Europe Can Still Be Affordable!
For those who have cruised before you know the simplicity of travel that is inherent with this type of vacation. To stay in an elegantly appointed balcony stateroom and watch the scenery pass by as you sip your morning cafe or afternoon cocktail is, well, just icing on the cake. The convenience of unpacking once, having epicurean delights prepared daily, not to mention a variety of premium services available day and night, all the while being effortlessly transported from port to port without having to negotiate the logistics of travel is simply - heaven.
I love to travel independently through Europe, to visit and explore the quaint little towns and soak in the ambience that is so prevalent throughout Europe. To me this is the essence of Europe. I love visiting all things historical, and I adore nature with its resplendent beauty. To me it is amazing at how all these so very different countries have maintained such a true sense of culture - something we lack in America, the great melting pot. My heart's desire would be to live part time in Europe and part time in America - this would be my dream come true.
I am forever looking at ways to get back to Europe and explore this vast region that is always beckoning me. And with the decline of the dollar we must be savvy travelers. We shouldn't have to sacrifice quality just to go, so it is imperative that we find the best value nowadays more than ever. I always explore new travel options to get the best bang for our buck, without sacrificing quality or experience, and I have found that river cruising offers the best value for the type of trip most travelers will appreciate.
I am forever looking at ways to get back to Europe and explore this vast region that is always beckoning me. And with the decline of the dollar we must be savvy travelers. We shouldn't have to sacrifice quality just to go, so it is imperative that we find the best value nowadays more than ever. I always explore new travel options to get the best bang for our buck, without sacrificing quality or experience, and I have found that river cruising offers the best value for the type of trip most travelers will appreciate.
In March 2007 I planned a fabulous river cruise - Windmills and Tulips, a journey that would visit the famous Keukenhof Gardens (open only nine weeks a year) and Kinderkijk Windmills. When I reviewed what was included in the cruise price I was astounded. Private drivers, excursion guides who specialize in each tour provided, admission to the sites visited, all within a small group size. You see river cruising has just 100 - 200 guests on each ship, so what you get is an intimate voyage.
I already know cruising is one of the best values available to travelers, and river cruising to me is a perfect marriage -cruising with a heavy focus on day itineraries in the cities along the way, which is what independent travel is all about.
No more getting on trains, buses or hiring drivers to quickly shuttle you to the sites you want to visit which are typically over 1 ½ hours away. River cruising puts you in the center of the action.
Some days you will disembark at one port, and embark the ship in another at days end. What a fabulous idea!
And it just gets better because, river cruising is offered ALL over the world. Itineraries include Russia, The Baltic Sea, Egypt and the Nile River, South America and the Amazon River, Europe and the countless rivers, and China and the famed Yangtze River.
It is a wonder more of us are not taking advantage of this fabulous travel product especially when you consider that on top of what is offered with a traditional cruise you also get:
- Fine wine with dinner
- Tour excursions with private guides and drivers
- Complimentary ship transfers
- Elegant intimate environment
I did save the best for last, right now Uniworld is offering discounts up to $2200 p/couple on select 2009 sailings - make sure you contact Joyce at Incredible Journey ASAP for more information; jc@incrediblejourney.net as the offers have expiration dates.
Here is a sampling of an itinerary where you can save up to $2200 p/couple - call straight away for details (888-729-6899).
Legendary Rhine and Moselle
Amsterdam to Basel - 14 day Journey
Travel through five amazing countries-Switzerland, Germany, Luxembourg, France and the Netherlands-along two beautiful rivers, and through countless canals, all rich in UNESCO World Heritage Sites. And all along the way gain an intimate insight into the history and cultures that have shaped these regions over the centuries.
Who will enjoy this cruise: There's something on this cruise for everyone, from art aficionados to students of history, to nature lovers and connoisseurs of food and wine - museums, castles, grand architecture, fairy tale villages, spectacular nature, delicate chocolates and full-bodied Rieslings.
