Signing you up...
Nothing shouts romance more like this Europe holiday combo! Two weeks in Italy, followed by a picturesque Rhine River cruise. We’re talking Rome, Florence, Venice, the sultry Italian Riviera, the breezy Lake District, and the sunny coast of Campania. Plus, the most luxurious cruise along the Rhine River, where fairytale settings await.
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- International flights & transfers
- 13-day Globus Italian Mosaic tour with expert tour director and local guides, superior hotels, first-class transportation, VIP sightseeing, immersive Local Favourite experiences and select meals
- 8-day Avalon Waterways Romantic Rhine cruise with luxurious stateroom accommodation, all meals on board including regional beer and wine, and your choice of daily Classic, Active & Discovery excursions
- 1 night in Amsterdam
DAY 1: ARRIVE IN ROME, ITALY WELCOME TO ROME!
At 5 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. (D)
DAY 2: ROME ROMAN HOLIDAY ROME
Guided sightseeing includes the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square and see the Basilica. Visit the Colosseum and see the Roman Forum. Free time this late afternoon and evening. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT LEGENDARY LIVES Stand in awe and wonder amid one of mankind’s greatest artistic achievements in the Sistine Chapel. Hear how in 1508, a young Michelangelo was commissioned by Pope Julius II to decorate the chapel’s ceiling - a request not welcomed by the 33-year-old sculptor. Michelangelo’s 4-year project was indeed one of physical pain and psychological distress, while painting from scaffolds high above the sanctuary floor. Nevertheless, he created what is considered the most famous ceiling in the world, depicting the Creation of Adam in striking fresco style.
DAY 3: ROME-PISA-FLORENCE THE TILTED TOWER PISA
See the Leaning Tower en route to Florence. (B) 298 mi / 480 km TOUR HIGHLIGHT HISTORIC SPOT See architecture gone askew from the viewpoint of the Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa. Take the ultimate selfie in front of the Leaning Tower with a tilt of the head or other popular poses to commemorate your visit to the site of medieval art in this beautiful piazza.
DAY 4: FLORENCE FINE ART IN FIRENZE FLORENCE
Guided sightseeing includes Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gates of Paradise,” Signoria Square and Ponte Vecchio. Free time to explore. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT ART & ARCHITECTURE Those lucky enough to visit the Tuscan capital are witness to some of the world’s most magnificent art. Home to a wealth of Renaissance masterpieces, Florence is famous for Michelangelo’s Marble Masterpiece, David, standing ready for battle while Piazza del Duomo and Signoria Square offer spectacular sights of Florentine Gothic and Renaissance art, architecture, and monuments.
DAY 5: FLORENCE - CINQUE TERRE - LAKE MAGGIORE
ITALIAN TREASURES FLORENCE
Take a scenic drive en route to Cinque Terre. CINQUE TERRE [LF] Take a guided boat ride (weather permitting). Free time before boarding your train to Sestri Levante. (B,D) 298 mi / 490 km LOCAL FAVOURITE EPIC RIDE Take a stunning cruise on the coast of Cinque Terre for an exquisite look at sea, sky, and centuries-old seaside villages on the rugged Italian Riviera coastline.
DAY 6: LAKE MAGGIORE. EXCURSION TO ISOLA MADRE ISLAND BEAUTIES LAKE MAGGIORE
Boat ride to the botanic garden followed by dinner on the island (B) LOCAL FAVOURITE PICTURE PERFECT Isola Madre is one of the starring beauties of the Borromean Islands and transport those who cross Lake Maggiore into a reverie of Baroque palazzos and perfect gardens. On the island, a showcase of exotic botanical beauty surrounds the 16th-century Palazzo Borromeo with magnificent magnolias, myrtles, wisteria, and citrus groves. Enjoy dinner at the island restaurant combining good food and stunning views of the lake.
DAY 7: LAKE MAGGIORE-LUGANO, SWITZERLAND-VENICE ISLAND, ITALY SWISS VIEWS & A SCENIC CRUISE LUGANO
Enjoy an orientation tour and free time. VENICE ISLAND Take a private boat ride on the canals. (B) 295 mi / 475 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT CITY SIGHTS Discover the city of Lugano to see its mix of Italian and Swiss style and culture reflected in its architecture and cuisine. Standing on the Lake’s northern shore, the city is surrounded by mountain peaks. Piazza della Riforma and pastel palazzos share the ambience of this lovely Swiss city with impressive architecture and bold and innovative street art.
