RYBAK MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE - EUROPE TOUR MAY 12 - 25, 2024
BRAND NEW TOUR!!!
RYBAK MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE
EUROPE TOUR MAY 2024
RYBAK MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE
EUROPE TOUR MAY 2024
RYBAK MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE
EUROPE TOUR
May 12 - 25, 2024
AN UNBELIEVABLY AWESOME TRIP OF A LIFETIME!
5 European Countries within 14 days
Bus part: Czech Republic
Cruise part: Italy, Vatican, Greece, Turkey
FUN & ADVENTUROUS TOUR, WITH PARTIES, CRUISES, SLIVOVICE & ACCORDION MUSIC!!!
Sunday, May 12
Depart from Houston airport and fly in direction of Europe, Czech Republic, Prague.
Monday, May 13
Arrival in Prague. The luxury bus with attendant team (including your Czech tour guide) will be waiting for you at the airport then welcome you aboard the bus with a shot of CZECH SLIVO and take you straight to the world-famous spa town of Karlovy Vary, also known by its English name of Carlsbad. This town lies in a green valley of the river Tepla (meaning "warm") and its setting alone gives it an atmosphere of beauty and peace. The town has been recapturing its former glory with its Baroque and Art Nouveau buildings being restored and people rediscovering all the town has to offer. You will be treated to lunch in a themed restaurant in the cellar of Becherovka museum. Becherovka is a unique Czech Herbal liquor which production started already in 1867 and you will tour this famous place right after lunch. Following this we will check-in our hotel located at the beautiful spa colonnade, and you will have time to rest or explore the city with your tour guide. Dinner will be at our hotel.
Tuesday, May 14
Leave for Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic! You will have an option to do a walking tour of the tourist highlights of Prague - beginning with Prague Castle and then on to St. Vitus Cathedral, Hradcany quarter, walk across the famous 14th century Charles Bridge with a gorgeous view of the Prague Castle, then continue to Old Town Square to see the Astronomical clock. We will end the tour at Wenceslas Square, which has historically been the site of many events including the 1989 Velvet Revolution demonstrations. Or you can be just dropped off in the center of Old Prague where you will have countless possibilities how to spend your time - wander and shop at the numerous stores or drink a local Czech beer in one of the many beer gardens or pubs which this city offers. Check-in our hotel in the afternoon. In the evening, take a historical tram ride thru the old town of Prague all the way to the Vltava River, where you will certainly enjoy a 2-hour boat cruise including buffet dinner – all while viewing the illuminated beauties of Prague along the river by night!
Wednesday, May 15
Leave Prague in the direction of South Moravia. On the way stop in Kutna Hora, the silver treasury and a true gem of the country which was present at the very start of the boom in the Czech Kingdom. We will visit one of the most famous Gothic churches and UNESCO World Heritage site - Cathedral of St. Barbara. It symbolizes the power and importance of the mining city, which is linked to deposits of silver ore. The cathedral is consecrated to none other than the patron saint of all miners, St. Barbara. Construction of this architectural gem took five hundred long years. Just outside of Kutna Hora lies the world-renowned ossuary at Sedlec, a medieval Gothic chapel that for centuries has stood on the remains of 40,000 people, offering a quiet reminder of the transience of human life and the existence of death. Today, visitors from around the world are astonished by its bizarre decorations made from human bones in the form of chandeliers, a pyramid, crosses and coats of arms. Then we will get back on our bus which will take us to one of the most beautiful regions in the Czech Republic, South Moravia, known for beautiful countryside and world-known wines. Our hotel lies in the heart of this wine region so we will be welcomed in our hotel’s private wine cellar with great Moravian music and wine, as we party the evening away!
Thursday, May 16
Our first goal of today will be a drive to nearby Lednice. This town is known because of its Lednice chateau and is one of the most visited destinations in Moravia. It was being constructed by the Liechtenstein dynasty as a representative summer and hunting mansion for centuries. The last reconstruction in the mid-1800s shaped its appearance into a romantic Neogothic palace surrounded by a spacious park that is the largest one in Europe! Interiors are garnished with stunning carving decorations, and the halls and the so-called Princely apartments illustrate a typical majestic interior of the second half of the 19th century! After lunch in the area, we will depart to one of the top wineries in the region where you will learn about the production of wine. Of course, sampling of the wine cannot be skipped!
Friday, May 17
Early in the morning we will depart our hotel to the airport in Vienna, Austria on our 1 hour 30-minute flight to Rome, Italy. Right after our arrival we will drive to the Vatican, the smallest state in the world and the seat of the Pope. Here we will tour St. Peter's Square, surrounded by Bernini's colonnade with 140 statues of the Saints atop of it. Then view St. Peter's Basilica, the largest cathedral in the world which can hold 60,000 people and which is dominated by Michelangelo's dome! In the afternoon transfer to the port city Civitavecchia to embark our ship MSC Divina for a 7-day cruise in the Mediterranean Sea. Check-in our balcony cabins, security training, tour of the ship, and time to relax. Or have a drink or more with the All-Inclusive beverage package included in your tour!
