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Switzerland Pre-Cruise Stretchers with Olivia
Plan to arrive early and enjoy beautiful Switzerland before our trip down the Rhine. Our pre-cruise packages will allow you to experience the best of Switzerland, including exploring the streets of Zurich's Old Town, tasting Swiss cheese, making your own Swiss chocolate bar and visiting the Swiss Alps.
Option 1: Switzerland Three-Nights Pre-Cruise Stretcher (April 9 - 12, 2015)
Itinerary
Day 1 April 9, 2015
Hotel Continental Zurich
Hotel Continental Zurich is located right in the heart of Old Town Zurich, steps away from the famed shopping district of the Bahnhofstrasse, Swiss National Museum and Lake Zurich. The hotel offers the relaxed atmosphere of a Swiss chalet in the heart of the vibrant city. Our standard package includes an Urban Swiss Standard room with chalet inspired d้cor, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TV and mini-bar. The deluxe package includes an Urban Swiss Superior room with all of the above plus a seating and work area, Nespresso machine, iPod charger and ironing service.
Day 2 April 10, 2015
Appenzeller Cheese Factory
Enjoy a lovely morning drive through pastoral Switzerland to the Appenzeller Cheese Factory. We will have an opportunity to see how cheese is made and to sample a bit along the way. After the tour, we will enjoy a delicious lunch featuring traditional local dishes. The house specialty is homemade cheese quiche, but you can also choose from Swiss sausage (bratwurst) with onion sauce and French fries or cheese noodles with onions and apple sauce. All are delicious!
Maestrani Chocolate Factory
The only thing better than Swiss cheese is Swiss chocolate, so our next stop is the Maestrani Chocolate Factory. Watch a short film about the history of chocolate-making, then take a guided tour through the facility. You will get great insight into the production of their mouth-watering delights, with many opportunities to taste along the way. You will even have a chance to pour your own chocolate bar! And, of course, there will be plenty of time to shop for famous Swiss chocolate to bring home to friends (or for yourself).
Day 3 April 11, 2015
Mount Titlis
This morning we leave Zurich and head to the Alps! The gondola ride up to Mount Titlis alone is worth the whole trip. Enjoy amazing views and unforgettable photographic opportunities. Here is where you will see the Alps you may have seen in books as a child. Once on the peak, there will be free time to explore an ice cave, have a snow ball fight or enjoy a high-altitude lunch.
Lucerne
Situated on Lake Lucerne, the town is surrounded by an impressive mountainous panorama. Thanks to its many attractions including souvenir and watch shops, its beautiful lakeside setting and the nearby Rigi, Pilatus and Stanserhorn mountain ranges Lucerne is a destination for many travel groups and individuals on their journey through central Switzerland.
Radisson Blu Lucerne
Tonight we will overnight at the Radisson Blu Lucerne so that you can have time to relax and enjoy the evening in this picturesque town. Our standard package will include standard rooms with a City View, while the deluxe package will include standard rooms with a Lake View. All rooms are bright, airy and modern with features including free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TV and mini-bar.
Your three-nights pre-cruise stretcher includes:
• Two-night stay in an Urban Swiss Standard or Urban Swiss Superior room at Hotel Continental Zurich
• Check in at 3 pm on April 9
• One-night stay in a City View or Lake View room at Radisson Blu Lucerne
• Breakfast on April 10, 11 and 12
• All hotel taxes and luggage porterage
• Full-day tour including Maestrani Chocolate Factory, Appenzeller Cheese Factory and lunch at the Cheese Factory on April 10
• Full-day tour including Lucerne and Gondola Ride to Mount Titlis on April 11
• Transfer to riverboat for embarkation on April 12, with luggage assistance (as part of your cruise fare)
• Gay-friendly, English-speaking guides
• Olivia staff assistance throughout
Not included:
Meals (other than noted), transfer from airport to hotel on April 9, tips to guides and drivers.
PLEASE NOTE: This stretcher involves extended visits to high altitudes.
Option 1 - Switzerland Three-Nights Pre-Cruise Stretcher Price:
$1,079 Standard, based on double occupancy per person
$1,399 Standard, based on single occupancy per person
$1,199 Deluxe, based on double occupancy per person
Space is limited. Deadline to sign up is December 1, 2014 or until allotment is filled!
Option 2: Switzerland One-Night Pre-Cruise Stretcher (April 11 - 12, 2015)
The Zurich Airport Movenpick will be our host hotel and meeting point for your included transfer to the ship for those not on our Option 1 package. We are offering a special one-night package for those arriving a day early (on April 11) or very early in the morning of April 12 and would like a convenient hotel by the airport. Those who are not on our Option 1 three-night pre-package will receive an included transfer from the Zurich Airport Movenpick to the ship at approximately 3:30 pm on April 12.
Please note that this hotel is for convenience only and is located 15 minutes from Old Town Zurich and close to the train station. Should you wish to explore Zurich for more than one night, we suggest that you look into hotels in Old Town Zurich and plan to meet us at this hotel for your transfer on April 12.
