Your Accommodation
MV Serenade I
Spacious cabinsThe cabins are amongst the largest of any river cruiser, at 16m². We want you to feel at home so we’ve included plenty of storage space and individually controlled air-conditioning to keep the temperature just how you like it. The twin beds are hotel standard and there is a pretty seating area for relaxation. All cabins have flat-screen satellite TV, phone, fridge, tea and coffee making facilities, safe and a hairdrier. The en suite bathrooms have a separate shower, bath and WC. Cabins are non-smoking but you can smoke on deck. There is a gym and sauna on board for you to enjoy at your leisure.
On the upper two decks all cabins have floor-to-ceiling sliding French windows for a great view or cooling breeze. On the lower deck there’s a smaller fixed window.
Especially reservedSome cabins are especially reserved for sole occupancy, while others have been adapted for wheelchair access. To make life easy, all but the bottom deck are accessible by lift or stair-lift and just a few steps lead you to the large partially covered sun deck.
Your Itinerary
DAY 1 UK/COLOGNE
By air: Fly from a choice of airports to Dusseldorf and transfer to MV Serenade I, moored in Cologne.
By rail: Eurostar from St Pancras to Brussels. On arrival, transfer to the ship by coach.
DAY 2 COCHEM
We spend the afternoon in Cochem, where we have the opportunity to take an optional excursion to the mighty Reichsburg castle that towers above this picturesque town and affords magnificent views of the surrounding countryside. This is one of the most famous castles on the Moselle. We sail overnight to Bernkastel, one of the most beautiful wine towns in the region.
DAY 3 BERNKASTEL/ZELL
At the heart of Bernkastel is the pretty market square, filled with quaint half-timbered, colour-washed houses with steep gabled roofs. You will have plenty of free time to explore this exquisite old town. You will also have the chance of enjoying an optional coach excursion to the ancient roman town of Trier. Once the regions roman capital and founded around 15bc, there are many fascinating monuments remaining here, including the amphitheatre, baths and the famous fortified gates of Porta Nigra. Trier’s cathedral also dates from Roman times. We set sail for the town of Zell this afternoon, arriving in the evening for a short stay before continuing on our journey to Rudesheim.
DAY 4 RUDESHEIM
Experience one of the scenic highlights of this cruise, as we pass through the magnificent Rhine Gorge, past vine-clad slopes and the striking castles of the former mediaeval robber barons, before arriving in the pretty wine town of Rudesheim early this afternoon. There is an optional trip to the charming Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Museum, where you can step back to the early days of recorded sound.
DAY 5 MAINZ & BOPPARD
We arrive in the old university town of Mainz this morning. Mainz is best known as the home of John Gutenberg, the inventor of the printing press. Join our optional tour of the city, including the Gutenberg Museum, which houses the treasured Gutenberg Bible. At lunchtime we set sail for Boppard, arriving late afternoon. Boppard is found nestling on the banks of one of the Rhine’s largest loops in the heart of the Rhine Gorge. There is some free time to explore this evening.
DAY 6 KOBLENZ/BONN
We arrive in Koblenz, one of Germany’s oldest cities at breakfast time. Beginning life as a Roman fort over 2,000 years ago, the ancient walls, castle towers, palaces and patrician houses are vivid illustrations of the city’s turbulent past. The beautifully restored old town centre, the altstadt, is renowned for its picturesque winding streets, romantic little squares, noble mansions and ancient churches. Above the city is the incredible Ehrenbreitstein Castle, first built around AD 900. At lunchtime, MV Serenade I sets sail again for Bonn, arriving late afternoon. We moor here overnight.
DAY 7 COLOGNE
Sail through the scenic Rhine Valley past mediaeval towns and steep-sided vineyards, before arriving in Cologne this afternoon. You are free to explore this riverside city dominated by the Gothic cathedral, or alternatively why not join our optional walking tour taking in the historical highlights of this vibrant city, including a visit to the cathedral.
DAY 8 COLOGNE/UK
BY AIR: Disembark in Cologne after breakfast and transfer to Dusseldorf airport for the flight home.
By rail: Coach transfer to Brussels and onto Eurostar bound for St Pancras.
