ms River Discovery II Voyages: 2012 – 2013

Waterways of Holland & Belgium

March–April 2012/2013 Picking the best time to visit Holland and Belgium is a breeze — springtime, of course! Immerse yourself in Dutch culture when you step inside a working windmill at Kinderdijk ... admire the detailed work of artisans painting fine porcelain at the Royal Delft Factory ... and be dazzled by the Dutch Master paintings on display at world-class museums. The crowning beauty will unfold at Keukenhof Gardens, where a profusion of tulip blooms covers the landscape. Plus, new for 2012, enjoy an included canal boat ride along Amsterdam's 17th-century canal ring, recently named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and an excursion to the Floriade World Horticulture Expo 2012, an event that happens just once every 10 years!

Romance of the Blue Danube

June–November, 2012/ May – November 2013 You deserve the royal treatment — and that's what you'll get on this newly-enhanced river cruise that traces the paths of the Imperial Habsburgs. As you glide along the fabled "Blue Danube," you'll call on baroque masterpieces such as Salzburg, where you may happily recall scenes from The Sound of Music ... visit medieval Visegrad Castle to witness a lively Knights' Tournament ... and be dazzled by the gilded treasures of Vienna's Schönbrunn Palace. If you're a classical music lover, you'll adore the private concert at Vienna's Kursalon, where Strauss often played. And, one of the new highlights, depending on your departure, will be a show featuring the world-famous Lipizzaner Stallions. Best of all, you can sit back and absorb the sensory pleasures of cruising aboard a Deluxe river cruise ship, appreciating the finer things in life, and unpacking just once.

Gateway to the Black Sea

May–October 2013 Highlights include a visit to the multicultural town of Pecs, Hungary, and the lively artists’ enclave of Veliko Turnôvo, Bulgaria. What’s more, you’ll have the chance to stroll along the shores of the beautiful Black Sea! Best of all, you’ll immerse yourself in the lives of local residents when you share lunch and conversation with university students in Arbanassi and enjoy a home-hosted lunch with a local family in Croatia.

Majestic Rivers of Europe

May–November 2013 Sail right into the pages of a storybook along the legendary Rhine, Main, and Danube Rivers ... through pages gilded with history ... and past the turrets and towers of castles steeped in legend. You’ll meander along the fabled “Blue Danube” to grand cities like Vienna and Budapest where kings and queens once waltzed, and to gingerbread towns like Wertheim and Nuremberg that evoke tales of Hansel and Gretel and the Brothers Grimm. If you listen closely, you might hear the haunting melody of the Lorelei siren herself as you cruise past her infamous river cliff post! Plus, your exclusive itinerary will bring you to places other travel companies leave out. Only Vantage includes a full day in Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic, as well as an exclusive classical concert at the Kursalon in Vienna. What’s more, depending on your departure date, you’ll enjoy enhanced highlights in Vienna such as a Lipizzaner Stallion show or a Vienna Boys’ Choir performance!

Holiday Markets on the Rhine & Main Rivers

November–December 2012 Now is the best time to make your travel plans for the Christmas season — especially when you can look forward to a festive holiday cruise on a Deluxe Vantage river cruise ship! Join us, and you'll enjoy the old-fashioned spirit of the holiday season as you visit Germany's best-loved Christkindlmärkte. Nestled in picture-perfect Old World towns, these markets are a wonderland of delicious scents and flavors, handmade crafts, and festive music. You'll return home in time to celebrate Christmas, with unique gifts for everyone on your holiday gift list.

Christmas & New Year's on the Rhine & Main

December 2012 Capture the holiday spirit on this festive river cruise that celebrates the magical Christmases of Old World Germany. Tannenbaums, St. Nick, Advent calendars, gingerbread, and caroling are just a sampling of our own cherished traditions that originated in Germany. Join us on this journey of merriment through the fairytale heart of Germany during Christmas and New Year's. You'll experience the sights and sounds of decorated towns, and enjoy delicious holiday meals shared with Vantage friends. And, for 2012, you'll sail aboard Vantage's newest deluxe riverboat, the ms River Discovery II, relaxing in elegant comfort and style. Don't miss this moving holiday feast!

Book now by calling 1 800 322-6677!

Vantage Deluxe World Travel on NECN's TV Diner

Aboard the brand-new ms River Discovery II, Jenny Johnson helps prepare the Captain's favorite: seared beef tenderloin with vegetable risotto.

More about TV Diner can be found at: www.necn.com/pages/tv_diner

Click Here to Win a FREE European River Cruise for Two,
just for telling us where you'd love to travel next!

Features and Amenties

Single Cabins • State of the Art Interactive Features • Captain's Lounge • Bigger Staterooms

Ship Statistics

• Entering Service: March 2012
• Passenger Capacity: 176
• Crew: 45
• Length: 442 ft.
• Width: 38 ft.
• Draft: 4.8 ft.

Ship Amenities

Introducing Vantage's newest & most luxurious ship — ms River Discovery II!

