Tulip Serenade River Cruise

We depart for Amsterdam with Air Canada.

We arrive in Amsterdam and transfer to our deluxe floating hotel. After some time to relax, enjoy a welcome cocktail party reception and our first dinner aboard. The ship is moored near many of Amsterdam’s attractions and you may enjoy a stroll around this friendly city. A Traditional Shanty Choir performance onboard makes a perfect beginning to your journey.

This town was the setting for the WW II book and film “A Bridge Too Far”. Almost destroyed during the war, it is now a large modern city. We will drive past various spots associated with the events as described in the book and film. Then we will visit the Airborne Museum, which was a hotel in 1944 and later became the headquarters of the British 1st Airborne Division. In the afternoon we will visit the Kröller-Müller Museum, renowned for its large collection of paintings by Vincent van Gogh. The museum also boasts one of the largest sculpture gardens in Europe, featuring impressive sculptures displayed in innovative ways in a beautiful natural setting.

We dock in Middelburg— one of the cities in which the Dutch East India Company flourished in the seventeenth century. This lovely city features historic merchant houses and storefronts lining its canals. Middelburg, the capital of the province of Zeeland, is full of monuments. There are about 1,100 large and small monuments which testify to its rich past. The powerful abbey, the impressive
town hall and the splendid old warehouses let you relive this past. During the walking tour, you will be taken past the stately warehouses and impressive monuments of Middelburg, such as the town hall, the abbey and many more. Later we stop in the town of Veere - once a prosperous port thanks to wool trade with Scotland. Today, Veere is one of the most picturesque towns in the area. This evening, the ship takes us into Belgium.

. Our included city tour of Ghent includes fine sights such as St. Bavo Cathedral with its world-famous painting by Jan van Eyck, and the belfry with its bell tower. In the afternoon, visit Bruges, the “Venice of the North,” with its UNESCO-listed marketplace, scenic canals, and medieval charm.

On our excursion to the Belgian capital Brussels, we will see Heysel Stadium, Notre Dame of Laken, the famous Atomium and the Royal Residence. Then on to the eastern part of the city to see Cinquantenaire Park with its impressive U-shaped buildings, Royal Palace, Palace of Justice, and we’ll take a walk through Europe’s oldest shopping mall. In the afternoon, we explore Antwerp, home to one of Europe’s largest ports. Visit the Gothic Cathedral of Our Lady, filled with Rubens masterpieces and centuries-old art, then enjoy a local waffle and free time in the charming old town.

This morning we discover Holland’s largest concentration of working windmills. After lunch, we visit the famous and spectacular Keukenhof Gardens, known for their vibrant displays of tulips and daffodils, scenic lakes, sculpture gardens, greenhouses, and terraces overlooking 10 acres of blooming landscapes. Keukenhof offers the opportunity to see millions of flowering bulbs, stunning floral displays, and the largest sculpture park in the Netherlands.

Amsterdam is renowned for its museums, flowers and countless bicycles. The center consists of 90 islands, linked by 400 bridges. On our morning city tour through the Dutch metropolis we will see the Royal Palace, numerous canals and the Museum Quarter. Since there is no better way to see the city than cruising on the water, the tour will end with a canal cruise. In the afternoon we visit Volendam, one of Holland’s most charming places—it looks like a picture postcard of a traditional Dutch town, with people dressed in traditional costumes. Then we drive into the countryside to visit a local cheese farm and learn how Dutch cheese is made. On our way back to the ship we will enjoy a short walk through the quaint village of Edam.

We transfer to the Amsterdam airport and fly home with Air Canada.