Classic Elbe Cruise Tour | Great Rail Journeys

Tour Highlights

Berlin
Magdeburg
Wittenberg
Meissen & Dresden
Bad Schandau
Litoměřice & Prague

What’s Included (Full details)

Standard Class Rail
4* Hotel Accommodation
Breakfast Every Day
All-Inclusive Board Basis
Gala dinner evening

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Itinerary
Ships, Hotels & Trains
Optional Extras

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Departure Times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.

Day 1

London to Berlin

We meet at our dedicated Departure Office in St Pancras International. We catch the Eurostar service to Brussels and change for Cologne, before taking the train to Berlin.

Includes:

Dinner

Day 2

Boarding our vessel

After a leisurely day in Berlin, we transfer across the city centre. Here, we board our ship, the MS Elbe Princesse, where we are greeted with a welcome cocktail.

Includes:

Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3

Berlin

Today you may like to join us for an optional tour of Berlin - a city with a turbulent past that is evident throughout its façade. You can visit portions of the Berlin Wall which are still intact, or see a site of former East-West tensions at Checkpoint Charlie, an enduring monument to the Cold War. Alternatively, you may like to explore independently. This afternoon you can embark on an optional visit to the mesmeric gardens of the Sanssouci Palace, then tonight we enjoy a Gala dinner evening. The ship begins to sail just before we dine, bound for Brandenburg.

Includes:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4

Magdeburg

We leave for Burg in the morning, and on arrival you may choose to join an optional tour of Magdeburg. A town situated midway on the Elbe River and the iconic Roman Roads, Magdeburg's most prominent sight is the Lutheran Cathedral of Saints Catherine and Maurice. Standing imposingly over the city, this building is the oldest Gothic cathedral in Germany. We spend the night sailing to Wittenberg, enjoying an evening's entertainment on board.

Includes:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5

Wittenberg

We stop at Wittenberg today, renowned as the birthplace of the Reformation and where Martin Luther infamously nailed his 95 Theses to the door of Wittenberg Castle church. Choose to discover the city centre and its Renaissance town houses and visit Martin Luther's house, a former Augustinian monastery now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, on an optional guided tour, or alternatively, explore at your own pace. The afternoon is spent cruising to Meissen.

Includes:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6

Meissen and Dresden

This morning you may like to join the optional excursion to the historic city of Meissen, famous for its production of Porcelain. Later there is a chance to enjoy an optional excursion to the city of Dresden, the 'Florence of the Elbe.' Characterised by stunning cityscapes, Dresden is a beautiful homage to German civilisation. The city is formed by predominantly Baroque architectural styles, though not exclusively. It has been painstakingly rebuilt after it was almost completely destroyed by allied bombing raids towards the end of the Second World War

Includes:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7

Bad Schandau

We cruise through the 'Saxon Switzerland' region this morning, passing wooded areas, grassy hills and sheer stony outcrops, as the Elbe winds its way to Bad Schandau a spa town wedged between the banks of the Elbe River and the rising verdant hills behind it. Perhaps take an optional excursion to the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, where you'll discover the Königstein Fortress. Overlooking the Elbe imperiously, and dating back to the 13th century, this is one of the largest hilltop fortresses in Europe. We return to our boat and continue onwards.

Includes:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8

Litoměřice

We continue onwards this morning, cruising towards Horin, admiring the verdant scenery as we float serenely down the Elbe. Take advantage of one of the activities on offer or simply relax on the sun deck and watch the rolling countryside saunter by. Later we arrive at Litoměřice, one of the oldest Bohemian cities. Established in the 10th century Litoměřice is an ancient place, categorised by a mixture of colourful Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance architecture. You can enjoy an optional guided tour around this attractive town. After dinner, enjoy an evening's entertainment on board.

Includes:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9

Prague

Today you are free to explore resplendent Prague, known as the 'city of 100 spires' for its striking skyline, which incorporates a myriad of copper-domed buildings and protruding spires. This afternoon you may choose to take an optional visit to the spectacular Prague Castle area. We remain in port overnight.

Includes:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10

Return to Germany

After breakfast, we disembark our vessel and transfer to the station for the rail service back through Germany, arriving in Nuremberg, where we overnight.

Includes:

Breakfast, Dinner

Day 11

Homewards

Begin your return to England today, with the rail service to Brussels via Cologne. Once in the Belgian capital, transfer to the Eurostar for the service to St Pancras.

Includes:

Breakfast

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Classic Elbe Cruise

Itinerary

Ships, Hotels & Trains

Optional Extras

Itinerary & Map

London to Berlin

Boarding our vessel

Berlin

Magdeburg

Wittenberg

Meissen and Dresden

Bad Schandau

Litoměřice

Prague

Return to Germany

Homewards

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