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Thomas Mann, Otto von Bismarck and Caspar David Friedrich couldn’t all be wrong. The Nobel Prize-winning author, the first Chancellor of Germany and the leading landscape artist were all enthralled by the Baltic island of Rügen, where chalk cliffs inspired one of Friedrich’s most celebrated paintings.

Guests on Saga’s Copenhagen to Berlin waterways cruise can take a guided tour of the island, which has miles of sandy beaches, sleepy fishing villages and elegant manor houses which retain the nostalgic charm of its sophisticated history.

The fly-cruise holiday begins with a two-night stay in the Danish capital’s Copenhagen Island Hotel (4Q), which is on an artificial island in the city centre with harbour views.

An included excursion takes in Christiansborg Palace, the canal district, the Little Mermaid statue, the royal Amalienborg Palace and Tivoli Gardens before guests board 102-passenger MS Princess, a small ship with well-equipped cabins. Three-course lunches and four-course dinners are waiter-served while breakfasts are buffet style.

MS Princess sails west of Rugen to Hiddensee, a protected bird habitat, and also calls in to Stralsund, home to the Ozeanum aquarium and marine museum.

Usedom, between Germany and Poland, with sandy beaches and spa resort-style architecture, is the next stop, followed by Szczecin, in Poland, an important seaport near the mouth of the Oder and the capital of West Pomerania. 

The cruise also involves MS Princess being hoisted by a marvel of 20th-century engineering – the Niederfinow boat lift, built between 1927 and 1934, on the Oder-Havel Canal in Brandenburg.

The final night is spent at the Golden Tulip Berlin-Hotel Hamburg, with a tour of the iconic sights including Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie, while the hotel’s central location is ideal for further exploration.

For details call free on 0800 656 9919 or visit saga.co.uk/river-cruises

 Nine nights from £1,799 departing May 24, 2019. Price includes UK travel package, choice of regional flights from Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, London Heathrow, Manchester and Norwich, transfers, all meals on MS Princess, porterage, optional travel insurance and additional cancellation rights or a discount if passenger has own insurance.

 Editors:

Saga has created four ‘Time to’ holiday styles: Go for it, Stay & Explore, Discover and Unwind. Each style helps guests decide on a holiday that feels right for them. Copenhagen to Berlin is Discover.