Elegant Elbe 2010

A 10-Day Viking tour starting from $2,056

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Starting Price: $2,056 Printer Friendly Page
Tour Length: 10 Days
Countries Visited: Czech Republic, Germany
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More Information About This Tour:
Tour Type:
 Escorted Tour
Tour Category: Europe River Cruise
Tour Operator: Viking
Tour Code: VKELB
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Cities Visited:
Magdeburg, Dessau, Wittenberg, Torgau, Meissen, Dresden, Bad Schandau, Litomrice, Melnik

Discover the natural beauty of former East Germany’s dramatic landscape on an Elbe River cruise. Tour the opulent palaces of Saxon monarchs and stroll through beautifully landscaped gardens; sail between the dramatic sandstone cliffs of Germany’s “Saxon Switzerland.” Marvel at the baroque splendor of Dresden and see how Meissenware porcelain is produced. Walk in the footsteps of Martin Luther in historic Wittenberg and learn about the Protestant Reformation. Your journey is bookended by one night in multicultural Berlin and one night in graceful Prague. An elegant experience indeed.

 
  • Tour of Worliz Park

  • Walking tour featuring Martin Luther's house

  • Porcelain facroty tour and demonstration

  • Scenice Cruise through Saxon Switzerland

  • Bastei excursion with panoramic Elbe views

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  • Daily Shore Excursions

  • 9 included guided tours

  • Included Meals All onboard meals: 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches & 7 dinners

  • Port Charges Included on all itineraries

  • Air Taxes, Fees, Fuel Surcharges & Transfers Included with airfare

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    Day 1 Berlin
    We meet you at the Berlin airport and transfer you to your hotel.* After check-in, enjoy free time and get acquainted with the city—or join our “welcome walk” to stretch your legs and start getting oriented.

    Day 2 Potsdam & Magdeburg
    After breakfast, travel to Potsdam. Tour either Sanssouci Palace, a perfect example of German rococo architecture, or the nearby 200-room baroque New Palace—both built by Prussian King Frederick the Great in the 18th century. After lunch on your own, transfer to Magdeburg to embark your ship. Dinner served aboard; ship departs late tonight. (B, D)

    Day 3 Dessau
    Arrive this morning in Dessau. 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 walk the grounds. Afternoon at leisure to see more of Dessau’s palaces and parks, or take an optional tour to see the Bauhaus College and some of the modernist structures by architects like Walter Gropius and Carl Fieger—a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then return to your ship for dinner and evening departure. (B, L, D)

    Day 4 Wittenberg & Torgau
    Wake up in Wittenberg, birthplace of the Reformation. After breakfast, follow in Martin Luther’s footsteps to view many of Wittenberg’s historic landmarks. Tour inside Luther’s House and St. Marien’s Church, where he preached. See the Castle Church where Luther posted his 95 Theses; then enjoy free time. Return to your ship and depart during lunch; cruising along a very pretty stretch of the Elbe.

    After dinner aboard, 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 commemorating the historic 1945 meeting between Russian and American troops. Ship sails at midnight. (B, L, D)

    Day 5 Meissen
    Today, cruise the Elbe, arriving in Meissen after lunch. Visit the Meissenware factory, which has produced fine porcelain since the early 1700s. See firsthand how this trademarked porcelain is created by hand and tour the museum. Proceed to Castle Hill for a walking tour through the Old Town. Return aboard for dinner and a short cruise to 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 (Church of Our Lady) with its distinctive bell-shaped dome, which survived the World War II bombings but collapsed the following day and was later rebuilt.

    Enjoy some free time to explore more of Dresden, or join an optional painting class and create your own portrait of this lovely city. Dinner served during evening departure. (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
    Arrive after lunch in Litomerice, 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 beers from this Bohemian region. Dine aboard. (B, L, D)

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

    Day 10 Prague
    After breakfast, check out and we take you to the airport for your return flight.* Or, extend your time abroad with 2 additional nights in Prague, giving you time to see even more of this vibrant city. (B)

     
             
    Touring Date
    Land Only
    Land + Air
    Single
    (Land Only)
    Single
    (Land + Air)
    9/4/2010 - 9/13/2010
    $2,856
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    9/11/2010 - 9/20/2010
    $2,856
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    9/25/2010 - 10/4/2010
    $2,856
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    10/2/2010 - 10/11/2010
    $2,456
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    10/9/2010 - 10/18/2010
    $2,456
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    10/16/2010 - 10/25/2010
    $2,456
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    Airfare Disclaimer
    A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link.

