“NORTH BY NORTH WEST” – PARIS TO MONTREAL
CRUISING FROM EUROPE TO NORTH AMERICA

 TOUR ESCORTED BY KERRY MAHER

Tour Departs:      2 September 2012           Tour Length:        32 Days

Overview:
The name of the tour has nothing to do with the Alfred Hitchcock movie but rather implies a journey to expanding horizons and remote locations, to places little known and rarely visited, but some of the most beautiful places on Earth. The tour commences with a stopover in Hong Kong, before heading to Paris, the city of romance and lights. Travel via the “Chunnel” and Eurostar to London for a further 3 night stay as we visit the highlights of this great city, prior to joining our cruise which will take us via Ireland, Scotland, Iceland, Greenland, Labrador, Newfoundland across the North Atlantic to the St Lawrence River and Quebec and Montreal. To compliment this wonderful scenery on this tour our cruise ship home for 18 days is the “Seabourn Sojourn”. Luxuriously appointed and yet relaxed, there is no better way to visit the remote places that the larger ships cannot access.

Highlights:
Hong Kong • Paris • London • Dublin • Greenock (Glasgow) • Torshavn (Faroe Islands) • Reykjavik (Iceland) • Grundarfjordur • Prince Christian Sound • Nanortalik (Greenland) • Red Bay, Labrador • Corner Brook, Newfoundland • Gulf of St Lawrence • Quebec • Montreal • Los Angeles.

Our Floating Hotel for 19 nights – “Seabourn Sojourn”
From the moment you step aboard, you begin to appreciate the absolute ultimate care and attention that will be lavished on you during your time aboard. Amenities include all suite accommodation with private verandah, lounge dining area, spacious ensuite with bath, separate shower, walk in wardrobe, complimentary ensuite bar stocked with your preferences of wine, spirits and juices. And at 32,000 tonnes and just 400+ passengers, you will experience all the facilities of the much larger ships yet enjoy the intimacy and friendliness of much smaller numbers.

Kerry Maher says ….
I was privileged along with my wonderful fellow travellers to enjoy a very special cruise with Seabourn in 2011. In our group, we had a number who had extensive first class cruising experience and they were just amazed at how Seabourn has taken cruising to another level of unobtrusive luxury. I hope you can join me on this cruise to remote and undiscovered places.

Tour Costs:
Share Twin Room/Stateroom                         NZD   $19,925.00   AUD   $16,650
Supplement for Single Room/Stateroom          NZD   $  8,980.00   AUD   $  7,200 

Costs Include:
• Economy Class airfares from Auckland, Melbourne or Sydney. Cost to upgrade to Business Class available on request
• Prepaid government and airport taxes, security and fuel surcharges as at 01.09.11
• First Class/Superior grade hotel accommodation
• Deluxe ocean view staterooms with private balcony on “Seabourn Sojourn”.
• First Class air-conditioned coach transportation
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary (B=breakfast, L= lunch, D= dinner)
• Sightseeing and entrance fees as indicated in the itinerary
• Services of European Tour Director and local guides for touring and sightseeing
• Baggage handling of 1 suitcase per person
• All tips and gratuities to coach drivers, guides and cruise staff
• Fully escorted by a Mahers’ tour escort

Costs Exclude:
• Any meals and sightseeing not specifically mentioned in the itinerary
• Travel insurance – advice and assistance offered
• Items of a personal nature such as drinks, room service, laundry, telephone calls etc

Important – Cancellation Conditions: Due to the cruise content of this tour, we must vary our standard payment and cancellation conditions. These will be detailed in our written confirmation of your booking. Travel insurance will also be offered at this time. 

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY

Sunday 2 September:
Home – Hong Kong
Late this evening, we join the overnight flight to Hong Kong. 

Monday 3 September:
Hong Kong (D)
Arrival into Hong Kong is early morning. We are met and transferred to our hotel with rooms available for immediate check-in. Time to rest and relax before we join an afternoon sightseeing tour of Hong Kong Island. We take the tram to Victoria Peak for panoramic views over Hong Kong. Then visit Repulse Bay and the fishing village of Aberdeen for a short cruise around the harbour by sampan. We conclude the day with dinner at a local restaurant en route back to the hotel. 

Tuesday 4 September:
Hong Kong – Paris (B)
After breakfast, we return to Hong Kong Airport in time to join our daylight flight to Paris. On arrival, we are met and transferred to our hotel for a 3 night stay.

