Princess Cruiseshas launched a new cruise-tour which will include next year's Oberammergau Passion Play. The new 18-day "Oberammergau & Highlights of Germany" tour features two nights in the small Bavarian town of Oberammergau, and includes tickets to the event. Passengers will also visit a variety of other German destinations during the land tour, including Frankfurt, the Black Forest, Munich, Nuremberg and Berlin.
And for those who wish, the tour will connect seamlessly with a 10-day Scandinavia/Russia itinerary. Two departures are offered: 2 & 12 August 2010. The Oberammergau Passion Play is performed every ten years since 1634 in thanksgiving for deliverance from the Black Death in 1633. The play is now performed in years ending with a zero (except 1984 which was the 350th anniversary), and involves more than 2,000 actors, singers, instrumentalists and technicians, all of whom are residents of the village.
All cast members have lived in the village at least 20 years and must be of high moral and ethical principles. Villagers also make all the costumes for the production and, as no wigs are used, participants must grow their hair and beards for several months prior to the performances.
The "Oberammergau & Highlights of Germany" cruise-tour is one of Princess' four Europe cruise-tour options available next season. Travellers can also choose the 18-day "Europe's Imperial Treasures," which features the cathedrals and castles of four capitals that have figured prominently in history: Budapest, Vienna, Prague and Berlin. The 17-day "Classic Italy" tour offers the charms of Florence and Rome, and can connect to a number of Princess' Mediterranean sailings. The 16-day "Ring of Kerry" tour offers some of the Emerald Isle's most inspiring landscapes with visits to Shannon, Killarney and Cork, plus a British Isles cruise.
Fares for the 18-day Oberammergau cruise-tour begin at $5,319 per person, based on double occupancy. Additional information about Princess Cruises is available from your travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS or by visiting www.princess.com.
