Danube Holiday Markets River Cruise
9 Days
Tour Code: DHM
Experience timeless holiday traditions and elegant pageantry along the enchanting Danube.
Four countries - Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, and Germany - await your arrival for one unique, festive party after another. From the large Christmas Markets of Vienna to the more intimate Christmas Markets of Bratislava, Passau, and Salzburg - each combines timeless traditions with elegant pageantry.
Discover the Baroque splendor of the Habsburg Empire with visits to Göttweig, Salzburg, Passau, Vienna, and Linz on this enchanting holiday extravaganza along the Danube. Uncover the heart and soul of Slovakia as you tour Bratislava and explore its Christmas Market. Participate in a gingerbread-baking demonstration in Passau and be enchanted by a festive classical concert in a famous Viennese concert hall.
Enjoy the cheerful sight of holiday décor and the merry sound of Christmas caroling while onboard your ship, and cherish all the glory and magic of the season in grand European style as you cruise along the Danube during this festive time of the year.
Stay in a Category 5 Moselle Deck cabin with private bath (option to upgrade for low additional cost). Enjoy 19 meals including 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 7 dinners
***This tour is operated by our sister company.
Your Tour Price Includes
VIP Door-to-Door Transfer
Transfers you from your door step to select airports. Start your vacation in style with our outbound VIP Door-to-Door Town Car airport transfer service available on every tour from over 40 cities throughout the USA. Our service will collect your from you home and transfer you to your departure airport. We will arrange a pick-up time from your home that suits you, and your driver will meet you at your front door and assist with your bags before transporting you to the airport with ample time for check-in. |
Local Expert Guides on all city tours |
Airport/Cruise TransfersAirport arrival and departure transfers included with the purchase of combined air and land package. |
Deluxe Stateroom |
Travel DocumentsGET travel wallet, Cruise Companion Booklet, $100 Frequent Traveler Discount upon return for a future tour. |
19 Meals with wine during dinner and bottled water in your stateroomEnjoy 19 meals including 7 Buffet breakfasts, 5 lunches and 7 Dinners with wine, beer, and softdrinks(Including the Captain’s Welcome Dinner & Farewell Dinner |
Professional Cruise ManagerYour cruise will be conducted by the most experienced Cruise Directors in the business. They will manage the intricate details of your tour, keeping you entertained with anecdotes and stories to make sure your vacation is educational, entertaining and fun. |
Included Shore Excursions
Budapest City Tour and Christmas MarketExplore Budapest, an enchanting city often referred to as the ’Queen of the Danube.’ Made up of two parts - Buda, the hills, and Pest, the flat lands - the city is divided by the Danube. It’s an architectural dram, which you’ll discover on your city tour. You’ll visit the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Castle Hill district, you’ll see dramatic vistas from the 19th-century Fisherman’s Bastion, and you’ll cross the famous Chain Bridge, an early 19th-century bridge that was the first to connect Buda with Pest. And in the center of it all is the Christmas Market, where you’ll get to shop for traditional Hungarian wares and delightful treats like apricot brandy and cinnamon-spiced gingerbread. |
Benedictine Gottweig Abbey with organ recitalYou’ll visit the beautiful Gottweig Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which has a spectacular location on a prominent hill on the eastern edge of the world-famous Wachau Valley. While at the abbey, you’ll be treated to a special organ recital. |
Bratislava city tour and Christmas MarketThe heart and soul of Slovakia, Bratislava is full of surprises, many of which you’ll discover on your city tour. While Bratislava’s very first Christmas Market was only established in 1993, the Slovakians have quickly embraced the holiday traditions of their Austrian and Hungarian neighbors with stalls filled with folk handicrafts from the region. |
