Arts Club Tour 2018 Cruising Switzerland to Holland A 15 day vacation featuring a 13 Day River Cruise from Zurich to Amsterdam on board the Avalon Visionary 27 September 11 October, 2018 BC Reg 3231-4
Day 1, Thursday, September 27: Depart Vancouver for Zurich with your choice of airline Day 2, Friday, September 28: Arrive in Zurich Welcome to Switzerland, home of the Matterhorn and the majestic Alps. An overnight stay at the Movenpick Airport Hotel is included due to late arrival of flights. The hotel offers an airport shuttle service to the hotel for an evening to relax from your flight. Day 3, Saturday, September29: Transfer to Basel (Embarkation) Today is your first full day in Switzerland. You will transfer by motor coach to Basel, where the Avalon Visionary is docked. Meet your crew at an evening welcome reception. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 4, Sunday Morning, September 30: Breisach, Germany Excursion to the Black Forest Located at the foot of Kaiserstuhl Mountain on the French-German border, Breisach is the gateway to Germany s Black Forest region, an area of unrivaled natural beauty with its forests of thick pine trees. The area got its name from the Romans because from a distance the forest looked black. Surely the most well-known products from this region are cuckoo clocks, Black Forest ham, and Black Forest cherry cake. Choose to visit the workshop of a local woodcarver and clock maker and purchase some locally made souvenirs or visit an open-air museum to see just how life was lived centuries ago in this area. (B, L, D)
Day 4, Sunday Afternoon, September 30: Breisach, Germany Excursion to Colmar, France Arts Club Featured Event: Colmar, France This afternoon with a featured Arts Club event, enjoy Colmar, which was founded in the 9 th century and was declared a free imperial city by Emperor Frederick II in 1226. The city was conquered by King Louis XIV in 1673, only to be annexed by the new German Empire in 1871 as a result of the Franco-Prussian War, and then to be returned to France after WW I, then again annexed by Germany under the Nazis in 1940 and then finally ended up back under French control after WW II. One result of such a recent tumultuous national history is that Colmar cuisine is heavily influenced by both French and German culinary traditions. Only a short distance from Breisach, Colmar s old town is set along a peaceful canal giving it its reputation as the Little Venice of Alsace. With its cobblestone streets, mixture of French and German building styles, such as half-timbered medieval housing, as well as early Renaissance buildings and its pedestrian friendly atmosphere, Colmar is a lovely place to spend an afternoon or longer. The city is also on the Alsace Wine Route, with local vineyards specializing in Riesling and Gewürztraminer wines.
Day 5, Monday, October 1: Strasbourg, France This morning wake up in Strasbourg. Situated on the border of France and Germany, Strasbourg blends the cultures of both countries in a delightful way. As capital of the Alsace region and seat of the Council of Europe and European Parliament, it is without a doubt an important city that manages to retain its historic charm. On your guided sightseeing tour, visit the monumental redsandstone gothic cathedral with its ancient murals, stained-glass windows, and fascinating astronomical clock, as well as the magical La Petite France district, home to half-timbered houses, quaint shops, inviting bistros, and a waterfront promenade. Also spend time exploring Place Kléber, a large historic square in the heart of the city, and Place Gutenberg in the heart of medieval Strasbourg, which features a statue of the inventor of the printing press. An optional excursion into the Alsace wine country is available. (B, L, D)
Day 6, Tuesday, October 2: Speyer Excursion to Heidelberg Enjoy a leisurely morning in Speyer, one of Germany s oldest cities, and explore the town at your own pace. Located on the left bank of the Rhine, Speyer was a bishopric and boasts a Romanesque cathedral with six imposing towers and the finest and largest crypt in Germany. This afternoon, an excursion takes you to Heidelberg, home to the oldest university in Germany, founded in 1386. Visit the imposing ruins of Heidelberg Castle, towering magnificently over the city and among the most important Renaissance structures north of the Alps. (B, L, D)
