SPECIAL OFFER - SAVE UP TO 400 PER PERSON CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR ON THE RHINE A festive cruise aboard the Amadeus Brilliant with Henry Blofeld & John Bly 22nd December 2016 to 4th January 2017
Neckar If you are looking for a seasonal break, our cruise along the beautiful Rhine over Christmas and New Year may be of interest offering as it does a relaxing journey as we gently wind our way from Cologne in Germany, to Strasbourg in France and on to Basel in Switzerland. Ashore, you will see a wonderful mix of the historic and cultural diversity of this region, from Cologne s magnificent cathedral to the half-timbered Medieval towns of Boppard and Bacharach, all with twinkling lights and festive decorations. All this is achieved from the comfort of our floating hotel, the Amadeus Brilliant, and you can take life at your own pace and relax on board whilst sailing past ever changing landscapes and enjoy the included guided excursions. This 13 night cruise promises Koblenz Rhine Gorge Boppard Mainz Oberwesel Bacharach Mannheim Heidelberg Speyer Strasbourg Obernai FRANCE Basel SWITZERLAND a host of historical treasures as well as Midnight Mass at Speyer s majestic cathedral, a traditional Christmas dinner on board and our New Year s Eve celebrations in Basel with a special Gala Dinner and the city s colourful display of fireworks at midnight. We are delighted that Blowers and Bly will be joining us on board from Bonn to Cologne for this special cruise and our New Year celebrations. Moselle Cologne GERMANY Bonn Rhine Rhine Henry Blofeld Henry Blofeld is an English sports journalist whose rich, plummy tones are known and loved worldwide thanks to his extensive cricket commentary career on both television and radio. Since 1962, he has been a newspaper journalist and written for publications including The Guardian, The Observer, The Daily Mirror, The Daily Telegraph, The Independent, and The Express. He tours theatres around the country with fellow cricket commentator Peter Baxter, and is regularly invited to events across the country as an after dinner and motivational speaker. Cologne Cathedral and Christmas market John Bly John Bly is an antiques dealer in a family business founded in 1891. From a background of sailors, horse traders, American Civil War soldiers, priests and architects he is one of the world s leading authorities on English antiques. He is Past Chairman of the British Antique Dealers Association and a Liveryman of The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths. John Bly is also a jazz historian and drummer, and a mean cook. Tour Highlights n Beautiful Namedy Castle n The Carmelite Church in Boppard n Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve at Speyer s majestic cathedral n Sailing through the dramatic Rhine Gorge n The picturesque town of Obernai in Alsace n Oberwesel, a UNESCO City of Towers n New Year s Eve celebrations in Basel Bacharach
The Knights Hall, Namedy Castle Katz Castle in the Rhine Gorge Beethoven s house, Bonn La Petite France at dusk,strasbourg The Itinerary Day 1 London to Cologne, Germany. Fly by scheduled flight and on arrival transfer to the Amadeus Brilliant. This evening meet your fellow travellers at the Welcome Drink & Dinner. Sail in the late evening. Day 2 Koblenz & Burg Namedy. After breakfast today we depart for a walking tour of this pretty commercial centre. Afterwards travel the short distance by coach to Namedy Castle for an event of royal delights. This magnificent royal residence was built by the Hausmann Knights of Andernach in the 14th century and Princess Heide von Hohenzollern has opened the doors of her home exclusively for our guests. Enjoy some free time to wander around the castle s interesting rooms, hidden nooks and gardens. We will have lunch in Namedy Castle s ballroom and return to the ship this afternoon and cruise on towards Speyer. Day 3 Speyer. Arrive this morning in the handsome city of Speyer and visit the mighty cathedral. This Romanesque basilica was founded by Emperor Conrad II in 1030 and is one of the largest and most impressive edifices in Germany. Our tour will end with a concert by Stefann Balle and his Stuttgarter Symphonic Quartet at nearby Schwetzingen Castle (or similar). Return to the ship and enjoy an afternoon at leisure. Speyer holds a delightful Christmas Market in front of the Old Mint where you can explore and sample the huge variety of local and international wares. After dinner there will be the opportunity to attend midnight mass at the cathedral, with some warming mulled wine served upon your return to the ship. Day 4 Strasbourg, France. Christmas Day. Enjoy a morning s cruise as we head towards Strasbourg, arriving in the early afternoon. After lunch on board we will depart for a tour to introduce us to the delights of this city, including the fascinating old quarter. Start with the Quai de la Petite France where the River Ill splits into a number of canals, see the Ponts Couverts, a series of wooden bridges dating back to the 13th century, the Place Gutenberg and the Cathedral of Notre Dame, the tallest Medieval building in Europe. This evening there will be a Gala Christmas Dinner on board. Day 5 Mainz, Germany. This morning relax on board as we cruise towards Mainz, the charming capital of the Rhineland-Palatinate. After lunch on board depart on a walking