After a full breakfast in our hotel dining room, our coach will depart at 8 AM en route to the ancient city of York .Our knowledgeable  guide for the day will keep us well informed of notable sights and history along our route.

We will travel for approximately 1 1/2 hours, and then stop in the City of Leeds to stretch our legs and spend some time at Leeds Kirkgate Market . Since 1857 it has been home to some of the most characterful traders in the city, with businesses spanning generations and representing a wide range of nationalities .  One of the largest indoor markets in Europe, Kirkgate is a shopper’s paradise from fresh food, drink and fashion to jewellerey, flowers, hardware and haberdashery. There's an incredible range of goodies to keep shopping bags bulging.  With the sights, smells and sounds of the market, Leeds Kirkgate Market has always been an experience.

Make sure you grab a few goodies in the market to take along with you today.

After we leave the market, we'll travel a short 30 minutes on to the fascinating city of York. 

We will be met  by our dedicated guide at York Minster who will take us on a private tour of this 7th century cathedral known as one of the world’s most magnificent cathedrals. Our day will continue with a leisurely walking tour with our guide and a stop in the famous Shambles. 

• One of the world's most famous streets. The Shambles in York (officially just ‘Shambles’) is a narrow street of mostly timber buildings that date back as far as the 13th Century. The street was originally home to butchers, with each shop specialising in a different meat.
• The Shambles York The Oldest Medieval Street In The World
  https://xyuandbeyond.com/the-shambles-york2019-06-16 · The History of the Shambles York. The Shambles as a term is used to describe a maze of narrow twisty lanes in the centre of York. At the heart of the Shambles is the actual lane called The Shambles and it is obviously the best preserved medieval streets in the world. The Domesday Book of William the Conqueror mentions the Shambles in 1086.

We will leave this beautiful city about 4:30 PM to return to Manchester where we will share our first group dinner in our hotel.

After a leisurely breakfast in our hotel, we will head off on a short drive to the delightful City of Chester. Chester has been a favourite stop with all of our previous groups.

Chester is a compact, walled city that is a sheer joy to explore, with lots of ruins, inviting shops and beautiful scenery. 

Just so you get your bearings, we are going to start our time here today with a guided bus tour for an hour, followed by a private 2 hour cruise on the River Dee         ( which forms part of the boundary between Northern England and Wales.) 

On board, our hosts will serve a spectacular lunch buffet as our Blue Badge guide gives us yet more information about the history and charms of Chester.

Once we are back on land , you will have a couple of hours to wander through the streets and shops of one of our favourite cities. Make sure you ask Neville about his favourite bakery before you head off exploring !

We will head back to Manchester at 5PM , have dinner together in our hotel, and the rest of the evening is free for you to explore Manchester.

We usually get Neville to take a walk up to very colourful Canal Street to see the vibrant sights and sounds with anyone interested in tagging along.

If Canal Street doesn't interest you, why not take a walk over to Annie's Restaurant on Banks Street for an evening snack and a brew at this restaurant owned by Our Fiz -  Jennie McAlpine and her husband. Lots of times Jennie is in the restaurant and very happy to chat with folks- especially those who have come all the way from Canada.    

We are off again after breakfast this morning on our short 1 hr trip to Liverpool.

Be ready to board our coach for a 9AM departure.  

Liverpool is famous for its port, the Albert Dock area, and of course for producing one of the greatest music groups ever, The Beatles. We will meet our Liverpool specialist guide this morning  and enjoy an exciting and informative sightseeing tour highlighting the history of this industrial city ,and many of the sites linked to the famous four. We stop for a visit at the present day Cavern Club on Mathew Street, where it is still a venue for up and coming bands. You can often get to hear a new band as there is a band playing there almost non stop. Even if you are not a Beatles fan, take this opportunity to Grab a t-shirt or souvenir from The famous Cavern Club to take back home for a Beatles fan !   We will get to see some of the childhood homes of the Beatles, Strawberry Field , Penny Lane, the statue of Eleanor Rigby dedicated to all the lonely people, the  18 ft. European Peace Monument in Chavasse Park dedicated to the memory of John Lennon which was unveiled October 9th, 2010 on what would have been his 70th birthday. We will also see the new 2018 bronze statues of the Beatles in front of the Pierhead Museum.  

