From Hamburg to Berlin: Discover the Medieval Charms of Hanseatic Cities

Passengers are welcome to board our ship in Hamburg 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, join us for an optional guided tour of Hamburg. Soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the maritime charm of Germany’s second-largest city. Our guided tour will bring you to the top sites, including the main shopping street Mönckebergstraße in the city center, the Alster Lakes, the Rathausmarkt (City Hall Marketplace), the stock exchange, and St. Michael's Church. We'll continue on foot through the city's historical center—one of the oldest sections of Hamburg. We’ll enjoy lunch on board.

This afternoon, we’ll leave by coach for an optional guided tour of Lübeck. Known as the “Queen of the Hanseatic League,” Lübeck was founded in 1143 by Adolf II, Count of Schauenburg and Holstein. UNESCO lists the city as a World Heritage Site because of its aristocratic homes and numerous red-brick Gothic monuments. Founded on the banks of the Trave River, the historic center is home to a unique collection of monuments from different eras—namely the Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical periods. We’ll discover the Holsten Gate leading to the old city center, Lübeck’s most well-known landmark and a symbol of the power once possessed by this former Hanseatic city; St. Mary’s Church, an absolute Gothic gem; and the castle monastery. We’ll wrap up our excursion by visiting a tea room where we’ll enjoy some delicious marzipan, a local specialty. After our tour, we’ll return on board in Hamburg. Join us for dinner and an evening of entertainment.

We’ll spend the morning cruising. We'll ride on the Scharnebeck twin ship lift, one of the highest in Europe with a maximum vertical lift of 125 feet (38 meters). Join us this morning for an optional guided tour of Luneburg, one of the best-preserved Hanseatic cities. During the Middle Ages, its salt deposits made it one of Germany’s wealthiest areas. The Old City has conserved its traditional brick architecture from this prosperous time. We’ll spend the afternoon cruising to Wolfsburg, and we’ll arrive in the evening.

Join us for an optional visit to the Autostadt theme park, dedicated to German automobile design. Opened during Expo 2000 in Hanover, the Autostadt is every car-lover’s dream—a huge campus full of museums, games, restaurants, and a five-star hotel. After our excursion, we’ll return on board the ship. We’ll spend the afternoon cruising to Magdeburg, and we’ll arrive in the evening.

This morning, take an optional guided tour of Magdeburg—situated midway on the Elbe River and also on the historic Roman Roads. This former Hanseatic League city is a melting pot of cultural and architectural riches. We’ll return on board and continue cruising to Potsdam.

We’ll leave on an optional visit to the beautifully landscaped gardens of the Sanssouci Palace, once the residence of Frederick the Great. This afternoon will be dedicated to an optional guided tour of Berlin, the capital that once illustrated the division of the world into East and West. Tonight is our festive gala evening.

Enjoy breakfast on board this morning before disembarking. End of our services.