Riviera Travel - River Cruising 2017

Luxury five-star river cruises with Riviera Travel cost less than you think

RiverCruising.co.uk THE RIVER CRUISE EXPERTS

5 days from £899 NEW SHIPS FOR 2017

NEW ALL SUITE SHIPS

Exceptional experiences inspired by passion Every river cruise with Riviera Travel is an extraordinary experience. We make sure of that because we are every bit as passionate about your trip as you are. Since our inception in 1984, we’ve been delighting customers with world-class river cruises that guarantee exceptional value.

Be swept away by the majesty of the dramatic Rhine Gorge on our 8-day Rhine Cruise to Switzerland river cruise from only £1,199. Or yield to the twists and turns of the Ardèche Gorge on our 8-day Burgundy, River Rhône & Provence river cruise from only £1,199.

Many of our customers have travelled numerous times with us and continue to do so because they know that they can rely on us for an unforgettable journey.

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To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

Secure your river cruise with the Riviera Travel 5-Star Guarantee Five-star luxury without the outrageous price tag • Our world-class vessels are rated by the Berlitz Guide to River Cruising as some of the most spectacular ships to grace Europe’s waterways.

• Our cabins are amongst the largest and most luxuriously appointed on any river cruise ship, with an en-suite bathroom and everything you’d expect from a five-star hotel, including facilities for making tea and coffee.

• On-board facilities feature a hair salon and treatment room plus complimentary WiFi, sauna, steam room, pool and fitness suite. Enjoy fine dining at a choice of restaurants on board with meals prepared by professional chefs, served by attentive staff.

• Enjoy the flexibility and convenience of a return journey from an airport or regional rail connection local to you.

• Our excursions are thoughtfully balanced to ensure that you gain as much as possible, whilst giving you the freedom to explore under your own steam.

Everything you need is included • Absolutely everything you need is included in our prices, all travel, all excursions and all meals.

• We’ve always honoured a transparent pricing policy that guarantees there are no hidden costs or surcharges.

• We will never inflate our prices or offer artificial discounts, so everyone pays the same.

Award-winning reputation • We’re consistently recognised by customers and the industry for outstanding service and value – recently Travel Weekly awarded us ‘Best Value for Money’, and we are Which? magazine’s highest-ranked river cruise operator, rated five stars for customer service.

• 97% of our customers said they would book with us again according to Reevoo, an independent provider of verified customer ratings and reviews.

• We’re fully bonded by ATOL and ABTA for your protection.

You always have freedom of choice • We don’t charge extra for things that you might not even want - our customers tell us that they prefer to choose their own wine so there’s never an unwanted drinks package and tips are entirely at your own discretion.

The details make the difference • We treat every customer as an individual, and go to great lengths to add personal touches.

• Every aspect of your river cruise is carefully considered – we personally assess and handpick every feature.

• Our dedicated cruise directors, crew and tour managers are always at your service.

To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

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Contents Expect the best on a Riviera Travel river cruise Life on board our luxury river cruise ships Our fleet of luxury ships

Bruges, Medieval Flanders, Amsterdam and the Dutch Bulbfields Amsterdam is one of the world’s most unique cities, famous for its stunning art.

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Page 6 Page 8

Burgundy, the River Rhône and Provence The vineyards of Burgundy, the gastronomic delights of Lyon, the medieval splendour of Avignon.

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Rhine and Moselle Picturesque Boppard, historic Cochem and the spectacular Rhine Gorge.

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To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

Rhine, Strasbourg and Heidelberg Guided tours of Koblenz, majestic Heidelberg, historic Strasbourg and Cologne.

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Rhine Cruise to Switzerland Through the Rhine Gorge to Switzerland via Koblenz, Strasbourg and the Black Forest.

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Cruise the Heart of Europe From the Rhine to the Danube with Vienna and Budapest on the way.

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The Blue Danube Sail to Vienna, Budapest, baroque Bratislava and Hungary’s oldest cathedral.

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To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

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Expect the best on a Riviera Travel river cruise

W

hat will your cabin be like? Imagine a luxury hotel where the view from the balcony changes every moment: a lush vineyard or an ancient castle, an historic old town with a maze of winding streets or a breathtaking panorama of a capital city’s magnificent waterfront. That’s what to expect on a Riviera Travel River Cruise.

Our ships are rated by the Berlitz Guide to River Cruising as some of Europe’s finest vessels. Every ship is superbly equipped, recently built to the very highest standards. Like an ocean cruise ship, we offer different decks and layouts, but whichever cabin or suite you choose, expect the finest.

Your cabin is spacious and always with its own en-suite bathroom with shower and endless hot water. Complimentary toiletries are ready and waiting and replaced when needed. Marble tops and tiled floors are scrupulously cleaned every day while you’re out and your bathroom gleams.

Sink into a magnificent and superbly comfortable bed, with a mattress of the finest quality and crisp white linen; you’ll find soft woollen blankets to hand if you like the air-conditioning on at night. The lighting is soft with easily-reached reading lamps and there’s complimentary WiFi available in your cabin, if you want to stay in touch.

There’s ample wardrobe space, your own personal safe and digital TV with English channels where available. Heavy drapes in the finest fabrics adorn the wide windows and balconies – 83% of our cabins have French or full balconies giving you spectacular views.

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Restaurant, Charles Dickens

The ship may cruise or moor up for the night. Either way, your sleep will never be disturbed. Even when cruising, you’re always on smooth, calm river water.

You’ll find your radio headset on charge, with lightweight headphones, so you can easily hear your guide on tours and trips. You’ll also find the convenience of tea- and coffee-making facilities in the cabins on most of the ships in our fleet.

Superb on-board kitchens produce some of the finest food you’ll experience. Breakfasts offer a huge buffet of fresh fruit, freshly-baked

To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

Deluxe Suite, Lord Byron

pastries, and omelettes cooked just the way you like them. On returning to the ship after an enjoyable excursion, you’ll find a mouth-watering selection of cakes and pastries to tempt you.

In the evening, enjoy pre-dinner drinks in the convivial bar, watching the stunning river views drifting past and the sun starting to sink behind a vineyard or an ancient castle. When you’re ready, the restaurant comes alive with attentive staff ready to serve your full four-course dinner. The aromas drift tantalisingly in from the kitchen whilst you make your choice.

Every evening, as part of the ship’s varied list, there are one or two wines

of the region for you to savour. Or if you prefer something else, your waiter will bring your choice from the bar.

Rounding off with coffee and chocolates, your day may not be over just yet. Back to the bar, perhaps, where there might be a pianist or string quartet for entertainment, before retiring to your luxurious cabin or suite, where every night you’ll come back to find your bed turned down and the itinerary for the next day waiting for you.

To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

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Life on board our luxury river cruise ships

F

rom the five-star Lord Byron and Jane Austen to the brand new Thomas Hardy, Emily Brontë and Oscar Wilde, there are no more extraordinary vessels gracing any river, anywhere. Stylish furnishings, wrought iron, polished copper, imaginative lighting plus the skilful eye of a talented designer create a superb ambience.

Tantalise your taste buds in the classic restaurant, enjoy a dip in the splash pool on those long summer evenings, pamper yourself in the onboard spa with sauna and steam room, or just catch up on some reading in the on-board library. Every single aspect is designed to the highest possible

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specification so your experience is as luxurious as it possibly can be.

Your crew is led by an experienced uniformed captain, highly qualified, who is in command of the ship at all times, ably assisted by the rest of his professional bridge officers. In keeping with seafaring tradition, you’ll be invited to the Captain’s Dinner on one of your evenings, and perhaps even the Captain’s table.

Our ships also have a full-time maître d’ in charge of the kitchens, whose only task is to ensure you enjoy the very finest standards of comfort and cuisine.

To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

Attention to detail, inside and out

Stunning lounge, Jane Austen

Luxurious restaurant, Lord Byron Reception, Swiss Ruby

It is extremely difficult to convey how extraordinary our outstanding ships really are. Immediately striking is the exceptional spaciousness of these new vessels as you enter a gleaming, richly coloured marble-floored lobby flooded with natural light from a stunning atrium above. Moving inside, exceptional creativity from some of Europe’s finest designers has produced a superbly balanced masterpiece of on-board style, utilising sustainable rich hardwoods, gleaming brass and polished copper, sparkling glass and intricate wrought iron. The ships are beautifully illuminated throughout – including the exterior and imaginatively furnished with harmonious colour schemes, all designed to create the serene, refined atmosphere reflective of the golden age of cruising which time after time our customers tell us they adore.