Full-day Salzburg with walking tourBecome acquainted with magical Salzburg on your walking tour of the Old Town and its magnificent cathedral, which was inspired by St. Peter’s Cathedral at the Vatican. In the afternoon, visit Salzburg’s Christmas Market, located at the foot of the Hohensalzburg Fortress and around the venerable cathedral. |
Vienna city tour with Christmas Market, and Mozart and Strauss concertThis regal city becomes even more dazzling during the holidays. It’s a treasure trove of secular and sacred gems, many of which you will see during your panoramic city tour of Vienna. You’ll travel the stately Ringstrasse and see St. Stephen’s Cathedral, where Mozart was married in 1782. Afterward, you’ll walk with your tour guide to two Christmas Markets. Austria’s most famous Christmas Market, with over 140 wooden huts, is set in front of City Hall. Macaroons with nutmeg and rum balls are treats you won’t want to miss. You’ll also visit a smaller but no less charming Christmas Market at Freyung Square, which has taken place every winter since 1772. Later in the evening, you’ll celebrate the spirit of Mozart’s musical genius in one of Vienna’s well-known concert halls. |
Passau walking tour, Christmas Market, and gingerbread & floral demonstrationsYour guided walk starts in the Medieval section of Passau and takes you past St. Stephan’s Cathedral, the New Residence, and Town Hall, to the confluence of the three rivers that converge in Passau. At Passau’s Christmas Market, set against the glorious backdrop of St. Stephan’s Cathedral, you’ll find unique crafts including Bavarian-style houses and glass ornaments. And as an added treat, you’ll see both a gingerbread-making and a floral-decorating demonstration. |
Optional Excursions
Optional excursions can be purchased upon arrival.
The list below is a sampling of excursions that may be offered by your tour director.
Budapest - Explore Jewish BudapestVisit the world’s second largest Synagogue, Dohany Street Synagogue built in 1859. Next visit the Holocaust Memorial erected in 1989 above the mass graves in the honor and memory of Hungarian Jewish martyrs. Also, your guide will give you an orientation talk at the Jewish Museum and then you have time to explore on your own. |
Vienna - Schonbrunn Palace & Christmas MarketDepart with guide from ship to Schonbrunn, drive along the Wienzeile and Naschmarkt to Palace. Walk into the courtyard to the main entrance. Highlight tour through the palais. Free time to visit Christmas Market in front of Schonbrunn before returning to ship. |
Budapest - Szentendre Half-day ExcursionWith a local guide, drive along the Danube past Roman excavations (Aquincum) and through rural suburbs to arrive in Szentendre. Enjoy a guided walk through the main street of Szentendre’s shopping offering typical Hungarian arts and crafts in all quality and prices. You have the opportunity enjoy a guided visit inside Margit Kovacs Museum, which includes famous religious sculptures made of clay, and free time for shopping. |
Walking – Moderate Physical Activity Required
Not all areas included on this tour are accessible by motor vehicle. Visiting ancient ruins and a handful of other listed sites may require some walking, sometimes on cobblestone streets. Be sure to pack comfortable and safe walking shoes and get ready to enjoy these fascinating attractions up close and personal.
This tour requires moderate physical activity. You should be in good health, able to climb stairs and walk slightly longer distances, possibly over uneven grounds and cobblestone streets.
DAY 1 USA - Budapest
VIP Door-to-Door Transfer to your local airport for your overnight flight to Budapest.
DAY 2 Arrive Budapest
Arrive in Budapest Ferihegy International Airport where you’ll be greeted by our representative and
transferred to the ship.
Dinner Included.
DAY 3 Budapest
Explore Budapest, an enchanting city often referred to as the “Queen of the Danube.” Made up of two parts—Buda, the hills, and Pest, the flat lands—the city is divided by the Danube. It’s an architectural dream, which you will discover on your city tour. You will visit the UNESCO World Heritage designated Castle Hill district and see dramatic vistas from the 19th-century Fisherman’s Bastion. You will cross the famous Chain Bridge, an early-19th-century bridge that was the first to connect Buda with Pest. In the center of it all is the Christmas Market, where you will get to shop for traditional Hungarian wares and delightful holiday treats like apricot brandy and cinnamon-spiced gingerbread.
