A CRUISE that will have you stepping ashore at some of Europe's most beautiful cities is being offered by The Senior newspaper in association with Travelrite International.
Two fully-escorted 20-day tours, one in late June and another in mid-August next year, will begin with visits to Prague, Dresden and Berlin by luxury coach before you board the Regal Princess in Warnemunde, Germany, for the start of a wonderful Baltic cruise to St Petersburg.
Over the next 11 days the ship will call at Tallinn, St Petersburg, Helsinki, Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo.
Sightseeing tours in most of the ports and special events are included for people taking advantage of The Senior's exclusive readers' offer.
There will be visits to Old Town Squares, palaces, castles, cathedrals and stately buildings, with time to meander along cobblestone streets, popping in and out of traditional-style shops.
One of the most interesting stops on the first part of the tour, by coach, will be a visit to the town of Colditz in Germany and Colditz Castle where World War II prisoners of war staged a dramatic escape attempt. The group will tour the castle, learn the truth behind the notorious camp and see the site of famous escape attempts.
Garden lovers will enjoy the visit to Sanssouci, the former Summer Palace of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia. Many believe its beauty rivals that of Versailles. You will tour the palace before enjoying its vast gardens and magnificent sculptures.
For many, the Baltic cruise, which begins in Warnemunde on the eighth day of the tour, will be the undisputed highlight. Regal Princess is a spectacular example of the next generation of Princess ships, with a huge atrium and piazza and exciting new eateries. There's even a dramatic glass-bottom walkway called The Seawalk.
The first port of call is the medieval city of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, much loved for its cobblestone streets and gingerbread houses.
Then the Regal Princess sets sail for St Petersburg where you will spend two days exploring this magnificent city, including the world-famous Hermitage Palace with its wonderful art collection.
Then it's all aboard for the Finnish capital of Helsinki, renowned for its modern architecture and underground church carved out of the bedrock.
After Helsinki you will visit the beautiful city of Stockholm, often regarded as the Venice of the north. Then, after a day at sea, you will arrive in Copenhagen and tour the city's many gracious old buildings.
The Norwegian capital of Oslo is the last port of call before the cruise finishes at Warnemunde, where you will disembark in readiness for the flight back to Australia.
There are three sea days on the 11-night cruise, which will give you ample time to explore the myriad attractions and activities aboard ship. The Senior's travellers will dine at reserved tables, so if you're travelling alone - and about a third of passengers do - you will always have the group to dine with.
The cruises are priced from $8595 per person twin share, which includes return airfares from Australia, 11-night cruise and coach tour, three nights in Berlin, two nights in Prague and one night in Dresden, all in centrally located hotels, sightseeing tours, transfers and gratuities.
You can choose from two departure dates - June 30 to July 20, 2018, or August 13 to September 2, 2018.
For bookings or more information click HERE or phone 1800-630-343.
