After breakfast, disembark your ship and transfer to your destination. 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.
Arrive and check in to your hotel. In Berlin and across Germany, the lighting of the first Adventskranz candle on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Eve marks the start of the festive season. Christmas market stalls open for business, and decorated as picture-postcard scenes of winter, shop window displays brim with seasonal gift ideas. A stroll along Kurfürstendamm, or “Kudamm” as it is known to residents, is often referred to as the Champs-Élysées of Berlin and is a delight to explore during the holiday season.
Shore Excursions
Shore excursions vary by itinerary and are subject to change.
Potsdam Walk & Sanssouci Palace
Marvel at one of Germany’s most magnificent palaces, elegant in design and rich in history.
Brewery Visit & Dinner
Enjoy dinner and beer tasting at a neighborhood microbrewery in a revitalized industrial setting.
Friedrichstadt-Palast Theater
Experience an unforgettable evening at the Friedrichstadt-Palast Theater, home to one of the world’s biggest stages.
Videos
Thanksgiving in Europe
Celebrate Thanksgiving with Viking on November sailings. There is no better way to complement your succulent turkey dinner than with a stroll through one of Europe’s cultural capitals.
German Language Lesson
Learn a few useful German words and phrases with Rebecca, your Viking tutor. Prost!
The Berlin Airlift
Go behind the scenes at Tempelhof Airport, long closed to visitors, and learn about the famed “Raisin Bombers” and their role during the historic Berlin Airlift, the largest in history.
Jewish Museum
Designed by New York architect Daniel Libeskind, Berlin’s compelling Jewish Museum provides an unforgettable journey through Jewish culture and a rich chronicle of memory and hope.
Explore: Berlin
Experience a vibrant city that is always reinventing itself. See iconic Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Wall and the Reichstag, an architectural masterpiece. Stroll around Museum Island or go shopping in the Mitte District.
Shopping in Berlin
Today’s Berlin is a veritable treasure trove of gift ideas for the holidays. Join Karine as she shares some of her favorite things in the cosmopolitan German capital.
Cooking with Karine: Bratwurst
Taste a variety of German delicacies with Karine in Nuremberg’s medieval district, and learn some of the best side dishes to go with them, perhaps paired with a local brew.
Explore Europe with Viking
Sail Europe’s picturesque waterways in elegant comfort with Viking. Ranging from 8 to 23 days, our itineraries offer a wealth of unforgettable journeys across the continent.
