Passage along the Danube River: Vienna to the Black Sea

Transcription

1 D I S T I N C T I V E T R A V E L F O R M O R E T H A N 30 Y E A R S Pre- and Post-Program Options Passage along the Danube River: Vienna to the Black Sea October 13 to 25, 2018 We are pleased to offer you these Pre- and Post-Program Options to further enhance your journey. To book your Pre- and/or Post-Program Options, please complete the enclosed reservation form. Reservations and payment in full are due in the offices of Gohagan & Company no later than July 10, The Pre- and/or Post-Program Options may not be available for purchase after this date. Imperial Vienna Pre-Program Option October 11 to 14, 2018 One of the most impressive Gothic buildings in all of Europe, Vienna s Cathedral of St. Stephen showcases a magnificent 450-foot-tall steeple. The former seat of the Habsburg Empire and one of Europe s most beautiful cities and vibrant cultural centers, Vienna showcases an open-air museum of splendid Baroque architecture in its historic core, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Drive along the famous 19 th -century Ringstrasse (Ring Road), a masterpiece of urban planning envisioned by Emperor Franz Josef, lined with many of the city s most celebrated edifices, including the stunning Vienna State Opera, the neoclassical Parliament Building and the Renaissance-style National Theater. Visit the landmark Stephansdom (Cathedral of St. Stephen), whose multi-hued roof tiles depict the Habsburgian double-headed eagle and the Viennese coat of arms. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart married Constanze in this church in 1782; his funeral was held here just nine years later. Inside, the famed stone pulpit depicting the Four Fathers of the Church was carved in the 16 th century by artist Anton Pilgram, who sculpted his own likeness looking out through a half-opened window in the plinth. Learn more about the Austrian Empire in the Habsburgs summer estate, Schönbrunn Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site regarded as a masterful fusion of multiple architectural styles. View the priceless collections of art and antiques that adorn the palace s richly 02/12/18-1

2 u 2 Accommodations are for two nights in the Five Star Intercontinental Vienna, ideally located just steps away from beautiful Stadtpark, home to a gilded bronze statue of Johann Strauss, famous composer of The Blue Danube waltz. Day 1 Depart the U.S. Day 2 Arrive Vienna, Austria Day 3 Vienna Day 4 Vienna/Embark Amadeus Silver III A unique high-gloss polish on the walls of Schönbrunn Palace s Great Gallery brilliantly reflects the flickering light of its intricate chandeliers. appointed and authentically furnished residential and ceremonial rooms. Then stroll through its exquisitely manicured Baroque gardens, laid out in a geometric pattern of avenues and populated with grand fountains and pools, ornate greenhouses and heroic statues inspired by classical mythology. In the heart of historic Vienna, tour the unrivaled Hofburg Palace, the residence of the Habsburg family for more than 600 years. Built as a fortress in the late Middle Ages, the palace expanded in size and grandeur under generations of royalty, creating the sprawling city within a city that spans two and a half million square feet today. The Renaissance style Swiss Court, erected by Emperor Ferdinand I in 1552, today houses the Imperial Treasury, whose objects cover a millennium of European history, including the dazzling Crown and Lance of the Holy Roman Empire, the intricately bejeweled crown of Rudolf II, one of the world s largest emeralds, a giant narwhal tooth once thought to be the horn of a unicorn and an agate bowl from Late Antiquity that was believed to have been the legendary Holy Grail. See the Imperial Apartments where Franz Josef and Elisabeth lived, ascend the imposing Emperor s Staircase and tour the authentic, 19 th -century state rooms, where the royal family worked, slept, dined and entertained guests. Exhibitions in the Sisi Museum feature Elisabeth s personal items, including jewelry, a traveling medicine chest and reconstructions of the elegant dresses she wore the night before her marriage and on the day she was crowned Queen of Hungary. Included Features: Transfers and luggage handling abroad if your arrival(s)/departure(s) coincide with the scheduled group transfer(s). Accommodations for two nights in the Five Star InterContinental Vienna, inclusive of taxes and service. Breakfast each morning. Panoramic tour of historic Vienna, including the famed Ringstrasse, a grand boulevard lined with landmark edifices. Visit to the Gothic-style Cathedral of St. Stephen. Excursion to the magnificent Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit to Hofburg Palace, featuring a tour of the Imperial Treasury, the apartments of Franz Josef and Elisabeth and the Sisi Museum, exhibiting the Empress s jewelry, clothing and other personal affects. All excursions and visits, as outlined above, with experienced local guides. Gratuities to local guides and drivers. Complimentary bottled water provided on motorcoaches during excursions. Hospitality desk in the hotels. Experienced Gohagan & Company Travel Program Director to accompany you throughout the Pre Program. Complimentary use of an audio headset during guided excursions. $695 usd per person, double occupancy. $995 usd per person, single occupancy.

