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Each spring, the Dutch countryside comes alive in a blazing patchwork of color as vast fields of tulips begin to bloom. Glide along the tranquil waterways of the Netherlands and Belgium on this Vantage Deluxe World Travel luxury river cruise, with ample stops to enjoy the flower-filled culture and enhanced culinary features.
Visit world-famous Keukenhof Gardens and tour a working tulip farm. Witness the inner workings of the famous Dutch windmills of Kinderdijk and the mammoth Delta Works. Enjoy a boat tour along the legendary canals of Amsterdam, and explore Antwerp and Rotterdam on guided walking tours. If you wish, you can also choose to explore by bicycle.
Your time on board is just as engaging as your time on shore. Enjoy illuminating lectures designed to enhance your shoreside discoveries, satisfy your sweet tooth with a chocolate-making demonstration, and tap into your inner Van Gogh during an instructor-led painting lesson. Throughout your journey, you’ll dine on delectable 5-star cuisine prepared by our skilled onboard chefs and enjoy lively evening entertainment.
Board your flight to Amsterdam
Board an overnight flight to Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Or begin your trip early with a pre-trip extension in Brussels, Belgium’s sophisticated capital.
Arrive in Amsterdam
If you purchased your airfare from Vantage, a representative will meet you at the airport and assist with the transfer to your ship. This afternoon, attend a Welcome Briefing. After a Welcome Drink with the captain, you’ll enjoy dinner on board. Join us in the lounge tonight and relax to the sounds of a piano trio as your ship cruises peacefully towards Enkhuizen. Cultural Connection:
Included meals:
Visit a local tulip farm in Julianadorp
This morning, sit in on an insightful onboard lecture about life in modern Holland. Then, discover the trade secrets of tulip harvesting as you visit with some local bulb growers.* In the 17th century, “Tulipmania” took hold of Holland as bulbs were traded at exorbitant prices. Although the bulb market crashed in 1637, the popularity of Dutch tulips endures to this day. Following this enriching tour, you’ll have the afternoon at leisure to explore more of Amsterdam on your own.
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Cultural Connection:
Destination Enhancement: Customize your journey when you add an optional excursion. Head out on a guided walking tour of Enkhuizen and meet with locals during a private onboard event. Learn more
*If tulips are not in season, we will visit a greenhouse to see the blooms grow up close.
The enchanting harbor town of Enkhuizen is a picturesque little city situated in north Holland, and you’ll discover all its charms on this optional walking tour. During the 17th century, Enkhuizen’s waterfront position made it an ideal location for the Dutch trade route. The city flourished, gaining power and influence as a component of the Dutch East India Company, making it one of the most prosperous cities in the Netherlands. Back on board, you’ll attend a special private event where you will meet with a few local residents. This is a unique opportunity to gain cultural insight into their daily lives, while sampling some traditional Dutch specialties.
Due to high call volume, we recommend you visit MyPortfolio to book this Destination Enhancement. Don’t wait — these optional experiences are limited to a select number of guests and are selling out fast!
Uncover the riches of Arnhem on a walking tour
This morning, enjoy scenic cruising and an onboard presentation on the history of Dutch waterways as we make our way to Arnhem. Part of the famed Operation Market Garden of World War II, this is the landing site of Allied Forces paratroopers and where an ensuing battle took place. Following lunch on board, you’ll head out on a guided walking tour of this historic city. Back on board, you’ll enjoy an afternoon at leisure. Later, you'll get a true feel for the local culture as you practice your pronunciation during a Dutch language lesson.
Biking Opportunity:
Destination Enhancement: Customize your journey when you add an optional excursion. Enjoy a choice of museum tours in Arnhem. Select either the Kröeller-Müller Museum or the Groesbeek Freedom Museum. Learn more
Come face-to-face with the world’s second largest collection of Vincent Van Gogh masterpieces. Stroll one of the most expansive modern sculpture gardens in Europe, set on 25 hectares of outdoor space. See how the Futurists entered the European stage over 100 years ago and interacted with avant-garde artists such as De Stijl and Bauhaus. You’ll find all this and more at the Kröller-Müller national art museum and sculpture garden, founded in 1938 by renowned German art collector Helene Kröller-Müller.
Located among the scenic, hilly landscape of Groesbeek, the Freedom Museum is an interactive attraction focused on the history of the second World War, and its significance and impact on the Netherlands throughout the 20th century and into the present day. The museum’s mission is to enlighten and educate visitors via a series of permanent exhibits, battlefield tours, and film screenings. This optional guided tour is sure to be an eye-opening and poignant experience.
Explore the architecture of Antwerp and satisfy your sweet tooth on board
Today you’ll discover Antwerp, Belgium’s second-largest city. Set out on a morning walking tour, taking in the vibrant attractions, lively cafés, and beautiful Gothic and Baroque architecture. You’ll also view the exterior of the Cathedral of Our Lady. Considered one of Belgium’s masterpieces of Gothic architecture, this stunning cathedral houses three paintings from Flemish master Peter Paul Rubens. You’ll have leisure time this afternoon to return for an inside visit on your own.
