Gems of Germany, Belgium & the Netherlands - NEW!
9 Days
Tour Code: GBN
Overview
Your cruise begins with a panoramic tour of Brussels; from the Altomum Monument you will see the grand boulevards, palaces and modern buildings that make up the headquarters of the European Union. No trip to Brussels would be complete without chocolate and you'll visit an artisanal chocolate factory!
In Antwerp you'll take a guided stroll through the city center. Not to be missed sites include City Hall and Our Lady's Cathedral, home to four paintings by Rubens. One of the highlights this day is an exclusive visit to a family-owned brewery for a tasting and to learn about Belgium's brewing history.
Our next cruise destination is the port city of Masstricht for a taste of Dutch culture and history. In Venlo, you get to experience a true gem on this tour - Floriade 2012! Once every 10 years the Floriade International Horticultural Expo is held in the Netherlands. You will enjoy a full day of music, art and cultural events celebrating the horticultural world. This year is covers over 160 acres in Venlo, with exhibits on green energy, healing and botanical innovation.
Our sail continues to our next port, Cologne, Germany visiting Cologne's Old Town and the UNESCO designated Cologne Cathedral. The tour continues to a tavern where you join in an exclusive tasting of Kolsch, the local brew served in test-tube glasses.
Our next river port is the village of Konigswinter, which lies at the foot of the Siebengebridge. This is traditional romantic Rhine River country with the scenery providing a dramatic backdrop to the storybook part of Germany. It is here that Siegfred slew the dragon and the sinister Hagen sank the treasure in the Rhine - a legend immortalized in Wagner's Der Ring der Nibelungen. Your ride on the nastalgic cogwheel train to the dragon's former lair, Drachenfels (Dragon Rock), takes you to an exclusive visit to Castle Drachenfels.
Stay in a Category 3 Moselle Deck cabin with private bath (option to upgrade for low additional cost). Enjoy 19 meals including 7 Buffet Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 5 Dinners, 1 Captain's Gala and 1 Farewell Dinner.
Note: this tour is operated by our sister company.
Your Tour Price Includes
VIP Door-to-Door TransferTransfers 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. |
Deluxe Stateroom |
Airport/Cruise TransfersAirport arrival and departure transfers included with the purchase of combined air and land package. |
19 Meals with wine during dinner and bottled water in your stateroomEnjoy 7 Buffet Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 5 Dinners, 1 Captain's Gala and 1 Farewell Dinner. (Wine, beer and soft drinks served with lunch and 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. |
Choice Is YoursWe realize one size doesn't always fit all. That's why we've added "Choice Is Yours" included excursions in select cities. These options are designed to provide you with exciting alternate experiences - at no extra cost to you. Have you been to Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum already? This visit, you can return to gaze at your favorite Vermeer or you can choose to explore the Van Gogh Museum instead. Soaked up Salzburg when you came for Mozart's 250th? Opt for a shorter day in charming Steyr and quaint Gmunden and still have time to relax back at the ship or take one of the complimentary bikes out for a spin. |
| Local Expert Guides on all city tours |
Go ActiveIs all this good food, first-class pampering, luxurious bedding, world-class sightseeing, and scintillating cultural exploration making you miss the gym? On a boutique river cruise, you can stretch your legs in some of the world's most beautiful settings. As part of the "Go Active" program, we have preselected the best local opportunities to explore the outdoors with our complimentary bicycles and Nordic walking sticks. Cycle along the river path or through a neighboring village. Set out with your walking sticks to boost your energy with every step. Or simply explore the beautiful countryside at your own pace. |
Loud & ClearThis tour utilizes our personal audio system allowing you to roam and explore sites (within 60 feet) without missing any insight from your Tour Director or local guide. |
Gentle Walking ToursAlong the rivers of Europe, life moves at a slower pace. We've taken that lifestyle to heart in creating our "Gentle Walking Tours" in select cities. If or whatever reason, you desire a more relaxed pace, when the other groups head out to conquer the city, you can join a slower-pace group that gives you more time to linger. Poke your head in a few more shops. Meditate on a beautiful painting. Explore the details of a Baroque cathedral. Relax, as with our Gentle Walking Tours, you'll have the same expert English-speaking guides who'll make sure you get the most out of your excursion. |
