Rome to Budapest Tour & Jewels of Europe River Cruise
(29 days, Rome - Amsterdam, 2012)
Your wonderful 29 day holiday begins in the vibrant city of Rome where you will spend 2 days exploring the fascinating Italian capital, including visits to the iconic Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain and Piazza Navona. You will also enjoy a sightseeing tour of the Vatican City and enter the world’s largest church, St. Peter’s Basilica, before continuing to the mighty Colosseum opened in 80 AD.
From Rome you will travel south to Sorrento, the gateway to the Amalfi Coast, stopping en route at the incredible site of Pompeii, which lay buried under tonnes of ash following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Once you arrive in Sorrento you will take a small trip across the gulf to the Isle of Capri, where you will have the chance to visit the incredibly beautiful Blue Grotto. Next you will travel up through central Italy through Perugia to Florence, stopping along the way in the exquisite medieval city of Siena, a World Heritage-listed site. Once in Florence, you will visit the Academy of Fine Arts to admire Michelangelo’s iconic statue of David, before visiting the imposing Duomo with its spectacular exterior of marble panels.
Continuing your Italian journey, you will travel to the wonderful Cinque Terre region on a rugged stretch of the Italian Riviera. Composed of five villages, you will spend the day exploring them all. You’ll walk from Manarola along Via dell’Amore, the ‘lover’s pathway’, to Riomaggiore. You’ll enjoy both a boat and train ride to discover Vernazza, Corniglia and Monterosso al mare. Next you’ll visit the famous Santa Margherita in the heart of the Italian Riviera before travelling to Verona, the home of Romeo and Juliet. You will spend the day with a local guide visiting the amazingly intact Roman arena and Juliet’s balcony before continuing your travels to the magnificent Venice, the most unique city in the world.
From Venice you will travel to Slovenia, arriving in its capital Ljubljana, which means ‘much loved’, for a sightseeing tour including the Opera House and St. Nicholas Cathedral. Next you will head to the stunning setting of Lake Bled and absorb the culture of the Croatian capital of Zagreb before travelling to Budapest to begin your Jewels of Europe river cruise.
In Budapest, you will explore the city on a guided tour, whilst the highlight of your Austrian leg will be a once-in-a-lifetime private Viennese concert at the majestic Palais Liechtenstein, featuring the music of Strauss and Mozart. Your cruise will then continue to Germany through Regensburg, Nuremberg, Bamberg and Würzburg as well as the spectacular Rhine Gorge with its stunning castle and vine-covered slopes as the stunning backdrop.
In historic Cologne you will explore the Old Town and enjoy a private medieval banquet in Marksburg Castle. Finally you will make your way to The Netherlands, where you will have the chance to explore Amsterdam’s picturesque canals or witness the once-in-a-decade 2012 Floriade in Venlo.
- 22% more space onboard
- Portobello’s fine dining – one of 3 dining venues
- Relax in our 3 viewing areas
- Experienced Cruise Director
- ALL meals including breakfast, lunch and dinner daily included on cruise
- Coffee, premium teas, espresso drinks and hot chocolate
- Beer, wine and soft drink with lunch and dinner
- Wonderful local entertainment
- Airport transfers
- Spacious full size balcony suites
- Complimentary bicycles
- Whisper Headset for all Guided tours
- Exclusive private butler service on all Danube Deck cabins
- ALL TIPPING and GRATUITIES INCLUDED
- Dine at the family owned and run Francischiello’s restaurant overlooking the Bay of Naples Sorrento
- Learn how to make wine and oil at a Tuscan farmhouse near San Gimignano
- Visit by foot, boat and train the five famous fishing villages that make up the Cinque Terre
- Enjoy a romantic gondola serenade in Venice
- Journey by traditional ‘Pletna’ wooden boat across the waters of Lake Bled to the famous island
- Enjoy coffee and cake at Villa Bled, President Tito’s former residence where he entertained heads of State
- At the majestic Palais Liechtenstein, enjoy a private Viennese evening concert featuring the music of Strauss and Mozart
- Scenic Village Cultural Experience: Interact with the locals and experience daily life in a German village followed by home-grown entertainment and specialised cuisine exclusive to Scenic Tours
- Enjoy an exclusive organ recital during a guided tour to Melk Benedictine Abbey
- Private tour and Medieval Banquet dinner at Marksburg Castle
- Take an audio guided tour of the sights to explore Budapest, Vienna, Regensburg, Bamberg, Cologne and Amsterdam at your leisure
- Sightsee around Capri or visit the Blue Grotto