To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

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Suite, Emily BrontĂŤ

CHOOSE YOUR CABIN Your cabin is amongst the largest and best appointed of any European river cruise vessel. Controllable air conditioning, en-suite marble bathroom with complimentary cosmetics and thick fluffy towels, hairdryer, deep-pile carpets, flat screen TV with satellite channels, and mini-bar.

The clever design gives you ample storage space, with two chairs and a wardrobe.

Standard Cabin, Lord Byron

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Superior Suite Bathroom, Swiss Tiara

Standard Cabin, Charles Dickens

To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

DINING TO EXCEED EXPECTATIONS From sumptuous breakfasts with over sixty options, superb buffet lunches to fine four course dinners, dining experiences feature international classics and regional specialities creating a memorable voyage of culinary discovery.

EXAMPLE OF THE FINE ME NUS ON Superior Balcony Suite, Douro Elegance

UPGRADE TO A SUITE All ships offer a selection of suites with the same facilities as standard cabins but larger. The extra space is devoted to the living area for greater comfort. But for the ultimate in river cruise luxury, some of our ships offer the option of upgrading to a Deluxe Balcony Suite, a full 50% larger than a standard cabin.

BOARD

Warm smoked duck breast with apple red mandarin and cranberry sala wine chutney, d Arugula strawberry salad or grissini with and white balsamic honey Dutch smoked ham dressing Foamy pumpkin soup with cinnamon croutons or Bouillabaisse Ă la Marseillai se Pan-seared river perch wit h grilled parsnips, snow peastomato vinaigrette, and pearl barley Herb-crusted rack of lambor mint jelly, horseradish flag with sweet rosemary sauce, eolet beans, roasted tomato es, dauphinoise potatoes or Swiss chard and salsify gra tin with gar and oyster mushrooms lic cream Warm crisp pear tart Apple sorbet and cider foa m or Fresh fruit or continental che eses

Deluxe Balcony Suite, William Shakespeare

Coffee or tea

To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

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Which of our five-star fleet will you choose?

W E N

The five-star MS Thomas Hardy, MS Emily Brontë & MS Oscar Wilde

Deluxe Balcony Suite, MS Thomas Hardy

W E N

The five-star MS Douro Elegance & MS Douro Serenity

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Standard cabin, MS Douro Elegance

To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

Each as luxurious as the next.

The five-star MS William Shakespeare & MS Charles Dickens

The five-star MS Lord Byron & MS Jane Austen

Deluxe Suite with outside balcony, MS William Shakespeare

Deluxe Suite, MS Jane Austen

To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

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Burgundy, the River Rhône and Provence Eight days from only £1,199pp • Visit to Beaune, centre of the Burgundy wine region with tasting • Cruise the spectacular Rhône Valley • Guided tour of Lyon, France’s second city and its gastronomical capital • Visit to charming Vienne • Tour of the astonishing Ardèche Gorges, over 300 metres deep • Guided tour of Arles, with its extraordinary Roman remains and home to Vincent Van Gogh at his most prolific

• Visit to the Pont du Gard, an astoundingly preserved Roman aqueduct, wider than London’s River Thames • Tour of superbly preserved, medieval Avignon and the stunning Pope’s Palace • Price includes full-board from dinner on your day of arrival until breakfast on your final day • Services of a cruise director and tour manager

Beaune 3

Chalon

Riv er

Rh

ôn

River Saône

e

F R A N CE

River Rhône

Lyon 1 2 4 Vienne

Tournon Le Pouzin

Valence

Viviers

5 Ardeche Gorges Pont du Gard 6

Montpellier Lavender fields

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7 Avignon

Arles Marseille

Cruising Coach travel

Roman aqueduct, Pont du Gard

The astonishing Ardèche Gorges

Fly to Lyon, Marseille or Montpellier, or take the Eurostar/TGV to Lyon, transferring to your ship moored in historic Lyon.

Day Two - Lyon and Saône We enjoy a guided tour of Lyon, France’s gastronomic capital and birthplace of Roman Emperor Claudius. The medieval silk trade, financed the renaissance houses, churches and one of Europe’s finest town squares. Leaving Lyon, we catch our first glimpses of the Beaujolais hills, as we approach one of the world’s most famous wineproducing regions.

Mother Nature’s ‘‘ Discover awesome power in the Ardèche

Gorges, their steep cliffs drop to raging rivers, twisting and turning past stupendous natural sculptures, caves and grottoes.

To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

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Day One - Arrival in Lyon

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Medieval Avignon

Avignon’s delightful ‘‘ Wander streets, alleys and markets –

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little changed in centuries.

Day Five - Ardèche Gorges

Day Three - Beaune and Burgundy On this morning’s tour we see the picturesque villages that read like a top restaurant’s wine list - Meursault, Volnay, Pommard, GevreyChambertin, crowned by Beaune, Burgundy’s wine capital. We visit the cellars of one of the most traditional of winemakers for a tour and tasting, before returning to the ship for lunch.

Day Four - Vienne and Tournon This morning is spent in the ancient Roman stronghold of Vienne, established under Julius Caesar. Vienne is a treasure trove of historic remains and has a wealth of medieval monuments. After lunch, we cruise to the pretty provincial town of Tournon, with the vine-covered hillsides of Hermitage across the River.

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This afternoon we explore one of France’s most outstanding natural wonders, the Ardèche Gorges. The steep cliffs drop to raging rivers, twisting and turning past stupendous natural sculpture, caves and grottoes, there are amazing views at every turn. We return to the ship moored in charming Viviers, a medieval town clustered around its Romanesque cathedral.

Day Six - Arles and the Pont du Gard Our guided tour exhibits Arles’ magnificent Roman remains, including the amphitheatre and forum, theatre and necropolis. Van Gogh produced 300 of his finest works in Arles, including ‘Sunflowers’. We visit the Pont du Gard, one of the wonders of the ancient world; this gigantic aqueduct has a span greater than the River Thames in London.

Day Seven - Avignon Avignon was one of the richest cities in the world during the Middle Ages and during our guided tour, we visit the imposing Pope’s Palace - an architectural masterpiece decorated with outstanding frescoes

To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

MS SWISS CORONA

Deck Cabin

15/05/17 22/05/17* 29/05/17 05/06/17*, 12/06/17, 19/06/17* 26/06/17, 28/08/17*, 25/09/17* 03/07/17*, 10/07/17, 17/07/17* 24/07/17, 31/07/17*, 07/08/17 14/08/17*, 21/08/17 04/09/17, 11/09/17*, 18/09/17

Deck Cabin

Van Gogh

and tapestries. Explore Avignon’s delightful streets or visit the Petit Palais, displaying 1,000 renaissance paintings or simply take a stroll on the iconic Pont d’Avignon.

Day Eight – Return Home Today you are taken to the airport or train station for your return journey.

06/04/17, 13/04/17* 20/04/17, 27/04/17* 04/05/17, 11/05/17* 18/05/17 25/05/17* 01/06/17, 08/06/17* 15/06/17, 22/06/17* 29/06/17 06/07/17*, 13/07/17 20/07/17*, 27/07/17 03/08/17*, 10/08/17 17/08/17*, 24/08/17 31/08/17* 07/09/17, 14/09/17* 21/09/17 28/09/17* 05/10/17 12/10/17* 19/10/17 26/10/17*

Lower Standard Superior Suite £1,299 £1,349 £1,399 £1,449 £1,399 £1,299 £1,299 £1,299 £1,449

Lower Standard Superior Suite £1,199 £1,299 £1,399 £1,449 £1,499 £1,549 £1,549 £1,499 £1,399 £1,399 £1,399 £1,399 £1,499 £1,549 £1,549 £1,499 £1,399 £1,299 £1,199 £1,099

£1,299 £1,399 £1,499 £1,549 £1,599 £1,649 £1,649 £1,599 £1,499 £1,499 £1,499 £1,499 £1,599 £1,649 £1,649 £1,599 £1,499 £1,399 £1,299 £1,199

Standard

£1,399 £1,449 £1,499 £1,549 £1,499 £1,399 £1,399 £1,399 £1,549

£1,599 £1,649 £1,699 £1,749 £1,699 £1,599 £1,599 £1,599 £1,749

Middle Superior Suite £1,699 £1,749 £1,799 £1,849 £1,799 £1,699 £1,699 £1,699 £1,849

MS LORD BYRON Standard £1,499 £1,599 £1,699 £1,749 £1,799 £1,849 £1,849 £1,799 £1,699 £1,699 £1,699 £1,699 £1,799 £1,849 £1,849 £1,799 £1,699 £1,599 £1,499 £1,399

Middle Superior Suite £1,599 £1,699 £1,799 £1,849 £1,899 £1,949 £1,949 £1,899 £1,799 £1,799 £1,799 £1,799 £1,899 £1,949 £1,949 £1,899 £1,799 £1,699 £1,599 £1,499