Your one-night pre-cruise stretcher includes:
• One-night stay in a Classic Room at Zurich Airport Hotel Movenpick
• Breakfast on April 12
• All hotel taxes and luggage porterage
• Hotel shuttle from airport to hotel
• Free Wi-Fi
• Hospitality room after check-out on April 12
• Olivia staff assistance on April 12
Not included:
Meals (other than noted)
Option 2 - Switzerland One-Night Pre-Cruise Stretcher Price:
$119 Classic, based on double occupancy per person
$169 Classic, based on single occupancy per person
Space is limited. Deadline to sign up is December 1, 2014 or until allotment is filled!
Amsterdam Post-Cruise Stretchers with Olivia
Amsterdam is often referred to as one of the most colorful cities in the world, and rightly so! Where else can you find so many places of interest, world-famous museums, cozy pubs, cobblestone streets along tree-lined canals, one-of-a-kind shops and flower markets? Extend your vacation with Olivia and give yourself the time to experience all that beautiful Amsterdam has to offer!
Your Hotel in Amsterdam Doubletree by Hilton Hotel
Situated in the lively heart of Amsterdam, Doubletree by Hilton Hotel is in the center of the city and directly next to the Central Train Station. Within walking distance to many of the city's best attractions and with easy access to the city's tram system, this location can't be beat.
Our City View Rooms feature floor to ceiling windows with views over the historic city center, complimentary breakfast and late check-out till 1 pm. Watch a movie on the Apple iMac TV, stay connected with complimentary Wi-Fi and refresh in the elegant bathroom.
Option 1: Amsterdam Two-Nights Post-Cruise Stretcher (April 19 - 21, 2015)
Itinerary
Day 1 April 19, 2015
Keukenhof Gardens & Bulbfields
After breakfast on board, we will disembark the ship to begin our full day tour starting with a visit to Keukenhof Gardens. When you think of the Netherlands, Dutch tulips are likely among the first things to come to mind. Keukenhof is the world's foremost annual tulip exhibition, where more than seven million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths fill over 32 hectares of gardens with color and fragrance. Nearby, we will drive through the bulbfields where the acres of bulbs are grown and the fields are like a magic carpet of color. Lunch on own.
Tour of Old Town and Red Light District
This afternoon we will walk through some of the oldest neighborhoods in the city, with a special visit to the famous Red Light District. Along the way, we will learn about the unique architecture of this city, exploring its tree-lined canals, admiring its 17th century homes and discovering its rich history. Once we reach the Red Light District, we won't just be walking past the windows, but will enjoy a behind the scenes look into the oldest profession in the world. We will get the inside scoop on the economics, politics and working conditions and will even have a chance to experience what it feels like to sit "in the window." The tour will continue back to the hotel through the old town making a stop at Caf้ 't Mandje, recognized as the first gay bar in the Netherlands and one of the first in the world, founded by lesbian Bet van Beeren in 1927.
Day 2 April 20, 2015
Anne Frank, Jordaan & Homo Monument
This morning we will set out on a walking tour of the Jordaan. This picturesque neighborhood is filled with antique shops and historical treasures. We will make a brief stop at the Begijnhof, a peaceful hidden courtyard within the bustling city center, which served as home for widows and unmarried women for centuries. Continuing on, we will skip the line and enter the VIP entrance to the Anne Frank House, where Anne Frank was hiding during the German occupation. Finally, we will admire the Homo Monument, the first gay monument in the world, and the focal point of Amsterdam's gay pride celebrations. You may choose to walk back to the hotel with the group, or stay and enjoy lunch in one of the area's restaurants and a leisurely walk back on your own.
The afternoon is at your leisure to enjoy one of Amsterdam's many other attractions. You may choose to visit the Rijks Museum or the Van Gogh Museum, or simply enjoy a leisurely lunch in a canal-side café.
Your two-nights post-cruise stretcher includes:
• Two-night stay in a City View Room at the Doubletree by Hilton Amsterdam Hotel
• Check-in on April 19 is at 3 pm and check-out on April 21 is at 1 pm
• Full breakfast on April 20 and 21
• All taxes and luggage porterage
• Full-day tour including Keukenhof Gardens visit and Red Light District walking tour on April 19
• Walking Tour of Jordaan, Homo Monument and VIP entrance to Anne Frank House on April 20
• Luggage transfer from ship to hotel on April 19
• Gay friendly, English-speaking guides
• Olivia staff assistance throughout
Not included:
Meals (other than noted), transfer from airport to hotel on April 21, tips to guides and drivers.
PLEASE NOTE: That this stretcher involves walking long distances over cobblestones and uneven surfaces.
Option 1 - Amsterdam Two-Nights Post-Hotel Stretcher Price:
$689 , based on double occupancy per person
$1,049, based on single occupancy per person
Space is limited. Deadline to sign up is December 1, 2014 or until allotment is filled!
Option 2: Amsterdam Three-Nights Post-Cruise Stretcher (April 19 - 22, 2015)
Includes everything listed above in Option 1, with an additional night hotel and day to explore on your own.
Option 2 - Amsterdam Three-Nights Post-Hotel Stretcher Price:
$919 , based on double occupancy per person
$1,449, based on single occupancy per person
Space is limited. Deadline to sign up is December 1, 2014 or until allotment is filled!
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