ItalyTourTravel

Windmills and Castles on the Rhine

Amsterdam, Volendam, Arnhem, Cologne, Koblenz, Rüdesheim,
Heidelberg, Speyer, and Strasbourg

You Get More With Us!

Our Classic Rhine Cruise 9 Days from $1,999 See More of Holland 11 Days from $2,399 Head for Paris 11 Days from $2,599

IT'S INCLUDED!

• Amsterdam, Volendam, Arnhem, Cologne, Koblenz, Rudesheim, Heidelberg, Speyer and Strasbourg

Transportation

• Round trip trans-Atlantic airfare and all transfers and luggage handling whenever you arrive and depart

Accommodations

• 7 nights in an outside cabin aboard the Deluxe MS River Princess cruise ship

Meals

• Daily buffet breakfast (B), 6 lunches (L), and 7 dinners (D) including a Welcome dinner

Cruise-Tour Highlights

• Services of professional local guides and cruise directors
• Included tours in Amsterdam, Arnhem, Cologne, Rudesheim, Heidelberg, and Strasbourg
• Visit Arnhem's Kroller-Muller Museum, known for its collection of Vincent van Gogh paintings
• Visit Sigfried's remarkable Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum in Rudesheim
• Explore romantic Heidelberg - the city of the Student Prince
• Visit Strasbourg's charming old town known as Le Petite France
• Travel bag, document folder and luggage tags, all delivered by FedEx delivery service
• GeneralAssist, a network of toll-free 24 hour-a- day emergency on-tour assistance

Three Ways to See Windmills and Castles

Our Classic Rhine Cruise 9 Days

Day 1 - Depart USA
Today we travel to Amsterdam, Holland on an overnight flight.

Day 2 - Arrive Amsterdam, Holland
After arriving in this charming capital city, we transfer to our ship docked in the city. We settle into our cabins on board our Deluxe river cruise ship and join the officers and fellow passengers for a Welcome cocktail and dinner party. (D)

Day 3 - Cruising / Visit Volendam
This morning you'll see many of Amsterdam's highlights and pass gabled canal-side houses and shops as you enjoy an included canal boat sightseeing tour. Our ship sails through Holland's beautiful windmill country, and visit Volendam, a delightfully preserved fishing village. You have time to explore this charming place on your own before we continue to Arnhem. (B,L,D)

Day 4 - Cruising / Tour Arnhem's Kroller-Muller Museum
In the morning our cruise through the idyllic Dutch countryside arrives in Arnhem with its rich forests, fabulous 15th-century architecture and lovely parks. This town is remembered for the eight-day September 1944 battle that bears its name and for its prestigious Kroller-Muller Museum located in Hoge Veluwe National Park. The museum displays 278 van Goghs and the works of Picasso and Mondrian. 2003 is an especially exciting year to visit the museum with special exhibits and events celebrating the 150th birthday of van Gogh. Upon returning to the ship, we sail for Germany. (B,L,D)

Day 5 - Cruising / Visit Cologne, Germany
This morning we arrive in Cologne, a city with a rich history of culture and trade, and dock in the center by the famous Gothic Cathedral. We tour the city and see the spectacular CathedralU that is famous for its beautiful lace-like carved stone spires. By afternoon we are back on the river cruising to the tiny town of Koblenz where the MS River Princess anchors for the night. After dinner, you can explore the city's lovely old town, which is only minutes away from the ship. (B,L,D)

Day 6 - Cruising / Lorelei Rock / Visit the Wine Village of Rudesheim
Everyone listens for the siren's song as we cruise past the legendary Lorelei Rock today. Whether we hear the music or not, just sailing through this pretty area of the Rhine is rewarding as we pass villages, vineyards and castles. In the early afternoon, we'll arrive in the tiny wine village of Rudesheim and enjoy a tour of the town including the unique Sigfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. On our return to the ship, we'll walk along the Drosselgasse, a small street that is home to scores of wine taverns, half-timbered houses and elaborately-carved wine casks. Tonight, we enjoy dinner onboard. (B,L,D)

