Europe’s Rivers and Castles cruise the mosel • main • rhine 23 October – 2 November, 2017 $3897* Madison Club member price published price $4500. *Luxembourg pre-tour option ($579 per participant) and Airfare additional We begin our European adventue by exploring Luxembourg, one of Europe’s last independent duchies (pre-cruise option). Board our ship in Remich among the vineyards of the Mosel. Visit Trier, the oldest city in Germany; continue through the meandering Mosel River Valley, its steep hillsides covered with vineyards and the German villages of Bernkastel and Cochem. Experience the dramatic Rhine River Gorge dotted with picturesque fortresses and castle ruins. Along the Main River, stop at medieval towns seemingly untouched by time before cruising through the Main-Danube Canal to historic Nuremberg. Registration: www.madisonclub.org/aboutClub_travel Your $700 deposit/person secures one of the 15 Madison Club staterooms. Karl Gutknecht | 608/345.6557 [email protected] Europe’s Rivers and Castles 23 October – 2 November, 2017 Madison Club daily itinerary Monday, 23 October DEPART U.S.A. for overnight flights to Luxembourg. (D) PRECRUISE LUXEMBOURG: Tuesday, 24 October | LUXEMBOURG CITY On our arrival at Luxembourg’s Findel Airport we transfer by private coach to the family-owned Grand Hotel Cravat, right in the city center of this vibrant European capital. Enroute we get our first impression of the Kirchberg Plateau formed by deep encircling valleys creating the city’s unique topography. Luxembourg is an economic center of the European Union and home of the European Commission. This is one of the best small capitals of Europe offering exquisite shopping and dining. Our afternoon guided city walking tour in English will help us unlock its treasures. Grand Hotel Cravat (B) Wednesday, 25 October | ETTELBRUCK – VIANDEN – LUXEMBOURG CITY After our buffet breakfast depart for a special program on the World War II Battle of the Bulge and with a viii to The General Patton Museum in Ettelbruck. We then go back in time to Vianden a delightful historical village with a stunning restored medieval castle. Enjoy a lunch on our own at one of many restaurants and cafes before our guided castle tour in English. We return to Luxembourg City for an evening at leisure. Grand Hotel Cravat (B) AMAWATERWAYS CRUISE: Thursday, 26 October | LUXEMBOURG CITY – REMICH – CRUISE EMBARKATION Today following a leisurely breakfast some time for shopping, sight-seeing and exploring. Enroute to Remich prior to embarkation we stop at the American Military Cemetery for a guided tour, resting place of General Patton and 5,076 American WWII soldiers. Embark AmaDante for our welcome dinner. Evening sailing. (B,D) Friday, 27 October | TRIER, GERMANY – BERNKASTEL A guided walking tour of Trier, Germany’s oldest city, introduces us to its rich Roman past. We will see Trier Cathedral, the Basilica of Constantine and the Porta Nigra gate that dates back to 179 A.D. Continue on to Bernkastel, strategically located in the middle of the Mosel Valley’s wine-pro- ducing region, cultivating wine for over 500 years. A afternoon guided walking tour through the old town center takes us past many Medieval and Renaissance buildings. We will enjoy a winery visit sampling regional vintages. Our ship departs later this evening. (B,L,D) Saturday, 28 October | KOBLENZ – RHINE RIVER GORGE – RÜDESHEIM Today, enjoy a guided tour of Cochem that takes us to the spectacular hilltop Reichsburg Castle, offering fantastic views of the river valley below. Or, opt to take a walking tour of Koblenz and explore its charming town square and quaint shops. Return to the ship for a scenic afternoon cruise along the most beautiful stretch of the Rhine, with castle ruins, fortresses and the legendary Lorelei Rock. We arrive in Rüdesheim this evening and visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum, or choose to sample Rüdesheimer Coffee. The ship moors overnight in Rüdesheim. (B,L,D) Sunday, 29 October | MAINZ – HEIDELBERG This morning, depart Rüdesheim and cruise to beautiful Mainz, arriving after lunch. Our guided walking tour includes a visit to the Gutenberg Museum, home to two copies of the world’s first printed Bible as well as centuries-old manuscripts and printing presses. We may also choose to see the famed Chagall windows depicting scriptural scenes in stunning blue. As an alternative to Mainz, travel by motor coach to Heidelberg, Germany’s oldest university town, and enjoy a tour of the old town and visit to the red-walled castle with its Great Vat (a 49,000-gallon wine cask) as well as enjoy beautiful views of the Neckar Valley and city below. Later this afternoon, the ship departs Mainz and cruises overnight to Wertheim. (B,L,D) Monday, 30 October | WERTHEIM Welcome to Wertheim, a quaint German town known for intricate glassworks and charming me- dieval architecture. We have a choice of three excursions: a guided walking tour of the historic city center, a scenic guided bike tour along the Main River, or a visit to local bakery for a pretzel-making demonstration and tasting. Our ship cruises to Würzburg this evening. (B,L,D) Tuesday, 31 October | WÜRZBURG – KITZINGEN This morning’s guided tour of Würzburg will show us all of the city’s major sights, or visit the Resi- denz Palace and gardens, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. The next stop is Kitzingen this afternoon where the town’s Historic Court Council and honorary Wine Queen will escort us to one of Germany’s oldest wine cellar to sample regional wines. Cruise to Kitzingen, or cycle via a guided bike ride through the Franconian countryside. Later tonight, the ship sails towards Bamberg. (B,L,D) Wednesday, 1 November | BAMBERG Arrive this afternoon in enchanting Bamberg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where we will have one of three ways to explore. The first is a guided walking tour of this medieval gem to see its cathedral, Old Town Hall and elegant old mansions, as well as sample some of Bamberg’s famous smoked beer. The second is a guided bike tour along the Main River, and the third is a Bamberg specialties tasting to enjoy smoked beer, licorice root and Hornla, a local favorite whose recipe dates back to 1427. This evening, we continue cruising towards Nuremberg. (B,L,D) Thursday, 2 November | NUREMBERG – DISEMBARKATION & RETURN HOME Following breakfast onboard the AmaDante we will be transferred to Albrecht Dürer Flughafen Nuremberg for flights to the U.S.A. (B,L,S) B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner, S = snack Please note, the itinerary is subject to change. 8 December 2016.