River Cruise Line 2016 Preview Brochure by Stewart Travel Group

201 6 PR E VI E W

Premier River Cruises

ABOAR D M S S E R E N IT Y

BOOK NOW! THESE CRUISES WILL NOT BE SOLD FOR LESS BOOK NOW! THESE

CRUISES WILL NOT BE SOLD FOR LESS

2016 CRUISES AT 2015 PRICES

YOUR RIVER CRUISE SPECIALIST

INCLUDES 2015 FESTIVE CRUISES

13 I T I N E R AR I E S TO 1 1 CO U N T R I E S T H RO U G H O U T EU RO PE

Welcome

BOOK NOW FOR 2016

...to this fantastic selection of 2016 cruises aboard the premier 4 star ms Serenity. This beautiful ship has a loyal following among our passengers, with many dates selling out this year; so we have brought together this preview of 2016 cruise itineraries to ensure you don’t miss out. Ones to watch include Cruise the Danube to Vienna & Budapest, where we’ve added extra dates for this year, along with Danube Discovery Cruise & Stay, which proved extremely popular with its combination of river cruising and hotel accommodation in the heart of Budapest. We are also excited to announce the launch of three NEW cruises, one of which follows the gentle waterways of Belgium and the Netherlands; and we also feature a selection of 2015 festive cruises which are now available to book – no matter which cruise you choose it will be an experience to treasure forever. We look forward to welcoming you on board.

There’s no better time to book your cruise for 2016.

With many cruises available at 2015 prices, be one of the first to select the cruise and cabin of your choice.

PLUS DRINKS PACKAGES

now available from just £49 per person. Includes house wines, house beers and soft drinks served in the restaurant at lunchtime and evenings.

Plus with our PRICE GUARANTEE there’s no need to delay as this means: l These cruises will not be

sold for less l You won’t be asked to pay a penny more

However, if your cruise and cabin is reduced in price for any reason at a later date, we will refund the difference.

Flexible travel options

By coach (with ferry crossings from Dover, Hull or Newcastle) – choose from over 250 FREE regional departure points. See page 33 for a complete list together with details of our Pick-Up Promise.

By car – meet our coach at Dover, Hull or Newcastle and leave your car in a secure environment. For Dover crossings we can also book hotel accommodation close to the port, where our coach will pick you up/drop you off.

close to the station.

Contents

Welcome to The River Cruise Line

2-3

Welcome to the ms Serenity

4-7

NEW Amsterdam, Brussels, Antwerp & Ghent

NEW The Delights of Amsterdam & the Dutch Bulbfields

NEW Medieval Towns of Bavaria & the Rhine Valley

10-11

Rhine Cruise & Swiss Delights

12-13

Danube Discovery Cruise & Stay

14-15

Cruise the Danube to Vienna & Budapest

16-19

Bavaria & the Romantic Rhine

20-21

Delights of the Danube

22-23

Up the Rhine & Down the Danube

24-25

The Danube to the Black Sea

26-27

2015 Festive Cruises See page 28 for contents

28-31

The little extras that enhance your holiday...

Holiday insurance

Travel arrangements

Departure points Booking conditions

35 36-37

By rail – travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras International. g For this option we can also book hotel accommodation for you

By air – all of our cruises aboard ms Serenity include air travel as g part of a package. Make your own way to and from our ship – and save up to £100 g per person.

See the ‘Joining Your Cruise Options’ for each itinerary and page 34 for further details, or speak to our Holiday Advisors.

If you have a group of 20 or more call our dedicated team

Booking is easy...

By phone Call our dedicated team to make a booking.

Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 8am – 8pm, Friday 8am – 6pm, Saturday 9am – 5pm

Online Check availability and book online. 2

Peace of mind As members of ABTA we are a fully bonded and licensed tour operator, with air holidays protected by ATOL. We also have a 24 hour emergency line for when you are on holiday, which is answered by our On-call service at any time. So you can enjoy complete peace of mind when booking with us.

At your service

Julie, Cruise Director

Our Cruise Managers

Whether you’re talking to one of our friendly Holiday Advisors about booking your next cruise, asking your Cruise Manager for the best places to visit in town or saying a fond farewell to your Tour Driver – we want you to make the most out of your holiday and we are on hand to help whenever you need.

Chosen for their experience and their passion for people and travel, our Cruise Managers bring your holiday to life and give a wonderful insight into the places visited, as well as the freedom to enjoy your time away and let the sights speak for themselves. In the background they take care of everything with a high level of professionalism and yet they are friendly and approachable, providing great company throughout your cruise.

Our Office Staff

Our Tour Drivers

From the rural surrounds of South Leicestershire, our dedicated team of Holiday Advisors are on the frontline of the business, talking to customers, taking bookings and giving information and advice every day. Between them they have many years experience in the travel industry, along with firsthand experience of our holidays, and some of them have been with us for over 10 years, which is a great asset.

We have a longstanding relationship with many of the coach companies we use; that way we can be sure that the drivers are familiar with our river cruises, as well as knowledgeable and experienced with driving. Their friendly, jolly demeanour makes the journey to and from our ships enjoyable, and they often like to get involved with the on board activities and get to know everyone – it’s all in a day’s work and we think they enjoy their time away as much as you!

Paul, Tour Driver

ms Serenity in Budapest

Relax aboard the stylish 4 star ms Serenity

Cruises aboard ms Serenity include: l Return travel from the UK l En suite cabin accommodation l Welcome drink, Captain’s get-together and party night

ms Serenity

l Full board during your cruise

Welcome to this selection of river cruises aboard our premier ship – ms Serenity.

l Services of our experienced Cruise Manager

l On board entertainment programme l Expertly planned cruise itinerary l Great choice of excursions

Reception

l Early risers and mid-morning tea and coffee Looking out from the Sun Deck

Reasons to cruise aboard the ms Serenity You can experience our Premier cruise ship The ms Serenity was purpose built in 2006 to offer 4 star accommodation with the service to match. From her distinct claret and cream colours on the outside, to the polished interiors and exquisite meals – there’s an air about this ship that exudes style and yet the atmosphere is warm and friendly.

Picture this... ms Serenity

You can relax in spacious, stylish surroundings The sleek design of the ms Serenity lends itself to a more stylish experience, with plenty of space to gather with friends and chat over drinks or enjoy some quiet time in your own company. Even the cabins are an inviting space to relax, with those on the Panorama Deck offering excellent river views from a French balcony.

You’re lying back on a sun lounger with a fruit cocktail in your hand, there’s a pleasant breeze that accompanies the warm sunshine, and about you people are conversing with friends, reading a good book and snoozing. Then, off in the distance, the silhouette of Buda Castle begins to rise up and a buzz of excitement runs through the ship as the captain announces our impending arrival. As we draw closer, Chain Bridge and Fisherman’s Bastion also come into view, before a sweeping bend reveals Parliament building, stood on the riverbank in all its gothic glory. And there you are – on a 4 star ship, on the Danube River, in the very heart of Budapest – surrounded by some of the most beautiful buildings in the world. OK, so we can’t predict the weather, but we can guarantee that the views will take your breath away and everything on board the ms Serenity will certainly impress – the crew especially. Whether

You have a great choice of itineraries Our cruising programme is constantly evolving in line with our customers’ needs, whether it’s additional departures, shorter durations, longer adventures, different rivers or new destinations; plus we give you as much flexibility as possible by offering coach, rail and air travel on many of our cruises. There really is something for everyone.

l Commentary during your cruise

What our passengers say... “All the food was consistently good and served cheerfully and efficiently. The whole crew worked really hard and made a good team.” Mr W Timney, Hampshire

Please note the Captain may change

Restaurant

they’re pouring your favourite drink, tidying your cabin or joining in the on-board activities – the passion they have for their job is inspiring and they go out of their way to make sure you have an amazing time. A typical day on board starts with a hearty breakfast buffet; lunch and dinner are a four course menu served to your table. In between meals you are free to step ashore and explore at leisure, join our optional excursions, or relax on board as we cruise to our next destination. And each evening, everyone comes together for the entertainment, after which you can return to the comfort of your cabin and take a look at the daily programme for tomorrow’s events. It’s an experience you will treasure forever.

Lounge Bar

Socialise Classic Cocktails

Lounge Bar

Black Russian Vodka, Kahlúa

Caipirinha

Cachaça, Lime,

Restaurant

Brown Sugar

Mai Tai

The spacious restaurant is the perfect place to enjoy your included meals, where you are looked after by the highly professional and friendly service team. Meals are served at a single sitting and the menus include international cuisine along with traditional local dishes, freshly prepared by your on board chef.

ea ricot Brandy, Pin Myers’s Rum, Ap

Piña Colada

conut, Pin Myers’s Rum, Co

pple Juice

eapple Juice

Bloody Mary

Juice, Vodka, Tomato

Lemon Juice

Mojito

n Sugar, int, Lime, Brow Havana Club, M Soda Water Lime Juice,

Lounge Bar The spacious and attractive lounge is located on the Panorama deck and ensures much cosiness on board. It’s a great place to meet your fellow guests and relax as you watch the scenery pass by.

Side Car

int Asbach Uralt, Co

reau, Lemon Jui

Old Fashioned

Jim Beam, Ango

stura, Sugar

Sample Menu DINNER Smoked Salmon

~ Cream of Fore st Mushroom So up ~ Braised Leg of La Tartare

mb in Thyme G ravy with and Provence Ve getables or Breaded Fillet of Plaice with Boiled Po tatoes and Vege tables or Vegetable Past a au Gratin served with To mato Sauce

Sauté Potatoes

Chocolate Souffl Cheese Plate w

é with Calvados or

ith Crackers, N

Tea or Coffee

Pears

uts and Grapes

Cabin Accommodation

Main Deck Cabin

All cabins on board the ms Serenity are exactly the same size and layout; the only difference is the outside view as detailed below. They all have a separate en suite with a good size shower, twin beds, air conditioning, radio, satellite TV, safe and a full size hairdryer. There’s also plenty of storage for your bags and suitcases, along with a good size wardrobe and a small desk and chair. The crew tend to them every day, folding up the beds to allow even more space, and providing fresh towels and drinking water. Main Deck Cabins These cabins are on the lower deck and feature two small viewing windows. Middle Deck Cabins These cabins are on the deck above the lower deck and feature large sliding windows.

Middle Deck Cabin

Panorama Deck Cabins These cabins are the highest standard. They are on the upper deck and boast a French balcony, with excellent views of the river. There is also a lift on board which allows access to all decks on the ship except the sun deck.

Panorama Deck Cabin

Lounge Bar Profile

Lido Bar

Panorama Deck Middle Deck Main Deck

Lounge Bar Restaurant

Reception

Sun Deck

On the Sun Deck you can enjoy commanding views of the river whilst you relax in comfortable surroundings. The area is equipped with furniture including comfortable lounge chairs and awnings.

*Includes house wines, house beers and soft drinks served in the restaurant at lunchtime and evenings whilst on board the ms Serenity only

Middle Deck

Main Deck

Reception

127 125 123 121 119 117 115 113 111 109 107 105 103 101

Sun Deck

l 3 night cruise............................... £49 per person l 4 night cruise................................ £65 per person l 6 night cruise............................... £89 per person l 7 night cruise.............................. £99 per person l 10 night cruise........................... £149 per person l 14 night cruise........................... £199 per person

*Please note the Captain may change

Middle Deck

Berths 2

Middle Deck

Main Deck

Restaurant

Launched: 2006 Length: 110 metres Number of decks: 3 Accommodates: 190 passengers Number of crew members: 43 Captain: Captain Ladislav Toth* Did you know... The whole top deck can collapse to 30cm for low bridges! All prices quoted are based on two people sharing a twin cabin. Cabins for sole occupancy are subject to availability and there is a 50% supplement.

128 126 124 122 120 118 116 114 112 110 108 106 104 102

An optional drinks package* is now available for our 2016 cruises, from just £49 per person.

335 333 331 329 327 325 323 321 319 317 315 313 311 309 307 305 303 301

A unique feature aboard the ms Serenity is the lovely Lido bar situated to the rear of the Panorama deck which leads out to an outdoor terrace. Here you can sit and enjoy the fresh air whilst socialising over a drink or two!

Panorama Deck

Facts & figures

Lounge Bar

Lido Bar 336 334 332 330 328 326 324 322 320 318 316 314 312 310 308 306 304 302

Drinks Package

Panorama Deck

231 229 227 225 223 221 219 217 215 213 211 209 207 205 203 201

Lido Bar

Restaurant

232 230 228 226 224 222 220 218 216 214 212 210 208 206 204 202

NEW FOR 2016

Deck Plan

Panorama Deck

aboard ms Serenity

Join us on this relaxing break as we follow gentle waterways and enjoy an assortment of Dutch and Belgian highlights. We spend our first night in Amsterdam, a laid-back city filled with canals and cobbled streets, before cruising through the glorious windmill-studded countryside of the Netherlands, where the smooth landscape offers far-reaching views. This leads us to Belgium and a trio of beautifully preserved medieval cities, where you can discover a world of master chocolatiers and precious diamonds before we turn our course back towards Amsterdam, taking in the spectacular skyline of Rotterdam NORTHalong the way.

Amsterdam Rotterdam

start

Kinderdijk Dordrecht Antwerp

Tham

Bruges English Channel

Ghent

Brussels

BELGIUM

2016 No. of dates days 8 April 9 9 April 7 9 April 7 20 April* 9 21 April* 7 21 April* 7

Coach routes H1 H2 H3 H4 H5 D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D12 – N1 N2 D7 D8 D9 D10 D11 D12 –

Ferry crossing/ train station Hull Dover St Pancras Newcastle Dover St Pancras

*Please note: These cruises operate in reverse Cabin prices Code Deck options Main Middle Panorama

Berth

Coach via Dover

2 2 2

£729 £799 £849

Tour code: AMBRG Coach via Rail Hull/N’castle £879 £949 £999

£849 £929 £979

See page 7 for deck plan and cabin occupancy All prices shown are per person ___________________________________________ Insurance – See page 33 for insurance details ___________________________________________

OPTIONAL DRINKS PACKAGE: £89 per person FRANCE join our guided tour around the diamond district. Another optional excursion in the afternoon takes you to Rubens House, where you can discover the life and work of this master painter.

Day 5: Ghent We wake up in the small city of Ghent, which is filled with winding canals and hundreds of beautiful buildings including the Castle of the Counts. You can join our optional excursion to the nearby city of Bruges, a masterpiece of medieval times, before enjoying the afternoon in Ghent. Later this evening we begin cruising back towards the Netherlands. Day 6: Rotterdam Rotterdam is known as the Manhattan on the Meuse because of its impressive skyline, which showcases cutting edge architecture. Join our optional excursion to enjoy some of the highlights: take a trip up the Euromast observation tower from which you can see as far as Antwerp on a clear day, followed by a visit to the curious cube houses. Day 7: Amsterdam – UK We bid farewell to our Captain and crew after breakfast and set off on the return journey.

Includes house wines, house beers and soft drinks served in the restaurant at lunchtime and evenings

Make the most of your holiday!

Optional excursions l Windmills of Kinderdijk......................................£17 l Delft & the Royal Delft Pottery....................£24 l Brussels & the Atomium...................................£25 l Waterloo Battlefield............................................£21 l Antwerp diamond district guided tour......£21 l Rubens House.........................................................£15 l Bruges.........................................................................£15 l Rotterdam skyline................................................£21

Special pre-book package price Saving per person

£115 £44

NEW

Keukenhof Gardens

The Delights of Amsterdam & the Dutch Bulbfields aboard ms Serenity

Not sailed aboard the ms Serenity before? Then this shorter itinerary is the ideal taster cruise for you. Visiting the world’s most beautiful spring gardens at Keukenhof on our included excursion you will be amazed at the kaleidoscope of colour as you walk past millions of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths. The landscape is also truly immaculate with shimmering lakes and mature trees plus a number of pavilions offering incredible flower displays. We end our cruise berthed in Amsterdam, the exciting capital of the Netherlands, where you can explore the maze of cobbled streets and winding canals for the perfect end to your springtime escape. Day 1: UK – Amsterdam – Volendam We travel to Amsterdam where we board our ship and cast off towards the scenic IJsselmeer, stopping at the quaint fishing port of Volendam for our overnight stay. Day 2: Volendam – Kampen From Volendam, we cruise over to the eastern shores of the IJsselmeer to the historical town of Kampen. The remainder of the day can be spent exploring Kampen, with its beautifully preserved centre, or you can take the opportunity to visit the magnificent Het Loo Palace, a former home of the Dutch royal family, on our optional excursion. Day 3: Kampen – Amsterdam Casting off from Kampen, we cruise to the lively little port of Lelystad for our included excursion to view the breathtaking Keukenhof Gardens. We rejoin our ship in Amsterdam where you can experience the true beauty of this capital city on our optional canal cruise, which takes you around the 17th century buildings and picturesque little bridges whilst you enjoy cheese and wine – it’s a must for all visitors.

Main Middle Panorama

BELGIUM

Coach routes N1 N2 D7 D8 D9 D10 D11 D12 – H1 H2 H3 H4 H5 D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D12 –

Berth

Coach via Dover

2 2 2

£379 £429 £499

Ferry crossing/ train station Newcastle Dover St Pancras Hull Dover St Pancras

Tour code: ABULB Coach via Rail Hull/N’castle £529 £579 £649

£579 £629 £699

start

Keukenhof NETHERLANDS

No. of days 6 4 4 6 4 4

Cabin prices Code Deck options

Lelystad IJsselmeer Volendam Kampen Amsterdam

OPTIONAL DRINKS PACKAGE: £49 per person

Includes house wines, house beers and soft drinks served in the restaurant at lunchtime and evenings

GERMANY

Make the most of your holiday! FRANCE

Optional & included excursions l Het Loo Palace......................................................£29 l Keukenhof Gardens............................... Included l Amsterdam canal cruise with cheese & wine.............................................£39

Special pre-book package price Saving per person

£52 £16

Het Loo Palace

Day 4: Amsterdam – UK This morning we bid farewell to our Captain and crew and disembark for the return journey to the UK.

