Sailing the Elbe River With Viking

Brandenburg Gate, Berlin

We began our trip on a quiet, chilly Easter Sunday in Berlin. Berlin is a beautiful city, filled with Baroque architecture, peaceful green spaces, and reminders of a dark past.

Sans Souci Palace, Potsdam

From Berlin, we went to the former royal city of Potsdam, home of Frederick the Great’s residences and the site of the Potsdam Conference at the end of World War II. It’s a lovely small city with several pedestrian areas and lots of German and Soviet history. We then headed to the outskirts of Wittenberg, where we boarded our ship, The Beyla.

Due to the shallow waters of the Elbe, the ships are smaller than the traditional Viking longship, with a capacity of 98 as opposed to 190 passengers. This added to the camaraderie aboard the ship, along with the excellent friendliness of the crew. (The crew and passengers even sang Happy Birthday to my husband.)

Torgau

Dresden by night

From historic Wittenberg, we sailed to Meissen, Torgau, Dresden, and Bad Schandau, a small spa town that is the gateway to Saxon Switzerland and the rock formations of the Bastei, a haven for hiking and outdoor enthusiasts.

View from the Bastei

We ended our trip with four days in beautiful Prague, one of the most picturesque cities in Europe. From the Charles Bridge and the Anatomical Clock to the burgeoning food scene, Prague is a must-see for any travel enthusiast.

But the peaceful and historic waters of the Elbe and the warm service on the Viking Beyla were the best parts of the trip.

Prague

• In Berlin, we stayed at the Berlin Marriott, which had a great location near Potsdamer Platz and the Tiergarten.

• Viking definitely draws a more senior, although active, crowd. Every night we enjoyed wine, good food, and great conversations about the day’s sights and our lives back home. It truly felt like a trip among friends.

• Staterooms are a little smaller than on the standard longship, but still comfortable.

• The Elbe is not a heavily traveled river, so the beauty of the cruise and the history and charm of the cities and towns made for an unforgettable trip. We loved our evening walk through the small town of Torgau, famous for the meeting of Allied and Russian troops near the end of World War II.

• In Prague, we stayed at the Radisson Blu, which is well-located between the New Town and Old Town. We had a large, comfortable room, but the food and drink service was hit or miss.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Cruises page.