Accommodations
Sheraton Sofia Hotel Balkan
Located in the heart of the city, this luxurious hotel is close to many historic landmarks. Its elegant guest rooms offer the finest in amenities, while the restaurant provides the opportunity to indulge in delicious international cuisine. The hotel also has a salon, gift shop, fitness center, sauna and laundry service.
Classical Makedonia Palace Hotel
Situated on Thermaikos Gulf, this landmark hotel offers an array of fine dining and relaxation venues, panoramic views and elegant guest rooms. Amenities include an outdoor pool, terrace, fitness center, gold and gift shops, salon, 24-hour room service, Internet and express laundry.
MS Amadeus Elegant
The state-of-the-art MS Amadeus Elegant debuted this spring. This ship offers the utmost in service, safety and comfort to its passengers. Step into the elegant reception area and immerse yourself in an ambience reminiscent of a luxury hotel. Relax on the sun deck, connect with friends in the Internet café or browse in the boutique. If you wish to be more active, practice your golf game on the putting green, stroll along the walking track, work out in the fitness room or take a refreshing dip in the pool. From the delightful breakfast and lunch buffets to the regional specialties served at dinner, savor a wide range of delicious international cuisine in the restaurant. At the end of each day, return to the comforts of your cabin. Appointed in bright, contemporary décor, each features a river view from an outward-facing window, satellite television and bathroom with shower.
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Grand Danube Passage Cruise 
September 18 - October 5, 2011
Described by Napoleon as the “king of Europe’s rivers,” the Danube is steeped in beauty, legend and lore. Begin your discovery of its bustling metropolises, picturesque towns and breathtaking countryside in charming Passau, Germany. Travel into Austria and the stunning beauty of the Wachau Valley. Stop in Melk to admire its magnificent Abbey before continuing to the lovely town of Dürnstein and the magical city of Vienna. Drive along the Ringstrasse, view the Houses of Parliament and explore Hofburg Palace, then cruise to Bratislava, Slovak Republic. Arrive in Hungary to admire Budapest, the impressive capital, and the delightful towns of Kalocsa and Mohács. Marvel at Belgrade, one of the oldest capitals in Eastern Europe. Enjoy the highlights in Vidin, Bulgaria before journeying to Sofia, known for its striking architecture. Conclude with three nights in Thessaloniki, the capital of Greece’s Macedonian region.
DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY
INCLUDED FEATURES
EXCLUSIVE AHI EXTRAS
Enjoy eight nights aboard the exclusively chartered MS Amadeus Elegant.
Luxurious hotel accommodations, renowned for every modern convenience and amenity, in Thessaloniki, the capital of the Greek region of Macedonia, and Sofia, Bulgaria’s beautiful capital.
Discover enthralling scenery in eight countries and 11 cities and towns.
Experience Eastern European culture and cuisine. See marvelous old-world capitals, medieval castles, beautiful churches, monumental cathedrals, pretty little villages and incomparable Danube River landscapes.
Cruise through one of the most historic and picturesque stretches of the storied Danube the breathtaking Wachau Valley, the twisting Danube Bend and the amazing Iron Gate Gorge.
Two lectures offer insight into local history and culture.
Cost Special Tulane pricing is from approximately $4070 per person, plus airfare, and V.A.T., based on double occupancy. An Air Program will be offered.
Booking For booking information please contact Alumni Holidays International at 800-323-7373, or Tulane Alumni Travel at 877-488-5263.
Specific trip details (itinerary, meals, sightseeing & accommodations) will be published in the brochure.
Brochure Request
DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY
Day 1 :
In Transit from North America
Air Program travelers will depart their gateway city for Munich, Germany. The AHI Travel Group Air Program offers advanced seat assignments on most airlines; an air price guarantee that includes all fuel surcharges and airport and airline taxes; arrival and departure transfers, including baggage handling; and many other benefits.
