Holland, Luxembourg & Belgium
Day 1 ARRIVE IN AMSTERDAM, HOLLANDWelcome to Amsterdam! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)
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Day 2 AMSTERDAMHolland Days AMSTERDAM Take a guided canal cruise. Visit the Rijksmuseum, followed by free time this afternoon and evening. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ART & ARCHITECTURE See the most fascinating views of Amsterdam on a canal cruise along the elegant grachten lined with homes dating back to the city’s “Golden Age.” Go even deeper into the artistry of Amsterdam with a visit to the Netherland’s national museum, the Rijksmuseum, illustrating 800 years of Dutch history through extraordinary works of art and photography.
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Day 3 AMSTERDAM. EXCURSION TO KEUKENHOF, DELFT & THE HAGUE Dutch Treats AMSTERDAM [LF] Visit Keukenhof Gardens, the world-famous flower park (departures March 22-May 10).
AMSTERDAM [LF] Visit the Heineken Experience (departures May 24 - September 27).
DELFT Visit the Royal Delft Pottery factory.
THE HAGUE Join in an orientation drive with a photo stop at the Dutch Parliament and the International Court of Justice.
(B)
99 mi / 160 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURAL GEMS Delft Blue pottery is part of the Dutch cultural heritage like windmills, wooden shoes, and Dutch cheese. Learn how this centuries-old craftmanship has been passed on from generation to generation and the artisans who still create these iconic pieces today.
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Day 4 AMSTERDAM–MAASTRICHT–BASTOGNE, BELGIUM–LUXEMBOURGHeroic History MAASTRICHT Visit Vrijthof Square.
BASTOGNE Visit the War Museum and take pictures of the American Memorial en route to Luxembourg. (B,D)
280 mi / 450 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SPOTS Witness the bravery of WWII allied troops commemorated in the Bastogne War Museum for a fascinating and moving look at the heroes of the historic Battle of the Bulge. Visit the museum’s American Memorial honoring the 76,890 American soldiers killed, wounded, or missing during this valiant victory on the Western Front.
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Day 5 LUXEMBOURGLovely Luxembourg LUXEMBOURG Guided sightseeing includes the Cathedral of Our Lady and General Patton’s grave. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CITY SIGHTS Luxembourg City is one of Europe's most scenic capitals spanning the gorges of the Alzette and Pétrusse rivers. Here, the city’s only cathedral is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Nearby, General Patton is laid to rest, as he wished, at the American Cemetery together with his men.
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Day 6 LUXEMBOURG–WATERLOO, BELGIUM–BRUGESBattling Bonaparte WATERLOO Visit the battle site where Napoleon was defeated en route to Bruges. (B)
186mi / 300km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ICONIC FOOTSTEPS Surrender to your love of history! Visit the site of Napoleon’s final defeat now home to the majestic Waterloo Memorial upon the Butte du Lion (Lion’s Mound) See the historical canvas of the Panorama of Battle, measuring 110 meters long and 12 meters high. Admire a sweeping view of the battlefield by climbing the 226 steps to the top of the Lion monument hill.
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Day 7 BRUGES–BRUSSELSBelgian Beauties BRUGES [LF] Enjoy a canal cruise and Belgian chocolate bonbon tasting followed by guided walking tour of the city, including the Church of Our Lady and a traditional lace demonstration.
BRUSSELS An orientation walk includes Grand’Place and a photo stop at the mischievous Manneken Pis statues and fountain. (B)
75 mi / 120 km
LOCAL FAVORITE
CULTURE & TRADITION Indulge in delicious Belgian bonbons while taking a canal cruise through Bruges A sweet way to see the capital of West Flanders. Traditions continue flowing with a demonstration of the exquisite art of the centuries-old style of Belgian bobbin lace making.
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Day 8 BRUSSELSA Farewell Feast BRUSSELS Enjoy a free day, followed by a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)
ENHANCED FREE TIME
EXPLORE MORE Why not join an optional excursion to the fascinating city of Antwerp, the diamond capital of the world! Follow your local guide around the picturesque old town, visit the Cathedral of Our Lady with some of Ruben’s fine artwork on display, and the Plantin-Moretus Museum, home to the world’s oldest surviving printing press.
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Day 9 BRUSSELSSafe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
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Luxembourg
Multilingualism is one of the assets of the Grand Ducal capital. Visitors may be ushered in with a hearty ”Moiën”, as the natives stick to their mother tongue, ”Lëtzebuergesch”, now as before. Placed in the heart of Europe, Luxembourg has matured into an economic and cultural center. The modern edifices of the European Institutions on the Kirchberg Plateau or the futuristic bank head offices lining Boulevard Royal bear witness to progress the city has made. The media world has found a home here, just like the circles of the specialist conventions or international conferences. Many great names, from Goethe or Victor Hugo to William Turner, used to think highly of Luxembourg hospitality and open-mindedness. Therefore, visitors should feel at ease in a cosmopolitan city stamped by the spell of smallness, visible at a glance.
