Reimbold Viking Cruise

September 27 - october 12, 2023

Additional World War II information

After the fall of France, Hitler turned his eyes toward the invasion of England and the capture of its capital city, London. From July to October 1940, the “Battle of Britain” raged in the skies over the British Isles as numerous skirmishes were fought between the British RAF and the German Luftwaffe.

While many cities—including London—suffered heavily from the bombing raids, the Luftwaffe never achieved air superiority; their mounting losses led to the cancellation of Germany’s invasion plans, and Britain’s victory is considered a major turning point in the war.

Additional World War II information

“The Blitz” began on September 7, 1940, with the German Luftwaffe focusing its nightly raids on London and other major cities. The sustained air campaign lasted from September 1940 to May 1941, during which 43,500 civilians were killed.

At one point, London suffered through 57 consecutive nights of bombings; the resulting destruction required some areas of the city to be completely rebuilt after the war. Iconic London landmarks like the Houses of Parliament were also heavily damaged, while others—such as Buckingham Palace and 10 Downing Street—escaped unscathed.

Additional World War II information

The dark years of World War II were a time of major upheaval for England’s civilian population.

Subjected to “The Blitz,” as well as flying bomb and rocket attacks, more than 60,000 civilians were killed and another 86,000 injured.

In London, residents were forced to take shelter nightly in the underground subway system. More than 1 million people were evacuated from the cities to the countryside in an effort to escape the bombings.

Shortages of essential items were widespread and continued during the postwar period, having a lasting impact on the lives of everyone.

Additional World War II information

Much of the “Battle of Britain” was fought over southeastern England. During “The Blitz,” Portsmouth, an important naval base, was subjected to repeated attacks, while Southampton suffered two devastating raids that leveled the city.

By the late stages of the war, the entirety of the southeast had become the base of operations for launching the massive Allied invasion of Normandy.

On the evening of June 5, 1944, more than 86,000 troops left Portsmouth and Plymouth alone for French shores to start Operation Overlord. Its goal: the liberation of Europe from Nazi control.

Additional information

Long a hub of French culture and cuisine, Paris is one of the most romantic destinations in the world.

Over the centuries, Parisian culture has been built on the wings of inspiration. Music, film, architecture, literature, dance and the visual arts all have their brilliant place in the museums, theaters, bookstores and remarkably preserved buildings of this magnificent city.

At the center of it all is the Champs-Élysées. With its inviting riverside promenade, graceful bridges and splendid views of all things Parisian, from the Eiffel Tower to the Louvre Museum.

Additional excursion option:

Flavors of Paris (additional cost)

Enjoy a guided walk through a richly historic quarter steeped in culinary traditions. As you walk, you will stop at welcoming shops for tastings of some of France’s most beloved specialties. Meet your knowledgeable guide and set off on foot as you listen to stories that tell the tale of the area’s historic past. Your culinary journey will take you to a selection of vendors that showcase a range of sweet and savory treats. Stop at one of the city’s renowned chocolatiers or bakeries to sample a sweet delight, and stroll through Commerce St. André des Arts, passing one of Paris’s oldest cafés. You will also pause for tastings of savory delicacies, sampling tasty plates of locally cured meats and cheese, accompanied by a glass of wine or soda. The district’s medieval passages are brimming with some of the city’s finest eateries, with hidden gems on every corner.

Additional excursion option:

Utah Beach & Pointe du Hoc (11 hours) (additional cost)

Learn about the heroic efforts of the US soldiers who stormed Normandy’s shores during “The Longest Day”—June 6, 1944. Visit the Utah Beach Landing Museum, which tells the story of D-Day from its initial planning stages to the final outcome through comprehensive exhibits and a film chronicling the experiences of those who fought. Travel to nearby Sainte-Mère-Église to tour the Airborne Museum, which tells the story of the US 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions that were dropped behind enemy lines, and see the church steeple upon which one unlucky paratrooper was stuck for several hours. Continue to Pointe du Hoc to learn how members of the US 2nd Ranger Battalion scaled a 100-foot cliff under withering fire to seize a German battery and help secure the Utah and Omaha beachheads. End your journey with a solemn visit to the German Military Cemetery at La Cambe, the final resting place for 21,000 German soldiers.

