Project Description

Oberammergau, Innsbruck & the Rhine

May 7-19, 2022 | 12 Days | 9 Guided Tours | 6 Countries

Alpine Beauty & Old-World Charm
Explore one of Europe’s best-loved rivers, the Rhine. Discover the turreted fortresses, grand cathedrals, medieval towns and spectacular scenery of the Middle Rhine—a UNESCO Site. Visit the picturesque town of Innsbruck, nestled in the Tyrolean Alps. Take in a dramatic performance of The Passion Play and savor a rich landscape of beauty and culture. Limited availability; please reserve today.

10 Facts and Tips About the Passion Play

 Exclusive Pricing

 Staterooms From $5624* per person

Includes:

  • One complimentary shore excursion in every port of call
  • Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary)
  • Visits to UNESCO Sites
  • Enrichment lectures & Destination Performances
  • Beer, wine & soft drinks with onboard lunch & dinner
  • 24-hour specialty coffees, teas & bottled water
  • Port taxes & fees

* Listed pricing is for a F standard stateroom guarantee with all discounts applied, limited availability. Other staterooms and pricing available on request. For more information  see our the terms and conditions

Saturday, May 7, 2022 — Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Sunday, May 8, 2022 — Kinderdijk, The Netherlands

Monday, May 9, 2022 — Cologne, Germany

Tuesday, May 10, 2022 — Koblenz, Germany / Rüdesheim, Germany

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 — Speyer, Germany

Thursday, May 12, 2022 — Strasbourg, France

Germany Friday, May 13, 2022 — Breisach,

Saturday, May 14, 2022 — Basel, Switzerland

Sunday, May 15, 2022 — Innsbruck, Austria

Monday, May 16, 2022 — Oberammergau, Germany

Tuesday, May 17, 2022 — Oberammergau, Germany

Wednesday, May 18, 2022 — Oberammergau, Germany

Itinerary subject to change.

Arrive in Amsterdam, then transfer to your ship.* After boarding, the afternoon is yours to relax or explore the city on your own. If your arrival schedule permits, you may wish to visit the Rijksmuseum, or the van Gogh Museum next door.

This morning we sail to Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for a tour of this ingenious network of windmills and other flood management devices. You learn why the windmills were built and see how they work, plus you enter a working windmill for a tour of its mechanisms and living quarters. Return on board for lunch and an enjoyable afternoon of Dutch diversions: sample handcrafted Dutch cheeses and jenever, a distilled juniper liquor, and take in a culturally enriching presentation on the Dutch Golden Age. We cruise through the night.

Begin your day with a morning tour of Cologne, Germany’s fourth largest city. Stroll through Old Town past St. Martin’s Church and see the Dom, Germany’s largest cathedral and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spend your free time enjoying Cologne’s atmospheric waterfront, or perhaps join an optional excursion on which you ascend to the Dom’s roof for up-close views of the cathedral’s architecture and bird’s-eye vistas of Cologne. Afterward, return on board for dinner. Alternately, you may set off on an optional excursion to explore Cologne’s spirited beer culture, sampling Kölsch, a light, crisp beer brewed only in Cologne, and enjoying a brauhaus dinner. After, return to your ship for a late-evening departure.

Proceed along the Rhine, disembarking for a lively and informative tour of Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. Alternately, choose an optional excursion to tour the 700-year old Marksburg Castle, or enjoy an optional guided exploration of Koblenz on foot. After, enjoy an onboard lunch as you cruise the scenic Middle Rhine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where turreted castles and fortresses overlook the river from their hilltop posts. Arrive in Rüdesheim in the late afternoon. Spend free time in the pedestrian-only Drosselgasse and sample a glass of locally produced wine at one of the restaurants or wine bars. Dine on board your ship, or in town if you prefer. You may also choose to experience one of our optional dinners on shore tonight. We depart after midnight.

Cruise into midmorning as you enjoy the passing scenery. After lunch, enjoy an included tour to visit the historic town of Speyer and take in views of the imposing Speyer Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in the 11th century on the site of a former basilica, the building’s design influenced Romanesque architecture for centuries to come, and is the final resting place of eight German monarchs. Alternatively, after breakfast, you may choose to disembark for a full day tour of Heidelberg, the home of Germany’s oldest university, founded in 1386. Visit the beautiful sandstone ruins of imposing Heidelberg Castle and admire the Neckar River Valley. Continue with a walking tour through Old Town to Heidelberg’s renowned gates. After lunch, visit the historic town of Speyer on your way back to your ship.

