With just over 3 months until we depart, our final payment has been made & the old bank balance is looking very sad indeed. Oh well, may as well spend it whilst we are still able!
This first post will be a general overview of our upcoming trip, giving readers a basic idea of where we are going & what we will be seeing. I intend to post regular updates, less frequently prior to departure, then daily when possible (internet access permitting) during our trip. I completed a similar blog during our 2012 - 2013 cruise & tour of New Zealand. The purpose is twofold, to keep family & friends informed of our activities/locations during our absence, and acts as a permanent record for us. The latter becoming more important as the old memory fails :)
Part 1 of this holiday starts with our flight from Sydney to Venice with Emirates on May 15th. We then have 2 nights booked at a Hotel in central Venice, right near San Marco Square, to explore Venice on our own.
On May 18th we board MSC Fantasia for the first portion (7 nights) of our 14 night Mediterranean Ocean Cruise from Venice to Venice. On May 25th we are transported from Venice to Genoa for the 2nd portion (7nights) of our cruise on the MSC Splendida. This ends in Genoa on June 1st, allowing us access to both the Eastern & Western Mediterranean. See map below:
MSC Fantasia - Eastern Mediterranean, Venice to Venice
MSC Splendida - Western Mediterranean, Genoa to Genoa
On June 1st we disembark the ship in Genoa, Italy & travel via train to Monte Carlo, Monaco (approx 2 hour journey) where we stay one night in The Fairmont Hotel prior to the commencement of the 2nd phase of our adventure.
APT 37 Day Grand European River Cruise - Monte Carlo to Prague June 2nd to July 8th 2014
We are commencing this tour with a 3 night stay in Monte Carlo (had the option of Barcelona)
This tour consists of 3 separate river cruises with 3 days pre cruise in Monte Carlo, 2 nights Amsterdam & 3 nights in Prague after final cruise.
1. Arles to Lyon (southern France), 7 nights
2. Basil (Switzerland) to Amsterdam 7 nights
3. Amsterdam to Budapest 14 nights
After 3 days exploring Prague we fly home, Prague to Sydney, via Dubai again on Emirates, arriving back on July 10th.
We are really looking forward to this adventure & hope you follow along with us. please feel free to leave comments or ask questions below.