Royal Delft Pottery

2016 dates 14 April 15 April 15 April 17 April 18 April 18 April

NORTH SEA

By Coach

£579

e Rhin

Day 4: Antwerp Antwerp boasts many attractions, including the second biggest port in Europe and an array of 16th century architecture. It is also renowned for its skilled diamond cutters and cherished artist Peter Paul Rubens. If you want to learn more about the city’s fascinating diamond industry,

ENGLAND

Day 3: Brussels The Belgian city of Brussels is filled with international flair, from its beautiful medieval core filled with ancient buildings to its legendary chocolatiers and reputation as the capital of Europe. You can explore at leisure or join our optional guided tour to see the highlights including the Atomium, a huge replica of an iron atom which has become the unmistakable symbol of Belgium. In the afternoon you can join our optional excursion for the unique opportunity to visit Waterloo Battlefield in its bicentennial year. Later today we begin cruising towards Antwerp.

IJsselmeer

NETHERLANDS

Rhin

Day 2: Kinderdijk & Dordrecht This morning we reach the village of Kinderdijk, which is renowned for its 19 beautifully preserved windmills – the largest concentration in the Netherlands. Our optional excursion takes you ashore to visit two of the mills, where we learn about the lifestyle of a miller and the mechanism of a mill. We continue cruising to Dordrecht and enjoy an afternoon at leisure or you can visit the nearby city of Delft on our optional excursion to the Royal Dutch Delftware Manufactory. Later in the day you can relax on board as we cruise towards Brussels.

SEA

M os el l e

Day 1: Amsterdam We travel to Amsterdam, the vibrant capital of the Netherlands, and enjoy a relaxing evening aboard our ship.

4 DAYS BY RAIL FROM

£379

Amsterdam, Brussels, Antwerp & Ghent

£849

4 DAYS BY COACH FROM

Rhin

£729

NEW

Includes the famous Keukenhof Gardens

7 DAYS BY RAIL FROM

os ell e

Ghent

7 DAYS BY COACH FROM

Enjoy Dutch and Belgian highlights on this relaxing cruise

Amsterdam

Discover old-world treasures on this enchanting cruise from the Danube to the Rhine

Regensburg

Medieval Towns of Bavaria & the Rhine Valley

Würzburg Koblenz CZECH REPUBLIC Main Rüdesheim Bamberg Miltenberg Main Danube Wertheim Canal Nuremberg Regensburg Ilz start Dan ube Passau e

Rhin

Neck

ine

GERMANY

Frankfurt

os ell e

BELGIUM

ITALY Day 5: Bamberg Endowed with one of Europe’s largest intact old town centres, Bamberg is a masterpiece of a city which unites medieval and baroque charm. Enjoy a morning at leisure or join our optional guided tour, which explores Bamberg’s long beer-brewing history. We spend another afternoon relaxing on board our ship as we join the Main River and cruise towards Würzburg.

Cologne

Day 6: Würzburg Much of today is spent in Würzburg, which nestles on the banks of the Main and offers a harmonious combination of history, culture and wine. The old town is pedestrian friendly, so it’s a delightful place to explore with many highlights. Alternatively you can join our optional excursions: first we visit the residence of the former prince bishops, an impressive example of Mediterranean baroque architecture, and then in the afternoon you can join us for a tour and tasting at a Franconian wine cellar. Day 7: Wertheim – Miltenberg After breakfast we step ashore to explore the town of Wertheim, with its compact medieval centre made up of narrow streets and half-timbered houses. Our optional trip aboard the little road train is a great way to see the highlights before we cruise to Miltenberg, an equally beautiful medieval town known as the ‘pearl of the Main’. Here you can join our optional evening excursion tasting Fürst Löwenstein wines at Kleinheubach Palace. Day 8: Frankfurt Shortly after lunch we arrive in Frankfurt, Germany’s financial capital which is known as ‘Mainhattan’ due to its impressive skyline. Our optional excursion explores both sides of the rivers whilst telling the story of the city’s beloved apple wine, which we enjoy a complimentary glass of. Later today we join the Rhine and cruise towards Rüdesheim.

Bamberg

2016 dates 29 March 29 March

Inn

Day 3: Regensburg Day 4: Nuremberg This morning we arrive in Regensburg, a beautifully The old town of Nuremberg is filled withAUSTRIA winding preserved city which boasts hundreds of listed cobblestone alleyways and medieval streets, which buildings. Most of these form the old town which SWITZERLAND nestle at the foot of the Kaiserburg – one of the you can see on our optional walking tour, followed most important imperial castles in the middle ages. by an organ recital in St John’s Church. The Join our optional walking tour to see the highlights SLOVENIA remainder of the day is spent relaxing on board our and hear about the fascinating tales this city has to ship as we cruise towards Nuremberg. tell, before we continue cruising along the Main-Danube Canal to Bamberg.

£1249

JOINING YOUR CRUISE OPTIONS Ferry crossing from Dover l FREE coach travel to the port from your local area l Join directly at the port of departure l Stay overnight in Dover/Ashford (parking included for the duration of your cruise) Eurostar l Travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras See prices below Make your own way l Make your own way and join at the ship, £100 reduction – please call for details See pages 34 and 35 for details

Rhin

Cologne

12 DAYS BY RAIL FROM

£999

NETHERLANDS

This enchanting cruise reveals another world as we visit wonderful destinations along the banks of the Danube, the Main and the Rhine, where stepping ashore will feel like you’re stepping back in time. From the riches of Regensburg and beautiful Bamberg, to whirling Würzburg and Miltenberg – the pearl of the Main; we enjoy a medley of medieval towns which charm all visitors with their oldworld atmosphere, along with stunning natural scenery and the cosmopolitan cities of Frankfurt and Cologne. You can discover even more on our optional excursions, which follow in the footsteps of emperors, wine makers, beer brewers and more, or you can simply while away time at our beautifully preserved ports of call. Se

Würzburg

12 DAYS BY COACH FROM

IJsselmeer

Danube – Main – Rhine

Day 2: Passau After breakfast we travel by coach to the city of Passau, where the Danube, the Inn and the Ilz Rivers meet. We settle aboard our ship and enjoy a relaxing evening as we begin cruising along the Danube.

JUST ONE SAILING IN 2016 BOOK EARLY TO SECURE YOUR CABIN

NEW

aboard ms Serenity

Day 1: UK – Germany We travel by coach or rail to Germany and continue to our overnight hotel.

Nuremberg

Day 9: Rüdesheim – Koblenz Rüdesheim is an idyllic town which has long been associated with wine, particularly the

acclaimed Riesling. We spend the morning at leisure here, where you can stroll along the river promenade, visit the romantic ruins of Ehrenfels Castle or browse the pretty taverns and courtyards that line the Drosselgasse. Alternatively you can join our optional coach excursion visiting the charming medieval town of Eltville. This afternoon we cruise through the Rhine Gorge, passing the legendary Lorelei Rock on our way to Koblenz, where our Tour Manager will take us on an evening walking tour. Day 10: Koblenz – Cologne Enjoy a morning at leisure in the city of Koblenz or join our optional coach excursion to Bad Ems, Europe’s oldest and most famous spa. In the afternoon we continue along the Rhine to our final destination, Cologne, where we find the most visited attraction in Germany – the magnificent Gothic cathedral. Join our Tour Manager after dinner for another walking tour to see the highlights. Day 11: Cologne This morning you are free to wander around Cologne or join our optional excursion to the nearby Augustusburg Palace, where we are taken on a guided tour of this spectacular rococo creation. In the afternoon you can relax with a drink as we enjoy a final afternoon cruising. Day 12: Nijmegen – UK We bid farewell to our Captain and his crew after breakfast and set off on the return journey.

No. of days 12 12

Coach routes All routes D1 to D12 –

Cabin prices Code Deck options Main Deck Middle Deck Panorama Deck

Berth 2 2 2

Ferry crossing/ train station Dover St Pancras

Tour code: MEDRV Coach Rail via Dover £999 £1249 £1449

£1249 £1449 £1699

OPTIONAL DRINKS PACKAGE: £149 per person

Includes house wines, house beers and soft drinks served in the restaurant at lunchtime and evenings

Make the most of your holiday! Optional & included excursions l Medieval Regensburg & organ recital..........£15 l Medieval Nuremberg..........................................£15 l Bamberg & its beer...............................................£15 l Würzburg & the Prince Bishop’s Palace.....£32 l Würzburg wine......................................................£23 l Wertheim Little Road Train.............................£22 l Fürst Löwenstein wines at Kleinheubach Palace...........................................£22 l Old Frankfurt & apple wine.............................£25 l Medieval Eltville....................................................£15 l Walking tour of Koblenz...................... Included l Bad Ems & the Emperor’s Spa..........................£17 l Cologne Highlights................................. Included l Palaces of Augustusburg & Falkenlust.........£21

Special pre-book package price Saving per person

£175 £47

Rhine Cruise & Swiss Delights

Elbe

IJsselmeer

NORTH SEA NETHERLANDS

Rhin e

GERMANY

BELGIUM Andernach

English Channel

start

There’s no better way to see the spectacular sights along the Rhine than from the river itself and on this leisurely cruise you can witness the countless treasures of three countries as we glide through Germany, France and Switzerland. Along the way you can enjoy all the amenities of our ship as we cruise between the sheer valley walls of the Rhine Gorge and across the lush plains of the Alsace, before crossing the Swiss border where you can venture into some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. Our ship is never far away, so after a day of exploring you can return to comfortable surrounds and relax as the crew take care of you – it’s what river cruising is all about.

Main

os ell e

Speyer

Nec

Dan

ka r

FRANCE

ube

Strasbourg

Breisach Heidelberg

Basel By coach

Rhine

Koblenz

Rüdesheim M

aboard ms Serenity

Lucerne SWITZERLAND

ITALY

Day 1: UK – Andernach – Koblenz (Air, Coach & Rail) We travel to the delightful walled town of Andernach and settle aboard our ship. We then set sail for Koblenz whilst enjoying dinner and berth overnight in this quaint town. Day 2: Koblenz – Rüdesheim This morning we cruise through the spectacular Rhine Gorge and stop at Rüdesheim, a pretty wine town on the banks of the river. Here you can join our optional excursion which features a panoramic ride to the heights of the gorge by cable car, whilst another optional excursion later on takes you to a traditional wine cellar to sample some of the region’s best wines, before exploring the captivating street called the Drosselgasse. Day 3: Rüdesheim – Speyer Our route takes us into the Rhine’s broader waters for an afternoon stop in the Speyer. You are free to explore this charming city or join our optional coach excursion visiting the majestic city of Heidelberg, home of Germany’s oldest university. Our ship sets sail this evening and cruises overnight towards Strasbourg. Day 4: Strasbourg We arrive at the magnificent city of Strasbourg around midday, which is well known for its World Heritage centre. Our optional guided tour lets you see the main sights by coach before taking you on a walk around the old city. Enjoy another fantastic optional excursion this evening as we cruise along Strasbourg’s waterways, which is a great way to see the city. Our ship berths overnight in Strasbourg.

Sail the waters of the mighty Rhine from Switzerland to France and Germany 9 DAYS BY COACH FROM

£999

The Rhine

8 DAYS BY RAIL FROM

£1129

Day 5: Strasbourg – Breisach – Basel A leisurely cruise through the Rhine Plain takes us to the small town of Breisach. Here you can join our Alluring Alsace optional excursion to Riquewihr, one of the most romantic and beautiful villages in France, and enjoy wine tasting at the renowned Dopff & Irion vineyard. We cruise into northern Switzerland overnight and stop at the old university city of Basel. Day 6: Basel Enjoy a full day in Basel or join our included half day coach excursion which takes you on a route that tunnels through the Jura Mountains to the Swiss resort of Lucerne, the historic and scenic heart of Switzerland. We berth overnight in Basel ready to set sail again in the morning. Day 7: Breisach This morning, as our ship sails back to Breisach, you can venture into the cooler mountain slopes of the Black Forest on our optional full day coach excursion, which also visits the mighty Rhine Falls. We rejoin our ship in Breisach and enjoy a relaxing evening. Day 8: Breisach – Overnight Hotel (Air & Rail) After breakfast we bid farewell to our Captain and crew, disembark our ship and travel by coach to our overnight hotel, where dinner and breakfast is included. Those travelling by rail or air depart today and return to the UK Day 9: Return to the UK (Coach) This morning we travel back to the UK.

JOINING YOUR CRUISE OPTIONS Ferry crossing from Dover l FREE coach travel to the port from your local area l Join directly at the port of departure l Stay overnight in Dover/Ashford (parking included for the duration of your cruise) Ferry crossing from Hull or Newcastle l FREE coach travel to the port from your local area l Join directly at the port of departure l Overnight ferry crossings include two nights’ cabin accommodation which is reflected in the price chart below Eurostar l Travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras See prices below Travel by air l Outward Gatwick to Cologne 13.45/16.05; return Basel Mulhouse to Gatwick 17.25/17.55. Please note: All details are provisional and subject to confirmation Make your own way l Make your own way and join at the ship, £100 reduction – please call for details See pages 34 and 35 for details 2016 No. of Coach dates days routes 27 April 11 N1 N2 28 April 9 All routes D1 to D12 28 April 8 – 28 April 8 – 4 May* 9 D7 D8 D9 D10 D11 D12 5 May* 8 – 5 May* 8 – D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 12 May 9 D10 D11 D12 17 May* 11 H1 H2 H3 H4 H5 18 May* 9 D7 D8 D9 D10 D11 D12 19 May* 8 – 19 May* 8 –

Ferry crossing/ train station/ airport Newcastle Dover St Pancras Gatwick Dover St Pancras Gatwick Dover Hull Dover St Pancras Gatwick

*Please note: These cruises operate in reverse Cabin prices – April Code Deck options Berth Main Middle Panorama

2 2 2

Cabin prices – May Code Deck options Berth Main Middle Panorama

2 2 2

Coach via Dover £999 £1199 £1399

Tour code: SWISS Coach Rail Air via N’castle £1149 £1129 £1149 £1349 £1329 £1349 £1549 £1529 £1549

Coach via Dover £1069 £1269 £1469

Tour code: SWISS Coach Rail Air via Hull £1219 £1199 £1219 £1419 £1399 £1419 £1619 £1599 £1619

OPTIONAL DRINKS PACKAGE: £99 per person

Includes house wines, house beers and soft drinks served in the restaurant at lunchtime and evenings

Make the most of your holiday!

8 DAYS BY AIR FROM

£1149

Lucerne

Optional & included excursions l Rüdesheim highlights.........................................£26 l Rüdesheim by night............................................£27 l Heidelberg highlights..........................................£19 l Strasbourg guided tour......................................£21 l Strasbourg canal cruise.....................................£27 l Alluring Alsace........................................................£19 l Lucerne........................................................ Included l Black Forest & Rhine Falls.................................£22 Special pre-book package price £125 Saving per person £36

From the water to the river bank, see the best of the Danube on our Cruise & Stay tour

Budapest

10 DAYS BY COACH FROM

£749

MANY 2016 PRICES LOWER THAN 2015*

Elbe

IJsselmeer

Danube Discovery Cruise & Stay NETHERLANDS

Rhin

aboard ms Serenity

Including Vienna & Budapest Main

Rhin

Day 2: Boppard (Coach) / Frankfurt (Rail) – Passau (Air) After breakfast we continue by coach or rail to Passau and join our ship for an afternoon departure along the Danube. Those travelling by air join today.

Neck

os ell e

From the water to the riverbank, see some of the greatest sights cradled by the blue Danube as we cruise from Germany to Hungary and step ashore for a three night stay in the heart of Budapest. Enjoy Austrian and Slovakian treasures in between, where you can wander the cobbled streets of Melk, gaze at the flawless beauty of the Wachau Valley, lose yourself in the waltzes and whirls of Vienna and discover the baroque wonderland of Bratislava. On arrival in Budapest – the ‘pearl of the Danube’ – we stay for three nights in a riverside hotel, giving you the freedom to come and go as you please and really SWITZERLAND experience the delights of this architectural paradise. Day 1: UK – Boppard (Coach) / Frankfurt (Rail) For our coach option, we take the ferry from Dover to Calais and continue to our overnight hotel in Boppard. For rail, we journey aboard Eurostar from St Pancras International to Paris and continue by high-speed rail to our overnight hotel in Frankfurt.

Main Danube Canal

CZECH REPUBLIC Ilz D anu

Passau start

GERMANY

Inn

SLOVAKIA

Melk Vienna

Bratislava

Budapest

AUSTRIA

HUNGARY

ITALY

Day 3: Melk – Vienna This morning we arrive in the Austrian city of Melk, which is filled with cobbled streets and attractive buildings, with the nearby Schallaburg Castle. It is also overlooked by one of the best known and most splendid monastic houses in Austria – the Benedictine Abbey, which you can visit on our optional excursion. In the afternoon we cruise through the breathtaking Wachau Valley and reach the Austrian capital of Vienna, where you can see this beautiful city lit up at night on our optional excursion.