Wednesday 5 September:
Paris (B,D)
The famous sights of Paris are a living history.   Our full day city sightseeing tour shows us magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral, the unique Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, Opera Madelaine, Champs Elysees and the Eiffel Tower, a structural miracle of its age. We follow this up with a cruise on the River Seine where you can appreciate the beauty of Paris from the water. Later in the day, we visit the Montmartre area and the wonderful Sacré Coeur Basilica which also offers panoramic views over Paris 

Thursday 06 September:
Paris (B,D)
A full day free to explore the things in Paris that interest you. Maybe spend time at the Louvre in the company of the Mona Lisa or one of the many other museums and galleries, stroll the banks of the River Seine or enjoy the shops of Gallerie Lafayette. This evening. We enjoy dinner together at a Parisienne café.

Friday 7 September:
Paris – London (B)
And now for something different today. We transfer to Paris’ Gare du Nord and join the Eurostar for the 2hr 30 minute train journey under the English Channel to London St Pancras Station. Sit back and relax and enjoy the ride in Standard Premier First Class comfort. On arrival London, we are transferred to our hotel for a 3 night stay.

Saturday 8 September:
London (B/L)
You may have been to London before but lets re-fresh your memory with a full day sightseeing around the “grand old lady”. We view many of the sights for which London is famous - Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, St Paul’s Cathedral, Trafalgar Square to name but a few. And to break the day, we enjoy a luncheon cruise on the River Thames where we see a different view of the city from the water.

Sunday 9 September:
London (B,D)
We have left this day totally free to allow you to visit the places that are of particular interest to you. There are so many museums and monuments deserving of a visit or, being a Sunday, you may wish to attend a service at Westminster Abbey or St Pauls. This evening, lets have dinner together at a Covent Garden restaurant.

Monday 10 September:
London – Cruise (B,D)
Join the Path of the Vikings Seabourn Cruise
We travel through to Southampton to join our cruise ship “Seabourn Sojourn”. Settle in to your all-suite accommodation with private balcony and prepare to be pampered on the cruise of a lifetime. Some amazing ports of call await us as our “yacht” sets sail at 5.00pm this afternoon.

Tuesday 11 September:
At Sea (B,L,D)
Cruising the Irish Sea. A chance to settle in during a full day at sea, maybe take part in some of the activities which are detailed in your daily newsletter; or just take time to relax on the deck or the privacy of your outdoor balcony, watching the world go by. 

Wednesday 12 September:
Dublin, Ireland (B,L,D)
Welcome to the Emerald Isle. Ireland's capital offers an almost inexhaustible number of attractions including stately public buildings, handsome 18th-century mansions, imposing statues, superb museums and art galleries, a magnificent cathedral, and Trinity College where the 8th-century Book of Kells is displayed, not to mention the tempting shops along Grafton Street.
Arrive 7:00am. Depart 5:30pm.

Thursday 13 September:
Greenock (Glasgow), Scotland (B,L,D)
Located on the River Clyde, Greenock is on the steep west coast of Scotland, offering spectacular views to the mountains beyond. From the looming Victorian tower in Cathcart Square to the McLean Museum and Art Gallery on Union Street, you’ll find plenty to see and do. Head to Craig's Top for magnificent views from the summit of Lyle Hill, or head to nearby Glasgow to view its fine cathedral and art galleries.
Arrive 8:00am. Depart 6:00pm. 

Friday 14 September:
At Sea (B,L,D)
Cruising the Sea of the Hebrides.

Saturday 15 September:
Torshavn, Faroe Islands (B,L,D)
Torshavn is the capital and largest town of the Faroe Islands known mostly for the Vikings. Surrounded by mountains Torshavn is considered to be one of the oldest capitals in Northern Europe. One can find the Faroes full of spectacular landscapes, historical legends and the presence of friendly people.
Arrive 8:00am. Depart 5:00pm. 

Sunday 16 September:
At Sea (B,L,D)
Cruising the Atlantic Ocean. 

Monday 17 September:
Reykjavik, Iceland (B,L,D)
Almost every visitor to Iceland spends sometime in the countries vibrant capital Reykjavik. The worlds northern most city is just as much a part of Icelandic experience as the “Midnight Sun” or the magical moonlike landscapes named Reykjavik (Smoky Bay) after the misty geo-thermal steam rising from the ground. It heats homes throughout the city, a pollution free energy source that leaves the air outstandingly fresh, clean and clear.
Arrive 8:00am. Depart 10:00pm. 

