AVALON – Magnificent Europe – Amsterdam to Budapest – 15 days
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Introduction
Admire Amsterdam before your Avalon Waterways cruise ship sails the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers to Budapest. Enjoy an incredible experience as you sail across central Europe, taking in cities such as Cologne, Vienna and Bratislava, sights such as the Rhine Gorge and Melk’s Benedictine Abbey, and historic towns such as Miltenberg, Bamberg and Nuremberg.
Itinerary
Day 1 Amsterdam. Arrive in Amsterdam where you will be transferred to your cruise ship for 14 nights. Before dinner is served, meet you crew at a welcome reception. (D)
Day 2 Amsterdam. Included today: Canal cruise. Holland’s capital is sophisticated and modern, with a rich and fascinating history. Savour its elegant and classic architecture, cafés, restaurants and lively distinct ambience. There is no better way to see Amsterdam than by canal boat, cruising along elegant grachten lined by stately homes dating back to Amsterdam’s ‘Golden Age’. After your included canal cruise, board your ship and set sail for Cologne. (B, L, D)
Day 3 Cologne. Included today: Choice of Guided city walk or Jewish Cologne tour. Today, arrive in Cologne, one of Germany’s largest cities, with a river skyline dominated by the soaring twin spires of its magnificent Gothic cathedral. This afternoon, choose between an included Guided City Walk or a ‘Jewish Cologne’ tour. The Old Town offers up a great choice of taverns, shops and cafés so be sure to try a Kölsch, the favourite local beer and shop for a bottle of 4711, the original ‘eau de cologne’. (B, L, D)
Day 4 Rhine Gorge – Rüdesheim. Included today: Cruise through the Rhine Gorge: visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. Sail the dramatic Rhine Gorge and pass the legendary Lorelei Rock, where legend has it that the sweet songs of sirens lured enchanted sailors to their doom. In Rüdesheim, visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum and enjoy free time to explore the Drosselgasse. (B, L, D)
Day 5 Miltenberg. Included today: Guided walk. Miltenberg is a picturesque Bavarian village, tucked away behind medieval defensive walls and towered gates. This afternoon’s guided walk introduces the town’s delightful Marktplatz, the splendid Gothic Merchant Hall and Haus zum Riesen (the Giant’s House) – one of the oldest inns in Germany. (B, L, D)
Day 6 Würzburg. Included today: Guided sightseeing, visit the Bishop’s Residenz. Würzburg is surrounded by steep, verdant vineyards and is well known as the ‘Pearl of the Romantic Road’. It makes an immediate impression with views of its beautiful Marienberg Fortress and 15th century Old Main Bridge. Today’s guided sightseeing tour visits the magnificent Bishop’s Residenz, home to the largest ceiling fresco ever painted. (B, L, D)
Day 7 Bamberg. Included today: Guided walk, see the Old Town Hall; beer tasting. Arrive in Medieval Bamberg which is a beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy a walking tour of its breathtaking cathedral, the Old Town Hall, which straddles the River Regnitz, and its serpentine streets with charming houses and 18th century mansions. Before dinner, sample some of Germany’s famous beers. (B, L, D)
Day 8 Nuremberg. Included today: Choice of guided sightseeing or Nuremberg Trials tour; beer tasting. Although Nuremberg suffered extensive damage during World War II, much of it has been restored to its original style. Marvel at this historic city with its fabulous Gothic churches, Kaiserburg Imperial Castle and elegant patrician houses on an included guided sightseeing tour or perhaps join the more specialised ‘Nuremberg Trials’ tour. This afternoon, learn more about the fascinating Main-Danube Canal at our included on board lecture. (B, L, D)
Day 9 Regensburg. Included today: Guided walk. Regensburg is one of Germany’s best-preserved medieval cities. Its architectural highlights include the Porta Pretoria — gates to an ancient Roman fort built in 179AD and the Old Town Hall. The city is the capital of Upper Palatinate, a bustling university town, and one of Bavaria’s cultural centres. It is here you will find Germany’s oldest restaurant, the 12th century Historische Wurstküche (Old Sausage Kitchen). (B, L, D)
Day 10 Passau – Linz. Included today: Guided walk in Passau. Ideally located at the confluence of the Rivers Inn, Ilz and Danube, Passau is a city of graceful arcades and cobblestone streets lined with beautiful patrician houses. Explore the highlights on a guided walk and see St Stephen’s Cathedral, a masterpiece of Italian Baroque architecture, houses one of the world’s largest church organs with more than 17,000 pipes. This afternoon, cruise to Linz. Alternatively, join an optional full-day excursion to either Salzburg, to take in the popular ‘Sound of Music’ sights, or Cesky Krumlov, a UNESCO town in the Czech Republic. (B, L, D)
Day 11 Melk – Durnstein. Included today: Guided visit of Melk’s Benedictine Abbey; Guided walk in Dürnstein, see the Stiftskirche. Enjoy a day of charming towns and lovely scenery. First, this morning’s guided visit explores Melk’s magnificent 11th century Benedictine Abbey, one of Europe’s largest monasteries. Next, head to the heart of the Wachau wine region and to Dürnstein, known for its baroque blue Stiftskirche. Above the town are the ruins of the castle where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned in 1192. This evening, set sail for Vienna. (B, L, D)
Day 12 Vienna. Included today: Guided sightseeing. Vienna, known as the ‘City of Music’, inspired the creative genius of Mozart, Strauss and Beethoven and was once the centre of the mighty Habsburg Empire. Vienna is a showcase of gilded architecture. See the lavish Hofburg Palace, the impressive Vienna Opera House, the majestic Ring Boulevard and awe-inspiring St Stephen’s Cathedral on a guided tour. Shop on the Kärntnerstrasse and enjoy Sachertorte or Apfelstrudel in a local café. Tonight, an optional concert is available. (B, L, D)
Day 13 Bratislava. Included today: Guided walk, visit St Martin’s Cathedral. Today, visit Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. Your guided walk with a Local Guide explores the charming Old Town with its winding cobbled streets, the old stone Town Hall and the Gothic cathedral of St Martin. (B, L, D)
Day 14 Budapest. Included today: Guided sightseeing, see Fisherman’s Bastion. Cosmopolitan Budapest spans the banks of the Danube and is connected by seven bridges linking ancient Buda on the right bank with Pest on the left. See the massive hilltop castle complex with Fisherman’s Bastion and Matthias Church and shop for renowned peasant embroidery, Herend porcelain, and paprika. (B, L, D)
Price & dates
All prices and supplements are per person. The prices and departure dates listed in the table below do not show live availability therefore may not be up-to-date. To find out the latest availability please call us on 0800 612 5677 for information.