SLOVENIA CROATIA

BOSNIA & Day 4: Vienna We spend a full day experiencing the delights HERZEGOVINA of Vienna. Grand palaces, baroque castles, SERBIA 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 our optional city tour and in the afternoon we have an optional excursion to Schönbrunn Palace, which takes you on a journey through time as we explore some of the 1,441 rooms. We cast off this evening and cruise towards Bratislava. Day 5: Bratislava Wake up in Bratislava, the historic capital of Slovakia which is dominated by its castle. There’s also the unique suspension bridge, another key landmark, announced as the building of the century when it opened in 1972. Join our optional guided tour to take in the main sights and experience the rich culture in and around the old town before our ship cruises towards Budapest. Passau

Vienna

Day 6, 7 & 8: Budapest This morning we disembark our ship for the final time and bid farewell to our Captain and crew ready for a three night stay in the 4 star Novotel Hotel, which overlooks the Danube and the Hungarian Parliament building on the Buda side of the city. It has all the facilities you would expect for a modern city centre hotel and is in the perfect location for you to come and go as you please. Join our optional Budapest city tour, which introduces you to some of the most prominent highlights of the city known as the ‘pearl of the Danube’. These include the 700 year old Matthias Church, Parliament building – a magnificent example of neo-Gothic architecture, and Buda Castle, which rises 48 metres above the river. Day 9: Budapest – Munich (Rail) / Frankfurt (Coach) This morning we set off according to your chosen travel option: those travelling by air take Danu be their return flight from Budapest back to the UK; those travelling by rail take the train The Danube

8 DAYS BY AIR FROM

to Munich for an overnight stay; and those travelling by coach are taken to Frankfurt for an overnight stay. Day 10: Munich (Rail) / Frankfurt (Coach) – UK We set off this morning by rail or coach for our return journey to the UK. Novotel, Budapest

10 DAYS BY RAIL FROM

£849

£949

JOINING YOUR CRUISE OPTIONS Ferry crossing from Dover l FREE coach travel to the port from your local area l Join directly at the port of departure l Stay overnight in Dover/Ashford (parking included for the duration of your cruise) Eurostar l Travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras See prices below Travel by air l Outward Heathrow to Munich 12.45/15.35; return Budapest to Heathrow 13.10/14.50. Please note: All details are provisional and subject to confirmation Make your own way l Make your own way and join at the ship, £100 reduction – please call for details See pages 34 and 35 for details 2016 No. of Coach dates days routes 10 All routes D1 to D12 5 June† 10 – 5 June† 6 June† 8 – 9 October 10 All routes D1 to D12 9 October 10 – 10 October 8 – † Please

Ferry crossing/ train station/ airport Dover St Pancras Heathrow Dover St Pancras Heathrow

note: These cruises operate in reverse

Cabin prices – June Code Deck options Berth Main Middle Panorama

2 2 2

Cabin prices – October Code Deck options Berth Main Middle Panorama

2 2 2

Coach via Dover £799 £899 £999

Coach via Dover £749 £849 £949

Tour code: DDISC Rail Air £999 £1099 £1199

£899 £999 £1099

Tour code: DDISC Rail Air £949 £1049 £1149

£849 £949 £1049

See page 7 for deck plan and cabin occupancy All prices shown are per person *Based on selected departures in June & October ___________________________________________ Insurance – See page 33 for insurance details ___________________________________________

OPTIONAL DRINKS PACKAGE: £65 per person

Includes house wines, house beers and soft drinks served in the restaurant at lunchtime and evenings

Make the most of your holiday! Optional excursions l Melk Abbey..............................................................£21 l Vienna by night.....................................................£25 l Vienna city tour.....................................................£21 l Schönbrunn Palace..............................................£20 l Bratislava city tour................................................£19 l Budapest city tour................................................£21

Special pre-book package price Saving per person

£99 £28

Discover the delights of the Danube on one of the most scenic journeys through the heart of Europe. From the pretty city of Passau on the Austrian border to the Hungarian capital of Budapest, we cruise in comfort and style aboard the ms Serenity, passing through the beautiful scenery of the Wachau Valley and dipping into the history and culture of amazing cities along the way.

os ell e

2016 CRUISES AT 2015 PRICES

Rhin

Including Bratislava, Dürnstein & Melk

OUR MOST POPULAR CRUISE IN 2015

CZECH REPUBLIC Ilz D an

Passau

aboard ms Serenity

Main Danube Canal

Neck

Cruise the Danube to Vienna & Budapest

Main

GERMANY

start

Inn

ubeDürnstein

Melk Vienna

SLOVAKIA Bratislava Budapest

AUSTRIA SWITZERLAND

HUNGARY ITALY

With a full day in the musical city of Vienna and Budapest as well as a visit to the Slovakian capital of Bratislava, this is a wonderful opportunity to sail the waters that are beautifully immortalised by the composer Strauss, in the classical waltz The Blue Danube.

SLOVENIA CROATIA

Book your 2016 cruise now to avoid disappointment.

BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA

SERBIA

Danube 10 DAYS BY COACH FROM

£949

8 DAYS BY AIR FROM

£999

SEE THE FOLLOWING PAGES FOR YOUR ITINERARY

Budapest

2016 CRUISES AT 2015 PRICES

One of the most scenic journeys through the heart of Europe

ms Serenity

Cruise the Danube to Vienna & Budapest Day 1: UK – Germany (Coach) We travel by coach to Dover and take the ferry to Calais, where we continue to our overnight hotel. Day 2: Germany – Passau (Air) After breakfast we travel by coach and board our ship in Passau, known as the ‘three rivers city’ due to its unique location where the Danube, Inn and Ilz Rivers meet. Those travelling by air join today. You can then relax on board as we set sail and cruise towards Melk. Day 3: Melk – Vienna This morning we arrive in the small town of Melk, which lies in the beautiful Wachau Valley. Here you can join our 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 on board for the remainder of the day as we cruise to Vienna for an overnight stop. Day 4: Vienna We 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 our optional city tour and in the afternoon we have 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 we cast off and cruise towards Budapest.

Bratislava Castle

Vienna

Day 5: Budapest Today we have a full day in Budapest, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Here you can explore both sides of Hungary’s capital – traditional Buda and the more cosmopolitan Pest. Start the day by joining our 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 our optional excursion to experience Budapest by night with a traditional folklore show.

Day 6: Budapest Enjoy a morning in Budapest or join our optional excursion which takes you through the sweeping plains of Hungary to Lajosmizse. Here we 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. We set sail in the afternoon and cruise towards Bratislava. Day 7: Bratislava We reach Bratislava in the early morning. This historic city is dominated by its castle and unique suspension bridge. Join our optional walking tour to take in the sights of this Slovakian capital and experience its rich culture, before we set sail in the afternoon and cruise towards Dürnstein.

Make the most of your holiday! Optional excursions l Melk Abbey.........................................................£21 l Vienna city tour................................................£21 l Schönbrunn Palace........................................ £20 l Budapest city tour...........................................£21 l Budapest by night...........................................£23 l Puszta horse show..........................................£32 l Bratislava city tour.......................................... £19 l Dürnstein tour with wine tasting............ £26

Special pre-book package price £145 Saving per person £38

Day 8: Dürnstein The town of Dürnstein is crowned by the ruins of the castle that once imprisoned Richard the Lionheart. Join our optional walking tour which takes you around the cobbled streets to admire the pretty courtyards and buildings, before stopping at one of the Wachau Valley’s renowned wine cellars to enjoy some wine tasting. We set sail for the final time and cruise towards Passau.

The Danube

2016 No. of Coach dates days routes 11 June 12 H1 H2 H3 H4 H5 12 June 10 D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 13 June 8 – 10 All routes D1–D12 19 June 20 June 8 – 12 N1 N2 25 June 26 June 10 D7 D8 D9 D10 D11 D12 27 June 8 – 10 All routes D1–D12 3 July 4 July 8 – 12 N1 N2 23 July 10 D7 D8 D9 D10 D11 D12 24 July 8 – 25 July 12 H1 H2 H3 H4 H5 30 July 10 All routes D1–D12 31 July – 1 August 8 All routes D1–D12 7 August 10 – 8 August 8 H1 H2 H3 H4 H5 13 August 12 D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D12 14 August 10 – 15 August 8 N1 N2 20 August 12 D7 D8 D9 D10 D11 D12 21 August 10 22 August 8 – 11 Sept 10 All routes D1–D12 8 – 12 Sept 12 N1 N2 17 Sept 10 D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D12 18 Sept 8 – 19 Sept H1 H2 H3 H4 H5 24 Sept 12 D7 D8 D9 D10 D11 D12 25 Sept 10 – 26 Sept 8 1 October 12 N1 N2 2 October 10 All routes D1–D12 – 3 October 8

Ferry crossing/ airport Hull Dover LGW or LHR Dover LGW or LHR Newcastle Dover LGW or LHR Dover LGW or LHR Newcastle Dover LGW or LHR Hull Dover LGW or LHR Dover LGW or LHR Hull Dover LGW or LHR Newcastle Dover LGW or LHR Dover LGW or LHR Newcastle Dover LGW or LHR Hull Dover LGW or LHR Newcastle Dover LGW or LHR

LGW = Gatwick; LHR = Heathrow

Cabin prices – June to September Tour code: DANUB Code Deck options Berth Coach Coach Air via via Hull/ Dover N’castle Main Deck 2 £1099 £1249 £1149 Middle Deck 2 £1249 £1399 £1299 Panorama Deck 2 £1399 £1549 £1449 Cabin prices – October Code Deck options Main Deck Middle Deck Panorama Deck

Tour code: DANUB Berth 2 2 2

Coach Coach Air via Dover via N’castle £949 £1099 £999 £1099 £1249 £1149 £1249 £1399 £1299

Day 9: Passau – Germany (Air) We disembark this morning and travel by coach to our overnight hotel. Those travelling by air depart today. Day 10: Germany – UK (Coach) After breakfast we continue by coach to Calais, taking the ferry to Dover for our return journey.

JOINING YOUR CRUISE OPTIONS Ferry crossing from Dover l FREE coach travel to the port from your local area l Join directly at the port of departure l Stay overnight in Dover/Ashford (parking included for the duration of your cruise) Ferry crossing from Hull or Newcastle l FREE coach travel to the port from your local area l Join directly at the port of departure l Overnight ferry crossings include two nights’ cabin accommodation which is reflected in the price chart below Travel by air l Outward Gatwick to Salzburg 08.00/10.55 or Heathrow to Munich 09.05/11.55; return Salzburg to Gatwick 11.45/12.40 or Munich to Heathrow 16.05/17.05. Please note: All details are provisional and subject to confirmation Make your own way l Make your own way and join at the ship, £100 reduction – please call for details See pages 34 and 35 for details

OPTIONAL DRINKS PACKAGE: £99 per person

Includes house wines, house beers and soft drinks served in the restaurant at lunchtime and evenings

Melk Abbey

Rhin

NETHERLANDS

Bavaria & the Romantic Rhine

BELGIUM

Cologne Frankfurt

os el l e

FRANCE

The Rhine – The Main – The Main Danube Canal

r Necka

Würzburg Main Rüdesheim Wertheim

Koblenz

aboard ms Serenity

2016 CRUISES AT 2015 PRICES

GERMANY

start

Bamberg

Nuremberg Main Danube Canal Dan

ube

Join us as we glide through two of nature’s corridors, which lead you through the heart of Europe and reveal the beautiful sights and fascinating history of Germany. Our cruise starts in Cologne, a vibrant city which nestles on the banks of the Rhine. Enjoy the open landscape before the riverbanks rise dramatically on either side and medieval castles assert a commanding presence – this is the Rhine Gorge, a stretch of the river AUSTRIA SWITZERLAND celebrated for its evident beauty and mysterious legends. We then join the Main River and stop to explore some of the highlights, including Frankfurt and Wertheim, before following the Main-Danube Canal as far as Nuremberg. With the comforts of our 4 star ship to enjoy every day, you have the perfect balance of relaxing and exploring.

Rhine

JUST ONE SAILING IN 2016 BOOK EARLY TO SECURE YOUR CABIN

Discover picturesque towns and cities and uncover the legends of the mighty Rhine

Inn

The Rhine

Day 1: UK – Cologne (Coach, Rail & Air) We travel by coach, rail or air to Cologne, one of the main cities along the Rhine which is set around its beautiful Gothic cathedral. Here we join our ship and enjoy a relaxing evening. Day 2: Cologne – Koblenz This afternoon we reach the walled city of Koblenz. You are free to explore the cosy lanes and atmospheric squares which are filled with ancient buildings or join our optional excursion on the Koblenz Cable Car, which also includes entrance to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress – Europe’s second largest preserved castle. Day 3: Koblenz – Rüdesheim Relax on the Sun Deck as we cruise through the dramatic Rhine Gorge, a section of the river recognised as a World Heritage Site for its fascinating geology, history and culture. We pass the legendary Lorelei Rock, which soars 120 metres above the river, and stop at the quaint wine town of Rüdesheim. Here you can enjoy many highlights on our optional excursion, including a cable car ride for panoramic views across the Rhine Valley. Day 4: Rüdesheim – Frankfurt Today we join the Main River and stop at Frankfurt, a cosmopolitan city with one of the most striking skylines in all of Germany. Join our optional city tour which takes you to Römerberg, the central square, where you can admire the stunning buildings and famous fountain. The cathedral and church are also must-sees, as is the chance to enjoy a glass of apple wine. Later today you can relax on board as we continue along the Main towards Wertheim. Day 5: Wertheim The town of Wertheim is well known for its wine, castle and medieval centre. After lunch you can step ashore to explore the narrow streets lined with half-timbered houses or join our optional excursion, which takes you by road train to visit the beautiful stone castle overlooking the valley.

Day 6: Würzburg Würzburg was once the centre of the Kingdom of Franconia and the home of powerful prince bishops for centuries. Today it is a wonderful place to visit, renowned for the Residence Palace – one of the finest pieces of baroque art in the world, its 8th century church and the Fortress Marienberg which overlooks the whole town and surrounding hills. After our visit we continue cruising along the Main towards Bamberg. Day 7: Bamberg We reach Bamberg around midday. Built on seven hills, it boasts the most intact centre in Germany with the old town listed as a World Heritage Site because of its authentic medieval appearance. Due to its location there are many viewpoints to enjoy and main sights include the cathedral, Altenburg Castle, the Old Town Hall, the Old Court and a former Benedictine Monastery. In the evening we begin cruising along the Main-Danube Canal towards Nuremberg. Day 8: Nuremberg (Rail & Air) – Frankfurt (Coach) Nuremberg is Bavaria’s second largest city after Munich. The majority of the city walls still stand and inside you can enjoy a wonderful atmosphere, which combines medieval and modern life in an area filled with Gothic churches, aristocratic houses, fountains, memorials and romantic corners, all dominated by the Kaiser Castle. Our optional city tour is a great way to see the highlights before we check in at our hotel – those travelling by rail stay in Nuremberg, those travelling by coach are taken to Frankfurt and those travelling by air continue to the airport for the return flight to the UK. Day 9: Nuremberg (Rail) / Frankfurt (Coach) – UK We set off this morning by rail or coach for our return journey to the UK.

Cologne

9 DAYS BY COACH FROM

£1099

Bamberg

9 DAYS BY AIR FROM

£1149

JOINING YOUR CRUISE OPTIONS Ferry crossing from Dover l FREE coach travel to the port from your local area l Join directly at the port of departure l Stay overnight in Dover/Ashford (parking included for the duration of your cruise) Eurostar l Travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras See prices below Travel by air l Outward Gatwick/Heathrow to Cologne 13.45/ 16.05; return Nuremberg (via Düsseldorf) to Gatwick/Heathrow 18.55/20.30. Please note: All details are provisional and subject to confirmation Make your own way l Make your own way and join at the ship, £100 reduction – please call for details See pages 34 and 35 for details 2016 No. of Coach dates days routes 26 May 9 All routes D1 to D12 26 May 9 – 26 May 8 – Cabin prices Code Deck options Main Deck Middle Deck Panorama Deck

Berth 2 2 2

Ferry crossing/ train station/ airport Dover St Pancras Gatwick/Heathrow

Tour code: BAVAR Coach Rail Air via Dover £1099 £1149 £1249

£1299 £1499 £1699

£1149 £1349 £1549

OPTIONAL DRINKS PACKAGE: £99 per person

Includes house wines, house beers and soft drinks served in the restaurant at lunchtime and evenings

Make the most of your holiday! Optional excursions l Koblenz Cable Car & Ehrenbreitstein Fortress................................£21 l Rüdesheim highlights.........................................£26 l Frankfurt city tour...............................................£25 l Wertheim Little Road Train.............................£22 l Nuremberg city tour..........................................£27

Special pre-book package price Saving per person

£95 £26

9 DAYS BY RAIL FROM

£1299

Würzburg

SO N LD OW O UT

20 pre- Dat Vi 16 p reg es en le is in na as ter 20 & e s fo 15 s Bu ee r 2 til da ou 017 l av pe r C at ail st ru 20 ab an ise 16 le o d ot the pric r he D es r s an ... ail ub ing e s to

2016 CRUISES AT 2015 PRICES

8 DAYS BY AIR FROM

9 DAYS BY RAIL FROM

£1199

£1499

fo r

Visit three great capital cities – Budapest, Bratislava and Vienna

Budapest

Delights of the Danube

aboard ms Serenity

Including Budapest & Vienna

Day 2: Regensburg We arrive in Regensburg this morning, which lies at the northernmost point of the Danube. Our optional city tour takes you around the beautifully preserved medieval centre to admire the many sights and then in the afternoon you can enjoy a

Main Main Danube Canal

Nuremberg start

Dan

ube

Rhin

CZECH REPUBLIC

Regensburg

Day 1: UK – Nuremberg (Air & Rail) We travel by air or rail to Nuremberg and board our ship for a relaxing evening as we cruise along the Main-Danube Canal.