Additional excursion option:

Mulberry Harbors, Normandy American Cemetery & Omaha Beach (11 hours) (additional cost)

Marvel at the courage of the Allied troops who took Omaha Beach under a barrage of heavy fire on June 6, 1944. Visit the Arromanches Debarkment D-Day Museum, which chronicles the genius of the Mulberry Harbors that supported the troops with the continued provision of supplies after the D-Day invasion. Follow the coastline to the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial. Located on a cliff above Omaha Beach, it is the final resting place of nearly 9,400 Americans. Your group will lay a wreath as a tribute to the brave soldiers who lost their lives. Take time to walk among the rows of white crosses while paying your respects. Cap your tour with a stop at Omaha Beach for a visit to the Overlord Museum. Established by a Frenchman who personally experienced the invasion as a teenager, the museum chronicles the period between the Allied landing and the liberation of Paris.

Additional World War II information

Rouen’s importance to the German war effort made it the object of Allied bombing throughout the war. The worst of the aerial bombardments came the week prior to D-Day.

Known as la Semaine Rouge (“Red Week”), several raids resulted in the deaths of as many as 1,500 residents and the complete destruction of the city’s left bank.

Three months later, Canadian forces liberated Rouen on August 31, 1944; their efforts and those of their countrymen are commemorated at the Juno Beach Center. Reduced mostly to rubble, rebuilding efforts transformed Rouen into the city it is today.

Additional information

Les Andelys is best known for its imposing castle overlooking the city, the Château Gaillard. Built in 1196 by Richard the Lionheart, the castle and the village’s strategic location bolstered the importance of Les Andelys throughout the Middle Ages.

The town also gained notice for its Sainte Clotilde Miraculous Spring, where the wife of the first Frankish king, Clovis, turned well water into wine to serve the builders of her Benedictine monastery. Europe’s devout, upon hearing of the act, flocked here on pilgrimages until the end of the 19th century.

Additional information

The origins of Paris can be traced back to a Gallic settlement founded during the 3rd century BC. By the time Napoleon III established the Second Empire during the mid-19th century, it had expanded into a large city and was in need of a major transformation. What transpired was a division of Paris into 20 arrondissements, starting at the Île de la Cité and spiraling out in a consecutive numerical order—the city’s present design. From the lively jazz bars of the Latin Quarter to the steep ivy-clad streets of Montmartre, these charming districts are a delight to explore.

Life in Paris revolves around the Seine River, with 37 bridges crossing the river, each telling a story. Perhaps none are so extravagant as the Pont Alexandre III, a graceful span named for the Russian tsar who signed the Franco-Russian Alliance in 1892. Downriver, the five-arched Pont d’Iéna is beloved for its scenic location linking the Eiffel Tower to the Trocadéro district. The Pont des Arts, set between the Louvre and the Institut de France, was famed for its thousands of padlocks, attached by couples to the railing grate as a sign of their devotion to each other.

Located in the center of the historic district, Dukes’  Arches is ideally located to explore Bruges. Guest rooms are elegantly decorated offering spacious accommodations. The property also features a relaxing wellness area, in its 16th-century basement, and a restaurant with a courtyard—perfect for casual dining outdoors on warmer days.

A delicious large breakfast buffet is served in the large orangery flooded with natural daylight and overlooking the charming courtyard. The comfortable chairs and luxurious interior of the bar radiate cosiness and provide the ideal setting to talk about the day’s events while tasting one of our exquisite beverages.

Every day breakfast is included in your stay in Bruges.

TRAVEL DETAILS

F.A.Q.

Can I pay by Zelle?

Yes!

We started taking Zelle payments last month and we found this to be a fast and FREE way to pay!

For those who don’t know what Zelle is… it is very much like a wire transfer (but it is not a wire transfer).

Everyone’s bank is different, though, so you may want to call/go in to your local bank and ask to have the maximum amount available to transfer every day.

Example: Some banks only allow $500/day transfer. Other banks will allow $1200/day.

Always be careful when making payments through Zelle to people that you do not know. There is no protection guarantee provided and you cannot reverse the fee.

The Pros for using Zelle:

It is FREE (no processing fees)!

It is instantaneous (funds will go directly to Zone Travel- so this is the absolute fastest way to make a payment)

The Cons for using Zelle:

Every bank is different when it comes to maximum amount available to be transferred every day. So, this may mean that you need to make multiple payments to Zone Travel, multiple days in a row.

It does require an app download onto your phone, and you need to set up your account with your bank information.

Can I pay by check?

Yes!

If you would like to avoid the 4%processing fees, you may pay by check.

It is very important that you pay in advance of the deadlines and allow ample time for delivery.

You can make checks payable to “Zone Travel”

Please mail your checks (allowing 3-5 business days for delivery - PRIOR to deadline) to:

Zone Travel

PO Box 12052

Columbus, OH 43212

Payments received after the deadline could result in cancelation of your reservation or increased fees.

