Compare Berlin Explorer by Great Value Vacations vs From Hamburg to Berlin: Discover the Medieval Charms of Hanseatic Cities by CroisiEurope

Day 1 Welcome to Berlin!

Say "Guten tag" to Berlin! Arrive in Germany's capital and head to your accommodation. After settling in, start exploring this fascinating city!

Begin at Berlin's iconic landmark, the Brandenburg Gate. Built between 1789 and 1791, the Greek revivalist gate symbolizes a reunited Berlin. Day or night, a photo in front of the gate is a must!

Day 2 Berlin

Activate your hop-on/hop-off bus pass! For the next 48 hours, you can use this ticket to visit some of Berlin‘s attractions, including the famous avenue Kurfürstendamm and Potsdam Square. 

You should also activate your museum pass, which gives you three days of admission to all the major museums in the city. A definite highlight is Museum Island, an island in the heart of Berlin that is home to five museums. Don't miss the famous bust of Nefertiti at the Neues Museum!

Day 3 Berlin

Continue exploring Germany‘s capital with your hop-on/hop-off pass. Disembark at any bus stop to visit museums, go shopping, or stroll through Berlin's eclectic neighborhoods. Berlin captivates visitors with its extraordinary variety of monuments and rich cultural life.

In the afternoon, enjoy your included admission to the Television Tower. From 1200 feet above ground, you can see all districts in the capital!

In the evening, taste one of Berlin's iconic street foods - currywurst! This popular dish was invented in 1949 by Herta Heuwer when she mixed ketchup and curry powder (from British soldiers) and poured it over grilled pork sausage. 

Day 4 Depart Germany

Your Berlin city break ends today. At the appropriate time, head to the Berlin Brandenburg Airport for your flight home. 

Day 1 HAMBURG

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.

Day 2 HAMBURG - Lübeck

In the morning, join us for a 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 a 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.

Day 2 HAMBURG - Lübeck

In the morning, join us for a 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 a 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.

Day 3 LUNEBURG - WOLFSBURG

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 a 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.

Day 4 WOLFSBURG - MAGDEBURG

Join us for a 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.

Day 5 MAGDEBURG - POTSDAM

This morning, take a 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.

Day 6 POTSDAM - BERLIN

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

Day 6 POTSDAM - BERLIN

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

Day 7 BERLIN TEGEL

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