Breakfast, Lunch and Captains Welcome Dinner Included
DAY 4 Bratislava
The heart and soul of Slovakia, Bratislava is full of surprises—many of which you will discover on your city tour. While Bratislava’s very first Christmas Market was only established in 1993, the Slovakians have quickly embraced the holiday traditions of their Austrian and Hungarian neighbors with stalls filled with folk handicrafts from the region.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
DAY 5 Vienna
This regal city becomes even more dazzling during the holidays. Vienna is a treasure trove of secular and sacred gems, many of which you will see during your panoramic city tour. You’ll travel stately Ringstrasse and see St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the Baroque State Hall of the Austrian National Library, said to be the most beautiful library in the world. Afterward, you will walk with your tour guides to two Christmas Markets. Austria’s most famous Christmas Market, with over 140 wooden huts, is set in front of City Hall. Macaroons with nutmeg and rum balls are two treats you won’t want to miss. You’ll also visit a smaller, but no less charming, Christmas Market at Freyung Square, which has taken place every winter since 1772. Later in the evening, you’ll celebrate the spirit of Mozart and Strauss in one of Vienna’s well known concert halls.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
Note: On Mondays, Mozarthaus will be substituted for the Library
DAY 6 Krems, cruising the scenic Wachau Valley
You will visit the beautiful Benedictine Göttweig Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which has a spectacular location on a prominent hill on the eastern edge of the world famous Wachau Valley. While at the abbey, you will be treated to a special organ recital. After lunch, depart Krems and enjoy a scenic cruise through the heart of the UNESCO-designated Wachau Valley with its abruptly rising hills, nestling Baroque villages, and ancient monuments.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
*Note: Organ concert may take place in different location if the Göttweig Abbey visit falls on a Catholic holiday.
DAY 7 Linz (Salzburg)
Linz is the gateway to your full-day excursion to Salzburg. It’s hard to imagine the hills becoming even more alive with the “sound of music,” but at this time of the year, they do. The alpine elegance of this Baroque town is in perfect harmony with its lovely setting between two hills. You will become acquainted with magical Salzburg on your walking tour of Old Town. Its magnificent cathedral was inspired by St. Peter’s Cathedral at the Vatican. In the afternoon, visit Salzburg’s Christmas Market, located at the foot of the Hohensalzburg Fortress and around the venerable cathedral.
Breakfast and Dinner Included
DAY 8 Passau
Your guided walk starts in the Medieval section of Passau and takes you past St. Stephan’s Cathedral, the New Residence, and Town Hall, to the confluence of the three rivers that converge in Passau. At Passau’s Christmas Market, set against the glorious backdrop of St. Stephan’s Cathedral, you will find unique crafts, including Bavarian-style houses and glass ornaments. As an added treat, you will attend a gingerbread-making and floral-decorating demonstration.
Breakfast, Lunch and Captains Farewell Dinner Included
DAY 9 Passau (disembark), transfer to Munich airport
Disembark the ship in Passau and transfer to Munich Airport for your flight home, or extend your stay in the beautiful city of Munich.
Breakfast Included
Thank you for your interest in this tour. If no dates are displaying, please call our reservations line at 1-877-622-9109 for more information.
River Beatrice
Facilities onboard the majestic River Beatrice:
* Lavishly appointed riverview staterooms and suites have made-to-order English Savoir™ beds draped in fine linens. Those on the Rhine and Danube decks have French balconies
* Stateroom and suite amenities include: generous built-in closets, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat for air conditioning and heating, direct dial telephone, flat-screen TV with satellite, bottled water, and well-appointed bathroom stocked with L’Occitane bath and body products, magnifying mirror, and plush bathrobes
* All suites have additional amenities with special butler service, including: packing and unpacking assistance, free laundry service, in-room breakfast, daily fruit and cookie plate, slippers, flat-screen TVs with private DVD, coffee machine, refrigerator, shoe shine service, bottle of wine upon arrival, and a special dinner in the Captain’s Lounge
* Beautiful panoramic main lounge with full-service bar; Captain’s Lounge with full bar; elegant restaurant; sun deck with three sun tents, chess, and shuffleboard; fitness room; massage room; gift boutique; guest laundry; and elevator
* 2 complimentary 24-hour specialty coffee and tea bars, and use of bicycles and Nordic walking sticks
* 24-hour reception service
* Wireless Internet access in public areas
Ship Facts
Inaugurated: 2009
Length: 410 ft. (125 m.)
