Day 1Amsterdam
Arrive in Amsterdam. We meet you at the airport and transfer you to your ship.* After boarding, you have free time to get acquainted with this canal-laced city—or join our “welcome walk” to stretch your legs and start getting oriented. (D)
Day 2Amsterdam
After breakfast, embark on a canal tour by glass-topped boat to see architecture from the city’s Golden Age. Then, visit the Van Gogh Museum, featuring works by the artist and his contemporaries. After lunch aboard, take free time to visit the Anne Frank House or explore the city—as always, your Program Director can help you plan your free time. Dine aboard; evening departure. (B, L, D)
Day 3Hoorn & Volendam
This morning features a guided walk through Hoorn’s cobbled streets. See age-old cheese warehouses and the Westfries Museum on the town’s main square. Free time before returning aboard for lunch. Cruise to Volendam, a quaint fishing village where fishermen still dress in traditional costume. Stroll through the narrow streets, visit a local bakery and shop for souvenirs. Depart during dinner and cruise through the night. (B, L, D)
Day 4Arnhem & Nijmegen
After early arrival in Arnhem, take a journey to 17th-century Paleis Het Loo,† for 300 years the Dutch royal family’s summer residence. Take a guided tour through its sumptuously furnished rooms and stroll through its beautifully landscaped gardens. After lunch aboard, enjoy free time, or join the optional battlefield tour that also visits the Airborne Museum. Cruise through dinner to Nijmegen, one of Holland’s oldest cities, where you have a free evening.
(B, L, D)
† Closed Mondays; battlefield visit or museum tour will be substituted.
Day 5Dordrecht
Arrive this morning in Dordrecht, then take a journey to Kinderdijk to see its 18th-century system of windmills. Tour a working windmill at this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lunch aboard. During afternoon free time, discover Dordrecht’s Old Quarter, city gate and 14th-century church. Depart midafternoon; dine aboard. (B, L, D)
Day 6Antwerp
Wake up in Antwerp and enjoy a half-day city tour featuring the Cathedral of Our Lady with its three monumental altarpieces painted by Peter Paul Rubens; the Grote Markt (Grand Square) surrounded by the Golden Age Town Hall and guild halls, and Het Steen (Steen Castle), Antwerp’s oldest building. You have afternoon free time before dining aboard; sail tonight for Ghent.
(B, L, D)
Day 7Brugge
From Ghent, travel to Brugge, one of the oldest towns in Flanders. Your city walk visits the Church of Our Lady, with its famous Madonna and Child sculpted by Michelangelo. Also see the Béguinage, a hidden courtyard inhabited by nuns, and the town’s scenic network of canals. Stay in Brugge for lunch on your own or lunch aboard. Depart Ghent this evening and cruise through the night. (B, L, D)
Day 8Middelburg, Delta Works & Rotterdam
Your day begins with a walk through Middelburg. From here, travel to Neeltje Jans Expo to learn more about how the Delta Works protect Holland from the sea. See the hydraulic lock system and walk along the massive dam. Return to your ship for lunch and afternoon cruising. Arrive this evening in Rotterdam; rebuilt after much World War II destruction, it is the world’s second largest port. Your evening is at leisure; dinner aboard. (B, L, D)
Day 9Keukenhof Gardens & Amsterdam
After breakfast, take a journey to picturesque Keukenhof Gardens, the world’s largest floral park. Admire the stunning floral beauty at both indoor and outdoor exhibits of millions of vibrant blooms including tulips, hyacinths, croci and daffodils. Return aboard for lunch. The rest of the day is yours to discover Amsterdam’s hidden treasures. You may choose to explore Museum Square, take a bike ride, or shop for colorful clogs and tulip bulbs. Dinner is served aboard, followed by free time to enjoy Amsterdam’s night life. Your ship remains docked overnight. (B, L, D)
Day 10Amsterdam
After breakfast, disembark and we take you to the airport for your return flight.* (B)
The following meals are included:
B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner
*Airport meet & greet transfers included when air is purchased from Viking River Cruises.