WINDMILLS,VINEYARDS and PARIS (WRA2010)

City Highlights


Cruise:
Deluxe 10-night cruise from Remich to Amsterdam in an outside stateroom with hotel-style beds

Paris:
Guided sightseeing

Paris-Metz:
By high-speed TGV train

Trier:
Guided sightseeing, Porta Nigra

Bernkastel:
Guided walk, local marketplace; visit a wine cellar

Cochem:
Visit Reichsburg Castle

Rhine Gorge:
Cruise through the gorge

Rüdesheim:
Visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum

Cologne:
Guided sightseeing

Arnhem:
Guided sightseeing; visit Airborne Museum Hartenstein

Dordrecht:
Excursion to Kinderdijk

Amsterdam:
Canal cruiseNotes:In the event of water level problems on stretches of any river, it may be necessary to operate part of the itinerary by motorcoach.In the rare event that the high-speed TGV train is unavailable, alternative arrangements will be made.Included visits and special features are subject to change. If a change becomes necessary, a substitute will be offered.

Ship
Avalon Affinity

 

Hotels


Paris
Le Meridien Montparnasse (SF) or Hilton Arc de Triomphe (SF)

Meals
Buffet breakfast (B) in Paris; superb dining with all meals on board daily featuring full breakfast (B), lunch (L), and dinner (D), including a welcome reception, Captain’s reception, and farewell dinner; quality wines from Europe’s most famous wine regions with every dinner; one sitting with open seating arrangements; Complimentary wine, beer, or soft drinks with all onboard dinners; Complimentary coffee and tea available throughout the day

Day 1:
(Mon.) Board your overnight transatlantic flight.

Day 2:
Paris, France. (Tue.) Welcome to Paris, France’s capital on the River Seine and the “City of Light,” where romance fills the air!

Day 3:
Paris. (Wed.) Paris’ famous sights are living history: your included city sightseeing shows you magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral, the unique Louvre Museum with its glass pyramid as a contrast to its ancient architecture, the commemorative Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Madeleine, Champs Elysées, and the Eiffel Tower, a structural miracle of its age. The city is well known for its colorful nightlife including some of the world’s most famous cabarets. (B)

Day 4:
Paris–Remich, Luxembourg (Embarkation). (Thu.) This morning, board a HIGH-SPEED TGV TRAIN for a swift and comfortable journey to Metz. From here we drive to Remich in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, where your river cruise vessel is docked. Before dinner meet your crew at a WELCOME RECEPTION. (B,D)

Day 5:
Trier, Germany. (Fri.) This venerable Episcopal city on the Moselle River is the oldest in Germany and, some claim, even older than Rome! The famous PORTA NIGRA is the only surviving fortified gate from the original Roman settlement and it still gives access to the town center. See the highlights on your included tour. The Moselle is some 312-miles long, rising in the Vosges Mountains of northeastern France and entering Germany at Trier. The entire Moselle Valley is famous for its beautiful and tranquil scenery. (B,L,D)

Day 6:
Bernkastel. (Sat.) In the middle of the Moselle region is the charming wine village of Bernkastel with its well-preserved half-timbered houses surrounding the beautiful MARKET PLACE. Wine growers in this area look after Germany’s largest expanse of vineyards, the most celebrated of the vintages being the Bernkasteler Doktor. Before dinner, visit a local WINE CELLAR and taste several of this region’s varietals. (B,L,D)

Day 7:
Zell–Cochem. (Sun.) Enjoy a few hours of free time in this charming town of Zell before continuing to Cochem. Visit REICHSBURG CASTLE, which sits atop a conical hill covered in vines. From here the views of the little town nestled down below and of the river valley are splendid. Cruising the wide, peaceful curves of the river, it quickly becomes obvious that the Moselle is an important wine-growing region. Most notably, the Riesling grape is cultivated, producing a dry to sweet, floral white wine. (B,L,D)

Day 8:
Rhine Gorge–Rüdesheim. (Mon.) The dramatic RHINE GORGE is the most beautiful stretch of river. Pass the legendary rock of the Lorelei, where sweet songs of local beauties lured enchanted sailors to their doom. Rüdesheim is the perfect example of a Rhine Valley wine town and SIEGFRIED’S MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM is a real surprise! Enjoy a SPECIAL TREAT, then there’s free time to explore the Drosselgasse and pick up some souvenirs. (B,L,D)