tour which will include the Hoefchen ( Little Court ), residence of the city s archbishops until the 15th century, the Kirschgarten with its romantic half-timbered houses and Marian-Fountain. Your tour ends with a visit to the Johann Gutenberg Museum, the highlight of the exhibition being a copy of the original, first ever set of printed Bibles. We moor overnight in Mainz. Day 6 Rhine Gorge & Cologne. Depart Mainz early this morning as we cruise along the legendary Rhine. Enjoy the magnificent Rhine Gorge, the striking hill top castles and the legendary Lorelei rock. Arrive into Cologne in the afternoon and depart on a tour to see the city s famous cathedral. The cathedral is the largest Gothic church in northern Europe with a total area of almost 8000 square metres, room for more than 20,000 people and the second tallest spire and largest facade in the world. Day 7 Bonn. After breakfast depart by coach to nearby Bonn. On arrival we will have a tour of this picturesque city s historic centre. We start at the Munsterplatz, where the landmark Munster Basilica was built on the graves of the two martyred Roman soldiers who were later promoted to be the city s patron saints. Its Gothic appearance dates back to the 13th century but the Romanesque origins survive beautifully in the ageing cloister. Also visit Beethoven s House, the city s most famous citizen, born in 1770 at Bonngasse. After some free time here, return to the ship for lunch and spend the afternoon at leisure in Cologne. Sail in the early evening. Day 8 Boppard & Bacharach. Arrive this morning into Boppard, one of the prettiest towns along the Rhine. You will have the morning here to explore at leisure the myriad of cobbled streets and visit the 14th century Carmelite church. Return to the ship and sail. Arrive into Bacharach in the afternoon, a charming and friendly town with historic buildings and the majestic backdrop of Stahleck Castle. Since the Middle Ages, Bacharach, named after Bacchus, the ancient Roman God of wine, has been the most important wine village in the Middle Rhine Valley. Enjoy a wine tasting ashore of the locally produced Rieslings before returning to the ship to sail on towards Strasbourg. Day 9 Obernai, France. After a relaxing morning cruise, we arrive into Strasbourg at around midday. After lunch on board we will depart for the charming little Alsace town of Obernai, located at the foot of Mount St. Odile. The old town includes some beautiful examples of restored Medieval and Renaissance houses, many of them half-timbered. Obernai s most famous monuments are the Renaissance Well of the Six Buckets, the Kappelturm Belfry (60 metres high), the Town Hall and the Corn Exchange Market dating back to 1554. On arrival here enjoy some free time to explore at your own pace, or perhaps sample some of the region s splendid Pinot Gris wine. Return to the ship and sail overnight to Basel. Day 10 Basel, Switzerland. After breakfast today depart for a guided walking tour of Basel, Switzerland s third most populous city and whose borders also meet with France and Germany s. The Medieval appearance
Speyer Christmas market Half-timbered buildings, Obernai of Basel s historic quarter remains as impressive to the locals as it does to the tourists who come here each year and our tour shall pass by its cathedral, the glorious guildhalls, Basel s manor houses and will end with breathtaking views from the top of Munster hill. Return to the ship for lunch and enjoy an afternoon at leisure before we begin our New Year celebrations. Enjoy a Gala Dinner and see in the New Year on the vessel s Sun Deck with a fabulous view of Basel s main fireworks display. Day 11 Basel to Mannheim. Today we shall pass the time gently sailing to our next port of call. Relax on board with a late brunch and while away the time speaking to fellow guests and enjoying the facilities aboard our elegant vessel. Day 12 Heidelberg. From our berth in Mannheim we set off after breakfast for an excursion to the university city of Heidelberg, with its Baroque-style old town and castle, immediately conjuring images of romance and beauty. During our tour, which includes a visit to the city s castle and its castle gardens, we shall stroll through Heidelberg s enchanting old town and see its Renaissance building, Zum Ritter, which survived the fire of 1693. We will return to the vessel in Mannheim for lunch and later in the afternoon depart for nearby Mannheim Castle (or similar) for an exclusive musical performance by a string quartet. Return to the ship for dinner and this evening we sail on towards Oberwesel. Day 13 Oberwesel. Following breakfast, we depart for a morning s excursion of the UNESCO town of Oberwesel, the City of Towers. Here we shall enjoy a guided walking tour, including an exploration of the city walls and towers and also view the town s beautiful gardens and former Franciscan Minorite Monastery before returning to our vessel for lunch. Later this afternoon we sail for Cologne and this evening join your fellow travellers for the Captain s Farewell Gala Dinner. Day 14 Cologne to London. Disembark after breakfast and return to London by scheduled flight. CHRISTMAS OR NEW YEAR If you would prefer to have a shorter festive cruise, it is possible to join the Amadeus Brilliant for a Christmas Cruise from Cologne to Bonn (days 1 to 7 of the itinerary shown) or for a