Standard £1,599 £1,699 £1,799 £1,849 £1,899 £1,949 £1,949 £1,899 £1,799 £1,799 £1,799 £1,799 £1,899 £1,949 £1,949 £1,899 £1,799 £1,699 £1,599 £1,499

Standard £1,699 £1,749 £1,799 £1,849 £1,799 £1,699 £1,699 £1,699 £1,849

Upper Superior Suite Superior Stern Suite £1,799 £1,849 £1,899 £1,949 £1,899 £1,799 £1,799 £1,799 £1,949

£1,749 £1,799 £1,849 £1,899 £1,849 £1,749 £1,749 £1,749 £1,899

Upper Superior Suite Superior Stern Suite Deluxe Suite £1,699 £1,799 £1,899 £1,949 £1,999 £2,049 £2,049 £1,999 £1,899 £1,899 £1,899 £1,899 £1,999 £2,049 £2,049 £1,999 £1,899 £1,799 £1,699 £1,599

£1,649 £1,749 £1,849 £1,899 £1,949 £1,999 £1,999 £1,949 £1,849 £1,849 £1,849 £1,849 £1,949 £1,999 £1,999 £1,949 £1,849 £1,749 £1,649 £1,549

£1,799 £1,899 £1,999 £2,049 £2,099 £2,149 £2,149 £2,099 £1,999 £1,999 £1,999 £1,999 £2,099 £2,149 £2,149 £2,099 £1,999 £1,899 £1,799 £1,699

The prices below are per person, based on two people sharing, travelling by Eurostar/TGV or on return flights from Gatwick. Flights are also available from Birmingham, Bristol, Dublin, Luton, Stansted, Leeds Bradford, Manchester and Heathrow and may carry a supplement, call for details. Dates with an asterisk operate in reverse order*. Call us or visit our website for further information and booking conditions.

SINGLE OCCUPANCY On the lower deck some standard cabins are available at no single supplement, subject to availability. For other cabins, the price for sole occupancy is twice the per person rate for the relevant cabin as above, less £360.

To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

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Bruges, Medieval Flanders, Amsterdam and the Dutch Bulbfields Eight days from only £1,099pp • Tour of Amsterdam, one of the world’s most unique cities • Walking tour of Bruges, one of Europe’s most perfectly preserved medieval towns • Visit to Arnhem, famous for the 1944 battle vividly depicted in the film A Bridge Too Far • Tour of Antwerp, the city of Rubens and the Flemish Masters • Walking tour of Ghent, the largest city in 14th century Western Europe

• Visit to Ypres and the First World War battlefields • Visit to the stunning Keukenhof Gardens, the heart of the Dutch Bulbfields • Cruise along the Zuiderzee • Price includes full-board from dinner on your arrival day until breakfast on your final day • Services of a cruise director and tour manager

NE THERLANDS Hoorn Volendam

Amsterdam

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1 7

Keukenhof

Utrecht Arnhem

7

Rhine River

6

Bruges

5

Ypres

4

Antwerp

5

Ghent BELGIUM

Bruges historic centre at Night FR ANCE

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Cruising Coach travel

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Day One – Arrival in Amsterdam Fly to Amsterdam or take the Eurostar, changing trains in Brussels to Amsterdam, where a coach will transfer you to your ship.

Amazing Amsterdam

Day Two - Amsterdam & Hoorn We are moored in the heart of fascinating Amsterdam, so we take a delightful sightseeing cruise around its picturesque canals – in classic glass-topped boats. We slip away from the quayside towards the Ijsselmeer, the lake created when the Zuiderzee was dammed, then on to historic Hoorn, where there’s time to explore this intriguing spot before another splendid dinner.

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Discover the artisanal traditions of what was once the world’s greatest sea power, Rembrandt and Van Gogh’s remarkable art and the old Zuiderzee.

Glorious Ghent

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Day Three - Arnhem We soon arrive in Arnhem, once a member of the Hanseatic League, but since 1944 synonymous with the ill-fated battle so vividly depicted in the film A Bridge Too Far. We visit the former British headquarters at Oosterbeek, now an excellent museum, and then the poignant Commonwealth War Cemetery, the final resting place of so many.

Day Four - Antwerp This morning there’s a chance to marvel at the captain’s calm skill as he

To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

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Antwerp City Hall, Belgium

safely navigates the ship through the busy waters of the River Schelde, mooring in Antwerp whose picturesque main square is lined by the tall, gabled townhouses so typical of the Low Countries. This morning we enjoy a sightseeing tour of this historic and vastly underrated city, birthplace of Rubens. This afternoon is free to explore as you wish and perhaps visit the Fine Arts Museum.

Day Five - Ghent & Ypres Today we visit medieval Ghent, once Western Europe’s largest city and our picturesque base for the next two days. This morning we have a sightseeing tour and after lunch we visit Ypres, a name synonymous with the horrors of the Great War and the centre of British activity in Belgium.

See the Menin Gate, the incredibly moving memorial to the missing, or you may wish to visit the excellent In Flanders’ Fields Museum in the heart of the beautifully restored town centre. We also visit Tyne Cot Cemetery and the infamous battlefield of Passchendaele.

Day Six - Bruges After breakfast we take the short drive to Bruges, one of Europe’s most perfectly preserved medieval cities and take a guided walk of this

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Nothing quite prepares you for the dazzling spectrum of colours stretched out before you, the countryside ablaze in a riot of colour unsurpassed anywhere else in the world.

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To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

beautiful town that really does carry its remarkable medieval legacy with charm and to perfection. This evening we leave Ghent returning to Holland.

Taste handmade chocolates in Bruges

Day Seven - Keukenhof & Amsterdam Today we take you to the stunning Keukenhof Gardens, the heart of the glorious bulbfields. On arrival, nothing quite prepares you for the dazzling spectrum of colours stretched out before you, the countryside ablaze in a riot of colour unsurpassed anywhere else in the world. We rejoin our ship in Amsterdam and after lunch you are free to explore as you wish before returning to the ship for the Captain’s Dinner.

Day Eight - Return Home Today you are taken to the airport or train station for your return journey.

Deck Cabin

05/04/17 12/04/17 19/04/17

Deck Cabin

17/04/17 24/04/17 01/05/17

Standard £999 £1,099 £1,199

Lower Suite

£1,249 £1,299 £1,399

Lower

MS JANE AUSTEN

Superior Suite £1,099 £1,199 £1,299

Suite

£1,549 £1,599 £1,699

Standard

Middle

£1,299 £1,399 £1,499

Middle

Superior Suite

Standard

£1,399 £1,499 £1,599

£1,399 £1,499 £1,599

Superior Suite £1,499 £1,599 £1,699

MS EMILY BRONTË Superior Suite £1,649 £1,699 £1,799

Suite

£1,649 £1,699 £1,799

Superior Suite £1,749 £1,799 £1,899

Upper Superior Stern Suite £1,449 £1,549 £1,649

Upper Superior Stern Suite £1,699 £1,749 £1,849

Deluxe Suite £1,599 £1,699 £1,799

Deluxe Balcony Suite £1,849 £1,899 £1,999

The prices above are per person, based on two people sharing, on return flights from Gatwick. Flights are also available from Birmingham, Belfast, Bristol, Cardiff, Dublin, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, Heathrow, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Stansted and may carry a supplement. Travel by Eurostar in Standard class from London St. Pancras is also available at a supplement, call for details. Call us or visit our website for further information and booking conditions.

SINGLE OCCUPANCY On the lower deck some standard cabins are available at no single supplement, subject to availability. For other cabins, price for sole occupancy is twice the per person rate for the relevant cabin as above, less £340.

To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

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Rhine and Moselle Eight days from only £1,199pp • Guided tour of historic Koblenz • Visit to Boppard, the picturesque ‘Pearl of the Rhine’ • Time to explore the hillside town of Rüdesheim, the most famous wine town of the Rhine • Cruise through the spectacular Rhine Gorge • Explore Cochem, the historic centre of the Moselle wine trade

• Take a romantic stroll in the town of Bernkastel • Tour of Trier, once a key capital of the Roman Empire • Guided tour of Cologne – see the stunning Gothic Cathedral • Price includes full-board from dinner on your day of arrival until breakfast on your final day • Services of a cruise director and tour manager

Düsseldorf

1

G E R MA NY

er Riv

To Brussels

7 Cologne

ine

Rh

(Eurostar)

Koblenz

5 2

Boppard

ll e

Cochem

er M Riv

LU X.

