Sail during the beauty and warmth of spring:
This perfectly-paced springtime cruise takes you to the hitoric windmills of Kinderdijk, to the Belgian treasure, Bruges, to a 70-acre showcase of more then seven million flowers at the Keukenhof Gardens, to museums rich in art by the famed Dutch Masters, and to the Zuider Zee Museum where you'll discover the impressive maritime history of dyas gone by.
Savor the grand tastes of the region:
All along the way, you'll indulge in the famous treats of the region. Sample delicate handmade chocolates, among the finest in the world Feast on warm Belgian waffles with berries and cream. Taste delicious cheeses along with hearty beer all while savoring the storybook atmosphere of some of Europe's most charming towns.

Daily route description:

Day 1 Amsterdam:
Arrive at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport where you will be transferred to your ship. (D)

Day 2 Amsterdam:
Featured Excursions: Amsterdam city tour, including canal cruise, and Choice of Rijksmuseum OR Van Gogh Museum

Spend your first full day in the Netherlands’ largest city, Amsterdam, which boasts history, art, architecture, bridges, canals, cobblestone streets, museums, bicycles, and narrow alleys. See Amsterdam’s unique appeal from a different perspective while touring aboard a canal boat. Then, choose to visit one of the most prestigious museums in the world—the Rijksmuseum—which offers
the world’s largest collection of Dutch and Flemish art and artifacts, including Rembrandt’s The Night Watch and Vermeer’s The Kitchen Maid. Or visit the Van Gogh Museum—home to the largest collection of his paintings in the world, along with the works of other 19th-century painters. (BB, L, Captain’s Welcome Gala).

Day 3 Zaanse Schans:
Featured Excursions: Choice of Keukenhof Gardens OR Zaanse Schans and Keukenhof Gardens

Spend all day at the Keukenhof Gardens, one of the most impressive public gardens in the world, with more than seven million bulbs planted on a 70-acre site. Or split your day between the Keukenhof and Zaanse Schans, an exquisitely crafted open-air museum where you can observe life as it used to be lived. Authentic windmills, houses, and shops, were relocated to this picturesque area, creating a typical 17th- to 18th- century village where you can watch the cobbler carve out a wooden shoe or the cheesemaker press a round of Gouda. (BB, L, D).

Day 4 Hoorn - Enkhuizen:
Featured Excursions: Hoorn walking tour and Zuiderzee Outdoor Museum visit

Enjoy a walking tour through Hoorn, where you’ll uncover a rich seafaring history, evident in the town’s old harbor and admiralty buildings. Your guide will point out and explain the markings on Medieval buildings noting the former inhabitants’ trades. Your next port of call is Enkhuizen, a lively trading center since the 17th century, where you will visit the fascinating Zuiderzee outdoor museum, a reconstructed village from before the Ljsselmeer Dam was built in 1932 that gives you a vivid idea of life in a Dutch fishing village. (BB, L, D).

Day 5 Nijmegen (Groesbeek or Venlo, Floriade):
Featured Excursions: Choice of Liberation Museum OR Venlo for Floriade 2012

Awaken in Nijmegen, considered the oldest city in the Netherlands. From here, you can choose to head to the Liberation Museum situated in nearby Groesbeek. During your guided visit, get a firsthand account of WWII by experiencing the occupation, celebrating the liberation, and witnessing the rebuilding of the Netherlands and Europe after the war. Or take an excursion to Floriade in Venlo for a full day of music, art, and cultural events celebrating the botanical world. This International Horticultural Expo is held just once every 10 years in the Netherlands, where it covers over 160 acres, with themes exploring green energy, healing, and innovation. Venlo is the perfect setting for a multi-sensory celebration of the natural world, as it was named Europe’s “Greenest City” just a few years ago. (BB, L,* D)

Note: Lunch is not included with Floriade 2012. March 23 and March 26 departures will not have the choice of visiting Floriade, as it opens April 5, 2012.

Day 6 Kinderdijk, Rotterdam:
Excursion to Keukenhof Gardens-Schoonhoven. This moring, visit Kinderdijk with its picturesque row of windmills. Today’s highlights: the gardens of Keukenhof near Lisse, which encompass over 70 acres of parkland with lakes, sculpture gardens, greenhouses, and a windmill to explore. Millions of flower bulbs are grown here that present a spectacular display of blooms every year. Rejoin your ship in Schoonhoven, nicknamed “Zilverstad” and renowned for its silver. (B. L. D.).

Day 7 Veere:
Featured Excursions: Delta Works

Enjoy a morning visit to the engineering marvel known as the Delta Works, where you’ll learn about the Netherlands 2,000-year history of fighting back the sea. Learn how technology has evolved over this period, and witness the striking modern methods employed today. Spend the early afternoon at leisure in charming Veere before cruising the picturesque Zeeland area. (BB, L, D).

