VIKING RIVER CRUISES
16 Days | Poland, Prague and the Elegant Elbe
Northbound

BERLIN TO WARSAW

Day 1 | Berlin, Germany. Arrive at the Berlin airport, then transfer to your hotel. After check-in, you have free time to get acquainted with the city, or join our “welcome walk” to stretch your legs and get oriented.

Day 2 | Potsdam. Magdeburg. Embark. After breakfast, travel to Potsdam. Tour either Sanssouci Palace, a perfect example of German rococo architecture, or the nearby New Chambers. Both are built by Prussian king Frederick the Great in the 18th century. Have lunch on your own, then transfer to Magdeburg to embark your ship for a dinnertime departure. (B, D)

Day 3 | Wittenberg. After breakfast, follow in Martin Luther’s footsteps to view many of Wittenberg’s historic landmarks. Tour inside Luther House and St. Marien Church, where he preached. See the Castle Church where Luther posted his “Ninety-Five Theses”; then enjoy free time and the remainder of your day as your ship remains docked for the night. (B, L, D)

Day 4 | Wittenberg. Torgau. This morning, take a journey to Wörlitz Park, Germany’s first landscaped park with English-style gardens. Tour inside Wörlitz Castle, fashioned after an English country home, and stroll the grounds. Return to the ship for a lunchtime departure and afternoon cruising. After dinner aboard your ship, arrive in Torgau with its wonderful Renaissance houses. Join your Program Director for an evening stroll to see fortified Hartenfels Castle, Market Square and the riverside monument that commemorates the day in 1945 when Russian and American troops shook hands. We depart after midnight. (B, L, D)

Day 5 | Meissen. Today, cruise the Elbe and arrive in Meissen during lunchtime. Then stop in at the Meissenware factory, producers of fine porcelain since the early 1700s. Discover how this trademarked porcelain is created by hand, then tour the museum. Proceed to Castle Hill for a walking tour through Old Town. Return aboard for dinner and a short cruise to an evening arrival in Dresden. (B, L, D)

Day 6 | Dresden. Embark on a tour of Dresden, nicknamed “Florence on the Elbe.” Drive through the 19th-century residential area to the Dresden Castle complex; enter the *Green Vault to see a comprehensive collection of the Saxon monarchs’ crown jewels. Continue on foot to see Zwinger Palace, Semper Opera House and the Frauenkirche (Cathedral of Our Lady) with its distinctive bell-shaped dome, which survived World War II bombings but collapsed the following day and was later rebuilt.

*Please note: The Green Vault is closed on Tuesdays. On most Viking Schumann and Viking Fontane sailings, you will visit the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister (Old Masters Picture Gallery) instead to view some of the world’s great masterpieces, including works by Raphael, Vermeer, Rubens and Rembrandt.

Enjoy some free time to explore more of Dresden, or join one of our Viking master chefs on a shopping trip to the local farmers’ market. You also have the opportunity to see some local arts and crafts in the afternoon. Dinner is served aboard, then feel free to enjoy Dresden’s many charms and attractions as we remain docked until early morning. (B, L, D)

Day 7 | Saxon, Switzerland. This morning, cruise through the magnificent, soaring rock formations of the Saxon Switzerland region, then dock at the spa town of Bad Schandau. From here we make our way to the famous rock tower known as the Bastei (bastion), formed by water a million years ago, to enjoy stunning panoramic views of the Elbe. Return aboard for dinner and evening cruising. (B, L, D)

Day 8 | Litomerice, Czech Republic. Arrive after lunch in Litoměřice, one of the prettiest towns in the Czech Republic. See St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the Jesuit Church, historic Market Square and many residential buildings from the baroque, Renaissance and Gothic periods. The tour ends with a tasting of Bohemian beers. This evening, join your ship’s Captain for a festive onboard dinner. (B, L, D)

Day 9 | Melnik. Disembark. Prague. Awaken in Mělník; after breakfast, disembark for a transfer to Prague. Upon arrival, you tour Prague, the “City of a Hundred Spires.” After a guided walk through Old Town, take some free time to explore on your own. Then ride to visit Hradčany Castle. Return to the hotel for check-in and dinner on your own. (B)

Day 10 | Prague. You have today to explore the medieval splendor of Prague on your own. Perhaps you’ll stroll across statue-lined Charles Bridge – the 14th-century span across the Vltava River – for magnificent views of the cityscape. Stroll the old Jewish Quarter. Or admire the Astronomical Clock on the Old Town City Hall. You can also join an optional excursion to Lobkowicz Palace at Prague Castle. (B)

Day 11 | Krakow, Poland. After breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to Kraków. Situated on Poland’s Vistula River, it is one of the country’s oldest cities. This evening, enjoy a lively performance of klezmer folk music with dinner. (B, D)

Day 12 | Krakow. Discover the beautifully preserved Old Town of Kraków, including its vast 13th-century Market Square. It is one of the more unique public squares of Old Europe, thanks to the enormous Renaissance Cloth Hall that stands at its center. Exotic imports such as colorful silk and aromatic spices once passed through its doors for trade. You will also visit Wawel Castle on Wawel Hill, once the residence of the kings of Poland and now a fascinating art museum. If you’d like, you can explore the magnificent Wieliczka Salt Mine on an optional excursion. (B)

Day 13 | Krakow. After breakfast, journey just outside the city to Auschwitz. This preserved camp serves as a solemn reminder of the horrors of World War II and urges all who visit to never forget the sacredness of human life and dignity. Back in Kraków, you will have the afternoon on your own to visit the National Museum with its excellent collection of paintings, sculptures, decorative arts and military artifacts. Or visit Wawel Cathedral, where royal coronations were held and national heroes are entombed. (B)

Day 14 | Czestochowa. Warsaw. Check out of your hotel this morning and travel to Warsaw. En route, you will visit the city of Czestochowa. Here, at the Pauline monastery of Jasna Góra, the famous Black Madonna painting draws millions of Catholic pilgrims from all over the world. Upon arrival in the Polish capital of Warsaw, you will have time to get to know the city on your own. (B)

Day 15 | Warsaw. This morning, discover the incredible restoration of Warsaw’s Old Town. Completely demolished during World War II, historians and architects painstakingly rebuilt it to mirror its original beauty, using bricks and decorative elements salvaged from the rubble whenever possible. You will also visit the Warsaw Uprising Museum to learn about the valiant attempt of resistance fighters to liberate their city from Nazi Germany. (B)

Day 16 | Warsaw. After breakfast, check out of your hotel and proceed to the airport for your return flight. (B)

NOTE: Itinerary is subject to change without notice. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to the itinerary schedule you receive with your final documents.

NORTHBOUND 16 DAYS | BERLIN TO WARSAW Click ship name to view deck plan.