Last year Abercrombie & Kent introduced Connections European River Cruise Journeys, which range from sightseeing led by a resident A&K Tour Director for no more than 24 guests, to pre- and post-cruise city stays with exclusive experiences only available to A&K guests. Due to an increase in interest, A&K is adding departures and a new historical World War II journey for 2015.
Connections River Cruise Journeys include city visits before and after cruising, allowing time to explore cultural hubs such as Amsterdam, Munich, Budapest and Paris. The small group size allows access to distinctive local accommodations, such as the centrally-located, historic Hotel Torbräu in Munich, not available to larger groups.
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New for 2015 - World War II on the Rhine: 70 Years After Victory – Timed to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice, this seven-night program visits historical WWII sites. Travel with resident A&K Tour Director, Dr. James McKenzie-Hall, a European art historian and lecturer.
Visit the Resistance Museum and the Anne Frank House. Discover the stories behind the bridge at Remagen and battlefield at Arnhem. Explore Cologne, painstakingly restored after the war. In Heidelberg, see a hidden amphitheater and visit the cultural center to learn the wartime plight of the Sinti and Roma peoples. Special departure of Discovering the Rhine May 6-15, 2015, 10 days from $5,695.
Discovering the Rhine – Visit Holland, Germany, France and Switzerland along the Rhine, including the Rhine Gorge. Tour a chocolatier’s workshop. An A&K exclusive excursion visits Burg Eltz, a fairytale castle. 10 days from $4,895.
Paris, Burgundy and a South of France Cruise – Tour the Paris and visit the Musée d’Orsay. Visit the home of Claude Monet and his garden in Giverny before boarding the ‘Amadeus Symphony.’ Exclusive A&K sightseeing includes the Cistercian Abbey at Sénanque, the Roman amphitheatre in Arles and the place where Van Gogh painted ‘Café Terrace at Night.’ 11 days from $5,795.
Cruising Holland & Belgium in Bloom – Behold millions of blossoms at Keukenhof Gardens. Visit Lisse, the Black Tulip Museum and tour Delft, known worldwide for its blue and white porcelain. Experience Bruges, a medieval jewel. Nine days from $3,995.
Heart of Europe: Cruising the Rhine, Main & Danube – Spend two weeks cruising from Amsterdam to Budapest. Exclusive excursions visit the university town of Heidelberg and tour a World War II art bunker in Nuremberg. Enjoy a night-time cruise along the Danube River in Budapest. 17 days from $8,595.
Along the Danube – Explore Budapest on both sides of the river and take in romantic views of the city on an evening cruise. Discover Vienna, city of Mozart and Strauss. Enjoy a “Sound of Vienna” concert in the Kursalon, where the first compositions of Johann Strauss were heard. 10 days from $4,395.
Music & Maestros of the Danube – Enjoy performances at the Opera House in either Budapest or Vienna, as well as a concert of classical music at a special location in Bratislava. Celebrate the "Great Masters" with a matinée at a traditional Viennese Palais. Join in a private waltz lesson in Vienna, an A&K exclusive. 10 days from $4,795.
Christmas Markets on the Danube – Visit the finest Christmas markets (Christkindlesmarkts) in southern Germany and Austria. Take a guided tour of a renowned porcelain factory. An A&K Exclusive Onshore Connection includes Schloss Artstetten, home of the great granddaughter of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Nine days from $3,895.
Christmas Along the Danube – Explore the local Christmas markets in Munich and Salzburg. Awaken Christmas morning in Vienna for a tour of the city bedecked in holiday finery. An A&K exclusive excursion includes Bratislava and the “Blue Church”. Visit Nymphenburg Palace, once a summer residence of the Bavarian Wittelsbachs. Nine days from $4,295.
For more information, visit www.abercrombiekent.com.