Our sightseeing tour will end at the Albert Dock in front of the Beatles Story Experience. Your included ticket to this award winning experience is an atmospheric journey into the life, times, culture and music of the Beatles. Not only does your admission cover the Albert Dock Beatles Story venue, but also includes admission to the Pier Head Beatles Story located at the Mersey Ferry Terminal ( there is a shuttle service available or you can opt to walk the 10 minutes ) The Pier Head location now permanently houses The Beatles Hidden Gallery. A series of 38 black and white photos which photographer Paul Berriff took of the Beatles during 1963 and 64 just months before Beatlemania struck, were forgotten in his attic for nearly 50 years. The images show the four in unguarded moments while rehearsing and relaxing, and in late August 2010 were placed on permanent display in the Pier Head Beatles Story location. 

For those not interested in the Beatles Story, a visit to the International Slavery Museum or the Merseyside Maritime Museum might be of interest.

You might possibly take an hour and choose to take "The Ferry Cross the Mersey" made famous by Gerry and the Pacemakers in their hit song of 1965. 

After soaking up all the fantastic Beatles memorabilia at The Beatles Story, just head outside and spend some leisurely time browsing in the many shops and cafes in the Albert Dock complex. Grab some lunch in this delightful area .

After a full day, our coach will depart at 5PM and head back to Manchester for dinner in our hotel. 

(B,D)

Make sure you enjoy a great breakfast in the hotel this morning as you will no doubt be too excited to eat much lunch ! 

Have your phones and cameras charged and ready, as our coach will depart the hotel at approximately 8:30 this morning for our first stop at a local garden shop and tea room, where we will be met by our Corrie Expert Mark who will delight us for the next hour with lots of insider stories about our favourite Corrie stars.

You will have time to browse through the lovely shop ( Mark usually offers us a discount) and have a light lunch or snack before we depart for the studios.

Update*

Mark has actually JUST advised us today ( Nov 27th, 2019) that he is going to come out of retirement for us this day and do his very popular locations tour around Manchester. He stopped doing it 3 years ago but for the 60th Anniversary of Coronation Street will do it for our guests! We are thrilled ,as he comes on board our coach and takes us to many of the locations that have been used in filming various Coronation Street segments.

We will see the Red Rec and the Canal and the local church and the actual chimney stacks that are used in the opening of the show, plus he has a whole lot of new locations that he will be adding to the tour. This tour is such an added bonus, and with Mark's long association with the show and the actors, no one is able to give this in depth tour like he can. He will accompany us to the studios, and then afterwards will continue with another hour of fascinating locations, before we head back to the hotel.

 It`s only about a 15 minute drive, but we want to make sure we are there in plenty of time for our 12 noon visit , so plan to be on board the coach at 11:30AM.

This day has brought many past tour members to tears as they got to rub shoulders with personalities who have been part of their lives for many years. 

We never know what actors we will meet, or how many......but ITV never disappoints us , and always has a special treat in store for us ! With it being the 60th Anniversary of the show, it is indeed a privilege to be on the sets this year, and no doubt our friends at ITV will be planning something special for our visit.

Some years we have had as many as 20 different cast members milling around, chatting, taking photos with our guests, and enjoying being among some of their Canadian fans.  Some actors have even come in on their day off when they know we will be visiting. We have often been invited to watch the actual filming of a scene, and one year became part of a special documentary celebrating ( Our Rita) Barbara Knox`s 50 year anniversary on the show. For die hard Coronation Street fans it truly is a dream come true....and even if you are not a hard core Corrie fan, you will be swept up in all the excitement and thoroughly enjoy the experience !

