The Great Rivers of Europe (2012)

Amsterdam, the Netherlands • Germany: Cologne, Koblenz, Bamberg, Nuremberg, Passau • Vienna, Austria
  • 15 days
  • from only:
  • $2295
  • $153 per day
    River Cruise Only
  • 16 days
  • from only:
  • $3095
  • $194 per dayIncludes international airfare and government taxes
IN THIS SECTION:
Detailed Itinerary
Video: Travelers' experiences of The Great Rivers of Europe
Oktoberfest: A Celebration 200 Years in the Making
It's Included
Hotel & Ship Accommodations
Pre- & Post-Trip Extensions
Brussels & Bruges, Belgium
Prague, Czech Republic
Vienna, Austria
Optional Tours
Local Team & Insider Tips
Know Before You Go
Your Travel Handbook
Air Information
LearnMore
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Customize your trip

Learn how to customize your River Cruise, or view standard air routing and travel times. The choice is yours with our True Choice program.

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Customize your trip

With our True Choice Program, you can choose to stay longer before or after your trip on your own, or combine two vacations to maximize your value. Here are more ways to create the Grand Circle Cruise Line River Cruise that’s right for you:

  • Choose our standard air routing, or work with us to select the airline and routing you prefer
  • Make your own international flight arrangements directly with the airline, applying frequent flyer miles if available
  • International airport transfers to and from your ship or hotel are available for purchase
  • Stay overnight in a connecting city before or after your trip
  • Request to arrive a few days early to get a fresh start on your vacation
  • Choose to “break away” before or after your trip, spending additional days or weeks on your own
  • Extend your vacation with our optional pre- and post-trip extensions
  • Combine your choice of Grand Circle Cruise Line vacations to maximize your value
  • Upgrade to business or premium economy class

The air options listed above will involve an additional fee of $100 per person for confirmed requests (as well as incremental airfare costs based on your specific choice). This service fee will be waived for Inner Circle/Sir Edmund Hillary Club members.

Or, when you make your reservation, you can choose our standard air routing, for which approximate travel times are shown below.

(Vienna)

GATEWAY

TRAVEL TIME*

Atlanta, Detroit, Newark, Philadelphia, Washington, DC (Dulles)

13hrs

Boston, Chicago, New York (JFK)

12hrs

Dallas, Los Angeles, San FranciscO

15hrs

Denver

20hrs

Houston, Miami

14hrs

Minneapolis, Portland, OR

16hrs

* Estimated total time, including connection and layover. Actual travel time may vary.

The information above reflects approximate flight times from the gateway cities listed to Vienna, Austria. Routing is based on availability and subject to change. You will receive your final air itinerary approximately 14 days prior to departure.

(Amsterdam)

GATEWAY

TRAVEL TIME*

Atlanta, Detroit, Newark, Philadelphia, Washington, DC (Dulles)

13hrs

Atlanta, Miami, Minneapolis

9hrs

Boston, Houston

10hrs

Chicago, Dallas, Denver

13hrs

Detroit

8hrs

Los Angeles, Newark, New York (JFK), Portland, OR, San Francisco, Washington, DC (Dulles)

11hrs

Philadelphia

12hrs

San Diego

14hrs

* Estimated total time, including connection and layover. Actual travel time may vary.

The information above reflects approximate flight times from the gateway cities listed to Amsterdam, Netherlands. Routing is based on availability and subject to change. You will receive your final air itinerary approximately 14 days prior to departure.

REFER and EARN

Earn increasing rewards as a Vacation Ambassador

REFER and EARN as a Vacation Ambassador with
the BEST referral program in the industry

Inspiring new travelers to join the Grand Circle Cruise Line family is a rewarding experience—both for you and your new travelers.

Share your love of travel with others and, for each referral who embarks on a Grand Circle Cruise Line trip, you will earn $100 in CASH or credit. With your 4th referral departing on a 2012 departure, your reward increases to $200 in CASH or credit per person. And once you refer 8 travelers departing in either 2012 or 2013, you'll earn a FREE trip valued up to $4,500 per household—which will bring the total value of your earned rewards up to $5,600.

And you are also passing along savings to your new traveler: We'll instantly deduct $100 off the cost of their reservation when they mention your name and Customer Number while reserving.

To learn more about the benefits of our Vacation Ambassador Referral Program, please call us toll-free at 1-800-221-2610
or click here.

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Post-Trip: Vienna, Austria

3 nights from only $595
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Explore Vienna, a magnificent, culture-rich city that retains the grace and charm that has for centuries helped it stand out among great European cities. This is a city of museums and music, art and architecture, and famous people from a storied past. Walk the streets where Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, and Freud strolled about on their daily business. Once the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Vienna came to symbolize the splendor of an age. You can recapture some of that feeling while wandering among the city’s Baroque palaces and other stunning architecture. Vienna is a feast for the senses that you will not soon forget.

Single Supplement: FREE.

Please note: This extension may not be available on all departures. Ask your Travel Counselor for details.

