DAY 01Monday March 1

JFK – ROME: Depart JFK’s International Airport on your overnight flight to Rome. Dinner served shortly after take off. Sit back, relax and enjoy the flight!

DAY 02 Tuesday March 2

ROME – TUSCANY: Morning arrival into Rome Airport, where we are met by our driver. We travel north to the Florence area. As we continue our journey, we view the scenic Tuscan hills. We arrive at our villa hotel in Figline Valdarno, just outside of Florence, in the late afternoon. Enjoy a wine tasting at the villa, followed by free time to get acquainted with this lovely villa. Enjoy a welcome “Tuscan Dinner” with the group at the villa (wine & water included). Buon Appetito! Overnight at the Villa Casagrande in Figline Valdarno.

DAY 03
Wednesday March 3

FLORENCE: After breakfast at the hotel, we journey to Florence. Stroll down cobblestone lanes, through majestic squares and across ancient bridges, pausing along the way to visit and learn about Palazzo Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, the cathedral and Giotto’s bell tower and the Accademia (entrance fee and reservation included). Lunch is on your own. Florence offers the largest number of historical buildings and works of art in Italy, as well as several world-class museums. You might like to do a little leather, gold or clothing shopping near Ponte Vecchio. Dinner is on your own tonight. Overnight at the Villa Casagrande.

DAY 04

Thursday March 4

VILLA CASAGRANDE: After breakfast at the Villa, enjoy a day at leisure. Visit the exercise room, rent bikes, go horseback riding, take a walk or visit the wine cellar and the museum at the Villa which has been host to popes and princes. (You can easily reach Florence or many quaint towns, such as Arezzo by train during your free time. Trains are frequently available from the Figline Valdarno railway station. To Florence takes about 30 minutes). Dinner on your own. Overnight at the Villa.

OPTIONAL TOUR, SIENA & SAN GIMIGNANO: $108 per person (20+ passengers) / $180 p.p. (10+ passengers) Breakfast at the hotel Depart to Siena, where after meeting our local guide, we visit this wonderful city. Siena is the city of the blessed Virgins and the “Balzana”, black and white; decisive, just as its heraldic symbol; passionate and contemplative; always climbing and descending; clear and at the same time obscure; steep and narrow streets; the red of the Piazza del Campo appearing blinding and suddenly. In the alleys, in the museums and oratories of the Contrada, the spiritual songs of the Palio evoke very ancient rituals and modern allegories, while during the evening the shuffling of soles on the deserted pavement is in contrast with the peacefulness of the green valleys providentially enclosed within the wall, which ancient administrators had erected hundreds of years before it became common practice. Meet your local guide at San Domenico Church at 9.30am. After lunch on your own, depart to San Gimignano for a visit on your own (NO GUIDE. 02.30pm - Enjoy a superior wine tasting at a local cellar: The towered silhouette of San Gimignano rising from the hills of the Upper Elsa Valley, facing the land of Volterra and positioned right on one of the most important stretches of the medieval Via Francigena, is famous all over the world. A similar renown can also be claimed by its Vernaccia wine, recently awarded the D.O.C.G., the highest acknowledgement and guarantee for quality in Italian oenology. Return in the evening to the Villa Casagrande.

DAY 05
Friday March 5

BOLOGNA: This morning after breakfast at the hotel, we embark on a day trip to BOLOGNA. Bologna is the capital of this prosperous region of Italy: Emilia Romagna. Not yet discovered by mass tourism, the city is the ideal choice for cultural interludes as well as leisure activities and relaxation. Bologna has a number of nicknames: la dotta (the learned) for its ancient university, la rossa (the red) for the warm color of its roofs and houses, and la grassa (the fat) for the wonderful food. Enjoy a morning guided tour of the city, including such landmarks as Piazza Maggiore, Fountain of Neptune and the Two towers. Afternoon on your own for shopping or sightseeing. Depart in the late afternoon by bus to return to your hotel. Dinner is on your own and overnight at the hotel.

