Day 1 UK to Amsterdam to Lemmer

Fly to Amsterdam where you'll embark MS Johannes Brahms. Enjoy a welcome drink and dinner on board tonight as you cruise across IJsselmeer, an artificial lake created by closing off the Zuiderzee (South Sea) from the Wadden Sea. Arrive in Lemmer late tonight, where the ship will remain moored. D

Day 2 Lemmer to Groningen

Set sail early this morning and enjoy breakfast and a leisurely lunch on board as you sail along the Princess Margriet canal, through extensive polders (reclaimed land). MS Johannes Brahms will arrive in the lively university city of Groningen this afternoon where you'll enjoy an included city walk before mooring here overnight. Often referred to as the 'Metropolis of the North', Groningen, as with many other Dutch cities, has a number of canals running through its historic centre. In the Grote Markt square you’ll see the Gothic Martini Tower next to the Martini Church. Contrast this with the quirky, ultra modern Groninger Museum of Art… B, L, D

Day 3 Groningen to Oldenburg

Cruise along the Canal van Starkenborgh and the Eems Canal across the border to Herbrum, so passengers can disembark to join an optional excursion to the Meyer Werft shipyard, located in Papenburg on the River Ems. Your cruise continues to Dörpen where excursion participants rejoin the ship. Sail to Oldenburg for the night.

Optional excursions

Meyer Werft shipyard | Four hours

MEYER WERFT Shipyard, based in Papenburg, was founded in 1795 and is in its sixth generation of family ownership. The shipyard has achieved an excellent worldwide reputation over the last decades, particularly for its construction of large, modern and sophisticated cruise ships. Indeed, MEYER WERFT shipyard is where Saga’s new ocean cruise ship, due for delivery in summer 2019, is being built. Every year, about 300,000 tourists visit the shipyard to see behind the scenes of state-of-the-art shipbuilding. The visitor centre provides a comprehensive overview of MEYER WERFT’s history and resent-day production. There are also unique exhibits, informative films and a fully equipped mock-up cabin. Walking Grade 2

Oldenburg Lower Saxony Germany Europe

Day 4 Oldenburg to Bremen

Depart Oldenburg early this morning and sail to Bremen, arriving this afternoon. After lunch, explore this Hanseatic city on an included tour. Attractions include St Peter's Cathedral whose history spans 1,200 years and the 15th-century UNESCO-listed town hall, both in the market square. Close to the town hall is the statue of the Bremen Town Musicians, the characters in a fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. The Schnoor quarter is a maze of streets of tiny 15th and 16th-century houses while the bohemian area offers quirky shops, galleries and museums.

Day 5 Bremen to Nienberg

Depart Bremen before breakfast. Cruise through a meadow landscape to the picturesque city of Nienburg, on the banks of the River Weser. Arrive late this afternoon and moor overnight. The historic city has an array of half-timbered buildings, a pretty statue of the city symbol – the Little Nienburg Girl – created to mark the city’s 950th anniversary in 1979 and even an Asparagus Museum!

Day 6 Nienburg to Hanover

Sail through the morning and perhaps join an optional tour of historic Minden this afternoon before you negotiate the Schachtscleuse lock from the River Weser to the Midland Canal. Later, MS Johannes Brahms continues along the Midland Canal, Germany's longest artificial waterway to Sachsenhagen, then on to Hanover for an overnight mooring.

Day 7 Hanover to Wolfsburg to Bülstringen

Enjoy an included full-day excursion to the Harz Mountains, northern Germany's highest range. Visit the historic towns of Goslar and Wernigerode before you moor in Bülstringen overnight.

Day 8 Bülstringen to Magdeburg to Brandenburg

Depart Bülstringen in the early hours and arrive in Magdeburg during breakfast. An optional tour of medieval Magdeburg will reveal the cathedral as well as some of its avant-garde architecture such as the 'Green Citadel' – a quirky complex of shops, bars and apartments which is actually bright pink! Depart Magdeburg early this afternoon and sail to Brandenburg where you moor for the night.

Please note: the excursion to Magdeburg is included on 2020 departures.

Day 9 Brandenburg to Potsdam

The state of Brandenburg is an idyllic spot for nature lovers, with around one third of the landscape consisting of UNESCO nature reserves. Explore the pretty town of Brandenburg this morning, and discover medieval buildings and fine examples of German Gothic redbrick architecture, including St Catherine's Church and the Town Hall. Your cruise continues through scenic lakeland to Potsdam, arriving late this afternoon for an overnight mooring.

Optional excursions

Sanssouci & Gardens | Two hours

The 18th-century former summer palace of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, was designed by Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorrf and is rococo in style. Its interior was completely renovated upon the death of Frederick the Great and was one of the first palaces in the region to take on the new neo-classical style. The palace is surrounded by beautiful parkland which is dotted with various statues, obelisks, gazebos and ornate temples. Walking Grade 3

Sanssouci Palace Potsdam Brandenburg Germany Europe

Day 10 Potsdam to Berlin

Depart Potsdam early this morning and sail to Berlin, arriving before lunch. Stylish, chic Berlin has one of the most fascinating histories in Europe. Perhaps go in search of the major sights such as the rebuilt Reichstag, Tiergarten Park and the elegant Kurfürstendamm in what was West Berlin, and the Brandenburg Gate, Unter den Linden and the huge TV Tower in the East. Alternatively join an optional city tour this afternoon.

Day 11 Berlin to UK

After breakfast, disembark MS Johannes Brahms and travel to the airport for your return flight to the UK.