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Imagine fall cruising on the Danube, the river that since the earliest days has been a vital conduit linking the civilizations that developed along its banks. The splendour of Vienna, Budapest and Prague with their magnificent architecture. The natural beauty of the Wachau Valley with vineyards clinging to the slopes that rise majestically above the river will inspire you. This region is truly a feast for the senses. Join wine personality Steve Thurlow, Wine Access Senior Editor, as he leads a 12 day excursion of discovery and enjoyment.

Visit wineries and breweries, see some of the world's best preserved Classical architecture. Learn how to cook Czech style, dine in splendid traditional settings at wineries with their winemakers, relax in the warm autumnal sunshine and enjoy all the facilities of a modern river cruise boat.

Life onboard modern river cruise vessels offers every luxury as we glide with the current along the Danube. Gourmet cuisine with wine and beer, a panoramic forward observation lounge.

Deluxe cruise accommodation is a 161 sq. ft. outside cabin with stylishly furnished interiors include flat-screen TV, mini-bar, and designer bathroom accessories - matching the most modern hotel standards - with 80% of the cabins having magnificent panoramic windows and French balconies.

The elegance extends into the public areas, especially to the restaurant and the Panorama Bar. Fitness inclined passengers can take some exercise in the fitness studio or on the putting green, while those seeking health and beauty treatments will be made welcome in the Vital Club or the beauty salon.

A spell on the enormous sun deck, which is easily reached by a an elevator from all decks, offers people the chance to relax in the open air. Alternatively the AMADEUS Club provides a quiet place to settle with a good book, or there is the Internet cafe from which to report back to family and friends.

In September each year after summer in Toronto, there is plenty of warm sunshine in Budapest; daily highs of 23-25°C and lows of 11-13°C.

Wine for Life in co-operation with Lüftner Cruises presents an accompanied wine, food and cultural visit to Central Europe, from Prague to Budapest on the Danube. We will explore the leading vineyards, wineries and breweries and be introduced to Czech cuisine under the attention of one of Prague's master chefs during a half day cooking school.

Click here to see photos of previous trips to Danube in 2010.

Guided tours are included in Prague, Regensburg, Passau, Linz, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest. There will also be time for individual sightseeing in all these locations.

Also included are two virtual tours of the wines of Germany and Austria led on board by Steve Thurlow and visits to two breweries in the Czech Republic.

Three half day wine tasting excursions are also included. One to the Wachau region, a second to the Burgenland region south of Vienna and the third to the Melnik wine region in the Czech Republic.

If all this sounds like too hectic a pace, don't worry. There will be time for relaxing in the warm sunshine and wandering around some of the beautiful towns and villages that lie along our route.

Additional optional tours are also offered by Lüftner Cruises at additional cost. Details can be supplied on request.

Hungary Extension

For those who can spare another few days we suggest staying on a while longer to spend more time in historic Budapest and to visit the Hungarian wine region of Tokaj. Every year so far all those joining the tour have opted for the extension.

The main tour includes one day in Budapest.

The extension adds an additional time in this magical city.

The Chain Bridge at night is just one sight you will relish, plus two days visiting the wine region of Tokaj.

See below for details on the two night accompanied extension in Hungary to the 12 day tour of the Danube.

Register for Tour

If you wish to join this tour....

Email: Steve Thurlow steve@stevethurlow.com

and you will be sent a registration form. We will reserve a specific cabin in a category of your choice assuming availability.

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Price

A non-refundable deposit of C$500 per guest is required to reserve a place on this tour. Final payment for the trip is required on May 16, 2012 which is 120 days prior to departure. Guests are advised to take trip cancellation insurance which we are happy to provide. Please request a quotation when registering for the trip.

The trip price assumes double occupancy in the hotel in Prague and on board MS Amadeus Diamond in a 161 sq. ft. cabin with a window on Haydn Deck Category C1 and includes includes the hotel, river boat cruise Nuremberg to Budapest, and luxury coach transportation elsewhere. Also included are buffet breakfasts every day, winery visits and tastings, and 18 meals, most with wines, all led by Steve Thurlow.

The trip price is C$5095 per person assuming double occupancy. Guests are required to make their own travel arrangements to the hotel in Prague and home from Budapest. There are many connecting flights each day on several major airlines. In January 2012 there were many return connecting flights priced from $500 to $600 plus taxes available and Aeroplan members could book for 75,000 Aeroplan miles.

We are pleased to assist with air travel if required.

MS Amadeus Diamond joined the fleet in the spring of 2009.

The modern fleet of Lüftner has set a new standard in European river cruising and offers many features unmatched by other river cruise lines.

