Cruise priced from $3,131 to $3,650 (plus airfare).

In addition to being your host throughout the entire cruise, Burt will conduct the following special events:

1. A tasting of the Wines of the Region.
2. A tasting of the Special Foods of the Region.
3. An introduction to the History of European Architecture.
4. An introduction to Pairing Food and Wine.

In advance of the trip Burt will send you detailed research reports on each of the cities and towns on the itinerary. These reports were prepared by Burt and cover the local art, architecture, food, shopping, museums, points of historic interest, nature, sports, entertainment and performing arts, and annual events.

• Prior to the cruise departure, Burt will mail each guest a packet of his research and background material about the tour locations, and a DVD of one of his programs that relates to the tour. These materials are his personal evaluation of the area – the history, art, architecture, what to eat, what to buy, and what to see. It will give you detailed background information on the places we are going to visit. It will also give you some ideas for things you might like to do in your free time.
• Onboard, Burt will present an overview of the area and give a number of talks about the importance of the locations you will be visiting.
• Cruising through France, Germany, and Holland is a perfect combination of cruising and touring with a pace you set yourself.
• Unlike ocean cruising, our river cruise often docks right in the city centers and the old towns. You can tour close to the ship or venture further into town.
• The ship’s entire interior is non-smoking and all announcements are in English.

Board overnight flight from the United States to Zurich.

Located at the foot of Kaiserstuhl Mountain on the French-German border, Breisach is a charming, little medieval town. Once surrounded by city walls, the gates to the city still stand. Breisach is the gateway to Germany’s Black Forest region, an area of unrivaled natural beauty with its forests of thick pine trees. The most well-known products from this region are Black Forest ham and Black Forest cherry cake. This evening we will attend a reception and welcome dinner onboard our ship.

Situated on the border of France and Germany, Strasbourg is influenced by the cultures of both countries and is the capital of the Alsace region. It is the seat of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament. Noteworthy sights are the Gothic Cathedral, the lovely La Petite France District, Place Kleber, and Place Gutenberg with the statue of the inventor of the printing press. Strasbourg is also home to the Kronenbourg Beer Brewery.

Heidelberg was a Celtic settlement, the site of a Roman fort and for 500 years, starting in the early 1200s, the hometown of the mighty counts who elected the kings of Germany. The counts were responsible for three of the most important things in Heidelberg --- first is their castle, which they started building in the 1300s and finished about 400 years later. The second contribution was the University which was founded in 1386 and is the oldest university in Germany. There are about 28,000 students and a good way to get a sense of their scholarly traditions is to hang out with them at a place where they have been hanging out and drinking beer since 1703. Burt will take you to the spot. The third gift is the Church of the Holy Ghost which dates to 1398 and has a unique history of serving both Catholic and Protestant congregations at the same time. We’ll stop in for a private organ concert.

Situated at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers, 2,000-year-old Coblenz is a major cultural center. We’ll pass through the dramatic Rhine Gorge, which is the most beautiful stretch of river. Pass the legendary rock of the Lorelei where the songs of local beauties lured enchanted sailors to their doom. Visit picturesque Rüdesheim, which is a perfect example of a Rhine Valley wine town. We’ll explore the heart of Rüdesheim’s downtown and taste some of the local brandies.

Built by the ancient Romans, Cologne is a mixture of old and new – 60,000 university students keeps it young, a thousand-year-old cathedral gives it maturity. Visit the cathedral, which is Germany’s most popular tourist attraction and find out how it can reconnect travelers with their spiritual feelings. Find out why light perfumes are called Eau de Cologne. Burt will take you to his favorite beer garden to taste the local beer called Kölsch, which is only available in Cologne. This evening our River Cruise Vessel will depart for Amsterdam, Holland.

During the 1600s, Holland controlled the spice trade with Indonesia which made Amsterdam one of the richest and most powerful cities in the world. It was Amsterdam’s Golden Age and much of its gold was used to build magnificent homes along the canals. Today, we will cruise those canals and discover the city’s original plan. It’s also a good day to take a look at some of the art that was commissioned during the 17th century. The Rijksmuseum houses the works of the great Dutch Masters, including Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Frans Hals. And right nearby is a museum dedicated to the works of Vincent Van Gogh. Burt has also arranged for a private tasting of Holland’s cheeses and distilled spirits.

