European River Classic Cruise

We depart New Zealand bound for Hungary, with a one night stopover en-route to assist you in arriving in the best condition possible to begin our adventure, and the start of our wonderful journey along the waterways of the Danube, Main and Rhine Rivers of Europe.

two nights Budapest

Day 3 On arrival we’ll be met and taken straight to our perfectly positioned hotel with a commanding view over the Danube river to Parliament beyond. This will be our base from which we’ll uncover many of the wonderful sights of this great city over the following days.

Day 4 We begin the day with an orientation tour of the city featuring a visit to the highest point in Buda on the Danube, Gellert Hill named after Bishop Gellert, sent to convert Hungarians to Christianity in the 11th Century. As well as other points of interest such as Chain Bridge. We’ll have a browse through the impressive Central Market and wander some of the intricate streets of the ‘Pest’ side.

Day 5 A short drive through some beautiful Hungarian countryside takes us to the picturesque town of Szentendre, with its cobbled streets and quaint little shops, brightly coloured merchant houses encircling the main square and numerous Churches and Galleries to satisfy the most demanding historians amongst us. We’ve allowed plenty of time to wander at your leisure and have some lunch before we make our way back to the city to join our magnificent ship the Avalon Impression, resting gracefully on the Danube. Tonight we enjoy a Gala Welcome reception with the crew and fellow passengers.

Avalon Impression is a modern, elegantly appointed Suite Ship. All rooms on our tour are spacious Panorama Suites, over 30% larger than the industry standard, and featuring wall-to-wall, floor to ceiling sliding doors that create a private open-air balcony. All meals are included, with complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks served with both lunch and dinner, plus guided sightseeing with certified local guides at every port of call. When not exploring ashore, guests can enjoy Avalon Impressions onboard amenities including spacious lounges, a well stocked bar, whirlpool, fitness centre, hair salon and a Sky Deck with occasional alfresco dining — all designed to cater for a maximum of just 166 guests. Our glorious floating resort for the next two weeks.

Day 6 A day at leisure. Our ship is moored centrally along the Danube so it’s an easy walk to shop or explore more of the charm of Pest before we sail away this evening.

Day 7 During the night the ship slips away from Budapest and continues to Slovakia. We enjoy a guided morning tour of Bratislava which includes the 13th century castle and breath-taking views overlooking three countries- Slovakia, Austria and Hungary. The afternoon is free to shop or explore on your own. An eventful day is followed by an evening filled with an enchanting musical performance onboard.

We arrive after breakfast and have the opportunity to enjoy the captivating baroque elegance of romantic Vienna, once the centre of the mighty Habsburg Empire. Our guided sightseeing includes the lavish Hofburg Palace, the impressive Vienna Opera House, the majestic Ringstrasse and Imposing St Stephen’s Cathedral. This afternoon why not stroll along Karntnerstrasse and sample Vienna’s famous pastries. Tonight there’s the opportunity to experience a Royal Waltz concert as an optional excursion.

Early this morning we reach the Wachau Valley. We stop in Dürnstein and marvel at the magnificent blue façade of the baroque Stiftskirche. Above the town you’ll spot the ruins of the castle where Richard the Lionheart, (King of England) was imprisoned in 1192. We continue on a short cruise to Melk where a guided tour takes us to the town’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey, one of Europe’s largest baroque monasteries. An evening of wine tasting is one of the highlights of our visit to the Wachau Valley, we then continue to Passau.

At the confluence of the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers, local guides will show us all the charm of the City of Three Rivers. For lovers of pipe organs visit St Stephens Cathedral, whose organ boasts an astonishing 17,000 pipes! There’s also an opportunity to take an optional excursion to fascinating Salzburg or the Bohemian Czech republic town of Cesky Krumlov.

This morning we arrive at Regensburg, one of Germany’s best preserved medieval cities. Our day includes a guided tour featuring the Town Hall and the Porta Pretoria – gates to the ancient Roman fort built in 179AD. Cross the historic Steinerne Brucke (stone Bridge) and wander the streets of the Aldstadt with its carefully preserved houses, some dating back to the 13th Century, and enjoy Regensburg at a leisurely pace.

Today we enter the Main-Danube Canal and cruise through the beautiful Altmulh Valley. The Main-Danube Canal straddles the Franconian Alps via 16 locks, truly a fascinating feat of modern engineering. You have the opportunity to attend an onboard lecture describing the incredibleprocess creating this man-made canal. Included tours feature the historic Nuremberg Rally Grounds – used by the Third Reich, or perhaps Nurembergs medieval architecture is more your scene. Tonight, there’s something completely different in store – it’s Famous German Beer sampling time!

In Bamberg we take a walking tour of this enchanting medieval town which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. The Old Town Hall that straddles the river is one of the main features of Bamberg. The city’s charm extends to its twisting streets with quaint houses and some more elaborate 18th century mansions. Our cruising continues along the Main River.

