Netherlands' Floriade

Why go on an Avalon Waterways 8-day Tulip Time cruise? See below! By the way, next year the Floriade is being held in the Netherlands. This is a once every 10 year Horticultural Event, and we include this in our 2012 Tulip Time Cruise itinerary. At first glance, it looks like a giant child armed with a box of crayons has been set loose upon the landscape. Vivid stripes of purple, yellow, red, pink, orange and green make up a glorious patchwork. Yet far from being a child’s sketchbook, this is, in fact, the northern Netherlands in the middle of tulip season. The Dutch landscape in May is a kaleidoscope of color as the tulips burst into life. The bulbs are planted in late October and early November. More than three billion tulips are grown each year and two-thirds of the vibrant blooms are exported, mostly to the U.S. and Germany. Their dazzling colors are thanks to the years in the 17th century when tulip mania swept the globe and the most eye-catching specimens changed hands for a small fortune. But like a Rainbow, this colorful landscape is a short-lived phenomenon. When the flowers are gone, the land will be cultivated for a rather more mundane crop of vegetables. The Netherlands produce more than nine million bulbs a year.

The Blue Danube Discovery- Jewish Heritage Theme

The Blue Danube Discovery with Jewish Heritage Theme

October 29th - November 10th, 2012

13 days from Budapest to Prague

Avalon Tapestry

In addition to the regular sightseeing, the following planned excursions will be included at no additional charge:

• Budapest - Included visit to the Jewish Museum and Synagogue.


• Vienna - Jewish history tour.


• Regensburg - Sightseeing visits to the Jewish quarter and, if possible, a visit to the excavations beneath Neupfarrplatz where a Gothic Synagogue and the remains of a Romantic Synagogue were found.


• Prague - Jewish Prague with included visit to the Jewish Museum, Synagogue and


• Cemetery.


• Terezin - Concentration Camp and Holocaust Museum.

Day 1 ~ Arrive in Budapest, Hungary

Welcome to Budapest, Hungary's lively capital. The remainder of the day is free to start exploring Eastern Europe's most cosmopolitan metropolis.

Day 2 ~ Budapest

Budapest straddles both banks of the Danube, with seven bridges, including the famous Chain and Elisabeth Bridges, connecting ancient Buda on the right bank with Pest on the left. The massive hilltop castle complex with FISHERMEN'S BASTION and the Matthias Church is among the many sights your Local Guide will show you. Shop for renowned peasant embroidery, Herend porcelain, and paprika. (Breakfast)

Day 3 ~ Budapest (Embarkation)

This afternoon, board your river cruise vessel and meet your crew at a welcome reception. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 4 ~ Budapest-Vienna, Austria

A day to relax on board and marvel at the beautiful scenery on both banks of the Danube. Hungary is on your left as you cruise upriver and Slovakia is on your right. The two countries share the Danube for a 58-mile stretch, with the border in the middle of the river. Vienna, Austria's capital, is known as the "City of Music" and inspired the creative genius of Mozart, Beethoven, and Strauss. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 5 ~ Vienna Once the center of the mighty Habsburg Empire, Vienna has much to offer: lavish Hofburg Palace, the impressive Vienna Opera House, the majestic Ring Boulevard, and awe-inspiring St. Stephen's Cathedral, to name just a few of the sights you will enjoy during your city tour. You do not rush through Vienna; you waltz, taking your time to savor each classic sight and sound. Shop in the Kärntnerstrasse and enjoy Sachertorte or Apfelstrudel in a neighborhood café. An optional concert is available during your stay. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 6 ~ Dürnstein-Melk

Dürnstein, known for the magnificent baroque Stiftskirche with its blue façade, lying right in the heart of the Wachau wine region. Above town are the ruins of the castle where England's King Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned in 1192. This afternoon: Melk, whose magnificent BENEDICTINE ABBEY dominates the town from its commanding hill site and is one of Europe's largest monasteries. The view you have from the terrace over the Danube and surrounding countryside is breathtaking! This evening you'll be able to sample some of the Wachau Valley's FAMOUS WINES. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 7 ~ Linz-Passau, Germany Linz, Austria's third-largest city, lies on both banks of the Danube and is an important industrial town and busy river port. An optional full-day excursion to Salzburg takes in the popular Sound of Music sights. Passau, ideally located at the confluence of the Rivers Inn, Ilz, and Danube, is a city of graceful arcades and cobblestone streets. St. Stephen's Cathedral houses the world's largest church organ with more than 17,000 pipes. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 8 ~ Regensburg

Regensburg is one of Germany's best preserved medieval cities. Architectural highlights on your guided tour include the Old Town Hall and Porta Pretoria-gates to an ancient Roman fort built in 179 AD. The city is the capital of Upper Palatinate, a bustling university town, and one of Bavaria's cultural centers. It is here you will find Germany's oldest restaurant, the 12thcentury Historische Wurstküche (Old Sausage Kitchen). (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 9 ~ Nuremberg

