Day 1: Depart home gateway city to Amsterdam
Day 2: Amsterdam
Arrive at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport where you'll be transferred to the ship. (D)
Day 3: Amsterdam
Spend your first full day in the Netherland's largest city, Amsterdam, which boasts history, art, architecture, bridges, canals, cobblestone streets, museums, bicycles, narrow alleys, and beer. Even the simplest of shops has a distinctive charm here, and every street has a story to tell. See Amsterdam's unique appeal from a different perspective aboard a canal boat. You'll see the Mint Tower, Dam Square, the Royal Palace, and Museum Square. After your canal cruise, it's time to visit one of the most prestigious museums in the world. The Rijksmuseum offers the largest collection of Dutch and Flemish art and artifacts in the world. On display is one of Rembrandt's most famous paintings, The Night Watch, and Vermeer's The Kitchen Maid. (BB, L, Captain's Welcome Dinner)
Featured Excursion: Amsterdam city tour, including canal cruise and Rijksmuseum visit
Day 4: Amsterdam, Hoorn
You'll visit the Keukenhof Gardens, one of the most impressive publicgardens in the world, with more than seven million bulbs planted on a70-acre site. The Netherlands knows its flowers. And, once you visit these incrediblegardens, you'll understand why more than 90% of the world's flowersupply comes from here. During the afternoon, you will cruise to thecharming shores of Hoorn. From a leading seaport in the 1600s to awelcoming town known today for its delicious cheese and vibranthorticulture. It was animportant home base for the Dutch East India Company and a veryprosperous center of trade. Other notable 17th-century achievements ofHoorn include its lovely gabled houses, which you can still see today. (BB, L, D)
Featured Excursion: Keukenhof Gardens
Day 5: Enkhuizen
Cruise from Hoorn to Enkhuizen and learn about life in this quaint, 650-year-old town, a thriving trading center located on the edge of the Zuider Zee. Your walking tour will highlight its history as you pass the Drommedaris, an old defense tower guarding the harbor entrance, and warehouses formerly used by the Dutch East India Company. (BB, L, D)
Featured Excursion: Enkhuizen walking tour
Day 6: Nijmegen
Spend the morning cruising to Nijmegen, consideredthe oldest city in the Netherlands. From here, you willhead to the Liberation Museum situated in nearby Groesbeek. During your guided visit, get a first handaccount of WWII by experiencing the occupation,celebrating the liberation, and witnessing therebuilding of the Netherlands and Europe afterthe war. (BB, L, D)
Featured Excursion: Liberation Museum
Day 7: Kinderdijk, Rotterdam
Arrive in Kinderdijk in the morning where you'll discover 19 astonishingly wellpreserved windmills dating back to the 1500s and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your guide will provide a detailed explanation of why windmills are so important to this region, including how they harness the power of the wind. They are also an iconic emblem of the Netherlands. At one point, there were more than 10,000 in the country. Were it not for the mighty windmill, this region would have surrendered to water a long time ago. Later in the day, sail to Rotterdam, and cruise through its harbor, the world's third largest after Shanghai and Singapore. Enjoy leisure time while in Rotterdam. (BB, L, D) Note: If docking in Kinderdijk is not possible, the excursion will be arranged by coach from Rotterdam.
Featured Excursion: Kinderdijk windmills
Day 8: Veere
Enjoy a morning visit to the engineering marvel known as the Delta Works, where you'll learn about the Netherlands' 2,000-year history of fighting back the sea. Learn how technology has evolved over this period, and witness the striking modern methods employed today. Spend the early afternoon at leisure in charming Veere before cruising the picturesque Zeeland area. (BB, L, D)
Featured Excursion: Delta Works
Day 9: Antwerp
Spend a full day in the exciting diamond capital of the world, Antwerp. You will be guided to the Cathedral of Our Lady, which houses four masterpieces by Peter Paul Rubens, who was born in Antwerp. You'll visit Market Square, where you'll see the Brabo Fountain, and you'll discover charming hidden sidestreets with delectable chocolate shops. (BB, L, Captain's Farewell Dinner)
Featured Excursion: Antwerp walking tour and Cathedral of Our Lady visit
Day 10: Antwerp (Bruges)
Visit Bruges, one of the best-preserved Medieval cities in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy its intimate cobblestone streets and bucolic public gardens. Perhaps the most distinctive sight is the Belfry Tower (Belfort) with its stunning octagonal tower and the lovely music of a carillon, which consists of 47 bells. Then see the town as its original visitors did-aboard a canal boat-and discover why Bruges is often called the “Venice of the North.” (BB, D)
Featured Excursion: Full-day Bruges with canal cruise
Day 11: Depart Antwerp
Disembark the ship in Antwerp and transfer to the airport in Brussels for your flight home.
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