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GCCL TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDE Eastern Europe to the Black Sea 2021 Learn how to personalize your experience on this vacation Grand Circle Cruise Line® The Leader in River Cruising Worldwide 1 Grand Circle Cruise Line ® 347 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210 Dear Traveler, At last, the world is opening up again for curious travel lovers like you and me. Soon, you’ll once again be discovering the places you’ve dreamed of. In the meantime, the enclosed Grand Circle Cruise Line Travel Planning Guide should help you keep those dreams vividly alive. Before you start dreaming, please let me reassure you that your health and safety is our number one priority. As such, we’re requiring that all Grand Circle Cruise Line travelers, ship crew, Program Directors, and coach drivers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at least 14 days prior to departure. Our new, updated health and safety protocols are described inside. The journey you’ve expressed interest in, Eastern Europe to the Black Sea River Cruise Tour, will be an excellent way to resume your discoveries. It takes you into the true heart of Eastern Europe, thanks to our groups of 38-45 travelers. Plus, our Eastern European Program Director will reveal their country’s secret treasures as only an insider can. You can also rely on the seasoned team at our regional office in Bratislava, who are ready to help 24/7 in case any unexpected circumstances arise. Throughout your explorations, you’ll meet local people and gain an intimate understanding of the regional culture. Join a Croatian family in their home for a Home-Hosted Dinner, where you’ll learn about everyday life and sample traditional cuisine; and chat with a Serbian gypsy to gain insight into the stigma facing Europe’s gypsies—and how modern gypsies are paving the way for a new future for their people. Plus, a portion of our proceeds goes toward the charitable efforts of Grand Circle Foundation: inside you’ll also see how your travel dollar helps make the world a better place. We understand that no two people are the same. That’s why more than 80% of our travelers take advantage of the freedom to personalize their experience. Join the 63% of travelers who extend their time abroad. Add the pre-trip extension to Czech Republic: Prague or Austria: Vienna, post-trip extension to Romania: Transylvania, or a combination of these extensions to your European vacation. I hope you find this Grand Circle Travel Planning Guide helpful. If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to contact one of our Travel Counselors at 1-800-221-2610. Warm regards, Harriet R. Lewis Vice Chairman Overseas Adventure Travel P.S. For further peace of mind, please know that we are EXTENDING our Risk-Free Booking Policy through 12/31/21. Learn more at www.gct.com/riskfree-booking. 2 WHAT’S INSIDE TRIP SUMMARY It’s Included . 4 Departure Dates and Prices . 5 Deck Plans. 6 Freedom to Personalize Your Experience . 8 DETAILED DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY . .9 ESSENTIAL TRAVEL INFORMATION . 33 Travel Documents & Entry Requirements . 35 Rigors, Vaccines & General Health . 38 Money Matters: Local Currency & Tipping Guidelines . 41 Air, Optional Tours & Staying in Touch . 47 Packing: What to Bring & Luggage Limits . 51 Climate & Average Temperatures . 57 Aboard Your Ship: Cabin Features, Dining & Services . 61 About Your Destinations: Culture, Etiquette & More. 66 Demographics & History . 82 Resources: Suggested Reading & Movies . 95 Health & Safety Measures – Vaccines Required . 104 MAP . 107 3 Eastern Europe to the Black Sea Hungary: Budapest | Croatia: Batina, Osijek, Vukovar | Serbia: Novi Sad, Belgrade | Bulgaria: Vidin, Ruse | Romania: Constanta, Bucharest Countries: 5 | Cities: 10 | 10 Nights Aboard Our Privately Owned 162-passenger M/S River Aria or M/S River Adagio Parliament Building, Budapest, Hungary Explore five Eastern European countries—Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania—from the Danube to the Black Sea IT’S INCLUDED $ 14 days from 4295 International airfare, airport transfers, government taxes, fees, and airline Including international airfare fuel surcharges, unless you choose to make your own air arrangements from New York Accommodations for 10 nights aboard a private river ship with wireless Travel from only $307 per day Internet access now in all common areas and cabins, and 2 nights at the Sheraton Bucharest or similar $ 33 meals: 12 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 11 dinners—including 5 meals in local 13 days from 3095 restaurants—plus onboard house beer & wine, as well as soft drinks River Cruise Tour only 7 included tours with personal headsets and 4 Exclusive Discovery Travel from only $239 per day Series events—Home-Hosted Lunch • Gypsy conversation • Life Under Communism conversation • Danube-Black Sea Canal