Although Nuremberg suffered extensive damage during WWII, much of it was restored to its original style. Marvel at this historic city with its fabulous gothic churches and elegant patrician houses-all explained by a local expert. Nuremberg's traditions include famous Lebkuchen, toy making, and metal working. After dinner we'll introduce you to some of Germany's FAMOUS BEERS. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 10 ~ Nuremberg (Disembarkation)-Prague, Czech Republic

Cross the Czech border in the Bohemian Forest and head for Prague, the "Golden City." (Breakfast)

Day 11 ~ Prague

Prague is a 1,000-year-old city preserved in time. See its best-known treasures such as the Old Town's Astronomical Clock, once the envy of all of Europe; HRADCANY CASTLE GROUNDS, St. Vitus Cathedral, and the Charles Bridge. Browse the shops for hand-cut crystal or art books. Mix with the locals in Wenceslaus Square or stroll along the Vltava River. (Breakfast)

Day 12 ~ Prague

A free day for you to explore the city at your own pace. Your Cruise Director will have other suggestions for things to do. (Breakfast)

Day 13 ~ Prague

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (Breakfast)

Meals:

Full buffet breakfast in Budapest and Prague; superb dining with all meals on board daily featuring full breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including a welcome reception, Captain's reception, and farewell dinner; one sitting with open seating arrangements; complimentary regional wine, beer, or soft drinks with all onboard dinners; complimentary coffee and tea available throughout the day

Hotels: BUDAPEST InterContinental (SF), PRAGUE Hilton (SF) or InterContinental (D)

ALL THIS INCLUDED:

~ Avalon Travel Insurance with Optional Travel Protection Plus

~ Round-trip transfers from a central location in Boynton Beach to a South Florida Airport.

~ Current port charges as of March 2, 2011.

~ Superb dining with all meals on board.

~ Complimentary wine, beer or soda with dinner.

~ Guided sightseeing in each city you visit.

~ Baggage assistance.

FEATURES AND AMENITIES:

~ All deluxe, 172 sq. ft. outside staterooms; 85% feature French balconies.

~ All meals, snacks and buffets served onboard including: early riser breakfast, full buffet breakfast, late riser breakfast, lunch, afternoon coffee/tea/cake, dinner and night fare.

~ Entertainment, port lectures and other activities.

~ Choice of complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks served with dinner each evening: complimentary soft drinks with lunch.

~ Daily shore excursion in each port with audio headsets.

~ Daily program and port information provided to guests.

~ Captain's Welcome Reception and Gala dinner.

~ Deluxe 7 Night River Cruise

~ All staterooms are Riverview.

~ Comfort Collection by Avalon featuring premium mattress covers, Egyptian super-combed cotton linens and European-style duvets, choice of soft or firm pillows.

~ Premium L'Occitane bath amenities

~ Flat screen satellite TV

~ Complimentary bottled water

~ And much more!

Cruise Starting Price: $3459 per person (Catagory E)

Stateroom Upgrades:

B Category:: $3959 per person

A Category:: $4005 per person

P Category:: $4095 per person

*Rates are based on double occupancy. Prices subject to change.

Why take a River Cruise?

While river cruising may be a lesser known way to travel, by no means should it be ignored! This is an excellent way to travel around Europe or Russia, among other fabulous destinations. River cruising provides a host of benefits in addition to feeling truly luxurious. While many mainstream cruise lines provide cruises and cruisetours to such European countries as France, Spain, and Italy, river cruising provides the best opportunity to explore central European countries like Austria, Switzerland, and Hungary (among many others!) as well as the Galapagos, Egypt, Russia & Ukraine, and China. These rivers were once the center of business & transportation, with cities built around such commerce. Such a cruise allows you to travel these historic trade routes, to see and experience the culture, all while visiting some of the most popular cities along the way!

Here's a few of our favorite reasons to take a river cruise:

• Convenience: Unpack only once while your floating hotel delivers you to many superb destinations. Snap photos of charming country sides, fabulous old castles, and historic riverside villages. It's truly hassle-free!
• Elegant, comfortable ships with spacious accommodations: This floating hotel provides all the amenities you would expect at a land-based stay with the added bonus of seeing something new & beautiful outside on your balcony. Additionally, many of the newer ships have replaced portholes with large panoramic windows for exceptional views!
• Exciting itineraries: Our preferred partners travel to the most exciting places and have the most diverse itineraries to fit just about any preference and time frame. Also, there are themed & holiday river cruises, which can easily translate to a perfect family vacation.
• Cultural enrichment: In addition to traveling historic routes, immersing yourself into local culture, seeing leading cities & smaller towns, many programs provide background information and interesting stories about each location to add even more value to your experience.
• It's all about the experience! You can count on smooth sailing (no need to get your sea legs!), appreciate a more intimate experience, travel your way (tours, excursions, or self-exploration at every destination), & sail directly to the heart of your destinations.

