Christmas Along the Elbe

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and begin your journey to your embarkation city. Potsdam straddles one of the Elbe’s main tributaries, the Havel River. It boasts a rich history that spans more than 1,000 years. From its humble beginning, Potsdam burgeoned into a royal city, hosting the residences of Prussian and German rulers until the early 1900s. A series of tumultuous events followed, but through it all, Potsdam maintained its prominent stature. And in 1990, with Germany’s reunification, Potsdam was named Brandenburg’s state capital. Today, the city’s regal past lives on in its 16 well-preserved palaces, including the impressive Sanssouci Palace.

Transfer to your ship and settle into your stateroom. During the holiday season, Wittenberg is set against a backdrop of winter market stalls in small wooden houses as Christmas fragrances fill the air. Advent performances take center stage in the Church Square with dancers in colorful costumes, Christmas-themed puppet shows and traditional organ music creating a festive atmosphere. In the forest that once belonged to the famous German Renaissance artist Lucas Cranach, regional crafts, delicious mulled wine and tasty treats, including the traditional Möllensdorfer Christmas sausage, are on offer.