Day 7, Wednesday, October 3: Rüdesheim Rhine Gorge This morning discover pretty Rüdesheim, a quintessential Rhine Valley wine town. Visit Siegfried s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum, where you ll see and hear a large collection of self-playing calliopes and music boxes from the 18 th to the early 20 th centuries. Enjoy a special treat, then there s free time to pick up some souvenirs on the narrow, cobblestoned Drosselgasse, where colorful flowers, open-air wine gardens, and live music add to the festive atmosphere. Then, downstream from Rüdesheim you will enter the Rhine Gorge, the most beautiful stretch of river (see map next page). Enjoy a relaxing afternoon on board sailing past ancient castles standing sentry on lofty cliffs rising 400 feet above the waters. Cruise past the legendary rock of the Lorelei, where echoes of enchanted siren song lured unwitting sailors to their doom. Leaving the Rhine Gorge, you will enter the Moselle River at Koblenz. The Moselle is some 500 kilometers long, rising in the Vosges Mountains of northeastern France and entering Germany at Trier. (B, L, D)
Day 8, Thursday, October 4: Koblenz At the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers, 2,000-year-old Koblenz is the cultural and business center of the Middle Rhine region. Join a local guide for a walking tour of the city, which reveals an eventful past through its castles, fortress walls, towers, squares, and monuments. The afternoon is at your leisure. In your free time, you might consider taking the cable car from the German Corner up to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress and its panoramic view of Koblenz and the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. (B, L, D)
Day 9, Friday, October 5: Bernkastel The entire Moselle Valley is famous for its beautiful and tranquil scenery, and in the middle of the region is the charming wine village of Bernkastel with its narrow streets and half-timbered houses that have stood since the Middle Ages. Enjoy a guided walk that includes the beautiful marketplace with its renaissance-style town hall built in 1608 and the pointed house, built in 1416. Wine growers in this area look after Germany s largest expanse of vineyards, the most celebrated of the vintages being the Bernkasteler Doktor. This afternoon, enjoy a tasting of some of the well-loved regional German wines. (B, L, D)
Day 10, Saturday, October 6: Thionville, France Excursion to Metz Today, the choice is yours. Join an excursion to Metz, a city with a rich history and many cultural and architectural gems, including some lovely stained glass windows by Marc Chagall in the cathedral; or alternatively, history buffs might prefer to participate in the excursion to a nearby area of the Maginot Line, which stretched from Switzerland to the Belgian border. The line was composed of huge fortresses with smaller defense posts or simple blockhouses. Return to your vessel in time for lunch. The afternoon is free with the possibility to join optional excursions. (B, L, D)
Day 11 (morning), Sunday, October 7: Remich, Luxembourg Excursion to Luxembourg City Because of its location and natural geography, Luxembourg City has been a place of strategic military significance throughout history; the first fortifications were built as early as the 10 th century. The city center occupies a picturesque site, perched high on precipitous cliffs that drop into the narrow valleys of the Alzette and Pétrusse Rivers. This morning, a local guide will acquaint you with this city whose layout is complex as it is set on two levels, straddling hills and dropping into the two river valleys. (B, L, D)
Day 11 (afternoon), Sunday, October 7: Grevenmacher Excursion to Trier, Germany At the head of the Moselle Valley is Trier, Germany s oldest city. Some say Trier is even older than Rome and that it was populated over a thousand years before the Romans arrived. Many Roman remains have survived, including a 20,000-seat amphitheater; the Porta Nigra, the only surviving fortified gate from the original Roman settlement, which still gives access to the town s center; imperial baths; and the Roman Bridge, Germany s oldest bridge with stone pilings dating from 144-152 AD all evidence of this once grand Roman city. Trier also offers pleasant market squares, Germany s oldest Christian church, and a cornucopia of architectural styles Roman, baroque, neo-classicism, renaissance, and gothic. A choice of guided city sightseeing or the more history-focused Roman Trier guided tour, followed by some free time, gives you the opportunity to discover this magnificent town. (B, L, D)