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The Cathedral city of Cologne

3

os

e 4

6

Bernkastel

Rüdesheim

Trier

Cruising Coach travel

Day One – Arrival in Cologne Fly to Düsseldorf or Cologne, or take the Eurostar to Brussels, then transfer to historic Cologne.

The famous Rüdesheim

Day Two - Cochem Completely unwind whilst ever-changing scenes drift by, past picturepostcard villages to delightful Cochem, capital of the Moselle wine trade; enjoy unrivalled views of its castle, crowning astonishing vine-covered hillsides.

Day Three - Trier Cruising upstream, we pass through four fascinating locks, gently meandering past the world’s steepest vineyards to Zell. Visit Trier, Germany’s oldest city with a staggering 80,000 people, capital of a huge portion of the Roman Empire. Emperor Constantine lived here and the Porta Nigra, an immense fortified gate forming part of the empire’s border, towers above the surrounding medieval buildings.

Delightful Cochem

Day Four - Bernkastel Wander Bernkastel’s delightful cobbled market square, surrounded by some of the finest, most ornate 15th century half-timbered houses,

The bustling Rhine and serene Moselle, lined with ancient ruined castles, impossibly steep vineyards, sleepy halftimbered wine villages, all waiting to be discovered.

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To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

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The famous Boppard ‘S’ bend on the Rhine

Day Five - Koblenz & Boppard Gliding into 2,000-year-old Koblenz, dramatically situated at the Rhine and Moselle confluence, its mighty fortress is a delight to explore.

During our guided tour, we discover its historic centre, admiring beautifully restored medieval house frontages and quaint hidden passageways. Cruise to Boppard, a classically picturesque Rhineland village, located on a long, sweeping, looping bend of the river.

Day Six - Rhine Gorge & Rüdesheim Expectation rises as we cruise through the outstanding natural beauty

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You are cruising one of the most famous and dramatic waterways in Europe. Take to the Sun Deck for an invigorating stroll and watch the banks, studded with yet more picture postcard villages with tottering timber-framed houses pass peacefully by.

To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

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before returning to our ship to relax in the company of newly-made friends whilst absorbing the spectacular scenery drifting by.

of the Rhine Gorge. Towering valley sides are crowned by precarious ruined castles, home to tales of mysterious happenings. Our ship’s passage takes us past the Loreley Rock, where legend has it a beautiful maiden lured hapless sailors to their deaths with her charms and mesmerising song.

Explore Rüdesheim, the most famous of all the Rhine wine towns; sample an Asbach brandy or visit the Mechanical Music Museum, a collection of 350 intricate antique musical instruments.

Deck

Lower

Cabin

Standard

10/08/17 21/09/17

£1,349 £1,449

MS JANE AUSTEN

Superior Suite £1,449 £1,549

Middle Standard £1,649 £1,749

Superior Suite

Standard

£1,749 £1,849

£1,749 £1,849

Superior Suite £1,849 £1,949

MS EMILY BRONTË OR MS OSCAR WILDE

Deck

Lower

Middle

Cabin

Suite

Suite

30/05/17 20/06/17 18/07/17 11/09/17 23/10/17

£1,399 £1,499 £1,399 £1,499 £1,199

£1,699 £1,799 £1,699 £1,799 £1,499

Superior Suite

Suite

£1,799 £1,899 £1,799 £1,899 £1,599

£1,799 £1,899 £1,799 £1,899 £1,599

Upper

Superior Suite

Upper

£1,899 £1,999 £1,899 £1,999 £1,699

Superior Stern Suite

Deluxe Suite

£1,799 £1,899

Superior Stern Suite £1,849 £1,949 £1,849 £1,949 £1,649

£1,949 £2,049

Deluxe Balcony Suite £1,999 £2,099 £1,999 £2,099 £1,799

Day Seven - Cologne The last stretch of vineyards and half-timbered houses brings us to Cologne, lying in the shadow of its staggering cathedral. With Europe’s most intricate stained glass it took 600 years to build; we discover this and much more during today’s guided tour before returning for the Captain’s Dinner.

Day Eight - Return Home Today you are taken to the airport or train station for the return journey.

Deck Cabin

02/05/17 08/06/17

MS WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE OR MS CHARLES DICKENS

Lower Standard £1,299 £1,399

Middle Standard £1,599 £1,699

Standard £1,699 £1,799

Upper

Deluxe Balcony Suite £1,899 £1,999

The price above is per person, based on two people sharing, travelling by Eurostar in standard class from London St. Pancras. (Connecting trains from certain regional stations are available, please call for details). Flights are also available from Birmingham, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heathrow, Newcastle, Stansted and Manchester and may carry a supplement, call for details. Call us or visit our website for further information and booking conditions.

SINGLE OCCUPANCY On the lower deck some standard cabins are available at no single supplement, subject to availability. For other cabins, price for sole occupancy is twice the per person rate for the relevant cabin as above, less £230.

To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

25

Rhine, Strasbourg and Heidelberg Eight days from only £1,099pp • Guided tour of Koblenz • Relax at your leisure in Boppard with ample time to take the cable car ride for stunning views • Cruise through the spectacular Rhine Gorge • Visit to Mainz, capital of the Rhineland and once home to Gutenburg • Guided tour of majestic Heidelberg, following in the footsteps of philosophers and poets

• Enjoy a guided tour of historic Strasbourg, capital of Alsace • Take a scenic drive through beautiful Alsatian countryside to the pretty town of Colmar • Guided tour of Cologne and see its magnificent Gothic cathedral • Price includes full-board from dinner on your day of arrival until breakfast on your final day • Services of a cruise director and tour manager

Düsseldorf

1 Cologne

1

7

GERMANY

2 ose l

M

er

Boppard

6

Ri

er

v

Riv

Koblenz

2

le

R h i ne

Rüdesheim

3

Mainz

Heidelberg

4

Strasbourg

5

FR A NC E Colmar

26

Heidelberg

5

Cruising Coach travel

Day One - Arrival in Cologne Fly to Düsseldorf or Cologne, or take the Eurostar to Brussels, transferring to the ship moored in historic Cologne.

Lovely Rüdesheim

Day Two - Koblenz & Boppard Sail gently to Koblenz to immerse yourself in two millennia of history and a modern-day romantic’s dream. Forested hillsides dominate the skyline, and the tiny streets you’ll explore on the walking tour lead to intimate squares. During lunch we meander on to Boppard, where you can stroll along the Rheinallee promenade to work up an appetite for dinner.

A gorgeous contrast from tiny Boppard to sophisticated Heidelberg and medieval Strasbourg, probably the Rhine’s most attractive city .

Day Three - Rhine Gorge & Mainz

‘‘

‘‘

Captivating Cologne

Cruise through the revered Rhine Gorge, where sheer valley walls soar 200 metres, crowned by castle ruins, this really is the magical Rhine of our imagination. Historic Mainz is the next stop, where you’ll find the largest wine market in Germany and the 15th century Gutenberg Bibles.

Day Four - Heidelberg After breakfast we take a short drive to Heidelberg for a walking tour of this city nestled by the picturesque River Neckar. A maze of historic buildings lines the river, with the romantic old town behind. See the prestigious 14th century university and explore at leisure.

To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

27

Charming Colmar

‘‘ Day Five - Strasbourg & Colmar Arrive in the charming Alsatian city of Strasbourg, to take a walking tour of its enchanting old centre, including the Petit France quarter, the famous covered bridges and cathedral. Then we follow the wine route, driving past romantic medieval villages against a backdrop of rolling hills, to the 16th century town of Colmar, the best preserved city in eastern France. Return to the ship for dinner.

28

There’s nothing quite like that feeling of anticipation when gliding alongside the promenade of a river port, snatching tantalising glimpses of what lies ashore and Koblenz, beautifully located at the confluence of the rivers Rhine and Moselle, does not disappoint.

To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

‘‘

Enchanting Strasbourg

Day Six - Rüdesheim Relax on the ship as you meander on towards lively Rüdesheim, a picture-perfect Rhine town with narrow, crooked streets leading down to the river. Sample a glass of local Riesling, one of Central Europe’s finest wines, as you take in the scenery, before settling back on board for the Captain’s Dinner.

Day Seven - Cologne Drift on through the gorge until the hills fade to the plain as you reach Cologne for a final lunch. The afternoon brings a walking tour, to marvel at the superb cathedral and explore the attractive old town full of beautifully restored architecture, excellent shopping and cosy bars.

Indulge in a final delicious dinner on board while reflecting on this magical tour.

Day Eight - Return Home Transfer to the airport or train station for your return journey.