DAY 8: VENICE ISLAND BENVENUTI A VENEZIA VENICE ISLAND
Guided walking tour includes St. Mark’s Square and Basilica, Doge’s Palace and the Bridge of Sighs followed by a glassblowing demonstration. Free time this afternoon and evening. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT HISTORIC SPOT Locals simply call Piazza San Marco “la piazza.” As paired with the smaller Piazzetta, it forms the social, religious, and political hub of Venice, which Napoleon called “the drawing room of Europe.” St. Mark’s Basilica dominates the square, offering visitors a spectacular view of the great arches, marble embellishments, and the Romanesque carvings of its façade. Also gracing the square is Doge’s Palace - a masterpiece of Venetian Gothic architecture. The enclosed Bridge of Sighs, connecting the palace with the prison, is named for the prisoners breathing in their last view of the Rio di Palazzo on their walk to the prison’s interrogation rooms.
DAY 9: VENICE ISLAND-ASSISI MEDIEVAL MARVELS ASSISI
A guided walking tour includes St. Clare’s Church and St. Francis’ Basilica. (B,D) 261 mi / 420 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT ICONIC FOOTSTEPS Walk in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi with a visit to the Basilica named after the deacon, friar, and mystic, who became one of the most venerated religious figures in Christianity. Revered for his love of the Eucharist and the Earth, Francis found communion with God through nature here in this Italian village where he lived and died. Marvel at the magnificent frescoes by Italian master Giotto that adorn the Basilica where the Saint is buried.
DAY 10: ASSISI-SORRENTO AREA ITALIAN VISTAS
Depart for a scenic drive to Sorrento. (B) 267 mi / 430 km
DAY 11: SORRENTO. EXCURSION TO CAPRI COVES, CLIFFS & THE CLEAR BLUE SEA SORRENTO AREA
Jetfoil ride to Capri. CAPRI Take a funicular ride from the harbor to the village for guided sightseeing, including Globus Local Favourite Augustus Gardens and a granita (semi-frozen drink) tasting. Free time for lunch.
SORRENTO AREA Free time this afternoon and evening. (B)
DAY 12: SORRENTO AREA- POMPEII-ROME TIME STANDING STILL IN POMPEII POMPEII
Take a guided walking tour of the excavations, followed by free time for lunch. ROME Enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant this evening. (B,D) 193 mi/310 km
DAY 13: ROME - AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND
Your Globus Tour ends with breakfast this morning. Board your flight from Rome to Amsterdam. The remainder of your day in Amsterdam is free to explore at your leisure. (B)
DAY 14: AMSTERDAM (EMBARKATION) AMSTERDAM OFF THE BEATEN PATH.