Width: 37.5 ft. (11.4 m.)
Number of Decks: 3
Number of Categories: 5
Maximum Passengers: 160
Staterooms: 80
Cabin Size: Standard Cat. 1 - 5 approximately 150 sq. ft.
Suites: 15 (14 Suites + 1 Owner’s Suite)
Suite Size: Suites approximately 225 sq. ft., Owner’s Suite approximately 300 sq. ft.
Please note, in the Owner’s Suite (# 400), and the two other Junior Suites (# 402 and # 405) beds cannot be separated.
Window Size:
Danube and Rhine Deck (includes French balconies) = 5.25 ft. (1.6 m) x 1.3 ft. (0.40 m.);
Moselle Deck (Cat. 4 - 5) = 5.25 ft. (1.6 m) x 1.3 ft. (0.40 m);
Danube Deck (Cat. 2 - 3) = 6.5 ft. (2 m.) x 5.9 ft (1.8 m.);
Rhine Deck (Cat. 1) = 6.5 ft. (2 m.) x 5.9 ft. (1.8 m.)
Voltage: 110/220 volts
Elevator: Yes
Restaurant: Yes
Library: Yes
Laundry Service: Available (free laundry service in suites)
Gymnasium: Yes
River Beatrice
The small size of river cruise ships creates a closeness to the passing landscape, an intimate ambiance onboard and a camaraderie that larger ships cannot match. There is simply no better way to travel. Lavishly appointed riverview staterooms and suites have handcrafted English Savoir® beds draped in fine linens. Staterooms and suites on the Rhine and Danube Decks have French balconies.
Stateroom and suite amenities include:
* Generous built-in closets
* Hair dryer
* Safe
* Individual climate-control thermostat
* Direct-dial telephone
* Flat-screen TV with satellite
* Bottled water
The bathroom has L’Occitane bath and body products, backlit magnifying mirror, and cozy waffle bathrobes.
Cabin Category Descriptions
Suites on the Rhine Deck feature French balconies. The Owner’s Suite is approximately 300 sq. ft. (1 available) and the standard Suites are approximately 225 sq. ft. (14 available).
Category One Staterooms on the Rhine Deck feature French balconies and are approximately 150 sq. ft. (17 available).
Category Two Staterooms on the Danube Deck feature French balconies and are approximately 150 sq. ft. (25 available).
Category Three Staterooms located at the front and rear of the Danube Deck feature French balconies and are approximately 150 sq. ft. (10 available).
Category Four Staterooms on the Moselle Deck offer are approximately 150 sq. ft. with windows that are 5.25ft. x 1.3ft. (8 available).
Category Five Staterooms located at the front and rear of the Moselle Deck are approximately 150 sq. ft. with windows that are 5.25ft. x 1.3ft. (6 available).
Travel Tools
Terms and Conditions
How to Make Your Reservation:
After selecting your tour and departure date, simply call 1-800-552-5545 and a Travel Specialist will take your reservation over the phone. You can pay your $350.00 deposit by credit card, or alternately you can mail a check made payable to Grand European Tours to the following address: GRAND EUROPEAN TOURS 6000 Meadows Road, Suite 520 Lake Oswego, OR 97035 USA. Please make your reservations as early as possible since many of our tours are completely filled 4 to 6 months before departure.
Final Payment:
Upon receiving the $350.00 deposit per person, you will be sent a confirmation. VISA, MASTERCARD, American Express and DISCOVER CARD may be used for this deposit amount, however, final payment is preferred by check or money order and is due in our Oregon office 60 days prior to the departure date. If reservations are made less than 60 days prior to departure, payment in full is required at the time of booking. If final payments are not received on time, Grand European Tours (2003) Inc. may cancel the reservation and invoke the cancellation fee. For Highlights of South Africa tour and all River Cruises final payment is due 90 days prior to departure.