POLAND

GERMANY

Neck

Cruise along one of Europe’s finest rivers and step ashore to explore fabled towns and cities, including the great capitals of Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. We enjoy a full day in Vienna, whose style and grace inspired the creative genius of classical music’s greatest composers. Then it’s Bratislava, a cultural hotspot with rural charm and the friendliness to match. We finish with a full day in Budapest, where the Danube gives the city its split personality as it cuts through the heart, with ancient Buda on one side of the river and the modern area of Pest on the other. It’s the perfect end to a river cruise that offers new cultures and experiences every day.

Ilz

Vienna

Passau

Inn

Melk

AUSTRIA

cruise through the SWITZERLAND Danube Gorge to visit the oldest monastery in Bavaria. Later this evening we cruise towards Passau. Day 3: Passau Passau is known as the ‘three rivers city’ due to its unique location where the Danube, Inn and Ilz Rivers meet. The old town is a stunning display of Italian baroque style architecture, as you will see Vienna

SLOVAKIA

Bratislava

Budapest

HUNGARY

ITALY SLOVENIA CROATIA on our optional walking tour. This is where most of the sights are found, including the Cathedral of St Steven, home to the world’s largest cathedral organ. In the early eveningBOSNIA we cruise & towards Melk. HERZEGOVINA Day 4: Melk & Wachau Valley – Vienna

This morning we arrive in the Austrian city of Melk, which is filled with cobbled streets and attractive buildings, with the nearby Schallaburg Castle. It is MONTENEGRO also overlooked by one of the best known and most splendid monastic houses in Austria – the Benedictine Abbey, which you can visit on our optional excursion. In the afternoon you can relax on deck as we cruise through the beautiful Wachau Valley on our way to Vienna.

can join our optional city tour and in the afternoon we have an optional excursion to Schönbrunn Palace, which takes you on a journey through time as we explore some of the 1,441 rooms. Later today we begin cruising towards Bratislava. Day 6: Bratislava – Budapest The historic city of Bratislava is dominated by its castle, which is set high above the Danube and was once a frontier post of the Roman empire. There’s also the unique suspension bridge, another key landmark which was announced as the building of the century when it opened in 1972. Join our optional city tour to take in the main sights and experience the rich culture of this Slovakian capital, before our ship cruises towards Budapest this afternoon. Day 7: Budapest Today we have a full day in Budapest, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Here you can explore both sides of Hungary’s capital – traditional Buda and the more cosmopolitan Pest. Start the day by joining our optional city tour, which introduces you to the highlights and helps you to get your bearings in the city known as the ‘pearl of the Danube’.

taking the overnight train to Munich and onward connections to London. Day 9: Munich – UK (Rail) This morning we arrive back in the UK.

EXTEND YOUR CRUISE Combine this itinerary with the Bavaria & the Romantic Rhine cruise itinerary as featured on pages 20-21 and you can enjoy a leisurely 14 night cruise through four countries, taking you all the way from Cologne on the Rhine, to the city of Budapest on the Danube. To book this cruise please quote UPRHI. Departure date is 26 May 2016 by rail or air

JOINING YOUR CRUISE OPTIONS Eurostar l Travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras See prices below Travel by air l Outward Heathrow to Nuremberg (via Düsseldorf) 10.20/11.25; return Budapest to Heathrow 18.55/20.30. Please note: All details are provisional and subject to confirmation Make your own way l Make your own way and join at the ship, £100 reduction – please call for details See pages 34 and 35 for details 2016 dates 2 June 2 June

No. of days 9 8

Cabin prices Code Deck options Main Middle Panorama

Coach routes – –

Train station/ airport St Pancras Heathrow Tour code: DELIG Rail

Berth

Air

2 2 2

£1199 £1299 £1399

£1499 £1599 £1749

OPTIONAL DRINKS PACKAGE: £99 per person

Includes house wines, house beers and soft drinks served in the restaurant at lunchtime and evenings

Day 8: Budapest – UK (Air) This morning we bid farewell to our Captain and crew and disembark our ship. Passengers travelling by air will be transferred to the airport for your return flight. Passengers travelling by rail can enjoy free time in Budapest, before

Make the most of your holiday! Optional excursions l Regensburg city tour & Danube Gorge.....£39 l Passau walking tour..............................................£21 l Melk Abbey..............................................................£21 l Vienna city tour.....................................................£21 l Schönbrunn Palace..............................................£20 l Bratislava city tour................................................£19 l Budapest city tour................................................£21

Day 5: Vienna Enjoy 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

Special pre-book package price Saving per person

£129 £33

Bratislava Castle

Passau

Regensburg

SO N LD OW O UT

fo pre Dat r -r e Bl 2016 egis s in ac p te 20 k S le r f 15 ea ase or st cr se 201 ill a ui e 7 va se ou at ila an r D 20 bl 1 e d ot anu 6 p or he b ric r s e t es. ail o .. ing th s e

An incredible journey from Cologne to Budapest

2016 CRUISES AT 2015 PRICES

15 DAYS BY AIR FROM

16 DAYS BY RAIL FROM

£1999

£2199

The Danube Passau

Schönbrunn Palace. Later today we cruise over the border into Slovakia, stopping at Bratislava around midnight.

Up the Rhine & Down the Danube

Vienna

aboard ms Serenity

Join us for a voyage of discovery as we follow the course of the Rhine, the Main, the Main-Danube Canal and the Danube on an incredible journey from Cologne to Budapest. Cruising through four countries, we witness some of Europe’s greatest sights at a leisurely pace, from the spectacular natural landscape of the Rhine Gorge and the Wachau Valley to the fascinating cities of Cologne, Würzburg, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest. Optional excursions are available so you can make the most of your time ashore, whilst our floating hotel is the perfect base to relax and admire the passing scenery.

Regensburg

IJsselmeer

Day 5: Wertheim The town of Wertheim is well-known for its wine, castle and medieval centre, where we arrive shortly after midday. Our optional excursion is a great way to see the highlights, taking you through the town aboard a small train before ascending to Wertheim Castle, where you can enjoy fabulous views. We set sail in the early evening and cruise towards Würzburg.

Frankfurt

Bamberg CZECH REPUBLIC Nuremberg Regensburg Danube Canal Ilz Dan ube Passau Vienna Bratislava Inn Melk

Wertheim Main

Rhin e

FRANCE

Würzberg

Main

os ell e

Koblenz Rüdesheim

Day 4: Rüdesheim – Frankfurt After breakfast we arrive in the city of Frankfurt, which sits on the Main River and has one of the most imposing skylines in Germany. Our optional city tour takes you around the central square to admire the stunning buildings and famous fountain, along with the chance to enjoy a famous glass of apple wine. Later today you can relax on board as we cruise towards Wertheim.

BELGIUM

start

POLAND

GERMANY

Neck

Day 3: Koblenz – Rüdesheim Relax on the Sun Deck as we cruise through the dramatic Rhine Gorge, a section of the river recognised as a World Heritage Site for its fascinating geology, history and culture. We stop at the quaint wine town of Rüdesheim where you can enjoy many highlights on our optional excursion, including a cable car ride for panoramic views across the Rhine Valley.

Cologne

Day 2: Cologne – Koblenz We cast off this morning and begin our cruise up the Rhine, stopping at the walled city of Koblenz. For breathtaking views across the region you can join our optional excursion on the Koblenz Cable Car, which also includes entrance to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress – Europe’s second largest preserved castle.

NETHERLANDS Rhin

Day 1: UK – Cologne (Air & Rail) We travel by air or rail to Cologne, which sits right on the Rhine River in Germany, and board our ship for a relaxing evening.

AUSTRIA SWITZERLAND

SLOVAKIA

Budapest

HUNGARY ITALY

Day 6: Würzburg This morning you are free to explore the city of Würzburg, which served as the home of powerful prince bishops for centuries. It is a wonderful place to visit, renowned for the Residence Palace – one of the finest pieces of baroque art in the world, its 8th century church and the Fortress Marienberg. In the early afternoon we set sail for Bamberg.

SLOVENIA which combines medieval and modern life in CROATIA an area filled with Gothic churches, aristocratic houses, fountains, memorials and romantic corners, all dominated by the Kaiser Castle. Our & the most optional excursion is a great BOSNIA way to make of our visit, before we joinHERZEGOVINA the Danube and cruise towards Regensburg. SERBIA

Day 7: Bamberg We arrive in Bamberg around midday, which is located at the start of the Main-Danube Canal. Built on seven hills, it boasts the most intact centre in Germany with the old town listed as a World Heritage Site because of its authentic medieval appearance. After some free time we cruise along the Main-Danube Canal towards Nuremberg.

Day 9: Regensburg We arrive in Regensburg around breakfast time, which lies at the northernmost point of the Danube. Our optional city tour takes you around the beautifully preserved medieval centre to admire the many sights and then in the afternoon you can enjoy a cruise through the Danube Gorge to visit the oldest monastery in Bavaria. Later this evening we cruise towards Passau.

Day 8: Nuremberg Nuremberg is Bavaria’s second largest city after Munich. The majority of the city walls still stand and inside you can enjoy a wonderful atmosphere,

Day 10: Passau Passau is known as the ‘three rivers city’ due to its unique location where the Danube, Inn and Ilz Rivers meet. The old town is a stunning display of

Italian baroque style architecture, as you can see on our optional walking tour. This is where most of the sights are found, including the Cathedral of St Steven, home to the world’s largest cathedral organ. In the evening we set sail for Melk. Day 11: Melk & Wachau Valley – Vienna This morning we arrive in the Austrian city of Melk, which is filled with cobbled streets and attractive buildings, with the nearby Schallaburg Castle. It is also overlooked by one of the best known and most splendid monastic houses in Austria – the Benedictine Abbey, which you can visit on our optional excursion. In the afternoon you can relax on deck as we cruise through the Wachau Valley, which stretches 24 miles through stunning scenery, with many charming towns, terraced vineyards, castles and monasteries. We reach Vienna in the evening where we berth overnight. Day 12: Vienna Spend a full day experiencing the delights of Vienna, capital of Austria and birthplace of classical music. More than 150 grand palaces, over 27 baroque castles, impressive squares and striking monuments are just some of the key features of this magnificent city, whose historic centre is inscribed on the World Heritage list. In the morning you can join our optional city tour and in the afternoon we have an optional excursion visiting the magnificent

Day 13: Bratislava – Budapest After breakfast you can join our optional excursion to take in the sights and experience the rich culture of this Slovakian capital. The old town is centred on two squares, with winding streets, a hilltop castle and many remarkable buildings spanning various periods. We set sail for Budapest around midday. Day 14: Budapest Budapest is described as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Join our optional city tour which introduces you to the highlights on both sides of the river, including the 700 year old Matthias Church, Parliament Building – a magnificent example of neo-Gothic architecture, and Buda Castle, which rises 48 metres above the river. Day 15: Budapest – UK (Air) This morning we bid farewell to our Captain and crew and disembark our ship. Passengers travelling by air will be transferred to the airport for your return flight. Passengers travelling by rail can enjoy free time in Budapest, before taking the overnight train to Munich and onward connections to London. Day 16: Munich – UK (Rail) This morning we arrive back in the UK.

FROM

EXTEND YOUR HOLIDAY

£180

2 nights in Budapest Enjoy a two night stay in the city known as the ‘pearl of the Danube’ and soak up the breathtaking beauty, fascinating culture and magical charm of Budapest. On day 15 we check into our centrally located hotel, after which you have plenty of free time to explore both sides of Hungary’s capital – traditional ‘Buda’ and the more cosmopolitan ‘Pest’.

JOINING YOUR CRUISE OPTIONS Eurostar l Travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras See prices below Travel by air l Outward Gatwick to Cologne 13.45/16.05; return Budapest to Gatwick 18.55/20.30. Please note: All details are provisional and subject to confirmation Make your own way l Make your own way and join at the ship, £100 reduction – please call for details See pages 34 and 35 for details 2016 dates 26 May 26 May

No. of days 16 15

Cabin prices Code Deck options Main Deck Middle Deck Panorama Deck

Coach routes – –

Berth 2 2 2

Train station/ airport St Pancras Gatwick Tour code: UPRHI Air Rail £1999 £2199 £2499

£2199 £2399 £2699

OPTIONAL DRINKS PACKAGE: £199 per person

Includes house wines, house beers and soft drinks served in the restaurant at lunchtime and evenings

Make the most of your holiday! Optional excursions l Koblenz Cable Car & Ehrenbreitstein Fortress............................... £21 l Rüdesheim highlights........................................£26 l Frankfurt city tour.............................................. £25 l Wertheim Little Road Train............................£22 l Nuremberg city tour......................................... £27 l Regensburg city tour & Danube Gorge....£39 l Passau walking tour............................................. £21 l Melk Abbey............................................................. £21 l Vienna city tour.................................................... £21 l Schönbrunn Palace.............................................£20 l Bratislava city tour...............................................£19 l Budapest city tour............................................... £21

Special pre-book package price Saving per person

£225 £58

Frankfurt

Travel through no less than seven countries on this spectacular cruise

Budapest

2016 CRUISES AT 2015 PRICES

15 DAYS BY AIR FROM

£1999

2016 dates 10 July 11 July 28 August 29 August

aboard ms Serenity

Code Deck options Main Deck Middle Deck Panorama Deck

Wake up to breathtaking views as we follow the course of the blue Danube on its extraordinary journey to the Black Sea. This leisurely cruise reveals some of eastern Europe’s greatest treasures, taking you through no less than seven countries with spectacular scenery and exciting capital cities. Natural wonders include the picturesque Wachau Valley of Austria, the Iron Gate Gorge which cuts through the Carpathian and the Balkan Mountains, and the exotic waters of the Black Sea which lap the beautiful Romanian coast. Explore both sides of Budapest, see the beautiful architecture of Bratislava and Belgrade, and wander the pretty streets of Vienna – city of whirls and waltzes. Every day is an adventure which will Main create lasting memories.

Day 4: Kalocsa, Hungary We arrive in Kalocsa this afternoon, a small village in the great plains of Hungary. Much of the country’s paprika comes from the pepper fields surrounding this small town – there’s even a Paprika Museum and Paprika street in the centre. It is also known for its beautiful handmade embroidery. Our optional guided tour points out the highlights before we continue cruising towards the country of Serbia. Day 5: Belgrade, Serbia The city of Belgrade lies at the confluence of the Sava and Danube Rivers. We arrive in the afternoon with plenty of time to see the highlights of this Serbian capital. You can start by joining our optional city tour, which is a great way to see the

Day 3: Vienna, Austria Experience the delights of Vienna, capital of Austria. 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 our optional city tour and in the afternoon we have an optional excursion visiting the magnificent Schönbrunn Palace. Later today we cruise towards Kalocsa.

Neck

Day 2: Munich – Passau (Air) We continue our rail journey and board our ship in Passau, known as the ‘three rivers city’ due to its unique location where the Danube, Inn and Ilz Rivers meet. Those travelling by air join today. You can then relax on board as we begin our cruise towards Vienna, which takes us through the beautiful Wachau Valley.

Passau start

GERMANY

Ilz D anu Inn

Vienna

Kalocsa ITALY

CROATIA

ROMANIA

Novi Sad

BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA

Belgrade SERBIA

MONTENEGRO

Air

£2199 £2399 £2599

£1999 £2199 £2399

OPTIONAL DRINKS PACKAGE: £199 per person

Make the most of your holiday! MOLDOVA

HUNGARY Mohacs

Rail

2 2 2

Bratislava Castle

Budapest

SLOVENIA

Tour code: DABLA Berth

Includes house wines, house beers and soft drinks served in the restaurant at lunchtime and evenings

SLOVAKIA Bratislava

Melk AUSTRIA

Coach Train station/ routes airport – St Pancras – Heathrow – St Pancras – Heathrow

UKRAINE

CZECH REPUBLIC

Main Danube Canal

No. of days 17 15 17 15

Cabin prices

Germany – Austria – Slovakia – Hungary – Serbia – Romania – Bulgaria

Day 1: UK – Munich (Rail) We journey aboard Eurostar from St Pancras International to Brussels and continue by highspeed rail to Munich, where we check in at our overnight hotel.

