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Avalon Imagery II, Grand Tulip Cruise Of Holland & Belgium Amsterdam Return

Cruise Avalon Imagery II, Grand Tulip Cruise Of Holland & Belgium Amsterdam Return
Cruise Line Avalon Waterways
Ship Avalon Imagery II
Destination EU Rivers
Brief Description 14 Night Cruise sailing from Amsterdam, Rivers onboard Avalon Imagery II
Type of Cruise River
Departure Date 29 Apr 2024
Cruise Description Begin your tulip season cruise in Amsterdam. Visit Nijmegen, the oldest city in the Netherlands. Choose a visit to Arnhem’s WWII Airborne Museum or a bike ride. In Maastricht tour the old cobblestoned university town. On to Belgium for a sightseeing tour of medieval Namur and free time to browse its ancient architecture, charming cafes, and bookshops. In Liège, see the ancient quarters of the “Fiery City” as well as its romantic streets, steps, and tiny alleyways. Next, you’ll explore the city of Antwerp—birthplace of the master painter Peter Paul Rubens. Stroll its cobbled lanes amid 16th-century guildhall houses and the cathedral’s stunning altarpiece paintings by the famous artist. In Brussels, you’ll find landmark buildings and a collection of cafes and shops on your guided tour. Visit “The Diamond of Flanders”, Ghent, for stunning Flemish artwork in St. Bavo’s Cathedral. Explore more of the Flanders area with tours in Bossuit—the In Flanders Fields Museum and moving battlefield memorials and memorabilia.

In Middelburg, explore its grand history in the Dutch East India Company. Visit the fascinating Flood Museum to hear and see the stories of the flood of 1953. Continue your cruise through Kinderdijk—where windmills built in 1740 for water management helped the iconic structures become a symbol of Holland. See the Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam, and the quintessential Dutch towns of Zaandam and Haarlem with their signature flower farms, windmills, waterways, and North Sea trading. Your cruise through Holland and Belgium returns to Amsterdam for a guided canal cruise through the iconic city.

Day 1
Welcome to Holland. Your Suite Ship is Ready for Boarding. Flights into Amsterdam must arrive by 2 pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.
Your day in Amsterdam is free to explore at your leisure. During tulip season, you may take a Guided Optional Excursion to Keukenhof gardens-with more than seven million tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths, as well as other bulbs, planted each year. Outside of tulip season, join a Guided Optional Excursion to Zaanse Schans to see historic windmills and charming Dutch houses.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO NIJMEGEN (D)

Day 2
Wildlife, WWII Valor, and Famous Mills
ACTIVE
Explore the beautiful landscape of lush fields and blue water on a bike ride through The Ooijpolder Nature Reserve OR
DISCOVERY
Join a Guided Tour of Nijmegen the oldest town in the Netherlands. Learn how this city was first built more than 2,000 years ago by the Romans and see the archaeological Roman-era ruins in the city that was also damaged in WWII OR:
CLASSIC
Join a Guided Tour of the Airborne Museum of Hartenstein commemorating the 1944 WWII Battle of Arnhem.
You may join a Guided Optional Excursion to the Windmill of Thorn or an Optional Cooking Workshop.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MAASTRICH (B,L,D)

Day 3
Dutch History, School Spirit and an Architectural Feast
Enjoy an early morning sailing to Maastricht.
ACTIVE - Maastricht's charm awaits, get physical via nordic walking with your Adventure Host, OR:
CLASSIC - Discover this vibrant university town with its lovely cathedrals, old houses, historical buildings, and impressively cobblestoned town centre.
Later, enjoy live entertainment on board.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO NAMUR (B,L,D)

Day 4
Ancient Architecture and Charming Cafes
ACTIVE - Explore Namur's countryside by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:
CLASSIC - Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of the picturesque old-town, fortress citadel, and medieval architecture.
Take free time to stroll along Namur's cobblestone lanes and visit its charming cafes and bookshops.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN HUY(B,L,D)

Day 5
Historic Wonders and Wonderful Waffles
CLASSIC - Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of the "Fiery City" of Liege with its beautiful ancient quarters, peculiar alleys, and romantic streets. Don't miss sampling authentically sweet Liege Waffles.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ANTWERP (B,L,D)

Day 6
A Rubenesque Cathedral in Artful Antwerp
Join your Adventure Host for today's special activities.
ACTIVE - Explore Antwerp by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:
CLASSIC - Take a Guided Tour of this sophisticated city to visit the central Grote Markt, lined with 16th-century guildhall houses. You'll also see the beautiful city hall, the Cathedral of Our Lady with its stunning altarpiece paintings by Rubens.
Enjoy cocktail or coffee aboard your ship as you sail to Brussels this afternoon. Later, enjoy dinner and live entertainment.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BRUSSELS (B,L,D)

Day 7
Ancient Landmarks and New Haunts
ACTIVE - See Brussel's Aquaculture farm on bike with your Adventure Host, OR:
DISCOVERY - See the major highlights of Brussels and join a do-it-yourself chocolate workshop for a fun and interactive experience, OR:
CLASSIC - Join a Guided Tour of Brussels, see the Town Hall with its landmark buildings and discover the many local bars, cafes and shops of the Lower Town Streets, OR:
The afternoon is free to explore Brussels at your pace
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BRUSSELS (B,L,D)

