Eastern Germany & Castles of Bohemia

DAYS 1 & 2: WELCOME TO BERLIN!

After your overnight flight to Berlin, meet your local guides and board a motorcoach for a city tour of Berlin, taking in the city’s rich history and vibrant culture including Checkpoint Charlie, the Brandenburg Gate and more. Check into the 4-star ARCOTEL John F Berlin, your home for the next two nights. Meals In-Flight, D

DAY 3: POTSDAM

Enjoy a local guided tour of Potsdam, a charming city known for its palaces, gardens, and a picturesque glance into Germany’s royal past. Enjoy free time for exploring and lunch on your own. Visit the majestic Sanssouci Park, the expansive grounds created under Frederick the Great and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Return to Berlin for a visit to the iconic Berlin TV Tower where you’ll experience dinner with panoramic views of the city. B, D

DAY 4: JOURNEY TO GOERLITZ/SPREEWALD

Travel to Goerlitz, with an enchanting detour through the Spreewald, a unique biosphere reserve famed for its intricate network of waterways, lush forests, and traditional wooden barge tours known as “Kahnfahrten.” Embark on a serene two-hour canal cruise, immersed in the region’s natural beauty and learn about its rich cultural heritage, including the unique Sorbian traditions. The visit also includes a tasting of the famous pickled cucumbers and a tour of an open-air museum showcasing the history and traditions of the Spreewald and the Sorbs. In Goerlitz, enjoy dinner and check into the 4-star Romantik Hotel Tuchmacher. B, D

DAY 5: GOERLITZ/HERRNHUT

Stroll the charming streets of Goerlitz, explore its historical architecture with a local guide, then board a coach to Berzdorfer See, a former opencast mine turned beautiful lakefront. Continue to Herrnhut and visit Herrnhuter Sterne Manufaktur, the source of all handmade Christmas Stars. Enjoy lunch and a hands-on demonstration workshop where you’ll create your own star! B, L, D

DAY 6: BAUTZEN/JOURNEY TO PRAGUE

A visit to the Mustard Museum, complete with a tasting of various mustards, adds a unique culinary experience to your experience in Bautzen, located on the banks of the Spree River. Then it's off to Prague where you will board the luxurious 4.5-Star MS Elbe Princesse for the next part of your journey! Enjoy a welcome cocktail and your first dinner on board as you settle in. B, D

DAY 7: ŠTĚCHOVICE/KONOPIŠTĚ CASTLE

Enjoy breakfast on board as you spend the morning cruising the Vltava to Štěchovice. Nestled in peaceful surroundings, the Vltava River reveals its bucolic landscapes and natural beauty. Once known for its gold mines, Štěchovice is now famous for its traditional handmade pottery. In the afternoon, take an excursion to Konopiště Castle. This 13thcentury fortress, entirely renovated in the 18th century, was the Habsburgs’ hunting lodge, now home to an impressive collection of medieval weapons and armor that once belonged to Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. B, L, D

DAY 8: SAILING THE VLATAVA

This morning, cruise the Vltava River heading to the Slapy Dam. Follow the winding river lined with hillsides on each bank and catch glimpses of castles in romantic landscapes, typical to central Bohemia. The Slapy Reservoir is a popular vacation spot for residents of Prague, offering boating, water sports, and numerous recreational activities. Return to Prague in the late afternoon. B, L, D

DAY 9: PRAGUE’S OLD TOWN

Prague’s Old Town, Staré Město, dates back more than 1,000 years and is one of the most important places in Bohemian history. Stroll through the city’s narrow streets on a guided tour, where you’ll discover the Jewish quarter, the old town hall and its famous astronomical clock, the Gothic church of Our Lady before Týn, and the Charles Bridge. Explore the Prague Castle district: palaces, churches, and convents stand harmoniously near the castle, sitting high on a hill watching over the city. Discover St. Vitus Cathedral, the largest and most important church in the country and one of the most prestigious Gothic cathedrals in Europe. B, L, D

DAY 10: MELNIK/NELAHOZEVES CASTLE

A relaxing morning cruise arrives in Melnik at the confluence of the Elbe. After lunch on board, take a tour of Nelahozeves Castle, one of the most beautiful Renaissance castles in Bohemia. The castle walls are elaborately adorned with Italian-style stucco and wall paintings depicting scenes from the Old Testament and Greek mythology. At the end of the tour, you’ll enjoy tasting a selection of wines from the castle’s own vineyard. The rest of the evening is yours to do as you please in Melnik. B, L, D

DAY 11: DRESDEN, “FLORENCE OF THE ELBE”

A full-day excursion awaits in Dresden, a fantastic city known as the “Florence of the Elbe.” A relatively recent city with Slavic origin, Dresden offers a wide variety of attractions, including magnificent promenades on the bank of the Elbe, fascinating museums, monuments, and charming details. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, then take a guided tour of the Royal Palace, the former residence of the Saxon Dukes and Electors and the Kings of Saxony. Today, visitors can revel in the splendor of its architecture and collections, including the historic Green Vault, which contains one of the largest collections of treasures in Europe. Tonight, indulge in the festive Captain’s Dinner on board. B, L, D

DAY 12: RETURN HOME

Enjoy breakfast on board this morning before disembarking, filled with memories of this fascinating corner of Europe. B, Meals In-Flight

ACCOMMODATIONS:
Nights 2-3: ARCOTEL John F, Berlin, Germany
Nights 4-5: Romantik Hotel Tuchmacher, Goerlitz, Germany
Nights 6-11: 4.5 star Croisi Europe MS Elbe Princesse

Dates:

• Depart: October 14, 2025
• Return: October 25, 2025

Pricing:

+$150 per person port charges & fees

Single Supplement: +$3,000 for Main Deck, +$3,500 for Upper Deck

*Per person rates
*Included airfare from STL/MCI
*Passport Required

Helpful Hints
The Berlin TV Tower is 368 meters (about 1,207 feet) tall and is a must-see for visitors to Berlin. The observation deck is 203 meters (about 666 feet) high and offers views that can extend as far as 80 kilometers (about 50 miles) on a clear day. The Berlin TV Tower is about 36 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower when including the height of the antennas!