We have lots of time to wander in and out of all the sets...the Kabin, Dev`s, The Bistro, Audrey`s, Roys Rolls , Streetcars, Preston`s Petals and the inside set of Tyrone and Fiz`s, Sally and Tim`s, Ken Barlow`s, The Platt`s, .... and this year we will also get to see the Weatherfield Police Station, Costa Coffee ,and Speed Daal !  

It's a full afternoon and folks just about float onto the coach when it is time to leave.

This really is the epitome for Coronation Street fans, and we are so pleased to be able to share it with you ! 

After we leave the studios and head back to the hotel, ( after Mark finishes giving us his locations tour)  the rest of your day is free for you to enjoy as you wish.  Perhaps time to do a little souvenir shopping in nearby Arndale Shopping Mall, ( open until 9 PM) or if you didn't get to Annie's last night, you may want to head there before returning to our hotel for our farewell dinner. 

The huge Trafford Centre shopping complex is about 6 km out of town and can be accessed by catching a local bus from Picadilly Gardens, a short 3 min walk from the hotel. The shops are open here until 10PM. 

Whatever your choice, make sure to join us in the hotel dining room at 7PM for our farewell to England dinner. Time to reminisce and have some fun with your new found friends before we say farewell to England and go our separate ways.          

 (B) (D)

Well as they say , "all good things must come to an end", and it's time to bid farewell to Jolly Old England and our new friends who won't be joining us as we continue on to Venice. 

For those who will be taking flights back to Canada or perhaps on to another destination,and those continuing on to Venice with us, there will be one early morning coach transfer to the Manchester airport. Please bring your luggage to the lobby this morning, to make sure it is included in the trip to the airport.

For those who will be staying on in Manchester or travelling later in the day , enjoy your breakfast in the hotel before checkout. 

If you are planning to stay in Northern England for a few days, as of the time of publishing this brochure, the famous Blackpool Illuminations are scheduled to be switched on this evening. The actual date and time won't be confirmed until late spring 2020.There is a big switching on ceremony with a celebrity ( In 2019 it was Lucy Fallon " Our Bethany" from Coronation Street.) If you have never been to see the illuminations in Blackpool it is well worth the visit. It is the biggest free light show in the world with amazing fully lighted trams and trains in addition to massive coloured light displays along the 10 mile stretch.You can also visit Pleasure Beach, dance in the famous Blackpool Tower ballroom to the strains of the white organ that ascends from below, visit Madame Tussauds.  There is a lot to see and experience in this famous seaside town which is often mentioned on Coronation Street. You can grab a train from Manchester to Blackpool for the 1 hour journey and the cost is about $50 Canadian round trip. 

If you have chosen to continue on with us to Venice, we will be travelling to the airport this morning. Once in Venice we will be transferred to our Venice Hotel, where we can enjoy this famous city before it is time to board our cruise ship at noon tomorrow. 

Whatever your plans, we want to thank you sincerely for choosing to travel with us. 

Safe journeys and good health until we meet again.

Good Morning Venice ! 

You have the morning free to explore this lovely city.We have purposely not included breakfast this morning, so you can get out and explore Venice before it is time to board our ship.

There are hundreds of wonderful "pasticcerias" to choose from to have your morning coffee and croissant as you discover some of the hidden treasures of this famous city.  

If you have always dreamed of having a gondola ride along Venice's Grand Canal, a 30 minute gondola which can hold 6 people will be 80 euros during the day. If you want to be serenaded, add another 40 euros ! After 7 PM the rate goes up to 100 euros. 

 Venice's best transportation value is the traghetto, a public gondola ferry. Traghetti are similar to privately rented gondolas, but you'll pay only €2 to cross the Grand Canal at one of the half-dozen ferry points between the railroad station and the Campo del Traghetto near St. Mark's Square.

The ride is short, and service can be sporadic, but the experience is memorable--especially if you emulate the Venetians by standing up during the crossing !