Saturday, May 18
DAY AT SEA!!! Spend the day relaxing, resting, and enjoying amenities of the ship. Then PARTY ON THE SHIP!
Sunday, May 19
Mykonos, Greece 1PM – 11PM
During the 18th-century, Mykonos’ maze of tangled lanes would confuse even the most well-travelled pirates. Nowadays pretending to get lost in these winding alleys makes for a day of entertainment! It is known for its romantic Greek Island glamour. See brilliant beaches, turquoise waters, and picturesque whitewashed villages. In the town of Mykonos, you can explore glamourous whitewashed houses on narrow streets, visit the world-famous Venetian windmills which date back to the 16th century. Used to grind wheat, these rustic structures were a fundamental part of the island’s former economy. Today, they provide a great photo opportunity, so remember to bring your camera!
Monday, May 20
Izmir (Ephesus), Turkey 9AM – 5PM
Overlooking sparkling azure waters and surrounded by undulating mountains, Izmir, Turkey is a city rich with history and culture. Principal structures include a colonnade of fourteen Corinthian columns on the west side and the remains of reputedly the second-largest basilica in the Roman world. MSC Mediterranean cruises also offer excursions to Ephesus, of Turkey’s superb array of ancient cities, it’s by far the best preserved. In fact, with the possible exception of Pompeii, one could argue that it’s the world’s finest surviving example of a Greco-Roman classical city. A big claim, but with so much to back it up – the ruins here are not merely rocks on the ground, but near-fully-fledged incarnations of what life must have been like in ancient times. It is here also in Ephesus where you can do a pilgrimage to the House of Virgin Mary, a Catholic Shrine where she is believed to have lived out the remainder of her life.
Tuesday, May 21
Santorini, Greece 8AM – 6PM
Santorini, a Cyclades Island, was formed from the remains of a volcanic caldera which is evident in its rugged geology. Santorini is famous for its sheer cliffs, red beach, and whitewashed houses that contrast strikingly against the blue Aegean Sea. The island is also home to ancient archaeological sites, hot spring swimming, and stunning wineries. The iconic village of Oia lies on an edge of the volcanic caldera overlooking the shimmering Mediterranean Sea. Here you can admire its picturesque houses which are carved into the cliffs, iconic blue-domed churches and take in the magnificent views while exploring little shops, cafes, wineries or little Greek Taverns.
Wednesday, May 22
DAY AT SEA!!! Spend the day relaxing, resting, and enjoying amenities of the ship. Then PARTY ON THE SHIP!
Thursday, May 23
Naples (Pompeii), Italy 11AM – 8PM
Naples’s charm will enchant you so much that, as Stendhal declared, it is "the most beautiful city in the universe". Here you experience a unique environment bathed in history, art, culture, religion, alleys, neighborhoods, football, pizza, music, but above all "genuine" people. At this destination you will have a hard time to choose your favorite excursion. You can take a tour of this city or travel to other world-known destinations nearby. In Pompeii, you can discover the houses and lifestyle of the Roman aristocrats preserved by Vesuvius' lava. But aside from the "excavations", Pompeii is also famous for the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of the Holy Rosary which welcomes pilgrims from all over the world on the event of the Supplication to Our Lady. On the Island of Capri, in the middle of a crystal-clear sea, you will discover the mythical stacks, the magical caves, the lighthouse, the Villa of Tiberius, the popular via Krupp and the famous "piazzetta" where, if you are fortunate enough, you might meet your favorite actor or singer.
Friday, May 24
Arrival to Civitavecchia, port of Rome. Disembark the ship and board our bus to tour the ancient city of Rome starting with the seeing exteriors of Coliseum. This unforgettable attraction originally held 50,000 spectators who came to watch duels back in the 1st century, with gladiators wrestling lions, chariot races and even naval battles. We will see the Roman Forum, once the religious, political and trade center of ancient Rome, which reflects the twelve centuries of history. From there, we will visit Venezia Square with the equestrian statue of the first king of Italy, Vittorio Emmanuel. We will also see the famous Fountain de Trevi, the largest Baroque fountain and the set of a number of renowned movies. In the afternoon, we will visit the Pantheon, the oldest church in Rome. Drive to our hotel, check-in, leisure time and then our last dinner in beautiful Rome, Italy!
Saturday, May 25
Departure home from the airport in Rome on a flight to Houston. HOME SWEET HOME!
Itinerary subject to change depending on availability.
FOR MORE INFO: Contact EDITA RYBAK at (512) 963-6660 or EMAIL: editarybak@hotmail.com