Magnificent Europe with Paris & London For Music & Opera Admirers - Westbound

See the highlights of Central Europe on this enchanting river cruise vacation. Guided sightseeing in each city is conducted by Certified Local Guides and shows you the must-see sights.

In Regensburg, we’ll introduce you to some of Germany’s famous beers, and there’s wine tasting in Austria’s Wachau Valley. Visit Vienna, charming Dürnstein, Regensburg, Nuremberg, medieval Bamberg, picturesque Rüdesheim, and Cologne. Also enjoy inside visits of Bratislava’s gothic St. Martin’s Cathedral, the amazing Benedictine Abbey of Melk, and Würzburg’s Bishop’s Residenz. Cruise through the dramatic Rhine Gorge past the legendary Lorelei rock; glide past quaint towns, beautiful scenery, and historic buildings along the Danube, Main and Rhine Rivers; and enjoy a scenic cruise through the delightful canals of Amsterdam.

After disembarking your Avalon cruise ship in Amsterdam, we transfer you by high-speed train to Paris for your exciting Monograms extension. We’ve arranged your hotel reservations, daily breakfasts, sightseeing with local experts, transfers to and from your hotels and train stations, and more. Plus, we know you may not be familiar with the cities, so we’ve arranged the services of friendly and knowledgeable Local Hosts® to answer questions, share inside information, help arrange your activities and excursions, and make you feel right at home. The moment you arrive in Paris, you’ll feel the magic. We know the very best place to photograph the iconic Eiffel Tower, and we’ll take you there to get your shots! You’ll go to Notre Dame Cathedral to admire its amazing stained-glass Rose Window and the Louvre museum to see Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and other treasures. Enjoy free time in the “City of Light” to hunt for the many celebrity tombstones in the Père Lachaise Cemetery, take a French cooking lesson, or enjoy a cabaret show at the world-famous Moulin Rouge. Next, bid “Au Revoir” as a high-speed train whisks you from Paris to London for three nights and plenty of time to investigate just what makes England so jolly. You’ll hear the inside stories of places like Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament. You’ll go inside St. Paul’s Cathedral, the iconic cathedral where Prince Charles and Lady Diana were married. You’ll also see Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, and Piccadilly Circus—just to name a few iconic London landmarks. With your free time in London, you may want to ride the London Eye, shop at the iconic Harrods department store, or take in a West End theater show.

For specific details on this special interest river cruise, please view the day-by-day itinerary.

City Highlights

Day 1 Budapest (Embarkation): welcome receptionDay 2 Budapest: guided sightseeing, see Fishermen’s Bastion and Heroes’ Square, visit the Opera House Day 3 Bratislava: guided sightseeing, visit St. Martin’s CathedralDay 4 Vienna: guided sightseeingDay 5 Krems–Melk: guided walk in Krems; cruise through the Wachau Valley; guided visit of the Benedictine Abbey; wine tastingDay 6 Passau: choice of Passau guided walk or full day excursion to Salzburg with lunch includedDay 7 Regensburg: guided walk; enjoy a snack at the Historische Wurstküche; choir concertDay 8 Roth–Nuremberg: choice of guided sightseeing in Nuremberg or Nuremberg Rally Grounds tour or guided sightseeing of RothDay 9 Bamberg: guided walk, see the Old Town HallDay 10 Würzburg: guided sightseeing, visit the Bishop’s ResidenzDay 11 Main River Village: guided walkDay 12 Rüdesheim–Rhine Gorge: visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum; enjoy a special treat; cruise through the Rhine GorgeDay 13 Cologne: choice of guided walk or Jewish Heritage walkDay 14 Amsterdam: canal cruiseParis & London: 6 nights hotel accommodation with buffet breakfast (B); Monograms Local Host Service & Destination Guides with city maps; guided sightseeing, inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE; high-speed Thalys train (first class) from Amsterdam to Paris; high-speed Eurostar train (Standard class*) from Paris to London (porterage available for one suitcase on Paris– London stretch only); transfers to/from train stations*NOTE: Upgrade option available on Eurostar

Notes

In the event of water level problems or any problems of a technical nature, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or to alter the program.Included visits and special features are subject to change. If a change becomes necessary, a substitute will be offered.Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.In the event that a high-speed train is not available due to strikes or technical reasons, the route will be operated by motorcoaches.

PRODUCT_LINE: AVALON-WBA1-T1-2018