Tulip Time Cruise

Welcome to Amsterdam, a modern city with a rich and fascinating history. Explore the 700-year-old European capital with its elegant and classic architecture, cafés, lively marketplaces and exciting nightlife. This evening meet your fellow passengers on board for the Welcome Reception and Dinner. (D)

After breakfast, enjoy a comprehensive and scenic morning cruise through the historic harbor and canals of Amsterdam. See the beautiful homes that line the water, the fabled Skinny Bridge, and the famous Anne Frank House. Then, enjoy a panoramic city tour, where you will see the Rembrandt Windmill and other great landmarks of Amsterdam. Return to the ship for a scenic lunch, while you cruise the Ijsselmeer towards Volendam. Enjoy a late afternoon tour of Volendam Harbor to see the fish auction building, Old Quarter and famous churches. Continue by motor coach to the Village of Edam where you will sample some of its famous cheese. Another afternoon option is to enjoy a scenic bicycle ride through North Holland. (B,L,D)

Arrive in beautiful Arnhem early this morning and see the site of the Battle of Arnhem Bridge featured in the classic film “A Bridge Too Far” during Operation Market Garden in World War II. Then visit the Airborne Museum, which shows the course of events during the Battle of Arnhem. Enjoy scenic cruising this evening as you sail through Holland, and on to Belgium. (B,L,D)

This morning, enjoy a walking tour of Antwerp. See the Antwerp Castle, Grote Market, Brabo Fountain and city's superb architecture. In the alternative, visit the Rubens House, former home and studio of Peter Paul Rubens, the famous 17th-century Flemish Baroque Painter. Afterwards, you will visit the Antwerp Cathedral which features two of Rubens’ most important works, the Elevation of the Cross and the Descent from the Cross. The afternoon is free to explore Antwerp on your own or take an optional excursion to nearby Brussels. During dinner, your cruise departs for Ghent. (B,L,D)

After breakfast take a guided sightseeing tour of Ghent, the fourth largest city of Belgium. Begin your walking tour from the Belfry Tower and see picturesque highlights such as the Koornlei, the Graslei, and the Castle of the Counts. The afternoon is yours to explore Ghent at leisure or to take an optional excursion to Brugge, which is one of Europe's most perfectly preserved medieval cities. Brugge’s historical city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (B,L,D)

This morning, cruise through the Dutch region of Zeeland, home to one of the world’s most complex engineering projects, the Delta Works, which took more than 30 years to complete. Stop in charming 400-year old Willemstad for a walking tour and private organ recital at the oldest Protestant church in Holland. As an alternative, take a guided bicycle tour of Willemstad (capacity controlled). In the afternoon, you will visit Kinderdijk, a lovely region renowned for having the greatest concentration of windmills in the entire country. Tonight, enjoy a special onboard musical performance as the ship cruises to Schoonhoven. (B,L,D)

During breakfast, enjoy some scenic cruising along the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal to Utrecht. Admire the spectacular display of bulb flowers in bloom during your morning excursion to the famous Keukenhof Gardens where you will be delighted to find millions of flowering tulips all over the 70-acre park. The rest of the day is for you to enjoy at your leisure. (B,L,D)

Disembark after breakfast for your transfer to the airport. (B)