Best of Holland & Belgium - Cruise Only

Embark on an extraordinary Best of Holland & Belgium cruise, starting in the vibrant city of Amsterdam.

Amsterdam is home to 165 canals; you can enjoy some of them on your canal cruise. Later in the day, take a scenic cruise across the IJsselmeer to Utrecht, the religious center of the Netherlands since the 8th century. This vibrant city features a medieval old town with canals and a stunning Gothic cathedral, which you may explore during your walking tour. The tour also includes visiting Museum Speelklok, a whimsical collection of automatically playing musical instruments. Alternatively, on a walking or biking tour, you can marvel at De Haar, the largest castle in Holland. This castle looks like it came out of a fairytale, complete with turrets, moats, suspension bridges, and a luxurious interior that will leave you in awe.

Enjoy a scenic morning cruise through the delta before arriving in Hellevoetsluis, an island metropolis of South Holland. During your tour of this medieval harbor town, you may see enchanting sites such as its iconic working De Hoop windmill and witness the charming wharf houses. Later in the day, you may discover the intriguing history of how the Delta Works, a unique storm surge barrier, came to be while visiting the Flood Museum. More than half of the Netherlands lies below sea level and the Delta Works were built to prevent a recurrence of the 1953 flood disaster. Alternatively, visit a traditional Dutch flat-bottom boat and learn about the history of this unique type of vessel. For those who prefer an active adventure, pedal from Hellevoetsluis, with its cobblestone streets and charming harbor, across the Haringvlietdam and back. 

There are several choices of excursions in Ghent, depending on your interests. Stroll through the Capital of East Flanders, learning about its unique history on your walking tour, or pedal through the spellbinding town on a guided bike tour. Alternatively, visit Bruges, one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe, on a full-day excursion that includes the renowned Church of Our Lady, home to the beautiful Carrara marble Madonna and Child sculpture by Michelangelo. If you prefer a shorter excursion in Bruges, visit the town later in the day or spend your afternoon at Ghent’s moated Castle of the Counts, which boasts an eye-catching design as well as a ghoulishly interesting collection of medieval torture devices.

*Not combinable with other tours on this day.

Explore Belgium’s captivating capital on your guided walking tour or pedal through Brussels on a guided bike ride that takes you into Laeken Park, where you will see the unique architecture of the Far East Museums as well as the jaw-dropping iron molecule sculpture known as the Atomium. In the afternoon, visit Gaasbeek Castle, a 13th-century fortified castle built to defend the Duchy of Brabant against the County of Flanders. Alternatively, delight your palate with a Belgian chocolate tasting.

Explore Belgium’s trendy “City of Diamonds” on a walking tour where you’ll see Antwerp’s Steen Castle, Grote Market and Brabo Fountain, along with the UNESCO-designated Cathedral of Our Lady. Active travelers may prefer instead to bike through Antwerp. Later in the day, beer enthusiasts will appreciate a tasting of the local brew while foodies may prefer our excursion to sample some of Belgium’s culinary delights such as its fresh and fluffy waffles. An afternoon bike tour is also available for those who prefer to get their heart beating later in the day, and it includes an opportunity to visit the Red Star Line Museum, highlighting the historic shipping line responsible for transporting three million immigrants to America.

Early this morning, cruise through Upper Austria to Passau in Germany, where the rivers Inn and Ilz join the Danube. Enjoy a walking tour of this 2,000-year-old city, noted for its Gothic and Italian Baroque architecture, cobblestone streets and squares like Rathaus, Domplatz and Residenzplatz, as well as St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Guests looking for a more active morning can choose between a guided bike tour along the Danube from Passau to Erlau, or a guided hike up to the Veste Oberhaus fortress overlooking Passau. This afternoon, the ship cruises to the medieval town of Vilshofen, where you will enjoy a festive Oktoberfest celebration with local beer and Bavarian folk music and dancing. (B,L,D)

Disembark your ship and bid farewell to Amsterdam as you prepare for your return flight home.