15-Day Swiss Alps, Venice & Greek Islands Cruise Tour Sept.24-Oct.8, 2017

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1 \ 15-Day Swiss Alps, Venice & Greek Islands Cruise Tour Sept.24-Oct.8, 2017 Journey from Swiss Alps to the Greek Islands with Collins Tours! Day 1 - Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017 Home Overnight flight to Zurich, Switzerland All passengers will meet their Tour Manager and join fellow travelers at Toronto airport for their group flight to Zurich. Passengers traveling from different cities will have their flight to Toronto included (inquire with Collins Tours staff to find nearest available airport). All passengers are flying on Air Canada flights. PLEASE NOTE: ALL PASSENGERS ARE REQUIRED to pay the airline any fees associated with checking a bag, as this is is not included in the tour price. Your luggage payment is paid directly to the airline. Fees will be charged on both the outbound and return flights. Be sure to have your *valid passport for Customs & Immigration. For all flights, be aware of rules concerning traveling with any liquids or gels with most security. Don t pack prescription medication in your checked baggage. With more than ever happening on-board the cruise ship, please review the Norwegian Star tabs for more details about state rooms, deck plans, and what s available on-board. Day 2 - Monday, Sept. 25, 2017 Zurich, Switzerland Arrive in the Zurich airport, the largest in Switzerland. After clearing customs, we proceed to the baggage carousel to collect our luggage. Porterage and baggage handling from the airport to the hotel is included. Arrive mid afternoon at the Sheraton Hotel Zurich. Note: Check in is not guaranteed until 3:00 p.m. Early check in has been requested. Join us for a welcome reception at hotel at 4:30pm for 1 hour for a brief orientation and to get to know fellow group travellers. Dinner this evening is on your own with pleanty of options just steps away from our fabulous city centre hotel. Time to relax or explore this beautiful city nestled in the Alps. Founded by the Romans in the 1 st century, today it is widley considered the cultural capital of Switzerland. Day 3 - Tuesday, Sept. 26, Zurich, Switzerland (B,D) Enjoy a delicious Swiss breakfast this morning (included). Everyone should be well-rested and ready to meet your tour manager at 10:00 a.m. for a 3-

2 hour professionally guided sightseeing tour of Zurich (included). Visit the city s most popular landmarks, including the Old Town (Altsdadt), the many churches & Lindenhof Square. After the tour has ended you will be transferred back to the hotel. Perhaps you could enjoy lunch in one of the many cafés or restaurants on the waterfront (on own) or spend the afternoon shopping and sightseeing. At 5:30pm to meet your tour manager in the hotel lobby and be transferred to a nearby restaurant to sample some delectable local cuisine (included). Enjoy new company and a fine meal as we toast to the beginning of a fantastic voyage. Day 4 Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017 Zurich Stresa, Italy (B) Another delicious breakfast this morning before our early morning check-out & departure (Exact time TBA) Travel by premium motorcoach across the mountainous border from Switzerland to the Lake Maggiore region of Italy. Stop for lunch along the way in the charming town of Lucarno (lunch on own) Early afternoon arrival is expected at the Hotel Regina Palace on the edge of the lake Maggiore. Again your Tour Manager will handle check-in for your group and have your luggage delivered to your room. The rest of the afternoon and evening are open for you to explore this unique and picturesque area of Italy. Day 5 - Thursday, Sept. 28, 2017 Stresa, Italy (B,D) Wake up this morning and enjoy a delightful Italian breakfast. Today s highlight is our cruise tour of Lake Maggiore, which will visit several of the islands within the lake and offer fantastic vantage points of mountainous backdrops over quaint Italian lakeside villages. Enjoy the afternoon at your leisure in these beautiful surroundings. Tonight we will meet (time & location TBA) to have another included group dinner with your fellow travellers and tour manager. A glass of wine or beer will be complimentary with tonight s meal as well. After dinner we will return to the fabulous Hotel Regina Palace for our 2nd overnight leaving you with pleanty of time to relax or explore this beautiful lakeside town. Day 6 - Friday, Sept. 29, Stresa - Venice, Italy. Enjoy another delightful Italian breakfast in this stunningly picturesque setting before we depart this amazing lakeside retreat and make our way to Venice. Venice is the capital of northern Italy s Veneto region, it is built on more than 100 small islands in a lagoon in the 2