New Year cruise from Bonn to Cologne (days 7 to 14 of the itinerary shown). PRICES PER PERSON Based on double occupancy LAUNCH OFFER SAVE UP TO 400 PER PERSON FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR CHRISTMAS OR NEW YEAR 22nd December 2016 to 4th January 2017 22nd to 28th December 2016 or 28th December 2016 to 4th January 2017 CAT CABIN DESCRIPTION BROCHURE PRICE SPECIAL OFFER PRICE BROCHURE PRICE SPECIAL OFFER PRICE D Haydn Deck twin 3395 2995 2095 1895 C Strauss Deck twin 3695 3295 2195 1995 B Mozart Deck twin 4195 3795 2395 2195 A Mozart Deck suite 4795 4395 2595 2395 D Haydn Deck twin for sole use 3395 2995 2095 1895 C Strauss Deck twin for sole use 3695 3295 2195 1995 Price Includes: Economy class scheduled air travel, 13, 6 or 7 nights aboard the Amadeus Brilliant on full board basis, house wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, shore excursions, Cruise Director, Tour Manager, Guest Speaker, Christmas Day Gala Dinner, New Year s Eve Gala dinner, gratuities, transfers, port taxes, airport taxes. Not Included: Travel insurance. www.noble-caledonia.co.uk +44 (0)20-7752 0000
AMADEUS BRILLIANT For our festive cruise along the Rhine we have chartered the Amadeus Brilliant, a modern and comfortable vessel that provides a home away from home with a friendly crew and an informal atmosphere on board. Built in 2011 to the highest specifications, this four-star vessel carries up to 150 passengers. Your Cabin/Suite The 68 cabins and 8 suites are located across three of the vessel s four decks and are all outside facing. All cabins are well appointed with ample storage space and are either in fixed twin or queen size bed configuration. The cabins feature en suite facilities with shower, flat screen TV, comfortable bedding, hairdryer, safe, telephone and individual climate control. The suites also have a mini bar and bathrobes. Standard cabins on the Strauss and Mozart Decks measure 161.5 square feet and have floor-to-ceiling sliding-glass doors with a French Balcony. Standard cabins on Haydn Deck measure 161.5 square feet and have smaller elevated windows (situated above eye level). The two suites on the Mozart Deck measure 237 square feet and have floor-to-ceiling slidingglass doors with a French Balcony. Windows can be opened on the Mozart and Strauss Decks but not on the Haydn Deck. Your Space Spread over four decks, the ship s public spaces include the Panorama restaurant, which accommodates all guests in one sitting. During your leisure time on board, you may wish to mingle with your fellow travellers in the Panorama Bar & Lounge or indulge yourself with a visit to the hair salon and massage room. The ship s Amadeus Club offers a small library and internet station with complimentary Wi-Fi. The ship has an elevator which services the Haydn, Strauss and Mozart Decks. There is also a large Sun Deck with Lido-Bar, a delightful and pleasant space for fresh air and relaxation with its own lounge chairs, giant chess board and shuffleboard. For the more active, there is a fitness room on board and also complimentary bicycles to use ashore. Your Dining While the most beautiful river scenery passes by, enjoy the delicacies created by the onboard team who take great pride in producing flavourful dishes. The ship s Panorama Restaurant serves a variety of continental and local dishes, accompanied by a selection of house wines, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner. Breakfast is buffet style, lunch is a delightful buffet with hot served choices and dinner is a served, four course affair with a varied selection of starters, main dishes, cheese plates and desserts. Vegetarian dishes are of course available and special dietary needs can be met with advance notice. Suite Cabin
Amadeus Club Restaurant Reception Sun Deck Panorama Bar Life On Board The atmosphere on board is friendly and informal and within days you will have made new friends in the open seating restaurant, on the shore excursions or whilst relaxing in the comfortable public areas. The friendly crew will do their utmost to ensure your stay is enjoyable, informative and agreeable throughout. A daily briefing by the Cruise Director will give you information on the next day s activities and expert, English-speaking local guides provide insider knowledge into the local culture, architecture and history. DECK PLAN AMADEUS CLUB STRAUSS DECK SUN DECK MOZART DECK SUN DECK HAYDN DECK SHOP/LIFT RECEPTION LIDO BAR BRIDGE PANORAMA BAR RIVER TERRACE BAR SHUFFLEBOARD CHESS BOARD MOZART DECK AMADEUS CLUB PANORAMA BAR RIVER TERRACE WC 332 330 328 326 324 322 320 318 316 314 312 310 308 306 304 302 BAR 333 331 329 327 325 323 321 319 317 315 311 309 307 305 303 301 LIFT WC PROMENADE DECK STRAUSS DECK RESTAURANT 236 234 232 230 228 226 224 222 220 218 216 214 212 210 208 206 204 202 231 229 227 225 223 221 219 217 215 211 209 207 205 203 201 SHOP LIFT HAYDN DECK 110 108 106 104 102 FITNESS ROOM 109 107 105 103 101 LIFT HAIR SALON MASSAGE CATEGORY A CATEGORY B CATEGORY C CATEGORY D Dinner in the Restaurant 2 Chester Close, Belgravia, London, SW1X 7BE +44 (0)20 7752 0000 info@noble-caledonia.co.uk www.noble-caledonia.co.uk All special offers are subject to availability. Our current booking conditions apply to all reservations and are available on request. Cover image: The Medieval Bridge and Castle in Heidelberg 08836 NC_070616_T