Enjoy a relaxed morning cruising before our arrival in Würzburg, the capital of Lower Franconia. ‘The Pearl of the Romantic Road’ is surrounded by sloping hills covered with vineyards, teasing us as we glide by. During our morning tour we’ll visit major sights of interest including the expansive Bishops Residenz, and who knows, we may just get to sample some of those local wines at dinner tonight on the ship.

Miltenberg is a picturesque Bavarian village located on the Main River. Today the feel is very much medieval and the beautifully timber framed and gabled houses are abundant, due largely to legislation granting residents free construction timber from communally owned forests. Perhaps you might like to join the adventure host and maybe some other members of our group and discover Miltenberg by bike!

Today we arrive in the unique wine village of Rüdesheim where we get to sample a local delicacy, the authentic Rudesheimer Coffee, a taste sensation. You’ll also have an opportunity to visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum, one of the highlights of previous cruise- tours. You can also take a Gondola up the gently sloping hills over fields of maturing grapevines and return the same way, or enjoy an energetic walk back down to the river, and our cruise boat . In the afternoon we travel along arguably the most beautiful and famous section of the Rhine, passing many castles and fertile fields, and also the legendary Lorelei Rock.

This morning we arrive in Cologne. Immediately you will be awed by the city’s fabled 13th century Gothic Cathedral, taking over 600 years to complete with its soaring twin spires puncturing the skyline. Boasting over 42 museums and 120 galleries you can be sure to find something of interest if history’s your thing, but if shopping’s more your cup of tea, take a stroll along Schildergasse, Germany’s most visited shopping street.

There are two significant claims to fame in Cologne. The fragrance world owes its gratitude for the origins of ‘Eau de Cologne’ (water of Cologne) and Kolsch; a very well-known specialty beer is brewed here under strictly defined guidelines. Perhaps you’ll buy a little of both today.

two nights Amsterdam

Day 18 Enjoying our last morning of leisurely cruising we arrive in Amsterdam to an abundance of activities and sights on offer. Admire the wonderful architecture of this vibrant city during a guided Canal Cruise, sailing in a glass–top boat past beautiful 16th century merchant houses and 17th century homes. You may prefer to peruse the works of the masters at the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh, perhaps a quick ‘just looking’ stroll along the Rossebuurt which oozes charm by day and a slightly different appeal at night. Tonight we toast the cruise with a farewell dinner with our crew and fellow guests, before disembarking in the morning.

Day 19 Our local guide will meet us at our hotel this morning for an orientation walking tour of the highlights of Amsterdam. Some sights you may be familiar with already but some others not so, such as the incredible ‘Our Lord in the Attic’ museum. Following this is free time for you to pursue personal passions.

Day 20 At leisure. Free to explore Amsterdam. Your tour leader will be on hand to assist you with any activities you wish to see, or you’re welcome to join them to discover some local sights. There’s an optional tour through Anne Frank’s house in central Amsterdam. See where Anne and her family lived and remained hidden from the Nazi’s for more than 2 years before their eventual discovery. A poignant and moving experience that must be booked in advance if you wish to see it.

three nights Bruges

Day 21 This morning after breakfast, we begin our scenic drive south, with a stop at arguably one of the worlds’ most celebrated museums of automotive history, The Louwman Museum, housing a collection of over 275 automobiles and other fascinating memorabilia, tracing the evolution of the automobile over more than 130years. We then continue our journey to one of the loveliest towns in Belgium. If you’ve seen the 2008 black comedy movie ‘In Bruges’ many sights will look familiar to you.

Day 22 This morning our local guide takes us on an orientation tour of the city. We’ll see the renowned Holy Blood Basilica, celebrated for purporting to hold a vial of Christ’s blood. We’ll also walk through the vibrant hub of Bruges, better known as Markt, and see the very stately Town Hall (Stadhuis) one of the oldest in Belgium. We’ll see Bruges from a completely different perspective when we take you on a canal cruise showcasing some of the many wonderful buildings of Bruges accompanied by the skipper’s knowledgeable and often humorous narration.

Day 23 Our centrally located hotel acts as the perfect base for you to roam at your leisure today. There are undoubtedly place you’ve seen that you wish to spend more time in and today is the day to do just that. For some the call of the many fascinating shops and boutiques will be too much to resist, while others might enjoy a combination of history, shopping museums, art galleries and a multitude of fabulous chocolatiers. Being close to many historic battlefield sites, if demand dictates, we may be able to arrange for a mini tour of some of the more notable ones today. Let us know if this is something that interests you.

After a leisurely morning we’ll be met by our coach and transferred to Brussels airport to begin our flights homeward. We’ll stop for a night en-route to rest your head and enable you to walk around and get some fresh air for a day, before the final flight into New Zealand.