Canals and Capitals

Discover Antwerp and with it, one of Europe’s largest ports. After a short coach transfer into the city you can walk through the attractive old centre passing sights such as the Market Square, which consists of gabled guild houses, cafes, the Brabo statue and the City Hall.

Continue to the Vlaaikensgang (Pie Alley), an alley that is typical of medieval Antwerp. From there you walk to the Groenplaats, home to the statue of the famous Belgian painter PP Rubens, ending at the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe Cathedral, the largest Gothic church in Belgium.

Walking Grade 4

Please note: Expect to walk approximately one-and-three- quarter miles. The terrain will include cobblestones and some steps. There is an approximate standing and/or walking time of two-and-a-half hours. A Gentle Walker Group is available on this tour, however the walking distance will still be significant and a good standard of mobility is required.

3 hours

This is a Gentle Walker group version of ‘Antwerp City Walk’.

Please note: Gentle Walker Groups follow an adjusted itinerary covering selected tour highlights at a slower pace and have a total standing and/or walking time of 1 hour or less. They may also feature more independent exploration time where walking is at your discretion.

3 hours

Ghent is a dynamic modern city with a historic centre brimming with medieval and classical architecture. You will transfer from the ship by coach to the beautiful city centre. Firstly, enjoy a canal cruise to see some of the city’s sights from a different perspective.

After this, you will have some free time to explore independently. Perhaps browse the numerous lace and chocolate shops for souvenirs to take home before returning by coach to your ship.

Walking Grade 2

Please note: Expect to walk approximately 550 yards over terrain which will include cobblestones and some steps. There is an approximate standing and/or walking time of 30 minutes. Walking and/or standing during your free time will be at your discretion.

3 hours

Relax in the comfort of your coach and admire the scenery as you journey through the lowlands north of Amsterdam, passing lakes and windmills and pastureland dotted with farmhouses. Your first stop is a visit to the Cheese Farm, where the various stages of cheesemaking will be explained, and you can sample some of the cheese. Return to the city centre of Amsterdam by coach. During the journey you’ll see some of the city’s sights, including the Concert Hall, Tropen Museum and Java Island.

After a short walk from your coach, you’ll embark a glass-topped boat for a tour along Amsterdam’s historic canals, once the hub of the city’s commercial life, and lined with houses that were originally workshops and stores. As you sail you can learn more about the city’s rich history and its connection to the waterways for which it is famous.

Walking Grade 2

Please note: Expect to walk approximately 550 yards in total over flat ground with the possibility of cobblestones. During this excursion there is a total standing and/or walking time of approximately 15 minutes. There is also a small number of steps to access the pontoon to board the canal cruise boat and several steps on and off the boat itself. This excursion may also run in reverse with the canal cruise before the Cheese Farm visit.

4 hours

Bruges is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. The historic marketplace, in the heart of old Bruges, is cradled by the river Reie and listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. After the coach transfer from your ship you will join a local guide to walk along the maze of cobbled alleys and beside romantic canals to the venue for your private Belgian chocolate making demonstration.

Learn about one of the country’s most famous exports and watch as raw ingredients are made into the finest Belgian chocolates. After your demonstration, take a look around the Chocolate Museum or perhaps treat yourself to some chocolates to take home. Before your return transfer to the ship you will also have some free time to explore the city independently. The market and the ‘Burg’ (the site of the former Bruges castle and the Basilica of the Holy Blood) are especially worth seeing or perhaps head to a cafe or bar to enjoy another of Belgium’s famous culinary exports – waffles or beer.

Walking Grade 4

Please note: Expect to walk approximately one-and-three- quarter miles miles, including a walk of approximately half a mile between the coach drop off point and the city centre. The terrain which will include cobblestones and some steps. There is an approximate standing and/or walking time of three hours, although walking during your free time will be at your discretion. The journey between Ghent and Bruges is approximately one hour.

5 hours

This panoramic tour takes in the sights of Rotterdam, giving you the opportunity to admire the scenery from iconic viewpoints by coach. First, you’ll board your coach accompanied by your guide who will point out the highlights of this modern city along the way.

During your scenic journey, expect to pass by the old harbour in Delfshaven with the contrasting scenery of Weena street lined by modern sky-rise architecture. Next, you’ll drive through Coolsingel where you can catch a glimpse of Rotterdam City Hall and the World Trade Center. Passing by the expansive market square, you’ll also spot the neighbouring cube houses designed by Piet Blom.

After admiring the city highlights from the ground, your tour ends at the Euromast. As the highest building in the Netherlands at 610-foot tall, you can look forward to a birds-eye perspective overlooking the city when you head up the viewing platform.

Walking Grade 3

3¾ hours

Utrecht, the fourth largest city in the Netherlands, is known as the intimate alternative to Amsterdam. It is a thriving city with a network of canals, expansive parks, museums and many historic buildings. After a short coach transfer from your ship, meet your knowledgeable guide and join them for a stroll through the city to see the highlights. You will especially enjoy views of the Domtoren, an over 365-foot-high church tower and symbol of Utrecht.

As you discover more about the rich history here, you can wander along the banks of the canals with your guide for some photo opportunities before re-boarding your tour vehicle for the journey back to your awaiting ship. Alternatively, you can spend more time exploring Utrecht independently and catch a later return shuttle back to your ship.

Walking Grade 4

Please note: Expect to walk approximately one-and-a-half miles in total over mostly flat ground with some cobblestones. There is a total standing and/or walking time of approximately 90 minutes.

2 hours