- Tour the Uffizi Gallery in Florence or see the Leaning Tower of Pisa
- Lagoon cruise or visit the Guggenheim Museum in Venice
- In Budapest relax at the Thermal Bath & Spa; or explore the lime stone caves of Labyrinth; or a Liszt Classical music experience
- In Vienna tour Schönbrunn Palace; or see the key sights of Bratislava; or the Spanish Riding School for a guided tour or to watch the horses exercise
- Enjoy the sights of Passau; or excursion to Salzburg; or excursion to Cesky Krumlov
- Learn about Nuremberg’s past and present; or Relive history on a WWII dedicated tour; or a self-guided bike tour
- A walking tour of Würzburg including a private wine tasting; or journey down the Romantic Road to Rothenburg
- Enjoy a canal cruise in Amsterdam; or a guided bicycle tour; or take an excursion to Zaanse Schans and Edam; or visit Venlo to witness the 2012 Floriade spectacle
- 64 Superb Meals including 28 Full Breakfasts - hot and cold buffet selections (FB), 1 Highlight Lunch - two course table d’hôte (HL), 14 Lunches - buffet and daily à la carte selections (L), 5 Highlight Dinners - three course table d’hôte (HD) and 16 Dinners - three to four course table d’hôte (D)
- The Westin Excelsior has played host to celebrities, statesmen and artisits since 1906 and is located in the heart of Rome
- The Hotel Danieli was originally a 14th century palace of Doge Dandolo’s family, today the Grand Canal location and opulence of the former palace is ours to enjoy
- Dating back to 1925, The Regent Esplanade Zagreb is one of the most famous and gracious buildings in Zagreb and is famed for its impeccably high standards of service
- Enjoy a guided visit to the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, St. Peter’s Square and the Colosseum in Rome
- Visit Pompeii and see the ruins of this wealthy Roman town buried under ash for nearly 2,000 years
- Enjoy a guided tour of Siena to see the Torre della Mangia and visit the famous Piazza del Campo
- Take a guided tour of Florence and visit the Duomo
- Cruise the Ligurian coast and visit San Fruttuoso en-route to Portofino
- Take a guided walking tour of Verona and visit the Roman arena before seeing Juliet’s balcony
- Enjoy a guided tour of Venice including visits to the Doges’ Palace and St.Mark’s Basilica
- Visit the Karst Caves at Postojna and travel by mini-train underground
- Enjoy a guided tour of Ljubjana including the sights of the Opera House, National Museum and St Nicholas Cathedral
- Welcome Reception and Captain’s Dinner in Budapest
- Guided sightseeing tour of Vienna including Ringstrasse
- Guided sightseeing in Bamberg
- In Rüdesheim visit Siegfried’s Musical Museum
- Captain’s Farewell Dinner in Amsterdam
- Luxury 40 seat coach
- Small group touring experience
- Professional Tour Director
- Whisper Headsets for all walking tours
- All Tipping, Gratuities and Porterage Included
Two Night Special Stay: Rome
Two Night Special Stay: Sorrento
We make the short hydrofoil trip across the gulf of Sorrento to Capri. Today choose from one of the following Included SCENIC FREE CHOICE tours: (1) a funicular ride to Capri town for a journey around the island; or (2) visit the Blue Grotto, followed by a funicular ride to Capri town. Once back, there is time at leisure to explore the town.
Overnight Stay: Perugia
We drive past tranquil Lake Trasimeno to Siena, a delightful medieval city and UNESCO World Heritage site. Our local guide will show us the Torre della Mangia, the large bell tower overlooking the Piazza del Campo – a sloping amphitheatre of a square surrounded by cafés and bars. We continue on to San Gimignano, famous for its 14 towers. SCENIC ENRICH We visit a Tuscan farmhouse where we will be shown the cantina and learn the techniques of wine and oil production used in the area. A typical rustic lunch will feature the local produce and wines. Our Included orientation tour of San Gimignano will feature the main square, dominated by the Communal Palace and the Duomo. There is leisure time to wander the quiet streets before continuing to Florence and our centrally located hotel.
Two Night Special Stay: Florence
Today we enjoy an Included guided walking tour of Florence, starting at the Academy of Fine Arts, to admire Michelangelo’s David. We then visit the Duomo with its spectacular exterior of marble panels. The immediate vicinity features Giotto’s Belltower, Brunelleschi’s Dome and Ghiberti’s ‘Gates of Paradise’. A walk onto the stunning Ponte Vecchio and through Piazza della Signoria will take us back to the historic centre. Choose from one of the Included SCENIC FREE CHOICES: (1) a guided tour of the Uffizi Gallery featuring works by the Italian masters; or (2) enjoy an excursion to Pisa to see the Leaning Tower. This evening we enjoy exquisite Italian cuisine in one of Florence’s fine restaurants.