An ideal day to take in a few more of Amsterdam’s unique elements --- a Brown Café which is Holland’s answer to England’s pub, a small restaurant named Pancakes, with its all pancake menu, the House Boat Museum where you will see what it’s like to live in a houseboat on one of Amsterdam’s canals or to have a traditional Indonesian meal. Burt keeps a list of what he likes best in Amsterdam, (eating, drinking, cultural attractions and shopping) which he updates regularly. He’ll make a copy for you just prior to our arrival.

Homebound flights should not leave the Amsterdam airport before 10:00am. Your flight will arrive back in the U.S. on the same day (Sunday 26 April).

One of the most popular aspects of a Burt Wolf river cruise is the excellence of the food and free wine onboard. Each full day on board, there is a full breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There is a cocktail reception, welcome dinner, and Captain’s dinner --- one sitting with open seating arrangements (non-assigned). At dinner, each evening, there is a selection of a red wine and a white wine from Europe’s most famous wine regions, which are served throughout the meal without charge.

Early Riser Coffee: 6:00am, Self-service coffee, hot water, tea bags, croissants, cookies or other finger foods.

Breakfast: 7:00am – 8:30am, A buffet table includes a wide variety of breads, cereals, fruit and fruit salad, cold cuts, smoked salmon, cheeses, pastries, yogurts, and juices. Scrambled eggs, sausages, bacon, and other hot items can vary from day to day. The chef will prepare fresh omelets and other egg dishes to order.

Lunch: Usually served at 12:30pm depending on the cruise schedule, Buffet-style with appetizers, soups, sandwiches, cold cuts, breads, salad bar, two main courses (one of which may be a carving station), dessert table, cheese board, and fresh fruit.

Afternoon Tea: Coffee, tea, and cake will be served either in the lounge or on the Sun or Sky Deck.

Since 1982, Burt has written and produced over 4,000 segments for Cable News Network (CNN), 800 segments for ABC (the American Broadcasting Company), 125 half-hour programs for the travel division of The Discovery Channel, 25 half hours for the Family Channel, and 250 half hours for Public Broadcasting. He has been nominated for two Cable Ace Awards and a national Emmy in connection with culture and history.

Air Transportation between the U.S./Zurich and Amsterdam/U.S. can be made privately or through Globus. Globus offers competitive air-inclusive prices, including Business Class. Globus offers free airport transfers (4/19/09 Zurich airport to Zurich meeting point hotel; 4/26/09 ship to Amsterdam airport) when you book your transatlantic flights with Globus.

Those wishing to extend their stay (arriving earlier and staying later) may make those arrangements on their own or may book with Avalon Waterways/Globus.

The Land/Cruise cost, per person (based on double occupancy):

Cabins are booked on a first-come, first-served basis. Expenses not included in the Land/Cruise cost include: roundtrip airfare, travel insurance, port tax (approximately $98.00); miscellaneous expenses onboard (laundry, internet, telephone, minibar, liquor/food not on the regular menu, porters at airports, excess baggage fees, gratuities to your Cruise Director, guides and ship’s crew), passport, airport transfers in Europe (approximately $70.00 per person), and all other items of a personal nature. If you book your air with Avalon Waterways/Globus the airport transfer fee is waived.

Burt evaluated dozen of ships before selecting the Avalon fleet. Launched in 2006, the Avalon Tapestry is the newest design in ships for river cruising. It is offered exclusively by Avalon Waterways to English-speaking travelers.

Contrary to other vessels on rivers today, the navigational bridge is located in the stern, behind the passenger section, which allows for a more spacious interior. The lounge and restaurant, located in the front of the vessel, give unimpeded views on three sides of the passing river landscape. The Sky Deck is a large area for sunning, taking pictures, or just relaxing!

Built: 2006; Length: 443 ft.; Crew members: 43; Staterooms: 82; Jr. Suites: 2

	1 Sky Deck with Deck Chairs 2 Navigating Bridge 3 On-board Camera 4 Lounge 5 Bar 6 Lobby 7 Hairdresser 8 Restaurant 9 Reception 10 Foyer 11 Fitness Center 12 Galley
Royal Deck	Sapphire Deck Aft
Royal Deck	Indigo Deck Forward
Sapphire Deck Forward
Cabins
Staterooms 172 sq. ft. 1 Bed 2 Toilet 3 Washbasin 4 Shower 5 Closet 6 Writing Desk 7 Sliding glass doors	Suites 258 sq. ft. 1 Bed 2 Toilet 3 Washbasin 4 Shower 5 Closet 6 Writing Desk 7 Sliding glass doors 8 Sofa 9 Coffee Table