Passage along the Elbe - Elbe Princesse
An eight night river cruise from Prague to Berlin aboard the MS Elbe Princesse
- 3 April 2020
- 29 May 2020
- 18 September 2020
Join us aboard the delightful MS Elbe Princesse as we discover the natural beauty of former East Germany’s dramatic landscape whilst we cruise along the Elbe River between beautiful Prague and historic Berlin. For those contemplating a tour of Middle Europe, the usual option is a land based coach tour offering overnight stops and long road journeys. This attractive eight night itinerary offers an ideal alternative of relatively short journeys by road, whilst the major part of the journey is undertaken aboard our delightful vessel the MS Elbe Princesse which we have chartered for our sailings from our longstanding associates, Croisi Europe. Accommodating a maximum of just 75 passengers and with a shallow draught, the vessel is ideally suited for our river cruise.
Our journey will take us between the graceful Czech capital of Prague through the lovely Elbe Sandstone Mountains, where the Elbe has cut a deep valley through sandstone rocks, to culturally rich Dresden, the famous porcelain producing town of Meissen, Luther’s hometown of Wittenberg and historic Magdeburg, and in the vibrant city of Berlin. This is the perfect trip for those who enjoy seeing something different every day. Our floating hotel, the MS Elbe Princesse transports you in considerable comfort between the two great cities of Prague and Berlin. The slow speed of the vessel allows you to absorb the changing landscape of town and country and observe everyday life along the river.
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Elbe Princesse
For our journey along the Elbe we have chartered the delightful MS Elbe Princesse. Built in in 2016, this modern vessel is designed to navigate the difficult conditions of the Elbe River using advanced engineering technologies. With a remarkable draft of only 90 centimetres, the vessel is able to navigate low waters and traverse areas that other vessels operating in this region are not. The vessel accommodates a maximum of 75 passengers, providing a warm and intimate atmosphere on board. With plenty of light and a large Sun Deck, there is ample opportunity to watch the world gently pass by as you relax on board your comfortable floating hotel.
Prague to Berlin
Day 1 London to Prague, Czech Republic.
Fly by scheduled flight and on arrival transfer to the MS Elbe Princesse. Meet your fellow guests and crew this evening at the welcome cocktail and enjoy dinner on board.
Day 2 Prague.
Our morning tour will focus on the Czech Republic’s capital in all its elegance. Our guided walking tour of this UNESCO Heritage City will include the Charles Bridge, Old Town Square and the castle. After lunch in a local restaurant, return to the vessel and enjoy a relaxing afternoon sailing to our next port of call in Germany.
Day 3 Saxon Switzerland, Germany.
Enjoy a leisurely morning aboard before we arrive into Bad Schandau this afternoon. There will be a guided tour of the famous rock tower, known as the Bastei, which was formed by water a million years ago and from where we can enjoy stunning views of the Elbe. We continue on to Castle Konigstein, an impressive fortress overlooking the Elbe where Napoleon’s forces were billeted during his German campaign. Return to the vessel and sail to Dresden for an overnight mooring.
Day 4 Dresden.
We will have the full day to explore this wonderful city known as ‘Florence of the Elbe’. Our guided morning tour will include the historic centre, the Frauenkirche and the Baroque Church of our Lady, which still shows signs of the Allied bombing during World War II. After lunch on board there will be an opportunity to explore this striking city independently.
Day 5 Meissen.
After a relaxing morning spent sailing we will arrive at the beautiful city of Meissen with its enchanting Renaissance houses. During our guided tour we will visit the Meissen factory museum where fine porcelain has been produced since the early 1700s and see first-hand how this trademarked porcelain is created by hand.
Day 6 Wittenberg.
Wittenberg was the home of Martin Luther and the centre of the Protestant Reformation. It was here at the Schlosskirche in 1517 that Luther nailed his 95 Theses in opposition to the Roman Catholic Church. On our half day excursion we will take a walk through the old town.
Day 7 Magdeburg.
Our morning guided tour will include the historically significant cathedral and the Monastery of Our Lady, the town hall, Guericke Fountain, Old Market Square and of course, the Green Citadel. Return to the vessel for lunch and continue our sailing to Potsdam.
