MS Viking Fontane
This three-deck ship has 60 comfortable outside cabins all with picture window, two lower beds, private facilities, TV and air-conditioning. There is a spacious observation lounge, bar, restaurant, sauna and sundeck. Accommodation is full board throughout your cruise and includes buffet breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea with pastries and a three-course dinner.
MS Viking Schuman
For departure dates 06/06/09, 04/07/09 and 12/09/09, you will be aboard MS Viking Schuman, an identical ship to the MS Fontane. The intinerary will also be reversed, so you will start with the Hotel Diplomat in Prague, followed by the 7 nights cruise and then the final night spent in the Holiday Inn, Berlin. All excursions will go ahead as planned, just in reverse.
Your hotels
BERLIN
Holiday Inn Berlin City-West (4-star), 1 night bed and breakfast.
Facilities include a restaurant, bistro cafe, indoor swimming pool and spacious lounge bar.
PRAGUE
Hotel Diplomat (4-star), 1 night bed and breakfast.
Located within walking distance of Prague Castle, this modern hotel offers superbly-equipped rooms, a lounge, lobby bar and first class restaurant.
DAY 1 UK/Berlin
We fly to Berlin and on arrival transfer to the 4-star Holiday Inn Berlin City-West where we stay for one night on a bed and breakfast basis.
DAY 2 Berlin & Magdeburg
A fascinating city, Berlin is easy to explore. Perhaps take in some of the fine museums, including the excellent artworks in the Gemaldegalerie and the collections held on Museum Island. A stroll down the grand Unter den Linden takes you past some exclusive shops as well as the Humboldt University and the Staatsoper, Berlin’s opera house. At the boulevard’s western end lies the Brandenburg Gate, a stately reminder of Berlin’s history. To escape from the bustle, why not explore the gardens of the Charlottenburg Palace? There will be an included city tour in the morning showing the historical highlights of this fascinating city. This afternoon we transfer to Magdeburg for an evening embarkation of our river cruiser.
DAY 3 Dessau
We depart Magdeburg and head along the scenic Elbe to Dessau. Here we take an optional excursion by coach to the beautiful Worlitz Park, a German park designed as English country gardens. You will also have the opportunity to tour inside Worlitz Castle, with its extensive grounds influenced by the idea of an English country mansion within a working estate. Returning to the ship, we spend the night sailing.
DAY 4 Wittenberg & Torgau
Arrive in the Lutheran town of Wittenberg this morning. Follow in the footsteps of Martin Luther as we take an optional sightseeing tour of the birthplace of the Protestant Reformation. We will see some of the places associated with the philosopher Martin Luther, including his former home, which is now a museum; the market place; and the Gothic Church of St Marien, and the oldest building in the town, dating from around 1300, and where Martin Luther preached. We set sail again at lunchtime, arriving in the historic town of Torgau in the evening. Here we can enjoy a delightful optional tour of the town, including Hartenfeld Castle, Market Square and the monument on the riverbank commemorating the meeting of Russian and American troops. We dock here for the night.
DAY 5 Meissen
We depart Torgau for Meissen where we arrive around lunchtime. Join our optional excursion, beginning with a tour of the city which is dominated by the Albrechstburg, occupying a commanding position perched on a rocky outcrop. Originally built as a palace, it was soon abandoned and became the headquarters of the first porcelain factory in Europe. During our tour, we will visit one of the porcelain factories for which the city is renowned, the Meissenware factory. This factory has produced hand crafted porcelain since the 1700s, here you’ll be able to see it made and tour the museum. Continue to Castle Hill for a tour through the Old Town before returning to the ship.
DAY 6 Dresden
Enjoy a full day in beautiful Dresden, nicknamed ‘Florence of the Elbe.’ See the fine Baroque architecture of the Zwinger Palace, now home to the Gemaldegalerie, one of the world’s finest collections of old masters, Semper Opera House, scene of the premieres of Wagner’s Tannhauser and Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier, and the Church of Our Lady, as well as Residence Castle and a tour of the Green Vault with its collection of fine art and Saxon crown jewels. There is also an optional tour to Pillnitz Castle with its Asianinspired gardens.
DAY 7 Saxon Switzerland & Decin
Today we call at the spa town of Bad Schandau. Join our optional excursion through Saxon Switzerland, to the beautiful mountainous Bastei region, known as ‘Little Switzerland’.
DAY 8 Litomerice
We spend the morning cruising leisurely through the area of Porta Bohemia, a scenic highlight on the River Elbe, and arrive in Litomerice, one of the prettiest towns in the Czech Republic, mid-afternoon. Explore at your leisure, taking in sights such as St Stephen’s Cathedral, Jesuit Church and the historic Market Square.
DAY 9 Melnik & Prague
Early this morning we arrive in Melnik, a charming riverside town located north of the city of Prague and dominated by the mediaeval fortress which dramatically overlooks the river bank. We disembark after breakfast and transfer by coach to nearby Prague for one night’s bed and breakfast accommodation at the 4-star Hotel Diplomat. This afternoon join our tour of Prague’s old town and charming castle district, led by a knowledgeable local guide.
DAY 10 Prague/UK
Fly back home to the UK from Prague.
Please note: On 25th April and 9th May departures, Torgau will not be visited on day 4 and the optional walk will not be available. On 6th June, 4th July and 12th September departures the itinerary will be operated in reverse and the visit to Torgua will be included in the holiday price.