Group Tour Operator for River cruises in Europe
Highlights of Bohemia – Prague and the Elbe & Vlatva Rivers – NEW RIVER CRUISE (CroisiEurope)
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Prague Castle and Charles Bridge ©Prague City Tourism©www.prague.eu
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Prague Castle in Autumn ©Prague City Tourism©www.prague.eu
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Prague Castle and Charles Bridge ©Prague City Tourism©www.prague.eu
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Dresden at Dusk ©Anja Upmeier
Join us on a luxury cruise on an authentic paddle riverboat cruising the Elbe and Vlatva Rivers with the only river cruise company to cruise on these waters and navigate right to Bohemian Prague. The Czech Republic lies at the heart of Europe and the capital, Prague, the ancient capital of Bohemia, is situated on the banks of the Vlatva River. Discover idyllic landscapes along both the Vlatva and the Elbe rivers, stroll around the cities of Prague and Dresden and see the magical castles of Bohemia, symbols of the nobility and aristocracy, housing many surprising works of art.
Our ship is operated by one of the leading river cruise companies ‘CroisiEurope’ who operate a 50+ fleet of river and canal vessels with a minimum 4* standard of comfort, facilities and catering.
Dates
Dates on request
Suggested Itinerary
Day 1
Depart the UK
Depart from your local area to Dover for a ferry crossing to Calais/Dunkerque. Continue through France into Germany and stop for an overnight stay in the Cologne/Rhine Valley area. Dinner is included at the hotel this evening.
Day 2
Travel to Prague
After breakfast, continue the journey east across Germany via Frankfurt and Nuremburg, crossing the border into the Czech Republic and on to Prague in time for embarkation from 18.00 hours. After comfortably settling in, there will be a welcome cocktail by the Captain and crew before enjoying dinner on board. The ship will remain in Prague overnight.
Day 3
Prague – Slapy – Stechovice
Day 4
Stechovice – Prague
The ship will make the return cruise to Prague once again along the beautiful Vlatva River and via the Slapy Dam and Reservoir. The reservoir is part of the Vltava Cascade, a system of nine reservoirs. The dam of the Slapy reservoir was constructed between 1949–1954 and is 60m high and 260m long. The ship will follow the winding river lined with hillsides on each side and glimpses of castles in romantic, restful landscapes so typical of central Bohemia.
Arrive into Prague in the afternoon. Enjoy dinner and a relaxing evening on board whilst the ship remains in Prague overnight.
Day 5
Prague Sightseeing
There are two optional guided tours today (one in the morning and one in the afternoon)
AM: Old Town in Prague. Stare Mesto (old town) dates back more than 1,000 years and is one of the most important places in Bohemian history. As you stroll through the city’s narrow streets, you’ll discover many points of interest, including the Jewish quarter, the old town hall and its famous astronomical clock, the Gothic church of Our Lady before Tyn, and the Charles Bridge.
Return to the ship for lunch.
PM: Prague Castle district: Palaces, churches, and convents stand harmoniously in the vicinity of the castle, sitting high on a hill watching over the city. Discover St. Vitus Cathedral, the largest and most important church in the country and one of the most prestigious Gothic cathedrals in Europe; the Old Royal Palace; and the Golden Lane, named after the goldsmiths that thrived there during the 17th century.
This evening enjoy dinner and traditional entertainment. The ship will remain in Prague overnight.
Day 6
Prague – Melnik
Relax and enjoy the on-board facilities and beautiful scenery as the ship sails to Melnik, at the confluence of the Elbe. After lunch on board, there is an optional excursion to Nelahozeves Castle. This is one of the most beautiful Renaissance castles in Bohemia that was home to 23 different Bohemian queens and princesses. The castle walls are elaborately adorned with Italian-style stucco and wall paintings depicting scenes from the Old Testament and Greek mythology. It is also home to a rich, private collection of furniture and paintings—including works by Rubens, Velazquez, and many others—all belonging to the Lobkowicz family, the oldest and most eminent Bohemian noble family. Discover the luxurious lifestyle of the Bohemian nobility during the Baroque period. At the end of the tour, there will be a tasting of a selection of wines from the castle’s vineyard.
Return to the ship for dinner and an evening at leisure.
Day 7
Melnik – Dresden – Prague
There is an optional full day excursion by coach (departing from Melnik) to Dresden, a fantastic city known as the “Florence of the Elbe.” It became the capital of the Margravate of Meissen in the 13th century and the seat of the Dukes of Saxony in the 15th century and offers a wide variety of attractions, including magnificent promenades on the bank of the Elbe, fascinating museums and monuments. Lunch (included) will be taken in a local restaurant after which there will be a guided tour of the Royal Palace, the former residence of the Saxon Dukes and Electors and the Kings of Saxony. See the Green Vault which reputedly contains the largest collection of treasures Europe.
After the tour, the coach will return to the Prague area to meet up with the ship. Once on board, it will sail to Prague city centre for the final night and festive gala evening on board.
(Note: Drive time Melnik-Dresden and Dresden-Prague approximately 2 hours each way)
Day 8
Depart Prague
After breakfast, make the return journey by coach through the Czech Republic and into Germany, stopping once again for an overnight stay in the Rhine Valley area. Dinner will be included at the hotel this evening.
Day 9
Return to the UK
Depart after breakfast and drive to Calais/Dunkerque and take the ferry across to the UK, and home.
MS Elbe Princesse
The Elbe Princess is a premium paddlewheeler built in 2016 and features a Nordic and contemporary interior style accented by lighthued woods and sleek graphics reflecting the architecture of the capitals of northern Europe. A bright warm light in all private and public areas are the elements that will turn first time passengers into returning ones. The main deck cabins have large windows, and the upper deck cabins have French balconies. All meals during the cruise are served in the restaurant on the main deck, which can be accessed directly from the lounge and bar. The restaurant is surrounded by large panoramic windows that give fantastic views of the scenery as it flows by. The lounge and bar on the stern of the upper deck are where cocktails, games, dancing, and other fun-filled evenings take place. The lounge has outdoor access so you can have a drink while enjoying the feel of the open air. The sun deck, with chairs and sun loungers, is the best place on the ship for an unobstructed view of the sites. There is a terrace located at the back of the ship to relax and enjoy the views and a gift shop located next to the reception desk
Cabin information/facilities (CroisiEurope)
All cabins are located above the water level and offer panoramic views of the landscape. They are equipped with private toilet, shower, washbasin and towels. Cabins are comfortable and include Satellite TV, hairdryer, safe and storage space. Depending on the boat, cabins have twin beds, a large bed or 2 separable beds. Voltage on board in 220V. All cabins are air conditioned and have independent thermostat controlled heating and air conditioning. The size and configuration of cabins vary from boat to boat. Some boats have cabins which are specifically equipped for people with reduced mobility (please ask for further details). There is free Wi-Fi throughout the ship.
The Elbe Princess is a premium paddlewheeler whose elegant restaurant features panoramic views. Entertainment is hosted in the lounge bar which has a dance floor and there’s also a gift shop on board. The cabins have air conditioning, TVs, telephones for internal calls and safes.
MS ELBE PRINCESSE
| Departure date | 9 days/8 nights | Single Supplement |
| April – October | From £ per person (twin main deck cabin) | From £ per person (single main deck cabin) |
Deposit and Payment Guidelines
A non-refundable deposit will be due upon confirmation with staged payments prior to departure. Further details upon request as these vary for each cruise company.