• One 330 sq. ft. Owner's Suite with all the amenities of a Deluxe suite & more!
• 78% of staterooms have French balconies
• Bigger staterooms
• Single Staterooms
• Wi-fi throughout the ship

The ms River Discovery II: Catered Exclusively to Vantage Travelers

• Ships designed with the American traveler in mind
• Intimate cruising with no more than 176 passengers on board
• Single seating dining with a tempting menu of American and European favorites, plus wine with dinner at Captain's Welcome & Farewell Dinners
• Elevator between Explorer and Navigator decks, with a hydraulic chair lift to open-air Solaris Deck
• Non-smoking throughout interior (designated smoking area on open-air Solaris Deck)
• Best crew-to-staff ratio you'll find anywhere! Better than 4-to-1!

A New Generation of Cruise Ships

• Energy savings: The entire ship is equipped with LED lighting. With some 2,600 lights using 3W instead of 445W, this results in enormous energy savings.
• New systems: A high-tech audio system has been installed in the public areas of the ships. In addition, entertainment-on-demand (film, video and internet) and a GPS tracking system are available in the cabins.
• Special hull shape: The special hull shape allows a minimum draught of 1.45m. This means that even in shallow water, Vantage ships can keep going when others cannot. In addition, Vantage ships can reach the desired cruising speed of 22km/h using relatively little power, which saves a considerable amount of fuel. Moreover, the low resistance and smart construction make for fewer vibrations and less noise, resulting in more comfort for passengers.
• Hydraulic sliding roof: At the back of the ship, above the bar and the conservatory, there is a hydraulic sliding roof that can be fully opened and closed within three minutes. The ship therefore always has plenty of outside space, including on routes where passengers are not allowed on the 1,300m2 top deck due to low bridges.
• Efficient propulsion system: The vessels are propelled by two Caterpillar C32 engines in combination with Veth rudder propellers (2x745kW). This allows the ships to be classified as “green ships”, with low emissions (Tier 2).

FREE State-of-the-Art Interactive Features Onboard!

• True Video on Demand…watch what you want, when you want, from our vast library of movies.
• Access to many US television channels such as MSNBC, CNN, Discovery, Weather and many more.
• View your journey, daily destination highlights, important events, flight information and many other key information from the comfort of your cabin.
• Follow your ship's journey through real time GPS tracking.
• Ship wide, wireless internet access… stay connected to loved ones through Facebook, email or Skype.
• Easily book your next Memorable Journey with full access to VantageTravel.com

Services & Amenities

• Early riser breakfast available daily
• Free coffee, tea & hot chocolate available 24 hours a day
• Fitness room with treadmill, stationary bicycle, free weights and step machine plus walking/jogging track
• Souvenirs and sundries available
• Reading room offering a selection of books and magazines
• Playing cards and selection of games available
• Cocktail lounge serving from noon until last guest retires
• Nightly entertainment featuring onboard pianist (our lounge features a baby grand piano), or local performers coming aboard in select ports

Accommodations

Owners Suite
330 square feet with all features of Deluxe Suites, plus:

• 40" flat screen HD television
• Adjoining sitting area
• Posturpedic beds
• Shower and separate jacuzzi bathtub
• Minibar

Deluxe Suites
250 square feet with all features of standard staterooms plus:

• French balconies
• Twin beds that can be converted to a double
• Sitting area with table
• Bathrobes and slippers
• Mini-bar, upgraded amenities

Staterooms
165 square feet

• Comfortable, spacious staterooms, every one with a river view
• Suites and A, B & C staterooms have French balconies
• Staterooms in Category D have standard windows
• Twin beds that can be converted to a double
• All staterooms have private bathrooms with glass-enclosed showers, magnifying mirror, and plugs for men's razors
• Desk/vanity and chair with hairdryer
• US plug in every stateroom
• Excellent storage, including dresser and closets with wooden hangers
• 32" HD flat-screen TVs in every room
• Satellite service offering more European channels, international news channels, and movies
• All staterooms have individual (Fahrenheit) climate control
• In-room combination safety deposit box
• Bottled water in your stateroom

Single Staterooms
125 square feet

• Comfortable, spacious stateroom with a river view
• Twin size bed
• Standard windows
• All staterooms have private bathrooms with glass-enclosed showers, magnifying mirror, and plugs for men's razors
• Desk/vanity and chair with hairdryer
• US plug in every stateroom
• Excellent storage, including dresser and closets with wooden hangers
• 26" HD Flat-screen TVs in every room
• Satellite service offering more European channels, international news channels, and movies
• All staterooms have individual (Fahrenheit) climate control
• In-room combination safety deposit box
• Bottled water in your stateroom

Please note, smoking is not permitted indoors; there is a designated smoking area outside.

On what side of the ship should I book my cabin?
It does not matter, as there is no "better" side of the ship. On some days, port-side cabins will be docked facing the shore; on other days it will be the starboard-side cabins.

Photo and Video Gallery

The Inaugural Voyage of the ms River Discovery II will take place on March 22, 2012