2013 Travel Preview - MinnesotaAlumni.org

The University of Minnesota Alumni Association invites you to experience the
camaraderie and ease of alumni group travel. Plan to explore new destinations
and unique cultures in the company of alumni and friends next year!
Please note that all trips take place in 2013 and that date and price information
is subject to change. All prices are per person, double occupancy. To be added to
our travel mailing list or to request a specific trip brochure (usually available eight
to nine months prior to departure date), please send an email to umalumni@umn.edu.
CUBA: THE PEOPLE, CULTURE, AND ART
Operated in accordance with a special license issued by the U.S. Department of
Treasury, this program is designed to promote cultural exchange and people-topeople
contact. Explore the lively capital city of Havana and charming provincial
villages like Cojimar. Gain insight into Cuba’s mystique, from Hemingway to UNESCO
World Heritage sites (moderate activity level). January TBA; $3,845 including
international airfare.
EXPEDITION TO ANTARCTICA
A spectacular 14-day journey featuring a nine-night cruise to Antarctica, Earth’s
last frontier, aboard the exclusively chartered, deluxe M.S. L’Austral. Experience
the White Continent in its unspoiled state, accompanied by the ship’s expert team
of naturalists. Also, spend two nights in vibrant Buenos Aires. Iguazú Falls Post-
Program Option offered. January 17–30; from $7,295 plus airfare.
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND:
CRUISING THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
This spectacular 14-day journey captures the essence of Australia and New Zealand
and features an exclusive three-night Great Barrier Reef cruise and stays in
Queenstown, Te Anau, Sydney, and Cairns. Cruise Milford Sound, see New Zealand’s
Southern Alps, and learn about the Aborigines. Auckland Pre-Program and Ayers
Rock Post-Program Options. January 24–February 6; from $3,695 plus airfare.
AMAZON RIVER EXPEDITION
Venture into a world of remote jungles and backwater rivers where lush rain forests
and secretive tributaries are home to some of Earth’s most stunning beauty and
exotic wildlife. Explore Peru’s historic capital, Lima, and cruise for six nights from
Nauta on the Amazon, Maranon, and Pucate Rivers and their tributaries and into
the Amazon Natural Park. Optional post-tour to Cuzco, Peru, and Machu Picchu.
February 22–March 3; from $4,195 plus airfare.
VILLAGES AND VINEYARDS OF ARGENTINA AND CHILE
This unique itinerary provides opportunities to experience history, culture, culinary,
and wine-making traditions. Discover the best of Buenos Aires before exploring
Argentina’s wine country. Journey to Santiago, Chile’s capital and cultural center,
on one of the most scenic roads through the Andes Mountains and admire the
tallest mountain in the world outside of Asia. Sample Chile’s famous vintages at
several wineries on the way to Santa Cruz. April 2-13; $4,895 plus airfare.
PORTRAIT OF SOUTH AFRICA
Its landscapes unequalled in beauty and splendor, South Africa is an amazingly
diverse land, from bustling and sophisticated Cape Town to the spectacular
scenery and wildlife at the Kapama River Lodge. An optional extension to Victoria
Falls in Zambia, one of the “seven natural wonders of the world,” is available.
April 4–13; $3,999 plus airfare.

WATERWAYS OF
HOLLAND AND BELGIUM
Visit the Netherlands at the peak of the colorful
tulip season. Cruise from Amsterdam to Arnhem,
Dordrecht, Middelburg, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Ghent,
Bruges, the windmills at Kinderdijk, the Delta Works,
Volendam, and Edam. Guided tours of the prestigious
Rijksmuseum and the Kroller-Muller Museum are featured.
April 22-30; from $2,895 plus airfare.
EUROPEAN COASTAL CIVILIZATIONS
A seven-night cruise from Lisbon to Honfleur with port calls along the coasts of
Portugal, Spain, England, and France. Visit three exceptional UNESCO World Heritage
sites, Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum, the charming French Isles, the pilgrimage site
of Santiago de Compostela, and much more. April 24–May 2; from $3,895
plus airfare.
CIVIL WAR AND SOUTHERN CULTURE
ABOARD THE AMERICAN QUEEN
Cruise for seven nights aboard the only authentic overnight paddlewheel
steamboat cruising America’s rivers. Follow the footprints of the boys in blue and
gray along the Mississippi from Memphis, Tennessee, to New Orleans, Louisiana,
visiting fascinating river towns and cities and enjoying the expertise of the resident
“riverlorian” all along the way. April 26–May 5; from
$2,095 plus airfare.