Day 8 Ghent (Bruges or Ghent):
Featured Excursions: Choice of full-day Bruges with canal cruise and walking tour OR three quarter-day Ghent with canal cruise

Visit Bruges, one of the best-preserved Medieval cities in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy its intimate cobblestone streets and bucolic public gardens. The Belfry Tower (Belfort) located in Market Square features a stunning octagonal tower and the lovely music of a carillon. Then see the town from aboard a canal boat and discover why Bruges is often called the “Venice of the North.” Or visit Ghent, one of the oldest cities in Belgium, with a history dating back to the Stone Age. The beautifully restored Medieval city center is made for strolling or biking. Its museums house works by artists from Hieronymus Bosch to Joseph Beuys. The Saint Bavo Cathedral holds the Ghent Altarpiece, one of the world’s historical art treasures, painted by the brothers Hubert and Jan van Eyck in the 1400s. A canal cruise gives you close-up view of the impressive 14th- and 15th-century textile warehouses that line the canals. (BB, D).

Day 9 Antwerp:
Featured Excursions: Antwerp walking tour and Cathedral of Our Lady visit

Spend a full day in the diamond capital of the world, Antwerp. You’ll be guided to the Cathedral of Our Lady, which houses four masterpieces by Peter Paul Rubens, who was born in Antwerp. You’ll visit Market Square, where you’ll see the Brabo Fountain. Those who believe that all that glitters is not gold can take an afternoon shuttle to Diamondland, Antwerp’s largest diamond shop. (BB, L, Captain’s Farewell Dinner).

Day 10 Amsterdam (Disembarkation:
Disembark the ship in Antwerp and transfer to the Brussels airport for your flight home. (CB/BB).

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Tulip Time Cruise 2012

Daily route description:

Day 1 Amsterdam:
Arrive at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport where you will be transferred to your ship. (D)

Day 2 Amsterdam:
There is no better way to see the city than by Canal Boat, cruising through the elegant grachten lined with stately homes dating back to Amsterdam’s “Golden Age”. Afterward, relax on the Sky Deck and watch as your ship departs. After lunch, enjoy a leisurely afternoon of cruising. (B, L, D).

Day 3 Excursion to Floriade or Maastricht:
After breakfast this morning the choice is yours: an excursion takes you to the Venlo region to visit the Floriade, an international exhibition of flowers and gardening that is held every 10 years in the Netherlands. First staged in 1851, these international exhibitions were originally held all over the world, often leaving behind legacies such as the Eiffel tower in Paris, the Atomium in Brussels, and the Euromast in Rotterdam. Alternatively, you may wish to join an excursion to Maastricht. Located at the boarders of Belgium and Germany, today it is a bustling cosmopolitan capital and province of Limburg. Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour through this vibrant university town. (B. L. D).

Day 4 Antwerp - Belgium:
Antwerp is Belgium’s second largest city and one of the world’s most important ancient seaports, included sightseeing shows you its superb architecture, and the Grote Markt with its beautiful city hall and the Church of Our Lady make this city well worth a visit. An optional excursion to nearby Brussels, Belgium’s capital and home of the European Union, is available. (B. L. D).

Day 5 Ghent:
Featured Excursion: Liberation Museum

In a unique way, Ghent, the “diamond” of Flanders, has managed to preserve its medieval charm and power while keeping up with the times. A Local Guide will proudly point out that the city center alone is a showcase of medieval Flemish wealth and commercial success, and will take you into ST. BAAF’S CATHEDRAL. From here, an optional excursion to fascinating Bruges, with its criss-crossed canals and charming old patrician houses, is available. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 6 Middelburg, Holland-Veere-Delta Works:
It is certain that Middelburg was originally built as a stronghold to protect the population of Zeeland from the water and from enemies. Later, it became a prosperous merchant city that spent great wealth on the construction of important buildings such as the town hall. After the flood of 1953, during which more than 1,800 people drowned in one night, the Delta Plan was born to prevent another disaster of this magnitude. The final defense in the battle against the water is the storm flood barrier, almost six miles long and considered a technical miracle. The project took 30 years to complete. Before rejoining your ship, enjoy some free time in the charming town of Veere, once an important wool-trading center. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 7 Kinderdijk. Excursion to Keukenhof Gardens-Schoonhoven:
Featured Excursion: Delta Works

This morning, visit Kinderdijk with its picturesque row of windmills. Today’s highlight: the gardens of KEUKENHOF near Lisse, which encompass over 70 acres of parkland with lakes, sculpture gardens, greenhouses, and a windmill to explore. Millions of flower bulbs are grown here that present a spectacular display of blooms every year. Rejoin your ship in Schoonhoven, nicknamed “Zilverstad” and renowned for its silver. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 8 Amsterdam (Disembarkation:
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B).