The all-inclusive price assumes double occupancy and includes a 161 sq. ft. cabin with a window on Haydn Deck. Category C1

To upgrade to a higher category
add the following amount per person:

Cabins
All 161 sq.ft with French Balcony

B-1 - Strauss Deck $400
A-1 - Mozart Deck $680

Amadeus Suite prices on request.

Reduction C4 Haydn Deck:

Haydn Deck Cabins 107, 108, 109, 110 can all be booked for a reduction of $250 to the All inclusive price.

Single Supplement prices are available on request.

Every room has a hair dryer, safe, minibar and telephone. There is a modern tv system.

Air conditioning is individually controlled.

Go here to see a 360° Virtual Tour of MS Amadeus Diamond.

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Itinerary

(Included meals: B= Breakfast L= Lunch D= Dinner)

Day 1: Sept 13th, 2012

Departure from Toronto this evening on a scheduled flight to Prague.

Day 2: Prague

Upon arrival at Prague airport, Steve Thurlow will meet you and you will then be transferred to the 5 Star President Hotel

The balance of the day is free to start exploring this beautiful city and to rest after the long journey from Canada.

Our luxury hotel is located in the heart of Prague on the banks of the Vltava river in a peaceful corner close to the Castle District, the Charles Bridge, Old Town Square and the modern shopping centre.

After a chance to rest after the flight at the hotel, and to explore a little of the city, there will be a welcome cocktail gathering in the evening followed by a relaxing dinner in a restaurant close to the hotel.

A selection of wines and beers will be served with a menu designed to show off the diversity and richness of Czech cuisine. (D)

Day 3: Cooking School, Prague

After breakfast, the morning will be filled with a cooking class. Assist with the preparation of your own lunch under the expert guidance of one of Prague's best known chefs.

Learn about the range of fresh produce, herbs, fish, meat, vegetables and fruits that are available.

The hands-on session will include the preparation of both traditional and modern Czech cuisine and the matching of these dishes to local wines and beers.

After lunch some will choose to take a nap while others will explore a little more of the city.

Late afternoon there will be a guided sightseeing tour that will reveal why Prague is considered one of Europe's most attractive cities.

Visit the 1,000-year-old Hradcany Castle courtyard, St. Vitus and then walk over the Charles Bridge to the Old Market Square.

The evening is free to mingle with the locals at Wenceslas Square, shop for souvenirs or enjoy one of the many charming cafes or restaurants in Prague.

Prague Castle at night is quite magical. (B,L)

After breakfast we leave to visit the town of Melnik and the surrounding wine region that lies about 30km north of the city. We will visit Chateau Melnik which has been owned by Prince George Lobkowicz's family since the C10th.

After the tour of the state rooms, a wine tasting and lunch at the Chateau we return to Prague with the afternoon free to continue exploration.

Day 5: Pilsen and Nuremberg, Germany

Depart from Prague after breakfast. We will drive through the countryside to the west of the city for about 60 km to the famous brewing town of Pilsen, that has given its name to a style of beer found all over the world.

We visit the Pilsner Urquell brewery where we take lunch. The guided tour of this historic brewery is very informative and is regarded by many as one of the highlights of the tour.

After lunch, we leave the Czech Republic and drive through the pastoral countryside to Nuremberg, the capital of Franconia, Germany where we board MS Amadeus Diamond.

After settling in to our cabins, we gather for a welcome cocktail to meet the other passengers. This is followed by a Welcome Dinner.

The ship leaves that evening and we cruise overnight to Kelheim passing the Continental Divide. (B,L,D)

Day 6: – Kelheim and Regensburg

We arrive at 08:00 and moor for 30 minutes to allow passengers to disembark who are taking the optional bus tour to Weltenburg Monastery. They rejoin the ship later in the day.

This morning’s scenic cruising takes you through the final stretch of the Main-Danube Canal to arrive at 13:00 in magnificent Regensburg, one of Germany's best preserved medieval cities. During the cruise that morning Steve will lead a tasting session on the wines of Germany.

After lunch on board an included guided tour will show you the city's architectural highlights, including the Old Town Hall and the Porta Praetoria - gates to an ancient Roman fort which was built in 179 AD.

Marvel at beautiful churches and one of the oldest bridges crossing the Danube.

In the evening enjoy the Bavarian Evening onboard. The ship leaves at 20:00 as we cruise overnight to Passau. (B,L,D)

Day 7: – Passau - Linz, Austria

We arrive at 8:00 in picturesque Passau, where the Inn and Ilz Rivers join the Danube.

Your city tour takes you on an exploration of this fairy tale city founded more than 2,000 years ago.