transit & conversation Single Supplement: $ 595 Local Program Directors, a Grand Circle Cruise Line exclusive: Our dedicated experts are with you and your group of 38-45 travelers from MAXIMIZE YOUR beginning to end to provide an insider’s knowledge and perspective DISCOVERIES & VALUE Gratuities for local guides and motorcoach drivers OPTIONAL EXTENSION S All port charges all with FREE Single Supplements Baggage handling for 1 piece of luggage per person, including tips Prague, Czech Republic 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward your next trip 4 nights pre-trip from $945 Vienna, Austria 3 nights pre-trip from $795 Transylvania, Romania To get a richer view of the Included Features on this trip, 4 nights post-trip from $695 watch our Trip Itinerary video at www.gct.com/lbs2021 Eastern Europe to the Black Sea 4 EASTERN EUROPE TO RISK-FREE BOOKING POLICY: RESERVE WITH CONFIDENCE—NOW THROUGH 12/31/21 THE BLACK SEA We will waive any change fees if you transfer to another departure date for any reason—up until 24 hours prior to departure. 2021 DATES & PRICES See details at www.gct.com/riskfree-booking. To calculate your trip price with airfare, add deck price to air add-ons below. CABIN CATEGORY APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER A Serenade Deck $4695 $5095 $4795 $4295 $4495 $5895 $4995 B(Top Deck w/balcony) $4495 $4895 $4595 $4095 $4295 $5695 $4795 C Sonata Deck $4095 $4495 $4195 $3795 $3995 $5295 $4495 D(Middle Deck w/picture window) $3995 $4395 $4095 $3695 $3895 $5195 $4395 E Cantata Deck $3895 $4295 $3995 $3595 $3795 $5095 $4295 F(Middle Deck w/picture window) $3795 $4195 $3895 $3495 $3695 $4995 $4195 G Prelude Deck $3595 $3995 $3695 $3295 $3495 $4795 $3995 H(Lower Deck w/small window) $3295 $3695 $3395 $3095 $3295 $4495 $3795 AIR ADD-ONS APRIL; SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER MAY-AUGUST New York $1000 $1200 Newark $1100 $1300 Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, $1200 $1400 Miami, Orlando, Philadelphia, Tampa, Washington, DC Denver, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego, $1300 $1500 San Francisco, Seattle Additional departure cities are available. Upgrade to Business Class may be available for the international portion of your flight. Call for details. LBS202Ҵ SHIP & CRUISE DIRECTION Prices are per person. Airfare prices include Budapest to Bucharest Bucharest to Budapest government taxes, fees, and airline fuel surcharges. Departure Ship Departure Ship Standard Terms & Conditions apply, please visit our website: www.gct.com/tc. Every effort has been made 5/24; 7/23, 7/31; M/S River Aria 6/1; 10/10 M/S River Aria to produce this information accurately. We reserve the 10/2 right to correct errors. 4/28; 6/17; 7/30; Low-cost Single Supplement is $595 on your main trip 4/20; 6/9; 9/18 M/S River Adagio M/S River Adagio 8/7; 9/26 & FREE on all extensions. For specific departure dates, current availability, and detailed pricing, visit www.gct.com/lbs2021pricing CRITICAL AIR INFORMATION SAVE UP TO 10% WITH OUR GOOD BUY PLAN Your travel time will be 11-17 hours and will have at least one The earlier you reserve your departure and pay in full, the more connection (depending on your gateway city). Connecting you’ll save—up to 10%—plus, you’ll lock in your price. times in each city will be between 2-3 hours. Visit us online for more information on average flight times and number of For details, visit www.gct.com/gbd connections. Learn more at www.gct.com/lbs2021 Publication Date 1/5/21 1-800-221-2610 • www.gct.com/lbs2021 5 Your Rhine, Mosel, Main, and Danube river ships Sail aboard our privately owned 140- to 162-passenger vessels Grand Circle Cruise Line’s Rhine, Mosel, Main, and Danube ships were designed specifically to create an unforgettable European river cruise experience for American travelers. Explore storybook landscapes with up to four groups of no more than 38-45 travelers, each with one of our dedicated, local Grand Circle Program Directors, and enjoy the attentive onboard service of our top-notch English-speaking ship crew. Shipboard Features • Dining room with single, open seating: Enjoy • Sun Deck: Sit outside and enjoy the view as your ship regionally-inspired cuisine in your ship’s dining room. glides past the European countryside. • Bar & lounge: Relax with friends old and new. • English-speaking crew: Our crew is dedicated to your comfort, and all shipboard announcements are made • Complimentary beverages: Enjoy house beer and in English. house wine—as well as soft drinks—at any time of day while onboard. • Smoking/non-smoking: Smoking is not permitted indoors, but is permitted on the Sun Deck. • Complimentary wireless Internet access: Connect online in cabins and common areas. Please note: Wireless • Shipboard security: State-of-the-art shipboard radar Internet access may be limited at certain points throughout ensures safe navigation at night and in low visibility; your River Cruise.