Christmas Markets on the Rhine (DUS-STR)

MS Gloria

https://www.scylla.com/river-cruise-ships/our-ships/ms-gloria

Optional tour fees:

Heidelberg tour: 75 Euro

Colmar & Strasbourg tour: 95 Euro

If both tours are purchased together, 170 Euro in total instead of 150 Euro.

Participation Requirement

This tour has a maximum limit of 30 people. In case of any possible route or date change by the cruise company, the tour will continue with the new route.

Visa

Ordinary Passport                     Visa required (Multiple-entry Schengen) 

Green Passport                          Visa not required

Service Passport                   Visa not required

You must have a passport valid for 6 months from the end date of the trip and not older than 10 years.

Having a valid passport and/or a visa (for a destination/passport that requires a visa) does not mean that entry into the country will be permitted. The passport police have the authority to refuse you entry. Gazella is not responsible for this situation; responsibility lies with the passenger. 

For destinations requiring a visa, the visa application must be submitted with the documents specified in the “Documents Required for Visa” list that your agency will send you.

To avoid problems with customs police at the border of the country to be visited due to torn, worn, wet and/or similarly damaged passports; such passports should be renewed, and if it is a country that applies visas to T.C. citizens, the relevant visa must be in the new passport. Otherwise, responsibility lies with the passenger. 

Since there is a possibility that our guests under 18 may be asked by the border police to present a document showing the mutual consent of the parents when traveling alone or with only one parent; we recommend that our guests under 18 and their parents be sensitive about this issue.

Health

River cruise ships do not have a fully equipped Health Center staffed by specialist doctors and medical personnel. In emergencies, reception calls medical teams from the nearest healthcare facility to the ship within a very short time. Such medical services are charged. Your health insurance will assist in this matter.

Food

We do not think you will encounter any problem with the meals you will have during your cruise that would threaten your health. However, when you are not on the ship, we recommend that you be careful about food and drink, absolutely consume bottled water, avoid ice, milk and dairy products, eat meat and fish products that you are sure are well cooked, and for fruit, eat fruits that can be peeled such as bananas and pineapples. Current vaccination/PCR rules must be followed at country entry points and upon return to the country.

Flight Times

Istanbul                     -               Düsseldorf               3 hr 10 min

Stuttgart                  -              Istanbul                 3 hr 30 min

Optional Tours & Activities

Optional tours and activities are organized by the local agency we work with, with a minimum participation requirement of 20 people, and participation is not mandatory. If the required number is not reached, the excursions cannot be carried out, or the prices, content, and vehicle used for optional tours/activities may vary depending on the number of participants. In addition, the days and times of extra tours/activities may be changed by the guide depending on the opening/closing status of the museums, ruins, or venues at the places to be visited and weather conditions.

Panoramic city tours included in the tour package are tours of up to 2-3 hours, organized for general introduction of the cities and conducted panoramically with guide commentary from inside the vehicle, without museum or archaeological site admissions. Panoramic tours, including the other tours specified in the program, are not the responsibility of the Tour Operator if they cannot take place on the day and time specified due to roads closed by local authorities, places that are not permitted to be visited or entered, or closed roads due to any event, or when weather conditions make the tour impossible. Some tours may be conducted by public transportation or on foot where possible in areas with closed roads or where vehicle entry is not permitted.

Currency

It is useful to carry Euro (EUR) with you.

Time Zone

Europe is in the same time zone as Turkey during daylight saving time, and 1 hour behind during winter time.

For example, while it is 18:30 in Turkey in winter, it is 17:30 in Europe.

Phone Usage

Your mobile phone line can be used if it is open to international calls (roaming).

Clothing and Necessary Items

If traveling in the summer season, we recommend bringing t-shirts that can be easily put on and taken off, short- and long-sleeved shirts, cotton trousers, shorts, comfortable walking shoes, a light jacket for evenings, and a thin sweater. In addition, you may also bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, earplugs for possible noise, a camera, video camera, and their chargers and spare memory cards. In winter, we recommend clothing that allows comfortable movement and keeps you warm.

Food Culture

During your trip, our ship will present selected examples of German cuisine to our valued guests on certain days.

 Electricity

The power outlets are the same as in Turkey.

Shopping

There are shopping opportunities in shopping centers located in city centers and at small stalls selling souvenirs.

Important Notes

*The times specified in the program have been taken from Scylla Cruises and Turkish Airlines. Our agency is not responsible for any changes in the times. Therefore, in the event of any time change, our agency reserves the right to adjust the content of the program. In addition, on our sea & river tours, due to sudden port conditions, bad weather conditions, water level changes, sea & river traffic, strikes in river lock basins, etc., the cruise company and the ship captain have the right to make changes to the program for “force majeure” reasons. Our agency is not responsible for such changes.

*Our agency will not be responsible for passengers who fail to be present at the airport or dock at the times notified by our agency at the beginning of the tour and therefore miss the plane or ship and cannot board. Transportation costs required for passengers who miss the plane or ship to rejoin the tour are their own responsibility.

*It is strictly forbidden to bring alcoholic beverages, irons, hair dryers, water boilers, bottle warmers, electric blankets, etc. onto the ship. Hair dryers are available in every cabin, and water boilers are available in many cabins.

*At the beginning of our cruise, luggage tags in certain colors will be assigned for your suitcases. It is extremely important that these tags are filled in completely so that your suitcases arrive correctly at your cabins.

*Your suitcases may not arrive in your cabin until late in the evening on the ship's first departure day. Therefore, on your first day of boarding the ship, it is advisable to pack your important items in a small handbag and take them with you.

*A safety drill and presentation will be held on the first day of your trip so that you can become familiar with evacuation procedures in case of an emergency. Participation is extremely important. Your guides and the ship staff responsible for your room will direct you to the meeting point for the drill.

*You may benefit from the ship's paid satellite-connected internet system. To keep costs low, be sure to choose the packages recommended by the ship.

*Every evening on the ship, a detailed program for the next day will be left in your cabin. This program includes all activities on board, information about entertainment events, and important notes in full.

*We kindly ask you to take care of all your personal belongings during the tour. There is a safe available in all cabins on the ship where you can keep your valuables. Our agency does not accept responsibility for the loss or theft of money and valuable belongings left in the cabin or luggage. We will provide support to have any found items sent to you from the country where they were found via cash-on-delivery shipping service.

*On the days following the start of the tour, you must strictly comply with the ship's departure times at the ports. You must board the ship at least 45 minutes before its departure time at the ports. Otherwise, you may not be able to board the ship. Our agency will not be responsible for such a situation. Transportation costs required to rejoin the cruise from a suitable port where boarding is allowed are the passenger's responsibility.

*At the end of your cruise, the tags left in your cabins the night before must be attached. You must leave them in front of your cabin doors early in the morning; later, your suitcases will be collected and lined up in front of the buses to be transferred. They will be received there by the passengers.