Tuesday 18 September:
Grundarfjordur, Iceland (B,L,D)
Surrounded by exceptionally beautiful mountains and combining the breathtaking natural beauty with rich cultural heritage of the whole of west Iceland. The port of call gives passengers the opportunity to experience the Icelandic way of life; locals dressed in Icelandic national costume greet passengers on Quayside.
Arrive 8:00am. Depart 6:00pm.

Wednesday 19 September:
At Sea (B,L,D)
Cruising the Atlantic Ocean.

Thursday 20 September:
Cruising Prince Christian Sund, Greenland (B,L,D)
Prince Christian Sund is in the Southern tip of Greenland. The views are spectacular with large glaciers and wonderful mountain peaks and maybe large icebergs. 

Friday 21 September:
Nanortalik, Greenland (B,L,D)
Nanortalik is Greenland’s most southerly town and lies in a scenic area consisting of picturesque fjords and steep mountains. The towns name means “Place of Polar Bears” which refers to polar bears that on occasions pass near the town in conjunction with the field of ice from the Artic Ocean. Nanortalik is a small town with a friendly population of hunters who live in the beautiful natural surroundings. You’ll see the ice covering the sea and glistening in many different colours.
Arrive 8:00am. Depart 6:00pm.

Saturday 22 September:
At Sea (B,L,D) 

Sunday 23 September:
At Sea (B,L,D)

Monday 24 September:
Red Bay, Labrador, Canada (B,L,D)
Red Bay is a fishing village in the Provence of Newfoundland and former site of a number of Basque whaling stations. The waters are home to a number of whaling galleons and, as such,  one of the most precious underwater archaeological sites in the Americas.
Arrive 8:00am. Depart 5:00pm. 

Tuesday 25 September:
Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Canada (B,L,D)
Situated on the southern shores of the Scenic Bay of Islands, named by Captain James Cook. A monument dedicated to this intrepid explorer stands on a national historical site. Its location at the mouth of the Humber River provides easy access for fishing boats. Lumber and paper products account for a large part of the local economy and the beauty of nearby Bonne Bay and Gros Morne National Park make them popular destinations for visitors.
Arrive 10:00am. Depart 8:00pm.

Wednesday 26 September:
At Sea (B,L,D)
Cruising the Gulf of St. Lawrence 

Thursday 27 September:
Saguenay, Canada (B,L,D)
The great fjord of Saguenay cuts deep into the slopes of the Laurentian Shield, cited as the oldest rocks on earth. At the head of this spectacular waterway, the newly created port provides easy access to the natural splendours of the Laurentian forests, a favourite year-round playground for Quebecois.
Arrive 8:00am. Depart 6:00pm. 

Friday 28 September:
Quebec City, Canada (B,L,D)
Originally founded by the French in 1608 as a fur trading base, it was claimed by the British in 1763. But the French flavour, language, joie de vivre, panache and spirit remains forever entrenched in Quebec. It remains Nth America’s only walled city with some fine examples of classical French architecture, and the towers and spires of the Chateau Frontenac cast their shadow over the St Lawrence River. 

Saturday 29 September:
Montreal, Canada (B)
Sadly, our cruise comes to an end this morning and its time to say farewell to the wonderful team aboard that have taken such good care of us. We dock in Montreal at 7.00am. After breakfast we disembark from the ship and join our coach for a tour of the highlights of Montreal, said to be the largest French-speaking city outside Paris. During the tour, we see the beautiful Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Montreal, The French Quarter, the site of the 1976 Olympic Games, McGill University and Mount Royal. We check into our hotel for an overnight stay and the afternoon this free.
Arrive 7:00am.

Sunday 30 September:
Montreal – Los Angeles (B,D)
Time to start our homeward journey as we transfer to the airport and join our morning flight to Los Angeles for an overnight stay. This evening, lets enjoy dinner together as a fitting “finale” to our tour. 

Monday 1 October:
Los Angeles – Home (B)
The day is free until late afternoon when we transfer back to the airport for our overnight flight home. Cross the International Dateline en route 

Wednesday 3 October:
Home
We arrive home this morning.