Depart home on an overnight flight to Prague,the  capital of the Czech Republic. 

Arrive and transfer to your hotel, located near the Vltava River in historic Old Town. Gather for a welcome reception this evening. Four Seasons Prague (R)

After a morning lecture, join a walking tour to explore Prague’s Old Town including the Jewish Quarter, visiting the haunting Old Jewish Cemetery and the 13th-century Old-New Synagogue, the oldest active synagogue in Europe. Sample regional specialties during lunch at a local restaurant, then spend the afternoon and evening at leisure in central Prague or beyond. Four Seasons Prague (B,L)

Ascend to the imposing Prague Castle, a royal residence as far back as the 10th century and still the seat of the Czech government. Its walls encompass Renaissance-era St. Vitus Cathedral, an imposing structure that incorporates a unique mix of Gothic and Baroque elements; and the Old Royal Palace, one of the oldest parts of the castle, with its elongated throne room and soaring Vladislav Hall, once the site of coronation banquets and indoor jousting tournaments. Stay within the castle walls to stroll along Golden Lane, a charmingly quaint street that dates back to the 15th century. Inside the eleven historic houses that line the lane are period scenes depicting the life of the goldsmiths and other artisans who once lived and worked here. Embark the Elbe Princesse this evening in time for the Captain’s welcome dinner. Elbe Princesse (B,L,D)

Call at Litoměřice, a royal enclave with an official history dating to the 10th Century, making it one of the oldest Bohemian settlements. A well-known trading post of the Holy Roman Empire, its old town is now under the protection of the Czech Ministry of Culture as a national cultural monument and is highlighted by the Baroque St. Stephen’s Cathedral, finished in 1057. Elbe Princesse (B,L,D)

Enjoy a morning of cruising along the beautiful Elbe River through “Saxon Switzerland” to the picturesque spa town of Bad Schandau, a summer resort for more than two centuries. Travel uphill and inland by motorcoach to see the spectacular Bastei rock formations and the pinnacles, ravines, and spectacular river views they provide.Elbe Princesse (B,L,D)

One of the most historically important cities in Germany, Dresden is renowned for its splendid Baroque architecture and world-class art collections. Enjoy a walking tour of the Old Town, including Theater Square and the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady), an outstanding example of Protestant sacred architecture that was rebuilt and reconsecrated in 2005 after being leveled by Allied bombs during World War II. Also, marvel at the glittering displays of precious objects from the late Renaissance and Rococo periods at Dresden Castle’s Green Vault. This afternoon, choose to visit Dresden’s Transparent Factory, a glass-walled facility designed by Volkswagen for the production of its top-of-the-line sedans and expanded into a fascinating interactive exhibition space for innovative future technologies, or enjoy free time to explore Dresden independently. Elbe Princesse (B,L,D)

This morning, visit the Zwinger Palace museum and explore the Old Masters Gallery, where works by Rembrandt, Rubens, and Raphael are displayed. Continue to nearby Meissen this afternoon, where the formula for hard-paste porcelain was developed in 1708. Choose between a visit to the workshop that continues to make the “white gold” by hand and the exquisite collection at the Porcelain Museum, an e-bike excursion along the banks of the Elbe, or independent free time in Meissen’s historic center. Elbe Princesse (B,L,D)

Following a morning of relaxed cruising and shipboard lectures, call at Wittenberg for a visit to the Castle Church, where in 1517 Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door, beginning the Protestant Reformation. Wittenberg’s historic Market Square, spared by the Allies during bombing raids, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On a walking tour of Old Town, visit Luther’s home as well as St. Mary’s Church, where he preached. Elbe Princesse (B,L,D)

Tour the city of Dessau, home of the famous Bauhaus school of architecture and the Wörlitz Garden Kingdom, each of which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the influential Main Building at Bauhaus as well as the Masters’ Houses, once home to visiting artists such as Paul Klee and Wassily Kandinsky. Enjoy a gondola ride through the lakes and canals of the English-style gardens at Wörlitz, among the largest gardens in continental Europe. Elbe Princesse (B,L,D)

Arrive in Potsdam to explore the magnificently Rococo Sanssouci Palace and Park, originally sketched by Frederick the Great and now the largest UNESCO World Heritage Site in Germany. Also visit Cecilienhof Palace, where Churchill, Truman, and Stalin met at the historic Potsdam Conference in 1945 and redrew the map of Europe. Enjoy the captain’s farewell dinner this evening. Elbe Princesse (B,L,D)

Disembark and transfer to the airport for flights home, or to the center of Berlin to begin the optional extension. (B)