3 u 3...On the very edge of a terrific precipice, the mystical Bran Castle closely fits author Bram Stoker s description of Dracula s home. Castles of Transylvania Post-Program Option October 25 to 28, 2018 Enjoy mysterious Transylvania, Latin for the land beyond the forest, and central Romania s rich medieval heritage. Admire the auburn splendor of the Carpathian Mountains, an evocative backdrop of grand medieval castles with soaring spires where the mythical Gothic narrative of Count Dracula is kept alive through local storytelling. Visit the elegant, 19 th -century fairy-tale Peleş Castle, with its neo-renaissance façade and Florentine, French and Moorish interiors, arguably the most beautiful castle in all of Europe. Intended as the summer residence of Romania s King Carol I, Peleş Castle contains over 170 rooms, all lavishly furnished, and is home to one of the largest art collections in Central and Eastern Europe. Tour Cantacuzino Castle, a neo-romanian estate tucked into the slopes of the Southern Carpathian mountains, also known as the Transylvanian Alps; styled per its previous owner, Gheorge Grigore Cantacuzino, and his sumptuous tastes, the castle is adorned with rare finery, including Murano stained glass, harkening back to an era of Romanian opulence. Continue on a guided walk through Braşov s cobblestoned old town. Founded by the Teutonic Knights in 1211, Braşov is one of Europe s best preserved cities; visit the Black Church, named for the fire set by invaders in 1689, and see the Saint Nicholas Church, Braşov Fortress and Franciscan Monastery. Tour the UNESCO World Heritage medieval town of Sighişoara, the birthplace of Vlad Tepes (Dracula). Enjoy an excursion to the largest fortified church in southeastern Europe in Prejmer, a UNESCO World Heritage site possessing 40-foot-high, red-roofed walls interwoven with wooden staircases to navigate the church. Explore the imposing, 14 th -century Bran Castle, once the beloved Queen Marie s summer residence and commonly known as Dracula s Castle, although the connection is tenuous infamous Vlad Tepes merely passed through Bran while fleeing the Turks in Accommodations for two nights are in the ideally located, deluxe Aro Palace in Braşov and one night in the Five-Star Athenèe Palace Hilton Bucharest Hotel. Day 1 Bucharest, Romania/Peleş Castle/ Cantacuzino Castle/Braşov Day 2 Braşov/Sighisoara/Prejmer/Braşov Day 3 Braşov/Bran/Bucharest Day 4 Bucharest/Return to the U.S. Included Features: Accommodations for two nights in the deluxe Aro Palace in Braşov, inclusive of taxes and service. Accommodations for one night in the Five-Star Athénée Palace Hilton Bucharest, inclusive of taxes and service. Breakfast each morning, three lunches and one dinner. Visit to Peleş Castle, arguably the most beautiful castle in all of Europe and home to one of the Central and Eastern region s largest art collections. Visit to Cantacuzino Castle, a paragon of neo Romanian architecture, featuring stunning views of the Transylvanian Alps. Walking tour of fabled Braşov. Excursion to medieval Sighişoara, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit to the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Prejmer Fortified Church, the largest fortified church in southeastern Europe. Excursion to the imposing Bran Castle commonly, Dracula s Castle. All excursions and visits, as outlined above, with experienced local guides. Gratuities to local guides and drivers. Complimentary bottled water provided on

4 u 4 motorcoaches during excursions. Hospitality desk in the hotels. Experienced Gohagan & Company Travel Program Director to accompany you throughout the Post Program. Complimentary use of an audio headset during guided excursions. Transfers and luggage handling abroad if your arrival(s)/departure(s) coincide with the scheduled group transfer(s). $995 usd per person, double occupancy. $1295 usd per person, single occupancy. Please note: Each Pre-Program Option and/or Post Program Option is sold as a separate package; individual services and/or Included Features of the Pre Program Option and/or Post-Program Option cannot be purchased individually. Pre-Program Option and Post-Program Option Cancellation and Refund Policy In the event you have to cancel your reservation, cancellation policies as outlined in your travel program brochure apply. These policies are strictly enforced. Cancellations for all or any part of the trip will not be effective until they are received in writing in the offices of Gohagan & Company. [For YALE:...in the offices of Yale Educational Travel.] A minimum of 35 participants per program is required for the Imperial Vienna Pre-Program and the Castles of Transylvania Post-Program Options to operate. Thomas P. Gohagan & Company u 209 South LaSalle Street u Suite 500 u Chicago, Illinois u (800) u Fax (312)

5 E S TABLISHED Pre- and Post-Program Options Reservation Form Passage along the Danube River: Vienna to the Black Sea October 13 to 25, 2018 Please Note: If you have already sent a deposit for the Pre- and/or Post-Program Options with your main program brochure reservation form, please disregard this form. Confirmation will appear on the enclosed Reservation Confirmation. Final payment is due in the offices of Gohagan & Company July 10, Insert the following information from your Reservation Confirmation: First passenger s name exactly as it appears on passport Please make my/our reservation(s): Reservation number Second passenger s name exactly as it appears on passport Imperial Vienna Pre-Program Option October 11 to 14, 2018 Double Occupancy $695 usd per person x $ Single Occupancy $995 usd per person x $ Castles of Transylvania Post-Program Option October 25 to 28, 2018 Double Occupancy $995 usd per person x $ Single Occupancy $1295 usd per person x $ Total: $ The Pre- and Post-Program Options may be paid by check or wire transfer. q Enclosed is my payment of $ as deposit ($200 usd per person Imperial Vienna Pre Program Option and/or $200 usd per person Castles of Transylvania Post-Program Option). [DELETE the deposit option for Yale] q Enclosed is my payment in full of $ (due July 10, 2018). Please send reservation(s) and payment to: Thomas P. Gohagan & Company 209 South LaSalle Street, Suite 500 Chicago, Illinois /12/18-1 Thomas P. Gohagan & Company u 209 South LaSalle Street u Suite 500 u Chicago, Illinois u (800) u Fax (312)