Tulips & Windmills River Cruise
11 Days
Tour Code: TAW
Overview
Enjoy 11-days aboard a perfectly paced cruise, showcasing the glorious land of Rembrandt, Van Gogh, canals, windmills and tulips. Our favorite spring-time cruise takes you through the canals of the Netherlands and Belgium just as the colorful trademark flowers of the region make their appearance. There is no better way to bid farewell to winter and welcome warmer days than on a trip through the Keukenhof Gardens, a 70-acre showcase of more than seven million flowers!
On this springtime cruise, you’ll also experience the historic windmills of Kinderdijk, museums rich in art by the famed Dutch Masters, and enjoyable walking tours of Antwerp and Enkhuizen. Along the way, indulge in the famous treats of the region: sample delicate handmade chocolates, among the finest in the world; feast on warm Belgian waffles with berries and cream; and taste delicious cheeses and hearty beer as you savor the storybook atmosphere of some of Europe’s most charming towns.
Stay in Category 5 Moselle Deck cabin with private bath (option to upgrade for low additional cost). Enjoy 25 meals including 9 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 9 dinners.
Tour price is per person and is based on two people sharing a twin bedded room. Single rooms are available at a supplement.
Space is very limited and sells out quickly for this cruise.
***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. |
25 Meals with wine during dinner and bottled water in your stateroomEnjoy 25 meals including 9 Buffet breakfasts, 7 lunches and 7 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
Amsterdam City Tour and canal cruiseAmsterdam city tour, including canal cruise, and choice of Rijksmuseum or Van Gogh Museum. |
See the Kinderdijk WindmillsYou’ll discover 19 astonishingly well-preserved windmills dating back to the 1500s and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your guide will provide a detailed explanation of why windmills are so important to this region, including how they harness the power of the wind. |
Keukenhof Gardens or Zaanse SchansChoice of Keukenhof Gardens or Zaanse Schans and Keukenhof Gardens. |
Visit the Delta WorksEnjoy a visit to the engineering marvel known as they Delta Works, where you’ll learn about the Netherlands’ 2,000-year history of fighting back the sea. Learn how technology has evolved over this period, and witness the striking modern methods employed today. |
| Hoorn Walking Tour |
Choice of Bruges or Ghent toursMonument in Bruges Square Choice of full-day Bruges with canal cruise and walking tour or three quarter-day Ghent with canal cruise. |
Choice of Liberation Museum or Venlo for Floriade 2012Today for your included sightseeing you can choose to head to the Liberation Museum situated in nearby Groesbeek or you can choose to take an excursion to Floriade in Venlo 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. |
Walking tour of Antwerp |
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.
Bulbgrower ExperienceWith your local guide, drive to the flower fields between Enkhuizen and Hoorn. You’ll have exclusive access to the flowering fields, hear explanations of flower bulb cultivation by a bulbgrower, and visit the warehouses and preparation department of one of the major bulb trading companies in the area. Also, enjoy coffee and apple pie in a local restaurant in this floricultural heartland. |
Brussels Half-day City TourStart with a panoramic drive through Brussels and see the Royal Residence, Chinese Pavilion, Japanese Pagoda, Royal Botanical Gardens, Heysel Park, Federal Parliament, House of Lord Byron, US & Swiss Embassy, Royal Park. There will be photo-stops at Column of Congress and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Enjoy free time to explore Brussels on your own before returning to the ship. |
Delft ExcursionArrive in Delft Old Town and enjoy a short guided walk including the outside of Nieuwe Kerk (New Church), Market Square with Town Hall and Vermeer’s House. Then free time to stroll around Market Square on your own for a bit. Also, included is a guided tour of Royal Delft Porcelain Factory where you can see painters at work, plus get explanations on history & tradition, and view some famous pieces. There will be time for shopping in the gift shop too. |
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 - Amsterdam
VIP Door-to-Door Transfer to your local airport for your overnight flights to Amsterdam.
DAY 2 Arrive Amsterdam
Arrive at Amsterdam Schiphol
Airport where you’ll be transferred
to the ship.