ITALIAN INSPIRATION—OCEANIA CRUISES
Let centuries-old European towns and villages inspire you aboard the glorious
Oceania Cruises Riviera. World-renowned sites in Italy, Greece, and Croatia include
Capri and Taormina; the Greek wonderlands of Zakynthos and Corfu; and the
amazing walled city of Dubrovnik. Optional extended stay in Venice, the magical city
of canals and bridges. April 27–May 5; from $1,799 including airfare.
MEDITERRANEAN AND GREEK ISLES—OCEANIA CRUISES
Experience some of the most adored cities and
islands of the eastern Mediterranean aboard
Oceania Cruises’ newest vessel,
Riviera. This journey takes you
from Venice to wondrous ports of
call including Koper, Slovenia;
Dubrovnik, Croatia; Kotor,
Montenegro; the Greek Isles; and
Ephesus, Turkey. May 4–15;
from $3,499
including airfare.
CELTIC LANDS
Guest speakers include David Eisenhower, an esteemed political scientist and
American historian and grandson of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Celia
Sandys, an author and granddaughter of Sir Winston Churchill. This eight-night
cruise from Honfleur, France, to Edinburgh, Scotland, aboard the exclusively
chartered M.S. L’Austral features port calls at Caen (Normandy Beaches), Dublin,
Holyhead, Isle of Iona, Tobermory, Portree, and Kirkwall. May 9-18; from $5,395
plus airfare.
MEDITERRANEAN GRANDEUR—OCEANIA CRUISES
Mediterranean treasures abound as you sail aboard Oceania Cruises’ elegant
Nautica to Italy, France, and Monaco. Discover the Italian cities of Sorrento, Amalfi,
Positano, Florence, Pisa, and Ajaccio, then the glamorous Riviera ports of Marseille,
St. Tropez, Cannes, and Monte Carlo, each distinct destination a priceless treasure.
May 19–30; from $3,499 including airfare.
DISCOVER SWITZERLAND
Against the incredible backdrop of the majestic Alps, traverse along scenic
mountain trails and verdant pastures. Explore quaint villages and cruise the
crystal waters of Switzerland’s lakes. Travel to Zermatt and witness the imposing
Matterhorn, trek through Rosenlaui Gorge and visit stunning Reichenbach Falls, tour
the medieval Chateau de Chillon in Montreux, and journey by railway to the Italian
towns of Domodossola and lakeside Locarno. June 19–July 4; $3,695
plus airfare.
COASTAL LIFE: CRUISING THE ADRIATIC SEA
Explore the Adriatic Sea’s Dalmatian Coast aboard the exclusively chartered
M.S. L’Austral on this seven-night cruise featuring General Wesley Clark, NATO’s
Supreme Allied Commander Europe (1997-2000). Visit Šibenik, Split, Korcula, Kotor,
Dubrovnik, Mostar or Medjugorje, Pula and Rovinj. Enjoy specially arranged lectures,
an exclusive forum with local residents, and a folk music performance. Two-night
Venice pre-cruise option available. June 20-28; from $3,795 plus airfare.
CHANGING TIDES OF HISTORY: BALTIC SEA
A rare opportunity to meet Mikhail Gorbachev, president of the former Soviet
Union, and Lech Walesa, leader of Poland’s Solidarity Movement. This unique
nine-night cruise from Copenhagen to Stockholm visits six countries bordering the
Baltic. Included shore excursions to Helsinki, St. Petersburg (including a specially
arranged, early-opening entry to the worldrenowned
State Hermitage Museum), Tallinn,
Riga, Gdansk, Copenhagen and Oslo.
Two-night Stockholm pre-program
option and three-night Norway
post-program option available.
June 21-July 2; $7,795
plus airfare.

BALTIC TREASURES—OCEANIA CRUISES
The best of Northern Europe is discovered on this voyage aboard Oceania Cruises’
luxurious Marina. See onion-domed cathedrals, Baroque palaces, medieval towns,
and stunning harbors as you take in Stockholm, Helsinki, St. Petersburg, Tallinn,
Gdansk, and Berlin. June 24–July 5; from $3,999 including airfare.
ON SAFARI IN BOTSWANA, ZAMBIA, AND VICTORIA FALLS
An incredible 12-night exploration of Johannesburg, Victoria Falls, Chobe National
Park (which boasts one of the largest concentrations of game in all of Africa,
including the world’s largest elephant population), and Lower Zambezi National
Park, one of the last stretches of pristine wilderness in all of Africa. This trip
features extensive opportunities to see hippos, crocodiles, buffalo, elephants,
zebras, lions, giraffes, impalas, wildebeests, leopards, antelopes, kudu, warthogs,
and 450 species of birds. June 30–July 14; $7,895 including airfare.