Day 2 :
Passau
Arrive at Munich Airport. After passing through immigration and customs, Group Air Program passengers will be met by an AHI Travel representative in the arrivals hall. Independent Air Program passengers who are able to join the group transfer and Land Program passengers who have purchased an AHI transfer should proceed to the group flight arrivals hall to meet the AHI representative.
Transfer to Passau and the MS Amadeus Elegant. After checking in, your luggage will be delivered directly to your cabin. Your AHI Travel Director will be with you throughout your journey to handle all program logistics and will be available daily to assist with sightseeing arrangements, dinner reservations, shopping suggestions and any other assistance you may require.
Excursion: Picturesque Passau
See the medieval Veste Oberhaus, Rathaus, Niedernburg Abbey and St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
Join your fellow travelers for a festive Welcome Reception and Dinner at the hotel this evening.
Accommodations—MS Amadeus Diamond
Meals—Appropriate in-flight meal service and dinner
Day 3 :
Melk/Dürnstein
Excursion: Melk Abbey
Marvel at Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey, with its opulent interior.
Sail through the Wachau Valley.
Excursion: Dürnstein
Visit the Stiftskirche, with its striking façade and Baroque tower.
Accommodations—MS Amadeus Diamond
Meals—Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4 :
Vienna
Excursion: Imperial Vienna
View the Houses of Parliament and drive along the impressive Ringstrasse. Explore the Imperial Apartments of Hofburg Palace.
Accommodations—MS Amadeus Diamond
Meals—Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 5 :
Bratislava
Educational Focus: The Velvet Revolution
Excursion: Bratislava
Immerse yourself in the many sights of the capital of the Slovak Republic. See St. Martin’s Cathedral, Primate’s Palace and St. Michael’s Gate. View the medieval town square, dominated by the Town Hall.
Accommodations—MS Amadeus Diamond
Meals—Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 6 :
Budapest
Excursion: Budapest
Admire the highlights of Buda and Pest. See Heroes’ Square, the Castle District, Parliament Building, the Opera House and Fisherman’s Bastion.
Accommodations—MS Amadeus Diamond
Meals—Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 7 :
Kalocsa/Mohács
Excursion: Kalocsa & Historic Mohács
Discover Kalocsa, its Cathedral and Archbishop’s Palace. Visit a farm, then continue on to Mohács, with its Franciscan Church and Byzantine Votive Church.
Accommodations—MS Amadeus Diamond
Meals—Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 8 :
Belgrade
Educational Focus: Modern Serbia
Excursion: Excursion: Belgrade
Stroll through Belgrade, one of the oldest capitals in Eastern Europe. Explore the Old Town, with its Orthodox Cathedral, and St. Sava Cathedral.
Accommodations—MS Amadeus Diamond
Meals—Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 9 :
Iron Gate Gorge/ Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Sail by the Carpathian Mountains, past dramatic cliffs. Enter the Iron Gate Gorge, one of Europe’s most dramatic natural wonders.
Excursion: Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Admire a remnant of a Roman bridgehead, the Castrum, Museum of the Iron Gates and the Palestra (athletic training grounds).
Accommodations—MS Amadeus Diamond
Meals—Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 10 :
Vidin/Sofia
Excursion: Excursion: Vidin
Explore one of the oldest towns along the Danube’s Bulgarian banks. Visit the 17th-century St. Panthaleimon Church, the well-preserved ninth-century Baba Vida fortress and St. Dimitar Cathedral.
Transfer to Sofia and the Sheraton Sofia Hotel Balkan.
Accommodations— Sheraton Sofia Hotel Balkan
Meals—Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 11 :
Sofia
Excursion: Excursion: Sofia
Visit the ruins of Serdica, St. George Rotunda, Alexander Batenberg Square and Boyana Church.
Accommodations— Sheraton Sofia Hotel Balkan
Meals—Breakfast
Day 12 :
Sofia/ Thessaloniki
Travel to Thessaloniki.
Excursion: Excursion: Rila Monastery
A UNESCO World Heritage site, this 10th-century monastery is the largest and most famous in Bulgaria.