Pricing:
Land prices printed in this catalog are per person based on double occupancy. The Operator reserves the right to adjust prices due to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, imposed fuel surcharges, taxes, charges and levies imposed by any third party including government and its agencies. Should these change the price of your tour by more than 10% you may cancel without penalty within 7 days after we notify you of the increase.
Cancellations, Changes & Refunds:
If a cancellation in writing is received by Grand European Tours (2003) Inc. 30 days or less after your reservation has been made, your $350.00 deposit will be FULLY REFUNDED. *See Air Reservations section for specific change fee information for air reservations. For cancellations or changes thereafter but more than 61 days prior to departure there will be a $350.00 per person fee assessed. If you must withdraw or make a change 60 days or less prior to departure (90 days or less for River Cruises and Highlights of South Africa), the following fees will apply:
| Number of Days Prior to Departure | Cancellation/Change Land Tours – Per Person |
| 31 - 60 Days | 25% of tour cost |
| 15 - 30 Days | 50% of tour cost |
| Less than 15 Days | 100% of tour cost |
| Number of Days Prior to Departure | Cancellation/Change River Cruises – Per Person |
| 89 – 60 Days | 35% of the cost |
| 59 – 30 Days | 50% of the cost |
| 100% of the cost |
Air Reservations:
Air Add-On prices listed in this catalog were effective on August 19, 2011 and their availability is limited. At the time you purchase your tour, air prices may be higher. Air Add-On prices shown include September 11th Security fee, government fees, taxes and airline fuel surcharges based on destination and routing. The total price at time of purchase may vary slightly due to fluctuations in currency exchange. For the most competitive and up to date pricing from your departure city call our toll free number at 1-800-552-5545. Quoted air reservation prices are inclusive of all taxes and fees and are subject to change before payment is made in full. Air transportation is in economy class by scheduled airlines. Business class is available upon request. Some tours are not available from all of the airports. Requests for specific airlines, non-stop or direct flights and/or seat assignments are accepted as preferences only and cannot be guaranteed. Frequent flyer programs are under the control of the respective airlines. Your airline tickets will be electronically issued in lieu of paper tickets. Please note that your airline tickets and other tour documentation must bear your FULL name as it appears on your passport. Please note that airline reservations can only be made for dates less than 331 days out.
Airline Tickets Issued by Grand EuropeanTours:
The following charges apply for cancellations or changes to airline arrangements made by Grand European Tours: • Prior to Airline Ticketing: service fee of $50 per person • After Airline Ticketing: service fee of $75 per person plus any airline imposed penalties which may be up to 100% of the airline ticket value.
DOT Advisory:
The Department of Transportation requires us to inform you of the following conditions. The package price is subject to change as a result of increases in fuel surcharges and/or government taxes until it has been paid in full. You must consent to the possibility that, until you pay for your package in full, your price could go up. Once you have paid in full we would only pass along increases in government taxes if applicable at that time. You have 7 days from receipt of the first invoice to revoke your consent and request a refund, at which time we would cancel your booking.
Passports and Visas:
A valid U.S passport is required for traveling outside of the U.S.; including to Canada & Mexico. Passport application forms may be obtained from your local post office. All passports must contain at least 3 blank visa pages and must be valid for 6 months after the completion of your tour. Entry visa application forms will be sent prior to your departure for U.S. passport holders. Russia ($218*), China ($193*), Brazil ($220*) and Vietnam & Cambodia ($283*). An entry fee is required upon arrival at the airport in Egypt ($15*), Turkey ($20*) and Zimbabwe ($30*), these countries prefer payment in U.S. dollars rather than local currency. A per person Departure Tax is required at Costa Rica ($26*) and Peru ($31*) paid at the airport. A onetime Reciprocity Tax is required upon entry at the airport in Buenos Aires, Argentina ($140*) and Santiago, Chile ($131*); the fee can be paid in local currency, US Dollars, credit card or traveler check; the tax is valid for multiple entries for 10 years or until your passport expires. Australia requires an electronic visa ($0*) which is obtained at the time of airline ticket purchase. *All visa costs and entry/exit requirements can change at any time. Please visit travel.state.gov for current information. Individuals who do not hold a U.S. passport should contact CIBT/ZVS at 1-866-788-1100 to see if visas are required.