Your Suite Ship is Ready for Boarding CLASSIC - Discover the true beauty of Amsterdam with an off-the-beatenpath Guided Walking Tour through its cobblestone streets for a captivating look at this legendary city. During tulip season, you may take a Guided Optional Excursion to Keukenhof Gardens - with more than seven million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths, as well as other bulbs, planted each year. Outside of tulip season, join a Guided Optional Excursion to Zaanse Schans to see historic windmills and charming Dutch houses. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM (B,D)
DAY 15: AMSTERDAM CANALS OF COLOURFUL AMSTERDAM
Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities. CLASSIC - Explore the iconic waterways of Amsterdam on a Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam’s “Golden Age.” This afternoon choose among the Guided Optional Excursions available or take some free time to explore Amsterdam’s colourful streets and canal houses, galleries, and shops. AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO COLOGNE (B,L,D)
DAY 16: COLOGNE, GERMANY PROST! CELEBRATE IN THE RHINELAND
ACTIVE - Enjoy a bike ride like the locals in Cologne with your Adventure Host, OR: DISCOVERY - Choose a Guided Walking Tour of Cologne’s important Jewish heritage sites, OR: CLASSIC - Take a Guided City Walk of Cologne - with its soaring twin-steepled gothic cathedral. Spend free time over a glass of Kolsch pale lager - locally brewed for over 100 years! Later, local musicians will join us on board for live entertainment.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO RÜDESHEIM (B,L,D)
DAY 17: RÜDESHEIM EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY IN WINE COUNTRY
En route to Rüdesheim, sail through the Rhine Gorge (a UNESCO World Heritage site). Take in the breathtaking views of ancient castles perched on cliffs 400 feet above the water and pass the legendary Rock of the Lorelei-where the mythological siren's songs lured ill-fated sailors. ACTIVE - Enjoy a hike with your Avalon Adventure Host through the picturesque vineyards of Rüdesheim, OR: DISCOVERY - Take a Guided Tour of the incredible Mechanical Music Museum for a one-of-a-kind instrumental experience; enjoy a tasting of the authentic Rüdesheimer coffee. Enjoy live entertainment on board your ship this evening. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN RUDESHEIM (B,L,D)
DAY 18: MAINZ. EXCURSION TO HEIDELBERG PRINTING HALLS, CASTLE WALLS, AND THE WORLD’S BIGGEST WINE BARREL
ACTIVE - Join your Avalon Adventure Host for an inspiring walk in Heidelberg, the Philosophers' way, OR: CLASSIC - Enjoy a Guided City Walk, including a visit to the Gutenberg Museum to see the captivating history of printing, OR: CLASSIC - Enjoy a Guided Tour to Heidelberg Castle to see the ruins of the magnificent renaissance treasure towering above the city, and its famed Great Vat, the “World’s Largest Wine Barrel.” EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO STRASBOURG (B,L,D)
DAY 19: STRASBOURG, FRANCE A GRAND CATHEDRAL AND LA PETITE FRANCE
Ask about today’s energizing or relaxing Adventure Host activities. ACTIVE - Discover Strasbourg by bike with your Adventure Host, OR: CLASSIC - Join a City Sightseeing Tour, including Strasbourg’s Gothic, stainedglass cathedral with its celebrated ancient murals and astronomical clock, as well as the magical La Petite France District. Choose a Guided Optional Excursion to the historic Maginot Line - the preWWII fortifications designed to protect the eastern border of France, or visit Alsace’s wine country today. Alternatively, take some free time in Strasbourg to visit a museum, or stroll across the city centre. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BREISACH (B,L,D)
DAY 20: BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST GERMAN WINEMAKING AND THE BEAUTIFUL BLACK FOREST
DISCOVERY - Join a full-day Guided Tour to the magical Black Forest to experience the Vogtsbauernohf open-air-museum, visit an authentic water mill, and see a traditional butter-making demonstration, OR: DISCOVERY - Visit to a local winery in Breisach, where you will learn about German winemaking and enjoy a wine tasting, OR: CLASSIC - Join A Guided Tour to explore Freiburg's medieval city centre, sheltered by the Black Forest amid vineyards and gardens of the Upper Rhine Valley. You may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to visit the charming village of Colmar in the morning, with half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BASEL (B,L,D)
DAY 21: BASEL, SWITZERLAND (DISEMBARKATION)
Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning, before flying back to New Zealand. (B)
MAP:
| 21 Nights | fr $16,599* | Enquire |
*Terms and Conditions
*Conditions apply. Prices are per person twin share, dependent on availability and will be confirmed at time of reservation. Package inclusions are as advertised. For packages including river cruise components, prices are based on lead-in stateroom accommodations (suite upgrades are available at an additional cost) and include gratuities and port charges. Included airfares are return economy class from AKL (long-haul on full-service airline) inclusive of taxes and charges on the departure date stated on the advertised package. Airline selection is at the discretion of Globus family of brands. Any flight deviations/changes/upgrades will incur additional fees. To secure reservation, a non-refundable, non-transferable deposit of $1,500 per person is required within 7 days of booking or by 30/04/24 (whichever comes first). Packages are not combinable with any promotion except Welcome Back Credit and/or Qantas Frequent Flyer. Packages applicable to singles – single supplement applies. Full cancellation penalties apply. Packages can be withdrawn or amended at any time without notice. Additional restrictions apply.
HLO Ref# 26062
