zTulip Time Cruise

Welcome to Amsterdam, a modern city with a rich and fascinating history. On your own, you can explore this 700-year-old European capital with its elegant and classic architecture, cafés, restaurants, lively marketplaces and exciting nightlife. Perhaps visit one of the city's renowned museums such as the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum or the Anne Frank House. Tonight, meet your fellow passengers on board for the Welcome Dinner. Meals 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. Meals 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. Then visit the Airborne Museum, which shows the course of events during the Battle of Arnhem. Or, you can choose to visit the Het Loo Palace and see its amazing gardens. The Palace was once home to the House of Orange-Nassau from the 17th century until the death of Queen Wilhelmina in 1962. In the alternative, enjoy a guided bike tour (capacity controlled). After sightseeing, return to the ship for lunch and cruise to Nijmegen. From here, take a motor coach to Venlo, where you will have the unique opportunity to visit the Floriade World Horticultural Expo. Bringing together more than 100 exhibitors from dozens of countries, the Expo grounds will feature five themed zones connected by wooded areas. Each of the zones contains its own horticultural exhibits, cultural attractions, activities, restaurant, music, dance and theatrical performances. Enjoy scenic cruising this evening as you sail through Holland and on to Belgium. Meals B,L,D

This morning, enjoy a walking tour of Antwerp and see Antwerp Castle, Grote Market, Brabo Fountain and the city’s superb architecture. Alternatively, visit the Rubens House, former home and studio of Peter Paul Rubens, the famous 17th century Flemish Baroque painter. You will also visit the Antwerp Cathedral, which houses 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. Alternatively, take an optional excursion to nearby Brussels, the capital of Belgium and site of NATO headquarters. After dinner, your ship departs for Ghent. Meals B,L,D

After breakfast, take a guided walking tour of Ghent, which includes such highlights as the Belfry Hall, the Koornlei, the Graslei and the Castle of the Counts. Cruise to Terneuzen this afternoon. Or take an optional excursion to Bruges, one of Europe’s most perfectly preserved medieval cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Early this evening, 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. Meals B,L,D

This morning we will stop in the charming 400-year old town of Willemstad for a walking tour and private organ recital at the oldest Protestant church in the Netherlands. In the afternoon, you will visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kinderdijk, a lovely village renowned for having the country’s greatest concentration of windmills, all dating from the 18th century. Tonight, enjoy a special onboard musical performance as the ship cruises to Schoonhoven, where we will moor overnight. Meals 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. Meals B,L,D

Enjoy breakfast onboard and disembark ship here in Amsterdam. Meals B