Travel Documents:
Approximately 15 days prior to the departure date you will receive a travel information package that will include your airline itinerary, travel tips, hotel list, baggage tag, travel wallet, etc. Visas, when required, will be distributed as soon as they are issued by the countries involved. Please note that your airline tickets and other tour documentation must bear your FULL name as it appears on your passport.
Tour Membership:
These tours require a blend of adventuresome spirit, physical fitness, walking ability, mental alertness, and a capacity for accepting situations as they exist and not, necessarily, as we would find them in America. If you have health concerns, we suggest that you contact your physician to help determine the suitability of one of these tours for you. We regret that we are unable to accept requests for special diets or itinerary variations. Disabled travelers requiring special attention or treatment on any tour must be reported when reservations are made. A companion who is able to provide the required assistance must accompany any person who is unable to travel independently or who needs any type of assistance.
Baggage:
Due to limited motorcoach storage capacity, each tour member is permitted one large suitcase not to exceed 50 pounds in weight nor 30”x22”x10” in dimension on European tours. Handling of this bag by hotel porters is included in the tour price. In addition, each person is allowed one small piece of carry-on size luggage that does not exceed the dimensions of 12”x11”x6” and is the complete responsibility of the tour member and must be taken on the motorcoach with you. Carry-ons with telescopic handles and wheels will not fit in the overhead compartments and therefore cannot be accepted as carry-on luggage for safety reasons. Please note, North America, Mexico and Egypt tours have smaller baggage dimensions which are noted in your pre-tour documentation. Grand European Tours (2003) Inc. does not assume any responsibility for loss or damage to baggage or passengers’ belongings. Please note: It is your responsibility to verify the baggage weight restrictions for the individual airlines that you will be traveling on as in some instances baggage is restricted. Airline baggage charges collected at check-in are not included and are at passengers own expense.
VIP Door-to-Door Transfer Service:
The VIP Door-to-Door Transfer service is available for all customers departing from the 41 airports highlighted on page 12 and living within a 25 mile radius from point of departure to your chosen airport. It is an outbound service only. Maximum passengers in one car can not exceed four. For bookings with more than four people, further vehicles may be necessary and further supplementary charges will apply. For any journeys greater than 25 miles a supplementary cost for additional mileage will apply and will be advised within 48 hours of booking if necessary. Mileage is based on journey information from www.mapquest. com. Should you not use the VIP Door-to-Door Transfer we will deduct $50 per person from your tour price (this must be advised at time of booking). Cancellation of service or changes must be made 72 hours before scheduled pick-up.
Early Departure or Extended Stay:
If you wish to depart early or extend your stay in Europe, flight and hotel arrangements can be made by contacting our Oregon office. Airport transfers are not included but may be purchased through GET. On most tours you can reserve up to 3 additional nights at the hotel where your tour starts and ends, however space may be limited and is subject to availability. Please call for our low cost rates and availability. Luggage handling and breakfast is not included on North American tour extensions.
Land Tour Only:
If you wish to make independent flight arrangements, you may still reserve the land portion of a tour. Hotel-airport transfers are subject to availability and flight details must be provided in writing at least 45 days prior to departure. See tour page for specific transfer times.
Airport Transfers:
Complimentary airport arrival and departure transfers are included in the tour price when you purchase our land/air package and operate at fixed times on the first and last day of your tour. See the individual tour pages for details. For those making their own flight arrangements or extending at GET hotels, transfers can be purchased; please call for details. London Heathrow Airport Arrivals: For tours commencing in London, we have included a free group shuttle to/from LHR for clients that have booked our combined land/air packages. For clients that have made their own flight arrangements GET has negotiated special rates for shuttle transfers from LHR to your London hotel (which must be booked through GET) at a price of $40 per person per single trip to/from LHR. London Gatwick Airport Arrivals: Clients arriving at LGW who have booked our combined land/air packages are provided with a Gatwick Express train voucher to Victoria Station, and will need to make their own way from Victoria Station to the tour hotel. For clients that have made their own flight arrangements we suggest you visit www.gatwickexpress. com for transfer information.