Day 7 - Cruising / Heidelberg & Speyer Tour
Today we continue cruising south to Worms. We leave the ship and head for the city of the Student Prince - romantic Heidelberg. On a city tour we see the Holy Ghost Church, the University and the delightful Heidelberg Castle, with the largest wine cask in the world. The views from the castle are magnificent - the flowing Neckar, the Old Bridge and the winding streets of the town below. We next drive to Speyer, a historic city dominated by the largest Romanesque church in Europe and coronation site of Holy Roman Emperors, and rejoin the ship. (B,L,D)

Day 8 - Cruising / Strasbourg, France
This morning our Rhine cruise takes us from Germany to Strasbourg, the capital of the French province of Alsace. After arriving in Strasbourg, we enjoy a city tour and see Strasbourg's cathedral, mansard-roofed buildings in Louis XV style and an old section of town known as La Petite France with its half-timbered houses on canals. During our Farewell Dinner, we set sail for Switzerland. (B,L,D)

Day 9 - Arrive Basel, Switzerland / Return to USA
We arrive in Basel this morning. After breakfast, disembark and transfer to the airport for our return home. (B)

2 New Ways to See Windmills and Castles

See More Of Holland 11 Days

Day 1 - Depart USA
Today we travel to AmsterdamU, Holland onan overnight flight.

Day 2 - Arrive Amsterdam, Holland
After arriving in this charming city, we transfer to our Deluxe Renaissance Hotel situated in the heart of the city.

Day 3 - Amsterdam / See More of Holland
You have a choice of activities included today: a morning tour to the Windmills and Edam or an afternoon excursion to The Hague, Delft and Madurodam. The Windmills and Edam tour visits De Zaanse Schansm, a small 40-house community on the banks of the river Zaan. Houses are made of green timber, steep roofs and white windows. You'll visit the interior of a windmill and a wooden shoe factory - as well as the town of Edam - before returning to Amsterdam. The Hague, Delft & Madurodam excursion travels first to Delft to visit the "Delft Blue" pottery factory. Next, you'll head to The Hague, seat of Dutch government, and enjoy a city tour. You also visit the miniature town of Madurodam before you return to Amsterdam. (B)

Day 4 - Amsterdam / Embark MS River Princess
The morning is free for you to explore the surprising sights and unexpected delights of Amsterdam. Perhaps pay a visit to the Van Gogh Museum - home for the Netherlands' collection of more than 1,400 paintings, drawings and letters by Vincent van Gogh - and see special exhibits and events celebrating the 150th birthday of van Gogh. In the late afternoon, we transfer to our ship, the MS River Princess - which is conveniently docked near the center of the city . After embarkation, we settle into our cabins on board our Deluxe river cruise ship and join the officers and fellow passengers for a Welcome cocktail and dinner party. (B,D)

Days 5 - Day 11
Continue on our Classic Rhine Cruise.

Head for Paris 11 Days

Days 1 - 7 Begin with Our Classic Rhine Cruise

Day 8 - Cruising / Disembark in Strasbourg, France
This morning our Rhine cruise takes us from Germany to Strasbourg, the capital of the French province of Alsace. After arriving in Strasbourg, we'll disembark and transfer to our Deluxe Hilton Hotel. The rest of the day is free to explore Strasbourg's cathedral, mansard-roofed buildings in Louis XV style and an old section of town known as La Petite France with its half-timbered houses on canals.(B)

Day 9 - Strasbourg / Paris by Train
Today, we transfer to the train station and board our First Class rail service to ParisU. Once in Paris, you'll enjoy an included transfer to your Superior First Class hotel Etoile Saint-Honore and have the rest of the day at leisure. (B)

Day 10 - Explore Paris
Today, your Paris city tour allows you to see the city's highlights at your own pace, including the Arc de Triomphe, Place de la Concorde, Champs Elys‚es, Sacre Coeur and the Eiffel Tower. The afternoon and evening are free. (B)

Day 11 - Return to USA
Today you'll transfer to the airport and fly home. (B)