Back on board, you’ll enjoy lunch, followed by an afternoon at leisure to further explore on your own. This evening, savor a real treat: a delicious Belgian chocolate-making demonstration presented by a local confectioner.
Active Features:
Destination Enhancement: Customize your journey when you add an optional excursion. Savor tasty Belgian favorites during an optional culinary-themed walking tour. Learn more
Belgium may be a small country, but its cuisine is favored all over the world. Located in northwestern Europe, the food here is Influenced by the diversity of cultures found throughout this diminutive kingdom. In addition to its famous chocolate, waffles, and fries, you’ll find exquisite fare inspired by Belgium’s neighboring countries: France, Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. This optional walking tour will provide insight into the history of Belgian cuisine and its influences, as well as a tasting of a few of the country’s delightful delicacies.
Explore Bruges or Ghent with a choice of tours
Today, you’ll choose between two unforgettable experiences in two of Belgium’s most endearing cities..
Set off for Bruges, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on a full-day excursion of this well-preserved medieval European city. A walking tour takes you to the Begijnhof area and the historic city center, where you’ll see highlights such as the Church of Our Lady and Grote Markt. Following your tour, you’ll have leisure time to continue exploring on your own, as well as provided lunch money to use at any of the local cafés.
Our alternate tour choice is perfect for beer lovers! You’ll be whisked off to lively Ghent for a guided walking tour before embarking on a canal cruise to popular Gruut Brewery. This craft brewery is known for their special brewing process that incorporates herbs instead of hops. Following a tour of the facilities, you’ll sample Gruutbeer for yourself during an included tasting.
Back on board tonight, you’ll attend the Captain's Gala Dinner, followed by live entertainment in the shipboard lounge.
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Visit the Dutch Delta Works
Gain fascinating insight into the innovative minds of the Dutch as you visit Delta Works. One of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, this engineering marvel was designed to protect low-lying Holland from flooding. Following your tour, you’ll return to the ship for lunch. Later, sit in on a fascinating lecture about the transatlantic connections forged by Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Dinner tonight will be on board, with another informative lecture Holland’s windmills and waterways afterwards.
Destination Enhancement: Customize your journey when you add an optional excursion. Head to the historic village of Veere for a guided walking tour and oyster tasting. Learn more
On this optional excursion, you’ll head to the historic village of Veere for a guided walking tour. This delightful destination, founded in the late 13th century when Wolfert Van Borssele established a ferry house here (“veere” is Dutch for “ferry”) is full of interesting buildings dating back several centuries. Stroll along the picturesque and colorful waterfront, and see the Campveerse Tower. This is one of Veere’s most prominent landmarks and the oldest surviving inn found in the Netherlands. Your tour will also include a tasting of one of the region’s most well-known delicacies: Zeeland oysters.
Discover Kinderdijk’s UNESCO-listed windmills and explore Rotterdam’s pubs
This morning, you’ll marvel at one of Holland’s most iconic sites: the famous windmills of Kinderdijk. Rising high above the polder landscape of Alblasserwaard, this windmill complex — the only one of its kind in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site — is deeply embedded in Dutch history. Constructed in the early 18th century to deal with the problems of rising water from the confluence of the Led and Noork rivers, this incredible site is comprised of 19 windmills, all of which are still in full working order today. A short canal cruise will provide a dramatic perspective and you’ll have the opportunity to step inside one of the windmills to see how it works.
ollowing dinner on board this evening, dance the night away at a “Netherlands Night Fever” musical performance. Or, join us for a guided Rotterdam pub crawl and sample some of Holland’s famous pale lagers.
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Marvel at the world-famous Keukenhof Gardens
You'll be amazed by the grandest of Dutch gardens today as you travel to Keukenhof Gardens — the world’s largest flower fields and the heart of Dutch flower production. Once the kitchen garden of a medieval castle, this stunning showcase features more than seven million tulips and a variety of other flowers in both indoor and outdoor exhibits. You’ll have leisure time to explore the gardens on your own and receive a stipend for lunch. Back on the ship this evening, share a Farewell Drink with your fellow passengers before dinner. Included Feature:
Cruise along Amsterdam’s legendary canals
This morning, discover the historic homes and timeless, fairytale beauty of Amsterdam as you embark on a scenic cruise along the city’s famous 17th-century canal ring. This entire district is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, due to its unique cultural and historical value. You’ll have the remainder of the afternoon at your leisure to continue your exploration of Amsterdam at your own pace.
Back on board, you’ll enjoy an engaging lecture about the constitutional monarchy of the Netherlands and the Dutch royal family. Later, enjoy a delicious dinner and an evening at leisure on board.
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Disembark and transfer to the airport or begin your optional extension
Enjoy a final breakfast on the ship before disembarking and transferring to the Amsterdam airport for your return flight home. Or, head off to Paris for a 3-night extension.
Important Notice:The above day-by-day itinerary is preliminary and subject to change. If changes occur while on tour, you will be notified by your Cruise Director or regional expert. In addition, should there be an extreme change in water levels, Vantage will do everything possible to provide either the included excursion or an alternate excursion at Vantage’s discretion.
Please Note: Port Times & Itineraries are subject to change. Fluctuating water levels may affect itinerary.