Deck Cabin

31/08/17 26/10/17

Standard

Lower

£1,349 £1,099

MS JANE AUSTEN

Suite

Standard

£1,449 £1,199

£1,749 £1,499

Standard

Suite

£1,749 £1,499

Cabin

Suite

Suite

Middle

09/05/17 27/06/17 25/07/17, 07/08/17 02/10/17

£1,399 £1,499 £1,399 £1,299

£1,699 £1,799 £1,699 £1,599

Superior Suite £1,799 £1,899 £1,799 £1,699

Suite £1,799 £1,899 £1,799 £1,699

Upper

£1,849 £1,599

MS EMILY BRONTË OR MS OSCAR WILDE

Lower

18/05/17 12/09/17

Suite

£1,649 £1,399

Deck

Deck Cabin

Middle

Superior Suite

Upper

£1,899 £1,999 £1,899 £1,799

MS CHARLES DICKENS OR MS WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Lower Standard £1,349 £1,399

Middle Standard £1,649 £1,699

Standard £1,749 £1,799

Stern Suite £1,799 £1,549

Superior Stern Suite £1,849 £1,949 £1,849 £1,749

Upper

Deluxe Suite £1,949 £1,699

Deluxe Balcony Suite £1,999 £2,099 £1,999 £1,899

Deluxe Balcony Suite £1,949 £1,999

The prices above are per person, based on two people sharing, travelling by Eurostar in standard class from London St. Pancras. (Connecting trains from certain regional stations are available, please call for details). Flights are also available from Birmingham, Heathrow, Stansted, Dublin, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Manchester and may carry a supplement, call for details. Call us or visit our website for further information and booking conditions.

SINGLE OCCUPANCY On the lower deck some standard cabins are available at no single supplement, subject to availability. For other cabins, price for sole occupancy is twice the per person rate for the relevant cabin as above less £230.

To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

29

Rhine Cruise to Switzerland Eight days from only £1,199pp • E xplore beautiful medieval Koblenz where the Rhine and Moselle meet • V isit romantic Rüdesheim, centre of the Rhineland wine trade •C ruise the spectacular Rhine Gorge, Germany’s finest landscape • V isit Speyer, dominated by one of Europe’s finest Romanesque basilicas •G uided tour of half-timbered Strasbourg, capital of Alsace • V isit the medieval walled town of Breisach

• T our the beautiful Black Forest and lakeside town of Titisee •D iscover some of Switzerland’s astounding Alpine scenery, seeing the Jungfrau and Eiger, plus stunning lakeside Lucerne

•P rice includes full-board from dinner on your day of arrival to breakfast on your final day

• S ervices of a cruise director and tour manager

Lauterbrunnen

1

Düsseldorf Cologne Riv er R

ne hi lle

Koblenz 2

3 Rüdesheim

R iv er

Mo se

4 Speyer

GERMANY

Strasbourg 5

FR ANC E

6 Breisach Titisee

Basel

Zürich 7 Lucerne

Bernese Oberland

SWITZERLAND

30

Call our team on

01283 744 331 or visit www.rivieratravel.co.uk

Cruising Coach travel

The majestic Rhine

Beautiful Cologne

Fly to Düsseldorf or Cologne or take the Eurostar to Brussels, transferring by coach to your ship moored in historic Cologne.

Day Two - Koblenz The first rolling hills drift silently past en route to historic Koblenz; this afternoon explore its many medieval buildings, housing a fine array of traditional shops and classic Rhineland cafés. After your meticulously prepared dinner, perhaps stroll along the riverside promenades to where the great Rhine and Moselle rivers meet.

Day Three - Rhine Gorge, the Loreley and Rüdesheim Our cruise weaves its way around the impressive ’S’ bend at Boppard, guarded by the mighty Marksburg Castle before reaching a further

a stunningly scenic ‘‘ Enjoy drive through the Black Forest amidst its quintessential rugged valleys, whitewater rivers with cascading waterfalls and its rolling forested hillside.

‘‘

Day One – Arrival in Cologne

highlight, the dramatic Rhine Gorge and the legendary Loreley Rock.

Then visit Rüdesheim, its lush vineyards overlooking the river’s striking exit from the gorge.

To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

31

Lucerne on the lake

Day Four - Speyer Past teeming nature reserves to delightfully medieval Speyer where you can visit the neo-gothic Gedächtniskirche and the huge, richly-decorated basilica, one of the finest Romanesque buildings in existence.

Day Five - Strasbourg After a morning’s stunning cruising you arrive in 16th century Strasbourg for a guided tour. Bisected by canals, Strasbourg is a maze of narrow streets lined with timber-framed houses, plus a superb cathedral. Sample world-famous wines here before enjoying the Captain’s Dinner.

Day Six - Breisach & Black Forest Our cruise glides on majestically between the ancient, forested outcrops

32

To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

Stunning Strasbourg

of the Vosges Mountains and the Black Forest through the Great Rift Valley, to historic Breisach. Enjoy a stunningly scenic drive through the Black Forest amidst its quintessential rugged valleys, white-water rivers with cascading waterfalls and its rolling forested hillside.

Enjoy exploring Titisee before returning for another fine dinner as we cruise to Switzerland.

Day Seven - Lucerne and the Bernese Oberland Another highlight awaits as we firstly discover Lucerne, Switzerland’s most beautiful city then explore Europe’s Alpine heart, the Bernese Oberland, ascending into the lofty scenery by mountain railway for breathtaking vistas of crystal clear, shimmering lakes reflecting picturesque meadows and forests below.

Day Eight – Return Home Today you are taken to the appropriate airport or train station for your return journey.

Deck

Lower

Cabin

Standard

27/07/17, 03/08/17* 17/08/17, 24/08/17* 07/09/17, 14/09/17* 28/09/17 05/10/17*, 12/10/17 19/10/17*

£1,399 £1,399 £1,499 £1,449 £1,349 £1,299

MS JANE AUSTEN Middle

Superior Suite

Standard

£1,499 £1,499 £1,599 £1,549 £1,449 £1,399

£1,699 £1,699 £1,799 £1,749 £1,649 £1,599

Lower

Cabin

Suite

Suite

16/05/17, 23/05/17* 06/06/17, 13/06/17* 04/07/17, 11/07/17* 01/08/17, 08/08/17* 14/08/17, 21/08/17*, 28/08/17 04/09/17*, 18/09/17 25/09/17* 09/10/17, 16/10/17*

£1,499 £1,599 £1,499 £1,499 £1,499 £1,599 £1,549 £1,449

£1,799 £1,899 £1,799 £1,799 £1,799 £1,899 £1,849 £1,749

04/05/17, 11/05/17*, 25/05/17 09/05/27, 16/05/17* 01/06/17*, 15/06/17, 22/06/17* 29/08/17, 05/09/17*, 19/09/17 26/09/17* 03/10/17 10/10/17*

£1,799 £1,799 £1,899 £1,849 £1,749 £1,699

Superior Suite

Standard £1,799 £1,799 £1,899 £1,849 £1,749 £1,699

Middle

Superior Suite £1,899 £1,999 £1,899 £1,899 £1,899 £1,999 £1,949 £1,849

Superior Suite

£1,349 £1,349 £1,449 £1,449 £1,399 £1,299 £1,199

Middle Standard £1,649 £1,649 £1,749 £1,749 £1,699 £1,599 £1,499

Superior Stern Suite

Suite £1,899 £1,999 £1,899 £1,899 £1,899 £1,999 £1,949 £1,849

£1,999 £2,099 £1,999 £1,999 £1,999 £2,099 £2,049 £1,949

Standard £1,749 £1,749 £1,849 £1,849 £1,799 £1,699 £1,599

Deluxe Suite

£1,849 £1,849 £1,949 £1,899 £1,799 £1,749

Upper

MS WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE OR MS CHARLES DICKENS

Lower Standard

Upper

£1,899 £1,899 £1,999 £1,949 £1,849 £1,799

MS EMILY BRONTË OR MS OSCAR WILDE

Deck

Deck Cabin

Superior Suite

Superior Stern Suite £1,949 £2,049 £1,949 £1,949 £1,949 £2,049 £1,999 £1,899

Upper

£1,999 £1,999 £2,099 £2,049 £1,949 £1,899

Deluxe Balcony Suite £2,099 £2,199 £2,099 £2,099 £2,099 £2,199 £2,149 £2,049

Deluxe Balcony Suite £1,949 £1,949 £2,049 £2,049 £1,999 £1,899 £1,799

The prices below are per person, based on two people sharing, travelling by Eurostar in standard class from London St. Pancras. Flights are also available from Birmingham, Dublin, Edinburgh, Heathrow, Manchester and Stansted and may carry a supplement, call for details. Dates with an asterisk operates in reverse order*. For dates marked with † a three-night Glacier Express extension is available. Call us or visit our website for further information and booking conditions.

