DAY 1: Depart your gateway city for Amsterdam, Holland.
DAY 2: Upon arrival in Amsterdam, transfer by motor coach to the pier to embark the M.S. Switzerland II. This evening, enjoy a cruise through Amsterdam’s scenic ring of canals. (R,D)
DAY 3: This morning, journey through the Dutch flower fields to the renowned Keukenhof Gardens, a 70-acre paradise of tulips and other spring blooms, complete with Europe’s largest fountain and an amazing 700-tree labyrinth. Enjoy some time at leisure in Amsterdam this afternoon, before the ship sails on to Kampen where it will dock overnight. Gather with fellow travelers for a reception and dinner. (B,L,D)
DAY 4: This morning, spend private time in Kampen before sailing toward Deventer. Enjoy a walking tour of this historic town, featuring the cathedral, the church towers and many other quaint stone buildings. Then, set sail for Arnhem for the night. (B,L,D)
DAY 5: Discover two profoundly historic cities: The Hague, with its royal residence and world-class museums, and Delft, the home of Vermeer, ceramics and lovely canal houses. Enjoy a tour of the renowned Mauritshuis, including a number of Rembrandt’s finest works. Visit Delft and take a tour of a famous blue porcelain factory. Rejoin the ship in Schoonhoven and sail past the iconic windmills of Kinderdijk. Dock in Willemstad for the night. (B,L,D)
DAY 6: Enjoy the morning sailing toward Veere. After lunch, travel along the Zeeland Coast, to the Delta Expo on Neeltje Jans Island. Learn about the Delta Works, the massive dam and flood barriers, which took 20 years to build. These 65 gates can be slammed shut on the North Sea when powerful storms strike—an engineering masterpiece that now protects the one-third of Holland’s land mass below sea level. Rejoin the ship in the charming historic town of Veere. (B,L,D)
DAY 7: This morning, relax aboard the M.S. Switzerland II as you depart Holland and cruise to Belgium. Once nicknamed the Venice of the North, Bruges is a picturesque labyrinth of ivy-clad canals and cobbled streets. Discover charming medieval buildings and impressive art collections. See the colorful shops and cafés of the Markt and Burg Central Square. Rejoin the ship in Antwerp for the night. (B,L,D)
DAY 8: This morning, visit Antwerp, one of Europe’s leading art centers, at a leisurely pace on foot. Home of painter Peter Paul Rubens and the School of the Southern Netherlands, this diamond capital of the world dates back to the 13th century and holds a wealth of medieval architecture. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure. This evening, gather for a farewell reception and dinner. (B,L,R,D)
DAY 9: Disembark the ship and transfer by motor coach to Brussels for the return flight to the U.S. (B)
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