Vienna is a post-trip extension on the Amsterdam to Vienna itinerary and a pre-trip extension on the Vienna to Amsterdam itinerary.

It's Included

  • Accommodations—for 3 nights at the Superior First-Class Arcotel Kaiserwasser or similar
  • Transportation—complimentary public transportation pass
  • 3 meals—daily buffet breakfast
  • Sightseeing—Vienna city tour
  • Exclusive services of a resident Grand Circle Program Director
  • All transfers


Optional tours

Fling in Grinzing ($90 per person); Best of Vienna ($80 per person)

Day 1
Vienna/City tour/Optional Fling in Grinzing dinner

After breakfast on board the ship, you'll enjoy a tour of Vienna, including the Ringstrasse, probably the greatest achievement of the Emperor Franz Joseph. In 1857, the Emperor ordered the demolition of the ancient city walls, which were no longer needed as fortifications and which were impeding the growth of the city. In their place was constructed an elegant 2.5-mile-long boulevard, encircling the Innere Stadt. The Neoclassical buildings along the Ringstrasse bring together all the greatest architectural styles in an exuberant celebration of all that seemed possible during the Industrial Revolution.

You then walk to a typical Viennese coffeehouse, and stop in for coffee and cake. Our stroll continues along the city sidewalks, passing by the well-known Hofburg Palace, home to many generations of the Habsburg family, and the renowned Spanish Riding School.

The balance of the day is free to relax or do some more exploring on your own. During the afternoon, you can join your Program Director for a walk to get acquainted with the area around your hotel.

Your evening is free to do as you please. Ask your Program Director for exciting suggestions.

Or, join us this evening for an optional tour and dinner with local vintages in the Grinzing wine district at an authentic Heurigen restaurant. You will be taken by bus from Vienna to Grinzing, passing through the vineyards overlooking Vienna. The Heurigen winemaking tradition began when Emperor Joseph II passed a law stating that small local winemakers were allowed to serve their vintages and food to members of the public, so long as they sold only wine of their own making. Many people then opened the gardens of their own homes and small estates, and visiting one of these establishments became a traditional outing for the city dwellers. It's a rich tradition that is maintained today.

Day 2
Vienna/Optional Best of Vienna tour

You have the day at leisure to relax, do some shopping, or explore this unique city on your own. Vienna has served as home and inspiration to some of the world's greatest artists, thinkers, and musicians. You'll see statues of Strauss, Mozart, Beethoven, and Mahler throughout the city, and see how music is such an integral part of Viennese life. The numerous performances of the Vienna State Opera House are the constant talk of the town, and its performers are treated like celebrities. The strains of waltz music emanate from the many cafes, and the entertainment moves outdoors to the sidewalks in good weather.

Or, you may choose to join us for our Best of Vienna optional tour to get to know three completely different faces of Vienna.

Begin by visiting the world-famous Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna State Opera), built by the Emperor Franz Joseph and inaugurated in 1869 with a performance of Mozart's Don Giovanni. The building was almost completely destroyed in the 1945 bombings but was rebuilt and presented its second opening in 1955 with Beethoven's Fidelio. The new ornate Opera House follows the traditional neoclassicism of the original structure, and has been the showplace of choice for world-renowned performers, such as Maria Callas, Jose Carreras, Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, and Jessie Norman.

Then see another side of Vienna with a stop at the Hundertwasserhaus, an expressionist landmark and cutting-edge example of Vienna's 21st-century architecture.

Your optional tour ends with a traditional stop at famous Prater Park. This old-fashioned amusement park was given to the Austrian people by the Emperor Franz-Joseph as a place to have fun. You'll enjoy a thrilling ride on the Riesenrad, the park's giant Ferris wheel. Built in 1897, it is one of the oldest and largest in the world, and became internationally recognized after the famous ride of Orson Welles and Joseph Cotton in the film The Third Man. Please note: When the Vienna State Opera is not available, a visit to another musical venue will be included.

Spend this evening as you wish.

Day 3
Explore Vienna

Enjoy a whole day of leisure to further sample the delights of Vienna. You will receive a day pass for use on the city's public transportation. You can visit the gardens of Maria Theresa Schoenbrunn Palace, or you may want to browse through one of the city's many museums. Perhaps you'll enjoy a visit to the famous Spanish Riding School, known as much for its architecture as for the renowned Lipzzaner horses. Here, you can take a tour and see live riding demonstrations.

You might also want to visit the Imperial Apartments at the Hofburg Palace. Formerly the residence of the Habsburg rulers, the Hofburg contains the 19-room state and residential apartments of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth, which are open to the public. In an impressively staged exhibition, the Sissi Museum seeks to give the visitor an understanding of the myths and reality surrounding the figure of Empress Elisabeth. The Imperial Silver Collection is a fascinating museum containing the porcelain, glass, and silverware once used at the imperial table.

Gather this evening to hear the details of your departure in the morning. Then share memories with your traveling companions during a Farewell Drink at your hotel before enjoying dinner on your own.
Day 4
Vienna/Return to U.S.

After breakfast, you are transferred to the airport for your flight home.