Rhine, River and Song.

A Wunderbares Cruise through Germany, France and Switzerland; From Trier, Germany to Basel, Switzerland

26 September – 3 October 2009

Be Our Guest! ... $100 PER PERSON benefit onboard the MV Heidelberg. It can be used for wine with dinner, drinks in the lounge, a shipboard spa treatment, or for sightseeing beyond the daily shore excursions.

Sailing to: Trier, Bernkastel, Cochem, Koblenz, Rüdesheim, Mannheim, Heidelberg, Strasbourg and Basel.

We invite you to join us 26 September – 3 October 2009 to experience a glorious 7-night cruise on the romantic Moselle and Rhine Rivers as we wend our way through Germany, France and Switzerland aboard Peter Deilmann Cruises’ flagship, the 5-Star MV Heidelberg. Sail with us on our eighth Deilmann cruise as we explore some of the most beautiful wine country in Europe.

Float through a storybook landscape of vineyards, Roman ruins, magnificent castles and picturesque towns. You’ll sail the Lorelei Passage, discover ancient Trier and see historic Heidelberg and stroll among half-timbered houses in Strasbourg. You’ll have an opportunity to sample such fine wines as Bernkastel, Graach, Piesport and Zeltinger in the actual areas where they have been produced for centuries. And if you’d like to relax after a hard day of activities, the MV Heidelberg features the European Wellness Spa!

Seven days of pure bliss – where you are free to set your own agenda, decide which shore excursions you’d like to join. Or you just explore on your own. The beauty of a river cruise is that sometimes the biggest decision of the day is what entre to have at dinner; and, oh, what dinners – not to mention the other sensational meals. This beautifully appointed boat features the largest cabins to sail these rivers. The staff is warm and welcoming; you’ll be spoiled rotten.

Perhaps begin your Rhine, River & Song adventure with an extra night(s) in Trier or Frankfurt or join us earlier as we visit our favorite Bavarian town, Bamberg, Germany. At the end of the cruise you can extend your stay with us as we go onto Zurich, Switzerland.

We know that our clients and fellow travellers consider travel to be very personal–very important. Every detail must be looked at, every nuance fully realized.

Exclusive Excursions were designed to that end; part of a group, but not the herd. Heavens, we don’t want to be part of the herd and neither should you. The groups are small, there is ample time to explore on your own and there is always a New Departures’ staff member to gently assist.

Your Exclusive Excursion includes much more than just the mechanics of travel, but the hands-on, personal attention that will assure you a truly individual travel experience.

Peter Deilmann cruises are our favorite way to travel in Europe: Relaxed, refined, sophisticated.

“The unexpected pleasure of Peter Deilmann River Cruises is the delightful small towns we stop to visit. Historic, interesting little places one might ordinarily overlook when planning a trip.”

Toots, Ms Judith Thompson, Minneapolis, MN

We can't wait to share our eighth Peter Deilmann voyage with you.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Trier / Embarkation

Board the lovely and luxurious MV Heidelberg, berthed in the heart of Trier.

Day 2 - Trier/Bernkastel

Trier is a 2000-year-old Roman city near Luxembourg, the oldest city in Germany! It was home to six Roman emperors and has many ruins including the impressive Porta Nigra (the Black Gate). "Roma Secunda", the second Rome, was another name for Trier, and nowhere else in Germany are Roman times so vividly recalled as here.

Day 3 - Bernkastel

This pretty town is located in the heart of the Moselle Valley, one of the region’s largest wine-producing areas. Besides outstanding wine, the city is famous for its half-timbered houses, the filigree fountain railing in the market square and the many weather vanes on the gables of the houses.

Day 4 - Cochem

Cochem is truly one of the prettiest towns of the Moselle Valley. Choose to tour the medieval Reichsburg Castle high above the city or discover Cochem’s enchanting alleys with their charming, Moselle-Franconian, half-timbered houses. Later you could sample wines at a local wine cellar.

Day 5 - Koblenz/Rüdesheim

Enjoy magnificent views of Koblenz from the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress that is set at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle. Discover the beautiful Schangelbrunnen (Scallywag Fountain) on Jesuit Square and the Romanesque Liebfrauenkirche (Church of Our Lady).

Day 6 - Mannheim/Heidelberg

Visit the remarkable old town where you will see the famous Karl-Theodor Bridge with its two-tower gate. Take a cable car ride to nearby Heidelberg Castle and marvel at the impressive Renaissance architecture. Its size, location and beauty make it one of the most splendid ruins in Germany. Heidelberg, 45-minutes away, is a university city, the former capital of Palatinate, and subject of many songs and poems.

Day 7 - Strasbourg

Visit the Alsatian historic district known as “Petite France.” Here, the lovely narrow streets are lined with well-preserved timbered buildings. Strasbourg boasts an outstanding complex of monuments in a compact area, which is characteristic of a medieval town.

Day 8 - Basel/ Disembarkation

You disembark this morning in Basel.

The MV Heidelberg, Deilmann’s’ flagship, is a deluxe vessel carrying 110 passengers in 56 cabins (the largest staterooms on these rivers). Every stateroom on her two upper decks features full-length French doors that open into your cabin. Only the four cabins on the lower deck feature two large port holes instead of French doors. Her spacious 190-square-foot cabins are configured with either twin or queen-sized beds. Original works of art can be found throughout. All cabins are similar in size and are handsomely appointed with built-in closets, desk, shower and toilet, telephone, audio entertainment center and satellite TV. A hairdryer and terry robes are available upon request. You’ll be cocooned in bedding of European-style duvet, feather pillows and eiderdowns.

The boat features a complete fitness center with up-to-date equipment and Wellness Spa, Panorama Restaurant, bar, lounge, library and an infirmary with a doctor always on-call.

Six meals are served daily (Breakfast, Morning Bouillon, Lunch, Afternoon Tea, Dinner and Late-night Snack). There are both a Captain's Welcome and Farewell Reception, as well as nightly entertainment and dancing.

Rhine, River and Song includes:

 » 7 nights aboard the flagship MV Heidelberg, outside cabin

 » Six fabulous meals a day

 » Sail the Moselle and Rhine Rivers

 » Visit Germany, France and Switzerland

 » All port taxes and fees

 » Escorted by New Departures' Jerry Kelley and Brian Nystedt

 » Deluxe document folder & baggage tags

 » Pre-trip social gathering

Jawohl - sign me up!

 » Rhine lower deck, Double occupancy, per person: $2639.00

 » Rhine lower deck, Single: $3719.00
» Neckar deck, Double occupancy, per person: $2829.00
» Neckar deck, Single: $3959.00
» Heidelberg deck, Double occupancy, per person $3399.00
» Heidelberg deck, Single $4739.00
» AARP Members Save $140.00 (membership number required)
» $750.00 deposit per person due at sign-up; space is not held without a deposit.
» Final payment due 15 June 2009.

Not included:

Transfer Frankfurt airport to boat $145.00, per person
Transfer boat to Basel airport $105.00, per person
Cost includes only listed features; gratuities and items of a personal nature are additional.
Cancellation fees:

Due to the special nature of this tour all payments are non-refundable.

Trip insurance is highly recommended

(A brochure will be sent at deposit).

Phone 612.305.0025 or 1-800-853-1880