Bruges, Medieval Flanders, Amsterdam & the Dutch Bulbfields River Cruise

Overview

Itinerary Details

DAY 1ARRIVAL IN AMSTERDAM

ARRIVAL IN AMSTERDAM

Fly to Amsterdam from a choice of regional airports or take the Eurostar from London St Pancras International, arriving in Brussels approximately two hours later, where you change trains connecting to Amsterdam. On arrival, a coach transfers you to your five-star cruise ship moored near the city centre and railway station. The dedicated crew welcomes you aboard, ensuring you settle in to your extremely comfortable and well-appointed cabin. Thereas time to familiarise yourself with your first-class floating hotel before experiencing the chefas specially chosen menu for your first dinner on board.

Larger version of the map >

Larger version of the map >

DAY 2AMSTERDAM & HOORN

AMSTERDAM & HOORN

Breakfast is an on-board institution and youare always assured of an enticing range of choices. Weare moored in the heart of delightful Amsterdam, and thereas no better way to explore than taking a classic glass-topped boat tour through the network of canals that infuse every aspect of life here. The tour brings a real insight into the history and everyday life of Amsterdam, a maritime, financial and cultural powerhouse uniquely located facing both the sea and the heartlands of Europe. As we glide over the calm canal waters, youall see a fascinating variety of typically Dutch narrow gabled buildings, bustling streets and historic bridges immortalised by the great artists, and learn about its famous canalside residents, from the tragic Anne Frank, who wrote her diaries hidden in a merchantas house, to Rembrandt, the Dutch Old Master.

A splendid buffet lunch awaits our return as we slip away from the quayside towards the IJsselmeer, the enormous inland lake created when the Zuiderzee was cut off from the North Sea by a series of dykes and dams. Our port of call is Hoorn, once a prosperous port of the Dutch East India Company. Reminiscent of another age, itas a charming mix of imposing buildings dating from the 15th century onwards, brick-built warehouses, cobbled squares and twisting alleys. Hoornas ships traded the world over, with one sailor even naming the southern tip of South America after his home town a Cape Horn. Thereas time to explore this intriguing spot and its boat-filled harbour, dominated by the distinctive 16th-century Head Tower, before returning to our cruise ship to enjoy dinner and maybe a nightcap in the lounge.

DAY 3ARNHEM

ARNHEM

One of the delights of river cruising is the enchanting experience of waking somewhere new, the water gently lapping as the ship glides almost imperceptibly along. Weare now deep in the heart of Holland, passing flower-bedecked houseboats, flocks of wildfowl and, of course, windmills! We soon arrive in Arnhem, synonymous with the ill-fated 1944 aerial assault depicted in the film A Bridge Too Far. We visit the battle HQ of the British 1st Airborne Division at Oosterbeek, now an excellent museum, and the Commonwealth War Cemetery, the final resting place of so many. Back on board, we continue our passage along the mighty River Rhine, one of Europeas most important arterial waterways, before enjoying another sumptuous dinner on board, as distant lights glint on the waterfront as we silently slip by.

DAY 4ANTWERP

ANTWERP

This morning thereas a chance to marvel at the Captainas skill as he calmly navigates the busy River Scheldt and moors in Antwerp, birthplace of the Baroque master Peter Paul Rubens. This morning we enjoy a tour led by a local guide taking in its numerous highlights and lesser-known features. Once part of the Spanish Empire, Antwerp grew wealthy during its 16th-century Golden Age, when it was Europeas largest port north of the Alps, with profits invested in the cityas Flemish art and architectural heritage, and later it became the worldas diamond trading centre. At its heart is the captivating main square a the Grote Markt a dominated by ornately gabled guildhouses, the Renaissance town hall and opulent Brabo Fountain. This afternoon is free to explore as you wish, perhaps visiting Rubensa extravagant former home and studio, the Royal Museum of Fine Arts with over 7,000 paintings, including works by Rubens, Jordaens and Van Dyck, the magnificent Gothic cathedral or even the painstakingly restored train station, of such architectural splendour it is often called the aRailway Cathedrala.

