itinerary

HOLIDAYS
Cruising
Scandinavia
and Russia
18
days
$6675 per person, twin share
m
leisurely pace
departing Thursday 18 August 2016
1300 1500 50
www.cotaholidays.com.au
Our special package includes
return airfares from Australia,
air taxes and all transfers.
Be part of our special 18-day holiday package which includes an amazing 14-night Cruise from Amsterdam on board
the luxury Celebrity Silhouette. We visit Oslo, Norway; Aarhus, Denmark; Tallinn, Estonia; St. Petersburg, Russia;
Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; Berlin, Germany; and Copenhagen, Denmark.
Itinerary
day
1
DEPART AUSTRALIA
in-flight
Thurs 18 Aug
Depart Australia from your nearest capital city for our flight to Amsterdam. Enjoy and relax inflight with meals and
entertainment provided for your convenience.
day
2
ARRIVE AMSTERDAM
Fri 19 Aug
Upon arrival into Amsterdam airport early afternoon we are transferred to our
hotel for your overnight stay.
Overnight: Amsterdam
day
3
AMSTERDAM, BOARD CELEBRITY CRUISE
Sat 20 Aug This morning after breakfast there will be time for you to enjoy some city sights
of Amsterdam.
Originally, a dam in the river Amstel, Amsterdam today is the capital and largest
city of the Netherlands, as engineered dams, sea gates, and the 19-mile dyke
walling out the Zuider Zee prevent this low-lying country from being reclaimed
by the North Sea. Interestingly, the 17th century canals of Amsterdam located
in the heart of the city have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The main tourist attractions are undoubtedly the famous Museums such as the
Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Stedelijk Museum. However,
there is much more to be seen and appreciated. We transfer to the Celebrity
Silhouette for boarding in time for its departure this evening at 5pm. Welcome aboard!
Overnight: Celebrity Silhouette
in-flight
day
4
AT SEA
Sun 21 Aug Today we continue sailing the North Sea making our way to Oslo in Norway. On board you will enjoy culinary delights
and all the facilities of this world-class ocean liner. Activities include bars and lounges, live production shows, spas
and beauty treatments, casino and shopping arcade!
Overnight: Celebrity Silhouette
day
5
OSLO, NORWAY
Mon 22 Aug
Arrive 7am – Depart 4pm
Oslo, the capital and most populous city in Norway, lies between the Oslo Fjord and
the green hills of Oslomarka. The combination of city life and easy access to outdoor
activities makes Oslo a unique destination. Oslo is built in a horseshoe shape on the
shores of the Oslofjord and limited in most directions by hills and forests. Subsequently
there are a number of delightful recreation areas, such as the Toyen area that includes
the Botanical Gardens and a museum. Amazingly, the immigrant share of the
population in the city proper now counts more than one quarter of the city’s total.
Oslo offers many art galleries and some 50 museums, such as the Norwegian Folk
Museum with 155 traditional houses from all parts of Norway, and a Stave Church from
the year 1200. The National Museum preserves Norway’s most extensive collection of
art. Others include: the Fram Museum, home to the ‘Fram’, the first ship specially built in Norway for polar research; the Viking
Ship Museum; and the Natural History Museum. Of particular interest is the amazing Holmenkollen Ski Museum and Tower, a
historic landmark where the museum is actually inside the ski jump and contains 400 years of skiing history.
Other places of great interest are Akershus Fortress in the city centre, and the Tusen Fryd Amusement Park of a
thousand opportunities. If possible see the Vigeland Sculpture Park with its amazing massive sculptures - more
than 200 in bronze, granite and cast iron - which is a monumental artistic creation telling a human message. New
attractions in Oslo include the Nobel Peace and the Holocaust Centres. If you are more adventurous, you might opt
for a ride on a mountain bike, or go skiing or even swimming in magnificent indoor pools or at beaches accessible by
ferries from the city centre.
