Cities of Light

Highlights:
Champs Elysees
Trier Cathedral
Niederwald Monument
Walking tour of Mitenberg
Bamberg's Old Town
Palace of Justice in Nuremberg
Charles Bridge

 

This 12-day journey includes two nights each in two of Europe’s most glorious cities, Paris and Prague—plus a scenic river cruise along the Moselle, Rhine and Main Rivers. Drink in the picturesque landscape of vineyard-clad hillsides and sample fine German appellations in the villages of this famous wine-producing region. Discover the romance of Paris and its many historic landmarks. And fall in love with the graceful architecture of Prague, home to countless spires and a vibrant cultural scene.

Your fare covers meals, shore excursions, lectures and cultural performances; it also covers hotel accomodations during city portion of select itineraries. Also, if you purchase airfare with your cruise, transfers to & from the airport and hotels are included at no additional charge.

Day 1 Paris
Arrive in Paris, the romantic capital of France. We meet you at the Charles de Gaulle airport and transfer you to your hotel.* After check-in, enjoy free time to explore this vibrant city—or join our “welcome walk” to stretch your legs and start getting oriented.

Day 2 Paris
Today’s tour begins with a drive along the Champs Elysées, past the Arc de Triomphe to the world-famous Louvre. The remainder of the day is free to see more of Paris—visit a museum, explore Montmartre or take a moonlit cruise along the Seine River. As always, your Program Director can help you plan your free time. (B)

Day 3 Paris, Luxembourg & Trier
Today, visit the Luxembourg American Cemetery and pay homage to the many Americans who lost their lives during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. See the city of Luxembourg on a guided city tour and continue to Trier to embark your ship. Dinner is served aboard. (B, L, D)

Day 4 Trier
Take a morning tour of Trier, Germany’s oldest city, set on the banks of the Moselle River. See the wonderfully preserved Roman Porta Nigra, Trier Cathedral and the Church of Our Lady. Lunch aboard as we depart. Enjoy scenic cruising along the Moselle this afternoon; we dock in Bernkastel around dinnertime. After your evening meal, you can take a walk through cobblestone streets of this charming town, or join an optional wine-tasting excursion in this famous wine region. (B, L, D)

Day 5 Cochem & Koblenz
A walking tour takes you through the quaint Moselle town of Cochem. Then, visit imposing Reichsburg Castle. Eat lunch while cruising the scenic Moselle to Koblenz, arriving in the late afternoon. Sample wines from this famous region during an optional wine-tasting excursion. (B, L, D)

Day 6 Rüdesheim
Cruise through the morning, arriving in Rüdesheim. The afternoon’s tour features the Niederwald Monument, high above the Rhine River. Take free time to enjoy the restaurants, bars and shops lining Rüdesheim’s Drosselgasse. Dine and cruise into the evening. (B, L, D)

Day 7 Miltenberg
After breakfast, you have a guided walking tour of Miltenberg, a historic Bavarian town known for its half-timbered houses, including Zum Riesen, one of the oldest inns in Germany. Take the afternoon to further explore this charming destination on your own; visit Mildenburg Castle or the town museum, or just wander through the Old Town area. Lunch and dinner are served aboard.
Or, take an optional full-day excursion to Heidelberg, an ancient city that is home to Germany’s oldest university. Tour the imposing red sandstone ruins of Heidelberg Castle, originally built in the 12th century but twice destroyed by lightning. A guided walk through Heidelberg’s Old Town and marketplace is included, as is lunch is in a local restaurant. Return to your ship for dinner. (B, L, D)

Day 8 Würzburg
Disembark in Karlstadt and take a half-day excursion to the charming Franconian wine town of Würzburg where you tour the Bishops’ Residenz, a beautiful baroque palace with many paintings and frescoes. Join your ship in Würzburg; dine and cruise through the night. (B, L, D)

Day 9 Bamberg
Cruise through the Main-Danube Canal to Bamberg, founded in 902. Bamberg’s Old Town area is so beautifully preserved that it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy a walking tour and then take time to sample the town’s famous locally brewed smoky beer, Rauchbier. Dine aboard. Depart tonight. (B, L, D)