Back on board for 10:30 when the cruise continues along the Danube from Passau into Austria and on to Linz.

There will be a tasting of the wines of Austria led by Steve Thurlow.

We arrive at Linz at 16:30. There will be an included city tour through this delightful town, Austria's third largest city and a major river port.

The boat leaves at 21:00 to cruise overnight in the direction of Emmersdorf and the Wachau Valley (B,L,D)

Cruise through the narrow Strudengau and reach the Wachau Valley early this morning. The boat moors at Emmersdorf for a few hours.

We leave the boat for a brief excursion driving north along the Danube bank to Durnstein where we will visit Domaine Wachau. Here we will see the wine terraces, visit the ancient cellars and taste the wines before retracing our path along the Danube to return to the ship for lunch.

Soon the mediaeval town of Durnstein is reached.

Early in the evening at 19:30 we arrive in Vienna, the "City of Music" .

We leave soon after docking to explore Vienna at night. We will visit the summit of the nearby Kallenberg hill before descending to Grinzing to visit a heuriger, a wine pub with entertainment and local wines. (B,L,D)

Day 9: – Vienna

See the Imperial Hofburg Palace, the Vienna Opera House, Ringstrasse, and awe-inspiring St. Stephen's Cathedral on your guided city tour.

That evening there will be an opportunity to spend more time in Vienna, maybe attending a concert. The boat leaves at 03:00 the following morning to allow plenty of time for those that wish to indulge in the pleasures of the city. (B,L,D)

Day 10: –Bratislava, Slovak Republic

The ship arrives in Bratislava at 08:00. Bratislava is the capital of the Slovak Republic and is also the country's largest city.

The city of almost 500,000 straddles the Danube and has many beautiful historical buildings.

In the morning there will be an included city tour to see the important sites and to orientate you for later unaccompanied exploration.

St. Martins Cathedral built in the 13th–16th centuries, served as the coronation church of the Kingdom of Hungary between 1563 and 1830.

Bratislava Castle is a faithful reconstruction made during the 1950s of the ancient castle that stood on the site since the 10th century. The original building was destroyed by fire in 1811.

The ship remains in port all day and overnight to allow ample time for exploration or maybe to take one of the optional excursions offered by Lüftner Cruises.

On board in the evening there will be the Captains Gala dinner and a crew show. (B,L,D)

Day 11: - Budapest, Hungary

This morning it is best to be up early to take breakfast as we arrive in Budapest at 8:30. Soon after docking we leave the ship for a guided city tour.

This morning’s guided city tour includes Buda and Pest. From historic Buda Castle you will enjoy a splendid view of the twin cities spread over both banks of the river. Your tour also features the distinctive Fisherman's Bastion, the marvelous Royal Palace, St. Stephen's Basilica, and much more.

After lunch back on board there will be time to explore the city on your own.

Some will take one of the optional excursions offered by Lüftner Cruises. That evening our cruise will come to a spectacular climax with a moonlight evening cruise to see Budapest in its after dark splendour from the Danube. The evening will conclude with a folklore program on board of singing and dancing. (B,L,D)

Day 12: September 24, 2012– Budapest to Toronto

Your fascinating tour comes to an end as you transfer to the airport for your onward flight. (B)

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Hungary Extension

The main itinerary stops for only one day in the magnificent city of Budapest to give a glimpse of what there is to see. Some travelers will return at a later date but some may wish to extend the tour by staying a few additional nights and delaying their return flight.

Day 12: – September 24, 2012 Tokaj Wineries and Mad

Those returning to Canada will leave for the airport, while those taking the extension will leave Budapest by coach after breakfast to visit the historic wine region of Tokaj.

About 2.5 hours after leaving the city we will be at the Disznoko winery in Tokaj.

After a brief tour and tasting during which the complex traditional process for the creation of Tokaj's wine will be explained, we will take lunch with our winery hosts to include several rare vintages.

After lunch we drive for 5 minutes to our hotel in the idyllic village of Mad to check in to our hotel.

Madi Kuria Hotel, a recent conversion of an historic bank, is situated at the centre of the village of Mad, pronounced Mard in case you were wondering.

While the exterior facade has been returned to its original 19th century look, the interior has been elegantly converted using 21st century technology creating a brand new hotel with 24 rooms each wired for the internet.

With sky high ceilings and modern bathrooms the hotel offers comfort with an aura of a previous era. Everyone is sure to enjoy the short stay in this small wine village, escaping from the modern world for a brief period and sharing the quiet life of its inhabitants.