DAY 5GHENT & YPRES

GHENT & YPRES

Today we awake in picturesque Ghent, once Western Europeas second largest city after Paris. Fortunate to escape the ravages of the 20th century and often overlooked by tourists, Ghent is a medieval gem we explore in the company of an experienced guide. Highlights include a gorgeously unspoilt waterfront, the 13th-century skyline punctured by soaring belfries, the 12th-century Gravenstein fortress towering above the river, and one of the worldas foremost art treasures a the van Eyck brothersa Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, the altarpiece adorning Saint Bavoas Cathedral.

After lunch on board, thereas the option to spend the afternoon in Ghent, maybe taking a horse-drawn carriage ride or finding a cosy spot in a quintessential Flemish cafA(C).

Alternatively, you can join our tour to Ypres, a name synonymous with the horrors of the Great War. Almost totally destroyed during a series of battles, Ypres is now a place of peace, reverence and reflection. You may wish to visit the award-winning In Flanders Fields Museum that tells the haunting story of the conflict, providing a thought-provoking insight into the extraordinary lives of the soldiers and civilians; itas located in the Cloth Hall in the heart of Ypresa beautifully restored town centre. Nearby are many battlefields synonymous with the horrors of trench warfare, including Passchendaele, where around 600,000 perished. In addition we visit Tyne Cot, the largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the world. Ypres is also the home of the Menin Gate, the deeply moving memorial to the missing where the aLast Posta is played every evening.

DAY 6BRUGES

BRUGES

After breakfast we take the short drive to Bruges and have a guided walk of this beautiful town, which really does carry its remarkable medieval legacy with charm and to perfection. The atmosphere here is pure romance and its streets are crammed with fascination. Exquisitely compact, its entire historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site made up of serene canals, narrow cobbled streets, romantic gabled houses, exquisite churches and myriad shops selling artisan goods a including its legendary chocolate! Its main square is dominated by the soaring Belfry, whose 47 bells chime to create an idyllic atmosphere. Itas a 366-step climb to the top, but the breathtaking views are well worth it. Youall also see the City Hall and the Basilica of the Holy Blood, home to a venerated relic a a phial of Jesusas blood reputedly brought back from the Crusades. Another must is the Church of Our Lady, where you can see Michelangeloas Madonna and Child, a work of incomparable beauty carved in white Carrara marble. Youall be reluctant to leave this enchanting place, although the promise of more first-class dining in the shipas restaurant will lure you back.

The atmospheric canals of Bruges

The atmospheric canals of Bruges

DAY 7KEUKENHOF & AMSTERDAM

KEUKENHOF & AMSTERDAM

Early risers discover the ship making effortless progress along the delightful waterways and you experience the somewhat surreal effect of cruising above the surrounding reclaimed polders a itas almost like flying! Today we visit Keukenhof, the heart of the glorious Dutch bulbfields. On arrival, nothing prepares you for the dazzling spectrum of colours stretched out before you in the worldas largest flower garden, covering nearly 80 acres. The art of flower planting reaches breathtaking heights at Keukenhof, a gardeneras heaven created by more than seven million tulips, daffodils and other blooms set among a beautiful landscape of shimmering lakes, ancient trees, flowering shrubs and water gardens.

We re-join our ship in Amsterdam and after lunch youare free to explore as you wish. Amsterdam is an art-loveras dream. The Rijksmuseum is an architectural marvel itself, but it holds a magnificent collection of works by Dutch masters such as Rembrandt and Vermeer, while admirers of Post-Impressionism might prefer the Van Gogh Museum, housing the worldas greatest collection of works by this genius of a man. Or relax in a pavement cafA(C), absorbing Amsterdamas special atmosphere over a rich Dutch coffee, browse the many shops or perhaps just stay on board to catch up on some reading. Tonight thereas another culinary highlight a the Captainas Dinner, when the chef prepares his superb asignaturea dishes for you to enjoy in the splendid surroundings of the shipas restaurant, with a chance to reflect on the fascinating places you have discovered, poignant stories you have heard and the new friends you have made.

DAY 8RETURN HOME

RETURN HOME

After breakfast, your friendly crew bid you farewell, then we transfer to the railway station or airport for our return journey.