Day 10 Nuremberg & Prague
Arrive in Nuremberg during breakfast and disembark for a tour of this Bavarian city. See Zeppelin Field and the Palace of Justice, site of the Nuremberg Trials. After lunch on your own, transfer to Prague. Check in to your hotel and take some free time to begin exploring the city. (B)

Day 11 Prague
This morning, tour this “City of a Hundred Spires.” A guided walk takes you through Old Town to the famed Charles Bridge. After the tour, take the rest of the day to explore; see the Town Hall’s intricate 15th-century Astronomical Clock or explore the Josefov Quarter to discover the city’s vibrant Jewish heritage. (B)

Day 12 Prague
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and we take you to the airport for your return flight.* Or, extend your journey with 2 additional nights in Prague. Tour the famed Prague Castle, see the landmark Gothic St. Vitus Cathedral and discover more of this beautiful city. (B)

The following meals are included: B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner
*Airport meet & greet transfers included when air is purchased from Viking River Cruises. Please note, Viking can only offer air to guests traveling from the U.S. or Canada.

Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
8/13/2010 - 8/24/2010	$3,556
8/20/2010 - 8/31/2010	$3,556
8/27/2010 - 9/7/2010	$3,556
9/24/2010 - 10/5/2010	$3,956
10/15/2010 - 10/26/2010	$3,756
10/22/2010 - 11/2/2010	$3,156
10/29/2010 - 11/9/2010	$3,156
11/5/2010 - 11/16/2010	$2,756
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.

Prices quoted are for the lowest category cabins and subject to availability at the time of booking

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.

2010 Sale 2 for 1 cruise pricing plus complimentary wine with dinner expires March 31, 2010 Must request offer 13 or 14 at the time of booking and pay in full by offer deadline.

Cruise fares listed are cruise only in U.S. dollars, per person, based on double occupancy and include non-commissionable fares. Cruise fares listed are valid for U.S. and Canadian residents only. Cruise ship fuel surcharge may apply. All fares and offers are for new bookings only as of March 1, 2010, are subject to availability, may not be combinable with other offers except Past Guest Travel Credit and Referral Rewards Credit, are capacity-controlled and may be withdrawn at any time without prior notice. 2-for-1 fares are based upon published full brochure fares; cruise fares do not include pre-paid charges, optional facilities and service fees, and personal charges, as defined in the terms and conditions of the Passenger Ticket Contract which may be viewed elsewhere on this website. Full brochure fares may not have resulted in actual sales in all stateroom categories and may not have been in effect during the last 90 days. Promotional fares may remain in effect after the expiration date. Air promotion applies to economy, roundtrip flights only from select Viking River Cruises U.S. and Canadian gateways and includes airport-to-ship or hotel transfers, air taxes and air fuel surcharges. Viking reserves the right to correct errors or omissions and to change any and all fares, fees and surcharges at any time. For up-to-date prices, please call us at 800-942-3301. The cruise ship fuel surcharge is additional revenue to Viking River Cruises, as are any additional charges relating to currency fluctuation other than for fully paid cruise fares and full fares, which fluctuations are beyond our control. Additional terms and conditions may apply. Complete terms and conditions may be found in the Passenger Ticket Contract.

Ratings & Reviews:

This tour has no reviews yet. Have you experienced this tour? Write a review.

Related Travel Articles

• Louvre Museum :: Quick facts and things you should know
• See Europe :: Travel Safely and In Style, Escorted Tours
• All About Paris France :: the world’s most romantic city
• Travel Improves Your Health
• Adventures by Disney Invites Families to Experience the World in 2010
• Four European Cities You Must See
• Palace of Versailles France
• MAKING THE MOST OF A “MINI”: PACK FUN INTO QUICK GETAWAYS WITH MONOGRAMS
• Independent Vacation 2010 Prices Down 10 Percent Worldwide
• Europe Language Tips
• Cruise Through Central Europe