£2199

JOINING YOUR CRUISE OPTIONS Eurostar l Travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras See prices below Travel by air l Outward Heathrow to Munich 08.55/11.45; return Munich to Heathrow 16.25/17.20. Please note: All details are provisional and subject to confirmation Make your own way l Make your own way and join at the ship, £100 reduction – please call for details See pages 34 and 35 for details

The Danube Gorge

The Danube to the Black Sea

17 DAYS BY RAIL FROM

Turnu Giurgiu Magaurele Danu

Ruse BULGARIA

Cernavoda

BLACK SEA

MACEDONIA main sights including the huge Belgrade Fortress After a short city tour through the centre of and St Sava Church, the biggest Eastern Orthodox Ruse we return to our ship and cruise towards church in the world. Later this evening we cruise ALBANIA Cernavoda. towards Romania/Bulgaria. Day 8: Cernavoda & the Black Sea TURKEY Day 6: Eisernes Tor, the Iron Gate Gorge Early this morning we arrive in the Romanian city Enjoy a full day cruising through the breathtaking of Cernavoda, where our included excursion takes scenery of Eisernes Tor, the Iron Gate – the largest you to the Black Sea. We visit Constanta, the river gorge in Europe which carves a channel main port city of Romania, and take a city tour through the Carpathian Mountains. The views are including photo stops at Ovidius Square, the Great spectacular, with the Derdap National Park on the Mahmudiye Mosque, the St Peter & Paul Orthodox southern side of the Danube in Serbia and the Cathedral (1885), the casino and the Genoese Portile de Fier Nature Park on the northern side in lighthouse. You can also visit the famous Roman Romanian. It’s a fantastic day to spend relaxing on mosaic. We then continue by coach to Mamaia, the Sun Deck. the most famous seaside resort in Romania, where we enjoy a delicious lunch along with the chance Day 7: Ruse, Bulgaria to paddle in the Black Sea. After breakfast our ship docks in Ruse, the fifth largest city in Bulgaria, where you can join our Day 9: Giurgiu, Romania – Turnu Magaurele, optional excursion to Ivanovo and the Basarbovo Romania Monastery. Here you will find a group of rockWe arrive in Giurgiu, Romania, early this morning. hewn churches, chapels and monasteries inscribed Our optional excursion takes you to the Romanian on the World Heritage list, one of which we visit. capital of Bucharest, where there’s plenty of time

to explore the wide tree-lined boulevards and admire many landmarks including Parliament Palace – the second largest building in the world after the US Pentagon, the Arch of Triumph and the beautiful Romanian Atheneum. We return to our ship in the city of Turnu Magaurele and cruise towards the Iron Gate Gorge. Day 10: Eisernes Tor, the Iron Gate Gorge Enjoy another full day cruising through the spectacular Iron Gate Gorge. Day 11: Novi Sad, Serbia Novi Sad is the second largest city in Serbia after Belgrade. The most recognised landmark is the Petrovaradin Fortress, which dominates the city from its position on the right bank of the Danube. There’s also the historic neighbourhood of Stari Grad. Our optional guided tour takes in many highlights before we continue cruising towards Mohács. Day 12: Mohács, Hungary We reach Mohács this morning, which is just across the Hungarian border. In the afternoon you can join our optional excursion to Pécs – home to the world famous Zsolnay ceramics and the largest Turkish ruins in Hungary. Later this evening we cruise upriver towards Budapest. Day 13: Budapest, Hungary Budapest is said to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Join our optional tour to see the highlights of both sides of the city – traditional Buda and the more cosmopolitan Pest. We offer a further optional excursion this afternoon to the Puszta, a vast prairie where

we visit a traditional ranch and enjoy a tour of the grounds in a horse-drawn carriage, before watching a spectacular live horse show. Later today we cruise towards Bratislava. Day 14: Bratislava, Slovakia We reach Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, this afternoon. This historic city is dominated by its castle, set high above the Danube and once a frontier post of the Roman empire. There’s also the unique suspension bridge, another key landmark which was announced as the building of the century when it opened in 1972. Join our optional guided tour to take in the main sights and experience the rich culture in and around the old town before our ship cruises towards Melk. Day 15: Melk The small town of Melk lies in the beautiful Wachau Valley. Here you can join our optional excursion visiting the Benedictine Abbey – one of the most famous monastic houses in Austria, which has been occupied by monks for over 900 years. You can relax on board for the remainder of the day as we cruise to our final port of call.

Optional & included excursions l Vienna city tour.....................................................£21 l Schönbrunn Palace..............................................£20 l Kalocsa – Paprika town......................................£20 l Belgrade city tour.................................................£21 l Ivanovo guided tour............................................£21 l Constanta & Mamaia............................ Included l Bucharest city tour..............................................£35 l Novi Sad city tour.................................................£21 l Pécs city tour.........................................................£25 l Budapest city tour................................................£21 l Puszta horse show...............................................£32 l Bratislava city tour................................................£19 l Melk Abbey..............................................................£21

Special pre-book package price Saving per person

£219 £58

Day 16: Passau – Munich, Germany (Air) After a truly memorable cruise we bid farewell to our Captain and his crew and travel by rail to the city of Munich, where we check in at our overnight hotel. Those travelling by air depart today. Day 17: Cologne – UK (Rail) After breakfast we continue by rail to Brussels where our Eurostar connection returns us to London St Pancras International.

Kalocsa

Welcome

2016 DATES ALSO AVAILABLE – CALL FOR DETAILS

Visit Strasbourg – the largest, oldest and most famous of all Christmas markets!

...to our selection of 2015 festive cruises on board the ms Serenity.

4 DAYS BY COACH FROM 4 DAYS BY RAIL FROM

£399

£549

A relaxing river cruise is the perfect way to enjoy this magical time of year – the ship is seasonally decorated, spirits are high, festive food and drink is in abundance, and fun entertainment takes place every night. You can join us for a pre-Christmas break visiting Strasbourg Christmas Market and stock up on unique gifts for friends and family back home, spend Christmas in a home from home environment, or celebrate the New Year in style in the very heart of Budapest – the ‘pearl of the Danube’. But hurry – these

cruises are selling fast, so don’t miss the chance to reserve the cabin of your choice at this very special time of the year!

Cruises

Strasbourg

Christmas Cruise on the Danube to Vienna & Budapest

New Year Cruise on the Danube to Vienna & Budapest

Strasbourg Christmas Market

New Year Cruise on the Danube

Day 1: UK – Mainz Those travelling by coach have an early start this morning, or why not take advantage of our special offer to stay at the Ashford International Hotel (with complimentary parking). We join Eurotunnel from Folkestone to Calais and continue by road to Brussels, meeting with those travelling by rail. If travelling by rail, you will depart from London St Pancras International and travel directly to Brussels. We arrive in English Channel Mainz in the early evening with plenty of time to settle into your cabin aboard the beautiful ms Serenity and meet the crew who will be taking exceptional care of you. Day 2: Mannheim Arriving in Mannheim in the early morning, we have plenty of free time to enjoy the Christmas market. The city is located at the union of the Rhine and the Neckar Rivers, and offers lots of sightseeing opportunities; the Mannheim Palace, a stunning baroque structure which now houses the university; the Luisenpark, noted as one of the most beautiful parks in Europe; and the Fernmeldeturm Mannheim, an impressive telecommunication tower complete with observation deck. However, the main attraction during winter months is undoubtedly the Christmas market – one of the largest in south west Germany! Lunchtime sees us heading off on our optional excursion to Heidelberg for more Christmas markets. Extending over five historic market squares and featuring around 140 stalls, you are guaranteed to find that special gift! We set sail in the early evening, heading towards Strasbourg. Day 3: Strasbourg We disembark at the remarkable city of Strasbourg for a full day of exploring. See the Cathedral of Notre-Dame, a Gothic

NORTH SEA

Elbe

IJsselmeer

GERMANY

BELGIUM start

FRANCE

2015 dates 8 December 8 December 11 December 11 December 14 December

No. of days 4 4 4 4 4

Cabin prices Code Deck options

NETHERLANDS

Mainz

Main

Mannheim kar Nec

Visit Strasbourg for a truly festive experience! Founded in 1570, Strasbourg Christmas Market is undoubtedly the most well-known of all due to its size and location. Stroll along whilst enjoying treats, pastries and mulled wine, as you choose from a huge selection of decorations and gifts from the vast array of stalls. Enjoy a number of events, concerts and exhibitions which add to the seasonal atmosphere. We also offer an included visit to Mannheim and an optional visit to Heidelberg ensuring you have a truly magical break!

Christmas Cruise on the Danube

aboard ms Serenity

Rhin

2016 dates are also available – call for details!

ms Serenity

Hotel Manager – ms Serenity

Strasbourg Christmas Market

M os el l e

aboard ms Serenity 2015

JOINING YOUR CRUISE OPTIONS Eurotunnel from Folkestone to Calais l FREE coach travel to Folkestone from your local area l Join directly at the point of departure l Stay overnight at Ashford International Hotel on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis at a competitive rate of £60 per room (parking included for the duration of your cruise) Eurostar l Travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras See prices below Make your own way l Make your own way and join at the ship, £50 reduction – please call for details See pages 34 and 35 for details

Strasbourg

Main Deck Middle Deck Panorama Deck

Coach routes D1 – D11 – –

Berth 2 2 2

Port/ train station Folkestone St Pancras Folkestone St Pancras St Pancras Tour code: STRAX Coach Rail via Folkestone £399 £439 £479

£549 £589 £629

Make the most of your holiday! Optional excursion l Heidelberg Christmas Market ....................... £15

SWITZERLAND masterpiece; the Kammerzell House, 15th century merchant quarters; the Petite France district from the 16th and 17th century; and the Church of Saint-Thomas, an excellent example of Alsatian Gothic art. The Strasbourg ChristmasITALY Market is said to be the oldest and largest in Europe, dating back to the 1570s. Voted the ‘Best European Christmas Market 2014’, it is spread over 11 areas of the city and features a huge Christmas tree standing at almost 100 feet. Add to this, themed events, several hundred miles of Christmas lights and a giant ice rink – and this market will undoubtedly be the highlight of your holiday!

Strasbourg Christmas Market

Day 4: Mainz – London We bid farewell to the Captain and his crew and commence the return journey to the UK.

Experience the festive magic along the Danube

10 DAYS BY COACH FROM 8 DAYS BY AIR FROM

£1099

One of Europe’s great destinations for the New Year celebrations

9 DAYS BY COACH FROM

£1149

£1099

Elbe

IJsselmeer

Elbe

IJsselmeer

NETHERLANDS

Rhin

Budapest

Main

Christmas Eve: Full day cruising to Vienna Relax on board our ship as we spend a full day cruising along the Danube, stopping at Vienna later this evening where we spend Christmas Eve.

os ell e M

Spend this Christmas relaxing aboard the ms Serenity, as we cruise through four countries to experience the festive magic along the Danube. Starting in Germany, we follow its winding route through Austria, Slovakia and Hungary, and enjoy crisp winter scenes from the warmth of our ship, stepping ashore to visit quaint towns and capital cities in all their festive finery. From the baroque beauty of Passau and the folk filled markets of Budapest, to the imperial glory of Austria’s capital – Vienna, where we celebrate Christmas Day; this is a perfect Christmas holiday, with all the home comforts you could want at this special time of year.

23 December: Budapest Enjoy a full day in Budapest, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Start with our optional city tour to see the highlights and help get your bearings in the city known as the ‘pearl of the Danube’, after which you have plenty of free time before we turn our course back upriver.

Main Danube Canal

Christmas Day: Vienna Merry Christmas! We spend a full day experiencing the delights of Vienna. Grand palaces, baroque castles, magnificent squares and impressive monuments are just some of the key features of this beautiful city, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the morning you can join our optional city tour and in the afternoon we have an optional excursion visiting the magnificent Schönbrunn Palace. Boxing Day: Dürnstein This morning we reach Dürnstein, a small town crowned by the ruins of the castle that once imprisoned Richard the Lionheart. Join our optional walking tour which takes you around the cobbled streets to admire the pretty courtyards and buildings, before stopping at one of the Wachau Valley’s renowned wine cellars to enjoy some wine tasting. This afternoon we continue cruising up river towards Linz. 27 December: Linz We arrive at Linz, where you can spend the morning walking around the medieval old town before we cruise towards our final destination. 28 December: Passau (Air) We disembark this morning and travel by coach to our overnight hotel. Those travelling by air depart today. 29 December: Germany – UK (Coach) After breakfast we continue by coach to Calais, taking the ferry to Dover for our return journey.

SLOVAKIA

Inn

Linz Tulln

Vienna

Bratislava Budapest

AUSTRIA

CROATIA

JOINING YOUR CRUISE OPTIONS Ferry crossing from Dover l FREE coach travel to the port from your local area & l Join directly at the port ofBOSNIA departure l Stay overnight in Dover/Ashford (parking included HERZEGOVINA for the duration of your cruise) SERBIA Travel by air l Outward Gatwick to Salzburg 09.50/12.40; return Salzburg to Gatwick 13.30/14.30. Please note: All details are provisional and subject to confirmation Make your own way l Make your own way and join at the ship, £100 reduction – please call for details See pages 34 and 35 for details No. of days 10 8

Cabin prices Code Deck options Main Deck Middle Deck Panorama Deck

Coach Ferry crossing/ routes airport D11 D12 Dover – Gatwick

Berth 2 2 2

Tour code: DXANBA Coach Air via Dover £1099 £1149 £1249 £1299 £1399 £1449

Make the most of your holiday! Optional excursions l Budapest city tour................................................£21 l Vienna city tour.....................................................£21 l Schönbrunn Palace..............................................£20 l Dürnstein tour with wine tasting..................£26

Special pre-book package price Saving per person

Ilz D an

Passau

GERMANY

aboard ms Serenity

SLOVENIA

2015 dates 20 December 21 December

CZECH REPUBLIC

start

Inn

SLOVAKIA

Vienna

ube

Bratislava

Melk

Budapest

AUSTRIA

SWITZERLAND

HUNGARY

ITALY

New Year Cruise on the Danube to Vienna & Budapest

start

Rhin

GERMANY

aboard ms Serenity

22 December: Tulln – Bratislava We reach Tulln this morning, a pretty Austrian town filled with well preserved buildings and well-known as the home of the world famous painter Egon Schiele. Later this evening we stop at Bratislava, where there will be a little time to admire this Slovakian capital before we continue cruising downriver.

Ilz D anu Dürnstein be

Passau

SWITZERLAND

21 December: Passau (Air) After breakfast we travel by coach and board our ship in Passau, known as the ‘three rivers city’ due to its unique location where the Danube, Inn and Ilz Rivers meet. Those travelling by air join today. You can then relax on board as we cruise downriver towards Tulln.

CZECH REPUBLIC

ar Neck

Christmas Cruise on the Danube to Vienna & Budapest

Main Danube Canal

ar Neck

os ell e

Main

20 December: UK – Germany (Coach) We travel by coach to Dover and take the ferry to Calais, where we continue to our overnight hotel.

£999

7 DAYS BY AIR FROM

£67 £21

Celebrate New Year’s Eve in the beautiful city of Budapest, where the Danube and the iconic Chain Bridge provide a spectacular setting as the countdown to midnight ends with a brilliant fireworks display. In the lead up to our day in Budapest there’s a tapestry of Dancultures to discover, as we cruise from the quaint town of Passau in Germany, through ube Austria to enjoy the atmosphere of Vienna, and just across the Slovakian border to visit Bratislava, before following the river into the heart of Hungary’s capital, where you can join in the street celebrations or enjoy it all from the water aboard our stylish ship. 27 December: UK – Germany (Coach) We travel by coach to Dover and take the ferry to Calais, where we continue to our overnight hotel. 28 December: Passau (Air) After breakfast we travel by coach and board our ship in Passau, known as the ‘three rivers city’ due to its unique location where the Danube, Inn and Ilz Rivers meet. Those travelling by air join today. You can then relax on board as we cruise downriver towards Vienna. 29 December: Vienna We reach Vienna this afternoon where you can join our optional city tour. Grand palaces, baroque castles, magnificent squares and impressive monuments are just some of the key features of this beautiful city, which is a World Heritage Site. The remainder of the day can be spent at leisure. 30 December: Vienna – Bratislava We cast off early this morning and arrive in Bratislava shortly after breakfast. This historic city is dominated by its castle and unique suspension bridge. Join our optional walking tour to take in the sights and experience the rich culture in and around the old town. You can then enjoy plenty of free time before our ship sets sail this evening. New Year’s Eve: Budapest Enjoy a full day in Budapest, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Start with our optional city tour to see the highlights and help get your bearings in the city known as the ‘pearl of the Danube’, after which you have plenty of

free time to explore and get ready for the build up to midnight. New Year’s Day: Full day cruising Happy New Year! Relax on board our ship as we turn our course upriver and spend a full day cruising along the Danube. 2 January: Melk This afternoon we arrive at the small town of Melk which lies in the beautiful Wachau Valley. Here you can join our optional excursion visiting the Benedictine Abbey – one of the most famous monastic houses in Austria which has been occupied by monks for over 900 years. Later today we cruise towards our final destination. 3 January: Passau (Air) We disembark this morning and travel by coach to our overnight hotel. Those travelling by air depart today. 4 January: Germany – UK (Coach) After breakfast we continue by coach to Calais, taking the ferry to Dover for our return journey.

HUNGARY ITALY

SLOVENIA CROATIA JOINING YOUR CRUISE OPTIONS Ferry crossing from DoverBOSNIA & l FREE coach travel to the port from your local area HERZEGOVINA l Join directly at the port of departure l Stay overnight in Dover/Ashford (parking included SERBIA for the duration of your cruise) Travel by air l Outward Gatwick to Salzburg 09.50/12.40; return Salzburg to Gatwick 13.30/14.30. Please note: All details are provisional and subject to confirmation Make your own way l Make your own way and join at the ship, £100 reduction – please call for details See pages 34 and 35 for details 2015 dates 27 December 28 December

No. of days 9 7

Cabin prices Code Deck options Main Deck Middle Deck Panorama Deck

Coach Ferry crossing/ routes airport D1 Dover – Heathrow

Berth 2 2 2

Tour code: DANUN Coach Air via Dover £999 £1099 £1199 £1299 £1299 £1399

Make the most of your holiday! Bratislava

Optional excursions l Vienna city tour ................................................... £21 l Bratislava guided tour ...................................... £19 l Budapest city tour .............................................. £21 l Melk Abbey ........................................................... £21

Special pre-book package price Saving per person

£63 £19

The little extras that enhance your holiday... It’s the little things that make a big difference, so we have a number of optional extras which you can pre-book to give you peace of mind and make your holiday that little bit more special – these include parking at Dover, cabin upgrades on overnight ferry crossings, holiday insurance, optional excursions and so much more. And if there’s something we haven’t thought of, just give our Holiday Advisors a call on 0844 544 6580 – and see what we can do for you.

