VIKING RIVER CRUISES
7 Days | The Heart of Germany
Eastbound

FRANKFURT TO NUREMBERG

Day 1 | Frankfurt, Germany. Arrive in Frankfurt, also known as Frankfurt am Main — Germany’s fifth-largest city. Transfer from the airport to embark your ship. After boarding, relax and get settled in, or spend some time exploring the city, a stunning blend of traditional charm and modern elegance, on your own. After dinner, relax and enjoy musical entertainment in the Viking Lounge. (D)

Day 2 | Heidelberg. Today, take a full-day excursion to Heidelberg, home to Germany’s oldest university, founded in 1386. Tour the imposing red sandstone ruins of Heidelberg Castle, originally built in the 12th century. Your guided walk ends at Heidelberg’s Old Town and marketplace, where you will encounter the first of our Christmas markets. Shop for toys and gifts, sample delightful local treats, or perhaps get some lunch at a local café. Return aboard for dinner as we continue cruising. (B, D)

Day 3 | Wertheim. Sail into Wertheim, located at the confluence of the Main and Tauber Rivers, while you are finishing breakfast. During your morning walking tour, experience life in a typical small German town. Take some free time to visit Wertheim’s Christmas market or explore the town before returning aboard for lunch. We sail into the evening, docking at Würzburg in the wee hours of the morning. (B, L, D)

Day 4 | Wurzburg. Rothenberg. Disembark after breakfast for a full day in two of Northern Bavaria’s most charming destinations. Tour the Bishops’ Residenz, a beautiful baroque palace with many paintings and frescoes. Then, ride in a deluxe motorcoach along the Romantic Road to Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Stop for a hearty lunch in a local restaurant and take time to explore this medieval town and its joyful Christmas market. Rothenburg is also home to Germany’s Christmas Museum, open all year, and offers a local pastry, the Schneeball (snowball), to try. Rejoin your ship in Gerlachshausen, dine aboard and cruise through the night. (B, L, D)

Day 5 | Bambburg. Sail through the morning; after lunch, visit Bamberg, with its medieval city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your walking tour includes a visit to the magnificent 11th-century cathedral, reworked in late-Romanesque style in the 13th century, and the picturesque city hall built on an island in the middle of a river. We remain docked well into the evening, so feel free to walk around Bamberg or visit its traditional Christmas markets, especially beautiful when lit up after dark. You can also follow Bamberg’s popular “Route of Nativity Scenes” to view diverse crèche displays at a few dozen churches, museums and other public spaces. (B, L, D)

Day 6 | Nuremberg. Arrive at Nuremberg during a leisurely breakfast. Take a tour of the city’s most prominent landmarks, and enjoy the iconic Christmas market laid out in the Old Town’s Main Market Square. Browse the booths with their colorful ornaments, gifts and fragrant treats; there is no better place to shop for handmade wooden toys and nutcrackers, and you may even spot the golden curls of the Christkind, an angel who brings children’s toys. You must taste the traditional lebkuchen (gingerbread), skinny local bratwurst (sausages) and glühwein (hot spiced wine), and chances are you will hear carolers harmonizing. Lunch and dinner are served aboard and you can come and go as you please. (B, L, D)

Day 7 | Nuremberg. After breakfast, disembark and we will take you to the airport for your return fight.* Or, extend your journey with three nights in Prague, the Czech Republic’s glorious, romantic capital. You will be located near Prague’s Old Town and a tour of the city’s highlights, including the landmark Prague Castle, is included. (B)

NOTE: Itinerary is subject to change without notice. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to the itinerary schedule you receive with your final documents.

EASTBOUND 7 DAYS | FRANKFURT TO NUREMBERG Click HERE to view 7-day WESTBOUND. Click ship name to view deck plan.