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"Cruise" Andalusia on a Luxury Train Tour
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Andalusia
- Seville
Tour
the ancient Moorish kingdom of Al Andalus in Southern Spain,
from Seville
to Cordoba to the world-famous Alhambra in Granada. 
All
aboard!
this classy 64-passenger luxury train (6 days - 5nights), a
veritable "palace on wheels." In this unique setting, decorated in exquisite
Belle Epoque style, you will experience train travel at its best, while admiring
the gently undulating scenery dotted with olive groves and sampling the local
Andalusian gastronomy. This magical tour will transport you back to Arabian times,
when Cordoba was the largest and most sophisticated city in Europe and the caliphs
ruled over this distant province they called Al Andalus. This tour is a once-in-a-lifetime
romantic journey on a train that exudes elegance and distinction throughout. 
ITINERARY
See
our Spain
Highlights for additional details on destinations. This
train tour goes on a loop starting and ending in Seville, with overnights
on the train in Cordoba, Granada, Cadiz and Jerez de la Frontera. In addition
to seeing the spectacular scenery from the train, you will enjoy a complete program
of local sightseeing excursions by luxury motor coach plus a boat ride on the
Guadalquivir River. Day
1 - Sunday: Seville, Cordoba. You
are welcomed by the crew at noon, at the Santa Justa train station in Seville.
Settle in and enjoy a typical Andalusian lunch as the train heads to Cordoba.
In Cordoba, tour the fabulous Mezquita (a Baroque cathedral inside a mosque, all
under one roof), plus the royal castle and the ancient Jewish quarter nearby.
Explore on your own before dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Cordoba. Day
2 - Monday: Cordoba, Baeza, Ubeda, Granada.
During breakfast the train will take you to the Linares-Baeza station. Hop on
the motor coach for a visit to the olive oil museum and tour the historical quarter
of Baeza, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Time at leisure after the tour and then
on to Ubeda (another World Heritage Site) for lunch. Visit the old city and enjoy
some free time before returning to the train. Dinner on board while continuing
on to the beautiful city of Granada at the foot of the high Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Overnight in Granada. Day
3 - Tuesday: Granada.
The Alhambra and the Generalife gardens (another World Heritage Site), one of
the high points of this tour, are on the schedule this morning. Free time inside
the Alhambra, followed by lunch. Afternoon tour of the city of Granada, including
the ornate cathedral and the Albaicín and Sacromonte quarters. After the
tour, time at leisure before dinner at a local restaurant, including a Flamenco
performance. Overnight in Granada. Day
4 - Wednesday: Granada, Ronda, Cadiz. This
morning, enjoy magnificent mountain views on the way to Ronda, a picturesque "white
village" straddling the deep El Tajo gorge. Tour the ancient city followed
by lunch. Back on the train to Cadiz, a port city where the Conquistadors set
off for the New World. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Cadiz. Day
5 - Thursday: Cadiz, Jerez, Sanlucar, Jerez. Enjoy
breakfast while the train continues to Jerez de la Frontera, the world capital
of Sherry wine and the heart of some of the most deeply-rooted Andalusian traditions.
Visit of a "bodega" (winery) followed by a wine-tasting. The next stop
is the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art, where you will enjoy a "Dancing
Andalusian Horses" dressage demonstration. Then, on to nearby Sanlúcar
de Barrameda, located at the estuary of the Guadalquivir River and the south corner
of the Doñana Natural Park, the largest ecological preserve in Europe.
Lunch and boat ride on the Guadalquivir. Return to the train and enjoy a little
free time before your farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Jerez. Day
6 - Friday: Jerez, Seville.
Today the train returns to Seville. After breakfast, tour the old city, the Giralda
and the cathedral, the Alcazar and its beautiful gardens, the Archives of the
Indies and the Golden Tower (Torre de Oro). Return to the Santa Justa train station
to pick up your luggage before lunch. Program
subject to change without prior notice in the event of unforeseen circumstances
beyond the control of the tour operator.
What's
it like on a train "cruise"? Surrounded
by alluring Andalusia, you will enjoy touring on an elegant train with compartments
designed for complete rest and privacy. The train stops overnight every day,
so your sleep is not disturbed by the jolting of cars or the clatter of wheels.
This also allows you to go out and savor the unique atmosphere of the local town
in the evening. The
sleeping compartments.
The train has seven recently remodeled carriages with sleeping compartments. Five
of them were built in France in the 1920s and were used by the British royal family
to travel from Calais to the French Riviera for their vacations. The Belle Époque
interior decoration has been enhanced by many modern upgrades with cutting-edge
technological features. Each suite has a safe, a minibar, a closet and a private
bathroom. The
12 standard suites have twin beds, while the 20 superior suites have a queen bed
(59 x 78 inches). The superior suites can be set up with an additional bed for
a third person. During the day, the beds fold up into comfortable couches, offering
a space for reading or simply enjoying the scenery. All suites are individually
air-conditioned and have 220 volt electrical outlets. The
lounges.
The train features four lounge cars also dating from the 1920s. These common areas
include a dining room, a bar and a tea room. They are all dedicated to the pleasures
of luxury train travel as you enjoy your meals, or just have a drink, relax in
comfortable armchairs or listen to musical performances. They are open 24 hour
a day and are also air-conditioned.
All coaches are internally connected so you can move freely from car to car. The
crew. The
train is staffed by an excellent team of professionals: hostess, tour escort,
local guides for visits, couchette attendants, waiters, kitchen staff, engine
drivers, coach driver, maintenance technicians, security guards, etc., all of
them supervised and coordinated by the tour manager, who will be always available
to solve any problems that might crop up during the trip. The tour escort accompanies
the passengers on all excursions and to restaurants for lunches and dinners. The
gastronomy.
The meals showcase traditional products, whether served onboard the train or at
the carefully chosen restaurants for the trip, and are prepared by leading chefs.
The menu includes first-rate wines, coffee, herbal teas and liqueurs. [top] Included - 6
days/ 5 nights on board the train
- All
meals from lunch on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 6
- Drinks
with meals (wines, coffee, tea)
- English-speaking
tour escort
- Local
guides during excursions
- Motor
coach for transfers and visits
- Musical
entertainment on board
- Visits,
transfers and entrance fees as listed in itinerary
- Local
taxes
Not
Included - Travel
to/from cruise start/end point
- Health
and travel insurance
- Bar
drinks
- Gratuities
for crew and local guides
- Personal
expenses
- Laundry
service (next-day service available at additional cost)
- Other
items not specifically listed under "Included" above
2012
Departures - May
6, 13, 20, 27
- June
3, 10, 17, 24
- No
tours during the hot Andalusian summer
- September
16, 23, 30
- October
7, 14, 21, 28
- November
4, 11, 18, 25
- December
2
2012
Prices (in US dollars). Prices
may be adjusted at time of final payment to reflect any increase in the exchange
rate. Standard
Suite Prices
are based
on booking date | Months
before Departure | 6
or more | 4
to 6 | 4
or less | | Double
(per person) | $3,095 | $3,240 | $3,375 | | Single
supplement | $1,350 |
Superior
Suite Prices
are based
on booking date | Months
before Departure | 6
or more | 4
to 6 | 4
or less | | Double
(per person) | $3,710 | $3,845 | $3,980 | | Single
supplement | $1,350 | $1,485 | $1,620 | | Triple
supplement* | $1,215 | $1,280 | $1,350 |
*The
triple supplement applies to a 3rd person sharing the compartment in a superior
suite. Specials No
specials available at this time
 
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