Travel Extras
We know that picking your dream destination is the biggest part of making your perfect holiday come true. But there are a number of other decisions that have to be made such as where to park at the airport and who to change your money with, to name but a few. So to really get every aspect of your holiday sorted we have set up a one stop travel shop and useful links section for you to organise all your travel needs, leaving you to concentrate on having a memorable and relaxing holiday with Page & Moy.
Holiday Extras - save up to 60%
You can benefit from access to Holiday Extras, a separate company that can organize a whole range of services from airport hotels and secure airport parking to VIP liunges in airports, and more, at 23 airports across the UK.
To book go to http://www.holidayextras.co.uk/pageandmoy.html.
If you find the same parking facility or hotel for less within seven days of booking, tell Holiday Extras and they will match the price or refund the difference. Conditions apply.
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Airport Lounges from Lounge Pass
Start your holiday off refreshed and relaxed by taking advantage of our VIP airport lounge offer, available at a number of airports, both here and abroad. From as little as £15 each, you’ll enjoy a peaceful and tranquil environment, where you can enjoy complimentary drinks and snacks, read the papers, check your email or simply relax and watch TV until your flight is called.
For details, please click here.
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Casual Clothing from Lands’ End
Lands' End offer an extensive range of high quality casual and tailored clothes for men and women. Choose from their selection of jackets, knitted tops, trousers, dresses, skirts and more.
For details, please visit www.landsend.co.uk
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Photography from Jessops
Jessops is the UK's leading specialist photographic retailer. With great on-line savings on hundreds of products, including digital cameras, camcorders, lenses, batteries and much more, plus free delivery on mainland UK orders over £75, Jessops has all your photographic needs covered.
For details, please visit www.jessops.com
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Travel Accessories from Travel with Care
Travel With Care offers a comprehensive range of travel accessories, with everything you need for your holiday. From First Aid, DVT Prevention and Healthcare to money belts, wallets, waterproofs, toiletries, alarm clocks, and much, much more.
For details, please visit www.travelwithcare.com
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Getting you there - European Holidays
Fly direct from your local airport Giving you choice is one of our main priorities, so when it comes to flights, instead of offering just Heathrow or Gatwick as departure airports, whenever possible we offer to fly you direct from your nearest airport to your holiday destination either free or for a supplement of just £29 per person.
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Choice of 20 airports
You have the choice to fly direct to your holiday destination from up to 20 regional airports throughout the UK for a supplement of no more than £29 per person return.
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Regional connecting flights to London from only £69
If you can’t fly direct to your destination from your local airport (see individual holiday details), usually you will have the choice of taking a regional connecting flight to Heathrow or Gatwick from as little as £69 per person return. If your connecting flight and your flight from Gatwick or Heathrow is with British Airways or British Midland, your luggage will automatically be checked through to your final destination, so there’s no need to collect or check your luggage in twice.
Fly from:
Aberdeen, Belfast, Durham Tees Valley, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Jersey, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle, Newquay
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Make your own way and save up to £150 per person
You may want more flexibility to make your own travel arrangements to combine your trip with visits to friends and relatives or travel from an airport which we do not offer. If so, why not take advantage of our make your own way option. We offer a reduction of £150 off many of our holidays to allow you to make your own arrangements, if that is what you want. Details of where this option is available are shown on each holiday.
Please remember that these arrangements do not include flights or transfers and you will need to make your own travel arrangements at the beginning and end of your holiday.
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Getting you there - Worldwide Holidays
To get your holiday off to a great start, we offer a range of transfer options with our compliments.
You can choose from the following options:
1. Experience door-to-door travel with Page & Moy (2009 departures only)
If you live within a 250-mile drive of your departure airport, we will arrange for a taxi to pick you up from your door and take you to the airport, and drop you home on your return, with our compliments.
2. FREE Connecting flights
If you live further than 250 miles from the airport, or if you prefer, you can opt to transfer to the main departure airport by a connecting flight from an airport closer to home (subject to availability).
3. FREE National Express coach travel
Alternatively, why not choose coach travel on the extensive national express network, with over 1,200 collection points nationwide. What’s more, we’ll pay for your ticket!
4. FREE airport car parking (2009 departures only)
If you would prefer the flexibility of travelling independently to the airport, we are pleased to offer
the option of free parking at your departure airport.
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