Welcome to Germany! Settle into your guest room for an overnight stay at the Westin Grand Frankfurt Hotel (breakfast included) and enjoy a free day to rest or take in the various Christmas markets.

This afternoon, transfer from Frankfurt to Mainz to board your ship (transfer included). Meet your ship and Olivia crew at a welcome reception before dinner, as you set sail along the Main River. (B/-/D)

Enjoy the hidden gems and the Bavarian beauty of a Main River village. Later, continue your cruise on the Main River to Würzburg and enjoy a cookie-baking demonstration on board. (B/L/D)

Known as the “Pearl of the Romantic Road,” Würzburg is surrounded by sloping hills covered with vineyards. The city makes an immediate impression with its imposing Marienberg Fortress and 15th-c. bridge. On your guided tour, visit the magnificent Bishop’s Residenz, home to the largest ceiling fresco ever painted. Later, explore the beautifully decorated streets and Christmas markets, or take an optional tour to Rothenburg and its Christmas Museum! (B/L/D)

After a morning lecture about Christmas traditions, enjoy an afternoon guided tour of medieval Bamberg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, visiting its historic center with a 13th-c. Romanesque cathedral and the fascinating Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall), built on an island in the middle of the Regnitz River. Afterward sample local delicacies in the Christmas market. (B/L/D)

Nuremberg was once the unofficial capital of the Holy Roman Empire. Choose a guided tour of this thousand-year-old city’s medieval fortifications, gothic churches, and Kaiserburg (Imperial Castle) or a tour of the Nuremberg Rally grounds. The Old Town is illuminated with festive lights and decorations, and the Christmas market is one of the most famous in the world. You’ll find dozens of stalls offering traditional wares, including Nuremberg Lebkuchen (spicy gingerbread), baked goods and sweets, Christmas decorations, ornaments, and more. Shuttle service to the ship will be at your disposal. (B/L/D)

After breakfast, we’ll travel by motor coach to Prague, the “Golden City.” We’ll stop for you to purchase a lunch snack and arrive in the afternoon for free time and dinner on your own in this well-preserved 1,200-year-old city. Perhaps enjoy a cup of svarene vino (hot mulled wine) and a traditional hot sausage.

Today see Prague’s best-known treasures, such as the Old Town’s Astronomical Clock—built in 1410 and once the envy of all of Europe, Hradčany Castle Grounds, St. Vitus Cathedral, and the Charles Bridge, the oldest bridge in Prague. Don’t miss Prague’s lovely Christmas markets, which include Czech handicrafts.  

Your vacation ends after breakfast today—unless you choose to join us for our 1-night post-trip Vacation Stretcher!