Travel DocumentsGET travel wallet, Cruise Companion Booklet, $100 Frequent Traveler Discount upon return for a future tour. |
Included Shore Excursions
Brussels city tour & Chocolate tastingBrussels city tour and exclusive chocolate demonstration and tasting at Planet Chocolate factory. |
Choice of Floriade 2012 or Venlo walking tourFor your included sightseeing you have the choice of taking an excursion to Floriade for a full day of music, art, and cultural events celebrating the botanical world. This International Horticultural Expo is held just once every 10 years in the Netherlands, and this year it covers over 160 acres of Venlo, with exhibits exploring green energy, healing, and botanical innovation. Or you can choose to explore the city of Venlo on a guided walking tour. Discover the city’s history, which dates back to Roman times, and take a scenic stroll or bike ride along the Meuse River. |
Antwerp walking tour & beer tastingAntwerp walking tour and exclusive Belgian brewery visit with beer tasting. |
Choice of Cologne walking tourChoice of Cologne walking tour with cathedral or Roman-Germanic Museum and exclusive Kölsch beer tasting. |
Maastricht walking tourGuided stroll of the city center introduces you to the culture and history of this Dutch provincial capital which straddles the river Meuse (Maas). Known as the gastronomic capital of the Netherlands, Masstricht has also played a strategic role in European politics— most recently hosting the 1992 signing of the treaty that gave the EU the Euro. |
Exclusive visit to Castle Frachenfels by cogwheel trainYour ride on the nostalgic cogwheel train to the dragon’s former lair, Drachenfels (Dragon Rock), takes you to an exclusive visit to Castle Drachenfels and a stunning panoramic view of the Rhine Valley. |
Itinerary
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 - Brussels
VIP Door-to-Door Transfer to your local airport for your overnight flight to Brussels.
DAY 2 Arrive Brussels
Arrive at Brussels Airport where you’ll
be transferred to the ship.
River Ambassador
Dinner Included
DAY 3 Brussels
Your panoramic tour of Brussels
presents this European village in
all its splendor. From the Atomium
Monument, symbol of a
modern Belgium, you’ll travel up
grand boulevards, where elegant
palaces rub shoulders with the
gleaming modern structures that
house the institutions of the European
Union, and down narrow
lanes, where citizens have lived
and worked for hundreds of years.
Arrive at the Grand-Place—the
magnificent city center —where
the Gothic spires that rise from
City Hall testify to the importance
of this mercantile city in medieval
times. Then discover the delights of Belgian chocolate at an artisanal
chocolate factory where the
maitre chocolatier will share his
secrets and offer a tasting of this
country’s most delicious export.
River Ambassador
Buffet Breakfast, Lunch and Captain’s Welcome Gala Included
DAY 4 Antwerp
A guided morning stroll through
the compact city center reveals
Antwerp’s medieval splendor. See
City Hall and the guild houses surrounding
Grote Market, and visit
Our Lady’s Cathedral—the highest
cathedral in the Low Countries
and home to four paintings by Rubens,
one of the city’s most famous
residents. Along with chocolate,
the most beloved Belgian comestible
export has to be beer, and
this country takes its beer very
seriously. Enjoy an exclusive visit
to a family-owned brewery for a
tasting and learn how Belgium’s
brewing history traces its roots to
the 17th century Trappist monks
who produced beer to feed their
community. Spend the afternoon
at leisure.
River Ambassador
Buffet Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
DAY 5 Maastricht
This morning’s guided stroll of the
city center introduces you to the
culture and history of this Dutch
provincial capital which straddles
the river Meuse (Maas). Known
as the gastronomic capital of the
Netherlands, Masstricht has also
played a strategic role in European
politics— most recently hosting
the 1992 signing of the treaty that
gave the EU the Euro.
River Ambassador
Buffet Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
DAY 6 Venlo (Floriade)
Today for your included sightseeing
you have the choice of taking
an excursion to Floriade for a full
day of music, art, and cultural
events celebrating the botanical
world. This International Horticultural
Expo is held just once every
10 years in the Netherlands, and
this year it covers over 160 acres
of Venlo, with exhibits exploring
green energy, healing, and botanical
innovation. Or you can choose to explore the city of Venlo on a
guided walking tour. Discover the
city’s history, which dates back to
Roman times, and take a scenic
stroll or bike ride along the Meuse
River.
