Grand Circle Cruise Line Announces New Departures for the Floriade Expo

BOSTON, Feb. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Grand Circle Cruise Line, the worldwide leader in four-star cruising for Americans 50+, is pleased to announce that 10 departures of the popular Romance of the Rhine & Mosel river cruise will feature the once-in-a-decade Floriade World Horticultural Exposition.  Started in 1962 in the Netherlands, Floriade is a celebration of nature and – for a country that prides itself on its flowers – it is a crowning achievement.  Grand Circle Cruise Line added the 10 Floriade departure dates after high demand sold out all Floriade departures on a sister cruise.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120207/NY49083)

Recognized by CNN, Lonely Planet, Smarter Travel, and others as a top destination for 2012, Floriade is much more than a garden show – it's a feast for all the senses – and it will draw over 2 million travelers to the Venlo Region of the Netherlands.  The theme this year is to "be part of the theatre in nature, get closer to the quality of life," and visitors will stroll through ornately sculpted landscapes, fields of colorful tulips, and organized vegetable gardens, all devoted to well-being, sustainability, innovation, environment, and world cultures.  Floriade is a global endeavor, and visitors will have a worldly experience, tasting traditional European foods, marveling at the craftsmanship of Chinese and Japanese gardeners, and enjoying the folk music of Turkey.

In addition to Floriade, Grand Circle travelers will explore several countries on their cruise, which takes them along the Rhine and Mosel Rivers, and from Belgium through the Netherlands and on to Germany, France, and Switzerland.  Grand Circle's exclusive Discovery Series events provide an even more intimate look at the region, such as a Kaffeeklatsch – a coffee and cake break – with a local German family, a wine tour and tasting, and talks on the European Union and Swiss traditions.   

The program begins at $3395 per person ($243 per day) without airfare or from $4445, or $318 per day, with air from New York and includes: 14 night accommodations on Grand Circle's private river ship, all meals, with complimentary wine at dinner, 12 tours, captain's receptions and dinners, and much more. 

Departure dates for the Romance of the Rhine & Mosel cruise that include an excursion to Floriade are: May 5, 10, 24, and 30, June 13 and 27, and July 2, 13, and 16, August 13, and September 10.  Single supplements are FREE—for savings of $1145. 

Grand Circle Cruise Line's fleet includes 12 river ships with passenger capacities ranging from 50-250, three 50-passenger ocean vessels, and more than 45 exclusive small ship charters.   All river ships have all outside cabins, reception area, bar and lounge, library, dining room, sun deck and more. A 2012 Conde Nast Traveler Platinum Circle Member, Grand Circle Cruise Line has consistently been listed among the World's Top Cruise Lines and the World's Best Small Ship Cruise Lines. 

For information about Grand Circle's Romance of the Rhine & Mosel or about all Grand Circle Cruise Line river cruises and small ship cruises, please visit www.gct.com or call 1-800-221-2610.

Grand Circle Cruise Line is part of Grand Circle Corporation, the leader in international travel, adventure and discovery for Americans aged 50 and older.  The cruise line joins sister brands Overseas Adventure Travel and Grand Circle Travel to provide more than 80 river and small ship cruises, small group adventures by land, escorted tours, and extended stay vacations to more than 110,000 travelers each year.   Grand Circle's charitable arm, Grand Circle Foundation, has donated or pledged $91 million to humanitarian, educational, and cultural organizations worldwide since 1992.  Grand Circle has been in business since 1958 and is based in Boston with more than 35 offices worldwide.

For further media information and images please contact:
Priscilla O'Reilly, VP, PR, Grand Circle Corporation 617-346-6841, [email protected]
Randi Leeds, PR Manager, 203-391-8397, [email protected]

SOURCE Grand Circle Corporation