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
Optional Tours
Local Team & Insider Tips
Program Directors
Insider Tips
Know Before You Go
Your Travel Handbook
Air Information
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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.

ALSO SEE:
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Meet our expert, resident Program Directors

Grand Circle’s Program Directors live where you’re traveling; many were raised right in your path. So you’ll gain an insider’s perspective by exploring the world with them. Read on to meet the best of the best.

  • Daniel Dammers

    Resides in: Krems an der Donau, Austria

    With Grand Circle since 2005

  • Rudy Reitsma

    Resides in: Wiener Neudorf, Austria

    With Grand Circle since 1999


Insider Tips bring this trip to life

Vienna, Austria
Figlmueller photo

Unique Food & Drink:
When we’re docked in Vienna, visit Figlmueller (Wollzeile 5)—a restaurant best known for its schnitzel, and a spot both locals and tourists go specifically for this specialty. The restaurant was originally opened by the Figlmueller family as a small wine tavern, where schnitzel was the only item served. Today, the restaurant continues to be run by the Figlmueller family, now in its fourth generation. Waiters, wearing their tuxedos, are known to be quite stubborn and arrogant, but that is part of the restaurant’s charm. I recommend ordering one schnitzel (an average of about 12 euros) with two plates. The schnitzel is huge and it’s rare that one person can eat an entire plate by themselves. There are three locations, but the location at Wollzeile 5 (near Stephansplatz) is the original. The restaurant is open every day from 11am to 10pm, and closed in August.

Daniel Dammers, Program Director, Europe
Germany

Local Culture & Etiquette:
Never try to speak German to a Dutch person or you will become quite unpopular. Many people in the Netherlands still harbor resentment about World War II, and it’s also got to do with a longtime soccer rivalry. We don’t appreciate it when people confuse our national language with German. Better to learn a few phrases in Dutch, or to speak English, which 99% of Dutch people speak quite well.

Rudy Reitsma, Program Director, Europe
Read more Insider Tips

Our local offices give you the inside edge

Count on our local office in Bratislava, Slovakia to oversee every aspect of your trip. The Grand Circle associates here hail from a variety of European nations, and are responsible for managing our River Cruise vacations throughout this historic continent. Whether it’s personally selecting and training our team of more than 100 Program Directors; evaluating every element of your discovery-filled itineraries; establishing long-term relationships with our hotels and vendors; or staffing and maintaining our award-winning European fleet of small ships—they do everything they can to ensure you’ll enjoy the richest and most authentic experiences, at the best possible value. And because our staff lives in Europe, you’ll benefit from their intimate knowledge of local cultures and customs, and enjoy the peace of mind knowing that there’s a Grand Circle office nearby.