    Documents
    TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

    Viking Schumann

    Viking Schumann and Viking Fontane are small, intimate river cruise vessels with an unusually shallow 80 cm draft, meaning the bottom of the ship is very flat, and pump jets that minimize the impact of potentially low water levels. Viking Schumann is perfect for the Elbe River, which is very shallow; Viking Fontane’s small size makes it ideally suited to some of the smaller rivers it sails, such as the Main and the Moselle. These intimate cruise ships carry just 124 and 110 passengers, respectively.

    Viking Schumann Ship Features

    • 60 comfortable outside staterooms (all standard)
    • Sun Deck with 360-degree views
    • Bar
    • Restaurant
    • Onboard boutique
    • Card room and library
    • Free shipwide wireless internet service
    • Sauna
    • Stairlift
    • Enriching onboard lectures and demonstrations
    • Local evening entertainment
    • Laundry service
    Viking Schumann

    Staterooms (Click thumbnails to see full size image

    Category A - CS Stateroom
    Category A - CS Stateroom

    Category A - CS Stateroom

    Features

    • Stateroom size: 120 sq. ft.
    • Staterooms have one sofa bed and one Pullman bed
    • Large picture window 4.59 ft. x 2.95 ft. (Category A & B can be opened)(Category C, D, & CS can not be opened)
    • Private bathroom with shower
    • TV, telephone & hair dryer
    • Individual climate control
    • Pullman bed size: 6.40 ft. x 2.62 ft. x 1.31 ft.
    • Sofa bed size: 6.40 ft. x 2.79 ft. x 1.31 ft.
    • Closet space: 6.56 ft. x 2.79 ft.
    • Converter in the bathroom outlet
    • TV: several TV channels, video channels, info channel, “View From the Bridge” channel

    Ship Facts:

    • Inagurated: 1991
    • Refurbished: 2001
    • Length: 311 ft
    • Width: 36 ft
    • Decks: 3
    • Staterooms: 60
    • Passenger Capacity: 124
    • Voltage: 240v

    Ship Amenities:

    Reception/Lobby

    The reception lobby area is your information center during your voyage. Your Program Director’s desk is located here, so that you can easily ask questions or discuss the day’s activities. There is a public address system to announce events; there are also restrooms and an onboard boutique.

    Sun Deck

    Enjoy sunshine and fresh air while you take in 360-degree views of the scenery as you sail past castles, towns, villages, trees and vineyards. Stand at the railings or relax in a comfortable deck chair. Some of the seating has a canopy for those who prefer shade. There is an access way from the sun deck to the bridge.

    Restaurant

    The restaurant is where all meals are served during your cruise. Because it features panoramic windows, you will not miss any of the scenery while you are dining. It seats all guests at 24 tables which vary in size, accommodating 4, 6 or 8 guests per table. The dining room is open seating, so you are free to sit where you like—a great way to make new friends. The atmosphere is casual but elegant, with high-quality table linens, china, cutlery and glassware. The restaurant is located on the main deck, but is accessible only by staircase from the upper deck.

    Observation Lounge/Bar

    Located at the fore of the upper deck, the observation lounge is a terrific place to meet friends before and after meals. It boasts a large sitting area with chairs, small tables and a bar area with barstools; there is a 24-hour tea and coffee station with a fruit basket. The lounge has a projector and screen installed in the ceiling, so slides can be shown, and there is a stereo system and dance floor. The observation lounge also serves as the ship’s library. Our ships’ libraries carry approximately 80 books, in various languages but mostly English, and several games such as chess, backgammon and playing cards.

    Sauna

    Relax and unwind in the ship’s sauna, located in the aft section of the main deck.

     

  • Price Guarantee Once you have paid in full for your trip, you are safe from any additional charges. Airfare increases, currency fluctuations, increased fuel surcharges, new government taxes—none of these will apply to you.

  • Fares are per person, based on CAT D double occupancy and include port charges. Limited single pricing is available; call for details. Offers listed above are valid on new bookings only as of August 1, 2009 and expire September 30, 2009; must request offer code EBD at time of reservation and pay in full by offer deadline. Complimentary wine (two glasses with dinner on board) is included with cruise purchase; international air does not have to be purchased to receive cruise offer. The 2-for-1 pricing applies to cruise portion only; 2-for-1 pricing, air discount and complimentary wine are considered a single offer and are not combinable with any other offer except Past Guest and Referral Rewards travel credit. Offers and fares are subject to availability and additional restrictions may apply. Additional fuel surcharges may be applied. Viking River Cruises reserves the right to correct or revise pricing or dates throughout the season.

  • Travel Protection You are looking forward to your trip, and we are looking forward to welcoming you aboard. But sometimes illness or an emergency at home may create the need to postpone or cancel your vacation. If that happens, make sure you are protected. Our new, updated travel protection plan provides 100% protection if you must cancel or interrupt your trip for any reason, including a pre-existing medical condition.

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