Itinerary
- Day 1
Brussels
You'll arrive in Brussels with the day open for whatever you'd like to do. Wander around the city at your own pace, trying the local food and sampling some of the famous Belgian beer the region is known for. It's a good chance to get your bearings and settle into the pace of the trip.
Optional Activities
- Sample Brussels hearty cuisine
- Explore famous Belgian beer bars and cafés
- Day 2
Brussels to Ghent
This morning you'll join a guided tour that takes you through Brussels, seeing the Town Hall and walking through the Lower Town Streets where you can check out local bars, cafes, and shops. Later this evening you'll head to your cruise ship and sail toward Ghent overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner on board)
Included Activities
- Guided Tour of Brussels
- Visit Town Hall
- Explore Lower Town Streets bars, cafés and shops
Landmarks Town Hall - Day 3
Ghent
In Ghent you have options depending on what appeals to you. You could bike through the city with your Adventure Host, spend time relaxing in Landscape Park Bulskampveld forest, or take a guided tour to see medieval Ghent and St. Bavo's Cathedral. There's also an optional full-day trip to Bruges if you want to see its canals and cobblestone streets. By evening there's live entertainment onboard the ship.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Ghent
- Visit St. Bavo's Cathedral
Optional Activities
- Bike tour of Ghent with Adventure Host
- Relax in Landscape Park Bulskampveld
- Full-day Guided Optional Excursion to Bruges
- Explore Bruges canals and cobbled streets
- View 13th-century belfry of Market Square
- View charming patrician houses
- Live entertainment onboard
Landmarks St. Bavo's Cathedral Market Square Belfry - Day 4
Ypres to Middelburg
You'll visit the In Flanders Field Museum in Ypres to learn about Belgium's invasion and World War I history, including the trench warfare that happened there. After that you'll explore the battlefields, cemeteries, and memorials around the area. In the evening you can experience the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate, then cruise to Middelburg overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at museum café), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit In Flanders Field Museum
- Lunch at museum café
- Visit battlefields, cemeteries, and memorials
- Experience Last Post Ceremony at Menin Gate
Landmarks In Flanders Field Museum Menin Gate - Day 5
Middelburg to Veere to Kinderdijk
A guided walking tour takes you through Middelburg's cobblestones and canals while your guide shares stories about the city's spice trade history and its connection to the Dutch East India Company. You'll have lunch onboard while the ship cruises to Veere, where you can either explore with a local guide or bike from Middelburg. During lunch there's also an onboard lecture about botany. Later you'll cruise to Kinderdijk in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch onboard while cruising), Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Walking Tour of Middelburg
- View 15th-century Gothic Town Hall
- Explore Veere with expert local guide
- Botany and nature lecture while sailing
Optional Activities
- Bike from Middelburg to Veere with Adventure Host
Landmarks Middelburg Town Hall Veere - Day 6
Kinderdijk to Rotterdam to Zaandam
You'll see Kinderdijk's 19 windmills, built back in 1740, either by biking or on a guided tour that explains how they worked to prevent flooding and their role in Dutch history. After that the ship takes you through Rotterdam harbor, and you can choose to bike around the city, visit the Westland greenhouses and museum, or tour the innovative architecture including the Erasmus Bridge. There's live entertainment onboard before sailing to Zaandam.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Tour of Kinderdijk windmills
- Cruise through Rotterdam harbor
Optional Activities
- Bike tour of Kinderdijk windmills with Adventure Host
- Rotterdam by bike with Adventure Host
- Guided Tour to Westland greenhouses
- Visit Westlands Museum
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Rotterdam
- View Erasmus Bridge
- Live entertainment onboard
Landmarks Kinderdijk Windmills Erasmus Bridge - Day 7
Zaandam to Haarlem to Amsterdam
Your options this morning include joining a half-day guided tour of Keukenhof, which has 70 acres of parkland with over seven million tulips and flowers, or exploring Zaandam on your own. Lunch is onboard while you cruise to Haarlem. There you can bike to the beach, explore the flower bulb district and medieval trading port, or attend a botany lecture. The ship sails to Amsterdam in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch onboard), Dinner (Dinner onboard)
Included Activities
- Half-day Guided Tour of Keukenhof
Optional Activities
- Explore Zaandam independently
- Easy bike ride to beach with Adventure Host
- Explore Haarlem flower bulbs district
- Guided exploration of Haarlem medieval features and gabled houses
- Botany and nature lecture while sailing
Landmarks Keukenhof - Day 8
Amsterdam
Amsterdam gives you several ways to spend your time. You could bike through the Dutch countryside past polders and villages, take a guided canal cruise past the Golden Age mansions, or visit Amsterdam's secret gardens that are normally closed to the public. There's also an optional guided excursion available in the afternoon if you want something more structured.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Biking Tour through Dutch countryside
- Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam's Golden Age
- Access Amsterdam's secret gardens
- Guided Optional Excursion (afternoon)
- Day 9
Cruise End
Your cruise ends this morning after breakfast, and you'll head home with memories of the Netherlands and Belgium.
- Meals
- Breakfast