| Day 1: | Depart Home Gateway City to Amsterdam |
| DAY 2: | Amsterdam (embark) |
| Arrive in Amsterdam where you'll be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the ship. (D) | |
| DAY 3: | Amsterdam |
| Featured Excursion: Amsterdam city tour and Rijksmuseum | |
| Your panoramic Amsterdam tour takes you through the canal-lined streets to view Mint Tower, Dam Square, the Royal Palace and Museum Square. Visit the renowned Rijksmuseum, which holds the most important collection of Dutch paintings in the world, including Rembrandt's Night Watch. (BB, L, Captain's Welcome Dinner) | |
| DAY 4: | Cologne |
| Featured Excursion: Cologne walking tour and cathedral visit | |
| Start right at the pier for a guided walking tour of Cologne, the art capital of the Rhine. Old Town's narrow streets lead to the cathedral, the city's most famous landmark and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. A visit inside features the Shrine of the Three Magi and the beautiful glass windows that survived WWII. (BB, L, D) Note: On Sundays and Catholic holidays, guided tours inside the cathedral will not be possible. | |
| DAY 5: | Koblenz |
| Featured Excursion: Koblenz walking tour | |
| Irresistible Optional Tour: Enjoy a visit to Marksburg Castle with wine tasting | |
| Arrive in Koblenz, situated on the beautiful corner at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle. Your guided walking tour will highlight the appeal of Koblenz - its romantic narrow streets and historical squares, the picturesque alleyways and fountains in the old quarter and the 12th-century churches of St. Florin and Our Lady. (BB, L, D) | |
| DAY 6: | Cochem |
| Featured Excursion: Visit to Reichsburg Castle and wine tasting hosted by the village vintners at their private estates | |
| Cochem is an architectural gem typical of the Moselle region. Your guide takes you through Cochem's narrow alleys with its lovingly restored half-timbered houses, and also up to gothic Reichsburg Castle. To top it off, we take you to local vintners who proudly present their treasures at their private wine estates. (BB, L, D) | |
| DAY 7: | Trier |
| Featured Excursion: Trier panoramic city tour | |
| Trier is the site of one of the oldest Roman outposts along the Moselle and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A panoramic view from Petrisberg Mountain is the perfect introduction to your guided tour. You'll drive by the ruins of the Roman Imperial Baths, and visit Constantine's throne room. See the well-preserved fortified Roman gate called Porta Nigra. (BB, L, D) | |
| DAY 8: | Wasserbillig (Luxembourg), Trier |
| Featured Excursion: Luxembourg and World War II Cemetery. Free time in Trier. | |
| Our Excursion starts with a panoramic drive to the independent sovereign state of Luxembourg. Your guided tour includes Our Lady Cathedral, the Archduke's Place and a visit to a World War II cemetery, the resting place of General Patton. (BB, L, D) | |
| DAY 9: | Bernkastel |
| Featured Excursion: Walking tour and wine experience | |
| Your day in Bernkastel-with more than 500 years of wine-making history-includes a tour of Old Town, where you'll see many of the famous half-timbered houses, the Slate Tower and the Market Square-one of the most picturesque in Germany. Cap the morning off with a wine tasting of the area's fine Rieslings. Sit back and enjoy the vistas of the meandering Moselle while cruising in the afternoon. (BB, L, D) | |
| DAY 10: | Scenic Cruising Moselle and Romantic Rhine, Rüdesheim |
| Featured Excursion: Gondola ride to Niederwald Monument | |
| Irresistible Optional Tour: Rüdesheim evening with dinner and entertainment | |
| In the morning as you sail to Rüdesheim, you'll enter the most beautiful section of the Rhine River Valley, the scenic 40 miles of the Middle Rhine Valley, a classified UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its vine-filled slopes, its 40 or so castles strung like pearls along the river banks, and the famous Lorelei Rock, this is the perfect example of the romantic Rhine. While in Rüdesheim, a celebrated wine town, you'll enjoy a gondola ride to the Niederwald Monument, commemorating the unification of Germany (BB, L, D) | |
| DAY 11: | Speyer |
| Featured Excursion: Speyer walking tour | |
| Irresistible Optional Tour: Half-day tour of Heidelberg with lunch | |
| Enjoy a walking tour to the Old Town and the grand Speyer Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the final resting place of German emperors. (BB, L, D) | |
| DAY 12: | Strasbourg |
| Featured Excursion: Strasbourg canal cruise | |
| Irresistible Optional Tour: Hot air balloon ride, or Haute Konigsburg Castle | |
| See Strasbourg in the way it has been seen through the centuries-on a canal cruise. In addition to viewing the town's covered bridges and medieval watchtowers, you'll see Petite France, a picturesque district that seems as if it has been lifted from the pages of a fairy tale. (BB, L, Captain's Farewell Dinner) | |
| DAY 13: | Breisach (Colmar), Basel |
| Featured Excursion: Half-day tour of Colmar | |
| Colmar is so quaint you may feel you're on a film set. Follow your guide through its cobblestone streets, which are lined with brightly colored half-timbered houses, and see the well-preserved canal quarter, known as Petite Venice. (BB, L, D) | |
| DAY 14: | Basel (disembark), transfer to airport |
| Disembark the ship and transfer to the airport in Basel for your flight home, or extend your stay to Lucerne! |