Day 8 Potsdam.
This afternoon we will visit the Versailles of Prussia known for its palaces and parks. Here amongst the splendour of Frederick the Great’s creation we will see the park of the Palace of Sanssouci and the Tea House.
Day 9 Berlin to London.
Disembark after breakfast and transfer to the airport for our return scheduled flight to London.
Berlin to Prague
Day 1 London to Berlin, Germany.
Fly by scheduled flight and transfer to the MS Elbe Princesse. Meet your fellow guests and crew this evening at the welcome cocktail and enjoy dinner on board.
Day 2 Potsdam.
This morning we will visit the Versailles of Prussia known for its palaces and parks. Here amongst the splendour of Frederick the Great’s creation we will see the park of the Palace of Sanssouci and the Tea House. Sail this afternoon on to our next port of call, Magdeburg.
Day 3 Magdeburg.
Our morning guided tour will include the historically significant cathedral and the Monastery of Our Lady, the town hall, Guericke Fountain, Old Market Square and of course, the Green Citadel. Return to the vessel for lunch and continue our sailing to Wittenberg.
Day 4 Wittenberg.
Wittenberg was the home of Martin Luther and the centre of the Protestant Reformation. It was here at the Schlosskirche in 1517 that Luther nailed his 95 Theses in opposition to the Roman Catholic Church. On our half day excursion we will take a walk through the old town.
Day 5 Meissen.
Today’s tour will focus on the beautiful city of Meissen with its enchanting Renaissance houses. During our guided tour we will visit the Meissen factory museum where fine porcelain has been produced since the early 1700s and see first-hand how this trademarked porcelain is created by hand.
Day 6 Dresden.
We will have the full day to explore this wonderful city known as ‘Florence of the Elbe’. Our guided morning tour will include the historic centre, the Frauenkirche and the Baroque Church of our Lady, which still shows signs of the Allied bombing during World War II. After lunch on board there will be the opportunity to explore this striking city independently.
Day 7 Saxon Switzerland.
Enjoy a leisurely morning aboard before we arrive into Bad Schandau this afternoon. There will be a guided tour to the famous rock tower, known as the Bastei, which was formed by water a million years ago and from where we can enjoy stunning views of the Elbe. We continue on to Castle Konigstein, an impressive fortress overlooking the Elbe where Napoleon’s forces were billeted during his German campaign. Return to the vessel and sail on to Prague.
Day 8 Prague, Czech Republic.
Our morning tour will focus on the Czech Republic’s capital in all its elegance. Our guided walking tour of this UNESCO Heritage City will include the Charles Bridge, Old Town Square and the castle. After lunch onboard the vessel, you are free to explore the Czech Republic’s capital at your own pace.
Day 9 Prague to London.
Disembark after breakfast and transfer to the airport with lunch on route for our return scheduled flight to London.
Dates and Prices
Berlin to Prague
Prices per person based on double occupancy3 to 11 April 2020 | ||
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Category | Price | |
Main Deck Twin | £2795 | |
Upper Deck Twin | £2995 | |
Main Deck Single | £2995 | |
Upper Deck Single | £3195 |
Prague to Berlin
Prices per person based on double occupancy29 May to 6 June 2020 • 18 to 26 September 2020 | ||
---|---|---|
Category | Price | |
Main Deck Twin | £2795 | |
Upper Deck Twin | £2995 | |
Main Deck Single | £2995 | |
Upper Deck Single | £3195 |
Tour Reference Code: RCEP
PRICE INCLUDES: Economy class scheduled air travel • Eight nights accommodation aboard the MS Elbe Princesse on an all-inclusive, full board basis (excluding premium brand alcohol) • Shore excursions • Cruise Director • Tour Manager • Guest Speaker • Gratuities • Transfers • Port taxes • Airport taxes.
Not Included: Travel insurance.
NB. Ports subject to change, water levels and weather conditions may affect the itinerary.
Elbe Princesse
For our journey along the Elbe we have chartered the delightful MS Elbe Princesse. Built in in 2016, this modern vessel is designed to navigate the difficult conditions of the Elbe River using advanced engineering technologies. With a remarkable draft of only 90 centimetres, the vessel is able to navigate low waters and traverse areas that other vessels operating in this region are not. The vessel accommodates a maximum of 75 passengers, providing a warm and intimate atmosphere on board. With plenty of light and a large Sun Deck, there is ample opportunity to watch the world gently pass by as you relax on board your comfortable floating hotel.
