Essence of the Elbe: Hamburg to Prague (2012)

Germany: Hamburg, Lauenburg, Tangermunde, Berlin, Wittenberg, Torgau, Meissen, Dresden, Swiss Saxony • Prague, Czech Republic
  • 12 days
  • from only:
  • $2595
  • $217 per day
    River Cruise Only
  • 13 days
  • from only:
  • $3395
  • $262 per dayIncludes international airfare and government taxes
IN THIS SECTION:
Detailed Itinerary
Video: Travelers' experiences of Essence of the Elbe
It's Included
Hotel & Ship Accommodations
Pre- & Post-Trip Extensions
Hamburg, Germany
Munich, Germany
Highlights of Poland: Warsaw & Krakow
Optional Tours
Local Team & Insider Tips
Know Before You Go
Photos From Our Travelers
Your Travel Handbook
Air information
LearnMore
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Customize your trip

Learn how to customize your River Cruise, or view standard air routing and travel times. The choice is yours with our True Choice program.

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Customize your trip

With our True Choice Program, you can choose to stay longer before or after your trip on your own, or combine two vacations to maximize your value. Here are more ways to create the Grand Circle Cruise Line River Cruise that’s right for you:

  • Choose our standard air routing, or work with us to select the airline and routing you prefer
  • Make your own international flight arrangements directly with the airline, applying frequent flyer miles if available
  • International airport transfers to and from your ship or hotel are available for purchase
  • Stay overnight in a connecting city before or after your trip
  • Request to arrive a few days early to get a fresh start on your vacation
  • Choose to “break away” before or after your trip, spending additional days or weeks on your own
  • Extend your vacation with our optional pre- and post-trip extensions
  • Combine your choice of Grand Circle Cruise Line vacations to maximize your value
  • Upgrade to business or premium economy class

The air options listed above will involve an additional fee of $100 per person for confirmed requests (as well as incremental airfare costs based on your specific choice). This service fee will be waived for Inner Circle/Sir Edmund Hillary Club members.

Or, when you make your reservation, you can choose our standard air routing, for which approximate travel times are shown below.

(Hamburg to Prague)

GATEWAY

TRAVEL TIME*

Atlanta, Chicago, New York (JFK), Minneapolis

12hrs

Baltimore, Denver

15hrs

Los Angeles, San Diego

17hrs

Newark, Philadelphia, Portland, OR, Seattle

13hrs

San Francisco

14hrs

* Estimated total time, including connection and layover. Actual travel time may vary.

The information above reflects approximate flight times from the gateway cities listed to Hamburg, Germany. Routing is based on availability and subject to change. You will receive your final air itinerary approximately 14 days prior to departure.

(Prague to Hamburg)

GATEWAY

TRAVEL TIME*

Atlanta, Boston, Houston, Newark, Washington, DC (Dulles)

12hrs

Baltimore, Los Angeles, Philadelphia

14hrs

Boston, New York (JFK)

11hrs

Dallas, Minneapolis

13hrs

Denver, Portland, OR, San Francisco, Seattle

15hrs

San Diego

18hrs

* Estimated total time, including connection and layover. Actual travel time may vary.

The information above reflects approximate flight times from the gateway cities listed to Prague, Czech Republic. Routing is based on availability and subject to change. You will receive your final air itinerary approximately 14 days prior to departure.

REFER and EARN

Earn increasing rewards as a Vacation Ambassador

REFER and EARN as a Vacation Ambassador with
the BEST referral program in the industry

Inspiring new travelers to join the Grand Circle Cruise Line family is a rewarding experience—both for you and your new travelers.

Share your love of travel with others and, for each referral who embarks on a Grand Circle Cruise Line trip, you will earn $100 in CASH or credit. With your 4th referral departing on a 2012 departure, your reward increases to $200 in CASH or credit per person. And once you refer 8 travelers departing in either 2012 or 2013, you'll earn a FREE trip valued up to $4,500 per household—which will bring the total value of your earned rewards up to $5,600.

And you are also passing along savings to your new traveler: We'll instantly deduct $100 off the cost of their reservation when they mention your name and Customer Number while reserving.

To learn more about the benefits of our Vacation Ambassador Referral Program, please call us toll-free at 1-800-221-2610
or click here.

ALSO SEE:
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Post-Trip: Highlights of Poland: Warsaw & Krakow

5 nights from only $895
Poland

Immerse yourself among the highlights of Poland, and discover all that Warsaw and Krakow have to offer. Explore the history and charm of Warsaw’s Old Town on an included city tour, discover Krakow’s rich architecture and culture with your expert Program Director at your side, and with your fellow travelers, pay a memorable—and moving—visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Auschwitz.

Single Supplement: FREE.

Please note: This extension may not be available for all departures. Additional taxes and fees will apply. Ask your Travel Counselor for details.

Warsaw & Krakow is a post-trip extension on the Hamburg to Prague itinerary and a pre-trip extension on the Prague to Hamburg itinerary.

It's Included

  • Accommodations for 3 nights in Krakow at the Park Inn Krakow or similar and 2 nights in Warsaw at the Deluxe Sheraton Warsaw Hotel or similar
  • 7 meals: 5 breakfasts and 2 lunches
  • 4 Included tours: Krakow, Auschwitz, Czestochowa Shrine, Warsaw
  • Exclusive services of a resident Grand Circle Program Director
  • All transfers
  • Plus, consider these optional tours—Wieliczka Salt Mines ($95 per person); Chopin Recital with Dinner ($90 per person)

Optional Tours

Wieliczka Salt Mines ($95 per person); Chopin Recital with Dinner ($90 per person)

Day 1
Prague, Czech Republic/Krakow, Poland

After breakfast, transfer by motorcoach to Krakow, enjoying an included lunch en route. Upon arrival, check in to your hotel and then explore the area with your Program Director.
Day 2
Krakow/Optional Wieliczka Salt Mines Tour

Krakow is a showcase of seven centuries of architecture, as you’ll see during an included tour that spotlights the Wawel Royal Castle Hill, site of the cathedral where the former Cardinal Wojtyla (the late Pope John Paul II) once preached. Enjoy lunch on your own, followed by time at leisure.

Or join this afternoon’s optional tour, which descends 250 feet underground to visit the eleventh-century Wieliczka Salt Mines, a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with sculptures and chandeliers carved from salt.
Day 3
Krakow/Auschwitz

Today’s tour may be an emotional one, as you visit the former Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Grand Circle Foundation supports the expansion of the Auschwitz Education Center. Enjoy lunch on your own this afternoon. Later, back in Krakow, enjoy time at leisure to unwind or explore more of the city before dinner on your own.
Day 4
Krakow/Warsaw/Optional Chopin Piano Recital with Dinner

You’ll ride to Warsaw via Czestochowa, stopping for an included tour of the 14th-century Jasna Gora Monastery, home of the famous Black Madonna shrine. You’ll also enjoy an included lunch before continuing toward Warsaw. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure in Warsaw, or take in an optional piano recital, featuring the works of the famous Polish composer Frederic Chopin, followed by dinner.
Day 5
Warsaw

Explore the capital of Poland on today’s included city tour. Visit the reconstructed Old Town and the Warsaw Ghetto Memorial in the Muranow quarter. After lunch on your own, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 6
Return to the U.S.

Today, you’ll transfer to the airport for your return flight home.