SINGLE OCCUPANCY On the lower deck some standard cabins are available at no single supplement, subject to availability. For other cabins, price for sole occupancy is twice the per person rate for the relevant cabin as above, less £380.

To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

33

Cruise the Heart of Europe - from the Rhine to the Danube, Vienna and Budapest 15 fascinating days from only £1,499pp • Admire the stunning scenery of the Rhine Gorge, Main and Danube • Guided tour of 2,000-year-old Koblenz • Stop in picturesque Boppard • Rüdesheim, a true Rhineland wine town • Visit to Mainz, once home to Gutenberg father of modern printing • See Miltenberg, one of Germany’s best preserved medieval towns • Experience Wertheim - one of Germany’s most attractive medieval towns • Guided tour of baroque Würzburg • Walking tour of Bamberg – a UNESCO World Heritage Site • Visit to the amazingly preserved medieval city of Regensburg

• Tour of Nuremberg, steeped in ancient and modern history - including the site of the infamous Nuremberg Trials and Nazi Rallies • Discover Passau, the confluence of the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers • Visit Melk Abbey, the majestic Benedictine monastery • Guided tour of Vienna, city of the Habsburgs • Live classical quartet recital on board • Guided tour of Budapest – absorb the unique atmosphere • Guided tour of Bratislava, capital of Slovakia • Price includes full-board from dinner on your day of arrival until breakfast on your final day • Services of a cruise director and tour manager Budapest

POL AND

Düsseldorf 1 Cologne Koblenz

2

GE R MANY

3 Rüdesheim Mainz 4 6 Miltenberg 5

Boppard

7

Wertheim Würzburg

FR ANC E

R be nu Da

iver

8

Bamberg

C ZECH REPU BL IC

Nuremberg

9

Regensburg Passau

SLOVAKIA

10

12

11

Melk

Vienna

AUSTRIA

Bratislava

13 H U NG ARY

14 Budapest

Cruising Coach travel

34

Day One – Arrival in Cologne Fly to Düsseldorf or Cologne or take the Eurostar to Brussels transferring by coach to your ship moored in historic Cologne.

Bamberg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Day Two - Koblenz and Boppard Awake this morning to the gentle lapping of water against the hull, later we have a guided tour of Koblenz and free time to perhaps visit its immense fortress guarding the Moselle and Rhine’s majestic confluence. Cruising through a huge meander, the famous ‘S’ bend is one of the Rhine’s most iconic sights, we moor in delightful Boppard with its stone quayside home to boats of all descriptions, surrounded by Germany’s most perfect Roman walls.

‘‘

During lunch navigate beautifully sweeping bends lined by densely forested banks towards Wertheim, one of those delightful towns you love to stumble across and unknown on the tourist trail.

Melk Abbey

‘‘

Day Three - Rhine Gorge and Rüdesheim A real highlight this morning, the Rhine Gorge with sides of over 300 metres studded with precarious castles guarding the tortuous waters for over a 1,000 years. Past rocky outcrops, endless twisting bends and the Loreley Rock, legendary hazard to mariners for centuries. Mooring

To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

35

Vienna Hofburg Imperial Palace

in Rüdesheim after dinner, explore its backstreets sampling its superb selection of wines.

Day Four - Mainz and the River Main A stunning city, bastion of the Roman Empire’s border plus the largest amphitheatre north of the Alps, it is also home to St Stephen’s Church and its flickering, blue stained glass depicting intricate biblical figures, an amazing creation by the great Marc Chagall. Gutenberg, the father of printing lived in Mainz and we see original amazingly illustrated bibles, remarkably two of the first books ever created, then cruise east on the River Main.

36

Day Five - Miltenberg and Wertheim Rural Germany in its purest form today, first delightfully walled Miltenberg, gorgeously medieval, protected by its huge castle above is one of Germany’s best preserved villages. During lunch, navigate beautifully sweeping bends lined with densely forested banks towards Wertheim, one of those delightful towns you love to stumble across and unknown on the tourist trail.

Day Six - Würzburg and the Romantic Road At the head of the Romantic Road, Würzburg was a seat of the PrinceBishops who created the Residenz, one of Europe’s finest Baroque

To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

palaces equalling other masterpieces of the day such as Versailles and Vienna. After enjoying a tour we continue upstream.

Beautiful Budapest

Day Seven - Bamberg Bamberg is one of Europe’s most delightful small towns, comparable even with Prague. In the 11th century Emperor Heinrich II planned a capital as grand as Rome. Although he did not succeed in size, Bamberg has some wonderful buildings, a superb cathedral and a delightful tangle of lanes and alleys in which to lose yourself during our guided tour.

Day Eight - Nuremberg Inevitably linked with the Nazi parades and War Crimes Trials, what is less known is that it was capital of Germany’s First Reich lasting 1,000 years and was central to trade routes and the Roman Empire’s power.

We have a comprehensive tour discovering all this and the city’s fine imperial buildings, too.

Danube river in Wachau

Day Nine - Regensburg and the Danube One of the world’s most beautiful rivers about which so much legend and sublime music has been justifiably written. Explore Regensburg, arguably Germany’s finest medieval town, originally a Roman garrison guarding the empire’s North West border, now dominated by its fine cathedral and glorious winding streets of the old town.

Day Ten - Passau and Austria Our journey brings us to Passau, our last German town and Bishopric for nearly 2,000 years with a delightful historic centre and a delight to explore. Then cruising into Austria, the river widens now, so just absorb the superb scenery and relax on board.

To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

37

‘‘

Sophisticated Vienna

At the head of the Romantic Road, Würzburg was a seat of the Prince Bishops who created the Residenz, one of Europe’s finest Baroque palaces equalling other masterpieces of the day such as Versailles and Vienna.

‘‘

Day Eleven - Melk, the Wachau Valley and Vienna Melk’s Benedictine Abbey, once a Habsburg Palace is a baroque masterpiece whose library boasts over 80,000 priceless volumes and a host of fabulously furnished rooms. After our tour, lunch is served as we cruise through the Wachau, the most scenic stretch of this stunning river. Mooring in Vienna, this evening on board, a string quartet presents a classical musical recital in celebration of Vienna’s unique musical heritage.

composers. After our guided tour, explore the Hofburg, once a royal palace now home to the Vienna Boys’ Choir, the Spanish Riding School, relics of the Holy Roman Empire, some amazing crown jewels and one of the world’s finest art collections as befits the former Hapsburg capital.

Day Twelve - Vienna

Day Thirteen - Bratislava

Vienna is a city of elegant cafés, aristocratic palaces, imposing cathedrals, ornate architecture and everywhere music of the great

This morning on our guided tour, we explore Slovakia’s fast emerging capital city, Bratislava. Until recently, swathed in the drab uniformity

38

To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

of communism, the city has shrugged off its greyness, rekindling the splendour of its imperial past, so evident in its beautifully restored Baroque old town. This afternoon our cruise reaches another highlight as we navigate the dramatic Danube Bend, one of the most spectacular stretches of this mighty river.

Day Fourteen - Budapest Today we discover Budapest on our guided tour. Fought over for centuries and finally conquered by the Ottomans in the 17th century. Dominated by its castle, Budapest reflects the numerous powers which historically have held sway here. The city is a collage of palatial buildings, many with stunning stained glass. Baroque spas stud the city and across the river you see the magnificent Parliament Building, Budapest’s icon.

Day Fifteen – Return Home Today you are taken to the airport for your return journey.

Deck

Lower

Cabin

Standard

27/04/17 13/07/ 17*

£2,099 £2,499

MS LORD BYRON OR MS JANE AUSTEN Middle

Superior Suite

Standard

£2,199 £2,599

£2,399 £2,799

Lower

Cabin

Suite

Suite

21/05/17 04/06/17, 18/06/17* 02/07/17 15/08/17 15/10/17* 31/10/17*

£2,699 £2,799 £2,699 £2,699 £2,499 £1,499

£2,999 £3,099 £2,999 £2,999 £2,799 £1,799

23/05/17 29/06/17, 21/09/17* 27/07/17*, 10/08/17 15/08/17* 06/10/16*

Superior Suite

Standard

£2,499 £2,899

£2,499 £2,899

Middle

Superior Suite £3,099 £3,199 £3,099 £3,099 £2,899 £1,899

Suite £3,099 £3,199 £3,099 £3,099 £2,899 £1,899

Upper

£2,599 £2,999

MS EMILY BRONTË OR MS THOMAS HARDY

Deck

Deck Cabin

Superior Suite

Superior Suite

MS CHARLES DICKENS OR MS WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Lower Standard £2,299 £2,599 £2,499 £2,499 £2,149

Middle Standard £2,599 £2,899 £2,799 £2,799 £2,449

Standard £2,699 £2,999 £2,899 £2,899 £2,549

Deluxe Suite

£2,549 £2,949

Upper

£3,199 £3,299 £3,199 £3,199 £2,999 £1,999

Superior Stern Suite

Superior Stern Suite £3,149 £3,249 £3,149 £3,149 £2,949 £1,949

Upper

£2,699 £3,099

Deluxe Balcony Suite £3,299 £3,399 £3,299 £3,299 £3,099 £2,099

Deluxe Balcony Suite £2,899 £3,199 £3,099 £3,099 £2,749

The prices below are per person, based on two people sharing and include travel by Eurostar in standard class from London St. Pancras and one way flight from Budapest. Flights are also available from Birmingham, Bristol, Dublin, Edinburgh, Heathrow, Manchester and Stansted and may carry a supplement, please call for details. Dates with an asterisk operate in reverse order*. Call us or visit our website for further information and booking conditions.