ALASKAN FRONTIERS AND GLACIERS
Embrace Alaska’s rugged beauty while cruising on the elegant Oceania Cruises’
Regatta. From Seattle, sail the Inside Passage to the magnificent Hubbard Glacier,
stopping in the charming Alaskan ports of Ketchikan, Juneau, Icy Strait Point, Sitka,
and Wrangell, with a visit to lovely Victoria, British Columbia.
July 12–22; from $2,999 including airfare.
SCANDINAVIAN ODYSSEY
A 15-night exploration of Copenhagen, Lofthus, Bergen, Geiranger, Peer Gynt Vegen,
Oslo, Tallberg, and Stockholm. Along the way, enjoy Tivoli Gardens, Rosenborg
Palace, Christianborg Palace, Hardanger Fjord, the Flam and Bergen railways,
Trolhaugen, a cruise on legendary Geiranger and its waterfalls, Lillehammer’s
Olympic sites, the Royal Palace and the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo, and much
more. July 16–August 1; $6,495 including airfare.
ICELAND TO GREENLAND IN THE WAKE OF THE VIKINGS
Cruise the beautiful, rugged west coast of Greenland from Reykjavik, Iceland,
to Kanelussuaq, with ports of call at Narsaq, Nuuk, Equi Glacier, and Illulissa.
Experience this extreme land that is home to eight species of whales, two million
seals, walruses, reindeer, and an amazing variety of seabirds. Two-night Northern
Iceland pre-cruise option available. August 12–24; from $7,595 plus airfare.
BRITISH ISLES AND NORWEGIAN FJORDS—OCEANIA CRUISES
Explore the legacies of kings, queens, and Viking warriors aboard the elegant
Oceania Cruises’ Nautica. This cruise takes you to the British Isles and Norway,
stopping in Edinburgh, Invergordon, the Shetland Islands, Alesund, Geiranger,
Hellesylt, Belfast, Dublin, Cork, and Portland. See captivating isles and fjords,
castles, and coasts. August 14–27; from $4,999 including airfare.
TASTE OF EUROPE—OCEANIA CRUISES
Relax as the elegant, intimate Oceania Cruises’ Nautica takes you to fabulous ports
of call in France, Spain, and Portugal. Experience Saint-Malo, Pont-Aven, Bordeaux,
Bilbao, La Coruña, Oporto, Lisbon, and Seville, places that define the flavor of
Europe, past and present. August 26–Sept. 6; from $3,999 including airfare.
CHINA, TIBET, AND THE YANGTZE RIVER
This well-paced, small-group journey combines monumental Beijing, ancient Xian,
Chengdu, Lhasa, Chongqing and a three-night cruise on the fabled Yangtze, and
Shanghai, the “Paris of the East.” Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven,
the Terra Cotta Warriors, the 1,000-room Potala Palace, and the immense
Three Gorges Dam are just a few highlights. September 7–25; $5,795
including airfare.
GRAND DANUBE PASSAGE FEATURING PRAGUE AND SOFIA
Discover enthralling scenery, natural wonders and unparalleled history along the
winding course of the celebrated Danube. Experience eight countries and twelve
cities and towns! Explore the rich culture of the Old Town of Prague, a UNESCO
World Heritage site, and charming Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital. Delight in cruising
through the breathtaking Wachau Valley, the twisting Danube Bend and the
amazing Iron Gate Gorge. September 15-30; from $4,395 plus airfare.
ISLAND LIFE IN ANCIENT GREECE AND TURKEY
Onboard the deluxe M.S. L’Austral, cruise from Istanbul to Athens with port
calls at Canakkale (Troy) and Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey; and Patmos,
Rhodes, Santorini, Delos, and Mykonos, Greece. Optional
extensions in Istanbul, Cappadocia, and Athens are
available. September 24–October 2;
from $3,595 plus airfare.

CANADA AND NEW ENGLAND FALL
FOLIAGE—OCEANIA CRUISES
Experience the vibrant fall colors of North America’s
most scenic East Coast ports in Canada and New
England aboard the elegant Oceania Cruises Regatta.
Stunning landscapes and historic sites blend in the captivating ports of Quebec
City, Charlottetown, Halifax, Bar Harbor, Camden, Newport, and more. September
24–October 6; from $4,299 including airfare.
