DUTCH WATERWAYS IN SPRINGTIME

27 APRIL FOR 9 Days • 21 Meals


Cruise the historic canals of Holland aboard the exclusively chartered and comfortable MS Rigoletto. Experience the Netherlands ablaze with spring colors and tulips. See picture postcard historic towns and villages with local people dressed in traditional costumes, fascinating windmills and open air museums that stand as living monuments of the past.

Cruise Holland when in Bloom There is no better time to visit this small, charming and beautiful country than in the spring when a symphony of tulip color overspreads the land. Cruise a land partially reclaimed from the sea with its inland seas, rivers and lakes. Explore towns that are living museums of the past with their ornate church spires and thatch-roofed houses.

MS Rigoletto – Cruising in Elegance Designed especially for river cruising, the exclusively chartered MS Rigoletto, your floating hotel for seven-nights, features an elegant dining room with large panoramic windows for splendid views of the passing landscapes. The ship is fully air-conditioned and offers comfortable, all outside first-class accommodations each with large picture windows, comfortable furnishings and private bathrooms with shower. Enjoy a variety of fine international cuisine with entertainment in a relaxed atmosphere. The best part is, you unpack only once.

Amsterdam, Holland – The “Venice of the North” Your journey begins and ends in Amsterdam, known for its winding tree-shaded canals, ornately gabled 16th century townhouses, hundreds of bridges and tulips everywhere! Like the diamonds that make it famous, Amsterdam shines with works of the world’s greatest artists. Enjoy a panoramic city tour which includes a visit to the Anne Frank House Memorial. Join us for an optional excursion to the Rijksmuseum with the world’s largest collection of Dutch and Flemish art.

Volendam/Hoorn The picturesque postcard fishing village of Volendam has retained its original charm, delighting you with women who greet you in traditional wooden shoes, lace caps and skirts. Volendam is well-known for making wooden clogs. While in Volendam join an optional excursion to the world famous 70-acre Keukenhof Gardens, a must see for any visitor to the Netherlands at this time of year. Rejoin the ship in Volendam and cruise to Hoorn, an ancient medieval harbor town with a long-standing maritime history. Hoorn was the 17th-century headquarters for the Dutch East India Company. Enjoy a leisurely walk through the town or take time to visit a colorful pub.

Einkhuizen Drommedaris Tower stands tall in the harbor, a reminder of its glorious naval past. Visit the indoor/outdoor Zuider Zee Museum and see the largest collection of boats in Holland. Then during lunch, cruise the Ijssel Mer, a large inlet sea, the result of a Dutch engineering feat cutting it off from the open North Sea.

Staveren, Friesland Arrive in Staveren and take an optional excursion to the little Friesian town of Makkum famous since the 17th century for its tiles, platters and ornamental earthenware. Then continue to quaint Hindeloopen which offers a blend of “old” and “new” with many canals and beautiful wooden bridges.

Urk/Kampen Urk formerly an island and herring fishing village is now joined to the mainland and is the starting point for an optional excursion to Giethoorn – “Venice of the Lowlands” and considered the "prettiest village in Holland". This is a town where vehicles are prohibited and the only transport is by canal boat. Rejoin the MS Rigoletto in the Hanseatic town of Kampen situated on the Ijssel River and known for its well-preserved mansions, former homes of Dutch sea captains. Kampen has one of the best preserved old town centers of the Netherlands.

Deventer This 11th century town was the setting for the movie, “A Bridge Too Far.” Join us on a walking tour of St. Lebuin’s Church with its Gothic architecture, Mechanical Toy Museum and fascinating Market Square.

Arnhem – Tribute to WWII Battles Arnhem is most recognized for the many fierce air battles fought in its forests during WW II remembered in the Airborne Museum. Join an optional excursion to see Arnhem’s Open Air Museum which takes you back to the old world and discover what life was like in the 18th century with its old farms, workshops and windmills. Continue to the nearby Kröller Mueller Museum to admire the 276 works by Van Gogh.

Gorinchem/Rotterdam This bustling town of Gorinchem is known for its old town center, surrounded by 17th century walls with many historic buildings, pubs and restaurants. From Gorinchem, join an optional excursion to Delft, where the Dutch Golden Age remains alive. See where this magnificent hand-crafted and painted china comes from as well as beautiful canals, Gothic churches and 17th century Market Square. Then continue to Rotterdam to rejoin the MS Rigoletto. In the afternoon cruise the modern port city of Rotterdam with its high rising towers.

Amsterdam During the return cruise from Rotterdam to Amsterdam, stop at Kinderdijk and see the wonders of 18th century Dutch engineering where windmills were erected side by side in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Accommodations Days Two through Eight – Aboard the MS Rigoletto All Cabins are outside cabins and have two twin beds with large picture window, private bathroom with shower, hair dryer, radio, television, individually controlled heating and air conditioning, safe, telephone.

Day by Day • 21 Meals (7 dinners, 7 lunches and 7 breakfasts)
• Airport transfers when air is provided by Mayflower
* Prices include a fuel surcharge of $270 per person
Please add $100 per person to cover various departure and arrival taxes.
All prices include port charges
Air & Land taxes and fuel surcharges are subject to change.

For this tour, you are required to carry a valid passport with an expiration date no less than six (6) months after the scheduled return date