2013 - APT Europe River Cruising

Amsterdam NETHERLANDS 14 Aria or Concerto river ship Bruges 2 Rhine River Antwerp BELGIUM Versailles 3 Paris SEASONAL CRUISING Spring Time Cruising March – May Autumn Colours FRANCE September – mid-November Christmas Markets November & December See pages 46-47 for details. Cologne Koblenz Rüdesheim Kitzingen GERMANY Wertheim Würzburg Main River Bamberg Rothenburg Nuremberg Regensburg Main-Danube Canal Danube River CZECH REP. Prague 3 Ceský Krumlov Passau Dürnstein Linz Melk Salzburg AUSTRIA Day 7. Amsterdam, Freedom of Choice Inclusions. Today, visit the Van Gogh Museum, which houses the world's largest collection of Van Gogh paintings. Or perhaps take a canal cruise and admire Amsterdam's architecture from a glass-top boat. Alternatively, tour the National Maritime Museum, which offers great insight into the Netherlands' centuries-long tie to the sea. Afterwards, rejoin your ship and set off cruising along the Rhine River. Tonight, enjoy the Captain's Gala Wel come Dinner on board. Day 11. Würzburg, Freedom of Choice Inclusions, Kitzingen. This morning, tour Würzburg's Residential Palace or perhaps travel to medieval Rothenburg. Later, cruise to the town of Kitzingen. Tonight, venture back in time as a guest at a Medieval Banquet on board. Afterwards, enjoy a special wine tasting event, hosted by a 'Wine Queen' and members of the Aulic Council, at Germany's oldest wine cellar. BLD CRUISING THE LEGENDARY RHINE Day 8. Cologne, Koblenz. This morning join a local guide for a tour of Cologne, Germany's fourth-largest city. Among many other attractions, see the city's cathedral, once the world's tallest building. Then re-board your ship for lunch and cruise through the afternoon to the charming 2,000 year-old city of Koblenz. After dinner, perhaps step out for a pleasant evening stroll through the heart of the city. BLD Day 9. 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 and ride the Winzerexpress mini-train to Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum, where a tour will highlight a beautiful collections of automated musical instruments. Alternatively, take a ride in a gondola for views, or perhaps explore the Rhine Valley wine region during a tour and wine tasting at a local winery Later, your ship enters the Main River. THE MEANDERING MAIN RIVER Day 10. Wertheim, Freedom of Choice Inclusions. After a glass-blowing demonstration on board this morning, disembark and travel to Wertheim and take in the sights of the town on either a guided bicycle tour or a walking tour. Afterwards, enjoy a visit to Wertheim Castle. Learn about the history of the castle from a local guide and enjoy a glass of Sekt (a German sparkling wine), as you take in the wonderful views from the castle out over the Main River. Vienna Bratislava Coach Cruise No. of nights stay Freedom of Choice InclusionsTM Included Sightseeing / Velké Bílovice SLOVAKIA Danube River Budapest HUNGARY Day 15. Passau, Freedom of Choice BLD THE MAIN-DANUBE CANAL Day 12. Bamberg. After breakfast, travel to World Heritage-listed Bamberg, one of the few German cities that wasn't destroyed by bombs during World War II. After a tour, visit a traditional 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. BLD BLD Day 13. Nuremberg, Freedom of Choice Inclusions. On arrival in Nuremberg, perhaps take a World War II tour that visits a range of sites including Courtroom 600, which hosted the Nuremberg trials. Or take a medieval tour and see the 900 year-old ramparts that surround the city, the Imperial Castle and more. At lunch, your ship continues along the Main-Danube Canal and, thanks to the series of locks, arrives at the highest point of the cruise, 435 metres above sea level. Tonight, enjoy a Continental Divide Cocktail Celebration before dinner. Inclusions, Linz. This morning arrive in Passau. Perhaps travel by coach to Salzburg for a tour of the city's 'Sound of Music' sights including the Wedding Church, Mirabell Gardens and Great Salzburg Festival Hall. Or take a day tour to Ceský Krumlov in the Czech Republic. Alternatively, take a guided tour of Passau then cruise into Austria and to Linz, as an apple strudel cooking demonstration takes place on board. After dinner tonight, perhaps enjoy an evening stroll through Linz. Day 16. Melk, Freedom of Choice Inclusions, Dürnstein. Cruise through the Strudengau region to the Wachau Valley. Disembark in Melk for a tour of Melk Abbey, perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube. Then perhaps take a guided 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 Day 17. Vienna. Disembark in the beautiful Austrian capital of Vienna this morning. Enjoy a walking tour followed by coffee and cake at Café Hofburg, set in the inner courtyard of the Imperial Palace. After dinner on board, visit Albertina, a Viennese palace built in 1744. Here, after a Cocktail Reception, discover why Vienna is known as Europe's centre of classical music during a private concert. BLD BLD THE BLUE DANUBE Day 14. Regensburg, Freedom of Choice Inclusions. Regensburg is known as one of Germany's best-preserved medieval cities, and is home to one of the oldest bridges crossing the Danube. On arrival here, perhaps take a tour of the city's architectural highlights, including the Old Town Hall, 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 18. Vienna, Freedom of Choice BLD Inclusions. On your second day in Vienna, perhaps visit Schönbrunn Palace for a tour. Alternatively, explore the Fine Arts Museum then head to the Imperial Treasury, which houses the Hofburg Crown Jewels. Alternatively visit Vienna's Spanish Riding School for a guided tour, then explore the Imperial Crypt, where more than 140 royals from the Habsburg dynasty are buried. Or perhaps embark on an excursion to Bratislava, the capital of nearby Slovakia, and see some of the key landmarks of the city's time under Communist rule. www.aptouring.com.au BLD BLD 77 MAGNIFICENT EUROPE CRUISING P L A T I R I N E E U M S S

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