3 Adriatic Sea. It has no roads, just canals including the Grand Canal thoroughfare lined with Renaissance and Gothic palaces. The central square, Piazza San Marco, contains St. Mark s Basilica, which is tiled with Byzantine mosaics, and the Campanile bell tower offering views of the city s red roofs. We check into our hotel late afternoon allowing you pleanty of time to explore this unique city at your lesiure. Perhaps a romantic gondola ride is of interest to you? You may also want to try some of the numerous authentic Italian restaurants just steps away for your hotel. (on own) Day 7 - Saturday, Sept. 30, Venice, Italy (B) Enjoy a delightful Venetian breakfast before we depart on our 3.5 hour professionally guided sightseeing tour of Venice via watertaxi where 117 islands are connected by a latticework of 150 canals and 400 bridges. Highlights include a glass blowing demonstration at the Murano Glass factory on Murano Island, as well as a visit to St. Mark s Square where our local expert takes you on a walking tour of the Basilica, Doge s Palace and the legendary Bridge of Sighs. We will then return back to our fabulous hotel mid afternoon allowing you time to enjoy your afternoon siesta (riposo). Tonight join us for our optional Collins Tours group dinner "Italian by Night". This is to be an amazing Italian dining experience unlike any other. Once we return to our hotel the remainder of the evening is yours to enjoy. Day 8 - Sunday, Oct. 1, Venice, Italy - Embark NCL Star for 7 night Greek Isles Cruise. Enjoy your final delightful Italian Venetian breakfast before we check-out and enjoy our transfer to the cruise terminal to begin our embarkation process. All aboard the Norwegian Star for your 8 -day Greek Isles Cruise (Transfer and bag handling fees are included). Note: Your Collins Tours team has completed the check in process for you! All part of our signature group tour experience. Board at approximately noon and enjoy lunch on the ship (included, on own). Cast off for Corfu, Greece at 6:00 p.m. Refer to ship s itinerary for exciting entertainment and dining options, during your first night aboard the NCL Star. The Norwegian Star offers plenty of delicious dining choices, with authentic cuisine from around the world, along with several distinctive bars and lounges for you to choose from. 3

4 Day 9 - Monday, Oct. 2, Kotor, Montenegro Tucked away between the mountains and the Bay of Kotor, one of the most indented parts of the Adriatic Sea, is where you'll find the picturesque town of Kotor. As you arrive at this secluded city, you'll notice the dramatic 65-foot high protective walls, which date back to the Venetian period during the 9th century. Stroll the labyrinth of cobbled streets with cozy cafes and craft shops as you marvel the graceful old buildings. Listed as a UNESCO World Natural and Historical Heritage Site, Kotor is also world-famous as a premier yachting and sailing destination. Day 10 - Tuesday, Oct. 3, Corfu, Greece (B, L, D) Following another amazing buffet breakfast our Ship is set to arrive in Corfu by 8am. One of the lushest of the Greek Isles, Corfu is rimmed in dramatic blue waters and topped with tranquil hillside villages. A collection of quaint cafes in the town of Corfu feels very continental, but the island's secluded coves and sandy beaches can only be found in the Greek Isles. Today enjoy another optional private Collins Tours exclusive shore excursion for 4.5 hours (Cost TBA). Be back onboard by 3pm. Have you ever dreamed of crusing the Greek Ilsands? Well pinch yourself because you are. Enjoy the remainder of the day and evening at your leisure as you cruise through the Greek Isles. Day 11 - Wednesday, Oct. 4, Santorini, Greece (B, L, D) Welcome to Santorini where whitewashed villages clinging to the sides of sea cliffs have made this volcanic island one of the most widely photographed places in the world. The island's charm and subtle mystery have made it a target of speculation as the location of the lost city of Atlantis. Walk amoungst the white-washed dwellings overlooking the Agean Sea, do some bartering with the local vendors, dine at a fantastic restaurant featuring deliscous Greek cuisine or just relax on the beach, it's up to you. Today enjoy another optional private Collins Tours exclusive shore excursion for 4.5 hours (Cost TBA). The ship is docked from 1pm till 10pm. Leaving you with pleanty of time to enjy this beautiful island. Day 12 - Thursday, Oct. 5, Mykonos, Greece (B, L, D) 4