Departure Date | Booking Code | Your Ship | Price | |
---|---|---|---|---|
28 Mar 2015 | WAB4 | Avalon Illumination | £2139 | Limited Availability |
05 May 2015 | WAB1 | Avalon Expression | £3689 | |
08 May 2015 | WAB2 | Avalon Panorama | £2009 | Includes saving of £1,700 per person |
19 May 2015 | WAB3 | Avalon Vista | £2009 | Includes saving of £1,700 per person |
22 May 2015 | WAB | Avalon Impression | £3757 | |
05 Jun 2015 | WAB2 | Avalon Panorama | £3677 | |
16 Jun 2015 | WAB1 | Avalon Expression | £1989 | Includes saving of £1,700 per person |
19 Jun 2015 | WAB4 | Avalon Illumination | £1989 | Includes saving of £1,700 per person |
30 Jun 2015 | WAB3 | Avalon Vista | £1965 | Includes saving of £1,600 per person |
03 Jul 2015 | WAB | Avalon Impression | £1965 | |
17 Jul 2015 | WAB2 | Avalon Panorama | £3676 | |
28 Jul 2015 | WAB1 | Avalon Expression | £2015 | Includes saving of £1,600 per person |
11 Aug 2015 | WAB3 | Avalon Vista | £3659 | |
14 Aug 2015 | WAB | Avalon Impression | £3659 | Limited Availability |
14 Aug 2015 | WAB4 | Avalon Illumination | £3658 | |
28 Aug 2015 | WAB2 | Avalon Panorama | £3809 | |
08 Sep 2015 | WAB1 | Avalon Expression | £3920 | |
11 Sep 2015 | WAB4 | Avalon Illumination | £3920 | |
22 Sep 2015 | WAB3 | Avalon Vista | £3870 | |
25 Sep 2015 | WAB | Avalon Impression | £3809 | Limited Availability |
21 Dec 2015 | WAB3 | Avalon Vista | £3105 |
Save up to £1,700 per person on selected dates. Prices shown include savings and are subject to availability
Upgrade supplements
Category | Deck | Panorama, Vista Impression, Illumination Expression |
---|---|---|
D | Indigo | £225 |
B | Sapphire | £1089 |
A | Sapphire | £1149 |
P | Royal | £1275 |
Suite | Royal | £2099 |
Travel Options
Prices are based on flights from Heathrow with British Airways. Flights are also available at a supplement from Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Humberside, Leeds Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle and Norwich.
The Avalon experience

Included Highlights
- AMSTERDAM Canal Cruise
- COLOGNE Guided sightseeing
- RHINE GORGE Cruise through the gorge
- RÜDESHEIM Visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum
- MILTENBERG Guided sightseeing
- WÜRZBURG Guided sightseeing; visit the Bishop’s Residenz
- BAMBERG Guided sightseeing, see the Old Town Hall
- MAIN-DANUBE CANALCruise on the canal
- NUREMBERG Guided sightseeing
- REGENSBURG Guided sightseeing; beer tasting
- PASSAU Guided sightseeing
- MELK Guided visit of the Benedictine Abbey
- DÜRNSTEIN Guided walk, see the Stiftskirche
- VIENNA Guided sightseeing
- BRATISLAVA Guided sightseeing, visit St Martin’s Cathedral
- BUDAPEST Guided sightseeing, visit Fisherman’s Bastion
- WELCOME RECEPTION, CAPTAIN’S RECEPTION AND FAREWELL DINNER
Included in the price
- Private door-to-door home pick-up service by executive car for you and your travelling companions
- Flights from London Heathrow with British Airways; regional flights at a supplement
- 14 nights deluxe accommodation in a spacious stateroom with hotel-style beds, ensuite facilities and river views. Floor to ceiling sliding glass doors and a French Balcony in most staterooms
- All meals on board including full breakfast , buffet lunch and waiter service dinner with quality wines from Europe’s most famous wine regions; afternoon tea with cakes and sweet treats; a choice of teas and coffees throughout the day
- Included excursions and sightseeing trips with Local Guides and a choice of optional tours; headsets provided on excursions
- Services of an experienced Cruise Director
- Gratuities for Cruise Director and crew
- On board lectures, activities and nightly piano music
- Welcome reception, Captain’s Reception and Farewell Dinner
- All transfers, local port charges and airport taxes
- A choice of pre- or post- holiday extensions