Smoking:
Please note that we do not permit smoking on our motorcoaches, however, frequent stops are made while touring.
Surface Travel & Sightseeing:
Ground arrangements are provided by Grand European Operations Ltd., a separate company, and include inter-city travel by private motorcoach with air-conditioning and an emergency restroom*, ferry, train, and ship as per the itinerary. Activities on days indicated in the itinerary as being “at leisure or optional” are left to your discretion. *Some exceptions apply.
Holidays:
During local or national holidays some museums, restaurants or sightseeing may be limited or not available. Alternatives will be offered wherever possible. At times, some itineraries may be operated in reverse; you will be advised at the time of booking. Nile River Cruises: due to the unreliability of domestic air scheduling, religious festivals and other unforeseen circumstances, the order of some itineraries may need to change at short notice; on occasion an alternative cruise boat of equal standing may be used.
Hotels:
The hotels reserved for our tours are rated as European Standard First Class. All hotel rooms provide a private bath (and/or shower) and toilet. These hotels are clean, comfortable and located so as to best facilitate guided sightseeing of the area. Hotels reserved for each tour are indicated in the Day-By-Day Itinerary. If, for any reason, it becomes necessary to use other hotels, they will be of a similar standard, where possible. We only contract non-smoking rooms. All accommodations, meals and services have been designated as first class in Russia, Eastern Europe and provincial areas though some tourism facilities are less developed than what might normally be expected in this category. Tours in North and South America use Standard First Class hotels
Single Rooms:
A limited number of single rooms are available at the supplement shown for each tour. While single rooms provide privacy, they are often smaller than twin-bedded rooms. We do offer the option to join our non-smoking Room Share Program (see page 13 for details). The Room Share Program is not available on tours/cruises to Greece, Egypt, Mexico, Hawaii, Costa Rica, Peru, South America, South Africa, China, Select London & Paris, Select London, Paris & Rome, all European River Cruises and all pre or post tour extensions.
Triple Rooms:
Triple room accommodations are available on a limited basis at a reduced price. Triple rooms usually consist of a twin-bedded room with an additional folding bed or cot for the third person. They may not be comfortable for three adults. Triple rooms are not available on cruises.
Meals:
WR=Welcome Reception. Breakfasts are served as: B=Breakfast, BB=Buffet Breakfast, CB=Continental Breakfast, SB=Scandinavian Buffet Breakfast, FB=Full Breakfast. Lunches (L) and three-course table d’hote (set menu) dinners (D), (FD) farewell dinners and (BD) buffet dinners are shown in the itinerary for each tour and are generally catered by the hotel in which you are residing. (HD)Highlight Dinner and (HL) Highlight Lunch will be catered at a local restaurant or special venue. (DA) Dine-Around dinners are catered at a selection of restaurants preselected by Grand European Tours. Please note in cases of early morning departures, FB may not be available. Please note that we are unable to accept requests for special menus to meet dietary or religious requirements.
Tour Price Does Not Include:
Beverages and meals not detailed in the itinerary. Personal expenses including passport and visa fees, alcoholic beverages, optional sightseeing tours, laundry, phone calls, traditional end of the tour gratuity to your Tour Director and Motorcoach Driver, tips to local city guides, crew tips and all other items of a personal nature, airport tax, service & security charges and port taxes. (Subject to change.) Travel Insurance is also not included but is highly recommended.
Consumer Disclosure Notice:
Please read the Terms and Conditions carefully, as your deposit and payment for a trip constitutes consent to all conditions and general information contained in this brochure.
