8 Day Tulip Time River Cruise
Amsterdam to Amsterdam
DAY 1: Amsterdam, Holland (D)
Welcome to Amsterdam, a fascinating and compact city of picturesque canals. Your Scenic Tours Representative will personally greet you at the airport and arrange your transfer*. (Please schedule flights to arrive before midday). Tonight enjoy your first night on board as you meet your fellow guests at your Welcome Cocktail Reception accompanied by your Captain’s Welcome Dinner in the Crystal Dining Room. This evening we set sail to Arnhem.
DAY 2: Arnhem – Dordrecht (FB,L,D)
After sailing through the night we disembark our cruise in Arnhem. Our Included tour today visits The Airborne Museum ‘Hartenstein’. The museum pays tribute to The Battle of Arnhem, a crucial part of Operation Market Garden, which took place in September 1944. After heavy fighting the Allied Forces eventually had to withdraw because of the heavy German counterattacks. Arnhem’s crucial role in the last days of WWII was recreated in the movie “A Bridge Too Far”. We cruise to Historic Dordrecht and dock in the heart of this charming port area.
DAY 3: Antwerp, Belgium (FB,L,D)
We continue to cruise through to Belgium to Antwerp, a compact seaport city buzzing with world class shopping in fashion houses and galleries. The baroque master painter Rubens lived here, and today it’s the centre of the global diamond trade. Your Included sightseeing takes you to heritage listed monuments, city hall and the Cathedral of Our Lady. With free time this afternoon why not sample some of Belgium’s famous beer and the local favourite - a pot of mussels with fries and mayonnaise before reboarding your cruise.
DAY 4: Ghent (FB,L,D)
Ghent has flourished since medieval times and is now a busy port city, famous for its flower exports. You’ll enjoy an Included walking tour of the city centre to admire well-preserved Flemish architecture, St. Bavo’s Cathedral which was consecrated in the 10th century, and the gothic Castle of the Counts. This afternoon perhaps you could visit “The Venice of the North” Bruges where you can wonder this fascinating little city with its pretty canals and intimate cobbled stone streets (at own expense). Appreciate the incredible value as you savour your discoveries tonight perhaps over an intimate dinner at the exclusive Portobello’s fine dining restaurant.
DAY 5: Middleburg – Delta Works (FB,L,D)
We continue to cruise on board your Scenic ‘Space-Ship’ to the city of Middleburg, first inhabited in the 9th century as a fortified town to guard against Viking raids. Despite heavy bombings during WWII, much of the city’s architecture has been saved and can be seen in the medieval abbey and merchant warehouses that line the canals in our Included tour this morning. This afternoon you will be witness to one of the most intriguing civil engineering constructions ever built. The Delta Works are an engineering feat consisting of a complex series of dams and storm barriers built to protect the population of the lowlands of the Delta plain from treacherous floods. On our Included tour we learn about the Delta project as a whole followed by a guide through the Storm Surge Barrier. As most of Zeeland in the Netherlands is at or under sea level the storm surge barrier has reduced the risk of flooding to less than once in 4000 years. Tonight step back in time as our entertainment pays tribute to its Dutch Heritage, showcasing authentic costumes and jewellery of years gone by.
DAY 6: Rotterdam – Keukenhof Gardens (FB,L,D)
Sailing back through the Netherlands we dock in Europe’s largest port, Rotterdam. Completely rebuilt after the destruction of WWII, Rotterdam is now a centre for cutting-edge architecture and museums housing collections dating from the Middle Ages. Today’s highlight is a guided visit to Keukenhof Gardens which have been delighting and inspiring visitors for over 60 years with its millions of flowering tulips, intricate flower displays and expansive sculpture garden. From here we cruise by the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kinderdijk with its delightful row of windmills. A great photo opportunity not to be missed!
DAY 7: Amsterdam – Volendam, Edam (FB,L,D)
Docking back in Amsterdam today choose from the one of the following Included SCENIC FREE CHOICE options: (1) a guided tour of Anne Frank House, where you will visit the house where the family hid during World War II; or (2) A sightseeing canal cruise through the cities 17th century architecture in a glass-top boat; or (3) An excursion to The Hague, government central of The Netherlands. Over lunch you’ll cruise to the fishing town of Volendam to see the unusual raised homes of the fishermen and the quaint wooden church. Then it’s on to Edam, famous for its round cheese of the same name, which is popular around the world. You’ll see the rich history of the city in its lovely squares, bridges and remaining cheese warehouses. Tonight we celebrate our last night on board with a Captain’s farewell dinner in the Crystal Dining room.
DAY 8: Amsterdam (FB)
This morning after breakfast your Scenic Tours Representative will transfer* you to the airport for your onward or homebound flight. *Check transfer entitlements with your travel agent. For passengers who have already received documentation - refer to your booking summary.
Brochure: IS/ERC/CAD1112
Tour code: TUAA.1
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