Port parking

National Express

Travel at your own pace and leave your car in a secure car park close to the port of departure, where you will be collected/ returned by our coach. For Dover crossings we offer superb value for money parking option for only £9* per day at Dover Eastern Docks, which you can pre-book. For Hull crossings, car parking at the docks is £7* per 24hrs and for Newcastle crossings, car parking at the docks is £12* per 24hrs. Please note: We are unable to pre-book parking at Hull or Newcastle – the price is payable on departure from the car park. *Prices subject to change

In case we don’t offer a departure point near you, you can travel to the port of departure with this reliable service. Please check departure times and points with your local National Express office before booking your vouchers – not all coach routes stop at the ferry port and may require a transfer by taxi or local coach. Please note: if you are aged over 60, or have a disability, you may be eligible for a cheaper fare if you book directly with National Express.

From £7 per day

From £32

SPECIAL OCCASIONS Add the finishing touch to your cruise with our tempting range of special occasion gifts and make your celebrations truly memorable. It doesn’t even have to be a special occasion, maybe you want to surprise a loved one, treat a friend or enjoy a spot of self-indulgence. Whatever the reason, it’s the little things that count and with our super prices you won’t need to push the boat out!

Our selection of special occasion gifts Birthday Celebration £29 l Birthday cake l Bottle of wine (red or white)

Eurostar

Anniversary Celebration £49 l Bottle of sparkling wine l Flowers

This high speed train service puts Europe on our doorstep and is a really convenient way to travel to meet the ship. Most of the cruises aboard ms Serenity include Eurostar as part of a package, so why not make the journey even more special and upgrade to First Class along with a bottle of champagne.

£10

Guarantee a seat on our coach in the first three rows for your journey to and from your ship.

Special Celebration £65 l Cake l Bottle of champagne l Flowers l Chocolates

Ferry cabin upgrade Prices on request

For all overnight ferry crossings you can upgrade your cabin and relax as you cruise through the night.

For all overnight ferry crossings you can enjoy dinner and breakfast on both the outward and return journey. All prices are per person unless otherwise stated.

0844 544 6580

Monday to Thursday 8am to 8pm, Friday 8am to 6pm and Saturday 9am to 5pm Or visit our website

www.rivercruiseline.co.uk

Full details of the excursions will be sent with your holiday confirmation or are available on request. It is wise to book early to secure your place as some of the excursions are subject to availability.

DEPOSITS per person

To confirm your chosen holiday you will be required to pay a deposit at the time of booking as listed below: Up to 5 days........................................................................ £100 6 to 8 days.......................................................................... £200 9 to 12 days..........................................................................£250 13+ days..................................................................................£300 By air.......................................................................................£250

Optional and included excursions will operate subject to weather conditions and minimum numbers for each excursion. Changes to the advertised excursion programme are rare, but we do reserve the right to amend the programme at any time. The order in which excursions operate may vary according to local circumstances. Please note: On occasions you will be provided with a packed lunch instead of lunch aboard the ship, due to timings.

DRINKS PACKAGE An optional drinks package* is now available for our 2016 cruises, from just £49 per person. l 3 night cruise............................... £49 per person l 4 night cruise................................ £65 per person l 6 night cruise............................... £89 per person l 7 night cruise.............................. £99 per person l 10 night cruise........................... £149 per person l 14 night cruise........................... £199 per person *Includes house wines, house beers and soft drinks served in the restaurant at lunchtime and evenings whilst on board the ms Serenity only

deposit and insurance premium is processed and a policy document that fully defines the cover, conditions and exclusions will be sent to you with your booking confirmation (a copy is available on request). When you receive your policy, please take the time to read it carefully to ensure you understand what is and what is not covered, and that all activities that you may wish to participate in are included. If it does not meet your requirements, please return the policy, proof of premium and any other relevant documents to us within 14 days of receipt and we will refund the premium in full, provided you have not travelled or made a claim. Should you decide not to purchase our insurance, you must provide us with details of your alternative insurance.

Cover will not be effective until any premiums are paid. Any alternative insurance must be at least as comprehensive as ours, containing all sections and a 24 hour medical emergency number. Important declaration An insurance policy can only provide cover in respect of an accident, illness or an event/ occurrence which is sudden, unforeseen and beyond your reasonable control. If you or any members of your immediate family have a preexisting medical condition, or have suffered from a serious, chronic or recurring illness or if you are waiting to go into hospital as an in-patient, you must declare it to Healthcheck on 0844 826 2711. Information is correct at the time of going to print but may be subject to change.

Insurance premiums per person

Schedule of cover Section

Front seats on the coach

£50 from Hull; £55 from Newcastle

Call our reservations booking line on

Our River cruise itineraries are not recommended for children under 12 years. Children aged between 12 and 17 years pay half price insurance. The insurance comes into effect the moment your

Included on most cruises

Ferry meal package

Booking is easy – either:

Enhance your holiday experience with our optional excursions from as little as £15 per person, which are specially designed to complement your cruise and allow you to discover the history of our ports of call, sample the local culture and explore further afield.

Travel insurance is a vital aspect to booking a holiday, giving you protection against unforeseen circumstances. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that properly covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged competitive travel insurance from Travel & General Insurance Services Limited.

From £49.50 per person per night – includes car parking

HOW TO BOOK

Melk Abbey

INSURANCE

Overnight hotel

For ferry crossings from Dover you can enjoy bed and breakfast accommodation close to the port of departure and be collected/returned by our coach. If travelling by Eurostar, we can also book hotel accommodation close to the station for you. Please call for details.

OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS

Proposed limits – sum insured per person

Excess

A Cancellation charges or curtailment Up to £3,000

£50 (nil LOD)

B Emergency medical repatriation and associated expenses abroad

Up to £5,000,000

£50

Hospital beneﬁt

£20 for each 24 hour period to a maximum of £500

Nil

Criminal injuries beneﬁt

£100 for each 24 hour period to a maximum of £5,000 Nil

C Personal accident Up to £25,000 Disability Death Up to £10,000 D Delayed departure Travel delay

£25 ﬁrst 12 hour period and £25 each subsequent 12 hours to a maximum of £100

Missed departure Up to £1,000 Missed connection Up to £1,000 Hijack of aircraft, train or seavessel £100 per complete day up to a maximum of £3,000

Nil Nil Nil

£29.95 £33.95 £35.95 £37.95 £39.95 £41.95 £44.95 £46.95 £49.95 £54.95 £57.95 £59.95

Budapest

Nil

Up to £1,500 £300 £400 £200

£50

Delayed baggage (after 12 hours) Passport or visa Missed connection

Up to £100 Up to £250 Up to £1,000

Nil £50 £50

F Personal liability

Up to £2,000,000

£250

G Legal expenses

Up to £15,000

Nil

Personal effects Single item limit Valuables limit Personal money

Nil Nil

4 days 5 days 6 days 7 days 8 days 9 days 10 days 11 days 12 days 15 days 16 days 17 days

£50

Travel arrangements By coach Sit back and relax as you travel by coach with the following options: Free regional departures On many of our cruises you can take advantage of our convenient and free regional coach departures as shown on page 33. This means you can join the holiday and travel in comfort on a modern, executive coach from a town or city near you. You then travel with our coach on a comfortable ferry before joining our ship at the embarkation point as shown in the cruise itinerary. Coach seats are allocated prior to departure and take into account, as far as possible, when your booking is made and any preference requested. There are a limited number of seats towards the front of the coach (usually the first three rows) that can be reserved at the time of booking for just £10 per person. Where we are unable to provide these seats, a refund of the supplement will be provided.

Overnight hotel in Dover/Ashford Enjoy the special rates we have negotiated with the following hotels. The Ramada Hotel Dover: £49.50 per person per night for a twin/double bedded room, single room supplement £29 per person per night. The Ashford International Hotel: £49.50 per person per night for a twin/double bedded room, single room supplement £29 per person per night. You can enjoy a good night’s sleep and awaken refreshed and ready for an included breakfast prior to meeting up with your fellow passengers when the coach collects you from the hotel. An added bonus is that the room rate includes parking for one vehicle for the duration of your cruise (subject to availability and conditions, it may be necessary to park at a nearby car park). If you wish to select this option, please make your requirements known to our Holiday Advisors at the time of booking as the number of rooms available at this special rate are limited.

National Express If there is no regional departure point we can arrange for you to receive National Express vouchers redeemable for the journey to and from Dover, Hull or Newcastle. This service costs just £32 per person, with a £10 supplement if travelling from Scotland. Please check departure times and points with your local National Express office before booking your vouchers – not all coach routes stop at the ferry port and may require a transfer by taxi or local coach. Please note: If you are aged over 60, or have a disability, you may be eligible for a cheaper fare if you book directly with National Express.

Ferry crossings When you travel by coach or car, you will join a ferry at Dover, Hull or Newcastle, depending on your chosen cruise, and cross over to Europe. Our coach will then take you to meet our ship at the embarkation point as shown in the cruise itinerary. Hull and Newcastle crossings take place overnight, adding two days to the cruise duration which is reflected in the price chart on the relevant cruise itinerary pages. Dover P&O ferry crossings from Dover involve a morning departure and take approximately 1.5 hours to reach Calais, where our coach continues to our ship.

By air Where your holiday includes flights, they will be in economy class. The majority of airlines now operate all non-smoking flights. This brochure is our sole responsibility; it is not issued on behalf of and does not commit the airlines mentioned therein or any airline whose services are used in the course of these tours. The responsibility of IATA airlines in connection with these tours is limited to the carriage of passengers and their luggage, in accordance with the conditions of carriage of the participating airlines. Please note: For flights within the UK you normally require photographic proof of identity, such as a passport or other document acceptable to the airline.

Your touring coach Experience has taught us that the quality of your vehicle makes a huge difference during the course of your holiday, not only on the journey to and from our ship, but whilst making the most of some of the exciting excursions that we have arranged for you. That is why we only use chartered executive coaches for our cruise programme complete with toilet and air conditioning, ensuring that the time you have with us is as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.

Departure Points

By rail Enjoy the benefits of rail travel. Eurostar Boarding at London St Pancras International, you can be whisked effortlessly along by Eurostar whilst relaxing in your reserved seat. You have the freedom to stretch your legs whenever the mood takes you and purchase drinks and snacks from the buffet carriage. You could even begin the adventure with fine food and champagne served at your seat in First Class (prices available on request).

We know that for many of our customers a convenient local pick-up is important. So we’ve revised our coach routes and are pleased to offer over 250 FREE pick-ups and we promise that after you have boarded your tour coach there will be no more than five additional pick-up stops en route to the UK port of departure (excluding motorway services and overnight hotel stops). Avon Bath D9 Bristol D9 Bedfordshire Bedford D3 Dunstable D4 Luton D4 Berkshire Bracknell D9 Chieveley Services D9 Maidenhead D9 Newbury D9 Reading D9 Slough D9 Wokingham D9 Buckinghamshire Aylesbury D4 High Wycombe D6 Milton Keynes D4

Hull P&O ferry crossings from Hull involve a late afternoon/early evening departure and cruise overnight to Rotterdam, where our coach continues to our ship. This is a great way to travel, spending a relaxing evening enjoying the on board facilities and entertainment. Overnight accommodation is in a comfortable non-smoking cabin with en suite washbasin, toilet and shower. All 2-berth cabins have either one lower and one upper berth, or two lower berths. If you wish, you can upgrade to either a premier or club cabin. Speak to our Holiday Advisors for more information. Newcastle DFDS Seaways ferry crossings from Newcastle involve a late afternoon/early evening departure and cruise overnight to Amsterdam, where our coach continues to our ship. This is a great way to travel, spending a relaxing evening enjoying the on board facilities and entertainment. Overnight accommodation is in a comfortable non-smoking cabin with en suite washbasin, toilet and shower. All 2-berth cabins have either one lower and one upper berth, or two lower berths. If you wish, you can upgrade to either a premier or club cabin. Speak to our Holiday Advisors for more information.

Cambridgeshire Cambridge D2 Huntingdon D2 Peterborough D2 Cheshire Altrincham H1 Chester H1 Crewe D4 Ellesmere Port H1 Northwich D4 Runcorn H1 Stockport H1 Warrington H1 Cleveland Hartlepool H3 Middlesbrough H3 County Durham Bishop Auckland H3 Darlington H3 Durham H3 Cornwall Bodmin D8 Truro D8 Liskeard D8 Cumbria Aspatria N2 Carlisle N2 Kendal H2 Maryport N2 Penrith H2 Whitehaven N2 Wigton N2 Workington N2

By car

Derbyshire Derby D3

Travel at your own pace, in the comfort of your own vehicle and take advantage of the following options:

Devon Exeter Services D8 Newton Abbot D8 Paignton D8 Plymouth D8 Torquay D8

Parking at Dover, Hull or Newcastle docks We offer a superb value for money parking option for only £9* per day at Dover Eastern Docks. Simply call our Holiday Advisors to book. Car Parking at Hull Docks is £7* per 24hrs and at Newcastle £12* per 24hrs, payable upon departure from the car park. We are unable to pre-book parking at Hull or Newcastle. *Prices subject to change

Meal package on the Hull/Newcastle ferry Enjoy dinner and breakfast on both the outbound and return crossing for £50 per person from Hull and £55 per person from Newcastle. Drinks purchased separately.

Routes D1 to D12 – ferry crossings from Dover to Calais Routes H1 to H5 – ferry crossings from Hull to Rotterdam Routes N1 to N2 – ferry crossings from Newcastle to Amsterdam

Dorset Bournemouth D10 Christchurch D10 Dorchester D10 Poole D10 Weymouth D10

Essex Basildon D1 Brentwood D1 Chelmsford D1 Clacton-on-Sea D1 Colchester D1 Harlow D2 Romford D1 Southend-on-Sea D1 Thurrock Services D1 Witham D1 Gloucestershire Cheltenham D6 Gloucester D6 Tewkesbury D6 Greater London Bexleyheath D12 Bromley D9 Croydon D9 Enfield D3 Kingston-upon-Thames D9 Richmond-upon-Thames D9 Sutton D9 Uxbridge D9 Greater Manchester Manchester H1 Oldham H1 Rochdale H1 Hampshire Aldershot D10 Andover D10 Basingstoke D10 Cosham D11 Cowplain D11 Eastleigh D10 Fareham D11 Farnborough D10 Fleet Services D10 Havant D11 Petersfield D11 Portchester D11 Portsmouth – The Hard D11 Southampton D10 Waterlooville D11 Herefordshire Hereford D6 Hertfordshire Birchanger Green Services D2 Hatfield D3 Hemel Hempstead D4 Letchworth D3 South Mimms Services D4 St Albans D4 Stevenage D3 Watford D6 Welwyn Garden City D3 Kent Ashford D12 Canterbury D12 Chatham D12 Dartford D12 Deal D12 Faversham D12 Folkestone D12 Gillingham D12 Herne Bay D12 Maidstone Services D9 D10 D12 Margate D12

Medway Services D1 D3 D4 D12 Orpington D9 Ramsgate D12 Rochester D12 Sevenoaks D10 Sittingbourne D12 Tunbridge Wells D10 Whitstable D12 Lancashire Blackburn H2 Blackpool H2 Bolton H1 Burnley H2 Bury H1 Chorley H2 Lancaster H2 Preston H2 Wigan H2 Leicestershire Leicester Forest East Services D3 Loughborough D3 Lutterworth D4 Market Harborough D3 Lincolnshire Grantham D2 Grimsby H5 Lincoln D2 H5 Scunthorpe H5 Merseyside Liverpool H2 Southport H2 St Helens H2 Norfolk Great Yarmouth D1 Norwich D1 Thetford D1 Northamptonshire Kettering D3 Northampton D4 Wellingborough D3 Northumberland Alnwick N1 Morpeth N1 Nottinghamshire Mansfield D3 Newark D2 Nottingham D3 Oxfordshire Banbury D4 Oxford D6 Witney D6 Shropshire Oswestry D5 Shrewsbury D5 Telford D5 Somerset Bridgwater Services D8 Taunton Deane Services D8 Weston-super-Mare D8 Staffordshire Cannock D4 Lichfield D4 Stafford D4 Stoke-on-Trent D4 Tamworth D4

Over 250 FREE pick-up points

Suffolk Bury St Edmunds D1 Felixstowe D1 Ipswich D1 Lowestoft D1 Surrey Camberley D10 Dorking D10 Epsom D10 Godalming D10 Guildford D10 Leatherhead D10 Reigate D10 Staines D9 Woking D10 Sussex (East) Bexhill D11 Brighton D11 Eastbourne D11 Hastings D11 Hove D11 Sussex (West) Bognor Regis D11 Burgess Hill D11 Chichester D11 Crawley D10 Haywards Heath D11 Littlehampton D11 Worthing D11 Tyne & Wear Newcastle-upon-Tyne N1 South Shields N1 Sunderland N1 Warwickshire Nuneaton D4 Rugby D4 Stratford-upon-Avon D4 West Midlands Birmingham D4 Coventry D4 Hopwood Park Services M42 D4* Solihull D4 Sutton Coldfield D4 Walsall D4 Wolverhampton D4

*SW Birmingham to service Bromsgrove & Redditch area

Wiltshire Swindon D9 Worcestershire Evesham D6 Kidderminster D6 Malvern Link D6 Worcester D6 Yorkshire (East) Beverley H3 Yorkshire (North) Bridlington H3 Filey H3

Pick-Up Promise

Harrogate H3 Ripon H3 Scarborough H3 Scotch Corner H3 Selby H3 York H3 Yorkshire (South) Barnsley D3 Doncaster D3 Rotherham D3 Sheffield D3 Yorkshire (West) Bradford H4 Dewsbury H4 Ferrybridge Services H4 Halifax H4 Huddersfield H4 Leeds H4 Pontefract H4 Wakefield H4 Wetherby H3 North Wales Bangor H1 Colwyn Bay H1 Conwy H1 Flint H1 Llandudno H1 Queensferry H1 Rhyl H1 Wrexham D5 South Wales Bridgend D7 Cardiff D7 Cardiff West Services D7 Carmarthen D7 Llanelli D7 Magor Services D7 Neath D7 Newport D7 Port Talbot D7 Swansea D7 Scotland Aberdeen N1 Airdrie N2 Aviemore N2 Ayr N2 Castle Douglas N2 Dumfries N2 Dundee N1 Dunfermline N2 East Kilbride N2 Edinburgh N1 Elgin N1 Fochabers N1 Forres N1 Glasgow N2 Hamilton N2 Inverness N2 Irvine N2 Kilmarnock N2 Lockerbie N2 Moffat N2 Perth N1 Pitlochry N2 Stirling N2 Stonehaven N1

Passengers using our complimentary coach transfer service should be aware this may involve an early departure/late return. This may on occasion be the day before the date of departure/day after the date of return for those who live a long way from the port. Regional departures are subject to availability and are operated subject to minimum numbers of people.

