Cruise on the IJsselmeer, one of Holland's treasures (port-to-port cruise)

Take a bike tour of Hoorn and its surroundings. Located on the banks of the Ijsselmeer, Hoorn was one of the important Dutch East India Company towns in 17th-century Holland. Hundreds of merchant ships left Hoorn to sail across the world and return loaded with merchandise, especially spices such as peppercorn, nutmeg, clove and mace. Our guide will explain the city's celebrated past in detail. The outskirts of Hoorn itself are dotted with biking and hiking paths that cross the superb polders, following the river dykes and passing by old villages and the ancient Westfriese Omringdijk—an almost 800-year-old dyke. The Beemster polder, the first in the Netherlands and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a masterpiece of creative planning and a superb example of the conflict the inhabitants have waged with water in this area. You'll get to see old windmills.

PLEASE NOTE

• Good walking shoes are recommended.
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.
• Attention: children are under the responsibility of their parents and must be autonomous by bike.

Departure by coach from Volendam or Enkhuizen for the town of Alkmaar.
We'll reach the city center on foot in the company of our guide. Alkmaar is a historical town with over 400 monuments. The Waag (weigh house building), dating from the 14th century, the Town Hall dating from the 16th century, the Grote or Sint-Laurenskerk (St Lawrence church) and a multitude of enclosed courtyards, noteworthy facades and canals all partake in the particular atmosphere of this city. However, Alkmaar is particularly known for its cheese. From the 1st Friday in April to the 1st Friday in September, the traditional cheese market is held every Friday morning from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The traders sell their cheeses using a barter system. The cheese carriers' guild, which has existed for 400 years, transports the cheeses on wooden barrows, after weighing the batches at the weigh house. Inside this building, a guided visit to the Cheese Museum will teach you all about the various steps to making dairy products. You'll discover the beautifully ornate cheese presses and various other implements and tools used to make cheese and butter over the centuries. The first floor houses documentation illustrating how cheese is made today on the farms and dairy factories, as well as this industry's major influence on the Dutch economy.
After some free time, return to the ship for lunch.

PLEASE NOTE

• Wear sturdy shoes: the streets are cobbled.
• On Friday, the visit is to the cheese market instead of the museum.
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

You'll leave on foot to head to the bike rental office. This guided bike tour will last about 2.5 hours, and you'll be able to explore and learn about all the must-see and out-of-the-way sites in Amsterdam. Enjoy some free time at the Flower Market or at the Albert Cuypmarkt.

PLEASE NOTE

• Good walking shoes are recommended.
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.
• Attention: children are under the responsibility of their parents and must be autonomous by bike.

You'll leave on foot to head to the bike rental office. This guided bike tour will last about 2.5 hours, and you'll be able to explore and learn about all the must-see and out-of-the-way sites in Amsterdam. Enjoy some free time at the Flower Market or at the Albert Cuypmarkt.

PLEASE NOTE

• Good walking shoes are recommended.
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.
• Attention: children are under the responsibility of their parents and must be autonomous by bike.

This tour will give you an overview of the many historical treasures and curiosities of the Dutch capital. A fascinating and dynamic city where the old and the modern coexist harmoniously, Amsterdam is a city rich in history, art and culture, where every street corner reserves a surprise. It is during a boat ride on the picturesque canals classified as World Heritage by Unesco that you can admire the architecture so particular with the many narrow houses with gables, the mansions of the seventeenth century, or all these magnificent bridges that span the canals and offer an extraordinary urban landscape.

PLEASE NOTE

• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

Departure by coach in the company of your hostess towards Keukenhof. Upon arrival, your hostess will give you an entry ticket that will allow you to stroll freely inside this beautiful flower garden extending on 32 hectares (79 acres). You'll be delighted by its wonders, from the enchanting colors and fragrances of the many tulips, narcissus, daffodils and other ornamental bulbs to the orchid pavilion and the Japanese country garden. Do not miss the breathtaking view over the tulip fields from the 1892 windmill located at the back of the garden!
In the 15th century, the garden as we know it today was nothing but hunting grounds where aromatic herbs were grown for the kitchens of the castle belonging to Jacqueline, Countess of Hainaut, hence its current name, "Keukenhof” - "kitchen garden” in English.
Return on board in Amsterdam by coach.

PLEASE NOTE

• Only on pre-booking.
• Good walking shoes are recommended.
• Free visit in the park; open from March 21st to May 12th 2024. The opening dates are subject to change by Keukenhof Flower Park. 
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.
• Wheelchairs are available through online booking on the Keukenhof website (passengers will have to use their own credit card).

Departure by coach in the company of your hostess towards Keukenhof. Upon arrival, your hostess will give you an entry ticket that will allow you to stroll freely inside this beautiful flower garden extending on 32 hectares (79 acres). You'll be delighted by its wonders, from the enchanting colors and fragrances of the many tulips, narcissus, daffodils and other ornamental bulbs to the orchid pavilion and the Japanese country garden. Do not miss the breathtaking view over the tulip fields from the 1892 windmill located at the back of the garden!
In the 15th century, the garden as we know it today was nothing but hunting grounds where aromatic herbs were grown for the kitchens of the castle belonging to Jacqueline, Countess of Hainaut, hence its current name, "Keukenhof” - "kitchen garden” in English.
Return on board in Amsterdam by coach.

PLEASE NOTE

• Only on pre-booking.
• Good walking shoes are recommended.
• Free visit in the park; open from March 21st to May 12th 2024. The opening dates are subject to change by Keukenhof Flower Park. 
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.
• Wheelchairs are available through online booking on the Keukenhof website (passengers will have to use their own credit card).

We'll leave by coach with our guide for Volendam, a charming village that has preserved its character for over six centuries thanks to the tough vitality of its fishermen. We'll then visit a cheese factory in the area to discover how the famous Gouda cheese is made. We'll enjoy tasting the different flavors and ages available of one of the most popular cheeses in the world. We'll then head for Zaanse Schans, an open air museum with wooden windmills, barns, and houses. Take a walk through the stunning buildings and the unique peat landscape or watch traditional clog making techniques. Don't miss the small but impressive clog museum that features one of the largest and most attractive collections of wooden shoes in the Netherlands: painted, carved, ice clogs with iron trimmings, horse clogs, and decorative clogs. Take advantage of some free time on this excursion to indulge in authentic Dutch traditions. We'll return to our ship in Amsterdam by coach.

PLEASE NOTE

• Good walking shoes are recommended: guided visit on foot at Volendam and Zaanse Schans.
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

We'll leave by coach with our guide for Volendam, a charming village that has preserved its character for over six centuries thanks to the tough vitality of its fishermen. We'll then visit a cheese factory in the area to discover how the famous Gouda cheese is made. We'll enjoy tasting the different flavors and ages available of one of the most popular cheeses in the world. We'll then head for Zaanse Schans, an open air museum with wooden windmills, barns, and houses. Take a walk through the stunning buildings and the unique peat landscape or watch traditional clog making techniques. Don't miss the small but impressive clog museum that features one of the largest and most attractive collections of wooden shoes in the Netherlands: painted, carved, ice clogs with iron trimmings, horse clogs, and decorative clogs. Take advantage of some free time on this excursion to indulge in authentic Dutch traditions. We'll return to our ship in Amsterdam by coach.

PLEASE NOTE

• Good walking shoes are recommended: guided visit on foot at Volendam and Zaanse Schans.
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.