Be a part of this unique voyage and enjoy the opportunity to explore some of the most emblematic and historically significant sites in France and Belgium as you pay homage to the beginning of “the war to end all wars”. This cruise provides you with an up-close look at these areas, where you can observe and appreciate the war’s historical impact during memorial visits, battlefield tours, war museum excursions, and cultural immersion experiences. Visit the Wellington Quarry, an enormous underground network of tunnels used by forces of the British Empire and Commonwealth during the First World War. Take an excursion to Diksmuide, a town located near the Yser, a scene of bloody confrontations during the war and which had to be completely rebuilt afterwards. Join the MS Victor Hugo on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
Highlights
Discover the Trench of Death, setting of the Belgian front during WWI
Explore the picturesque and historical city of Bruges
Visit the largest Commonwealth forces memorial in the world
Observe the Yser Tower Memorial, the tallest monument to peace in Europe
Descend 65 feet in a glass elevator & tour the Wellington Quarry tunnels
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Welcome on board the ship in Lillestarting at 6:00 p.m. After you’ve comfortably settled in your cabin, be introduced to the crew during the welcome cocktail party and enjoy dinner on board.
The ship begins to cruise early this morning heading for Comines. Enjoy a relaxing breakfast and lunch on board as you set sail. Arrive late in the morning in Comines. After lunch, set off by coach for Arras. Each year, Arras attracts thousands of visitors to explore the city's architecture and historic buildings. Visit the Wellington Quarry, an enormous underground network of tunnels used by forces of the British Empire and Commonwealth during the First World War. After descending some 65 feet in a glass elevator, learn about the memorial to the Battle of Arras of 1917 through use of an audio guide. After your tour, return on board for dinner. Take advantage of a free evening to visit or enjoy the onboard entertainment.
Begin your day with a breakfast buffet on board. Then leave by coach to Poperingento discover this charming town. Poperinge was one of only two towns not to have been occupied by the Germans during WWI. Continue on to the military cemetery at Lijssenthoek. From 1915 to 1920, this was also the location of the largest evacuation hospital in the Ypres Salient battle zone. The visitor center tells the story of this unique site through the use of interactive exhibits. After your morning visit, return on board for lunch. Spend the afternoon relaxing while the ship cruises to Kortrijk. Have dinner, followed by an evening of music and dancing.
After a buffet breakfast on board, set off for a full-day excursionwhich begins with a visit to theTyne Cot Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery and Memorial to the Missing, the largest for Commonwealth forces in the world. Continue with a visit to Passchendaele Museum, located in Zonnebeke Castle, which offers an overview of the deadly battle of 1917. An underground tunnel gives an idea of what the life of a British soldier must have been like. Before lunch in a restaurant, taste some regional cheeses. This afternoon, head off to Ypres where you can take a walking tour of the ramparts (approx. 1.8 miles), followed by a visit of the In Flanders Fields Museum, which presents the history of the First World War in the region of the Western Flanders Front. Stop at Hill 60 and visit the Australian memorial. Before rejoining the boat, attend the Last Post Ceremony. The “Last Post” was the call of the bugle played particularly in the British Army to mark the end of the day’s work and the beginning of the evening’s rest. After your tour, return on board for dinner.
Enjoy a buffet breakfast on board before setting off on an excursion to Diksmuide(4). A town located near the Yser, Diksmuide was the scene of bloody confrontations during World War I and had to be completely rebuilt. Visit the “Trench of Death”, which preserves the trench setting of the Belgian front during World War I. Visit the actual trenches themselves. Then head to the Vladslo German War Cemetery and take an unaccompanied visit of the Yser Tower Memorial, which, at 275.5 feet high, is the tallest monument to peace in Europe. In the tower there is a museum dedicated to war, peace, and Flemish emancipation. Return on board for lunch and begin the cruise to Bruges. Enjoy dinner, followed by an evening of music and dancing. Remain in port overnight.
After buffet breakfast on board, set off for an excursion to picturesque Bruges. Well-known for its lace production and filled with a quaint, old-fashioned charm, Bruges has been one of the most important cultural centers in northern Europe for some 200 years. The visit ends with a trip along the town’s canals on board small motor boats where you can see the town’s most important buildings and monuments from a different perspective. Return on board for lunch as the ship sets off again for Ostend, arriving mid-afternoon. Tonight, enjoy a gala dinner, followed by an evening of music and dancing.
Day 7: Ostend, Belgium | Disembark
1 Breakfast
Enjoy one last buffet breakfast on board before disembarking around 9:00 a.m.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$2,048
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Main Deck-Cat A
28 Cabins with high windows (27 twins, 1 double cabin) Shower and toilet, hairdryer, satellite TV, safe.
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Main Deck- Cat B
Shower and toilet, hairdryer, satellite TV, safe.
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Main Deck- Cat C
Shower and toilet, hairdryer, satellite TV, safe.
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Upper Deck-Cat A
17 cabins with picture windows with sliding top section (16 twins, 1 double cabin) Shower and toilet, hairdryer, satellite TV, safe.
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Upper Deck-Cat B
Shower and toilet, hairdryer, satellite TV, safe.
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Upper Deck-Cat C
Shower and toilet, hairdryer, satellite TV, safe.
Notes
20% discount on children between 2-10 years
30% discount for 3rd person in triple cabin
Initial deposit is 30%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 100 days prior to departure by Bank transfer or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
I could not be happier with my Adventure Life experience, from beginning to end. I travel a lot, and I think your company and personnel do an outstanding job. I truly appreciate your professionalism, attentiveness, and flexibility. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend your company and would be happy to serve as a reference.
Constance Block
TrustScore 4.8 | 174 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 174 reviews on
8 hours ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
1 day ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