Booking conditions It is our sincere wish that you thoroughly enjoy your holiday so we would appreciate it if you would take the time to read the following pages which we hope you will find useful. These booking conditions, the Important Holiday Information and other information in our brochure applicable to your holiday forms the basis of the contract between you and us. References to “you” and “your” means all persons named on a booking (including anyone who is added or substituted at a later date), or any of them as applicable and “we”, “us” and “our” means Diamond Shortbreak Holidays Ltd, trading through its branch office at Sunclare Building, 21 Dreyer Street, Claremont 7708, Cape Town, South Africa. 1. Our brochure & website The information and prices shown may have changed by the time you come to book your holiday. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information and prices at the time of printing, regrettably errors do occasionally occur. All timings are approximate. You will be notified of precise timings, pick-up routes, hotel name and order of excursions/visits when you receive your tickets as they could occasionally be liable to change e.g. for weather and/or operational reasons. Please also see clause 10. The duration of your holiday includes the days of departure and return. Any illustrations do not necessarily depict your destination unless specifically stated. 2. Booking your holiday The person who makes the booking (“party leader”) confirms on behalf of all persons named on the booking that you understand and have accepted our Important Holiday Information and our Booking Conditions. We will communicate with the party leader or with your travel agent. The party leader is responsible for making all payments due to us and for passing on to all party members all information and documents sent to him/her. You may book over the telephone, through our website, by post or via one of our authorised travel agents. If you wish to make payment by cheque, we recommend you telephone us first to check the availability of your chosen holiday and to make a provisional reservation. We will hold this reservation for 48 hours (or such longer period as we may agree) to enable you to send us the applicable payment and your signed booking form. Once we or your travel agent have received your signed booking form and all appropriate payments (see clause 3), we will, subject to availability, confirm your holiday by issuing a confirmation invoice. Alternatively, if you are able to pay by Visa, MasterCard or UK Maestro credit or debit card, you can book with us straight away over the telephone. A handling fee applies to all payments made by credit card (including deposits) but no fee is applicable for payments by debit card. Subject to availability, your booking will be confirmed at the end of the telephone conversation on the basis that you accept these booking conditions. We will then send you a confirmation invoice. As a further option you can book through our website using any these credit or debit cards. Any acknowledgement of your booking generated by our computer system is not a confirmation of it. This is provided by the confirmation invoice which we will issue as soon as your booking is processed. Please check the confirmation invoice carefully as soon as you receive it. Contact us immediately if any information on the confirmation or any other document appears to be incorrect or incomplete as it may not be possible to make changes later. We regret we cannot accept any liability if we are not notified of any inaccuracy (for which we are responsible) in any document within 14 days of our sending it out (5 days for tickets). We will do our best to rectify any mistake notified to us outside these time limits but you must meet any costs involved in doing so, unless the mistake in question was made by us and there is good reason why you did not tell us about it within these time limits. 3. Payment In order to confirm your chosen holiday, you must pay us a deposit and any applicable insurance premiums as set out on our booking form or website at the time of booking (or full payment if booking within 10 weeks of departure). The balance of the cost of your holiday must be paid no less than 10 weeks before departure. If you do not pay all sums due (including any surcharge - see clause 5) in full and on time we are entitled to assume that you wish to cancel your booking in which case you will be liable to pay cancellation charges according to the scale set out in clause 8. NO REMINDER WILL BE SENT. We reserve the right to increase or decrease our advertised prices at any time prior to your booking being confirmed. Any change will be advised to you at the time of booking (see clause 5). For cheque payments that cannot be cleared by our bank an additional charge of £5.00 per unpaid cheque will be added to your booking. Personal cheques cannot be accepted if booking/paying within 21 days of departure. Except for flight inclusive bookings, all monies you pay to one of our authorised travel agents for your holiday with us will be held by the agent on your behalf until we issue our confirmation invoice. After that point, your agent will hold the monies on our behalf. For flight inclusive bookings, all monies paid to such agents for your holiday with us will be held on behalf of and for the benefit of the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust subject to the travel agent’s obligation to pay such monies to us in accordance with our trading terms unless we fail. In the unlikely event of our financial failure, all monies then held by the travel agent or subsequently paid by you to the travel agent will be held by the agent on behalf of and for the benefit of the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust without any obligation on the agent to pay such monies to us. 4. Your contract A binding contract between us comes into existence when we post or e-mail your confirmation invoice to you or your travel agent (for postal, internet and travel agent bookings) or verbally confirm your booking where you book with us by telephone using a credit or debit card. This contract and all matters arising out of it are governed by English law and no other except as set out below. We both agree that any dispute, claim or other matter which arises out of or in connection with this contract or your holiday (“claim”) must be dealt with under the ABTA Arbitration Scheme (if the scheme is available for the claim in question - see clause 21) or by the courts of England and Wales only unless, in the case of Court proceedings, you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland. In this case, proceedings must either be brought in the courts of your home country or those of England and Wales. If proceedings are brought in Scotland or Northern Ireland, you may choose to have your contract and any claim governed by the law of Scotland/ Northern Ireland as applicable (but if you do not so choose, English law will apply). Your holiday contract is with Diamond Shortbreak Holidays Limited trading through its branch office at Sunclare Building, 21 Dreyer Street, Claremont 7708, Cape Town, South Africa. 5. Our price We reserve the right to raise or lower prices at any time before your holiday is confirmed. We will advise you of any difference and the applicable price at the time of booking. After booking we will only increase or decrease prices in the following circumstances. Price increases or decreases after bookings have been confirmed will be

passed on by way of surcharge or refund. A surcharge or refund (as applicable) will be payable, subject to the conditions set out in this clause, in the event of any change in our transportation costs or in dues, taxes or fees payable for services such as landing taxes or embarkation or disembarkation fees at ports or airports. Even in the above cases we will only levy a surcharge if the amount of the increase in our costs exceeds 2% of the total cost of your holiday (excluding insurance premiums and any amendment charges) and we will only pass on the amount of any increase which is in excess of this 2%. If any surcharge is greater than 10% of the cost of your holiday (excluding insurance premiums and any amendment charges), you will be entitled to cancel your booking and receive a full refund of all monies paid to us (except for any amendment charges) or alternatively purchase another holiday from us as referred to in clause 10. Although insurance (where purchased through us) does not form part of your contract with us or of any “package”, we will consider an appropriate refund of any insurance premium you have paid us if you can show you are unable to use/reuse or transfer your policy in the event of cancellation or purchase of an alternative holiday. A refund will only be payable if the decrease in our costs exceeds 2% as set out above. Where a refund is due, we will pay you the full amount of the decrease in our costs. You have 14 days from the issue date printed on the surcharge invoice to tell us if you want to cancel or purchase another holiday where applicable. If you do not tell us within this period of time, we are entitled to assume that you will pay the surcharge. Any surcharge must be paid with the balance of the cost of the holiday or within 14 days of the issue date printed on the surcharge invoice, whichever is later. Please note that arrangements are not always purchased in local currency and some apparent changes have no impact on the price of your holiday due to contractual and other protection in place. We promise not to levy a surcharge within 30 days of the start of your holiday. No refund will be payable if any decrease in our costs occurs during this period either. 6. Special requests and medical conditions / disabilities / reduced mobility If you have a special request, you must advise us or your travel agent at the time of booking and clearly note it on your booking form. Although we will try to pass any reasonable requests onto the relevant supplier, we regret we cannot guarantee any request will be met. Failure to meet any request will not be a breach of contract on our part. Confirmation that a special request has been noted or passed on to the supplier or the inclusion of the special request on your confirmation invoice or any other documentation is not confirmation that the request will be met. Unless and until specifically confirmed, all special requests are subject to availability. For your own protection, you should obtain our written confirmation that a special request will be complied with (where it is possible to give this) where the request is important to you. We regret we cannot accept any booking, which is specified to be conditional on the fulfilment of a particular request. All such bookings will be treated as “standard” bookings subject to the above provisions on special requests. If you have any medical condition or disability which may affect your booking (including one which may affect the booking process) or any mobility concerns, please tell us before you book so that we can advise as to the suitability of the holiday, discuss your requirements and/or assist you in making your booking. In any event, you must give us full details in writing at the time of booking and whenever any change in the condition, disability or your mobility occurs. You must also promptly advise us if any medical condition, disability or reduction in your mobility which may affect your holiday develops after your booking has been confirmed. 7. Changing your holiday Should you wish to make any changes to your holiday after your confirmation invoice has been issued, you must notify us in writing as soon as possible. Whilst we will endeavour to assist, we cannot guarantee we will be able to meet any such requests. We charge an amendment fee of £10 for each alteration, plus any charges incurred by us or incurred or levied by our suppliers. Any alteration by you after the balance due date which involves the cancellation of the original booking (such as a change to a different departure date or to a different holiday) will be subject to the cancellation charges below. 8. Cancelling your holiday If you decide to cancel, we must be notified as soon as possible. If notification is by telephone, this must be followed up in writing by letter or email within 24 hours by the person who booked the holiday. Cancellation will take effect from the day we receive written notification so we recommend using recorded or registered post when writing. In order to compensate us for our losses and expenses on cancellation, we charge a cancellation fee in accordance with the following scale. Percentages shown are of the total holiday cost excluding amendment charges and insurance premiums which are not refundable in the event of cancellation. Days notice prior to departure date More than 70 42 - 70 22 - 41 0 - 21

Cancellation charge % of holiday price Deposit 50% 75% 100%

We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance which should in many cases include cover against the above charges (after deduction of any applicable excess), providing the reason for cancellation falls within the terms of the policy. Claims must be made to the insurance company direct. A partial cancellation may result in an increase in the price payable by remaining party members (for example, where a twin room is as a result only occupied by one person). 9. Transferring bookings If any member of your party is prevented from travelling, that person may transfer their place to someone else (introduced by you) providing we are notified in writing not less than 14 days before departure. Where a transfer to a person of your choice can be made, all costs and charges incurred by us or incurred or imposed by any of our suppliers as a result together with an amendment fee of £20 per person must be paid before the transfer can be made. 10. Changes to or cancellation of your holiday by us We start planning the holidays we offer many months in advance. Occasionally, we have to make changes to and correct errors in brochure and other details both before and after bookings have been confirmed and cancel confirmed bookings. However, we will not cancel your confirmed booking after your balance due date unless you are in breach of contract (such as failing to pay on time) or we have to for reasons outside our control. Most changes are minor. Occasionally, we have to make a “significant change”, which is a change made before departure which, taking account of the information you give us at

the time of booking, we can reasonably expect to have a major affect on your holiday. All changes which are not “significant” are treated as minor changes for the purposes of these booking conditions. Significant changes include the following changes when made before departure; a change of a main hotel to one of a lower quality than that advertised, a change of accommodation location to an area which adversely affects the operation of the itinerary, tour itinerary changes involving a confirmed major destination being left out and a change of UK airport from the one you were due to fly from or to, except where the change is between London airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, London City or Luton) or where the new airport is within 50 miles of the original airport. We will tell you about any significant change or cancellation as soon as possible. If there is time to do so before departure we will offer you the choice of the following options: 1) Accepting the changed arrangements, 2) Purchasing an alternative holiday from us, of a similar standard to that originally booked if available. We will offer you at least one alternative holiday of equivalent or higher standard. If the holiday offered is more expensive, we will contact you with a discount to that of the brochure price. If the holiday offered is cheaper, we will refund the price difference. If you do not wish to accept the holiday we specifically offer you, you may choose any of our other then available holidays. You must pay the applicable price of any such holiday. This will mean you’re paying more if it is more expensive or receiving a refund if it is cheaper or 3) Cancelling or accepting the cancellation in which case you will receive a full and quick refund of all monies you have paid to us. If we have to make a significant change or cancel we will where compensation is appropriate, pay you the compensation payments set out in the table below depending on the circumstances and when the significant change or cancellation is notified to you subject to the following exceptions. Compensation will not be payable and no liability beyond offering the above mentioned choices can be accepted where (1) we are forced to make a change or cancel as a result of unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, the consequences of which we could not have avoided even with all due care or (2) we have to cancel because the minimum number of bookings necessary for us to operate your holiday has not been reached - we will notify you not less than 10 weeks prior to departure if this is the case. No compensation will be payable and the above options will not be available if we cancel as a result of your failure to comply with any requirement of these booking conditions entitling us to cancel (such as paying on time) or where a change is a minor one. A change of pick up point to another within a 20 mile radius of your home address, flight time of less than 12 hours, airline (except as specified in clause 19 “Flights”), type of aircraft (if advised) or destination airport will all be treated as minor changes. We reserve the right to vary itineraries where obliged to do so as a result of unusually high or low water levels. The amended itinerary will be as close to the original itinerary as we are able to offer in the circumstances. As the risk of such conditions is part of river cruising, the change(s) to the itinerary will not be treated as a significant change(s) unless they effectively result in a totally different itinerary to that offered at the time of booking. Period before departure, a significant change or cancellation is notified to you or your travel agent More than 70 days 15 - 70 days 0 - 14 days

Compensation payable (excluding any supplements) Nil 3% of the basic holiday cost 6% of the basic holiday cost

