2013 - APT Europe River Cruising

SEASONAL CRUISING Spring Time Cruising March – May Autumn Colours September – mid-November Christmas Markets November & December See pages 46-47 for details. English Channel Caen Honfleur Jumièges Rouen Seine River FRANCE Soligny-la-Trappe VernonParis Normandy 7MS AMALEGRO Les Andelys Conflans Giverny Versailles Day 6. Les Andelys. Cruising back towards Paris, today's port of call, Les Andelys, is set right on the Seine River and is thought by many to be one of the most beautiful places in all of France. High on a cliff above Les Andelys lie the ruins of Château Gaillard, built between 1196 and 1198 by Richard the Lionheart. Tour Les Andelys then head up to Château Gaillard to take in the amazing views. Afterwards, enjoy an afternoon of picturesque cruising. Paris Koblenz Amsterdam NETHERLANDS Rhine River Coach Cruise 14 Aria River Ship Cologne GERMANY Wertheim Rüdesheim Kitzingen Rothenburg No. of nights stay Freedom of Choice InclusionsTM Included Sightseeing Würzburg Main River Bamberg Main-Danube Canal CZECH REP. Nuremberg Krumlov Regensburg Danube River Passau Ceský Linz Salzburg Please note, seven-night Seine River cruise is operated in conjunction with AMAWATERWAYS and is not an APT Platinum Series Cruise. / Prague 3 Dürnstein Vienna Velké Bílovice SLOVAKIA Melk Bratislava AUSTRIA CRUISING THE LEGENDARY RHINE Day 10. Cologne, Koblenz. This morning a tour of Cologne includes the Gothic cathedral, once the world's tallest building. Afterwards, re-board your ship for lunch and cruise through the afternoon to the 2,000 year-old city of Koblenz. After dinner, perhaps step out for an evening stroll through the heart of the city. BLD BLD Day 7. Conflans, Auvers-sur-Oise OR Château de Malmaison. Today, you might like to take an excursion to Auvers-sur-Oise, a commune in the suburbs of Paris in which Vincent Van Gogh spent the final days of his life. Here, take in the sights and scenes that Van Gogh himself saw and often painted during his last years Alternatively, take a trip to the city of Rueil-Malmaison for a tour of Château de Malmaison, a vast manor house that was once home to General Napoléon Bonaparte. With both groups back on board, take in the lights by the riverside as your ship cruises in to Paris. BLD TRAVEL TO AMSTERDAM, EMBARK APT PLATINUM SERIES CRUISE Day 8. Paris, Amsterdam. This morning your Seine River cruise concludes as you disembark the ship. Board a coach for the journey across France, through Belgium and in to the Netherlands. On arrival in Amsterdam, board your luxury ship for the start of your APT Platinum Series Cruise. After a Welcome Reception and dinner on board this evening, perhaps step out to experience Amsterdam's famous nightlife at your leisure. 14 Night Stay: one of APT's luxurious Aria River Ships. Day 11. Rüdesheim, Freedom of Choice Inclusions. Today cruise through the Rhine Gorge on what is known as the most beautiful stretch of the Rhine. Arrive in Rüdesheim, where you may like to visit Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. Alternatively, take a ride in a gondola for views over the Rhine Valley, or perhaps visit a Rhine Valley winery and enjoy a tasting. Later, your ship will enter the Main River. THE MEANDERING MAIN RIVER Day 12. Freudenberg, Wertheim, Freedom of Choice Inclusions. As your ship cruises to Freudenberg, enjoy a glass-blowing demonstration on board. On arrival, travel by coach to Wertheim and take in the sights on either a bicycle tour or a walking tour. Afterwards, visit Wertheim Castle. Learn about the castle's history from a local guide and enjoy a glass of Sekt (a German sparkling wine), as you take in the views from the castle out over the Main River. BLD Day 13. Würzburg, Freedom of BD Day 9. Amsterdam, Freedom of Choice Inclusions. Today, perhaps take a canal cruise and admire the sights of the city from a glass-top boat. Or visit the Van Gogh Museum, home to the world's largest collection of Van Gogh paintings. Alternatively, tour the National Maritime Museum, which offers a great insight into the Netherlands' centuries- long tie to the sea. After your activity, travel via the windmill depicted in Rembrandt's 1641 etching before rejoining your ship, which will set off cruising along the Rhine River. Tonight, enjoy the Captain's Gala Wel come Dinner. BLD Choice Inclusions, Kitzingen. Today, you may like to take a tour of Würzburg including the Residential Palace, or perhaps travel to Rothenburg on the Romantic Road. Later, cruise to the Bavarian town of Kitzingen. This evening venture back in time as a guest at a special Medieval Banquet on board. Afterwards, disembark for a special wine tasting event at Germany's oldest wine cellar. Danube River Budapest HUNGARY Day 15. Nuremberg, Freedom of Choice Inclusions. On arrival in Nuremberg, perhaps take a World War II tour. Or take a medieval tour and see the 900 year-old ramparts that surround the city, the Imperial Castle and more. At lunch, continue along the Main-Danube Canal and cross Europe's Continental Divide. This evening, enjoy a Continental Divide Cocktail Celebration. BLD BLD THE BLUE DANUBE Day 16. Regensburg, Freedom of Choice Inclusions. On arrival in Regensburg, one of Germany's best-preserved medieval cities, take a tour that includes the World Heritage-listed city centre and the Porta Pretoria. Or take a bicycle tour to the 18th-century hillside temple of Walhalla, which honours laudable and distinguished Germans. Day 17. Passau, Freedom of Choice Inclusions, Linz. On arrival in Passau, perhaps travel to Salzburg for a tour of the city's 'Sound of Music' sights or take a day tour to Ceský Krumlov in the Czech Republic. Or tour Passau then cruise into Austria and on to Linz. After dinner tonight, perhaps enjoy an evening stroll through pretty Linz. Day 18. Melk, Freedom of Choice Inclusions, Dürnstein. Disembark in Melk for a tour of Melk Abbey. Then perhaps take a bicycle ride on a path along the banks of the Danube from Melk to Dürnstein. Alternatively, rejoin your ship and continue cruising towards Dürnstein, where you'll disembark for a walking tour and a tasting of Wachau Valley wines. BLD BLD THE MAIN-DANUBE CANAL Day 14. Bamberg. Today travel to World Heritage-listed Bamberg. After a tour, visit a Bamberg Beer Haus and enjoy a local brew compliments of APT. Later, return to your ship and cruise onto the Main-Danube Canal. Having taken 32 years to construct, the canal links the North and Black seas and is recognised as a feat of modern engineering. Day 19. Vienna. In Austria's capital, enjoy a walking tour followed by coffee and cake at Café Hofburg, set in the courtyard of the Imperial Palace. Then, after dinner, visit Albertina, a Viennese palace built in 1744. After a Cocktail Reception, attend a private concert of classical music. Day 20. Vienna, Freedom of Choice BLD Inclusions. On your second day in Vienna, perhaps tour Schönbrunn Palace; visit the Fine Arts Museum and the Imperial Treasury; take a guided tour of the Spanish Riding School and explore the Imperial Crypt; or visit Bratislava, the Slovakian capital. www.aptouring.com.au BLD BLD BLD BLD 105 ROMANTIC RIVER SEINE CRUISING P L A T I R I N E E U M S S

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