Itinerary

1. Amsterdam

   Welcome on board your ''floating hotel''. Tonight a Welcome Cocktail Reception will be held before dinner is served on board. The ship remains docked overnight in Amsterdam. (D)

2. Amsterdam/Volendam

   After breakfast you can join an optional city tour of Amsterdam, or choose to explore this interesting and lively city on your own. After lunch on board our optional ''Holland Waterland'' excursion starts. The first stop will be in Edam for a visit of a Dutch cheese factory. A pleasant walking tour in the little town of Volendam will end the tour. Dinner on board. The vessel leaves Volendam before midnight. (B,L,D)

3. Arnhem

   The vessel reaches Arnhem at noon. This afternoon you can choose between two optional excursions. During the ''Arnhem and the Open Air Museum'' excursion you will visit the town of Arnhem, where the World War II ''Market Garden'' parachute landings and the battle for the bridge took place. This excursion ends with a visit of the ''Open Air Museum'' which displays more than 80 historic houses, farmhouses and mills from all over the Netherlands. Alternatively you can take the ''Arnhem & World War II History'' optional excursion which includes a tour of Arnhem followed by a visit of the ''Hartenstein Airborne Museum''. In the evening the cruise continues towards Middelburg. (B,L,D)

4. Middelburg

   At noon the vessel docks in Middelburg the capital city of the Dutch province of Zeeland. Seriously damaged during World War II, this old town has since been restored. In the afternoon you can choose between two optional tours. The walking city tour of Middelburg will introduce you to the beauty of this medieval town famous for the smallest university in Netherland. The second optional excursion will take you to the Deltaworks project located at Neeltje Jans. This is an amazing example of how the Dutch have truly tamed the environment in which they live. After visiting this site you will be taken to the lovely town of Veere which was a very prosperous trading port in the Middle Ages. Today Veere is a favorite spot for visitors, as it is one of the most picturesque towns in the area. At dinner time your vessel will resume its voyage. (B,L,D)

5. Ghent

   The vessel reaches Ghent in the early hours of the morning. Ghent has been an important port and center of the textile industry since the Middle Ages and birthplace of Charles V. The old city center has retained its medieval charm thanks to its many historic buildings. Here you will have the opportunity to join an optional city tour. In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to take an optional excursion to Bruges. Highlights of this tour will be a visit of the ''Pulverturm'', the town hall known for its magnificent facade and the ''Madonna'' painted by Michelangelo housed in the beautiful "Liebfrauenkirche". Later this afternoon there will be time to explore Ghent on your own before the ship sails again. (B,L,D)

6. Antwerp

   Before breakfast the ship docks in Antwerp. Antwerp is the second largest city in Belgium, and one of the biggest ports in Europe. An important city during the Renaissance period, Antwerp is also birth place to Rubens. Some of his masterpieces can be seen in the massive Gothic cathedral. Its main square, the Grote Market, is surrounded by fine Renaissance buildings including the 16th Century town hall. An optional city tour will enable you to get acquainted with this beautiful city. Here you will also have a chance to take an optional excursion to Brussels, Belgium's capital city. Tonight the captain welcomes everyone to a special dinner followed by a night of dancing. (B,L,D)

7. Kinderdijk/Utrecht/Amsterdam

   The ship reaches Kinderdijk in the morning. During an optional walking tour you will see Holland's largest display of working windmills. Before lunch the cruise continues to Utrecht, where the ship docks in the early afternoon. Here you can take an optional excursion to Keukenhof, mainly known for literally millions of flowers displayed in a park. Nowhere else in the world are spring flowers and colors as glorious as they are at Keukenhof. Dinner on board. Your vessel will stay docked in Amsterdam overnight. (B,L,D)

8. Amsterdam

   Disembarkation in Amsterdam after breakfast. End of the cruise. (B)