River Ambassador
Buffet Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
Note: On the March 30 departure,
the order of sights will vary to accommodate
the April 5 start date of
Floriade.
DAY 7 Cruising the romantic Rhine River, Cologne
This morning, relax as you sail
down the Rhine to Cologne, enjoying
the exquisite scenery from
your ship’s panoramic deck. Today
for your included sightseeing you
have the choice of taking a guided
tour of Cologne’s Old Town, seeing
Romanesque churches, the Renaissance
City Hall, medieval houses,
and UNESCO-designated Cologne
Cathedral – one of the tallest
Gothic buildings in the world. Or
you can choose to take a guided
tour of the fascinating Roman-
Germanic Museum including the
beautiful Dionysus mosaic. Afterward
mingle with the locals at a
tavern when you join in an exclusive
tasting of Kölsch, the popular
local brew served in test tube-like
glasses. The rest of the evening
is yours to spend as you please,
whether you go back to re-examine
the city’s architecture, explore a
museum, or engage in world-class
shopping on downtown’s pedestrian
mall.
River Ambassador
Buffet Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
DAY 8 Konigswinter, cruising the romantic Rhine River, Cologne
Awaken in the quaint village of
Königswinter, which lies at the
foot of the Siebengebirge. We
are entering the romantic Rhine,
where the scenery provides
the dramatic backdrop to this
storybook part of Germany. It
is here that Siegfried slew the
dragon and the sinister Hagen
sank the treasure in the Rhine— a
legend immortalized in Wagner’s
Der Ring der Nibelungen. Your
ride on the nostalgic cogwheel
train to the dragon’s former lair,
Drachenfels (Dragon Rock),
takes you to an exclusive visit to
Castle Drachenfels and a stunning
panoramic view of the Rhine
Valley. Then relax onboard your
ship as you sail back to Cologne.
River Ambassador
Buffet Breakfast, Lunch and Captain’s Farewell Dinner Included
DAY 9 Cologne - USA
Disembark the ship in Cologne
and transfer to the Brussels airport
for your return flight home.
Breakfast Included
Dates & Prices
of $300 per couple when you book by
June 15, 2012.
| Depart Return |
Land Only Price | Price includes savings of: | Request a Quote or Book Now |
|---|---|---|---|
Sat 06/09/12 |
$2,925 | $150 |
Call 1-877-622-9109 |
Sat 06/16/12 |
$2,925 | $150 |
Call 1-877-622-9109 |
Sat 07/07/12 |
$2,875 | $150 | |
Sat 07/14/12 |
$2,875 | $150 | |
Sat 08/04/12 |
$2,875 | $150 | |
Sat 08/11/12 |
$2,875 | $150 | |
Sat 09/01/12 |
$3,025 | $150 | |
Sat 09/08/12 |
$3,025 | $150 |
Departure Details
Departures are available from March through September 2012.
*On these dates the cruise operates from Cologne to Brussels:
March 31, April 14, May 12, June 9, July 7, August 4, September 1.
Single Supplement Waivers or 2-for-1 Cruise Specials, if applicable, will be highlighted above. Some restrictions may apply please call for details.
Pricing Details
The prices above are for the land only portion of the tour and include the Early Booking Discount of $150 per person. In order to qualify for the discounts you must book and deposit by June 15, 2012.
Airfare is available at an additional cost from over 60 departure cities, call for an up-to-the-minute air quote from your hometown. When you book your Air & Land package together by you’ll save an additional $100 per couple!
Tour price is per person and is based on two people sharing a twin bedded room. Single rooms are available at a supplement.
Single Room Supplement: Call for details
Port taxes of $126 per person (subject to change) will appear on your invoice.
Prices shown include cruise in category 3 Moselle Deck.
