See the grand cities of Europe by Tauck river cruise

Imagine visiting the great cities of Europe without having to worry about the suitcases? This is just one of the many appealing aspects of river cruising, along with the spacious accommodation, superior service and fine dining that travel with you onboard your luxurious Tauck riverboat. Leaders in river cruising, Tauck have one more appealing reason to choose river cruising – its 2011 Romance of the Rhine and Danube river cruise tour.

Tauck – who are represented in Australia by Travel the World – offer river cruise tours throughout Europe each summer along the Danube, Rhine and Maine Rivers connecting many of the must see European cities.  The Romance of the Rhine and Danube combines two of Tauck's most popular river cruises, the Strasbourg to Prague Serenade and The Blue Danube taking guests from the northern French city of Strasbourg to the Hungarian capital of Budapest.  

Departing from May to September 2011, the 19 day tour travels through five countries - France, Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary via the Rhine and Danube Rivers. The tour begins in Strasbourg where guests enjoy a two night stay at the Sofitel and discover the old and new parts of the city before boarding ms Swiss Sapphire for their riverboat cruise. Over the next 14 days, the luxurious riverboat transports guests to Germany's Black Forest and Gothic Renaissance castles, to a cultural interlude 'Bavarian style' and onto the Main-Danube Canal, a gateway for Europe river cruising.

The medieval hearts of Nurnberg and Regensburg are included in the itinerary, which also features Austria where you can visit Mozart's birthplace of Salzburg and wander the enchanting city of Vienna. Slovakia follows, with plenty of sightseeing and shopping available in Bratislava before the final port of Budapest where you disembark. Guests are accommodated for two nights at the InterContinental and enjoy daily excursions through the city's cultural and historic sites.

ms Swiss Sapphire has been custom designed to accommodate no more than 118 guests in luxurious accommodation, making it more spacious than other riverboats of the same size which accommodate 140 or more guests. Tauck has a very high number of suites and junior suites and there are floor to ceiling windows in 85% of cabins. Panoramic windows are also featured throughout the riverboat and guests can choose from two dining options including the more casual Lido Bar. Each tour includes a Cruise Director and a Tauck Director for every 40 guests to oversee arrangements.

Travel the World has announced a unique offer for the Romance of the Rhine and Danube, starting at AU$10,350 per person twin share which includes Tauck's private shore excursions valued at AU$1,789 per person. The 19 day tour includes the Strasbourg to Budapest river cruise and two night's accommodation in Strasbourg and Budapest. Also included are most meals, transfers, port charges, wine with dinner on board the riverboat. Special Single Savings of AU$1,200* are also available.

Past Tauck guests can also enjoy two complimentary hotel nights when they book any 2011 European River Cruise before September 30, 2010 as part of Tauck's Gift of Time promotion. New travellers with Tauck will also receive a free overnight hotel stay to enjoy either before or after their cruise.

To obtain further information about Tauck or to make a booking before 15 August, please contact Travel the World on 1300 766 566 or visit www.traveltheworld.com.au.

* Applies to the 26 May 2011 River Cruise Tour. Conditions apply.