Just plan to be back to the hotel by 11:30 AM where we will meet in the lobby to continue on to the cruise port.

Our ship will set sail from Venice at 4:30 PM and we will plan to board between 12:30 and 1PM.   

Our cruise itinerary is as follows :

Sat   Sep 5      :    Depart Venice at 4:30 PM

Sun  Sep 6th  :    Arrive Split Croatia at 7:00 AM   Depart at 5:00PM

Mon Sep 7th  :    At Sea

Tue Sep 8th   :    Arrive Santorini  7:00 AM  Depart 3:00 PM  Arrive Mykonos 8:00PM

Wed Sep 9th :                                                      Depart Mykonos  4:00AM

Thu Sep 10th  :    Arrive Dubrovnik 2:00PM   Depart Dubrovnik 8:00PM

Fri Sep  1 1 th   :    Arrive  Ancona  10:00 AM   Depart 6:00PM

Sat Sep 12th   :    Arrive Venice  8:00 AM      Disembarkation

A few details about our ship :

MSC SINFONIA

MSC Sinfonia pays homage to the symphonies of the great composers in a thoroughly modern reinterpretation of the classic cruise experience. Stylish designer interiors combine clean lines and every modern comfort with the warmth of traditional natural wood, brass and marble, bringing each stunning venue on this ship its own unique feel. 

 RESTAURANTS & BUFFET 

Each of the onboard restaurants on MSC Sinfonia promises an excellent dining experience in elegant surroundings, using prime ingredients to create delicious, freshly prepared menus from the Italian, Mediterranean and international traditions. 

 BARS & LOUNGES

The smart, distinctive bars and lounges on MSC Sinfonia serve a selection of international wines and beers, fruit smoothies, gourmet coffee treats, traditional and creative cocktails and more. So whatever your desire, refreshment is never far away. From the lavish San Remo Casino and the panoramic Pasha Club Disco to the chic lines of the San Carlo Theatre or the brand new 319 square-metre space for music and dancing, MSC Sinfonia boasts a wealth of elegant entertainment areas.

The sports and leisure options span all tastes and ages, from a high-tech golf simulator and video games to a lavish pool complex, not forgetting the fully-equipped gym and MSC Aurea Spa with its modern beauty treatments and exotic Balinese massages. 

 MSC Sinfonia Timeless Italian design and ambiance features gleaming marble, plush fabrics and fine artwork, comparable to the best hotels in Italy. Relax by the pool with a cool drink on your days of classic cruising at sea while the kids enjoy the complimentary youth club programs. 

The MSC Sinfonia's wide variety of European stylings, uniquely designed furnishings and Brazilian itineraries attract a mix of Italian, German, French and Spanish passengers. Guests will enjoy the variety of public spaces ranging from an intimate piano bar, to a large casino and an English pub.

MSC Sinfonia Ship Profile & Stats

• Cruise Line: MSC Cruises
• Ship Type: Cruise Ship
• Line Class: Mainstream
• Former Name: European Stars
• Year Built: 2002
• Year Last Refurbished: 2015
• Capacity: 1,952 passengers
• Decks: 9 passenger decks, 13 total 
• Gross Tonnage: 65,542
• Length: 801 ft
• Beam: 94 ft
• Average Speed: 18 knots
• Inside Cabins: 272
• Outside Cabins: 511
• Nationality of Officers: European
• Nationality of Crew: European
• Number of Crew: 711 

MSC Sinfonia On-Board Recreation

• Outdoor Pools: 2
• Spa: Yes
• Casino: Yes

MSC Sinfonia Dining Choices

• La Pergola Cuisine: Continental (Capacity: 300)
• Marco Polo Cuisine: Continental (Capacity: 610)

MSC Sinfonia Entertainment

• La Gondola: Main show lounge
• Amadeus Show Lounge
• Vivaldi Piano Bar
• White Lion Pub
• Cafe Quadri
• Chez Georges Bar