Day 8
Filling Fare and Fabled Beer
Spend a day at leisure to sample Brussels hearty cuisine and famous beer. Enjoy dinner on board as you sail for Ghent this evening.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO GHENT (B,L,D)

Day 9
Medieval Masterpieces and Flemish Finery
Visit the Adventure centre for today's activities with your Adventure Host.
ACTIVE - Explore a different side of Ghent by foot with your Adventure Host, OR:
CLASSIC - Explore Ghent-"The Diamond of Flanders"- with a Guided Sightseeing Tour of this showcase of medieval Flemish wealth. You'll visit St. Bavo's Cathedral-with its remarkable Flemish artwork.
Alternatively, you may choose to join a full-day Guided Optional Excursion of Bruges to explore its canals, cobbled streets, and medieval buildings. You'll see its crisscrossed canals, the 13th-century belfry of Market Square, and charming patrician houses. This evening, enjoy live entertainment on board.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BOSSUIT (B,L,D)

Day 10
Battlefield Remembrances in Flanders
DISCOVERY - Visit the In Flanders' Field Museum in Ypres- learn about the story of the invasion of Belgium, the first months of the mobilization, the four years trench war in the Westhoek, the end of the war, and the permanent remembrance ever since. After your visit, enjoy lunch at the museum's cafe.
DISCOVERY - Following the museum, visit, battlefields, cemeteries, memorials and private collections.
DISCOVERY - Experience the Last Post Ceremony, taking place nightly under the arches of the Menin Gate. Enjoy some free time for dinner before the Ceremony starts.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MIDDELBURG (B,L,D)

Day 11
A Spicy History in Middelburg's Dutch Harbor Town
ACTIVE - Explore Vlissingen by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:
CLASSIC - Join a Guided Walking Tour through the winding cobblestones and canals of Middelburg. See the15th century Gothic Town Hall and learn about its important role in the spice trade and Dutch East India trading.
Enjoy lunch on board while cruising to Veere.
VEERE: The Delta Works Stand Strong as a Technical Marvel
ACTIVE - Bike your way to the beach from Veere with your Adventure Host, OR:
DISCOVERY - Visit the fascinating Flood Museum to hear and see the stories of the flood of 1953, reconstruction, the Delta Works, and flood risk management – told by the people who have experienced it. Later, explore the town of Veere.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT SAILING IN KINDERDIJK (B,L,D)

Day 12
Harnessing the Wind 300 Years
Join your Adventure Host for today's special activities.
ACTIVE - See the windmills of Kinderdijk by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:
CLASSIC - Join a Guided Tour of Kinderdijk where 19 windmills were built in 1740 as flood prevention and water management. You'll hear about the windmill's vital role in the Netherland's history and why it became a national symbol of Holland.
Enjoy a cruise through Rotterdam harbor.
ACTIVE - Experience Rotterdam by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:
CLASSIC - Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Rotterdam featuring innovative architecture, including the marvelous Erasmus Bridge.
Later, enjoy live entertainment on board.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ZAANDAM (B,L,D)

Day 13
Windmills, Waterways, and Waving Fields of Flowers
Arrive in Zaandam this morning with free time to explore this quintessential Dutch town. See windmills, waterways, and flower farms, while discovering Dutch history in its handicraft shops and museums. Cruise to Haarlem this afternoon while enjoying lunch on board.
HAARLEM: Tulips and North Sea Trading Ports
ACTIVE - Enjoy an easy bike ride to the beach with your Adventure Host, OR:
CLASSIC - Visit Haarlem, a major flower bulbs growing district outside of Amsterdam. Explore the former North Sea trading port with its medieval features, gabled houses, and leafy courtyards.
Enjoy dinner on board your ship this evening as you sail to Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM (B,L,D)

Day 14
Canals of Colorful Amsterdam
ACTIVE - Join a Biking Tour through the Dutch countryside past polders, dykes, and quaint centuries-old villages, OR:
CLASSIC - Explore the iconic waterways of Amsterdam on a Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam's "Golden Age"
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM (B,L,D)

Day 15
Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
Sailing Dates
15 Apr 2024
29 Apr 2024
Pricing
Please enquire for pricing
Cruise Itinerary
Date Port Arrive Depart
29 Apr 2024 Amsterdam, Rivers Embark
30 Apr 2024 Nijmegen, Netherlands
1 May 2024 Maastricht, The Netherlands
2 May 2024 Namur, Belgium
3 May 2024 Liege, Belgium
4 May 2024 Antwerp, Belgium
5 May 2024 Brussels (Brugge), Belgium
6 May 2024 Brussels (Brugge), Belgium
7 May 2024 Ghent, Belgium
8 May 2024 Bossuit, Belgium
9 May 2024 Middelburg, The Netherlands
10 May 2024 Kinderdijk
10 May 2024 Rotterdam, Netherlands
11 May 2024 Zaandam, Netherlands
12 May 2024 Amsterdam, Rivers
13 May 2024 Amsterdam, Rivers Disembark
All itineraries and ports of call at the discretion of the cruise line subject to local weather conditions and may change without notice.

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