Overnight: Celebrity Silhouette
day
6
AARHUS, DENMARK
Tues 23 Aug Arrive 8.30am – Depart 5pm
Aarhus is the second largest city and principal port of Denmark, and is situated
on the east side of the peninsula of Jutland in the geographical centre of
Denmark. The cruise port is within walking distance of the city centre. One major
tourist attraction in Aarhus is The Old Town, which is not actually an old part of
the city itself, but a collection of historic Danish buildings gathered from all around
the country. It is also an Open Air Museum, a living and breathing experience of
what it was like to live and work in a Danish town, as it was in the old days.
The city also hosts the Tivoli Friheden amusement park as well as the deer park
situated in the large nearby public forest. Something that simply cannot be
missed is the permanent work of art, a space without boundaries, in the form of
a three metres wide circular walkway made in glass in all the colours of the spectrum. The spectacular work of art has
a diameter of 52 metres and is mounted on slender columns 3.5 metres above the roof surface of the museum. Visitors
to the museum have access to this great work of art via stairs and lifts. The panoramic views of the surrounding city
and the bay should not be missed. Then there’s the Mosegard Manor in the woods that is the setting for the Mosegard
Museum that exhibits a range of exceptional archaeological finds from Denmark’s prehistory. Visitors are within striking
distance of so many good things, including the sea, the forest, and the beach. Then there’s the lively city centre, and
a superb shopping environment. Also popular is a visit to the agricultural region renowned for its finest quality produce
that results in fascinating restaurant menus. Not to be forgotten are the ARoS Aarhus Art Museum with constantly
changing international exhibitions, and Tivile Friheden - an amusement park for children of all ages. Other interesting
museums include: The Women’s Museum in Denmark, and The National Science and the Medicine Museum.
Overnight: Celebrity Silhouette
day
7
AT SEA
Wed 24 Aug
Today at your leisure on board. Enjoy the many facilities on board the luxurious
Celebrity Silhouette.
Overnight: Celebrity Silhouette
day
8
TALLIN, ESTONIA
Thurs 25 Aug
Arrive 9.30am – Depart 6pm
Tallinn, capital of Estonia, is dominated by the amazing 13th century Toompea
Castle towering over the rest of the city. Having always been the seat of power
in Estonia, it is appropriately home to the country’s Parliament today. Tallinn was
named the European Capital of Culture in 2011 and its Medieval city centre,
the most amazing part of Tallinn, truly must be explored. Take any street and
be astounded at the impressive guild houses, picturesque wells, boutiques,
monasteries, churches and restaurants. For a break take a day trip to Lahemaa
National Park, and see waterfalls, rapid streams, forests and lakes.
To take in some truly fantastic sights, be sure to visit the view platforms on
Toompea Hill, and while there visit the Dome Church with its interesting mix of
architectural styles. Get a feel for the history of the city by travelling back in time at the Estonian Open Air Museum,
where one can see people living life as it was in the 18th to the early 20th centuries. Shop for some locally made
goods at one of the many markets, and get to appreciate the local customs. For some great fun, visit the Olde Hansa
restaurant, which is complete with waitresses in medieval dress.
Take one of the bike tours, or even ride the unique ‘conference bike’ that seven people can ride at once. Sights to
see are numerous and include: Freedom Square, Kadriog Palace - home to a museum, Roterman Quarter - to see
where Tallinn is heading in the future; and the gigantic spire of St. Olav’s Church - that was once the tallest building in
the world. Last but definitely not least, visit the original city wall with its amazing fortifications that give the Old Town
its fairytale fascination. Another option is to take a ferry bus that will get you to Helsinki and back. The trip takes 2
hours each way.
Overnight: Celebrity Silhouette
day
9
ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA
Fri 26 Aug
Arrive 7am
St Petersburg is a federal city located on the Neva River at the head of the
Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea. In everyday speech the locals refer to it as
simply Peter. It is the second largest city in Russia and is regarded as the most
‘Western’ city of Russia, as a large number of foreign consulates, international
corporations, banks and other businesses are located here. They make a
striking contrast with the historically older buildings, such as the Peter and Paul
Fortress built in 1703. Attractions in St. Petersburg overwhelm even the most
seasoned travellers.