Very rarely, we may be forced by “force majeure” (see clause 11) to change or terminate your holiday after departure but before the scheduled end of your time away. This is extremely unlikely but if this situation does occur, we regret we will be unable to make any refunds (unless we obtain any refunds from our suppliers), pay you any compensation or meet any costs or expenses you incur as a result. 11. Force majeure Except where otherwise expressly stated in these booking conditions, we regret we cannot accept liability or pay any compensation where the performance or prompt performance of our contractual obligations is prevented or affected by, or you otherwise suffer any damage or loss (as more fully described in clause 18(2)) as a result of, “force majeure”. In these booking conditions, “force majeure” means any event or circumstances which we or the supplier of the service(s) in question could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid. Such events or circumstances are likely to include (whether actual or threatened), but are not limited to, war, riot, civil strife, terrorist activity, industrial dispute, technical problems with transport, closure, restriction or congestion of airports, ports, stations, other transport hubs or airspace, natural or nuclear disaster, adverse weather conditions, epidemic, fire, flood and all similar events or circumstances outside our or the supplier’s control. 12. Coach travel arrangements A minimum number of passengers are required for a pick-up point to operate. In the unlikely event that your chosen pick-up point does not achieve sufficient numbers you will be offered the nearest available pick up point or you can join the tour at the ferry port. Coach seats are allocated prior to departure and take into account, as far as possible when your booking is made and any requests. There are a limited number of seats toward the front of the coach (usually the first three rows) that can be reserved for just £10 per person. Guaranteed seats cannot be reserved on feeder journeys or to/from a UK port. If your tour is cancelled for any reason and seat reservations are not available on your new tour you will be refunded the supplement. No other compensation will be payable and you won’t be entitled to cancel. From time to time, it may be necessary to reduce the number of seats available at a supplement for operational reasons. Where already booked, any supplement will be refunded but no compensation will be payable. Once allocated, these seats are reserved for the duration of the holiday. Occasionally our departures operate throughout the night in order to arrive at the docks in time to fulfil the itinerary. Any timings given are for guidance purposes only and subject to change. Final timings and seat numbers will be advised with your travel documents approximately 7 to 10 days prior to departure. On occasion departure points may be included in addition to those listed in the brochure and taxis or minibuses may be used for part of the journey. 13. Luggage allowance As space is limited we ask that you restrict luggage to one suitcase per person weighing a maximum of 18 kilograms, plus light, compact hand luggage. 14. Coaches Your coach will be modern comfortable and manned by experienced driver(s). Almost all coaches we use (particularly those on longer journeys) have a video/DVD player, toilet, drinks machine etc for your greater comfort. Coaches used on airport/port transfers, shorter weekend trips, etc, do not always have these extra facilities but will still be comfortable. Taxis or minibuses may be used for part of the journey. We do not allow alcohol or smoking on board our coaches. 15. Delays and denied boarding In the event of a delay to the departure of your tour we will do our best to keep you informed. Should a delay exceed 4 hours at the beginning

of the outward or return journey either the carrier or ourselves will endeavour to provide meals at mealtimes and, if appropriate overnight accommodation where reasonably possible. We will make every effort to ensure that your coach will be to the standard described in the brochure. However, we cannot accept any claims from passengers if a different vehicle is used for a short term emergency replacement. In the event of any flight delay or cancellation at your UK or overseas point of departure, the airline is responsible for providing such assistance as is legally required by the Denied Boarding Regulations (see below). The ferry, cruise, tunnel or rail operator is similarly responsible in relation to any delayed or cancelled sea crossing, cruise or international rail departure. Except as set out above or where otherwise stated in our brochure or on our website, we regret we cannot provide any assistance in such circumstances other than information and advice to the extent we are in a position to do so. If your flight is cancelled or delayed, your flight ticket is downgraded or boarding is denied by your airline, depending on the circumstances, the airline may be required to pay you compensation, refund the cost of your flight and/or provide you with accommodation and/or refreshments under EC Regulation No 261/2004 - the Denied Boarding Regulations 2004. Where applicable, you must pursue the airline for the compensation or other payment due to you. All sums you receive or are entitled to receive from the airline concerned by virtue of these Regulations represent the full amount of your entitlement to compensation or any other payment arising from such cancellation, delay, downgrading or denied boarding. This includes any disappointment, distress, inconvenience or effect on any other arrangements. The fact a delay may entitle you to cancel your flight does not automatically entitle you to cancel any other arrangements even where those arrangements have been made in conjunction with your flight. We have no liability to make any payment to you in relation to the Denied Boarding Regulations or in respect of any flight cancellation or delay, downgrading of any flight ticket or denial of any boarding as the full amount of your entitlement to any compensation or other payment (as dealt with above) is covered by the airline’s obligations under the Denied Boarding Regulations. If, for any reason, we make any payment to you or a third party which the airline is responsible for in accordance with the Denied Boarding Regulations, you must, when requested, assign to us the rights you have or had to claim the payment in question from the airline. If your airline does not comply with these rules, you should complain to the CAA on 020 7453 6888 or as shown on www.caa.co.uk - referring your complaint to the CAA. 16. Safety standards It is the requirements and standards of the country in which any services which make up your holiday are provided which apply to those services and not those of the UK. As a general rule, these requirements and standards will not be the same as the UK and may sometimes be lower. 17. Accommodation Unless otherwise stated, our holiday prices are per person and based upon the shared occupancy of twin or double bedded rooms. Single rooms are in limited supply and are often smaller in size than twin/ double bedded rooms. Where there is a supplementary charge for single rooms, details are given in the brochure. En suite facilities designate rooms with a private bathroom equipped with either bath or shower and WC. On holidays including half-board (dinner and breakfast) meal arrangements, dinners will normally be based on a set menu unless otherwise stated. Please note that hotel ratings used in the brochure refer to local classifications. Grading systems vary from country to country and cannot be compared on a like for like basis. As far as possible we will use the hotel stated in the brochure. Occasionally it may be necessary to use an alternative hotel of equal standard and you will be advised at the earliest opportunity. Any such change will not be a significant change. The term ‘hotel’ includes motels, inns and other equivalent establishments according to local classification. 18. Our responsibility 1) We promise to make sure that all parts of the holiday we have agreed to arrange, perform or provide as part of our contract with you are arranged, performed or provided with reasonable skill and care. This means that, subject to these booking conditions, we will accept responsibility if, for example, you suffer death or personal injury or your contracted holiday arrangements are not provided as promised or prove deficient as a result of the failure of ourselves, our employees, agents or suppliers to use reasonable skill and care in making, performing or providing, as applicable, your contracted holiday arrangements. It is your responsibility to show that reasonable skill and care has not been used if you wish to make a claim against us. In addition, we will only be responsible for what our employees, agents and suppliers do or do not do if they were at the time acting within the course of their employment (for employees) or carrying out work we had asked them to do (for agents and suppliers). 2) We will not be responsible for any injury, illness, death, loss (including loss of enjoyment or possessions),damage, expense, cost or other sum or claim of any nature or description whatsoever which results from any of the following: - the act(s) and/or omission(s) of the person(s) affected or any member(s) of their party or the act(s) and/ or omission(s) of a third party not connected with the provision of your holiday and which were unforeseeable or unavoidable or ‘force majeure’ as defined in clause 11. 3) Please note we cannot accept responsibility for any services which do not form part of our contract. This includes, for example, any additional services or facilities which your hotel or any other supplier agrees to provide for you where the services or facilities are not advertised by us as forming part of your holiday arrangements and we have not agreed to arrange them as part of our contract and any excursion you purchase during your holiday. In addition, regardless of any wording used by us in our brochure, on our website, in any advertising material or elsewhere, we only promise to use reasonable skill and care as set out above and we do not have any greater or different liability to you. 4) The promises we make to you about the services we have agreed to provide or arrange as part of our contract - and the laws and applicable standards of the country in which your claim or complaint occurred - will be used as the basis for deciding whether the services in question had been properly provided. If the particular services which gave rise to the claim or complaint were provided in compliance with the applicable local laws and standards, the services will be treated as having been properly provided. This will be the case even if the services did not comply with the laws and standards of the UK which would have applied had those services been provided in the UK. The exception to this is where the claim or complaint concerns the absence of a safety feature which might lead a reasonable holiday maker to refuse to take the holiday in question. Please note, however, our obligation is to exercise reasonable skill and care as referred to in clause 18(1). We do not make any representation or commitment that all services will comply with applicable local laws and standards and failure to comply does not automatically mean we have not exercised reasonable skill and care. 5) Where we are found liable for loss of and/or damage to any luggage or personal possessions (including money), the maximum amount we will have to pay you is £30 per person affected (unless clause 18(6) below applies) as you are assumed to have taken out insurance at the time of booking. You must ensure you have appropriate travel insurance to protect your personal belongings. For all other claims which do not involve death or personal injury, if we are found liable to you on any basis the maximum amount we will have to pay you is twice the price (excluding insurance

premiums and amendment charges) paid by or on behalf of the person(s) affected in total unless a lower limitation applies to your claim under clause 18(6) below. This maximum amount will only be payable where everything has gone wrong and you have not received any benefit at all from your holiday. 6) Where any claim or part of a claim (including those involving death or personal injury) arises from travel on any aircraft, ship or train (including the process of getting on and/ or off the transport concerned) provided by any air, sea or rail carrier to which any international convention or EU regulation applies, our liability (including the maximum amount of compensation we will have to pay you, the types of claim, the basis on which liability is assessed and the circumstances in which compensation will be payable) will be limited. The most we will have to pay you for that claim or that part of a claim if we are found liable to you on any basis is the most the carrier concerned would have to pay under the international convention or regulation which applies to the travel arrangements in question (for example, the Warsaw Convention as amended or unamended and the Montreal Convention for international travel by air and/or for airlines with an operating licence granted by an EU country, the EC Regulation on Air Carrier Liability No 889/2002 for national and international travel by air, EC Regulation 392/2009 and the Athens Convention (as amended by the 2002 protocol) for international travel by sea (and where applicable, national and international travel by inland waterway) and COTIF, the Convention on International Travel by Rail). Where a carrier would not be obliged to make any payment to you under the applicable international convention or regulation in respect of a claim or part of a claim, we similarly are not obliged to make a payment to you for that claim or part of the claim. When making any payment, we are entitled to deduct any money which you have received or are entitled to receive from the carrier for the complaint or claim in question. Copies of the applicable international conventions and regulations are available from us on request. (7) Please note, we cannot accept any liability for any damage, loss, expense or other sum(s) of any description (1) which on the basis of the information given to us by you concerning your booking prior to our accepting it, we could not have foreseen you would suffer or incur if we breached our contract with you or (2) which did not result from any breach of contract or other fault by ourselves or our employees or, where we are responsible for them, our suppliers. Additionally we cannot accept liability for any claims, losses or expenses which relate to any business (including any loss of earnings incurred by any client who is self employed). 19. Flights In accordance with EU Directive (EC) No 2111/2005, we are required to bring to your attention the existence of a “Community list” which contains details of airlines which are subject to an operating ban within the EU. The Community list is available for inspection at http:// ec.europa.eu/transport/air-ban/list_en.htm. We are also required to advise you of the actual carrier(s) (or, if the actual carrier(s) is not known, the likely carrier(s)) that will operate your flight(s) at the time of booking. Where we are only able to inform you of the likely carrier(s) at the time of booking, we will inform you of the identity of the actual carrier(s) as soon as we become aware of this. Any change to the operating carrier(s) after your booking has been confirmed will be notified to you as soon as possible. If the carrier with whom you have a confirmed reservation becomes subject to an operating ban as above as a result of which we/ the carrier are unable to offer you a suitable alternative the provisions of clause 10 “Changes to or cancellation of your holiday by us” will apply. We are not always in a position at the time of booking to confirm the flight timings which will be used in connection with your flight. The flight timings shown in our brochure, on our website and/or detailed on your confirmation invoice are for guidance only and are subject to alteration and confirmation. Flight timings are outside our control. They are set by airlines and are subject to various factors including air traffic control restrictions, weather conditions, potential technical problems and the ability of passengers to check in on time. Specific instructions relating to departure and travel arrangements will be sent with your air or other travel tickets approximately 2 weeks before departure. You must accordingly check your tickets very carefully immediately on receipt to ensure you have the correct flight times. It is possible that flight times may be changed even after tickets have been despatched - we will contact you as soon as possible if this occurs. Any change in the identity of the carrier, flight timings, and/or aircraft type (if advised) will not entitle you to cancel or change to other arrangements without paying our normal charges except where specified in these conditions. 20. Conditions of suppliers Many of the services which make up your holiday are provided by independent suppliers. Those suppliers provide these services in accordance with their own terms and conditions. Some of these terms and conditions may limit or exclude the supplier’s liability to you, usually in accordance with applicable international conventions (see clause 18(6)). Copies of the relevant parts of these terms and conditions are available on request from ourselves or the supplier concerned. 21. Suitability of the tour and behaviour We reserve the right in our absolute discretion to terminate without prior notice the holiday arrangements of any customer whose behaviour is such that it causes or is likely to cause, in our reasonable opinion, or in the opinion of any tour manager or any other person in authority, distress, damage, danger or significant annoyance to any third party, or damage property. In these circumstances all our obligations to you under our contract or otherwise shall cease, full cancellation charges apply and we shall not be liable for any refund, compensation or costs incurred by you whatsoever. Our tours can be physically demanding. We are also entitled to terminate your holiday where, in the reasonable opinion of any person in authority (including office staff or your tour manager when you join your holiday), your physical condition means you are unable, or likely to be unable, to cope with the tour or to experience significant difficulties in doing so. It is your responsibility to disclose an accurate account of your mobility and all other relevant information relating to your health and fitness at the time of booking. You must also advise us of any change to your level of mobility or health and fitness between booking your holiday and joining your tour. The river cruise holidays featured in this brochure are not suitable for children under the age of 12 years. 22. If you have a complaint If you have a problem during your holiday, you MUST report the matter to the driver or our representative and the supplier of the services in question IMMEDIATELY. If the matter is not then satisfactorily resolved, you must complete a written report (form available from our driver or tour manager) and follow up your complaint in writing to our UK sales and marketing office Diamond Holidays, Anson House, Compass Point, Northampton Road, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, LE16 9HW within 28 days of your return, including a copy of the original report form. We regret we cannot accept liability if you fail to notify the complaint or claim entirely in accordance with this clause (this exclusion does not apply to any claim which involves death, personal injury or illness). Disputes arising out of, or in connection with this contract which cannot be amicably settled may be referred to arbitration if you so wish under a special scheme arranged by ABTA and administered independently. The scheme provides for a simple and inexpensive method of arbitration on documents alone with restricted liability on the customer in respect of costs. Full details will be provided on request or can be obtained from the ABTA website

(www.abta.com). This scheme does not apply to claims for an amount greater than £5,000 per person. There is also a limit of £25,000 per booking. Neither does it apply to claims which are solely in respect of physical injury or illness or their consequences. The scheme can however deal with compensation claims which include an element of minor injury or illness subject to a limit of £1500 on the amount the arbitrator can award per person in respect of this element. The application for arbitration and other required documents must be received by ABTA within 18 months of your return from the holiday. Outside this time limit arbitration under the scheme may still be available if we agree, although the ABTA Code does not require such agreement. For injury and illness claims, you can request the ABTA mediation procedure and we have the option to agree to this. 23. Data protection In order to process your booking and to ensure that your travel arrangements run smoothly and meet your requirements we need to use the information you provide about yourself and those in your party. This information may include travellers’ names, contact details, payment details and relevant health information etc. We take full responsibility for ensuring that proper security measures are in place to protect your information. We may pass relevant information to third party services providers, such as transport companies and hotels. The information may also be provided to security or credit checking companies, public authorities such as customs/immigration if required by them, or as required by law. This applies to any sensitive information you give us such as details of any disabilities or dietary requirements which may disclose your religious beliefs. If we cannot pass this information to the relevant suppliers, we cannot provide your holiday. In making your booking, you consent to this information being passed on to the relevant parties. Diamond Holidays may contact you by mail, email or telephone with information and offers on holidays and other services we provide. If you would like to see the information held by us about you or prefer not to receive information on our services, please write to our Data Controller, at our UK sales and marketing office address, Diamond Holidays, Anson House, Compass Point, Northampton Road, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, LE16 9HW. We do not disclose or sell customer names and addresses to third parties for marketing activities. 24. Financial protection – holidays which do not include flights We are a member of ABTA with membership number W0552. Where your holiday does not include flights booked with us, ABTA will ensure that you are not left stranded abroad and will arrange to refund any money you have paid to us for an advance booking in the unlikely event that we cannot provide your holiday due to our insolvency. Please go to www.abta.com for a copy of the guide to ABTA’s Scheme of Financial Protection. 25. Financial protection – holidays which include flights We also hold an Air Travel Organiser’s Licence, number 9357, granted by the Civil Aviation Authority. When you buy an ATOL protected flight or flight inclusive holiday* from us you will receive an ATOL Certificate. This lists what is financially protected, where you can get information on what this means for you and who to contact if things go wrong. We, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL Certificate, will provide you with the services listed on the ATOL Certificate (or a suitable alternative). In some cases, where neither we nor the supplier are able to do so for reasons of insolvency, an alternative ATOL holder may provide you with services you have bought or a suitable alternative (at no extra cost to you). You agree to accept that in those circumstances the alternative ATOL holder will perform those obligations and you agree to pay any money outstanding to be paid by you under your contract to that alternative ATOL holder. However, you also agree that in some cases it will not be possible to appoint an alternative ATOL holder, in which case you will be entitled to make a claim under the ATOL scheme (or your credit card issuer where applicable). If we, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL certificate, are unable to provide the services listed (or a suitable alternative, through an alternative ATOL holder or otherwise) for reasons of insolvency, the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust may make a payment to (or confer a benefit on) you under the ATOL scheme. You agree that in return for such a payment or benefit, you assign absolutely to those Trustees any claims which you have or may have arising out of or relating to the non-provision of the services, including any claim against us, the travel agent or your credit card issuer where applicable. You also agree that any such claims may be re-assigned to another body, if that other body has paid sums you have claimed under the ATOL scheme. *The flights and flight-inclusive holidays we arrange are ATOL protected providing they are made available in the UK. For further information visit the ATOL website at www.atol.org.uk. 26. Passports, visas and health requirements The passport and visa requirements applicable at the time of printing to British citizens with a British passport for the holidays we offer are shown after the itinerary. Requirements may change and you must check the up to date position in good time before departure. A full British passport presently takes approximately 3 to 6 weeks to obtain. If you are 16 or over and haven’t yet got a passport, you should apply for one at least 6 weeks before your holiday. The UK Passport Service has to confirm your identity before issuing your first passport and will ask you to attend an interview in order to do this. If you are not a British citizen or hold a non British passport, you must check passport and visa requirements with the embassy or consulate of the country(ies) to or through which you are intending to travel. Details of any compulsory health requirements applicable to British citizens for your holiday are shown after the itinerary. It is your responsibility to ensure you are aware of all recommended vaccinations and health precautions in good time before departure. Details are available from your GP surgery and from the National Travel Health Network and Centre www.nathnac. org. Information on health is also contained in the Department of Health leaflet T7 (Health Advice for Travellers) available from the Department of Health by telephone on 0870 1555455 or via its website www.dh.gov.uk and from most Post Offices. For holidays in the EU / EEA you should obtain an EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) prior to departure from the Department of Health (see leaflet T7 and the website www.dh.gov.uk). Health requirements and recommendations may change and you must check the up to date position in good time before departure. It is the party leader’s responsibility to ensure that all members of the party are in possession of all necessary travel and health documents before departure. All costs incurred in obtaining such documentation must be paid by you. We regret we cannot accept any liability if you are refused entry onto any transport or into any country due to failure on your part to carry all required documentation. If failure to have any necessary travel or other documents results in fines, surcharges or other financial penalty or expenses being imposed on or incurred by us, you will be responsible for reimbursing us accordingly. 27. Foreign Office Advice The Foreign and Commonwealth Office publishes regularly updated travel information on its website which you are recommended to consult before booking and in good time before departure www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

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