DAY 06
Saturday March 6

VILLA CASAGRANDE – FREE DAY: After breakfast at the hotel enjoy the day at your leisure. Dinner (included) and overnight at the villa.

OPTIONAL TOUR: LUCCA & PISA: $90 per person (20+ passengers) / $160 p.p. (10+ passengers) Breakfast at the hotel – Depart to Lucca, where after meeting our local guide, we visit this perfectly preserved, mediaeval, walled town with its magnificent ramparts. The most wonderful small town; its famous walls enclose a place that can be wandered with ease yet remains full of secrets. One of Italy’s finest medieval treasures, the centre is relatively unspoiled and is sprinkled with palazzi, towers and almost countless splendid churches. Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Pisa, where after a panoramic drive by bus along the Arno embankments, the tour proceeds with a guided visit of Piazza dei Miracoli to find the celebrated Leaning Tower, now the best known building. (1/2 Day Guide – NO ENTRANCE FEES INCLUDED). Free time for Lunch.In the afternoon Depart by bus to Lucca. Arrival in Lucca, the elegant and refined Tuscan town. Pleasant walk with your step on guide who will take you along the famous sixteen century walls, then entering into the enchanting historical centre where you will have the chance to admire the amazing Piazza Anfiteatro, the Torre Giunigi, the Duomo di San Martino and the typical “antique dealers’ street.” Return to the hotel - Dinner and overnight.

DAY 07
Sunday March 7

FIGLINE VALDARNO – FREE DAY: After breakfast at the hotel, the day is free on your own. Time for some last minute shopping or sightseeing. Perhaps take a train to Florence or Arezzo. Tonight enjoy a farewell dinner (water & wine included) at the hotel.

DAY 08
Monday March 8

FIGLINE VALDARNO – ROME – JFK: Early morning transfer to Florence Airport for your return flight home, taking with you the memories of the best of Italy. “Arrivederci” a nostalgic goodbye with a promise to return.

Day 01
Monday,
March 15th

USA – Munich: Depart the States on your AlItalia overnight flight to Munich. Dinner is served aboard, shortly after take off.

Day 02
Tuesday,
March 16th

Munich - Salzburg: Early morning arrival into Munich Airport. Welcome to Bavaria. Meet our English-speaking assistance/guide and coach for a panoramic city tour in Munich. See the Bavarian Alps in the distance. Continue to Salzburg in the afternoon for check-in at your hotel, your home for the next 6 nights. A baroque city on the banks of the Salzach River, Salzburg is the beautiful capital of Land Salzburg. This former site of the Roman town of Juvavum is set against a pristine mountain backdrop. The city and the river were named after the early residents who earned their living in the region's salt mines. Long a part of the Holy Roman Empire, Land Salzburg was joined to Austria in 1816 following the Congress of Vienna. Enjoy a welcome dinner at our hotel with the group. Overnight in Salzburg.

Day 03
Wednesday,
March 17th

Salzburg: This "heart of the heart of Europe" is the city of Mozart, who was born here in 1756. After breakfast we meet an English-speaking local guide for half day walking tour of Salzburg, including entrance fee to Mozart’s Birthplace. Tonight enjoy an optional Mozart Concert Dinner ($98 per person – must be prebooked). Overnight Hotel in Salzburg.

Day 04
Thursday,
March 18th

Salzburg: After breakfast, the day is free to explore on our own. Optional Sound of Music Tour ($68 per person – must be prebooked): This excursion to the lake district and other places where the 1965 movie with Julie Andrews was filmed. The English-speaking guide shows you not only the highlights from the film, but also historical and architectural landmarks in Salzburg and parts of the Salzkammergut countryside.

Day 05
Friday,
March 19th

Salzburg: After breakfast, the day is free to explore on our own. We may choose to travel to Innsbruck (1½ hrs by train per direction, no train changes). The capital of Tyrol, Innsbruck is one of Europe's most beautiful cities and was host of the winter Olympics in 1964 and 1976. It has long been a center of commerce and traffic, as it lies at the junction of two important routes across the central Alps. Overnight in Salzburg.

