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Uniworld River Cruises, Grand European Discovery, River Cruise Vacation Package
Duration: 16 Days / 15 Nights
Priced From: $3,589 pp (Cruise Only)
Dates: Apr, May, Jul, Sep, Oct, Nov
Ship: River Countess
From: Basel to Vienna
Combine two great itineraries, the Rhine Discovery and the Danube Discovery, into one Grand European Discovery. Travel along three majestic rivers, the Rhine, the Main and the Danube, where you’ll be inspired at every turn. Touch history in Switzerland, France, Germany and Austria. Witness the diverse cultural heritage, medieval villages and imperial cities that have developed with the help of these historically significant rivers.
Visit wonderfully-preserved towns offering a glimpse into life as it must have been lived centuries ago. Spend time in magical towns like Miltenberg, with its crooked streets and leaning houses, or Strasbourg’s “Petit France” Quarter lined with canals. Explore legendary landmarks – the Niederwald Monument in Rüdesheim, the 900-year-old Melk Abbey perched atop a cliff on the Danube, and the UNESCO World Heritage Würzburg Residenz Palace. Experience recent history first-hand visiting the World War II sights in Nuremberg. And get a taste of culinary diversity while indulging in wiener schnitzel and apple strudel in Austria, savoring world-class wines from the Wachau Valley, and drinking hearty beers from Germany. These are just a sampling of the many treasures and pleasures that await you on a journey following the flow of the rivers on the Grand European Discovery.
Itinerary
| DAY 1: |
Depart Home Gateway City to Basel |
| DAY 2: |
Basel (embark) |
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Arrive in Basel Airport where you’ll be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the ship. (D) |
| DAY 3: |
Strasbourg, Speyer |
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Featured Excursion: Strasbourg canal cruise |
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Situated halfway between Paris and Prague, the Alsatian town of Strasbourg is known as the “Crossroads of Europe.” It is home to a magnificent gothic cathedral, beautiful half-timbered houses and also the seat of the European Parliament. See Strasbourg in the way it has been seen through the centuries—on a canal cruise. You’ll also see Petite France, the picturesque old quarter that seems as if it has been lifted from the pages of a fairy tale with its timberland houses adorned with flower boxes. (BB, L, D) |
| DAY 4: |
Speyer (Heidelberg), Rüdesheim |
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Featured Excursion: Full-day tour of Heidelberg, Gondola ride to Niederwald Heights |
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Irresistible Optional Tour: Dinner, wine and entertainment at a local restaurant in Rüdesheim |
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Heidelberg, home of Germany’s oldest university and forever immortalized by Sigmund Romberg’s operetta The Student Prince, is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe. Your tour of Heidelberg takes you to the romantic ruins of the courtyard of Heidelberg Castle and through Old Town. Rüdesheim is one of the most scenic wine towns of the Rhine Valley. Upon arrival, board a mini-train for the short trip to the Niederwald Gondola. During the ride and once on top, you will be stunned by scenic vistas of Rüdesheim, the vineyards of the Rheingau and the Niederwald monument, a symbol of German unity, perched on top of the heights. (BB, D) |
| DAY 5: |
Aschaffenburg |
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Featured Excursion: Aschaffenburg Old Town stroll |
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Relax this morning as we cruise the peaceful Main River before docking right in the heart of Aschaffenburg. King Ludwig I called it his “Bavarian Nice” due to its Mediterranean flair. The imposing landmark, the mighty castle “Schloss Johannisburg” and the “Pompeiianum” – a Roman villa rebuilt on plans discovered in Pompeii – are only two of the many examples of the long and rich history of this town which we will discover during our guided Old Town stroll. (BB, L, D) |
| DAY 6: |
Miltenberg |
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Featured Excursion: Miltenberg walking tour |
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Miltenberg, nestled tightly below wooded hills on a bend of the Main River, enjoys a wonderfully photogenic setting. Explore the “Pearl of the Main River” with your local guide. See the half-timbered houses that give the town its fairy tale feel, along with the Crooked House and the famous Royal Inn which has been preparing meals without interruption since the 15th century. |
| DAY 7: |
Würzburg |
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Featured Excursion: Würzburg Residenz and wine tasting |
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Visit Germany’s immaculate example of baroque architecture, the stunning Würzburg Residenz, dating back to 1744 and another breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Site. This magnificent baroque palace with its magnificent gardens is one of the largest and most beautiful in Germany. It was built and decorated in the 18th century by an international team of architects and painters, including Tiepolo, sculptors and stucco-workers. Your tour will be capped off with a tasting of fabulous Franconian wines in the historical Residenz cellar. (BB, L, D) |
