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from $1779
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Experience
Viking |
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When you cruise with Viking you sail with the world’s
leading river cruise company, and you enjoy the
rewards of more than 175 years of heritage and a
level of expertise second to none.
Inspiring
destinations, beautifully crafted itineraries, expert
tour guides, luxurious ships, fine cuisine, excellent
service, remarkable value—our success is defined
by all these things, and something else, too: personal
attention to every detail. It’s the way the bartender
has your drink ready for you, at just the right
time. It’s the gentle guidance from your tai chi
master in a lesson you take while sailing along
the Yangtze. It’s the handwritten directions from
your concierge to the best coffeehouse in Vienna.
At
Viking, we never forget that looking after you is
why we have become the world’s favorite river cruise
line, and why our guests return to cruise with us
again and again. Indeed, it is our guests who are
our greatest ambassadors, making us the most honored
river cruise line in the world.
If
you have experienced the pleasure of traveling with
us, then you will appreciate what makes a river
cruise with Viking so special. And if that experience
is still ahead of you, then it is one you are sure
to enjoy.
The
Most Award-Winning River Cruise Line
We have consistently placed high on competitive
rankings like Condé Nast Traveler’s Gold List, Reader’s
Choice and Best Small Ships awards; and Travel +
Leisure’s World’s Best; we have also been honored
by prestigious international organizations like
the World Travel Awards. Meanwhile, travel agents
have recognized us with awards including TravelAge
West’s Best Line for River Cruising and Travel Weekly’s
#1 River Cruise Line. And Viking is featured in
National Geographic’s The 10 Best of Everything.
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River
cruising—a better way to explore
Nothing compares to the river. Where else but on the river
can you journey into the heart of the world’s greatest cities
and towns, and discover the true nature of the land? Comfortable
and convenient, it offers a greater variety of destinations than
you could encounter any other way. Spend less time getting there
and more time being there. Little wonder that river cruising is
the fastest-growing segment of the travel industry.
Holland’s floral splendor only happens in the springtime.
Come see the rainbow of colors, and visit some of Belgium’s most
beautifully preserved medieval cities for the ultimate 10-day
spring vacation in the Low Countries. Explore Amsterdam’s cosmopolitan
atmosphere and world-famous museums. Experience Belgium’s Golden
Age in historic Antwerp and the lovely patrician cities of Ghent
and Brugge. Learn more about Holland’s age-old battle against
the sea with tours of ingenious windmills and the massive Delta
Works project. Plus, enjoy savory Dutch cheeses, delectable Belgian
chocolates and Belgium’s exquisite, intricate lace on this delightful
sojourn.
Your Itinerary:
Day 1 Amsterdam
Arrive in Amsterdam, then transfer to your ship.* After boarding,
you have free time to get acquainted with this canal-laced city—or
join our “welcome walk” to stretch your legs and start getting
oriented. (D)
Day
2 Amsterdam
After breakfast, embark on a canal tour by glass-topped boat to
see architecture from the city’s Golden Age. Return aboard for
lunch, then take free time to visit the Anne Frank House, the
Van Gogh Museum, or just explore the city’s charming neighborhoods—as
always, your Program Director can help you plan your free time.
Dine aboard; evening departure. (B, L, D)
Day
3 Hoorn
Early this morning, sail across the Ijsselmeer (once known as
the Zuiderzee) to the ancient shipping village of Hoorn. After
breakfast, enjoy a guided walk through Hoorn’s cobbled streets;
see age-old cheese warehouses on the town’s main square, which
dates back to Holland’s Golden Age. Lunch is served aboard; you
have a free afternoon to explore Hoorn, visit a local bakery and
shop for souvenirs. Or, take an optional excursion showcasing
the small towns and bucolic landscapes of the northern Holland
area. Depart during dinner and cruise through the night. (B, L,
D)
Day
4 Arnhem & Nijmegen
After early arrival in Arnhem, take a journey to 17th-century
Paleis Het Loo,† for 300 years the Dutch royal family’s summer
residence. Take a guided tour through its sumptuously furnished
rooms and beautifully landscaped gardens. After lunch aboard,
enjoy free time, or join the optional battlefield tour that also
visits the Airborne Museum. Cruise through dinner to Nijmegen,
one of Holland’s oldest cities, where you have a free evening.
(B, L, D)
†Closed Mondays; battlefield
visit or museum tour will be substituted.
Day
5 Kinderdijk & Antwerp
Arrive this morning in Kinderdijk and disembark for a tour of
this ingenious 18th-century community. Learn why the windmills
were built and see how they work to help control flooding, then
tour an actual working windmill to see its pumping mechanism and
living quarters at this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lunch aboard
as we sail toward Antwerp. After dinner aboard, relax on your
ship or spend some time exploring the cafés and brew pubs of this
extraordinary Flemish capital. (B, L, D)
Day
6 Antwerp
This morning, enjoy a half-day tour of Antwerp featuring the Cathedral
of Our Lady with its three monumental altarpieces painted by Peter
Paul Rubens; the Grote Markt (Grand Square) surrounded by the
Golden Age Town Hall and guild halls, and Het Steen (Steen Castle),
Antwerp’s oldest building. You have afternoon free time before
dining aboard; sail tonight for Ghent. (B, L, D)
Day
7 Ghent & Brugge
From Ghent, travel to Brugge, one of the oldest towns in Flanders.
Your city walk visits the Church of Our Lady, with its famous
Madonna and Child sculpted by Michelangelo. Also see the Beguinage,
a hidden courtyard inhabited by nuns, and the town’s scenic network
of canals. Stay in Brugge for lunch on your own, or return to
Ghent for lunch aboard and an afternoon exploring this extraordinarily
charming, canal-filled capital of East Flanders. Enjoy a beautifully
lit evening departure from Ghent and cruise through the night.
(B, L, D)
Day
8 Middelburg, Delta Works & Rotterdam
Your day begins with a walk through Middelburg. From here, travel
to Neeltje Jans Expo to learn more about how the Delta Works protect
Holland from the sea. See the hydraulic lock system and walk along
the massive dam. Return to your ship for lunch and afternoon cruising.
Arrive this evening in Rotterdam; rebuilt after much World War
II destruction, it is the world’s second largest port. Your evening
is at leisure; dinner aboard. (B, L, D)
Day
9 Keukenhof Gardens & Amsterdam
After breakfast, take a journey to picturesque Keukenhof Gardens,
the world’s largest floral park. Admire the stunning floral beauty
at both indoor and outdoor exhibits of millions of vibrant blooms
including tulips, hyacinths, croci and daffodils. Return aboard
for lunch. The
rest of the day is yours to discover Amsterdam’s hidden treasures.
You may choose to explore Museum Square, take a bike ride, or
shop for colorful clogs and tulip bulbs. Dinner is served aboard,
followed by free time to enjoy Amsterdam’s nightlife. Your ship
remains docked overnight. (B, L, D)
Day
10 Amsterdam
After breakfast, disembark and proceed to the airport for your
return flight.* (B)
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