To upgrade to a higher category,
add per person:
Cat:... ....Cabin................. Cost
2.............Twin/Double.......$400
1.............Twin/Double.......$800
Cancellation Penalties: 89-60 days prior to departure: 35%; 59-30 days prior to departure: 50%; Less than 30 days prior to departure: 100%
At times we offer discounted departures where the price has been discounted to reflect savings. Discounted rates are valid for new bookings only and are not combinable with any other offers.
Transportation: Airport arrival and departure transfers are included on arrival and departure days only. NOTE: Flights must arrive between 5am and 5pm and depart between 6am and 6pm.
Please Note: This tour is operated by our sister company.
Ship Tour
River Ambassador
A stylish boutique river cruise ship
River Ambassador was named one of the world's "Top Small Cruise Ships" by Condé Nast Traveler's 2010 Readers' Poll.
Facilities onboard River Ambassador:
• Lavishly appointed riverview staterooms have hotel-style beds draped in fine linens, a vanity, built-in closets, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat for air conditioning and heat, direct-dial telephone, flat-screen TV with satellite, bottled water, and bathroom with L'Occitane bath and body products, magnifying mirror, and plush bathrobes
• Beautiful panoramic main lounge with full-service bar, cozy library/game room, and elegant restaurant
• Sun deck with chess and shuffleboard, fitness room with jet massage shower cabin, massage treatments, and boutique
• Complimentary 24-hour specialty coffee and tea bar, and use of bicycles and Nordic walking sticks
• 24-hour reception service
• Wireless Internet access in public areas
Ship Facts
A stylish boutique cruise ship
Inaugurated: 1993
Refurbished: 2011
Length: 361 ft
Width: 37.5 ft
Number of Decks: 2 + Sun Deck
Maximum Passengers: 120
Staterooms: 64
Cabin Size: Approximately 128 sq. ft.
Suites: 4 Suites
Suite Size: Approximately 256 sq. ft.
Voltage: 220v
Elevator: No
Restaurant: Open seating
Library: Yes
Laundry Service: Yes
Gymnasium: Yes
Cabins
River Ambassador
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 hotel-style beds draped in fine linens. The staterooms and suites on the Rhine Deck 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 have French balconies. Category One Staterooms on the Rhine Deck have French Balconies. Category Two Staterooms on the Main Deck have windows which are 5ft x 3.3 ft. Category Three Staterooms on the Main Deck have windows which are 5ft x 3.3 ft.
Tools & Tips
Travel Tools
| Country | Currency | Tips | City | Weather | Time |
| Belgium |
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Brussels |
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| Germany |
|
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Cologne |
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| Dusseldorf |
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Terms and Conditions
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.
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.
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.
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 Add-On prices listed in this catalog were effective on April 6, 2012 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.
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.
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.
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 visiting the following countries: 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.
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.
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.
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. Carryons 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.
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.
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.
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.
Complimentary airport arrival and departure transfers are included in the tour price when you purchase our land/air package and operate at Terms and Conditions 91 xed times on the rst and last day of your tour. See the individual tour pages for details. For those making their own ight 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 ight 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 ight arrangements we suggest you visit www.gatwickexpress. com for transfer information.
Please note that we do not permit smoking on our motorcoaches, however, frequent stops are made while touring.
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 le to your discretion. *Some exceptions apply.
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.
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. ese 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 rst 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.
A limited number of single rooms are available at the supplement shown for each tour. While single rooms provide privacy, they are o en smaller than twin-bedded rooms. We do o er the option to join our non-smoking Room Share Program (see page 13 for details). e 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 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. ey may not be comfortable for three adults. Triple rooms are not available on cruises.
WR=Welcome Reception. Breakfasts are served as: B=Breakfast, BB=Bu et Breakfast, CB=Continental Breakfast, SB=Scandinavian Bu et Breakfast, FB=Full Breakfast. Lunches (L) and three-course table d’hote (set menu) dinners (D), (FD) farewell dinners and (BD) bu et 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 pre-selected by Grand European Tours. Please note in cases of early morning departures, FB may not be available. We are unable to accept requests for special menus to meet dietary or religious requirements.
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.
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.
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 bene t 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. e 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. e 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. e 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. e 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. is brochure supersedes any other current brochure on the market.
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.


