Responsibility:
These trips are arranged by Grand European Operations Ltd. (“Operator”) in conjunction with Grand European Tours (2003) Inc. It has made the travel arrangements as agent for the transportation carriers and other suppliers of services connected with the tour (“suppliers”) all of which are independent contractors. The Operator in no way owns or operates the vehicles or facilities to be used during the trip, and does not guarantee or assume responsibility for the acts and/or omissions of suppliers, their employees, agents, etc. Transportation companies, airlines etc. are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time passengers are not on board planes, transportation or conveyances. We rely on international convention which may apply to the services provided by us, our suppliers or agents with respect to any claim of any nature brought by you against us as a result of the provision of those services. International conventions which apply may include: Warsaw Convention 1929, (as amended by Hague Protocol and Montreal Protocol) in relation to air travel, or Montreal Convention; the Berne Convention for rail travel; Athens Convention 1974 for carriage by sea; the Geneva Convention for carriage by road and the Paris Convention 1962 for Hotels. We are to be regarded as having all benefit of these conventions on limiting our liability in relation to any claim for death, injury, loss, damage and delay to passengers and luggage. Enrollment in and payment for a tour shall constitute agreement and acceptance by the passenger of the terms and conditions set forth in this brochure which cannot be varied except in writing by an officer of the Company.
All bookings are accepted subject to the conditions imposed by suppliers and Operator, including airline, cruise line, rail, coach, hotel, restaurants, insurance and other companies, firms or persons concerned with the trip, and the Operator will make no refund in the event of their delay, cancellation, overbooking, strike, force majeure or for elements of the package not used by customer. If there is a difference between the Operator’s Conditions and those published by a supplier, the conditions of supplier shall apply. The Operator reserves the right to cancel a trip or change the itinerary whenever in its sole judgment conditions warrant, or if the Operator deems it necessary for your comfort, convenience or safety. Trips outside the USA require a valid passport. You are responsible for, and release the Operator from, passport, visa, vaccination requirements, and safety conditions in travel destinations. The Operator strongly recommends you purchase appropriate cancellation/medical/baggage insurance for the trip, which is available from the Operator. For medical information, call the Center for Disease Control at 800- 232-4636 or visit www.cdc.gov/travel, and for U.S. State Department travel advisories, call 202-647- 5225. The Operator reserves the right to decline to accept any person as a member of the tour, or to require any participant to withdraw from the trip at any time who presents a significant risk to the health or safety of himself or others which can not be eliminated or reduced to an acceptable level by the Operator’s reasonable accommodation. The Operator reserves the right to correct an error in the advertised price prior to your departure. Prices in this brochure are accurate at the time of printing and are subject to change without notice due to changes in market factors including but not limited to foreign currency and supplier cost fluctuations. Prices set forth in future brochures shall supersede the prices in this brochure. Airfare quotes, and Air Add-ons in this brochure are subject to airline capacity limitations and higher airfares may apply depending on seat availability at the time of reservation. A contract is made when your reservation and payment are accepted by the Operator at its office, and any dispute shall be governed by Oregon law and subject to the jurisdiction of Portland, Oregon. In calculating the cost of your trip, Operator has relied on your consent to these terms and in the absence of this release, the trip cost would have been higher. Operator reserves the right to substitute hotels of similar quality at any time or to make changes in itinerary of similar quality. Operator will not be responsible to any person for expense, loss of time, money or other circumstance resulting from a change in itinerary or change of tour arrangements. Operator also reserves the right to cancel a tour prior to departure, and in such cases all payments made to date will be refunded and shall constitute full settlement. If you purchase an airline ticket separately, ensure that your travel agent explains the conditions under which the ticket is issued, as the Operator assumes no responsibility for such airline ticket cancellation fees. Please understand that not all museums and attractions are open every day of the year. Operator reserves the right to vary the sequence of sightseeing and/ or to re-route the order of cities if that will enable you to visit all listed excursions. In either case, the itinerary content will be maintained to the extent possible and there are no refunds for any unused or unavailable excursions. Promotional offers subject to change. This brochure supersedes any other current brochure on the market.
Privacy Policy:
Occasionally we make portions of our mailing lists available to carefully selected companies. If you would prefer not to have your name and mailing address made available, please call us at 1-800-552-5545. To review our full privacy policy, visit our website at www.getours.com/privacypolicy.