SINGLE OCCUPANCY On the lower deck some standard cabins are available at no single supplement, subject to availability. For other cabins, price for sole occupancy is twice the per person rate for the relevant cabin as above’ less £440.

To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

39

The Blue Danube - Vienna, Budapest and Salzburg Eight days from only £1,099pp • Guided tour of Vienna, city of Strauss and home of the Habsburgs • Live classical quartet recital on board • Tour of baroque Bratislava, capital of Slovakia • Cruise through the scenic Wachau, Austria’s premier wine region • Visit to Melk Abbey, central Europe’s most spectacular baroque monastery, and one of its premier academic institutions • Tour of Budapest, Pearl of the Danube

• Visit to medieval Dürnstein where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned on his return from the Crusades • Tour of Salzburg, birthplace of Mozart and one of Austria’s most beautiful cities • Explore Esztergom’s amazing basilica, Hungary’s oldest cathedral • Price includes full-board from dinner on your day of arrival until breakfast on your final day • Services of a cruise director and tour manager

CZECH REPUBLIC S LO VA K IA Durnstein

GERMANY

Linz

4 4

Melk

Natural History Museum, Vienna

40

3

Bratislava

2

5

Salzburg

6 Vienna

Esztergom

AUSTRIA

HUN GA RY

1 Budapest 7

Cruising Coach travel

Breathtaking Bratislava

Day One – Arrival in Budapest Fly to Budapest transferring to your ship moored in historic Budapest which commences cruising upstream late evening.

Day Two - Esztergom Esztergom is the seat of Hungary’s Archbishop and its medieval capital, internationally renowned for its Renaissance basilica, boasting a wealth of gold artefacts and one of the world’s largest altars. Nestling below there are a host of quaint streets and baroque churches, resonating to the sound of choirs. Cruising upstream, Hungary is to our left, Slovakia to our right, with riverbank scenery unchanged from yesteryear.

‘‘

Europe’s most cultured river, inspiration for Strauss and Mozart, classic Vienna and Salzburg. Lean on the ship’s rail with drink in hand and think to yourself, ‘it doesn’t get better than this’.

To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

‘‘

Golden statue of Johann Strauss, Vienna

41

Day Four - Dürnstein and Melk Abbey

Scenic Salzburg

Picturesque Dürnstein is famous for its outstanding ice-blue baroque basilica plus its castle where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned.

Continuing upstream, high above is Melk’s Benedictine abbey. Here we have a guided tour of Austria’s largest ecclesiastical building featuring a monastic school, a 200-metre portrait-lined gallery, beautifully decorated rooms and a huge library displaying medieval books and manuscripts.

Day Five - Salzburg Today we drive to atmospheric Salzburg for a guided tour. Salzburg’s timeless architecture from the medieval to the 18th century is dominated by its huge Hohensalzburg Fortress. Discover the natural beauty of the Mirabell Gardens, but overwhelmingly Salzburg is famous as Mozart’s birthplace. He played the piano at three, wrote music at five and his first opera at fourteen. After a guided tour and free afternoon, we sail to Vienna.

Day Three - Bratislava Today we explore Bratislava on our guided tour, a city which has rediscovered its imperial history so evident in its beautifully restored baroque Old Town and atmospheric 17th century fortress guarding the Danube. We cruise into Lower Austria, peaceful and bucolic and home to some fine wines. Absorb life on the river, children playing on the banks, couples arm in arm, vignerons tending their vines and cobbled quaysides lined by half-timbered buildings.

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Vienna, whose very name provokes images of elegance, fine music, sumptuous baroque palaces, grand boulevards, noble architecture and a rich tapestry of people from all corners of Europe drawn to the city’s magnificent cultural heart.

To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

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Day Six - Vienna Our Vienna tour showcases the seat of the Habsburg emperors, home of the Vienna Boys’ Choir, the Spanish Riding School, the world’s fourth largest art collection and a host of classic architectural gems. Home to the great composers Beethoven, Brahms, and the Strauss family, this evening we enjoy a live classical recital by a string quartet.

Day Seven - Budapest Today we discover Budapest on our guided tour. Fought over for centuries and finally conquered by the Ottomans in the 17th century, leaving their legacy as ‘City of Spas’ ingeniously utilising countless hot springs. Explore Castle Hill with its collection of churches, museums, and atmospheric streets, plus that amazing iconic view of the classic Parliament Building.

Day Eight – Return Home Today you are taken to the airport for your return journey.

MS CHARLES DICKENS OR MS WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Deck Cabin

Lower Standard

06/06/17, 13/06/17, 20/06/17*, 27/06/17, 04/07/17 11/07/17, 18/07/17, 25/07/17, 01/08/17, 08/08/17* 13/07/17, 20/07/17, 24/08/17, 31/08/17 07/09/17, 14/09/17*

Middle Standard

£1,399 £1,299 £1,299 £1,399

£1,699 £1,599 £1,599 £1,699

£1,799 £1,699 £1,699 £1,799

MS EMILY BRONTË OR MS THOMAS HARDY

Deck

Lower

Cabin

Suite

Suite

02/04/17 09/04/17 16/04/17* 23/04/17 30/04/17 07/05/17 14/05/17, 16/07/17*, 23/07/17, 30/07/17 06/08/17, 13/08/17, 20/08/17 27/08/17, 29/08/17, 24/09/17, 26/09/17 03/09/17, 10/09/17, 17/09/17 05/09/17, 12/09/17, 19/09/17 01/10/17, 03/10/17 08/10/17, 10/10/17* 17/10/17 24/10/17

£999 £1,099 £1,199 £1,249 £1,299 £1,349 £1,399 £1,399 £1,449 £1,549 £1,549 £1,399 £1,299 £1,199 £1,099

£1,299 £1,399 £1,499 £1,549 £1,599 £1,649 £1,699 £1,699 £1,749 £1,849 £1,849 £1,699 £1,599 £1,499 £1,399

Deck

Lower

Cabin

Standard

11/05/17 18/05/17*, 25/05/17 01/06/17, 08/06/17 15/06/17, 22/06/17 29/06/17 06/07/17

£1,299 £1,399 £1,449 £1,449 £1,399 £1,299

Middle

Superior Suite £1,399 £1,499 £1,599 £1,649 £1,699 £1,749 £1,799 £1,799 £1,849 £1,949 £1,949 £1,799 £1,699 £1,599 £1,499

Suite £1,399 £1,499 £1,599 £1,649 £1,699 £1,749 £1,799 £1,799 £1,849 £1,949 £1,949 £1,799 £1,699 £1,599 £1,499

Superior Suite £1,499 £1,599 £1,699 £1,749 £1,799 £1,849 £1,899 £1,899 £1,949 £2,049 £2,049 £1,899 £1,799 £1,699 £1,599

MS JANE AUSTEN OR MS LORD BYRON Superior Suite £1,399 £1,499 £1,549 £1,549 £1,499 £1,399

Middle

Standard £1,599 £1,699 £1,749 £1,749 £1,699 £1,599

Superior Suite £1,699 £1,799 £1,849 £1,849 £1,799 £1,699

Standard £1,699 £1,799 £1,849 £1,849 £1,799 £1,699

Upper Deluxe Balcony Suite

Standard

Superior Suite £1,799 £1,899 £1,949 £1,949 £1,899 £1,799

£1,999 £1,899 £1,899 £1,999

Upper

Superior Stern Suite £1,449 £1,549 £1,649 £1,699 £1,749 £1,799 £1,849 £1,849 £1,899 £1,999 £1,999 £1,849 £1,749 £1,649 £1,549

Upper

Superior Stern Suite £1,749 £1,849 £1,899 £1,899 £1,849 £1,749

Deluxe Balcony Suite £1,599 £1,699 £1,799 £1,849 £1,899 £1,949 £1,999 £1,999 £2,049 £2,149 £2,149 £1,999 £1,899 £1,799 £1,699

Deluxe Suite £1,899 £1,999 £2,049 £2,049 £1,999 £1,899

The prices below are per person, based on two people sharing, travelling on return flights from Gatwick. Flights are also available from Birmingham, Bristol, Dublin, Edinburgh, Heathrow, Manchester, Stansted and may carry a supplement, call for details.Dates marked with an asterisk *, a three night extension in Budapest is available. Call us or visit our website for further information and booking conditions.