Day 9:
Cologne, Germany. (Tue.) Cologne is the capital of the Rhineland and one of Germany’s largest cities. The soaring twin steeples of the magnificent gothic cathedral dominate the river skyline. The Germano-Roman Museum, next to the cathedral, is a must for history buffs! The Old Town abounds with taverns, cafés, and shops. Try a Kölsch, the favorite local beer, and shop for a bottle of 4711, the original “eau de cologne.” (B,L,D)

Day 10:
Arnhem, Holland–Dordrecht. Excursion to Kinderdijk. (Wed.) One of the major tragedies of World War II was the Battle of Arnhem, featured vividly in the AIRBORNE MUSEUM HARTENSTEIN and the inspiration for the movie A Bridge Too Far. This afternoon we cruise to charming Dordrecht, situated between two branches of the Rhine and the inspiration for many painters in the 17th and 18th centuries. From here, enjoy an excursion to nearby KINDERDIJK with its picturesque row of windmills. (B,L,D)

Day 11:
Ghent, Belgium. (Thu.) In a unique way, Ghent, the “diamond” of Flanders, has managed to preserve its medieval charm and power while keeping up with the times. A Local Guide will proudly point out that the city center alone is a showcase of medieval Flemish wealth and commercial success, and take you into ST. BAAF’S CATHEDRAL. From here, an optional excursion to fascinating Bruges, with its criss-crossed canals and charming old patrician houses, is available. (B,L,D)

Day 12:
Middelburg, Holland–Veere–Delta Works. (Fri.) It is certain that Middelburg was originally built as a stronghold to protect the population of Zeeland from the water and enemies. Later, it became a prosperous merchant city that spent great wealth on the construction of important buildings such as the town hall. The eye-catching high tower of the town hall dominates the charming town of Veere, which was once an important wool-trading center. Take your photos before continuing to one of the most complex engineering projects, the DELTA WORKS, located nearby. After the flood of 1953, during which more than 1,800 people drowned in one night, the Delta Plan was born to prevent another disaster of this magnitude. The final defense in the battle against the water is the storm flood barrier, almost six-miles long and considered a technical miracle. The project took 30 years to complete. (B,L,D)

Day 13:
Amsterdam. (Sat.) Holland’s capital is sophisticated and modern, with a rich and fascinating history. The works of famous Dutch masters can be seen in world-renowned museums such as the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh. There is no better way to see the city than by CANAL BOAT, cruising through the elegant grachten lined with stately homes dating back to Amsterdam’s “Golden Age.” There is plenty of free time to explore on your own. Your Cruise Director will have suggestions of how to make the most of your stay. (B,L,D)

Day 14:
Amsterdam (Disembarkation). (Sun.) Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (B)

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Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
10/4/2010 - 10/17/2010	$3,739
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

Ship Facts:

• Inagurated: 2009
• Length: 361 ft
• Decks: 4 decks including the Sky Deck
• Staterooms: 65
• Passenger Capacity: 138
• Voltage: 220v
• Onboard Currency: Euro

Ship Amenities:

• Headsets for all guided shore excursions in Europe
• Services of a professional Cruise Director
• Sightseeing with Local Guides
• Revolutionary engineering
• Non-smoking interior
• Internet access & Wi-Fi hotspots
• Elegant polished metal & glass throughout
• Onboard lectures, activities & nightly piano music
• Panoramic picture windows for landscape viewing
• Hair Salon
• Fitness Center
• Spacious Sky Decks with shade system for sunning
• 6-person whirlpool
• Lounge & Bar
• Complimentary coffee & tea available throughout the day
• Fine dining
• Buffet breakfast items are conveniently color coded to indicate foods that are low calorie, low fat/low calorie, high fiber, low cholesterol, and high energy
• Complimentary wine, beer or soft drinks will be included on all onboard dinners
• Open seating throughout the dining room for all meals
• Flatscreen satellite TV & radio
• Comfortable, hotel-style beds
• Comfortable beds that can be configured as two twins or one queen
• European-style duvets
• Egyptian super-combed cotton linens
• Private bathroom with shower
• Large closets
• Minibar, hairdryer & safe
• Individual climate control
• Royal Deck passengers can order Continental breakfast to their staterooms
• All staterooms are outside and those on Royal and Sapphire Decks have floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors and French balconies