From the the Mariinsky Theatre to splendid suburban palaces and dozens
of smaller museums, today’s St Petersburg is there to explore and enjoy.
The Historic Centre of St Petersburg, with some 36 historical architectural
complexes and around 4,000 outstanding individual Monuments, has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Overnight: Celebrity Silhouette
day
10
ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA
Sat 27 Aug 2016
The city is also home to the world-famous Hermitage Museum (the largest in the
world) and the Russian State Museum with its rich collection of Russian art. The
city’s famed palaces include Peterhof Palace built for Peter the Great, and the
Yusopov Palace where the horrific murder of Rasputin took place. The Church
of Our Saviour on Spilled Blood, a beautiful gold-draped onion-domed church
that offers visitors a 300-step climb to a spectacular view of the city, and the
exhibits at the dazzling blue and white Baroque-style Smolny Cathedral, are also
very popular destinations. If looking for a delightful place to relax, then visit the
Pavlovsk Palace and Park. Famous for its rich and diverse musical carnivals as
well as their world renowned ballet companies, ‘Peter’ is definitely one of the
world’s leading centres of culture. Among St Petersburg’s greatest visitor attractions are the incredible Imperial parks
and palaces in the suburbs of the city.
Depart this evening at 6pm.
Overnight: Celebrity Silhouette
day
11
HELSINKI, FINLAND
Sun 28 Aug Arrive 9am, depart 5pm
Helsinki is the capital of Finland as well as being the centre of Finnish commerce
and culture. The skyline features a dramatic blend of classical architecture and
clean modernism, with Russian and Swedish influences throughout. Much more
than simply the nation where saunas originated, Finland - Helsinki in particular
- delights visitors with a vital sense of heritage as well as enthusiasm. Many
of Helsinki’s main attractions are also related to the sea, hence the growing
popularity of boat tours, including the Suomenlinna naval fortress (a UNESCO
World Heritage site) and Seurasaari Island with its parks and open-air museum.
There is a huge range of different ways to sightsee in Helsinki and experience the
city’s many tourist attractions first hand. Take a guided bus tour that includes sights such as: the Olympic Stadium
that seats 40,000 spectators; the Linnanmaki Amusement Park with over 40 amazing ‘world-first’ rides such as the
special wooden rollercoaster that is over 50-years-old, and remains the most popular ride; and Helsinki Zoo, founded
in 1889, one of the oldest zoos in the world, and home to thousands of animals grouped geographically into themed
areas, such as Africasia, Amazonia and Arctic.
Also well worth visiting are the Ateneum Art Museum that houses the largest collections of art in Finland with more
than 20,000 works of art from the 1750s to the 1950s, as well as the beautiful and historically significant Helsinki
Cathedral that is an Evangelic Lutheran church, and for many is the symbol of Helsinki. During the summer months,
Helsinki’s Island of Pihlajasaari is a true suntrap, while when the winter snow arrives the locals regularly flock to the
hill of Paloheinan Maki, bringing their toboggans and skis with them.
Overnight: Celebrity Silhouette
day
12
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
Mon 29 Aug
Arrive 8am, Depart 4pm
The city of Stockholm in Sweden spreads across 14 islands as it faces proudly
out to the Baltic Sea. Its history stretches over seven centuries, and it is
Sweden’s centre of art and culture. It is also famous for being the home of
the Nobel Prizes. You can get to just about all of Stockholm’s many wondrous
sites on foot, or you can take a boat trip that will give you a different facet of
Scandinavia’s largest and undoubtedly most beautiful city. Stockholm is one of
the most crowded museum-cities in the world with around 100 museums.