Check in at Classical Makedonia Palace Hotel.
Accommodations— Classical Makedonia Palace Hotel
Meals—Breakfast and lunch
Day 13 :
Thessaloniki
Excursion: Excursion: Thessaloniki
Marvel at the White Tower, Ayia Sofia Square, the Rotunda and the Plaka. Visit the Archaeological Museum.
Accommodations— Classical Makedonia Palace Hotel
Meals—Breakfast
Day 14 :
Thessaloniki
Independent Exploration
The entire day is at leisure.
Gather with fellow travelers for a Farewell Reception and Dinner.
Accommodations— Classical Makedonia Palace Hotel
Meals—Breakfast and dinner
Day 15 :
In Transit to North America
Following breakfast, depart for Thessaloniki’s airport for your return flights home.
Meals—Breakfast and appropriate in-flight meal service
Note: Itinerary sequence and/or scheduled events may change. Many excursions in this program involve an element of walking.
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INCLUDED FEATURES
Accommodations
- Eight-night cruise aboard the first-class MS Amadeus Elegant, which has an atmosphere of classic elegance.
- Two nights in Sofia, Bulgaria, at the deluxe Sheraton Sofia Hotel Balkan, located in the heart of Sofia next to the Presidential Palace and fourth-century Rotunda.
- Three nights in Thessaloniki, Greece, at the deluxe Classical Makedonia Palace Hotel. Enjoy its contemporary style and sea-view rooms.
Transportation
- Deluxe motor coach transfers between Vidin and Sofia, and Sofia and Thessaloniki, including baggage handling.
Activities and Events
All excursions:
- Embark the MS Amadeus Elegant in Passau and tour the city.
- Cruise the Danube River and admire spectacular scenery, including the Iron
- Gate Gorge and Wachau Valley.
- Visit the pretty towns of Durnstein and Melk.
- Discover Imperial Vienna.
- Explore Budapest.
- Tour historic Belgrade.
- Discover the Bulgarian cities of Sofia and Vidin.
- Visit Rily Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Explore Thessaloniki.
- Attend festive Welcome and Farewell Receptions with your fellow travelers.
Meals
- Enjoy 13 breakfasts, nine lunches and 10 dinners; tea or coffee with all meals, plus wine with dinner.
- Sample authentic regional specialties during select meals at featured local restaurants.
- Take advantage of leisure time to try the local cuisine independently.
Air Program
For your convenience, AHI offers a flexible Air Program featuring special air fares available at an additional cost in conjunction with the Land Program.
AHI has designated specific Group Air Schedules for this departure utilizing scheduled, round-trip jet service from North America to Munich, Germany, with a return from Thessaloniki, Greece. Those participating on these flights will enjoy:
- Motor coach transfers between the arrival/departure airports abroad and the ship, including baggage handling.
- Prices are dependent upon dates, air routes and class of service chosen and will be reflected on your Reservation Confirmation, which will be sent to you upon receipt of your reservation. Air schedules will be sent with your Final Invoice approximately 90 days before departure.
- Prices quoted to you will include all domestic and foreign governmental airport departure taxes and fees and any applicable fuel surcharges.
- AHI ticketed passengers will also receive Automatic $250,000 Flight Insurance, subject to policy terms.
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OPTIONAL INDEPENDENT ACTIVITY
T'ang Dynasty Dinner Show Xi'an, cosmopolitan capital of the T'ang Dynasty (618-907), was an important city on the Silk Road. Standing on the crossroad of commerce and culture, the city's affluence grew and the arts flourished as rulers of this dynasty embraced the many cultures introduced to the city. So admired was Xi'an that the ancient Japanese capitals of Nara and Kyoto were modeled after it. Join this excursion to an entertaining T'ang Dynasty Dinner Show that highlights the culture of this Chinese Golden Age. Enjoy the music, dancing and singing of this glorious period in Chinese history.
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