Day 06
Saturday,
March 20th

Salzburg – Vienna – Salzburg: After breakfast, we board our coach for an excursion to Vienna. Vienna is a city of music, cafes, waltzes, parks, pastries, and wine, a true cosmopolitan center, where different tribes and nationalities have, for centuries, fused their cultural identities to produce the intriguing and, often cynical, Viennese. Get acquainted with a half day guided tour. Free time in the afternoon to explore Vienna on our own. Return to Salzburg for overnight.

Day 07
Sunday,
March 21st

Salzburg: After breakfast, the day is free to explore Salzburg on our own. We may wish to revisit Vienna (3 hrs by train, no train changes), or visit Munich (1½-2 hrs by train, no train changes) by train. Tonight enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Salzburg.

Day 08
Monday,
March 22nd

Salzburg – Munich: After breakfast, we leave our hotel and travel to Munich for our return flight, arriving home the same day. We take with us wonderful memories from “the Heart of Europe.”

DAY 01
April 17

JFK – Basel: Depart JFK Int’l Airport to Basel

DAY 02
April 18

Transfer to Basel (embark):

Arrive in Basel where you’ll be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the ship. (Dinner)

DAY 03
April 19

Breisach (Colmar), Strasbourg:

Starting from medieval Breisach, the gateway to the Black Forest, you cross the Rhine and head for the Alsatian wine route, which hugs the foothills of the Vosges Mountains. Charming villages and lush vineyards, producing great white wines, line this winding scenic route. Experience the charm of medieval Colmar in its historic center and the picturesque timberframed houses in the village of Riquewihr. (BB, Captain’s Welcome Dinner)

DAY 04
April 20

Strasbourg: Featured Excursion: Strasbourg canal cruise.

See Strasbourg in the way it has been seen through the centuries—on a canal cruise. In addition to viewing the town’s covered bridges, medieval watchtowers and modern building that houses the European Parliament, you will see “Petite France,” a picturesque district that seems as if it has been lifted from the pages of a fairy tale. (BB, L, D)

DAY 05
April 21

Speyer: Featured Excursion: Speyer walking tour. Optional Tour: Heidelberg with visit to the castle and lunch at a historic restaurant.

Your guided walking tour through Speyer reveals a medieval town with a grand heritage and a compact historical center dominated by the largest Romanesque cathedral in Europe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its basilica laid out in the form of a Latin cross, and including four towers and two domes. (BB, L, D)

DAY 06
April 22

Rudesheim: Featured Excursion: Castle Vollrads wine tasting. Optional Tour: Rüdesheim dinner and entertainment.

Rüdesheim has a long history dating back to Roman times, and is considered one of the most charming of the Rhine Valley ports of call. The town is famous for, among other things, its long avenue of shops and wine bars, the Drosselgasse. Enjoy the first part of the afternoon exploring the town on your own, and then join us for a visit to the prestigious Castle Vollrads. It is perfectly situated in the vineyardcovered hills, and is ranked as one of the world’s top wine estates for its Rheingau Rieslings. Join us for a unique wine tasting at the castle. (BB, L, D)

DAY 07
April 23

Rudesheim and Koblenz: Featured Excursion: Koblenz walking tour. Optional Tour: Enjoy a visit to Marksburg Castle, the best-preserved castle on the Rhine, with wine tasting.

Departing in the morning from Rüdesheim to Koblenz, you'll sail along one of the most beautiful sections of the Rhine; the scenic 40 miles of the upper Middle Rhine Valley declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. With its vine-filled slopes, its more than 40 castles strung like pearls along the riverbank's ledges, and the famous Lorelei Rock, the gorge is the perfect embodiment of the romantic Rhine. Arrive in Koblenz, situated on the beautiful corner at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle. Your guided walking tour will highlight the appeal of Koblenz – its romantic narrow streets and historical squares, the picturesque alleyways and fountains in the old quarter and the 12th- century churches of St. Florin and Our Lady. (BB, L, D)

DAY 08
April 24

Koblenz and Cologne: Featured Excursion: Cologne walking tour and cathedral visit.