MS River Princess
The MS River Princess is one of the newest Deluxe
river ships sailing the rivers of Europe. Put into service
in 2001, the exterior has a sleek, modern design while
the interior features the highest level of comfort possible on a river cruise ship. The 69 spacious outside cabins
are beautifully furnished with a cozy seating area and two comfortable chairs in front of a window. All cabins offer plenty of closet space, telephone, and TV, as well as onboard information. Each cabin is air conditioned
with individual temperature controls. Onboard you will also find laundry facilities, a beauty salon, a spa with sauna, a boutique, a main lounge and two smaller lounges including an elegant club-like reading room with a bar. The restaurant serves Continental cuisine at one seating. All services and excursions are conducted in English only.

9 to 11 Days From $1,999 Including Airfare

Depart   Return Itinerary Air Inclusive Cruise Only/Land Only 2003 Classic Rhine 9 Days     Cruise Only May 10 May 18 B 2399 1698 Jun 14 Jun 22 B 2499 1798 Jul 12 Jul 20 A 2699 1798 Jul 19 Jul 27 B 2699 1798 Aug 16 Aug 24 A 2699 1798 Aug 23 Aug 31 B 2699 1798 Sep 20 Sep 28 A 2599 1898 Sep 27 Oct 05 B 2499 1798 Oct 25 Nov 02 A 2299 1598 Nov 01 Nov 09 B 1999 1498 More of Holland 11 Day     Land Only May 10 May 20 B 2699 2149 Jun 14 Jun 24 B 2799 2249 Jul 10 Jul 20 A 2899 2249 Jul 19 Jul 29 B 2899 2249 Aug 14 Aug 24 A 2899 2249 Aug 23 Sep 02 B 2999 2249 Sep 18 Sep 28 A 2899 2299 Sep 27 Oct 07 B 2799 2249 Oct 23 Nov 02 A 2599 2049 Nov 01 Nov 11 B 2399 1949 Head for Paris 11 Days     Land Only May 08 May 18 B 2799 2349 Jun 12 Jun 22 B 2899 2449 Jul 12 Jul 22 A 3199 2449 Jul 17 Jul 27 B 3199 2449 Aug 16 Aug 26 A 3199 2449 Aug 21 Aug 31 B 3299 2499 Sep 20 Sep 30 A 2999 2499 Sep 25 Oct 05 B 2899 2449 Oct 25 Nov 04 A 2699 2249 Oct 30 Nov 09 B 2599 2149

Port charges of $69 per person are not included.

Our Classic Rhine CruiseItinerary B operates in reverse, from Basel to Amsterdam. Air inclusive rates feature round trip flights from New York. For low cost add-ons from other cities, please call us. Rates are per person, double occupancy based on Category 4, Mosselle Deck (154 sq. ft) and include cruise and air arrangements. A charge of $120 per person covering U.S. Departure Tax, Customs, Federal Inspection Fees and other costs imposed by airlines and the Government is not
included. Any applicable foreign departure taxes are not included. Cruise only - embarkation Basel/disembarkation Amsterdam - does not include transfers. Sep 27, Oct 25, Nov 1 departures are Wine Theme Cruises.

See More of Holland Itinerary B operates in reverse, from Basel to Amsterdam. Air inclusive rates feature round trip flights from New York. For low cost add-ons from other cities, please call us. Rates are per person, double occupancy based on Category 4, Mosselle Deck (154 sq. ft) and include cruise, land and air arrangements. A charge of $120 per person covering U.S. Departure Tax, Customs, Federal Inspection Fees and other costs imposed by airlines and the Government is not included. Any applicable foreign departure taxes are not included.

Head for ParisItinerary B operates in reverse, from Paris to Amsterdam. Air inclusive rates feature round trip flights from New York. For low cost add-ons from other cities, please call us. Rates are per person, double occupancy based on Category
4, Mosselle Deck (154 sq. ft) and include cruise, land and air arrangements. A charge of $120 per person covering U.S. Departure Tax, Customs, Federal Inspection Fees and other costs imposed by airlines and the Government is not included.
Any applicable foreign departure taxes are not included.