While in Görlitz, take a short 5 minute walk east of your hotel to walk the Trail of German of Unity and cross the Old Town Bridge into Zgorzelec, Poland! You won't get your passport stamped, but you can tell others you crossed another country off your list!

Take in the stunning surroundings of Bautzen, one of Germany's best preserved medieval towns, with its beautiful skyline of 14 medieval towers.

At the Bautz'ner Mustard Museum, you can experience the fascinating history of the world-famous Bautz'ner mustard, and also personally taste the variety of stone-ground mustards to purchase as souvenirs to take home.

The MS Elbe Princesse is a unique ship unlike anything we've ever chartered before. The 80-passenger vessel is powered by two side-mounted paddlewheels with an ultra-shallow draught of 4 feet. This allows the ship to sail all season long, even in low waters!

Walking Distance
Travelers should be in good physical health and understand there are times when a good deal of walking is involved. Those who have difficulty walking may not want to take this trip or should discuss their personal situation with their doctor before deciding. You should be able to walk at a steady pace for a mile at a time and be able to manage steps to board/de-board the motorcoach several times a day.

We are finding that larger European cities are closing their historic districts to motor traffic. This adds to the amount of walking involved when visiting a city (sometimes on uneven and/or cobblestone walkways). In addition, you may be required to exit the motorcoach at each stop because local law often does not allow travelers to remain on the motorcoach while it is parked for a scheduled stop.

Currency
Euro

Time Zone
GMT+1 (5 hours ahead of New York)

Hotel Amenities
Wi-Fi is available aboard the ship and the price is fully covered by Sunrise. We will travel in rural river landscapes, meaning the Wi-Fi connection at times can be limited.

All cabins and suites are equipped with high-quality care products, such as soap, shampoo, body lotion, and shower gel. You will also find a hair dryer, sewing set, shower cap, and nail file in your cabin. Laundry is available onboard for a small fee.

Additional Information:
A total of three mailings are sent to assist you in preparing for your tour, including information sent upon receipt of your reservation.

Dress on tour is casual. Evening dinners aboard the ship will be a more elegant occasion, so we welcome you to dress in a business casual manner. Sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, visors, and comfortable walking shoes will add to your enjoyment of this tour. Toward the end of the cruise, a Captain’s Dinner will be held. For this dinner, we suggest (for the women) dress pants or skirt along with a blouse or sweater, or possibly a dress, and (for the men) dress pants along with a collared long-sleeved shirt or sweater, and possibly a blazer of some sort (blazer not required).

An outlet converter that adapts to European outlets is needed. You can find these at many stores, including on Amazon and at Walmart.

Identification
Valid passport required to travel.

Other General Information
We will send 3 key communications for your tour; “Get Ready” is your email confirmation and initial tour information sent upon registration, “Get Set” email will be sent about two months before departure, “Go” trip documentation mailing is sent via USPS 3-4 weeks before departure and will include your daily itinerary, luggage tags and final departure information.

Travel Protection is optional and highly recommended and can be purchased until the day before departure. We offer Travel Guard from AIG, which costs 8.5% of your tour, information about which will be sent with your Get Ready email.

Unless otherwise noted, your Sunrise Tour includes: Professional Sunrise Tour Director, meals as indicated, local step on guides including gratuity (international tour guide gratuity inclusion vary by tour), deluxe motorcoach transportation w/rest room, admission to activities and events as indicated, airfare from designated airports, transportation to/from designated airports from our convenient local pickup points*, luggage handling at hotels when available

We believe tipping is a personal and discretionary interaction between our guests and our staff. A typical gratuity for your Sunrise Tour Director and motorcoach driver may be $5-$7per person, per day on tour. Sunrise Shuttle drivers appreciate gratuities (suggest $5 per person) for excellent service as well. Our staff will not solicit gratuities or pass out envelopes.

We are happy to offer refreshments on most motorcoach travel days on tour. We recommend you bring a refillable water bottle to maintain healthy hydration.

If less than 4 people request a pickup point, we may ask that you choose another pickup point from which to join your Sunrise Tour.

If you would like to join a tour from a city not listed as a departure point, we would love to have you along! Please discuss arrangements with our friendly reservation team. From a departure city not listed, typical airfare will be +$100 higher than our published fare for domestic tours, and +$200 for international tours.

If you have a TSA precheck or Airline Rewards numbers, you MUST give those numbers to our reservations team at least 60 days before departure, otherwise they may not be applied.

Preferred seating may not be available on group air. In some cases, seats are not assigned until the airport. Your tour fare includes an economy seat on the flight; it does not include seat selection. Seat upgrades may be available at an additional cost.

To help make our tours the most comfortable in the business, we limit Sunrise Tours motorcoaches to 80% capacity, or 44 passengers on a coach built for 55. We reserve the right to amend this practice.

Your Tour Director will rotate seats on the motorcoach each day of your tour. A single fare does not guarantee two seats on coach; you may be seated next to another friendly Sunrise Tours guest.

Terms and Conditions
Please refer to our policies HERE for more information on our terms and conditions.