JOURNEY THROUGH VIETNAM
Discover this land of breathtaking natural beauty and abiding tradition. Tour
highlights include Hanoi sightseeing, an excursion to Ha Long Bay, visits to the
imperial capital of Hue, charming Hoi An, the Cham Museum, the floating markets
at Cai Be and Cai Rang, and many more historical and cultural landmarks.
October 6–21; $3,795 including airfare.
CRADLE OF HISTORY – OCEANIA CRUISES
Follow the echoes of ancient civilizations on the elegant Oceania Cruises’ Nautica.
Fascinating ports in Greece, Israel and Turkey will take you up close and personal
with history, legends and landmarks nearly as old as time itself. See ancient
cultures come to life in Crete, Jerusalem, Haifa, Cyprus, Rhodes and Ephesus.
October 7-18; from $3,499 including airfare.
IN THE WAKE OF ANCIENT EMPIRES
Unique seven-night cruise of the Mediterranean and Tyrrhenian Seas aboard
the brand-new, exclusively chartered small ship M.Y. Variety Voyager. Sail from
Naples, Italy, to Valleta, Malta, with port calls at Sorrento, the Island of Captri
and Amalfi; and Taormina, Siracusa and Agrigento on Sicily. Visit Malta’s historic
monuments, explore Greco-Roman sites, cruise by the active volcano of Stromboli,
and experience the endless charms of the Amalfi Coast. Excursions to Pompeii, to
St. John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta, to the majestic Valley of the Temples, and more
are included in this one-of-a-kind itinerary. October 11-19; from $4,995 plus
airfare.
NORTHERN ITALY—CULTURE AND CUISINE
Indulge in northern Italy, a rurally tinged adventure in fine art and food. Cruise
Lake Garda past quaint villages, feel the musical spirit of Stradivari in Cremona,
and visit the Shakespearean towns of Padua and Verona.
Get a true taste of Italy in Parma, and in Milan,
take in Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece
The Last Supper. October 11–19; from
$3,199 plus airfare.
PYRAMIDS, TOMBS, AND TEMPLES ALONG THE NILE
Egypt’s past will come to life in its capital, Cairo, and along the Nile River while
cruising aboard the elegant M/S Tuya from Luxor to Aswan. The Pyramids and
Sphinx, the Valley of the Kings, King Tutankamun’s Tomb, and the temples of
Luxor, Karnak, and Edfu are just some of the celebrated monuments that you visit.
Optional: Four-day Jordan extension. October 11–21; from $3,399 plus airfare.
TREASURES OF PERU
A nine-night journey of a lifetime that begins in Lima, Peru, and concludes
in Puno on Lake Titicaca, South America’s largest lake. Explore Cuzco, the
Sacred Valley of the Incas, and the town of Pisac prior to visiting Machu Picchu,
the fabled “Lost City of the Incas,” where you will spend the night surrounded
by the breathtaking Andean peaks. Back in Cuzco, you’ll visit many more
landmarks before experiencing the fascinating life of Lake Titicaca.
October 17–27; $3,695 including airfare.
NATURAL WONDERS OF THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
Discover some of the most distinctive wildlife on Earth from the comfort of the
M/V Santa Cruz, designed for exploring the Galapagos Islands. Visit the white and
red beaches of Santa Cruz and Rabida, the cliffs of Santiago, and the Pinnacle
Rock on Bartolomé; then unwind in exciting Guayaquil, Ecuador. Optional five-day
Machu Picchu extension available. October 20–27; from $3,999 plus airfare.
EASTERN AND ORIENTAL EXPRESS: BANGKOK TO BALI
In Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, discover an exotic kaleidoscope
of colors, sounds, landscapes, ancient histories, and diverse cultures. Explore
Bangkok’s bustling center and venture out to its ancient and historic heart to visit
its elaborate temples, palaces, and shrines. Celebrate the Golden Age of Travel for
three nights aboard the Eastern and Oriental Express Train, with daily excursions
along the way. Conclude your journey on the Indonesian island of Bali. October
30–November 12; from $5,895 plus airfare.
OLD FASHIONED HOLIDAYS IN
THE SOUTH ABOARD THE AMERICAN QUEEN
Have an old-fashioned holiday aboard the luxury steamboat American Queen, the
only authentic overnight paddlewheel steamboat in America, and visit captivating
ports in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Enjoy the grand American Queen’s
lavish accommodations, acclaimed cuisine and
spectacular two-deck-tall theater showplace.
November 7–16; from $1,995
plus airfare.