5 After anothe NCL buffet breakfast welcome to the Cyclades, a group of Greek islands, southeast of the mainland in the Aegean Sea. It centers on uninhabited Delos, considered the birthplace of Apollo, and home to some of Greece s most important archaeological ruins. Many of the islands are popular holiday destinations, known for their beaches, ancient sites, rugged landscapes and traditional blue-and-white stucco towns overlooking the sea. Mykonos is a classic Greek Island with whitewashed houses, blue-domed churches and windmills. Add a reputation for beautiful beaches and you'll understand why Mykonos is the most popular island in the Cyclades. The ship is docked today from 8am till 4pm. Day 13 - Friday, Oct. 6, Leisure Day at Sea (B, L, D) Enjoy another day at sea as we make our way to Ravenna Italy. Refer to the ship s itinerary for exciting onboard activities. Day 14 -Saturday, Oct. 7, Dubrovnik, Croatia (B, L, D) Despite the magnificent 13th century walls that surround the city, Dubrovnik is one of the most welcoming cruise destinations in all of Europe. Dubbed the pearl of the Adriatic by the poet, Lord Byron, this Croatian city exudes romantic charm and beautiful scenery with its shimmering marble streets, centuries-old buildings capped by bright orange roofs, and lovely beaches ensconced between awesome rocky ledges. Explore more of Dubrovnik on aeuropean cruise! Day 15 - Sunday, Oct. 8, Day #13 Disembark Venice, Italy Return Flight Home (B) Enjoy the ship's beautiful buffet breakfast before we disembark and make our way to the airport for our return flight home. Return flight information will be included once all flight details are in place. Airfare cost is included in tour price. Airline fees for checked bags are additional and are your expense. Your tour manager will be with you to help upon re-entering Canada and can assist in locating your gates for your final flight to your home city. ** IMPORTANT INFORMATION Tour itineraries are ONLY a guideline and may need to be modified by your tour manager. times on tour itineraries are only estimates as various unforeseen factors, such as weather, traffic, mechanical issues, emergencies, and other Acts of God, can influence tour timing. Collins Tours is not responsible or liable, in any way, for delays caused by unforeseen events. No refunds or reimbursements will be offered in the event of any such occurrences. Canadian citizens are required to have a valid passport that is good for at least THREE MONTHS AFTER your departure date. Citizens of other countries should call and verify there required documentation. 5

6 Baggage allowance details: For all Air Canada flights to and from Europe: You are allowed one personal and one carry on item at no charge (max dimension 23 cm x 40 cm x 55 cm). You are also allowed one free checked bag (max weight 23 kg; $100 fee for overweight bag). Second checked bag is $100 CAD each way. Euro's can be used for any purchases made off the ship during this cruise tour. Duty Free Rules allow you to claim $800 per person when you have travelled outside Canada for at least 48 hours. Airline fees for any checked baggage (both outbound and inbound flights) are NOT included in your tour package and any additional costs are your responsibility. All liquids and gels that you are planning to bring on board an airplane must be 3oz or less and sealed in a Ziploc bag. Once at the security checkpoint, this bag must be removed from your carryon and placed in a bin for TSA screening. Prescription medication should be kept in its original container or the prescription should be carried with you during travel. Collins Tour is not responsible for lost or stolen baggage and/or personal items. REMEMBER, your tour manager handles: hotel check in/check out procedures, overall group management (e.g. timely transitions, itinerary planning), and group representation with airlines, hotels, group activities, Customs and Immigration, and overall operation of each tour. We work hard to ensure that everyone enjoys his/her experience to the fullest. Gratuities for your Tour Manager are not included in your tour price. Tipping is your way of saying Thank You, for a job well done. Here are our guidelines on Tipping Etiquette: Collins Tours guide - anywhere from $3.50-6:00 per person, per day Private city tour guides- $2 per person, per day Thank you for traveling with Collins Tours! We look forward to serving you with ALL your future travel plans Get Away Get Inspired! 6