Tue, 9 Feb
Sachsenhausen was the largest concentration camp in the vicinity of Berlin, and one of many camps in a system now synonymous with the atrocities of Nazism. This private tour is designed to give an overview of the concentration camp memorial at Sachsenhausen and show you Berlin’s essential sites in the time that you have ashore.
You will be greeted in front of your cruise ship as soon as it docks and shown to a private, modern, comfortable and air-conditioned vehicle. Your professional driver will then transfer you through the picturesque flatlands of former East Germany to the Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin (circa three hours).
On arrival you will be met by your professional, local guide and head to the historic city centre to visit the essential sites in the German capital. You will stand in the shadow of the Reichstag, journey through the Memorial for the Murdered Jews of Europe, walk in the shadow of the Berlin Wall, and cross the border from East to West at Checkpoint Charlie. Time permitting, you will also have the opportunity to visit the UNESCO-listed Museum Island – the architectural heart of 19th century Berlin.
After a short lunch break you will be driven to the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp for a roughly 60-75 minute overview of the memorial site.
Your guide will provide an in-depth commentary throughout the tour, helping you understand the sites and the history behind them as well as what makes the German capital one of the most dynamic cities in the world. Once the Sachsenhausen portion of the tour is completed you will be driven back to port.
Please be aware, the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Memorial is roughly a one hour drive from Berlin. The tour is organised to try and minimise time spent on the bus. This is why we visit Sachsenhausen in the afternoon, as it lies between Berlin and Warnemünde – on the way back to port. You will, however, spend more time on the bus than on our regular Berlin shore excursion. This is a necessity to see Berlin and Sachsenhausen in a day.
All of our shore excursions are adjusted to each ship’s docking times and each starts promptly after your vessel’s arrival, returning with plenty of time to spare before its departure. We have been organizing shore excursions for nearly a decade and have never missed a cruise ship’s departure.
The tour begins with a pickup directly at your ship’s docking port. You will be escorted to a modern, air-conditioned bus and driven to Berlin – the journey takes roughly 3 hours.
Arriving at the palace you will be met by your professional, English-speaking tour guide who will take you off the bus to give you an introduction to Berlin and the tour, and an opportunity to stretch your legs.
You will then be driven through the lush greenery of Berlin's vast central park.
Make sure you have your camera ready to catch the sun glinting on the golden angel Victoria, goddess of victory, as you circle around Prussia's emphatic monument to its triumphs in the Wars of Unification.
When we reach the German parliament building – burned down after Hitler’s rise to power, now a bold symbol of modern German democracy –we will exit the bus and spend the next portion of the tour on foot.
Next we walk through the gateways of Berlin's most iconic monument and find out what makes the Gate the most important cultural monument in Germany.
After we leave Pariser Platz plenty of time will be taken to journey through the iconic field of concrete blocks, and bear witness the atrocities of National Socialism.
We will take a short lunch break of approximately 30-45 minutes. There will not be time for a sit-down meal. Your guide will take you somewhere with plenty of quick food options and access to bathrooms.
After lunch we will take some time to marvel at the stunning structures and imperial splendor of this UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site before driving to the Sachsenhausen memorial site – the journey takes roughly 1 hour.
When you reach the camp you will exit the bus with your guide and be given a 60-75 minute overview of the memorial site. You will then board the bus once more, say goodbye to your guide, and be driven back to port.
The tour finishes back at port in plenty of time for your ship’s departure.
You will be picked up directly in front of your cruise ship.
Tour times are adjusted to your ship’s docking times. In the event of heavy traffic, road blockages, special events, or unforeseen circumstances the tour itinerary may be subject to change. We cannot take responsibility for such incidents and refunds will not be provided.
At the end of the tour you will be dropped off back at your cruise ship.
For groups of 1-6 people: free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.
- For groups of 7+ people: free cancellation up to up to 7 days ahead. From 6 days in advance to 24 hours in advance, a 50% fee will apply. /unless cancellation is due to the ship's itinerary change, in which case it can be done free of charge up to 48 hours ahead
- Cancellations less than 24 hours ahead or no-shows result in no refund.
Starting times in the 2023 season for the semi-private tour:
Tuesday, May 9, 2023, 7:30am - Rotterdam
Friday, June 2, 2023, 7:30am - Celebrity Apex
Tuesday, June 6, 2023, 7:30am - Rotterdam
Wednesday, June 14, 2023, 7:30am - Norwegian Dawn
Friday, June 16, 2023, 7:30am - Nieuw Statendam
Wednesday, June 21, 2023, 8:00am - Carnival Pride
Sunday, June 25, 2023, 7:30am – Oceania Marina
Tuesday, June 27, 2023, 9:30am - Celebrity Apex
Friday, June 30, 2023, 7:30am - Norwegian Dawn
Monday, July 10, 2023, 7:30am - Nieuw Statendam
Wednesday, July 12, 2023, 8:00am - Carnival Pride
Monday, July 17, 2023, 7:30am - Sky Princess
Friday, July 21, 2023, 9:30am - Celebrity Apex
Monday, August 7, 2023, 7:30am - Norwegian Dawn
Tuesday, August 22, 2023, 7:30am - Norwegian Dawn
Wednesday, August 23, 2023, 9:30am - Celebrity Apex
Monday, September 11, 2023, 8:30am – Oceania Marina
Friday, September 15, 2023, 7:30am – Oceania Marina
Tuesday, September 26, 2023, 7:30am – Rotterdam
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