You'll meet up with your guide on the pier and begin your walking tour. Stroll through the narrow streets of Old Town, passing by tiny squares and little churches as you make your way to the cathedral, the city's most famous landmark and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. It took 632 years for Germany’s largest cathedral to be completed, and it is one of the most important gothic churches in Europe. A visit inside features the Shrine of the Three Magi and the beautiful glass windows that survived WWII. (BB, L, Captain’s Farewell Dinner)

DAY 09
April 25

Amsterdam (disembark), transfer to airport

Day 01
Monday, Oct. 4th

USA – Athens:Depart Newark on your overnight flight to Athens with Continental Airlines. Dinner is served aboard, shortly after take off.

Day 02
Tueday, Oct. 5th

Athens to Mykonos:: You will be greeted by a Celtic Tours representative, who will direct you to your flight from Athens to Mykonos Island with Olympic Airlines. Meet a Celtic Tours representative who will direct you to your awaiting motorcoach for transfer to your hotel. Situated between Tinos and Naxos, the island of Mykonos is one of the most picturesque of the Cyclades archipelago. The island has become one of the world's top travel destinations because of its captivating, cosmopolitan atmosphere, ideal setting, and exciting nightlife. Afternoon check-in with the remainder of the day free to rest or explore Mykonos Town on your own. Tonight dinner is on your own. Overnight in Mykonos.

Day 03
Wednesday, Oct. 6rd

Mykonos: Free day in Mykonos. Perhaps set out to explore island, which offers narrow roads with whitewashed houses, signature windmills, beautiful beaches and a history dating back to early Ionian civilization. You may wish to try treat yourself to an almond biscuit (or two or three) just off the harbor front, where biscuits have been made at Efthemios since the 1950s. Dinner is on your own tonight. Overnight in Mykonos.

Day 04
Thursday, Oct. 7th

Mykonos: Free day in Mykonos. Dinner is on your own. Overnight in Mykonos.

OPTIONAL Delos: Today you may join an optional excursion to Delos ($127 p.p. additional, must prebook) for a half day guided tour. Ferry to Delos Island. Return to Mykonos in the late afternoon.

Day 05
Friday, Oct. 8th

Mykonos to Santorini. After breakfast, transfer to the port for your ferry to the island of Santorini, an island known throughout the world for its stunning Red Beach, colorful sunsets, and whitewashed buildings along the sea-cliffs. Santorini's harbor, the island's distinctive caldera, was formed thousands of years ago by one of the most devastating volcanic eruptions in history. This event, which created the island's placid harbor, is believed to have led to the demise of the ancient Minoan culture and inspired several Greek myths. Arrive in Santorini-Fira town, where you transfer to your hotel for check-in. Dinner is on your own. Overnight in Santorini-Fira.

Day 06
Saturday, Oct. 9th

Santorini: Free day in Santorini-Fira. You may wish to visit one of the volcanic beaches or walk to town and meet the locals. Enjoy the delicious delicacies, its own renowned white wine, and unique cuisine that Santorini has to offer. Dinner is on your own. Overnight in Santorini.

Day 07
Sunday, Oct. 10th

Santorini: Free day in Santorini-Fira. Dinner is on your own. Overnight in Santorini.

OPTIONAL Volcano Cruise: You may wish to join a full day island tour with guide, which includes a half day volcano tour cruise. ($155 p.p. additional, must prebook). Sail to a volcano and onto hot springs, where you will have a brief opportunity to swim. Return to Santorini.

Day 08
Monday, Oct. 11th

Santorini to Athens: After breakfast transfer to Santorini Airport for your flight to Athens with Olympic Airlines. Meet a Celtic Tours representative in Athens who will direct you to your awaiting motorcoach for a half day sightseeing tour of Athens including a visit to the Acropolis, and as many other archaeological and historic sites that times allows. Continue to your hotel for a late afternoon check-in. Enjoy a farewell dinner with the group at your hotel. Overnight in Athens.

Athens Departure: After breakfast, early morning departure for nearby Athens Airport for check in for our flight back home.