Who doesn't love Tulips and history! We are headed on a once of a lifetime adventure with Natalie!
DAY-BY-DAY
ITINERARY
1
AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND (EMBARKATION)
Welcome to Holland. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding.
Flights into Amsterdam must arrive by 3:30 pm.
Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.
Your day in Amsterdam is free to explore at your leisure.
You may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to beautiful Zaanse Schans where you’ll see a wonderful collection of well-preserved historic windmills and Dutch houses.
Enjoy dinner and explore the ship on your first night on board.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ROTTERDAM
Dinner
2
ROTTERDAM
Dutch Treats and Flowers Sweet
Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.
ACTIVE EXCURSION
Experience Rotterdam by foot with your Adventure Host, OR:
CLASSIC EXCURSION
Join a full- or half-day Guided Tour of breathtaking Keukenhof—known as the “Garden of Europe”—for its 70 acres of lush parkland, lakes, and the world’s largest flower gardens—with more than seven million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths as well as other bulbs, planted each year.
Take some free time to relax on the harbor-side in Rotterdam with an artisan beer, a slice of appeltaart (Dutch apple pie), and a koffie verkeerd, a typical Dutch drink with equal parts coffee and milk. Take a bike from your ship to explore Rotterdam and the surrounding area.
Before dinner, enjoy a cruise through Rotterdam harbor.
Later, enjoy live entertainment on board.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ANTWERP
BreakfastLunchDinner
3
ANTWERP, BELGIUM
Cathedrals, Carats and Crêpes
ACTIVE EXCURSION
Explore Antwerp by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:
CLASSIC EXCURSION
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.
Alternatively, you may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to the nearby capital, Brussels—considered home to the European Union, and admire its magnificent palaces and cathedrals.
You might prefer to 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 GHENT
BreakfastLunchDinner
4
GHENT
Medieval Masterpieces and Flemish Finery
ACTIVE EXCURSION
Explore a different side of Ghent by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:
CLASSIC EXCURSION
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. You’ll see its crisscrossed canals, the 13th-century belfry of Market Square, and charming patrician houses. You won’t miss the opportunity to explore Ghent since this Optional Excursion ends with an orientation walk of the "Diamond of Flanders."
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MIDDELBURG
BreakfastLunchDinner
5
MIDDELBURG, HOLLAND - VEERE
A Spicy History in Middelburg’s Dutch Harbor Town
Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.
CLASSIC EXCURSION
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.
Spend some free time biking or walking through Middelburg to sample Babbelaar cookies, fries, or beer before cruising to Veere.
During lunchtime enjoy a short sailing from Middelburg to Veere.
ACTIVE EXCURSION
Alternatively bike from Middelburg to Veere with your Adventure Host.
VEERE
History and Scottish Houses
CLASSIC EXCURSION
Explore the town of Veere with an expert local guide.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO WILLEMSTAD
BreakfastLunchDinner
6
WILLEMSTAD
Willemstad’s Windmills and Historic Harbor
ACTIVE EXCURSION
See Willemstad by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:
CLASSIC EXCURSION
Join a Guided Walking Tour of Willemstad and discover its many beautifully restored buildings from the 17th and 18th Century.
DISCOVERY EXCURSION
Later, enjoy a Cheese Tasting on board as you prepare to sail to Amsterdam.
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO AMSTERDAM
BreakfastLunchDinner
7
AMSTERDAM
Canals of Colorful Amsterdam
ACTIVE EXCURSION
Start your day joining your Adventure Host on an early morning walk in Amsterdam, OR:
DISCOVERY EXCURSION
Discover Aalsmeer Flower Auction—the largest in the world, where around 20 million flowers are sold every day. Later enjoy a typical Dutch breakfast, OR:
CLASSIC EXCURSION
Explore the iconic waterways of Amsterdam on a Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam’s “Golden Age.”
This afternoon choose among the many Guided Optional Excursions available.
Take some free time to explore Amsterdam’s colorful streets and canal houses, galleries, and shops.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM
BreakfastLunchDinner
8
AMSTERDAM (DISEMBARKATION)
Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.
Breakfast
THE AVALON TOUCH IN EVERY DETAIL
ROOM FEATURES
Flatscreen satellite TV with English-speaking channels & over 50 free movie options (t)
Insurance is not included and will be optional to purchase through Allianz. For a quote please click the link below.
Pre-paid gratuities will be added upon final payment. Pre-paid Gratuities cost 130 Euros per person and will include the cruise director and cruise staff.
We will also offer airfare in and out of Cleveland, along with any other airports that may be closer to you. We are recommending to fly in a day before the cruise begins to ensure arrival on time and no delays.
We will offer pre and post night accommodations for anyone who would like to extend their trip.
The Cruise price includes your cruise, port charges and taxes. It also includes excursions at each stop! Fine Dining, Alcoholic drinks at each meal! We are chartering the 1/2 the ship so it will be filled with local friends and neighbors! A great chance to see the world and make friends! Top notch crew waiting to cater to your every need!
THE ADVENTURE IS UP TO YOU.
CLASSIC
. Avalon’s Classic excursions present a colorful collection of guided walking tours through ancient fortresses, capitals, and castles, telling timeless tales to create your own storybook adventure.
DISCOVERY
Avalon’s Discovery excursions present heart warming,brain- tingling, hands-on experiences. Pull up a chair to hear a Viennese waltz, roll up your sleeves to paint like Van Gogh, crack open oysters and a bottle in Bordeaux, or grab an apron to whip up a local delicacy.
ACTIVE
If exploring under your own steam is more your style, Avalon’s Active excursions pack the get- up-and-go into every cruise. Paddle a kayak, pedal a bike, or put on your hiking shoes to see the world your way with heart-pumping adventures.
Personalize your river cruise experience even more with optional excursions that speak to you. Take plenty of free time to explore on your own—without getting lost. Our AvalonGO mobile app puts it all at your fingertips. Your Avalon Adventure HostSM can point you in the right direction for active exploring with gear from our Adventure Center.