Scenic has unveiled its 2024 European River Cruise offerings. Leading the way are two new itineraries—a 10-day "Danube in Depth" that digs deep into the cultures, history and local flavors of the cities and towns on the Budapest-to-Nuremburg (and reverse) route; and the 11-day "Iconic Danube with Prague," which spends three nights exploring the capital city of the Czech Republic before (or after) taking in the highlights of three other countries.
In France, it will be a busy year due to the 80th anniversary of D-Day and the 2024 Paris Olympics. The eight-day "Highlights of Normandy & the Seine" is the perfect itinerary for learning the history and importance of the D-Day landings in Normandy—and enjoying the beauty of the countryside along the Seine River. And Scenic offers two-and three-night Paris extensions to allow for more time in the "City of Light."
Scenic offers 12 different city stays and extensions, available to augment nearly every itinerary. The five-day Ljubljana & Zagreb extends several itineraries including the 14-day "Jewels of Europe" and takes in the natural beauty of Slovenia and Croatia combined with history, cobblestone streets and glacial lakes. Three nights in either Lisbon or Madrid allow for exploration of the culture and styles of two capital cities before or after sailing on the Douro. Or perhaps extending an 11-day "Black Sea Explorer" cruise with six days in Transylvania and visit the former summer residence of the Romanian family Bran Castle, home of the legend Count Dracula.
Known for their immersive experiences (Scenic Freechoice) and exclusive events (Scenic Enrich), 2024 offers a variety of opportunities. Scenic Enrich events range from a private classical evening concert held within the grand Palais Liechtenstein, available on several Danube sailings, to an immersion into Portuguese music during a private concert at Porto’s historic São Francisco Church—offered on the Douro sailings.
Scenic Freechoice focuses on the many possibilities of daily excursions—shopping and cooking lessons with the chef, wine tastings at some of the finest vineyards, city walking and cycling tours, hikes through stunning scenery, kayaking on the Danube, meeting with local businesses to learn about how they make cheeses or grow olives or even produce silk, and so many more—all structured to allow for as much local interaction as possible.
For travelers looking to spend even more time exploring Europe, Scenic has "Ultimate River Cruise Combinations", combining some of their most popular itineraries to create the ultimate vacation experience. The 23-day "North Sea to Black Sea" is a full sweep of European history, taking in the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers as they wind through eight countries. Or mix it up a bit with the 21-day "Gems of the Seine & Unforgettable Douro", sailing two rivers with very different sceneries—the cathedrals, architectural wonders and the history or the D-Day landings in Normandy as compared to the vibrant city of Portugal’s Porto and the serenity of a land that time seems to have forgotten—while both sharing a love of great foods and wines. A total of six offerings run from 21 to 23 days.
Tip: Planning and booking early comes with their own rewards. Scenic is offering savings of up to $1,500 per couple and if the booking is paid in full at least 12 months prior to sailing (or within 72 hours of booking if within 12 months), guests can choose either free roundtrip economy airfare, a free land extension or an additional $2,000 per couple savings.
Details are now available in a new 72-page brochure, available at www.scenicusa.com/brochures.
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