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APT Solara

Redefining Luxury

Discover a new era of river cruising with APT Solara and APT Ostara—our brand-new river ships. Thoughtfully designed to blend contemporary luxury with a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. Enjoy more space, more choice, and more ways to explore Europe’s iconic waterways than ever before. Welcome to a fleet where sophistication meets innovation.

Experience European river cruising like never before aboard APT Solara, APT Ostara and APT Alara. Purpose-built to navigate the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers in exceptional style, these next-generation river ships combine contemporary luxury with elegant design, spacious accommodation and attentive service. Featuring sophisticated interiors by Australia's acclaimed Hecker Guthrie, every element has been designed to elevate your time on board.

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Accomodation Types

Every suite has been designed as a luxurious sanctuary, with interiors inspired by the seasons, indulgent Marie-Stella-Maris amenities and attentive in-suite service. Whether unwinding after a day ashore or simply watching Europe's landscapes drift by, you'll enjoy comfort in every detail.

Owner's Suites

French Balcony Suites

Twin Window Suites

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Deck Plans

Every suite has been designed as a luxurious sanctuary, with interiors inspired by the seasons, indulgent Marie-Stella-Maris amenities and attentive in-suite service. Whether unwinding after a day ashore or simply watching Europe's landscapes drift by, you'll enjoy comfort in every detail.

Sun Deck

Upper Deck

Main Deck

Lower Deck

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Dining

Indulge in more culinary choice than on any other European river ship, with seven unique dining experiences to discover. Offering outstanding cuisine and impeccable service in a variety of distinctive settings, each experience has been thoughtfully curated.

The Gruner Bar & Dining

Bistro Saison

The Owner's Cellar

Annie's Table

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Entertainment

These exclusive or unique experiences are thoughtfully curated to take you on an inspiring journey beneath the surface of local history, culture and traditions. What's more, these once-in-a-lifetime moments are often not available to a regular traveller. The following highlights are just a taste of what we have prepared, especially for you.

Daystar Deck

The Salon

Sun Deck

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Enrichment

These exclusive or unique experiences are thoughtfully curated to take you on an inspiring journey beneath the surface of local history, culture and traditions. What's more, these once-in-a-lifetime moments are often not available to a regular traveller. The following highlights are just a taste of what we have prepared, especially for you.

Namedy Castle

Princess Heide von Hohenzollern graciously welcomes APT guests into her home, Namedy Castle, a royal escape set near the Rhine River in Germany. After wandering through the castle and its manicured gardens during this exclusive Signature Experience, you’ll attend a morning tea, where a pianist sets the mood.

Cocktail Party and Private Performance at Vienna’s City Palace

Head to the princely family of Liechtenstein’s City Palace in the heart of the Austrian capital of Vienna, where we have arranged an exclusive cocktail party and private recital, just for you. During this extraordinary Signature Experience, a full orchestra will perform classical masterpieces by Mozart and Strauss. You will also be enchanted by an operatic recital.

Gaisberg Mountain Lunch and ‘The Sound of Music’ Show

On this incredible Signature Experience in Austria, be welcomed by a Jagdhornbläser – a hunting horn blower – into a rustic, traditional restaurant on the Gaisberg mountain overlooking Salzburg. Enjoy a welcome drink as you soak in the scenery before savouring a delicious lunch, followed by a show featuring music from the classic film, ‘The Sound of Music’.

Golubac Walking Tour

On this Signature Experience, enjoy a fascinating walking tour of Golubac, a charming village in eastern Serbia. Explore the striking 14th-century Golubac Fortress, which stands at the entrance to the Iron Gates of the Danube, and hear about its captivating history from your expert guide. Then, visit a local riverside tavern, where you’ll delight in a delicious Serbian meze tasting, featuring an array of small dishes such as cheeses, cured meats and other local specialties.

Folk Art House and Horse Show

On this memorable Signature Experience, visit the Folk Art House, where local handicrafts are on show. Then, visit a producer of one of Hungary’s spiciest exports, paprika. Afterwards, a farm in Puszta is the perfect setting for a stellar horse show and authentic Hungarian lunch.

Iron Gates Cruising

Get ready to witness nature at its finest today as your ship cruises through the Iron Gates, a stunning natural wonder of lush forests, towering cliffs and rugged landscapes. This spectacular series of gorges connects Serbia and Romania and makes for an unparalleled cruising experience.

Villány Wine Tasting

On this Freedom of Choice sightseeing activity, travel to Villány, a renowned Hungarian wine region known for its red and rose varieties. Here, you will pay a visit to a local winery, where you will enjoy a tour and tasting.

