CRUISE ITINERARY 8 Day Cruise We promise you, there’s really no better and more beautiful way to take in the fascinating, lowland landscapes of Belgium and Holland that by cruising along their extensive waterways. The canals criss-cross these countries like a spider’s web. And in spring, the natural light and glorious colours reveal themselves with a splendour that is all their own. Just imagine the incredible tulip fields, stretching like carpets as far as the horizon. While the Benelux landscapes are unrepentantly poetic and romantic the cities in this part of Europe are contrastingly cosmopolitan and extrovert. You only have to think of Amsterdam, the Venice of the north and one of Europe’s most enigmatic cities. No less attractive are the famous Belgian cities of Ghent and Antwerp, and even EU-capital Brussels (leaving politics to one side) has something about it that totally enchants its visitors. Our voyage across the Ijsselsmeer inland sea in the Netherlands is a highlight of every tulip cruise; it’s a truly bracing experience, akin to cruising on the high seas. Itinerary Highlights Day 1 - Embark on the AMADEUS in wonderful Amsterdam. Your courier welcomes you aboard your "floating hotel", and you get to know the crew and the layout of the ship. A cocktail is served in the Panorama Bar before the welcome dinner. The vessel stays in Amsterdam overnight.   Day 2 - After a substantial breakfast absorb Amsterdam’s most important sights on our Amsterdam sightseeing tour (incl.), or get to know this interesting, throbbing city better in your own time and way. The ship leaves Amsterdam at about 12.30 p.m. and quickly crosses over the "Ijsselmeer" to the little fishing town of Volendam, from which you have the opportunity, on the Edam excursion (opt.), to explore this beguiling town so well known for its delicious cheese. A bus takes us on, between fields of colourful tulips, to Enkhuizen, a charming port with a rich maritime past, where the AMADEUS will be waiting for those who have been on this excursion. During dinner the vessel resumes its cruise along the "Ijsselmeer" and on into the river Ijssel. Day 3 - The AMADEUS reaches Arnhem in the early morning. During the morning the Arnhem & its open-air museum (opt.) excursion provides an opportunity to see the town and follow the course of the battle for it that took place in September 1944, and then – in the open-air museum – to gain an insight into the dailylife of its people from 1700 to 1970. At about 12.30 p.m. the cruise continues through the lovely Dutch scenery. Have a relaxed afternoon on board, while the vessel takes us into Belgium. Day 4 - In the early hours of the morning the ship docks in Antwerp, Belgium’s second-largest city and formerly one of the most important harbours in the world. Our sightseeing tour (incl.) enables you to get to know it in some detail. Antwerp is best known for its diamonds and as the city of Peter Paul Rubens, who spent the best part of his life here leaving many traces of his influence - as a diplomat, architect, and teacher as well as a painter. The outstanding sights of this city – so richly endowed with museums – are the "Liebfrauenkirche", Belgium’s largest Gothic church with its bell-tower dominating everything else, the "Brabo" fountains in the "Grote Markt" and the Rubens house that the famous painter had built as both his home and his studio. There’s plenty of time in the afternoon to explore this city under your own steam, or to join our Brussels excursion (opt.) to the Belgian capital, where you can photograph the famous "Mannekin Pis" for yourself. At midnight we set off again, heading for Ghent. Day 5 - The AMADEUS reaches the imperial city of Ghent in the early hours of the morning. The typical patrician houses in its medieval centre convey, even today, an impression of the splendour of by-gone days. Our city sightseeing (incl.) includes the many fine sights of the city in which the Emperor Charles 5th was born, such as the St. Bavo cathedral with its world-famous painting of the altar of the citizens of Ghent, by Jan van Eyck, and the "Belfried" with its bell-tower. In the afternoon you can let yourself to be transported back into medieval Flanders on our Bruges sightseeing tour (incl.). The old craft of the "bobbin" – a skill that has become very rare - has been cultivated in the "Beginenhof" in Bruges since the middle of the 13th century. You will see the "Pulverturm", the Town Hall with its wonderful facade, and a Madonna by Michelangelo in the magnificent "Liebfrauenkirche". There’s time in the evening to explore Ghent on your own, before the ship casts off again. Day 6 - The AMADEUS arrives in Zierikzee at 7.30 a.m. Our city walk (opt.) through this interesting little Dutch town includes its medieval centre (completely preserved) and you can see, among other things, the two city gates - the "Noord- and Zuiderport" - dating from the 14th and 15th centuries, the Gothic "Burgerweershuis", the fish market and the 16th century town jail. Enjoy a superb lunch in the ship’s restaurant while the Dutch landscapes floats gently past. At 3.30 p.m. we reach Dordrecht, a really typical Dutch town. The Dordrecht & Kinderdijk (opt.) excursion lets you see the "Groothoofspoort" 17th century city gate and the Gothic "Grote Kerk" church in Dordrecht, before driving on to Kinderdijk, where you encounter Holland’s largest concentration of working windmills. You can then enjoy a performance by a Dutch folklore group in the Panorama bar, after dinner. The vessel stays in Dordrecht overnight. Day 7 - A morning stop-over in Schoonhoven enables you to see this pretty little town for yourself before the cruise takes us on to Utrecht along the Amsterdam/Rhine canal. The AMADEUS leaves the port of Utrecht at about 2 p.m. Join our Keukenhof excursion (opt.), which enables you to marvel at the tulip fields between Haarlem and Leiden. Keukenhof’s flower displays put literally millions of flowers on show, displayed with artistic perfection in the most beautiful park. Those who have been on this excursion re-embark in Amsterdam, where the vessel by then awaits them. On the last day of your journey, the captain of the AMADEUS will be delighted to welcome you to the Captain’s Gala Dinner. The excellent orchestra which has been entertaining you in the Panorama Bar throughout the cruise will get you swinging and dancing the night away. Day 8- Disembarkation by 9 a.m. End of the cruise. Subject to alterations!

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