With more than 80 years of experience, Globus can make your trip delicious. We will take you to the vineyards of Tuscany, arrange for a tasting of the cheeses of France, explain the story behind the baked beans of Boston, the sourdough breads of San Francisco, the sweets of Austria, and the lobsters of New England.

On a Food & Wine vacation, you’ll enjoy plenty of hands-on experiences. Take a cooking lesson that reveals the secrets of Italy’s timehonored dishes. Learn about the climate, soils, and grape varieties in France’s celebrated Bordeaux region. Indulge your senses at the Biarritz Museum of Chocolate, tour a maple sugarworks in Vermont, or find out what makes California’s sparkling wines bubble— and that’s just the beginning!

2009 Exclusive Wine Cruises

Your onboard crew will pamper you as a distinguished wine authority offers instruction on how to differentiate between a truly great, an average, and an everyday “table wine,” and also describes how various grape varieties are cultivated. Learn the differences between a Hungarian Tokai and an Austrian Grüner Veltliner…or between a French Sauvignon Blanc and German Riesling Spätlese. Special wine tastings will show you what to look for in a good wine—from color and bouquet to legs and finish. Visit a small wine village and taste the wines to test your new-found talent. An adventure Bacchus himself would enjoy!

Departures:

Flavors of Burgundy & Provence, Paris to Nice, November 1, 2009.

The Blue Danube Discovery, Budapest to Prague, July 10, 2009.

The Legendary Danube, Prague to Budapest, October 29, 2009.

2009 Exclusive Music Cruise

Europe has produced many of the world’s greatest composers and musicians, and also some of the world’s best-loved folk songs and ballads. Join us on this 15-night music-themed cruise and let Avalon musically transport you to a symphony of destinations. Our expert will give you an enlightening overview of European music, from classical to contemporary sounds. Enjoy a performance by the Avalon Youth Choir in the Rhine Valley, or visit the Opera House in Bayreuth, home to the annual Richard Wagner Music Festival. A full day excursion to Salzburg lets you admire the city of Mozart’s birth as well as the stunning countryside where “the hills are alive with the sound of music.” An organ recital in Melk, a Strauss concert in Vienna—all this and more is available at no extra cost on this special music cruise.

Departure:

Magnificent Europe, Amsterdam to Budapest, October 18, 2009.