Belogradchik

Venture to the town of Belogradchik in Bulgaria and visit the ancient Belogradchik Fortress, perched on the northern slopes of the Balkan Mountains. You’ll also see the town’s unique rock formations.

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Health & Fitness

Swimming pool

Fitness Centre

The Spa

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Kids & Teens

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Useful Information

What's Included

New-Generation River Ships

APT Solara, APT Ostara and APT Alara showcase contemporary design, elegant interiors and thoughtfully designed public spaces. With just 154 guests and a dedicated crew of 60, you'll enjoy highly personalised service throughout your cruise.

Remarkable Experiences Ashore

Included Signature Experiences are unique or exclusive events that take you beneath the surface of Europe's destinations, while Freedom of Choice sightseeing allows you to personalise your holiday with experiences that suit your interests.

Outstanding Dining

Featuring more dining venues than any other European river ship, our newest fleet offers an outstanding culinary journey celebrating fresh seasonal ingredients and the finest local produce.

A World of Wellness

Stay active in the onboard gym, unwind with a spa treatment, take a refreshing swim or discover Europe's riverside destinations on one of the ship's e-bikes.

Premium Beverages Included

Sip premium spirits, regional wines, champagne, seasonal cocktails, beer, juices, soft drinks, plus tea and coffee throughout your cruise, all included as part of your holiday.

Everything Taken Care Of

With Wi-Fi, airport transfers and all gratuities included, every detail is taken care of so you can simply relax and enjoy your European river cruise.

Dietary Requirements

If you have any dietary requirements or allergies that need to be managed whilst traveling with APT, and you have not made these known already, please advise your booking agent as soon as possible, as well as your Tour/Cruise Director upon arrival. Most suppliers require advance notice to accommodate these requirements, and in some cases you may be required to fill out a form or waiver. Every effort will be made to fulfil requests, but these cannot always be guaranteed.

Wi-Fi

All river ships offer internet facilities. On board APT’s river ships each suite has free internet access, and select ships are equipped with a monitor and keyboard (a USB port is not available). Remember to take all logins and passwords with you to enjoy easy access to your favourite websites.

On all ships, wireless internet is also available. However, you will need to bring your own laptop or tablet to gain access. As all ships use a satellite system, routing may cause reception to be restricted at times.

Smoking Policy

Smoking is not permitted anywhere inside the ship, including balconies. Smoking is only permitted in designated areas on the Sun Deck. The same policy applies for electronic cigarettes. For the safety and comfort of guests, your cooperation in observing the no-smoking policy is appreciated.

Medical Assistance

Medical services are not available on board, as there are no medical personnel. However, medical assistance can be arranged from shore at your own expense.

Dress Code

We recommend packing a variety of light- to medium-weight clothing, plus waterproof garments in case of cooler or wet weather. Layers are a good option to cover a range of temperatures and to suit changing conditions. Comfortable footwear is a must, as some excursions involve walking on steps or ramps to embark and disembark.

The dress code is casual. Light, comfortable clothing is ideal for during the day, and we recommend smart casual clothing for evenings on board the ship. You may wish to bring something a little dressier for the welcome and farewell dinners. There will be no black tie or formal evenings.

If your sightseeing includes visits to churches, monasteries, synagogues, or mosques, dress casually while ensuring your clothes are clean and provide sufficient body cover (for example, cover your shoulders and wear trousers or a knee-length dress).

What to pack

What to pack depends on your personal preference. Most guests dress in casual attire while on tour; however, when sightseeing excursions into town are planned, you may want to wear slightly more formal clothing, especially when visiting religious places like churches, monasteries, synagogues and mosques. Shoulders and knees should be covered when visiting religious sites. Smart casual attire is also suitable for welcome and farewell events on board. The below is a list of items to assist you with packing for your tour.

Personal items

• Personal medications and copies of prescriptions.
• Sunscreen, lip balm, sunglasses and sunhat.
• Travel-size toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, soap, body lotion, insect repellent).
• Sturdy and comfortable footwear such as runners with good grip.
• Windproof/waterproof jacket
• Small backpack/bag for day use
• Reusable water bottle (insulated recommended)
• Binoculars
• Bathers/swimsuit
• CPAP machine (if required)

Travel documents and accessories

• Passport and any required visas.
• Travel insurance policy including policy number and emergency contact number.
• Airline e-tickets, APT itinerary and Essential Information.
• Wallet or money belt (cash, credit cards, bank cards).
• Camera with memory card and charger.
• A universal adaptor. Electricity is 220 volts on board our ships and throughout Europe. A plug adaptor is necessary if you plan to bring appliances from home.
• Power board for charging multiple devices.

