Tauckâ??s two Oberammergau extensions allow guests to easily add an extra four or five-day land component to their river cruise itinerary, and enjoy the moving spectacle of the Oberammergau Passion Play. Performed just once each decade, the Passion Play recounts the life and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It was first performed by Oberammergauâ??s citizens in 1634, after the village escaped a local plague epidemic. Today the play is a major cultural event involving over 2,000 Oberammergau residents as actors, singers, musicians and technicians.

The four-day Oberammergau extension begins in Munich with a welcome reception and dinner at the Spatenhaus, a traditional Bavarian restaurant, before proceeding to Oberammergau the following day. In Oberammergau, guests will view the Passion Play from Tauckâ??s specially reserved premier seating in Section 1A, before enjoying in-town accommodations at the Hotel Maximilian. Day three includes a visit to the opulent 19th-century Linderhof Palace and free time to explore Munich, before the extension concludes on the following day.

The five-day extension also begins in Munich and includes a walking tour of the city with a visit to 17th-century Schloss Nymphenburg, a former summer residence of Bavariaâ??s ruling family. Days two and three include time in the market town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and the Passion Play in Oberammergau (again, with reserved seating in Section 1A of the theater). A guided walking tour of Salzburg, Austria highlights the fourth day, with the extension concluding on day five.

ABOUT TAUCK RIVER CRUISING
Tauck will offer a total of nine European river cruises in 2010 aboard a fleet of three sister-ships, the MS Swiss Jewel, MS Swiss Sapphire and MS Swiss Emerald. The three ships have each been launched within the past three years, and all are virtually identical. Tauckâ??s ships each accommodate just 118 guests, vs 140 or more on other similarly sized vessels, providing a less crowded and more relaxed ambiance. The ships also feature a bistro-style Lido Bar, providing a more casual dining alternative to the main restaurant.

Tauckâ??s vessels boast over four-times the number of suites and junior suites typically found on riverboats. Suites feature 300 square-feet of living space with floor-to-ceiling windows, walk-in closets and marble baths with full size tubs. The additional 45 junior suites and cabins on Tauck riverboats range from 150 to 183 square-feet, and 85% of all accommodations feature floor-to-ceiling windows with French balconies. All suites and cabins are well appointed with plasma TVs, mini-bars, terry cloth robes and slippers, radios, safes, individual air conditioning and Lâ??Occitane toiletries.

In addition to its European river cruises, Tauck also operates three land journeys that each feature a three-day river cruising component. An Egyptian journey and an itinerary to Egypt and Jordan each include a three-night Nile River cruise, and a 16-day exploration of China and Hong Kong features a three-night cruise on the Yangtze.

Call 866-475-7023 for more details.