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

BERLIN - WUSTERWITZ - MAGDEBOURG - WITTENBERG - MEISSEN - DRESDEN - USTI - KRALUPY - PRAGUE

Passengers are welcome to board our ship in Berlin starting at 6:00 p.m. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we'll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail. We'll enjoy dinner on board.

In the morning, optional excursion: Berlin. The German capital charms visitors with its wide variety of tourist attractions, its cultural richness, and its dynamic yet laid-back lifestyle. The contrasts between historic buildings and contemporary architecture define the city and tell the story of an entire nation, from the Brandenburg Gate to the Chancellery. You will see the Victory Column, next to which stands a statue of Bismarck, followed by the Brandenburg Gate adjacent to the Reichstag with its glass dome, Museum Island, Alexanderplatz with its TV Tower, and Checkpoint Charlie.

In the afternoon, optional excursion: Visit to the New Palace. This magnificent palace in the Sanssouci Park is a symbol of Prussian power. Unlike the intimate Sanssouci Palace, the New Palace is a building with long rows of rooms, grand halls, and lavishly decorated galleries. You will discover the Marble Hall, the Grotto Hall, the Concert Hall, and the Palace Theatre.

We'll cruise towards Wusterwitz. Enjoy an evening of entertainment.

We'll spend the morning cruising on the Elbe. At 1,091 km long, it is the 14th largest river in Europe. Originating from the Giant Mountains, it flows through Bohemia and Saxon Switzerland before reaching the North Sea at Hamburg. Magdeburg is one of the major cities traversed by this river.

Arrival in Magdeburg in the early afternoon.

Optional excursion: Magdeburg. First mentioned in a manuscript in the year 805, the capital of Saxony-Anhalt surprises with its diversity and rich history spanning over 1,200 years. You will visit the Magdeburg Cathedral and the Notre-Dame Cloister, the most remarkable historical monuments of Magdeburg's cultural heritage. You will also see the Green Citadel with its colorful façade, the Market Square and the equestrian statue of the Magdeburg Rider, the Town Hall, and its bronze portal. Return to the ship.

Enjoy and evening of dancing. We'll spend the night cruising.

Arrival in Wittenberg early in the morning.

Optional excursion: Wittenberg, the city of Luther. Depart for the town center, where you'll see beautiful Renaissance-style patrician houses. You'll pass by the Town Hall, in front of which stand statues of Luther and his disciple Melanchthon. Landmark buildings such as the Castle Church, considered the heart of the spread of the Reformation, and the homes of Luther and Melanchthon, are key parts of the city's heritage. You’ll visit Martin Luther’s house,(2) which served as his home and workplace for 35 years. Today, it houses the world’s largest museum dedicated to the history of the Protestant Reformation. Then, visit the Gothic St. Mary’s Church. Further along, you’ll spot the Cranach House, where portraits are now housed in some of the world’s largest museums.

Return to the ship and continue the cruise along the Elbe. The UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of the Elbe landscape marks a unique natural and cultural landscape, with untouched floodplains, white sandy beaches, and wooded peaks.

New Year's Eve celebration.

We'll spend the night cruising.

Arrival in Meissen early in the morning.

Optional excursion: Meissen and its famous porcelain factory. This picturesque town is dominated by the 15th-century Albrechtsburg Castle, which overlooks the Elbe. Meissen is also known for producing some of the finest German porcelain. You will explore the old town, with its large square lined with Renaissance houses, the Town Hall, and the Church of Our Lady, both in late Gothic style. Then, head to the porcelain factory. In 1708, the discovery of a kaolin deposit in Saxony, combined with the ingenuity of alchemist Johann Friedrich Böttger, led to the creation of the first hard-paste porcelain in Europe. The Duke of Saxony, Augustus the Strong, was a great fan of porcelain. Under his influence, the Meissen porcelain and ceramics factory became, from 1720 onwards, one of the most remarkable porcelain manufacturers imaginable. A permanent exhibition traces the history of porcelain.

Meanwhile, the boat will sail towards Dresden, where you will join it.

In the afternoon, optional excursion: Dresden, the "Florence of the Elbe." Your tour will begin with a panoramic drive, offering stunning views of vast green spaces like the Great Garden, as well as the Elbe's banks and hills, prestigious villas, and grand buildings like the football stadium and the VW factory. You will then visit the Old Town on foot, passing through the iconic Theatre Square, where you can admire architectural masterpieces in Baroque, Renaissance, and other styles. You'll see the Semper Opera House, the magnificent Zwinger Palace in Baroque style, and the George’s Tower. Then, stroll along the Brühl Terrace, known as the "balcony of Europe," bordered by an exceptional collection of Baroque and Neoclassical architecture overlooking the Elbe along the southern bank.

Return to the ship. Enjoy an evening of dancing.

In the morning, optional excursion: The Elbsandsteingebirge (Elbe Sandstone Mountains in Saxon Switzerland). Geologically, the origin of this landscape dates back four million years. During the Cretaceous period, the region was still submerged. The subsequent erosion wore down the rocks, giving them their spectacular shapes. The landscape is marked by tower-like rock formations. The interplay of shadow and light, time, and wind constantly alter the shapes, presenting new facets at every moment. You will visit the Königstein Fortress, which uniquely reflects European fortified architecture. This impressive ensemble of Gothic, Baroque, and 19th-century buildings is the result of more than 750 years of history. The ramparts offer beautiful views of the Elbe.

We'll spend the afternoon cruising through the enchanting regions of Saxon Switzerland and Northern Bohemia.

Enjoy an evening of entertainment.

Optional excursion: Guided tour of Litoměřice. The charming town of Litoměřice is located on the banks of the Elbe, at the boundary between the vast agricultural plain and the mountainous, wooded landscapes that define the high plateaus of Central Bohemia. The historic center of the town is almost entirely surrounded by fortifications dating back to the Gothic period. You’ll discover architectural gems, such as Mírové náměstí Square, lined with medieval houses, some of which are among the oldest still inhabited homes in the Czech Republic. At the end of the tour, enjoy a tasting of local specialties.

Return to the ship. We'll spend the afternoon cruising. Enjoy an evening of entertainment.

We'll cruise towards Prague.

Optional excursion: Guided tour of Old Prague. You will head to Old Town Square with its charming arcaded houses, now the most visited place in Prague. You will see the statue of Jan Hus, the reformer who was burned at the stake in 1415, the Town Hall with its famous Astronomical Clock, which reveals the 12 apostles every hour, the Church of Our Lady before Týn (exterior), the Ungelt Passage, and the Merchants' Courtyard. You will also visit the Municipal House, the most beautiful Art Nouveau jewel in the city, and the Powder Tower, a Gothic monument 75 meters high, which once served to monitor the road to Kutná Hora.

Optional excursion: The Castle District. A symbol of the glorious past of the Czech people, Prague Castle is at the heart of the country's political life as it is the residence of the President of the Czech Republic. Located on a hill overlooking Old Prague and Malá Strana, this monumental complex rises from a crown of gardens and rooftops, with its long horizontal façade crowned by the towers of St. Vitus Cathedral and St. George's Basilica. Here, you can admire beautiful churches (St. Vitus Cathedral, Strahov Monastery) and splendid palaces (Cernin Palace, Belvedere). You’ll then stroll through historic streets (New World, Golden Lane).

Return to the ship. Gala evening.

Enjoy one last buffet breakfast on board before disembarking at 9:00 a.m. End of our services.