SINGLE OCCUPANCY On the lower deck some standard cabins are available at no single supplement, subject to availability. For other cabins, price for sole occupancy is twice the per person rate for the relevant cabin as above, less £380

To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

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Our other European river cruises

The Douro, Oporto and Salamanca

Medieval Germany, the Main to the Danube

The Seine, Paris and Normandy

Amsterdam, Volendam and the Dutch Bulbfields

Probably Europe’s most undiscovered river in one of its most unpoilt corners.

Eight days from £1,399pp

The undeniable charms of medieval Germany with its wealth of picturesque towns and villages.

Eight days from £1,199pp

A wonderfully scenic cruise along the beautiful and majestic Seine into one of the most historic and picturesque regions.

Eight days from only £1,299pp

• Visit to Mainz, capital of the Rhineland and once home to Gutenberg • See the attractive medieval towns of Wertheim & Miltenberg • Enjoy a guided tour of elegant Würzburg • Guided tour of medieval Bamberg, one of Europe’s most beautiful small cities • Tour of Nuremberg, steeped in modern and ancient history • Visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Regensburg

• Guided tour of historic Rouen • Visit to Claude Monet’s house and beautiful garden • Explore Vernon, one of Normandy’s most picturesque towns • Guided tour of Paris • See the Bayeux Tapestry • Tour the D-Day Normandy Beaches • Stop in Les Andelys, village of half timbered houses and twisted alleys • Visit to delightful Honfleur, one of Normandy’s most alluring fishing ports • Cruise through the delightful Seine Valley • Visit Chateau Gaillard, Richard the Lionheart’s huge castle

The bulbfields kaleidoscope of colour, plus a vivid portrait of medieval Flanders with its amazing art and traditions, chocolate and artisanal beer, so near and so different.

Five days from only £899pp

• Guided tour of Oporto with visit to port wine cellars • Tour to the castle and the medieval village of Castelo Rodrigo • Traditional music recital with dance display • Guided tour of Mateus Palace and gardens • Experience dinner at a typical Portuguese quinta • Visit to the picturesque town of Lamego and its Sanctuary of Our Ladies of Remedy church • Full day excursion to Salamanca, with lunch and Flamenco show

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• Canal tour of Amsterdam, a city both vibrant and serene, with world-class art, picturesque canals and some of the world’s most beautiful diamonds • Guided tour of Keukenhof Park, the stunning setting for the bulbfields and arguably the world’s finest floral display • See six centuries of history in Volendam and Holland throughout the ages • Visit to Enkhuizen, 17th century port of the Zuiderzee

To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

Asian River Cruises – Mekong and Ganges

Voyages of a lifetime

by Tall Ship

A Journey on the Mekong aboard the RV Mekong Prestige II plus Phnom Penh, Saigon and the Temples of Angkor 15 days from only £ 2,799pp The Mekong River flows through the heart of South East Asia. Our journey along this amazing natural marvel explores its fascinating waterborne worlds, from floating villages, stilt houses and colourful floating markets.

A Journey on the Ganges aboard the RV Bengal Ganga plus Delhi , Taj Mahal, Calcutta & Varanasi 17 days from only £3,099pp The Ganges, a name redolent of Indian exoticism and spirituality is a river all of us know but very few have actually discovered – until now. Explore this extraordinary river on a superb and fascinating journey.

The Royal Clipper – A Mediterranean Odyssey Venice – Rovinj – Hvar – Dubrovnik - Kotor – Corfu – Taormina - Stromboli – Sorrento/Capri – Rome 13 days from only £2,699 Just imagine this - gentle waves rhythmically lapping against a wind-driven hull, the smell of the salty spray on the freshening breeze, the huge sails majestically towering above, reflecting the dazzling sun glinting on the clear, azure waters before you.

Nothing beats the romance of being at sea on a true Tall Ship so we welcome you to come with us aboard the magnificent SPV Royal Clipper, where ultimate relaxation and pampering in the utmost luxury await you.

To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

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Riviera Travel escorted tours – explore the sights, the sounds and the stories of the world’s most fascinating destinations

T

here is, quite simply, no more thrilling, more fascinating, more uncomplicated way to explore the world’s great sights than on a Riviera Travel escorted tour.

You’ll be led by expert local guides, who’ll show you not just the highlights, but also the hidden gems many tourists never see.

You’ll hear the stories that enrich your memories of each and every destination.

Every last, crucial detail of your journey will have been planned to perfection by our team of travel enthusiasts. No wonder so many of our customers come back for more, year after year.

A distinctive mask of the Venetian Carnival tradition

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To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

Historic Mostar, Croatia

Palace of the Winds, India

With dramatic, iconic, exotic destinations awaiting you all over the world… …you’ll see more, discover more and enjoy more, led by our passionate travel experts.

Beautiful Bruges

To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

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There’s a whole world to discover with Riviera Travel

Paris by Eurostar

Bruges by Eurostar

Comprehensive tour of Paris, including Paris by night. Visits to Versailles and Montmartre.

Four days from only £249pp

Guided walking tour of historic Bruges, plus visits to a traditional chocolatier and thought-provoking Ypres.

Four days from only £199pp

Berlin, Dresden, Meissen and Colditz

Classical Spain

Guided tour of Berlin, home to the Reichstag and Check Point Charlie plus tour of Dresden and visit to Colditz.

Five days from only £539pp

Experience unspoiled Andalucia, guided tours of Seville and Granada’s Alhambra, visit to Cordoba.

Seven days from only £539pp

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To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

from short breaks in European destinations

Lake Como Visit St Moritz, Lake Maggiore and Bergamo and travel on the stunning Bernina Express alpine railway journey.

Eight days from £849pp

Pompeii, Capri and the Bay of Naples

Lake Garda, Venice and Verona

Walking tour of Sorrento, cruise to Capri, visit to Vesuvius and guided tour of Naples and Pompeii.

Eight days from only £699pp

Tour of beautiful Lake Garda - Italy’s largest lake and guided sightseeing tours of Verona and Venice.

Eight days from only £619pp

To secure your 2017 river cruise today – contact your local agent

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Or explore more faraway places

Undiscovered Provence Tour of colourful Cassis, guided walking tour of Aix-en-Provence, visit to Avignon and tour of the Lubron Hills.

Eight days from only £899pp

New Zealand Dubrovnik, the Dalmatian Coast and Montenegro Tour of Dubrovnik, visits to Krka National Park, Mostar, Montenegro, Split and Trogir.

Eight days from only £849pp

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Tour of Auckland, walking tour of Napier, visit to the ‘Sunshine City’ Nelson, wine-tasting in Marlborough. Visit to Christchurch, TranzAlpine train journey, helicopter flight around Franz Josef glacier and cruise Milford Sound.

22 days from only £3,999pp

To secure your Secure 2017your river2016 cruise or today 2017 River – contact Cruise your today local agent

South Africa

Vietnam and Cambodia

Full-day guided safari, Rorke’s Drift, Whale-watching at Hermanus, wine-tasting at Western Cape’s winelands plus Cape Town.

16 days from only £1,799pp

Stay and tour Phnom Penh, Angkor, tour of Hanoi, cruise aboard a Chinese junk in Halong Bay and stay in Saigon.

16 days from £1,999pp

India plus Shimla

California and the Golden West

Old and New Delhi, the Taj Mahal, Jaipur, Amber Fort plus the famous Shimla railway.

11 days from £1,399pp 15 days from £1,799pp

Stay in San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Visit the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Yosemite.

15 days from only £1,799pp

Call Toour secure team your on 01283 2017 river 744 386 cruise or visit todaywww.riviera – contact your travel.co.uk local agent

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Call RiverCruising.co.uk on 0800 810 8220 Visit us online: www.rivercruising.co.uk Visit the shop: 298 Highfield Road, Blackpool. FY4 3JU.

ABTA Number V4744

RiverCruising.co.uk THE RIVER CRUISE EXPERTS