Two Night Special Stay: Santa Margherita
We pass Palladian villas and pine trees as we approach Verona, famous as the home of the tragic lovers, Romeo and Juliet. With our local guide on our Included walking tour we visit the amazingly intact Roman arena, built in the first century AD and still in use as a home to the summer Opera festival. We will also see Juliet’s balcony, the Piazza Bra and the ornate tombs of the Scaligeri family. Then on to magnificent Venice – the most unique city in the world! We cruise up the Grand Canal by private motor launch past ornate and gilded Palazzos and Palladian churches to our superbly located hotel. SCENIC ENRICH Tonight we enjoy a romantic gondola serenade as we enjoy this iconic Venetian experience whilst gliding under ancient bridges amongst the breathtaking canals towards Antico Pignolo, a traditional Italian restaurant.
Two Night Special Stay: Venice
Today we will appreciate the beauty of historic Venice during our Included walking tour of the city. We soak up the atmosphere of the bustling cafés in the square, see the clock tower “dei Mori” and the Campanile and visit both the stunning Basilica of San Marco and the spectacular Doge’s Palace. Choose from one of the Included SCENIC FREE CHOICES: (1) a lagoon cruise visiting some of the many islands; or (2) a guided tour of Guggenheim Museum.
Two Night Stay: Ljubljana
Ljubljana means ‘much loved’ - you will see why as we appreciate the attractive architecture of this city, set under its ancient fortress. Our sightseeing tour includes the Opera House, National Museum, Franciscan Church and St Nicholas Cathedral. A highlight awaits as we journey to one of Europe’s most picturesque settings today - Lake Bled. SCENIC ENRICH We step back in time and take a traditional wooden ‘Pletna’ boat to the stunningly beautiful island in the lake and visit the historic Church of St Mary with its wishing well. We enjoy coffee and cake at the famous lakeside Villa Bled, former residence of President Tito, where he hosted global statesmen in the post-war years. Later, there is time to stroll along the lake shores before returning to Ljubljana for the night.
Overnight Special Stay: Zagreb
Next Fourteen Nights: Cruising
Discover the highlights of both Buda and Pest during your Included guided city tour. Choose from one of the following Included SCENIC FREE CHOICE tours: (1) Relax in the Thermal Baths and Spa; or (2) Explore the lime stone caves under the Castle Labyrinth; or (3) Explore the history of classical music in Hungary.
As you cruise the mighty Danube perhaps relax in one of the three lounge and viewing areas onboard. Tonight SCENIC ENRICH highlights include a glass of Austrian ‘Sekt’ at the majestic Palais Liechtenstein. Then an Enchanting private Viennese evening concert featuring the music of Strauss and Mozart.
To get acquainted with this beautiful city, enjoy an Included tour of the famous sights including the Ringstrasse and the Hofburg Palace. Today offers three Included SCENIC FREE CHOICE tours to choose from: (1) A guided tour of Schönbrunn Palace; or (2) An excursion to the Slovakian capital of Bratislava; or (3) Visit the world renowned Spanish Riding School for a guided tour or witness the famous Lipizzaner Stallions perfecting their skills during their morning exercise program†.
Your Included SCENIC FREE CHOICE today gives you a choice of three countries all offering their own unique charm: (1) a guided tour of Passau; or (2) Visit Salzburg, setting for ‘The Sound of Music’; or (3) an excursion to the medieval town of Cesky Krumlov.
Today offers three Included SCENIC FREE CHOICE tours to choose from: (1) See the infamous WWII sites followed by a self-guided tour of the Documentation Centre; or (2) Learn about Nuremberg’s past before meeting with local students; or (3) A self-guided bicycle tour.
Included SCENIC FREE CHOICE tours: (1) A guided walking tour of Würzburg; or (2) Romantic Road to Rothenburg.
Today in Rüdesheim visit Siegfried’s Musical Instrument Museum. Cruise this afternoon through the spectacular Rhine Gorge. Tonight SCENIC ENRICH highlights include a private Medieval banquet in Marksburg Castle. Step back in time and enjoy a private tour of the castle.
Today cruise into the Dutch capital, Amsterdam. Choose from one of the following Included SCENIC FREE CHOICE tours: (1) A sightseeing canal cruise; or (2) a guided bicycle tour or (3) An excursion to the windmills of Zaanse Schans and Edam or (4) A visit to Venlo for the 2012 Floriade (seasonal option, operates from the 5th April 2012 until the 7th October 2012).
This morning our Scenic Tours Representative will transfer* you to the airport.
*Check transfer entitlements with your travel agent. For passengers who have already received documentation - refer to your booking summary.
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