Some of the most popular rivers to cruise down are:

Europe:

• Danube River
• The Rhine
• Main & Moselle Rivers
• Elbe River
• Seine, Saone, & Rhone Rivers

Russia & Ukraine

• Svir River
• Volga River
• Dnieper River

China

• The Yangtze River

Egypt

• The Nile River

Click the following links to view photos of past river cruises our clients as well as agents have taken! Nice to Paris, Prague to Budapest, St. Petersburg to Moscow (coming soon!)

A message from Alan

The owner, Alan Rosen, recently returned from a trip from the South of France. He and his wife, Cathy, as well as his parents Chuck and Diane, took a river cruise with Avalon Waterways.

I thought I would share with you our latest travel experience.

My wife, Cathy and I just returned from a French River cruise with my father, Sand & C founder Chuck Rosen and his wife, Diane, on Avalon Waterways. This was our second trip on Avalon, and once again we were thrilled......it was a beautiful trip! What could be more relaxing than to sit on your ship and watch the French countryside go by?

Our trip started in Nice, with one night at a local hotel. The hotel itself was nothing special, but it was well located in the center of town about a block from the beach. Being the summer, Nice was bustling with young people vacationing.

From Nice, we had a 3 hour bus ride to Arles, to meet our ship. Arles is the capital of Provence and is most known for being the location that Vincent Van Gogh spent a very productive year painting the area. We then proceeded to Avignon, and began our tour through France's wine country with a trip to the Chateuneuf-du-Pape wine cellars for a wine tasting.

We learned a great deal about the different wines that are made in the region (southern France is known mostly for Rose, while as you go further north into the Burgundy region red wines dominate their production). We also received an education on how to properly taste wine and determine what we would enjoy!

Most of the next day was spent on the ship. I enjoyed sitting in the hot tub on the top deck, taking in the scenery and going through the locks. Life is tough!

The next major stop was in Vienne. This is a charming town surrounded by steep hills. Although we were not told in advance, our particular departure was a Jazz themed cruise. There were Jazz performers on board and they gave us tickets to that night's performance at the annual Jazz Festival in Vienne. This was an all night show. Cathy and I only stayed for the first two performances, a trio and a pianist. It was a wonderful experience, spending time with locals in the Roman amphitheatre and taking in the concert.

From Vienne, it was on to Lyon, France's third largest city and "gastronomic capital". Between the crepes, breads, potatoes Lyonnaise, kabobs, gelato, panini and wine, I thought I died and went to heaven. This was not the place to be for my diet!

Speaking of food and wine, the cuisine on the ship was excellent. There was always something tasty offered, and the wine flowed throughout dinner. For those who were not wine drinkers, such as my father, there was always complimentary soft drinks available with the meals. And the staff could not have been better, always making sure that we were pleased. In fact, Diane, my Step-Mother, has special dietary needs, and they always accommodated her with a delicious meal.
After Lyon, it was on to the Burgundy region for more beautiful countryside and wine tasting. Between the rolling hills with vineyards and sunflower fields, it was really gorgeous. The wine was great too!

It was then time to depart the Scenery, our Avalon river ship. While we did not want to dis-embark, the good news was that we still had 2 nights in Paris to go. We stayed at the LeMeridian. Having been to Paris before, we passed on the included city tour. Cathy took an optional excursion to Versailles, and enjoyed the magnificent palace and gardens. After her return, the two of us hopped on the Metro and made a quick obligatory visit to the Eiffel Tower. The area was bustling, as it turned out that it wasBastille Day, France's equivalent of July 4. People were preparing to party, and there were fireworks that night.

We did not get to spend much time watching the fireworks, as this was our last night in France and we took in dinner and a show at the Moulin Rouge. Although the food was fair, there was plenty of wine and champagne and a spectacular show. It felt like Vegas, with not only beautiful show girls, but amazing dancing and other acts, including an incredible juggler and a unique humorist ventriloquist that none of us will ever forget. The show was almost 2 hours, but it flew by.

It was then back to our hotel for an early morning departure for the airport. I think all four of us would agree, that it was a wonderful trip and very relaxing. We had just the right mix of touring, eating, drinking, sleeping, meeting new people and entertainment to take our minds off of our normal busy schedules. A river cruise really is a great way to see Europe!

You can see our pictures from our trip on facebook with this link. If you would like more information on river cruising with Avalon, contact your Sand & C Travel consultant.

Alan Rosen

President, Sand & C Travel

Cathy Rosen standing next to the Avalon Scenery