River Queen/River Duchess
Dinner Included
DAY 3 Amsterdam
Spend your first full day in
the Netherlands’ largest city,
Amsterdam, which boasts history,
art, architecture, bridges, canals,
cobblestone streets, museums,
bicycles, and narrow alleys. See
Amsterdam’s unique appeal from a
different perspective while touring
aboard a canal boat. Today for
your included sightseeing you
have the choice of visiting one of
the most prestigious museums in
the world—the Rijksmuseum—
which offers the world’s largest
collection of Dutch and Flemish
art and artifacts, including
Rembrandt’s The Night Watch and Vermeer’s The Kitchen Maid; or
you can choose to visit the Van
Gogh Museum—home to the
largest collection of his paintings
in the world, along with the works
of other 19th-century painters.
River Queen/River Duchess
Buffet Breakfast, Lunch and Captain’s Welcome Gala Included
DAY 4 Zaanse Schans
Today for your included
sightseeing you can choose to
spend all day at the Keukenhof
Gardens, one of the most
impressive public gardens in the
world, with more than seven
million bulbs planted on a 70-acre
site; or you can choose to split
your day between the Keukenhof
and Zaanse Schans, an exquisitely
crafted open-air museum where
you can observe life as it used to
be lived. Authentic windmills,
houses, and shops, were relocated
to this picturesque area, creating
a typical 17th- to 18th-century
village where you can watch the
cobbler carve out a wooden shoe
or the cheesemaker press a round
of Gouda.
River Queen/River Duchess
Buffet Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
DAY 5 Hoorn, Enkhuizen
Enjoy a walking tour through
Hoorn, where you’ll uncover a rich
seafaring history, evident in the
town’s old harbor and admiralty
buildings. Your next port of call is
Enkhuizen, a lively trading center
since the 17th century, where you
will visit the fascinating Zuiderzee
outdoor museum, a reconstructed
village from before the Ljsselmeer Dam was built in 1932 that gives
you a vivid idea of life in a Dutch
fishing village.
River Queen/River Duchess
Buffet Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
DAY 6 Nijmegen (Groesbeek or Venlo, Floriade)
Today for your included sightseeing
you can choose to head to the
Liberation Museum situated in
nearby Groesbeek. During your guided visit, get a firsthand account
of WWII by experiencing the occupation,
celebrating the liberation,
and witnessing the rebuilding of the
Netherlands and Europe after the
war. Or you can choose to take an
excursion to Floriade in Venlo 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.
River Queen/River Duchess
Buffet Breakfast, *Lunch and Dinner Included
Note: Lunch is not included with
Floriade 2012. March 22 and
March 25 departures will not have
the choice of visiting Floriade, as it
opens April 5, 2012.
DAY 7 Rotterdam, Kinderdijk, Dordrecht
Awaken in Rotterdam and cruise
through its harbor, the world’s third
largest. Enjoy leisure time while in
Rotterdam. Then sail to Kinderdijk,
where you’ll discover 19 astonishingly
well-preserved, UNESCO
World Heritage-designated windmills
dating back to the 1500’s.
Your guide will provide a detailed
explanation of why windmills are
so important to this region.
River Queen/River Duchess
Buffet Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
Note: If docking in Kinderdijk is
not possible, the excursion will
be arranged by motorcoach from
Rotterdam.
DAY 8 Veere
Enjoy a morning visit to the engineering
marvel known as the Delta
Works, where you’ll learn about
the Netherlands’ 2,000-year history
of fighting back the sea. Learn
how technology has evolved in that
time. Then spend the early afternoon
in charming Veere, today a
popular artists’ retreat, before cruising
the picturesque Zeeland area.
River Queen/River Duchess
Buffet Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
DAY 9 Ghent (Bruges or Ghent)
Today for your included sightseeing
you have the choice of visiting
Bruges, one of the best-preserved
medieval cities in Europe and a
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Enjoy its intimate cobblestone
streets and bucolic public gardens.
The Belfry Tower (Belfort) located
in Market Square features a
stunning octagonal tower and the
lovely music of a carillon. Then see
the town from aboard a canal boat
and discover why Bruges is often
called the “Venice of the North.”
