Christmas on the Main & Moselle

Arrive in Brussels, where you will be met by your Viking Representative and transfer to your hotel. Depending upon your arrival time, you will have an opportunity to join a guided orientation walk or explore the Belgian capital on your own. Your Viking Tour Director is available to help you plan your time in Brussels so you can make the most of your visit.

This morning, discover Brussels during a panoramic drive past iconic sights such as the Atomium, the Royal Palace, European Parliament and the Palace of Justice. Cap your tour with a walk through the old town to Grand Place and then the Christmas market at Beursplein, where you will enjoy free time to explore the many stalls displaying seasonal handicrafts and more. Browse for the perfect memento, perhaps while sipping on a warm mug of aromatic mulled wine, before returning to your hotel. (B)

Today, enjoy the morning at your leisure, before traveling this afternoon to the charming city of Bruges. Explore the stunning medieval architecture of Bruges’s old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and admire the bustling Christmas market at Market Square. You will have free time to peruse the different market stalls and perhaps enjoy a delicious Belgian waffle topped with powdered sugar. This evening, you will return to your hotel. (B)

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and begin your journey to the ship. Stop in Antwerp for a guided walking tour of its historic old town and time to immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere of its Christmas markets. After lunch, transfer to the train station, where you will board your high-speed train for Paris. Upon arrival, board your awaiting ship to begin your cruise. (B, L)

After your final cruisetour breakfast, continue your exploration of Prague. Enjoy a full day at your leisure or join an optional excursion. With your guide, head to Kutná Hora, a historic town that once sat at the crossroads of a medieval trading route, or explore the flavors of Prague as you visit some of the city’s respected eateries to sample traditional dishes and drinks. Your Viking Host is available to help you plan your time in Prague so you can make the most of your visit.

After breakfast, explore Prague on your own. Head into the old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to see the impressive Astronomical Clock and the Christmas market. Or join an optional excursion: visit Terezín to explore a historic town with a dark past; learn how the Czechs resisted Nazi occupation in World War II; or join your guide for a full or half-day exploration of the city. This evening, dine independently or experience a folklore performance and traditional dinner with your guide. (B)

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and proceed to the airport for your return flight. (B)

Check out of your hotel in Prague and transfer to Kraków, where you will check in to your hotel and enjoy the evening at your leisure. Your Viking Tour Director is available to help you plan your time in Kraków so you can make the most of your visit.

Discover Kraków’s well-preserved Old Town. Stroll through the 13th-century Main Square; at its center stands the enormous Renaissance Cloth Hall, where exotic imports once passed for trade. On Wawel Hill, visit Wawel Castle, the former residence of Poland’s kings and now a fascinating art museum. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure; perhaps return to the Old Town’s Main Square to browse the stalls of the Christmas market or join an optional evening tour to sample the flavors of Kraków. (B)

After breakfast, head outside the city to Auschwitz-Birkenau; these preserved concentration camps serve as a solemn reminder of the horrors of World War II. Back in Kraków, enjoy the remainder of the afternoon on your own. Perhaps peruse the National Museum’s art collections and military artifacts, or see Wawel Cathedral, where royal coronations were held and national heroes are entombed. This evening, enjoy dinner accompanied by a lively klezmer folk music performance. (B, D)

This morning, check out of your hotel and travel to Warsaw. En route, you will visit the city of Częstochowa. Here, stop at the Pauline monastery of Jasna Góra, home of the famous Black Madonna painting that draws millions of Catholic pilgrims from all over the world. In the Polish capital of Warsaw, check in to your hotel and enjoy time to explore the city on your own. Your Viking Tour Director is available to help you plan your time in Warsaw so you can make the most of your visit. (B)

This morning, admire Warsaw’s sights and take in the incredibly restored Old Town. Completely demolished during World War II, historians and architects have painstakingly rebuilt it to mirror its original beauty, using bricks and decorative elements salvaged from the rubble. During the festive season, the Christmas market brings the historic square to life, with its bustling stalls and friendly vendors. This evening, explore on your own, or join an option tour to a Chopin concert. (B)

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and proceed to the airport for your return flight. (B)