Castles, Vineyards & Villages

Disembark your ship in Amsterdam and travel with your Viking Tour Director to Ghent. There, see the towering belfry, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; canals lined with medieval guild houses; and the massive Gravensteen, the 12th-century home of the Counts of Flanders. Admire the famous van Eyck brothers’ altarpiece, The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, during a visit to St. Bavo’s Cathedral. After lunch and time for independent exploration, continue to Bruges and check in to your hotel. (L)

After breakfast, take a guided walk through Bruges’s historic city center—a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pass the homes of prominent former residents and see the Béguinage and its gardens. Visit the Church of Our Lady, admiring Michelangelo’s marble Madonna and Child, and view the medieval Gruuthuse palace and gardens. Then, cruise along the picturesque canals, lined with gabled houses and floral-decorated bridges. Afterward, return to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. (B)

Enjoy free time in Bruges this morning, then head south to the World War I battlefields around Ypres, immortalized as Flanders Fields in Canadian Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae’s poem. Visit the Flanders Fields American Cemetery and Memorial, the Flanders Fields Museum and the rebuilt town of Ypres, home of the Menin Gate. After dinner, you will observe the buglers of the Last Post Association sounding the “Last Post” under the gate’s arches. Afterward, you will return to Bruges. (B, D)

Check out of your hotel, then transfer to the airport for your return flight home. (B)

Arrive in Prague, where you will be met by your Viking Representative and transfer to your hotel. After check-in, join your fellow guests on an orientation walk around the city, or explore on your own. A Viking Tour Director is available to help you plan your time in Prague so you can make the most of your visit. This evening, perhaps join an optional tour and experience the medieval treasures of Prague after dark.

After breakfast, drive to Prague’s Castle District and walk through the impressive complex as you take in views over the Vltava River. Cross the Charles Bridge on foot to the city’s Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the architecture and the famous Astronomical Clock, which comes to life hourly with its “Walk of Apostles.” This afternoon, enjoy free time to explore more of Prague on your own. Later, perhaps join an optional tour or savor a delicious feast in a rustic court setting. (B)

This morning, set out on foot to explore Prague’s Jewish Quarter. Visit the Maisel Synagogue Museum and the Pinkas Synagogue, a memorial to Holocaust victims. See the historic Old Jewish Cemetery and the baroque Klausen Synagogue before admiring the exterior of the Gothic Old-New Synagogue, the oldest active synagogue in Europe. Transfer to your hotel in Nuremberg this afternoon and enjoy an evening at your leisure. (B)

This morning, set out on a walking tour to explore some of Nuremberg’s most historic sights. As you stroll through the Old Town, view medieval landmarks, such as the Mauthalle, St. Lawrence Church and Hangman’s House. During the afternoon, head out to discover more about the city’s fascinating World War II history. This evening, enjoy dinner at your leisure. (B)

This morning, check out of your hotel and enjoy free time to explore Nuremberg on your own. This afternoon, transfer to your ship to begin your main itinerary. (B)