Or you can choose to visit Ghent,
one of the oldest cities in Belgium,
with a history dating back to the
Stone Age. The beautifully restored
medieval city center is made for
strolling or biking. A canal cruise
gives you close-up view of the
impressive 14th- and 15th-century
textile warehouses that line the
canals.
River Queen/River Duchess
Buffet Breakfast and Dinner Included
DAY 10 Antwerp
Spend a full day in the diamond
capital of the world, Antwerp.
You’ll be guided to the Cathedral
of Our Lady, which houses four
masterpieces by Peter Paul Rubens, who was born in Antwerp.
You’ll visit Market Square, where
you’ll see the Brabo Fountain.
Those who believe that all that
glitters is not gold can take an
afternoon shuttle to Diamondland,
Antwerp’s largest diamond shop.
River Queen/River Duchess
Buffet Breakfast, Lunch and Captain’s Farewell Dinner Included
DAY 11 Antwerp - USA
Disembark the ship in Antwerp
and transfer to the Brussels airport
for your flight home.
Breakfast Included
Dates & Prices
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.
Ship Tour
River Duchess
A luxurious boutique river cruise ship
A 2010 Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Poll ’Top Small Cruise Ship.’ The River Duchess accommodates a maximum of 134 guests, providing the intimate small-ship ambiance preferred by experienced travelers.
Facilities onboard River Duchess:
* 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.
*Other amenities include: a vanity, generous 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
* The suites have extra amenities and services including: slippers; coffee machine, bottle of wine upon arrival, fruit and cookie plate, morning coffee, and shoe shine
* Additional for 2010: Free laundry services and daily newspaper
* Beautiful panoramic main lounge with full-service bar, cozy Captain’s Lounge and library, elegant restaurant, sun deck with chess and shuffleboard, sky lounge, fitness room, sauna, massage treatments, gift boutique, guest laundry and ironing facilities, and elevator
* 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
Inaugurated: 2003
Refurbished: 2009
Length: 360 ft. (110 m.)
Width: 37.5 ft. (11.40 m.)
Draft: 4 ft. (1.20 m.)
Number of Decks: 3 + sun deck
Number of Categories: 5
Maximum Passengers: 134
Staterooms: 67
Cabin Size: Approximately 151 sq. ft.
Suites: 4
Suite Size: Approximately 214 sq. ft.
Window Size: Moselle Deck = 6 ft. (1.86 m.) x 1.4 ft. (0.43 m.);
Main Deck = 6 ft. (1.86 m.) x 2.6 ft. (0.78 m.)
Danube Deck = 6.4 ft. (1.94 m.) x 3 ft. (0.93 m.)
Rhine Deck = 3 ft. (0.90 m.) x 5.8 ft. (1.78 m.)
Voltage: 220 volts
Elevator: Yes
Restaurant: Open seating
Laundry Service: Available
Launderette: Yes
Ironing Facilities: Yes
Gymnasium: Yes
Sauna: Dry Sauna & Steam bath
Currency onboard: Euro
Cabins
River Duchess
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 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 feature French balconies and are approximately 214 sq. ft. (4 available).
Category One Staterooms on the Rhine Deck feature French balconies and are approximately 151 sq. ft. (18 available).
Category Two Staterooms on the Danube Deck feature windows that are 6.4ft. x 3ft. and are approximately 151 sq. ft. (23 available).
Category Three Staterooms on the Main Deck feature windows that are 6ft. x 2.6ft. and are approximately 151 sq. ft. (12 available).
Category Four Staterooms on the Moselle Deck feature windows that are 6ft. x 1.4ft. and are approximately 151 sq. ft. (6 available).
Category Five Staterooms located at the front and rear of the Moselle Deck feature windows that are 6ft. x 1.4ft. and are approximately 151 sq. ft. (4 available).
Tools & Tips
Travel Tools
| Country | Currency | Tips | City | Weather | Time |
| The Netherlands (Holland) |
|
|
Amsterdam |
|
|
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.
















