aug ’18 or until sold out. Calls and phone numbers are recorded for marketing, training and quality purposes. E&OE.