Travelling with You
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Simon Doughty
Simon Doughty was commissioned into The Life Guards in 1976, retiring from the Army in 2009 in the rank of colonel. During his military career he travelled widely and served in England, Northern Ireland, Cyprus, Germany and Holland. He served with his regiment in both the armoured and ceremonial (mounted) role and, as a staff officer, had tours of duty with the Ministry of Defence, HQ Land Command, and NATO.
Simon has always had an interest in history, particularly military history, including warfare through the ages and in the ancient world. He is a graduate of the Army Staff College, Camberley, and undertook a Defence Fellowship at Kings College, London, gaining an MA in War Studies. Since leaving the Army, Simon divides his time between being the Clerk of The Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor, leading the occasional bespoke battlefield tour, and editing The Guards Magazine. Simon is a contributor to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, and has recently collaborated with the photographer James Kerr (ex-Coldstream Guards) on a photographic study of the landscape of the Western Front. The book, Silent Landscape, was published in 2016 as was his second book,
The Guards Came Through: An Illustrated History of the Guards in the Great War.
Simon Doughty will be on the following tour dates: 3 to 11 April 2020 -
Major General Stephen Carr-Smith
Major General Stephen Carr-Smith served throughout much of the Cold War in Europe and then with NATO. On leaving the Army, he worked for a company providing security and mine clearance services in remote and hostile countries. He was also the Senior Military Advisor to an operational analysis company owned by British Aerospace and the Chairman of a company developing opportunities to marry up Russian technology with western finance and production.
He was the Ombudsman for Estate Agents (1999-2006), dealing with redress and financial compensation for buyers and sellers of residential property throughout the UK and is now a non-executive director on the Council that runs the National Land and Property Information Service (NLIS). Stephen Carr-Smith was the Honorary Colonel of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY) from 1996-2006 – an all women, uniformed volunteer body that has supported the British Army for 100 years.
Major General Stephen Carr-Smith will be on the following tour dates: 29 May to 6 June 2020
Tour Extensions
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If you would like to spend some time in Berlin before embarking the MS Elbe Princesse we are offering an optional two night extension based at a centrally located, four-star hotel.
Berlin
Prices per person based on double occupancy
1 to 3 April 2020 Category Price Single £595 Twin £450 Price Includes: Two nights hotel accommodation with breakfast, dinner on day 1, transfer from airport to hotel and hotel to vessel.
Not Included: Travel insurance, gratuities.
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If you would like to spend some time in Berlin after disembarking the MS Elbe Princesse we are offering an optional two night extension based at a centrally located, four-star hotel.
Berlin
The Itinerary
Prices per person based on double occupancy
6 to 8 June 2020 • 26 to 28 September 2020 Category Price Single £595 Twin £450 Price Includes: Two nights hotel accommodation with breakfast, dinner on day 1, transfer from the vessel to hotel and hotel to airport.
Not Included: Travel insurance, gratuities.
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Also of Interest
Christmas & New Year on the Rhine
A festive cruise aboard the MS Royal Crown
Royal Crown
Royal Crown
Itinerary at a glance
- Amsterdam / Arnhem / Cologne / Strasbourg / Basle / Baden-Baden / Speyer / Mannheim / Bachrach / Bonn
New Year on the Rhine
A festive cruise between Basle & Amsterdam aboard the MS Royal Crown
Royal Crown
Royal Crown
Itinerary at a glance
Three River Odyssey
A river journey from Amsterdam to Budapest aboard the MS Royal Crown with Guest Speaker Paul Atterbury
Royal Crown
Royal Crown
Itinerary at a glance
- Amsterdam / Cologne / Koblenz / Rudesheim / Mainz / Miltenberg / Wertheim / Wurzburg / Bamberg / Nuremberg / Regensburg / Passau / Melk / Wachau Valley / Vienna / Budapest
Book with Confidence
Speak to one of our advisors on 020 7752 0000