Day 12, Monday, October 8: Beilstein Treis-Karden and Excursion to Eltz Castle A leisurely day today, with free time this morning to explore the quaint little town of Beilstein. Then, after a short sail, this afternoon visit medieval Eltz Castle, still owned by a branch of the family who lived there in the 12 th century. (B, L, D)
Day 13, Tuesday, October 9: Cologne, Germany Arrive in Cologne this morning. One of Germany s largest cities and capital of the Rhineland, Cologne straddles both sides of the Rhine and is known for its soaring, twin-steepled gothic cathedral, home of the reliquary of the Three Wise Men. Choose between an included guided city walk or Jewish Heritage Walk. Later, during free time, perhaps look in on the Romano- Germanic Museum, home to a large collection of artifacts from the Roman settlement on which modern Cologne is built - a must for history buffs! The Old Town abounds with cafés, shops, and taverns. Be sure to try a Kölsch pale lager, locally brewed in Cologne for over a hundred years! Before lunch, set sail for Holland and enjoy a relaxing afternoon of cruising. (B, L, D)
Day 14, Wednesday, October 10: Amsterdam This morning, dock in Amsterdam. After breakfast, set out to discover the treasures of this city with a unique perspective on an included canal cruise, floating along the elegant canals lined with stately homes dating back to Amsterdam s Golden Age. The afternoon is free to explore on your own or join in one of a number of optional excursions on offer. (B, L, D) Day 15, Thursday, October 11: Amsterdam (Disembarkation) Your holiday ends after breakfast this morning. (B) * Italicized activities are included.
What is included: Captain s welcome and farewell receptions with sparkling wine and canapés Welcome dinner Daily afternoon tea Farewell dinner Complimentary sparkling wine with breakfast Complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner while on board Daily sightseeing tours as outlined in the itinerary Arts Club included events and benefits Afternoon tour of Colmar An Arts Club complimentary cocktail party Arts Club group port charges complimentary, a savings of $448 per person Gratuities included, a saving of $250 per person Several of the social areas of the Avalon Visionary
Panorama Suite (Categories A & P) - 200 sq. ft. Photo shown is representative of staterooms in the category Features: Comfort Collection Beds Luxurious mattress toppers Egyptian super-combed cotton linens Soft & firm pillows Choice of bed configuration Bedside tables with reading lamps Hairdryer Spacious 3-door closets with shelves for ample storage Flatscreen satellite TV with movie channel Make-up mirror Bathrobes & slippers Complimentary bottled water Individual climate control Large mirror in bathroom Complimentary Wi-Fi 6-person sitting area Writing desk and chair Sofa European-style duvets Extra blankets Nightly turn-down service Hairdryer L'Occitane bath products Easy under-bed luggage storage Alarm clock Direct-dial telephone Well-stocked minibar In-room safe Elegant, contemporary design Marble countertops in bathroom Wall-to-Wall Panoramic Window with Open-Air Balcony SM Full shower with glass door Vanity and lighted makeup mirror Coffee table
Royal Deck Sapphire Deck Categories Category P: Royal Deck Category A: Sapphire Deck Based on Double Occupancy: Category A: $ 8399 Category P: $ 8599 Based on Single Occupancy: Category A: $$$ on request Book and deposit by March 22, 2018 to receive the free gratuities package. Fare includes an overnight arrival hotel in Zurich (the Movenpick Airport Hotel) for the night of September 28, due to the late arrival of flights. The hotel will offer a complimentary transfer/shuttle from the airport. Breakfast is included at the hotel and transfer from the hotel to the ship in Basel on the 29 th is also included. Fare includes port charges and taxes. If deposited by March 22, 2018, gratuities are also included, a value of $250 per person. Single room availability at a surcharge is very limited and based on availability. A deposit of $250 per person is required at time of booking. Cancellation insurance is recommended at $859 per person to be prepaid at time of reservation. Please see the attached policy regarding insurance offered. Air fare is not included; however, air fares will be available from the cruise line in February and they would then be responsible for transfer to the airport directly from the ship at the end of your cruise in Amsterdam. Availability on this exciting cruise is already very limited. Accordingly, this offer only applies to bookings made, deposited and confirmed by March 22, 2018. Final payment is due June 19, 2018