The city’s oldest section is Old Town, located on the original small islands of the
city’s earliest settlements, and still featuring the medieval street layout with a
large number of extraordinary shops, trendy cafes, and bars. Some notable buildings of the Old Town are the large
German Church and several mansions and palaces, such as the House of Nobility. Take in a 360 degree panorama of
Stockholm inner quarters from the City Hall tower. There are two UNESCO World Heritage sites in the area, the Royal
Palace Drottningholm, and the Woodland Cemetery.
Stockholm is the best city in terms of freedom from pollution. Surrounded by 219 nature reserves, it has around
1,000 green spaces. Grona Lund is an amusement park located on the island of Djurgarden. The Amusement Park
has over 30 attractions and many restaurants. It is a popular tourist attraction and visited by thousands of people
every day. However for those visitors who love hats it’s a must to visit Hattbaren, a small shop with a huge range of
hats. However, above all, visitors never forget Stockholm’s sheer natural beauty.
Overnight: Celebrity Silhouette
day
13
AT SEA
Tues 30 Aug
Today at your leisure on board. Enjoy the many facilities on board the luxurious
Celebrity Silhouette.
Overnight: Celebrity Silhouette
day
14
BERLIN, GERMANY
Wed 31 Aug Arrive 6am, Depart 8pm
Passengers on ships visiting Berlin typically dock at the north eastern port of
Warnemunde and go directly to the capital of Germany that is just a three hour
train ride away. Berlin, completely devastated in WW11, has amazingly seen the
reconstruction of its sixteenth-century core that exists in the Nikolaiviertel, while
nearby stand many rebuilt nineteenth-century buildings from the time of the
Second Reich. Little from the Third Reich has been rebuilt, except for the 1936
Olympic Stadium. Today the city is a mix of beautiful historical buildings and
some truly amazing modern architecture.
One of the most popular attractions for Berlin tourism is the Berlin Wall, the most
significant symbol of the end of the division of West and East Berlin. There are a wide range of museums, churches,
buildings, concert halls and more to visit. The Brandenburg Gate one of the most internationally recognized
landmarks in the world, Checkpoint Charlie, and the Jewish Museum that looks back over 2,000 years of Jewish
history including the holocaust are among the most visited sights.
Overnight: Celebrity Silhouette
day
15
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
Thurs 1 Sept Arrive 9.30am, Depart 6.30pm
Copenhagen, situated on two islands, is the capital and largest city in
Denmark. It is perhaps best known for being the final resting place of the
famous author Hans Christian Andersen, and also being one of the world’s
most environmentally friendly cities. It has a very high quality of life. With many
colourful buildings dating back to the early 18th century, medieval cobbled
streets and canals just a stone’s throw away from ultra-modern waterfront
architecture, and a street plan that dates back to the Middle Ages, it simply
captures the imagination of all visitors.
History buffs can see where it all started, on the museum island of Slotsholmen,
where Copenhagen was founded back in the 12th century. Fans of royalty
can see the crown jewels in Rosenborg Slot, before catching the changing of the guard in the Rococo square
at Amalienborg, the residence of the Danish Royal Family. Discover the ‘free state’ of Christiania, a marvellously
ramshackle display of autonomy in action, while the renaissance Round Tower affords some of the best views of the
city. The ‘must-see’, Little Mermaid of Hans Christian Andersen fame, is the city’s best-known landmark, and the
walk up to the statue is extremely pleasant.
What must be considered by tourists is obtaining a Copenhagen Card obtainable at the local tourist Information Centre. This
allows free entry to 65 museums and attractions as well as free travel on buses, trains and Metro. There are also very relaxed
and enjoyable canal tours that present attractive views of Castles, Palaces and Historic buildings. Above all be sure to visit the
top-rated Tivoli Gardens, a magical amusement park in the heart of the city/ This lively Danish capital has it all, the cobblestone
streets lined with bikes and warm people, village squares, people-watching at outdoor cafes, and even pantomimes.
