Message from Mary Dailey

Dear Friends:

With all best wishes,

Mary T. Dailey
President
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Monday, December 28    DEPARTURE FROM NEW YORK

Departure from Kennedy Airport in New York with AUSTRIAN AIRLINES Flight OS 88 at 5:50 PM.  Dinner and breakfast served on board.  Please note that the price of this air itinerary is included in the tour package.  Add-ons from other USA gateway cities are available for booking, upon request, at a nominal fare.
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Tuesday, December 29    VIENNA

Arrive Vienna at 8:35 AM.  Our professional English-speaking guide will welcome you as you exit the customs area at the airport and accompany you during the transfer from the airport to the lovely 4-star EUROPA HOTEL (or upgrade to the new 5-star RING HOTEL - see below), in the heart of Vienna, near the opera house.  Afternoon at leisure.

Welcome reception at the hotel with a talk by a member of the VIENNA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA.  Welcome dinner in the famous restaurant of the equally famous HOTEL SACHER.  Renowned St. Steven's Church stands in Vienna's giant pedestrian-only Ringstrasse.___________________________________________________________________________________

Wednesday, December 30    VIENNA

This morning:  NEW YEAR’S CONCERT PREVIEW  with the Vienna Philharmonic at the Musikverein’s “Goldener Saal” conducted by Georges Prêtre.

Afternoon at leisure.

OPTIONAL EVENING PERFORMANCE: Tchaikovsky’s ballet THE NUTCRACKER.  Guillermo Garcia Calvo conducting the Vienna State Opera Orchestra. Prices are subject to availability and confirmation.

Goldnener Musikverein Concert Hall, Vienna_______________________________________________________________________

Thursday, December 31    VIENNA
 
This morning enjoy sightseeing by coach in Vienna to see its fabulous buildings such as the MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS AND NATURAL HISTORY and the POSTAL SAVINGS BANK. Then join our guide for a walking tour to visit one of the Habsburg’s greatest legacies, the SCHATZKAMMER (treasury), containing not only the crown jewels of the emperors, but one of Europe's finest collections of objets d'art, imperial garments and religious items.   The rest of the day is at leisure until the concert and the Imperial Ball this evening.

This evening: BEETHOVEN’S NINTH SYMPHONY in D-Minor, Opus 125. (Konzerthaus - 7:00 PM) as performed by the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and the Vienna Academy of Song.  Ivor Bolton conducts.  Soloists:  Melanie Diener, soprano; Katarina Karnéus, mezzo-soprano; Joseph Kaiser, tenor, and Alastair Miles, bass.

OPTIONAL EVENT:  One of Europe’s most unique events on New Year’s Eve – the famous IMPERIAL BALL in the halls of the Hofburg Palace.  Celebrate the beginning of the year 2010 in the state apartments of the glorious imperial winter residence. According to the motto of this year “Johann Strauss, the king of waltzes” accompanies you throughout the evening.  Dinner and dancing until 3:30 AM.  Price: $1,075.00 per person includes dinner and the ball.
Fine Arts Museum, exterior, Vienna

             Fine Arts Museum, interior                       Fine Arts Museum, Egyptian Exhibit

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Friday, January 1    VIENNA

 “HAPPY NEW YEAR!”    

Day at leisure.            

Belvedere Palace, exterior, Vienna              Belvedere Palace, interior                         Belvedere Palace, Army Museum

This evening: Johann Strauss’s  DIE FLEDERMAUS (Vienna State Opera).  The cast: Michael Roider, Ildikó Raimondi, Michaela Selinger, Markus Eiche, Ileana Tonca, Helmuth Lohner.  Bertrand de Billy conducts.

Staatsoper, Vienna

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 Saturday, January 2    VIENNA

This day is at leisure to enjoy Vienna on your own.

OPTIONAL PERFORMANCE:  This evening: Rossini’s IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA (Vienna State Opera).  The cast: Juan José Lopera, Wolfgang Bankl, Roxana Constantinescu, Tae Joong Yang, Janusz Monarcha.  Paolo Carignani conducts.  Price is subject to availability and reconfirmation.

  

                  Carriage Museum, Vienna                                   Prater's Ferris Wheel, Vienna

 


Daniel Barenboim conducts the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra during a dress rehearsal for the New Year's Concert 2009 in Vienna's "Goldener Musikvereinsaal", Dec. 29, 2008...

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Sunday, January 3    DEPARTURE

Private transfer to Vienna’s International Airport for the return flight to the USA – AUSTRIAN AIRLINES Flight OS 87, departing at 11:05 AM.  Arrive Kennedy Airport, New York at 2:15 PM.  Luncheon and a snack on board.
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Tour price with accommodations at the 4-star HOTEL EUROPA:
$3,999.00 per person sharing a twin/double room; Single Room Supplement:  $995.00

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Package price with accommodations at the 5-star RING HOTEL:
$4,999.00 per person sharing a twin/double room; Single Room Supplement:  $1,595.00

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Upgrade to Business Class on Austrian Airlines: $2,950.00 per person to be added to the tour price.

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Please note that the New Year’s Concert Preview and the Imperial Ball both require reservations and full payment by the end of August 2009 – at which time payment just be made in full.  After that date, reservations for the concert and the ball will be upon request and subject to availability.

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Please note that this tour package includes economy airfare on AUSTRIAN AIRLINES from New York to Vienna. AUSTRIAN AIRLINES also flies or co-shares flights from most major gateway airports. If you request a different departure city, you may be offered an alternate flight, so you will not necessarily have to connect through New York. However, there may be a nominal fee. Upgrades to business class, are available upon request, as well.

LAND ARRANGEMENTS PRICE INCLUDES: 
* Breakfast daily, 1 dinner.
* Round-trip Economy Class airfare New York-Vienna-New York. 
* Accommodations at the Europa or the Ring Hotel for 5 nights. 
* All performance tickets except the optional The Nutcracker performance on December 30 and the Il Barbiere di Siviglia performance on January 2.  * All taxes, entrance fees. 
* All transfers where necessary.  Land arrangements price is based on sharing a twin/double hotel room.

Land Arrangements Price does NOT include:
* Air tax of approximately $125.00 to be determined at time of air purchase;
* Nominal Add-on price for air departure from cities beyond New York;
* Wine with included meals;
* Accident/baggage/cancellation insurance (available upon request);
* Items of a personal nature;
* Tips.

The optional 5-Star Ring Hotel

The Ring, Vienna’s Casual Luxury Hotel, the newest design hotel in Vienna! This new 5-star luxury hotel offers its guests exceptional comfort and casual luxury in every detail, wonderful views on the famous ‘Ringstrasse’ as well as the Vienna State Opera. (www.theringhotel.com) 

How to Book

To book your NEW YEAR'S IN VIENNA, or with any questions you may have, call Mary Dailey at (866) 235-9555.