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Day 1, Saturday
Departure Day
Board your overnight flight to Amsterdam.
Day 2, Sunday D
Arrive in Amsterdam, Holland
Arrive in Amsterdam and transfer to your luxurious river cruise ship moored near the city center. Start discovering the town before meeting your fellow travelers at the Welcome Cocktail Reception. Following dinner enjoy piano music in the beautiful lounge, or head back into town to take in Amsterdam's fascinating nightlife.
Day 3, Monday BLD
Amsterdam
Fitness enthusiasts can opt for an early morning stroll into the city, enjoy the ship's unique walking track or work out in the ship's gym. After a delectable breakfast, admire the wonderful architecture of the city from a guided canal boat tour. Sail in a glass-top boat past beautiful 17th-century homes, charming churches with bell
towers and 16th-century merchant houses. Free time before departing around lunch. Enjoy an afternoon briefing as you cruise towards Germany. Tonight you'll be a guest at the Captain's Gala Welcome Dinner.
Day 4, Tuesday BLD
Cruising: Cologne, Germany-Koblenz
Early riser cruise through fashionable Düsseldorf before arriving in Cologne for a guided morning walking tour through the old part of the city and a visit to the fabled 13th-century Gothic cathedral. At lunchtime continue to 2,000-year-old Koblenz, located at the confluence of the Rhine and the Moselle Rivers. Take an after
dinner walk through this charming town.
Day 5, Wednesday BLD
Rüdesheim
Today sail through dramatic Rhine Gorge, the most beautiful stretch of the river. Every mile along the river you'll admire a different, magnificent castle. Then see the legendary Lorelei Rock, where sweet songs of local beauties lured enchanted sailors to their doom. Arrive in Rüdesheim, the perfect example of a Rhine Valley wine
town. Here, a mini-train takes you to the fascinating Siegfried's MECHANICAL Musical Instrument Museum for a guided tour. During dinner bid farewell to the Rhine and enter the Main River. Tonight's Crew Show will conclude a great day of river cruising.
Day 6, Thursday BLD
Cruising: Miltenberg-Wertheim
Arrive in Miltenberg for a guided morning walking tour along narrow cobblestone streets to view gabled, half-timbered houses. Shop for souvenirs before a coach takes you to charming Wertheim to browse the market square; then board the ship for lunch. The rest of the day, cruise through the sunny valleys of the meandering Main. Listen
to an exciting afternoon presentation about the Main region, relax on the beautiful Sun or Sky Deck or take photos of the lovely towns along the river.
Day 7, Friday BLD
Würzburg
After a morning filled with beautiful Main River scenery, you'll be romanced by Würzburg, "The Pearl of the Romantic Road," surrounded by sloping hills covered with vineyards. During your morning tour, visit the major sights including the magnificent Residential Palace. Your afternoon cruise takes you past charming Volkach, and
through the Franconian wine region on an overnight cruise to Bamberg. After dinner join your fellow travelers in the lounge to listen to an enchanting medieval music performance.
Day 8, Saturday BLD
Bamberg
This morning, enter the Main-Danube Canal at enchanting Bamberg, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. Disembark for a guided tour of this medieval gem. Marvel at the breathtaking cathedral, the Old Town Hall straddling the river, and serpentine streets with charming houses and 18th-century mansions. From here your
coach will take you through the picturesque countryside to rejoin your ship in Erlangen. Continue along the Main-Danube Canal to ancient Nuremberg.
Day 9, Sunday BLD
Nuremberg-Beilngries
Enjoy a guided morning tour of this historic city with its fabulous Gothic churches and elegant patrician houses. See the storybook 900-year-old ramparts, the Imperial Castle and the Justice Palace where the War Crimes Tribunal sat in 1946. At lunchtime, continue to transit the Main-Danube Canal as you arrive at the highest point
of your cruise--1,332 feet above sea level--before you descend through stair-step locks to charming Beilngries, where Bavarian entertainers will come aboard for some hearty "Oompah" music.
Day 10, Monday BLD
Cruising: Danube Gorge-Regensburg
This morning takes you through the final stretch of the fascinating Main-Danube Canal. Arrive in Kelheim and embark on an exciting boat trip through the lovely Danube Gorge to Weltenburg Abbey. Return to your ship in magnificent Regensburg, one of Germany's best preserved medieval cities. A guided tour will show you the city's architectural
highlights, including the Old Town Hall and the Porta Pretoria--gates to an ancient Roman fort built in 179 AD. Marvel at one of the oldest bridges crossing the Danube.