Overnight: Celebrity Silhouette
day
16
AT SEA
Fri 2nd Sept 2016 Today at your leisure on board. Enjoy the many facilities on board the luxurious Celebrity Silhouette.
Overnight: Celebrity Silhouette
day
17
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
Sat 3rd Sept 2016
Arrive 6am. Today after breakfast we disembark the ship and will be transferred
to Amsterdam Airport for our return flight to Australia.
day
18
ARRIVE HOME IN AUSTRALIA
Sun 4th Sept 2016
Today our flight arrives back to our home port.
CELEBRITY CRUISE
Price based on interior cabins category 12.
INTERIOR CABIN:
Upgrades are available for an additional charge Verandah cabin category 2C - $990 per person
VERANDAH CABIN:
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
PRICES
Are correct at time of printing (30th
November 2015) and are subject to
availability, supplier and currency
fluctuations at any time until full
payment is made.
Avalon River cruise fares are based
on category E cabins which feature
a small picture window. Upgrades
to higher categories are available.
Celebrity Ocean cruise fares are
based on category 12, inside
cabins. Upgrades to higher
categories are available.
payment.
For cancellations after 1st May 2016,
100% cancellation fee applies.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
Single Supplements are available
on request and are calculated
based on the cabins selected
onboard the cruises. Singles
who wish to be matched up with
another single traveller of the same
gender may be accommodated,
however, in the event that no single
companion can be matched prior to
your final payment, a forced single
supplement will apply.
TRAVEL PROVIDERS
Presently Holiday Wonders are using
Avalon Waterways and Celebrity Cruises
to provide travel services for this group.
Should there be any significant changes
implemented by any one of these
suppliers Holiday Wonders reserves the
right to make necessary changes in order
to maintain the price/quality of the tour
package. Should this occur, such changes
will be advised to confirmed passengers.
AMENDMENTS
Your package is fully changeable by
you at any time until final payment at
a fee of $220 per person per change,
in addition to any airline and supplier
charges.
PAYMENTS
Accepted methods of payment are: direct
transfer, cash, cheque, MasterCard,
Visa, Amex and Diners. Please note that
BOOKING & PAYMENTS
payments made via Visa, MasterCard,
An initial deposit of $300 per
American Express, Amex and Diners
person is due within 5 days
will attract a 1.9% merchant fee. If you
of reservation to confirm your
chose to make your payment via cheque
booking. A second tour deposit
or direct transfer please allow at least 3
of $2500 per person is on
working days for the payment to clear to
confirmation. Final payment is due
our account. If money is not received by
no later than 1st May 2016. You will our office within the specified time frame
be required to complete a booking
your reservations may be cancelled. All
form that will be provided by your
cheques are to be made out to “Holiday
consultant.
Wonders of Australia”.
CANCELLATIONS
Deposits and Airline tickets are
non-refundable at all times after
ESCORT
Tour escort will travel with the Group
to/from Adelaide subject to the group
meeting minimum numbers.
COTA Holidays partner with licensed travel operator
TTA150304
PASSPORTS AND VISAS
It is a condition of booking that we
have a passport copy on file which
has at least 6 Months validity at
your date of return to Australia.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Travel insurance is highly
recommended to cover you for
medical, cancellation and luggage.
It is highly advisable to take out
insurance at time of deposit
to cover your money for any
unforeseen cancellations. It will also
cover you for Medical, emergency
evacuation, luggage and much
more while you are overseas.
Please ask your consultant for more
information. Please also remember
that Holiday Wonders Travel &
Cruise Mitcham is an agent for our
insurance companies and we are
not authorized to make comments
or recommendations on your
insurance. It is your responsibility to
ensure you have adequate cover for
any pre-existing ailments.
INCLUSIONS
Tipping is included for your cruise
director throughout the Avalon
River cruise. Tipping/gratuities
are also included throughout your
journey onboard the Celebrity
Silhouette.
INCLUDED MEALS
Buffet breakfast
Lunch
Dinner