We dock this morning in Kehl and disembark for a guided tour of Strasbourg. See the European Parliament and tour the interior of the city’s famed cathedral. The afternoon is free to further explore this Alsatian city’s blend of French and German cultures, resplendent churches, medieval covered bridges, verdant parks and handsome art nouveau and modernist architecture. Alternately, join our optional excursion into Alsatian wine country for an informative winery tour and tasting. Or, spend your full day exploring culinary Strasbourg on an optional excursion; as you explore the city and take in its sights, savor samples of the renowned Alsatian cuisine, from regional dessert specialties and meats to wine pairings with local foods. On board this evening, enjoy a Taste of Germany dinner event.

Arrive in Breisach this morning, gateway to the Black Forest. Take a scenic excursion through the area’s renowned mountain landscape, rolling meadows and dense forests. Once there, visit a local workshop to see a cuckoo clock-making demonstration, and learn how Black Forest Cake is made. Return to your ship for lunch. This afternoon, perhaps join an optional excursion to the quaint Alsatian town of Colmar to discover the storybook charm of its streets lined with medieval, Gothic and Renaissance buildings, and visit a fine arts museum. Alternately, choose an optional excursion that explores Colmar’s World War II history. Dine on board this evening and cruise on through the night

Disembark your ship in Basel and set out on a scenic drive through an alpine landscape to Innsbruck. Along the way, enjoy a short stop in Vaduz—the quaint capital city of one of the world’s smallest and wealthiest countries, Liechtenstein. Enjoy free time for lunch and take a stroll around the town before continuing your journey. Upon arrival, check in to your hotel and enjoy an evening at leisure to explore on your own. Your Viking Tour Director is available to help you plan your time here so you can make the most of your visit.

This morning, enjoy a guided walking tour of historic Innsbruck and explore the Old Town, where a wealth of imperial architecture awaits. See the Goldenes Dachl, a gold-colored roof that covers the balcony where Emperor Maximilian once stood and a symbol of the city’s heritage. The afternoon is free for you to explore at your leisure. Perhaps take a cable car ride to the Nordkette for spectacular panoramic views over the valley and the surrounding peaks of the Alps. Or, you may choose to visit the grand Imperial Palace and discover the history of the Hapsburgs, one of Europe’s most distinguished royal houses. This evening, join an optional excursion to a traditional Austrian folklore dinner at a local restaurant or enjoy free time to dine on your own.

Set out on a scenic drive to Oberammergau. Along the way, stop in the charming hamlet of Mittenwald, renowned for the art of violin making and known as the “Village of a Thousand Violins.” This afternoon, visit Ettal for a guided visit of the baroque-style monastery located in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps. Arrive in Oberammergau and check in to your hotel, then enjoy free time before dinner at your hotel this evening

After breakfast, enjoy a morning at your leisure, or you may choose to join an optional tour to Linderhof Palace, the former residence of Bavarian King Ludwig II. After lunch, take your seats for a performance of Passionsspiele, The Passion Play. The play’s origins date back to 1633 when the Great Plague descended upon the village. After many lives were lost, the villagers made a promise to God that they would tell the story of Christ, should no more lives be lost. The tradition continues today and it is a great honor for Oberammergau’s residents to be a part of this powerful dramatic performance. During the intermission, enjoy a traditional Bavarian dinner at a local restaurant.

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and proceed to the airport for your return flight. Or, extend your journey with an extension in Munich, giving yourself more time to explore the bustling Bavarian capita.

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Terms & Conditions: *  For up-to-date prices & availability, please contact your travel professional at this agency.

STANDARD TERMS
*Offers and fares are subject to change on 12/31/20. Displayed fare applies to an F category stateroom . Other staterooms and pricing available upon request.  All fares are per person in US dollars, valid for residents of United States, based on double occupancy (unless otherwise noted), for new bookings only and may be withdrawn at any time.  All Fares include government fees & taxes. This agency reserves the right to correct any errors, omissions or inaccuracies in this publication at any time without notice.

OFFER ID: VKR1020