Day 11, Tuesday BLD
Crusing: Passau-Linz, Austria
After breakfast arrive in Passau, where the rivers Inn and Ilz join the Danube. During your walking tour, gaze at this fairy tale city founded more than 2,000 years ago. Or take an optional full-day tour to Salzburg and its most popular Sound of Music sights including the Wedding Church, exquisite Mirabell Gardens, the Great Salzburg
Festival Hall and much more. For those staying on board, enjoy a scenic cruise from Passau into Austria and on to Linz, Austria's third largest city. After dinner, take a walk through this delightful town.
Day 12, Wednesday BLD
Cruising: Melk-Dürnstein
Cruise through the narrow Strudengau and reach the Wachau Valley. A guided tour takes you to Melk's magnificent Benedictine Abbey, one of Europe's largest baroque monasteries. At lunchtime, continue on a short cruise to Dürnstein. Marvel at the magnificent blue façade of the baroque Stiftskirche. Above town you'll spot the ruins of
the castle where Richard the Lionheart, the King of England, was imprisoned in 1192. Your walking tour through medieval cobblestone streets reveals 16th-century town houses and wine taverns. Continue through the romantic Wachau Valley, dotted with magnificent castles and charming riverside towns. Tonight, dress up for the Captain's
Dinner which is followed by the fascinating Crew Show. Tonight arrive in Vienna, the "City of Music."
Day 13, Thursday BLD
Vienna
A guided sightseeing tour includes the lavish Hofburg Palace, the impressive Vienna Opera House, the majestic Ringstrasse and awe-inspiring St. Stephen's Cathedral. Free afternoon to stroll along Kärntnerstrasse or sample Vienna's famous pastries. Tonight explore the vibrant Austrian capital on your own, or come along for an optional
Mozart and Strauss concert.
Day 14, Friday BLD
Bratislava, Slovakia
After midnight, the ship slips away from Vienna and continues to nearby Slovakia. A guided morning tour of Bratislava reveals the city's major sights, including the Old Town Hall, the stunning Mirbach Palace, and Gothic St. Martin's Cathedral. From 13th-century Bratislava Castle you’ll enjoy breathtaking views overlooking three countries--Slovakia,
Austria and Hungary. Free afternoon to shop or explore on your own. This eventful day is followed by an evening filled with an enchanting music performance on board. Before midnight, depart for Hungary.
Day 15, Saturday BLD
Budapest, Hungary
Morning sightseeing includes historic Buda Castle, from where you have a splendid view of the twin cities of Buda and Pest spread over both banks of the river. Your tour also features 500-year-old Matthias Church, St. Stephen's Basilica, distinctive Fisherman Bastion, the marvelous Royal Palace and much more. Your afternoon is free
to explore on your own. Tonight gather on board for a Gala Farewell Dinner with Gypsy violins.
Day 16, Sunday B
Budapest
Your cruise comes to an end as you transfer to the airport. Your homebound flight arrives the same day.
Note: Itinerary operates in reverse on alternate weeks. Itineraries are subject to change due to canal/river conditions and are at the sole discretion of the captain.
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2004 Dates and Rates/Cruise only from
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Regular Season
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May 1*, 8; Jun 5,19; Jul 31; Aug 14; Sept 25; Oct 9
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Single
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Twin
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$4499
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$2999
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* Sails on Symphony. All other departures sail on Artistry.
Port charges of $126 per person, not included.
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As one of the most spacious river cruise ships in Europe, the MS Symphony blends elegance and style with friendliness and unsurpassed service. You'll feel pampered and, perhaps more important, you'll feel relaxed. Upon boarding, you unpack once and spend the rest of the journey enjoying
the sights and the casual camaraderie that river cruising creates.
New in 2003, the Symphony offers 73 staterooms - 69 deluxe cabins and four beautifully appointed suites. The ship can accommodate 146 passengers. Each stateroom offers large windows and beautiful views. A Splash Pool and walking track are just some of the other amenities.
Celebrating her inaugural year, the MS Artistry is the newest river cruise ship in Europe. As you step on board, your eyes are met by a gleaming, two-story lobby lit by a central glass skylight. It's a fitting introduction to the breathtaking views that accompany this modern, spacious vessel.
The 89 staterooms, designed by famous architect Hans Sabert, are some of the largest of any river cruise ship at 172 square feet. Floor to ceiling windows offer scenic views from the comfort of your stateroom. Unique French balconies are found in 70% of the staterooms. Of course, the rest of the ship is equally inviting from
the elegant dining room, to the comfortable lounge and spacious recreation areas.
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Symphony
Artistry
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