REGISTRATION FORM

PLEASE TYPE CAREFULLY! INACCURATE INFORMATION WILL RESULT IN TRAVEL DELAYS AND/OR CHANGE FEES.

(Please submit one registration form per household -max 2 people per registration form)

Pricing details

package price: 

$TBD

*All pricing & availability is subject to change until completed through the booking process. If your vacation package includes airfare, baggage fees may be an additional cost. For international travel, a passport book is required. Most locations require at least 6 months before expiration on your passport, as well as 2 blank visa pages. Please make sure to have the correct and updated documents if applicable. If you have a criminal background, you are responsible for knowing the travel restrictions pertaining to the offense.

INCLUDED IN THE QUOTE

• Hotel accommodations

  • as described above

• Some Meals

  • Breakfast daily

• Most taxes and fees

  • Service fees and commissions (NON REFUNDABLE)

  • Current VAT- if this fee changes, we will need to collect additional charges.

NOT INCLUDED

• Transportation

  • Airfare

  • Ground

• Tours

• Incidental charges 

• Local Tax

• 3% processing fee per payment (only if paying w/credit card)

• Most meals/beverages (unless included in the itinerary)

• Optional Travel Insurance *DUE AT TIME OF BOOKING- PLEASE REVIEW THE DETAILS OF EACH PLAN THOROUGHLY

  • World Wide Trip Protector Edge ‘Basic’ (starting at $148/pp)

  • World Wide Trip Protector ‘Premium’ (starting at $205/pp)

  • Other insurance options are available, if you have questions or want more coverage options, please let us know at time of booking.

 

REGISTRATION 

• A completed registration form (one per household -max 2 people per registration form)

  • If you have more than 2 people from the same household going on this trip, please fill out multiple forms, as the maximum per form is 2 people.

FINAL PAYMENT

• Payments not received on time will result in reservation cancellation without refund.

• Additional bookings after the final payment deadline may result in higher prices, less availability and additional administrative fees.

• Fee amounts imposed are at the discretion of Zone Travel.

CANCELLATION

Cancellation in writing must be received by Zone Travel 60 days prior to departure for appropriate refund on the land tour cost minus the following fees:

• Commissions and Travel insurance are non-refundable.

Zone Travel LLC and its cooperative destination incur unrecoverable charges preparing for your trip therefore, no refunds if cancellations occur less than 60 days before departure. Cancellations more than 60 days prior to departure are based on individual group bookings per the outlined confirmation document you receive.

We sell a variety of travel related products from different suppliers and service providers ("Suppliers"). Each Supplier has its own terms and condition that are applicable to your particular arrangements in addition to our general terms and conditions, and you should make sure you understand them.

Zone Travel is acting as intermediary or a "Booking Agent" for products and services that are not directly supplied by us (e.g., air carriage and ground transportation, hotel accommodations, meals, tours, cruises, etc.). We are not a co-vendor of such products and services. You will be entering into a separate contract with such Suppliers in connection with such products and services.

By making payments to Zone Travel for this trip you are agreeing to all Terms and Conditions listed on the Zone Travel website.

Vendor Cancel policy: Each vendor has their own policies, which we have to apply. This information may vary and is listed in full detail on the contract signed for each vendor.

WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND TRAVEL INSURANCE

Travel Insurance

TRAVEL INSURANCE - AVAILABLE FOR ALL USA CITIZENS - DUE WITH INITIAL PAYMENT

Zone Travel LLC strongly suggests purchasing Trip Cancellation insurance. Be sure to check with your healthcare provider as most U.S. medical coverage will not cover you outside of the country.

Insurance costs are based on the total package cost, including air taxes and charges listed under "Included."

Approximate amounts can be given at time of reservation in order to purchase the appropriate amount of insurance.

EDGE PLAN:
(BASIC PROTECTION)

Extensive coverage for everyone; designed with families in mind.

• Pre-existing Medical Conditions coverage if purchased within 14 days of deposit (other eligibility conditions must also be met)

• Wide range of reasons for trip cancellation or interruption

• Trip Delay and Missed Tour or Cruise Connection coverage

• Baggage Protection and Travel Accident Protection

• Medical and Evacuation coverage 

WORLDWIDE TRIP PROTECTOR:
(PREMIUM PROTECTION)

Extensive coverage for everyone; designed with families in mind.

• Pre-existing Medical Conditions coverage if purchased within 21 days of deposit (other eligibility conditions must also be met)

• Wide range of reasons for trip cancellation or interruption

• Trip Delay and Missed Tour or Cruise Connection coverage

• Baggage Protection and Travel Accident Protection

• Medical and Evacuation coverage