Tulips & Windmills

Day 1: Amsterdam

Arrive at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, where you will be transferred to the ship.

Day 2: Amsterdam

FEATURED EXCURSIONS:

Choice of Amsterdam by canal with either Van Gogh Museum OR Rijksmuseum visit OR exclusive “Do as the Locals Do” Amsterdam walking tour

See Amsterdam from the unique perspective of a canal cruise, followed by a tour of one of two acclaimed museums. Or, opt to take a guided stroll through Amsterdam’s canal district to a restored 17th-century canal house. In the evening, enjoy a Captain’s Welcome Reception and Gala Dinner.

Day 3: Amsterdam (Haarlem)

FEATURED EXCURSIONS:

Choice of full day at Keukenhof Gardens OR Keukenhof Gardens combined with Haarlem walking discovery tour with Teylers Museum visit

Spend the day at Keukenhof Gardens, an extraordinary site boasting seven million flowers. Or enjoy a half day at the gardens and either relax onboard after lunch or visit Haarlem's historic centre and the oldest museum in the Netherlands, with free time to explore on your own.

Note: Lunch is not included with the full day at Keukenhof Gardens.

Day 4: Hoorn (Enkhuizen)

FEATURED EXCURSIONS: Hoorn walking discovery tour and “Life on the Zuiderzee” outdoor museum visit

Discover Hoorn’s seafaring past as you tour the city on foot. At your next port of call, stroll through the fascinating Zuiderzee outdoor museum, a reconstructed village showcasing 19th-century Dutch life and culture. For more active sightseeing, bike around City Ring—an earthen dike—aboard one of the ship’s complimentary bicycles.

Day 5: Nijmegen

FEATURED EXCURSIONS: Choice of National Liberation Museum OR Kröller-Müller Museum visit

From Nijmegen, the oldest city in the Netherlands, join an excursion to the nearby National Liberation Museum for an eye-opening perspective on WWII. Or, you can opt to see a  fine collection of paintings by Van Gogh and other works by 19th- and 20th-century master artists.

Day 6: Rotterdam, Kinderdijk, Dordrecht

FEATURED EXCURSION: Kinderdijk windmills

Cruise through the Rotterdam harbor, the world’s third-largest port, and explore the city on your own. Continue on to Kinderdijk, an area with 19 well-preserved, UNESCO-designated windmills dating back to the 1500s. If you wish, you will have a chance to climb inside one of these historic and iconic structures.

Note: If docking in Kinderdijk is not possible, the excursion will be arranged by motorcoach from Rotterdam.

Day 7: Veere

FEATURED EXCURSIONS: Delta Works museum and guided stroll into the artists’ village of Veere

The Delta Works Museum presents a wonderful overview of Dutch windmills and other engineering marvels used in the Netherlands’ long battle to hold back the sea. You’ll also have time to explore Veere, with its cosy harbor and 16th-century merchant houses. Relax onboard as the ship cruises through the picturesque Zeeland area.

Day 8: Ghent (Bruges or Ghent)

FEATURED EXCURSIONS: Choice of full day Bruges with canal cruise and walking discovery tour OR Ghent walking discovery tour with Ghent Floralies flower show

Enjoy a tour of well-preserved Bruges, a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with historic architecture. Or explore Ghent, one of the oldest cities in Belgium, with a guided tour featuring the medieval centre and the famous Ghent Altarpiece. During the Ghent Floralies this spring, the streets will be lined with lavish flower displays.

Day 9: Antwerp

FEATURED EXCURSIONS: Choice of Antwerp walking discovery tour with Cathedral of Our Lady OR exclusive “Do as the Locals Do” Antwerp walking tour

Take a tour of Antwerp's architectural highlights, including the Cathedral of Our Lady and its masterpieces by Rubens. Or experience the city as the locals do, with a metro ride, a stroll through the main shopping district, and samples of iconic Belgian foods. In the evening, enjoy a Captain’s Farewell Reception and Gala Dinner.

Day 10: Antwerp (disembark), transfer to Brussels Airport

Disembark the ship in Antwerp and transfer to Brussels Airport for your flight home.