Luggage Restrictions

Each passenger is entitled to take one piece of luggage that does not exceed 160cm (63 inches) or weigh more than 20kg (44 pounds). An extra charge may be imposed to cover porterage handling of any additional luggage. Your Tour/Cruise Director will advise you of the exact additional charge.

General Physical Fitness

APT cruises and tours are not physically demanding, however, due to the nature of many of the sites you visit, some tours will require a good level of fitness and health to participate. Some trips may not be appropriate for guests with certain medical conditions and physical restrictions. Walking tours are often on uneven ground or cobblestones, and may include stairs or steep inclines. You should be able to stand on your feet for extended periods, whether visiting museums and other sites, or during check-ins for flights, cruises, and at customs and immigration.

Laundry

Complimentary laundry is available for guests travelling in Category P or OS (one bag of laundry per seven days).

Water and Food Safety

STAYING HEALTHY ON TOUR

See your GP

Your GP or travel clinic is the best source of information about preventative measures including vaccinations. We recommend you consult with them for detailed advice to ensure you’re fully prepared before travel. Please take a copy of your travel itinerary with you to assist with the recommendations of appropriate medication and vaccinations. If you have any health conditions, please ask your doctor to prepare a medical summary for use by a foreign doctor if needed. This should include: your name, address, emergency contact, blood type, medical history, current medications and dosages, drug allergies, reasons for prior hospitalisation and a list of vaccinations and dates. Please have this information available when completing the In Case of Emergency form on Day 1 of your tour/cruise.

APT Health and Safety Protocol

APT has created a Health and Safety Protocol that all our Tour/Cruise Directors are required to follow. To help reduce the spread of illness while on tour, you may be asked to take precautionary measures if you’re showing symptoms of a cold or virus. These may include wearing a face mask, eating meals in your room/cabin rather than in shared dining areas, or remaining in your cabin/room until symptoms improve. You will also be required to complete an In Case of Emergency form on Day 1 of your tour or cruise. For more information on these protocols, please refer to our website aptouring.com/en-au/before-you-travel/health-and-wellbeing

Cold and Flu

If you are experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms while on tour, please use hand sanitiser regularly especially before meals and throughout the day. Be considerate of fellow travellers by limiting close contact. Hand sanitiser dispensers are available in public areas on all ships and coaches, so make sure to use them when reboarding. If your symptoms worsen, notify your Tour/Cruise Director immediately so appropriate measures can be taken.

Sun Exposure

Weather conditions will change on tour. Drinking plenty of water is important to prevent dehydration. A hat and high-quality sunscreen are important for preventing sunburn, even on overcast days.

Sea Sickness During Ocean Cruises

While most ships are equipped with stabilisers to reduce rolling, we recommend bringing anti-motion sickness medication or other precautions, even if you’ve never experienced motion sickness before. Sea bands, which are clinically tested to help reduce nausea, may also provide relief. For best results, wear them throughout your cruise as a preventative measure.

Payment Methods

Shipboard Account and Payment Options

For your convenience, all purchases and paid services on board are billed to your shipboard account. At the end of the cruise, you will receive a total bill, which can be paid with cash or credit card. Our river ships don’t accept EFTPOS or cash passport cards. The onboard currency is the Euro (€).

Onboard Language

The official language used by APT staff worldwide is English. All staff, crew and local guides speak English throughout Europe. For your convenience, all guided tours, announcements and lectures will be presented in English.

Shore Excursions

Participation in shore excursions is at your discretion. If you would like to explore independently, your Cruise Director can make suggestions as to places to visit. You must make sure to return to the ship before it departs.

The timing of shore excursions on all holiday packages may differ slightly for each package. Published times are a guide only and are subject to change without notice. It is impossible for large coaches to be used for some city sightseeing excursions and many towns and cities will be visited by way of walking tours. For river cruising, clients must be able to climb ramps to embark or disembark river cruise ships. Depending on river water levels, these may have a number of steep steps. Venue closures outside of Travelmarvel's control may affect our ability to operate some excursions. Holiday packages including time in Switzerland and other alpine regions may include excursions to, at times, high altitudes. Small Ship Expedition cruising holidays require several wet landings, whereby feet and legs may be fully immersed in water during embarkation and disembarkation of Zodiacs or tenders.