The simple charm of this place is sure to be loved, with the quiet only broken from time to time by the ringing of church bells. Farmers still drive donkey carts with flowers affixed to them to get around and offer a friendly wave to visitors.

Tokaj is world famous for its sweet wines, which have a reputation for great aging potential. These days the proportion of wines made that are very sweet is declining, in fact wineries are producing many completely dry wines from furmint and harslevelu. The slightly sweet szamorodni (late harvest) style is also increasingly popular.

The gourmet dinner that evening, with our hosts from the village wineries, will be at Madi Kuria hotel with regional specialties created to match the different Tokaj wine styles. (B,L,D)

Day 13: Mad and Tokaj

After breakfast we will visit the village on foot visiting the wonderfully restored C18th synagogue and the seeing some of the ancient wine cellars of Gundel and Szepsy as well as tasting their wines and visiting some of the vineyards.

After lunch we head back to Budapest.

We will stay at the Astoria Hotel in the centre of the old town of Pest, that was united with Buda on the other side of the Danube to create Budapest in 1873.

The hotel is probably the most charming old-style accommodation in the city, and has been a leading hotel since 1914.

It is newly renovated and combines timeless elegance with modern amenities.

There will be time to visit individually some of the city's sites as yet unexplored, as well as finding a quiet cafe for a coffee. The famous Synagogue, the second largest in the world, or the Houses of Parliament are both a short walk from our hotel. The modern shopping centre is also a few blocks away for those wishing to make some final purchases before heading home.

The Astoria Hotel restaurant "The Mirror Cafe" first became celebrated at the start of the last century. These elegant surroundings and the fine cuisine will be the venue for our final dinner together as a group.

We will relive the highlights of the tour while we sample some more of the delightful wines from Hungary. (B,L,D)

Day 14: September 26, 2012– Budapest to Toronto

Your trip extension comes to an end as you transfer to the airport for your return flight to Toronto. (B)

Extension Price

The extension price assumes double occupancy in the hotels in Budapest and Mad and includes coach transportation and local guides. Also included are buffet breakfasts every day, winery visits and tastings, and meals with wines as described in the itinerary. The price for the 3-day extension is estimated being from C$600 to 750 per person depending on numbers booked. Single Supplement prices are available on request. We will need a minimum of 10 participants to proceed with the extension.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the age range of the group?

These tours appeal to a wide range of ages, since we can love wine, food and travel at all stages of life. Typically the range is from 30 to 65 though we have had some older and younger than this join in the past.

Do you need to be a wine/beer connoisseur to participate?

Absolutely not. These are tours of discovery and enjoyment, of the beer, wine, food, culture and history of the region. You will certainly return home with a greater appreciation of wine. I have been told it is impossible to spend 12 days traveling with me without learning more about how wine is made and enjoyed with food.

Is the trip price really all-inclusive?

Almost all costs other than souvenirs, an occasional cup of coffee and maybe a slice or two of pizza are included and a few meals. I frequently hear that there is too much wine and too much food such that, during free periods, people don’t wish to eat or drink anything else.

These trips seem to be very reasonably priced, what is the catch?

I only run on average two or three trips per year to places to which I would be going anyway; so why not take a few others along with me? These trips are not a fundamental part of what I do in life and so I price them reasonably so all can afford to join. Additionally I receive sponsorship subsidies from airlines, wine regions and wineries who are keen to show off to my guests their splendid products and services in the hope that they will spread the word.

We have never traveled with a group before; will there be enough free time?

I used to dislike traveling on buses with groups and also found I needed time away from the group. Consequently we have frequent stops to do stuff when we are traveling by bus plus the schedule has lots of free time built in. Moreover nothing is compulsory, people sometimes take a day off to enjoy life away from the group.

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Conditions

The above itineraries are as planned. However we reserve the right to make adjustments depending upon weather, river conditions and other constraints, to substitute visits to alternative wineries and to arrange accommodation at hotels of similar standard in the towns mentioned. Prices are for double occupancy in twin/double rooms and cabins (single supplement on request). Hotels and Cruise subject to availability. The price for the main tour covers all transportation from the hotel in Prague to Budapest. This is on the river boat cruise Nuremberg to Budapest, and luxury coach transportation elsewhere. Also included are buffet breakfasts every day, winery visits and tastings, and 18 meals most with wines. Guests are required to make there own travel arrangements to the hotel in Prague and from Budapest.

In accordance with the Ontario Industry Travel Act, below is the registered name, address and registration number of the provider of the travel services:

UNIGLOBE Enterprise Travel Ltd.
34 Britain Street, Suite 200
Toronto, Ontario
M5A 1R6

Agent: Steve Thurlow

TICO Registration Number: 1810380

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