Europe : Cruise Paris to Istanbul
A grand European cruise visiting 11 countries and including a fascinating 21 night cruise from Trier, Germany to Romania and Bulgaria, and ending with a 3-night stay at the luxurious Ritz Carlton Hotel in magical Istanbul
Take a grand journey from the chic and elegant heart of Paris to the colourful bazaars of Istanbul. This twenty nine day European river cruise is a tour of the history, culture and beautiful landscapes of an entire continent, from the patisseries of Paris, to the mosques of old Constantinople, your voyage takes you between the Iron Gates, where the Alps meet the Carpathians, through the streets of Vienna, Budapest and Munich, and along the back of the Rhine, the Mosel and the Danube, on a truly epic voyage.
Days 1 to 4 -
PARIS
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At the very core of European culture Paris has shimmered with romance and style for centuries. As well as the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Champs Élysées, and the increasingly popular Musée des égouts de Paris (Paris Sewer Museum), the city of lights is full of delightful attractions which lay just off the beaten path. There are the art cafés at La Rue des Frigos, squares like the Parc de Bercy, and the ferris wheel at Rue de Rivoli which offers fantastic views of the city without the throng of foreign tourists. Four days in Paris is a lifetime of boutiques, beautiful cuisine and relaxation.
Meals included:
Breakfast
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Days 5 to 13 -
GERMANY
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Germany is at the heart of a network of rivers which runs from the Black Sea in Asia through to the North Sea. The country was built along this intricate system of rivers, and today you can tour some of the most scenic, cultural and historic sights from the back of the Mosel, Rhine and Main. In the Mosel region you can sip eiswein after a tour of the fairytale castles, at Trier you can see the elegant pink façade of the Trier Palace, and in the ancient city of Passau there are the Roman relics and the places of pilgrimage.
Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Days 14 to 16 -
AUSTRIA
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Vienna is the jewel in Austria’s crown. The city rings with the majesty of the Hapsburg Monarchy, and from the Ringstrasse to the Wiener Staatsoper, Vienna is rich in culture, art and romance. During summer the Viennese parks come alive with the sounds of Strauss being played and in the winter you can explore the magic of the Christkindlmarkt (Christmas market). Do not be surprised if outside of the city you feel tempted to get off the boat and cycle or walk through the countryside. Austria is beautiful and over half of the country is scenic mountain ranges so one of the best ways to explore is on foot.
Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Days 17 to 18 -
HUNGARY
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Hungary is famous for its horse culture, its plains and a history of political turmoil, but it is also the home of non-Euclidean geometry, the particle accelerator and Rubik’s cube. Gazing across the Hungarian countryside it is easy to see how it has been so inspiring and Budapest, the capital, ranks amongst the great cities of the world. In the spring Budapest hosts a jazz festival organised by the Palace of Arts but all year round you can find culture and art sitting on the corner of every street.
Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Days 19 to 22 -
CROATIA AND SERBIA
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As the Danube winds along the border of Serbia and Croatia we will be visiting both banks to make the most of the neighbouring countries. One of the highlights of this stretch of the river is the city of Belgrade which straddles the confluence of the Sava and Danube. Belgrade is the Serbian capital of culture, education, science and economy; and as a result of its tumultuous history has been a crucible of cultures and influences which has resulted in one of the finest cities along the river.
Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Days 23 to 25 -
BULGARIA AND ROMANIA
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Where the Carpathian Mountains meet the Alps there are gorges of outstanding beauty known as the Iron Gates. Having passed through these we will continue to offer excursions to both sides of the river visiting Bulgaria and Romania including the Parliament Palace in Bucharest which is the largest palace in the world, with over 1100 individual rooms and more under construction. On the other side of the river we take a tour overland through the sights of rural Bulgaria to Veliko Tarnovo, the country’s old capital which is awash with historical artefacts, before moving on to our final goal; Istanbul.
Meals included:
Breakfast
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Days 26 to 29 -
ISTANBUL
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Istanbul is an amazing city. On the edges of Europe and Asia it is the only city to straddle two continents and has been at the heart of global politics for centuries. Areas of Istanbul have been categorised as UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the whole city was nominated to be the 2010 European Capital of Culture. The city’s admirers are spread across the globe, from the culture to the cuisine it is a place of beauty. Napeolean Bonaparte is credited with saying “If the Earth were a single state Istanbul would be its capital.”
Meals included:
Breakfast
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This tour also departs in reverse order, depending on departure dates
We also provide luxury
Christmas market cruises.
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