Amsterdam
Cosmopolitan Amsterdam is most famous for its narrow, gabled houses lining the canals. Interesting attractions include the medieval weighhouse, Royal Palace on Dam Square, and New Church. Its most glamorous industry is the diamond trade. Not too far from Amsterdam are the flower centers of Aalsmeer, the picturesque fishing villages of Volendam and Marken, cheese markets at Edam and Gouda, and historic Haarlem, the main center of the bulb-growing industry. Enjoy the city’s sights from a glass-topped sightseeing boat which passes characteristic gabled houses and negotiates picturesque arched bridges. Facing Dam Square, the Royal Palace was built in 1648 and is still officially the royal residence, although the royal family resides in The Hague. The marbled Citizens Hall with inlaid maps of the world is worth seeing. One of Amsterdam’s most visited sites is historic Anne Frank House. Rijksmuseum, the city’s most prestigious museum, houses the largest collection of Dutch paintings in the world. Van Gogh Museum houses a striking collection.
Excursions
Amsterdam: An Introduction to Amsterdam – 4 hours
Amsterdam: An Introduction to Amsterdam – 4 hours
Meet your driver at the Port in Amsterdam for a private transfer to the city centre where your guide is waiting to meet you for a walking tour of this beautiful city. Begin at Dam Square, bordered by the Royal Palace and enjoy wonderful views of the canals and gabled houses of the mercantile quarter before visiting the house in which Anne Frank wrote her celebrated diary during the last war*. After your tour, transfer in the comfort of your own private vehicle back to your ship.
*tickets for the Anne Frank House sell out very quickly and are subject to availability. Guides are not allowed to accompany you into the house itself, but will be waiting for you at the end of your visit (approx. 45-90 mins)
Highlights:
Tour Duration: 4 Hours
Tour Can Operate: Morning/ Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
- Private transport by luxury car or minivan
- An expert local guide for 4 hours
- Entrance fees to all sights and museums
- All taxes
Exclusions:
- All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
- Gratuities
Amsterdam: Highlights of Amsterdam - 8 Hours
Amsterdam: Highlights of Amsterdam - 8 Hours
Spend the day exploring Amsterdam in the hands of your expert guide. You are met at the port and transferred to Dam Square where your morning’s walking tour includes the notable Royal Palace. Admire the views of the canals and the gabled houses of the Canal Ring district, where you will visit the house in which Anne Frank wrote her celebrated diary during the last war*.
After lunch explore the beautifully-restored Rijksmuseum, to admire the stunning collection of masterpieces from the seventeenth-century Golden Age, including works by Rembrandt and Vermeer. No visit to Amsterdam would be complete without seeing the delightful Van Gogh Museum, home to many of his famous works as well as those of other Impressionists and Post-Impressionists.
*tickets for the Anne Frank House sell out very quickly and are subject to availability. Guides are not allowed to accompany you into the house itself, but will be waiting for you at the end of your visit (approx. 45-90 mins)
Highlights:
- Visit Anne Frank's House
- Explore the Van Gogh Museum
Tour Duration: 8 Hours
Tour Can Operate: Morning/ Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
- Private transport by luxury car or minivan
- An expert local guide for 8 hours
- Entrance fees to all sights and museums
- All taxes
Exclusions:
- All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
- Gratuities
Amsterdam: The Three Sisters, Delft & Den Haag - 8 Hours
Amsterdam: The Three Sisters, Delft & Den Haag - 8 Hours
You are met at Amsterdam port for a full-day excursion outside of the city. Head south into the countryside for a photo opportunity at the impressive Three Sisters Windmills in Stompwijk. As over a third of the Netherlands lies below sea level, windmills were initially designed to pump vast amount of water out, thus protecting land from flooding. Today, these silent giants draw many visitors every year for their charming appearances.
From here, you travel on to Delft, world-renowned for its famous blue and white pottery and one of the most beautiful towns in the Netherlands. Take in the town’s architectural gems and charming ambience, which are best appreciated by walking along its small canals with their graceful humpbacked bridges.
Following this, enjoy a privately-guided tour at the Royal Delft Experience, where a painter shares the passion behind the production of this stunning 17th-century earthenware during a special demonstration.
After lunch at leisure, you continue to the Hague, the home of the Dutch Royal Family and the administrative capital of the Netherlands; walk the Inner court past the Government buildings and take the opportunity for a photo stop at the International Court of Justice. You may like to visit the Mauritshuis Museum, which holds one of the world's finest collections of paintings, including Rembrandt, Steen, Hals, Rubens and Van Dyck, or you may choose to visit the Panorama Mesdag, which hosts the Panorama, one of the largest canvas paintings in the world (subject to opening times).
On your return journey, stop at Scheveningen beach for some spectacular views before continuing back. (8 hours, driver and guide)
Highlights:
- Witness the majestic windmills known as the Three Sisters
- Delve into Delft's artistic heritage
Tour Duration: 8 Hours
Tour Can Operate: Morning/ Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
- Private transport by luxury car or minivan
- An expert local guide for 8 hours
- Entrance fees to all sights and museums
- All taxes
Exclusions:
- All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
- Gratuities
Brussels
Brussels's Upper and a Lower Town conjure up images of important buildings and long avenues and small, dark streets. Lower Town, the old Flemish quarter, contains the city's most famous sites, including its greatest landmark, Grand Place, and the Manneken Pis. It's also the location of around ten churches relatively close to each other; most of them from the Flemish Renaissance and Baroque periods. In Upper Town, you'll find King's palace, royal squares and various palaces from the eighteenth-century neo-classical Austrian period. The built-up business and residential areas are scrupulously broken up by frequent patches of green parks, which help account for the city's sedate, unfrenzied atmosphere. Around the city center are congregated many small, carefully laid-out parks that provide settings for statues and national monuments.