Tour members from across Canada depart for the Netherlands.

We are met on arrival this morning and taken directly to the ship, our home for the next week. Upon arrival, we will check in early and enjoy a light lunch. Moored close to the city centre, we will have free time to explore Amsterdam before settling into our floating home. We meet the Captain, the cruise staff and our fellow travellers at our Welcome Reception followed by dinner on board.

ms Amadeus Star (7 nights)

On arrival in Arnhem our coach will take us through the town where the World War II ‘Market Garden’ parachute landings and the battle for the bridge took place, giving the town a melancholy fame. We will visit the Airborne Museum, which won the prestigious 2009 Golden Heron award for spatial media. In the afternoon, we will visit the Open Air Museum that is home to historic houses, farmhouses, and mills showcasing the Dutch life from the 18th to the 20th century. This evening we continue cruising to Middelburg. 

We sail through the Dutch region of Zeeland this morning arriving around noon in Middelburg, a city noted for its 1,100 large and small monuments. We will visit the world's largest storm surge barrier - the Delta Works which was designed to prevent floods such as the North Sea Flood of 1953. This structure is considered one of the engineering marvels of the world and it is an amazing example of how the Dutch have truly tamed the environment in which they live. Later, we will stop at the lovely town of Veere which was once a very prosperous trading port in the Middle Ages due to the wool trade with Scotland. Veere is now a favourite spot for visitors due to its picturesque scenery.

This morning we are in Ghent, the real jewel of Flanders, a city which has managed to preserve its medieval heritage while moving into the future. The city centre is a delight to explore with its rich Flemish heritage. Our city tour includes many of the sights of the city where Emperor Charles V was born, such as the St. Bavo’s Cathedral with its world-famous triptych altar depicting the citizens of Ghent by Jan van Eyck, Gravensteen Fortress, and the Belfry bell-tower. This afternoon takes us on a sightseeing tour of beautiful Bruges and a journey back in time to medieval Flanders. We return to Ghent with free time to explore on our own before casting off again.

Note: Due to renovations, some artwork at the Ghent altar may not be accessible to visitors.

Antwerp, the second-largest city in Belgium, welcomes us today. Our morning will be spent on a tour of picturesque Brussels, the capital of Belgium, with its lively squares, beautiful boulevards, and impressive monuments. We will take a walk through Europe’s oldest shopping mall before heading back to the ship. In the afternoon we visit Antwerp, one of Europe’s most historic ports. Our city tour allows us to visit the Cathedral of Our Lady, Belgium’s largest Gothic church. Walk through the delightful old city centre and admire the city’s busy pedestrian ways and beautiful architecture.

This morning at Kinderdijk, we visit the largest group of 18th century windmills in Holland. Later, enjoy an excursion passing the bulb fields between Haarlem and Leiden to the famous Keukenhof Garden with its spectacular display of flowers in bloom. Keukenhof also offers several ponds, sculpture gardens, greenhouses, a windmill open for inspection and several terraces for relaxing. We rejoin our ship in Rotterdam before cruising back to Amsterdam. This evening’s highlight will be the Captain’s Gala dinner.   

This morning we are introduced to this Dutch metropolis.  Our sightseeing tour and canal cruise will cover some of the city’s greatest attractions including the museum quarter, flower market, and Royal Palace. This afternoon we venture out  to the fishing village of Volendam. After a short stroll through the village, we will visit a local cheese factory and learn how it is made. Enjoy a walk through the quaint village of Edam before returning to Amsterdam.