ACTIVE & DISCOVERY IN HOLLAND & BELGIUM 8 DAY RIVER CRUISE AMSTERDAM TO AMSTERDAM JUNE 08 - JUNE 15, 2022

Explore Holland and Belgium in more ways than ever on this Active & Discovery European cruise. Begin in Amsterdam and sail for Middelburg for a variety of excursions from Classic to Active to Discovery included excursions. Continue to Belgium and marvel at the artistry and natural beauty of the region. In Brussels, walk the ancient streets and sample treats at a Belgian chocolate-making workshop. Explore by bike or take a guided tour! In Antwerp, discover centuries of history. Experience the Red Star Line Museum where brave emigrants boarded ocean liners for America long ago, or see the stunning altarpiece by master painter Rubens in the cathedral there. Take an architecture tour by bicycle through Rotterdam or create a classic Delft tile in a pottery workshop.  Return to Amsterdam to enjoy the colorful city of canals. Take a painting class, ride a bike through the Dutch countryside, or relax on a canal cruise through the grachten of this city of a Golden Age. A fantastic 8-day adventure through Holland and Belgium on this Active & Discovery River Cruise in Europe!

Day 1

AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND (EMBARKATION)

  • How Suite It Is! Welcome Aboard Your Avalon Suite Ship®.

    Flights into Amsterdam must arrive by 3:30 pm.

    Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.

    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 MIDDELBURG

     Day 2

    MIDDELBURG

    • A Castle Moat, an Oyster Farm and Dutch Sea Trade

      Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.
    • Active
      Take a Guided Walk through woods and dunes; see Castle Westhove and farmlands of the beautiful North-Sea area, OR:
    • Discovery
      Join a Guided Tour of the Delta Works, the largest flood-protection system in the world, and a miracle of modern technology, OR:
    • Discovery
      Enjoy a Guided Visit to a family owned Oyster Farm, active in the cultivation of crustaceans and shellfish in the Netherlands since 1906. A taste of oysters and lobster, accompanied with a glass of wine is the perfect ending of this beautiful experience, OR:
    • Classic
      Join a Guided Walking Tour through the winding cobblestones and canals of Middelburg. See the 15th-century Gothic Town Hall and learn about its important role in the spice trade and Dutch East India trading.
    • EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO GHENT  

      Day 3

      GHENT, BELGIUM

      • Flemish Artwork and Street Artists
      • Active
        Explore the outskirts of the city and the lesser known sights on a Guided Mountain Bike Tour, OR:
      • Discovery
        Join a Guided Tour of Graffiti Street, where artists create striking spray-can art to their heart’s content. And do not miss the chance to become an artist yourself, creating your street art, 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.
      • EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BRUSSELS 

        Day 4

        BRUSSELS

        • Ancient Streets, and Chocolate Sweet
        • Active
          Take a Bike Tour to explore Brussels in a fun and eco-friendly way and learn all there is to know about its history and culture. Your local guide will not only show you the must-see sights, but also some hidden spots, OR:
        • Discovery
          Join a Belgian chocolate-making Workshop to learn how to create your own delicious candies. Enjoy a cup of the finest hot chocolate, while crafting traditional confections of pralines and mendiant from scratch, OR:
        • Classic
          Join a Guided Tour of Brussels, see the Town Hall with its landmark buildings, discover the many local bars, cafés, and shops of the Lower Town Streets, and visit the Atomium.
        • The afternoon is free to explore Brussels —considered home to the European Union, and admire its magnificent palaces and cathedrals.

          Later enjoy live entertainment onboard.
        • OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ANTWERP

           Day 5

          ANTWERP

          • Bike Riding, Brave New Worlds, and Rubens’ Art

            Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.
          • Active
            Enjoy a Bike Tour and discover centuries of history and a story around every corner. Don’t miss out the unique atmosphere of small neighborhoods and squares, OR:
          • Discovery
            Join a Guided Tour of the Red Star Line Museum. Follow the footsteps of the emigrants, become acquainted with the Red Star Line passengers and accompany them on their trip from their native village via Antwerp to the new world, 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.
          • This afternoon take time on your own to indulge in Antwerp’s signature Belgian waffles and crêpes—or explore this bike-friendly city from its old wharfs to its legendary diamond district.
          • EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ROTTERDAM 

             Day 6

            ROTTERDAM, HOLLAND

            • Avant-garde Architecture and Art Lessons
            • Active
              Take a unique Architecture Bike Tour to see the architectural highlights of Rotterdam. Do not miss the interesting Cube Houses, the popular Market Hall, the spectacular Erasmus Bridge, the vertical city ‘De Rotterdam’, and the iconic Central Station. In the city centre, admire how historic buildings lash cheerfully with hypermodern skyscrapers.OR:
            • Discovery
              Attend a Pottery Workshop. In a characteristic painter’s room, a professional painter will guide you through the process of painting a Delft tile,OR:
            • Classic
              Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Rotterdam featuring unusual collection of cube houses innovative architecture, including the marvelous Erasmus Bridge, and plenty of other fascinating sites.
            • Before dinner, enjoy a cruise through Rotterdam harbor.

              In the evening, enjoy live entertainment on board.
            • EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO AMSTERDAM

               Day 7

              AMSTERDAM

              • Colorful Canals of Amsterdam
              • Discovery
                Attend a Painting Class and be inspired by the masters’ techniques. Paint your own canvas and discover your inner artist. An orientation walk will complete your experience, OR:
              • Discovery
                Visit the Floriade, International Horticoltural Expo, an international exhibition of flowers and gardening that is held every 10 years in the Netherlands, OR:
              • Active
                Join a Biking Tour through the Dutch countryside past polders, dykes, and quaint centuries-old villages, OR:
              • Classic
                Enjoy a Guided Canal Cruise to explore the iconic waterways and sites of Amsterdam.
              • This afternoon, choose among the many Guided Optional Excursions available or take some free time to explore Amsterdam’s colorful streets and canal houses, galleries, and shops.
              • OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM

                 Day 8

                AMSTERDAM (DISEMBARKATION)

                • Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.
                Breakfast  




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