New Year's on a cruise, between Berlin and Prague (port-to-port cruise)

Departure by coach to Elbsandsteingebirge: the sandstone mountains of the Elbe. This mountain range is located on the banks of the Elbe River in Saxon Switzerland (Germany) and Bohemian Switzerland (Czech Republic). The region is known for its stunning sandstone formations and the diversity of its fauna and flora, which is unique among the middle mountains of Germany. Crossed by the Elbe, Saxon Switzerland is home to several ruins of buildings constructed to protect trade routes, such as the Königstein Fortress and Hohnstein Castle. Some of these constructions later became hideouts for bandits. You will continue with a visit to the Königstein Fortress. This fortress, built in the 13th and 16th centuries, crowns the Königstein hill and overlooks the large bend in the Elbe. Expanded in the 17th and 18th centuries, it served several times as a refuge for the Saxon court. During this festive season, you will discover the building beautifully decorated, with Herrnhut stars symbolizing the Bethlehem star, wooden pyramids, candle arches, and a multitude of Christmas figurines. Return on board.

PLEASE NOTE

• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

Take a guided panoramic tour of Berlin in a coach. You'll see the city's main sites including Charlottenburg Palace and the government and embassy districts. We'll continue to the eastern side of the city where you'll see the Pariser Platz, French embassy, Academy of Arts, the renowned Unter den Linden, Brandenburg Gate, Berlin State Library, Humboldt University, the opera house, the Zeughaus and Berlin Cathedral. We'll also see Museum Island, Alexanderplatz, St. Nicholas Quarter (birthplace of the city), the city palace, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Gendarmenmarkt, Neue Kirche and the Konzerthaus Berlin. No tour of Berlin would be complete without a visit to Checkpoint Charlie, the vestiges of the wall, and Potsdamer Platz — rebuilt to contemporary perfection after being destroyed during WWII and left desolate during the Cold War. To finish up, we'll stop off at one of the city's Christmas markets before returning to the ship.

PLEASE NOTE

• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

We'll enjoy a guided tour on foot of Dresden's historic old city. Strolling across the area, we'll see the Theaterplatz, Semper Opera House, the Zwinger inside courtyard, cathedral, George Gate and Brühl Terrace. Following our tour, we'll return to the ship.

PLEASE NOTE

• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

We'll begin our tour with the Magdeburg Cathedral, home to the tomb of Emperor Otto I the Great. Magdeburg is a Hanseatic city located midway on the Elbe River and the Roman Roads—in the heart of Germany rich with a multi-faceted history. Its other sacred monuments include the Magdalenekapelle, St. Petrikirche, Wallonerkirche, Monastery of Our Lady and St. John's Church. We'll continue our panoramic tour by seeing the city's main monuments, including the citadel. Once located in East Germany, the city has retained its grey, square, Soviet-style buildings which are embellished today with molding and decorations. We'll visit the marketplace to see the magnificent replica of the Magdeburger Reiter, as well as the town hall and its bronze door. You'll finish up the tour with some free time on your own.
During the holiday cruise, you'll be able visit the Christmas market in the city before returning to the ship.

PLEASE NOTE

• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

We'll leave from our ship for a guided tour of Meissen. The city is famous for its porcelain, based on extensive local deposits of both china and potter's clay. Its historic district is located mostly around the market at the foot of the castle hill and contains many Renaissance-style buildings, as well as two late-Gothic buildings: the town hall and the Frauenkirche. The Frauenkirche tower hosts the world's first porcelain carillon, manufactured in 1929 on the occasion of the town's 1,000-year jubilee. After touring the city, we'll visit the porcelain factory. The intricacy of the figures and sculptures and the perfection of the hand-painted patterns are what underscore this magnificent form of art. We'll learn about the steps needed to make each piece. After some free time on your own, we'll return to the ship in Dresden.

PLEASE NOTE

• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

We'll leave from our ship for a guided tour of Litomerice. This royal city on the confluence of the Elbe and Ohre is one of the most beautiful in the Czech Republic. The extensive historical center has dozens of streets and squares. The colorful Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance buildings bordered to a great extent by well-preserved Gothic fortifications will delight you. Karel Hynek Mácha, the greatest Czech romantic poet, also succumbed to the charm of Litomerice. A delightful glass at the nearby Velké Zernoseky winery will certainly make your walk through the city all the more pleasant.
Allow yourself to be enchanted by the rare architecture of the houses on the squares: the Saxon Renaissance town hall, the "Kalich” House with a roof terrace where the rich townsfolk used to meet over a glass of wine, and the "Cerný orel” House, which has preserved its original appearance with wonderful sgraffito work. There are also countless important churches such as the Gothic Church of All Saints with its Renaissance broach roofs, the Church of the Annunciation of the Lady Mary representing the pinnacle of work by the Italian architect Antonio Octavio Broggio and the Baroque Cathedral of St. Stephen, which was built by Domenico Orsi. Our visit will be followed by a beer tasting*. After our tour, we'll return to the ship.

PLEASE NOTE

• Wear comfortable, sturdy walking shoes.
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.
• *Alcohol can be harmful to your health. Please drink in moderation.

We’ll tour the New Palace in Sanssouci Park. The colossal New Palace stands in contrast to the more intimate Sanssouci Palace. Even Frederick the Great called it an act of bravado. He preferred the smaller palace and used the more ostentatious one for elaborate celebrations and housing dignitaries. The immense, Baroque-style palace has three wings to it. Within these wings are 200 rooms, royal apartments, and four splendid galleries. Our tour will include the most eccentric of the rooms—the Grotto Hall—which has just reopened after extensive restoration. The walls of this amazing hall hold over 24,000 shells, semi-precious stones, and fossils.   After, enjoy some free time at the Blauer Lichterglanz Christmas market in the historic center of Potsdam.

PLEASE NOTE

• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

This tour will begin at Prague Castle, where you’ll have a great view of the city below. We’ll then set out to discover Prague and its Christmas markets on foot. The charming Malá Strana quarter sits right below the castle, its streets winding down to the river. A walk through this cobblestone-paved district is only one of the romantic highlights the city has to offer.

PLEASE NOTE

• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

We’ll set out on foot for the center of Prague. Holiday markets pop up across the city at the beginning of December and run through the beginning of January. We'll visit the largest and most beautiful in the Old Town, where an immense Christmas tree, nativity scene, and small chalets await. This is also the perfect time to see the city's medieval-style astronomical clock—the most legendary in the world—where the Twelve Apostles appear hourly. Master clockmaker Mikulas of Kadan built the oldest part of the clock in 1410. Wooden statues were added in the 17th century, and the Apostles became the figures in the 18th century. Our sweet treat will be a tasting of the local pastry, known as trdelník, and a cup of mulled wine.

PLEASE NOTE

• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

We’ll leave by coach for a guided tour of Lutherstadt Wittenberg’s old town, first visiting the Luther House. A former Augustinian monastery, it was for 35 years the home and place of work of Martin Luther. The house was transformed into a museum in 1883 and remains to this day the largest museum in the world dedicated to the history of the reformation. You’ll also get to see the outside of Melanchthon’s house, where Luther’s disciple lived and died. Next you’ll head to St. Mary’s town church where Martin Luther used to preach, and move on to painter Cranach’s house, whose portraits are now exhibited in the most prestigious museums around the world. Afterwards, you’ll visit the All Saints’ Church. Don’t miss its doors on which a reproduction of Luther’s 95 theses are nailed. In this very church are the tombs of both Martin Luther and Philip Melanchthon. We’ll return on board.

PLEASE NOTE

• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.