| DAY 8: |
Bamberg |
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Featured Excursion: Bamberg walking tour |
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Irresistible Optional Tour: Bamberg beer experience |
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Awake in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Bamberg in the morning. Endowed with one of Europe’s largest intact Old Town centers, you will see the imperial cathedral, the four-winged New Residence, the Town Hall lapped by the River Regnitz and the fisherman’s village, “Little Venice,” on your walking tour. (BB, L, D) |
| DAY 9: |
Nuremberg, Cruising Main-Danube Canal |
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Enjoy a day at leisure, exploring this fascinating city at your own pace. |
| DAY 10: |
Nuremberg |
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Featured Excursion: Nuremberg city tour |
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Today’s tour takes you through Nuremberg, an archetypal German medieval city encircled by mighty defensive walls and red-roofed buildings. The second largest city in Bavaria is the birthplace of Albrecht Dürer and home to world-famous gingerbread and the pocket watch. It is also where the infamous Nazi rallies were held during World War II, and its courthouse (Room 600) held the memorable trials after the war. Discover the sights of Nuremberg during your panoramic tour before exploring the walled Old Town on foot. (BB, L, D) Note: Access to courtroom 600 cannot be guaranteed |
| DAY 11: |
Regensburg |
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Featured Excursion: Regensburg walking tour |
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Regensburg, one of the finest medieval towns in Europe, captures 2000 years of living history with outstanding manmade monuments like the 12th-century stone bridge and the towering gothic cathedral. Our walking tour explores the architectural treasures of Old Town as well as the Cathedral of St. Peter, with magnificent stained glass windows dating back to the 14th century. Genuine Bavarian hospitality adds to the vibrant mix of art and culture of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. (BB, L, D) |
| DAY 12: |
Passau |
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Featured Excursion: Passau walking tour and St. Stephan’s organ concert |
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Irresistible Optional Tour: Venture through the Bavarian forest to the Bavarian Village Museum, or spend an afternoon cycling along the Inn River |
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Passau boasts a delightful layer of Italian style on quintessential German foundations. Explore the well-preserved town and visit St. Stephan’s Cathedral, home to Europe’s largest pipe organ, and site of your organ recital. (BB, L, D) Note: Concert not available before May 2 and after November 1 or on Sundays. |
| DAY 13: |
Melk |
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Featured Excursion: Melk Abbey |
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Upon arrival in Melk, be greeted by the 900-year-old Benedictine abbey situated high atop the granite cliffs of the Danube. The beautiful complex is a masterpiece of baroque art and architecture. During your tour through the abbey complex, the guide will bring history to life as you discover one work of art after another. (BB, L, D) |
| DAY 14: |
Cruising Wachau Valley, Krems, Vienna |
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Featured Excursion: Krems wine experience |
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Start the day with a scenic cruise through the Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape representing one of the most beautiful stretches of river valleys in Europe, en route to Krems. Today, we invite you on a different kind of journey to discover the fascination of wine. We’ll take you to the best traditional and state-of-the-art wine domain where you’ll experience a treat for all the senses, from the vineyards to the cellars. See, feel, smell the wines on a walk through the estate and taste the noble juice of the vine. (BB, L, D) |
| DAY 15: |
Vienna |
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Featured Excursion: Vienna city tour |
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Irresistible Optional Tour: Visit Schönbrunn Palace, and/or enjoy a classical music performance of Mozart and Strauss |
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Vienna’s compact historic city center is an exciting array of cafés and grand places, culminating at the magnificent gothic cathedral. Your city tour will take you along the stately Ringstrasse to the most beloved architectural wonder in all of Vienna, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, where Mozart was married in 1782. On the way you’ll pass Figaro House, where Mozart once lived and wrote The Marriage of Figaro. (BB, L, D) |
| DAY 16: |
Vienna (disembark) |
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Disembark the ship and transfer to Vienna Airport for your flight home. |
Save time, money and stress!
For reservations: Fill out the Uniworld River Cruise vacation planner to be contacted by a Uniworld, Europe River Cruise vacation specialist.
Contact : Travelwizard.com
Phone: 1-800-330-8820 or 1-415-446-5252
11/08
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