Day 1 UK to Amsterdam

Travel by coach from Folkestone via Eurotunnel or ferry and embark Spirit of the Danube.

Enjoy a welcome drink reception and dinner on board as your ship remains moored here overnight.

Day 2 Amsterdam 🎧

The Dutch capital is rightly popular for its friendly welcome, picturesque canals, world-class museums and galleries, and laid-back cafes and bars. Spend the day exploring the city at leisure, highlights include the Royal Palace on Dam Square, the floating flower market, the Central Railway Station, which is built on thousands of wooden piles, and the 19th-century Rijksmuseum. This afternoon an optional excursion visits Vondelpark, Amsterdam’s largest park.

Spirit of the Danube sets sail early this evening and begins cruising towards Beverwijk, arriving later this evening for an overnight mooring.

Day 3 Beverwijk

Look forward to an included excursion to the famous Keukenhof gardens, also known as the ‘garden of Europe’. More than seven million bulbs fill the park with vibrant colour and fragrance.

During your visit you can admire displays of millions of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths and visit flower and plant shows in the pavilions. Of course, the tulip displays are weather dependent, but they're normally in bloom from mid-March to mid-May.

Day 4 Beverwijk to Arnhem 🎧

Spirit of the Danube sails from Beverwijk early this morning, arriving in the city of Arnhem early this afternoon. Perhaps join an optional excursion to the Kroller-Muller Museum, located in the Hoge Veluwe National Park.

Your ship remains moored in Arnhem overnight.

Day 5 Arnhem to Utrecht

Spend the morning at leisure in Arnhem, where the British 1st Airborne Division landed during Operation Market Garden of World War II, with the intention of capturing the bridges across the Nederrijn.

This afternoon an included excursion visits the Belmonte Arboretum, rejoining Spirit of the Danube in Wijk bij Duurstede. The Belmonte estate was established in the mid-nineteenth century by Thierry Juste, baron De Constant Rebecque de Villars, who financed the construction of an Italian-style villa on the highest point of Belmonte. His father-in-law bought various plots of surrounding land, which were eventually connected to make the seventeen hectare estate. For many years barons and baronesses lived in the house, which in 1936 came into the possession of Stichting Het Gelders Landschap. The estate was heavily damaged during World War II. Then in 1951 a design by Professor Bijhouwer was used to turn the garden into an arboretum and there have been other additions since then including a large rhododendron collection and a transplanted rose collection.

From Wijk bij Duurstede you’ll continue cruising to Utrecht, arriving this evening.

Day 6 Utrecht 🎧

This morning enjoy an included guided visit to the Flower Market on Janskerkhof Square, where Dutch flower vendors have been trading for over 200 years.

Browse row upon row of stalls laden with colourful blooms and bulbs. This afternoon another included excursion visits Utrecht Botanical Gardens, located in the heart of Utrecht Science Park. There are various gardens to explore including a Rock Garden with a genuine mountain brook and waterfall and Evolution Garden, which is arranged according to the classification system developed by the American botanist Cronquist. The Tropical Greenhouses contain orchids and bromeliads, as well as food plants such as banana, mango and vanilla.

Day 7 Utrecht to Amsterdam 🎧

After an early departure from Utrecht, you’ll arrive in the Dutch capital this morning.

Here you’ll have the opportunity to sample the local food and culture on an included culinary walking tour with a guide. You’ll take a tram to Central Station from where you’ll begin a walking tour of the Dutch capital while tasting local delicacies including herring, cheese and croquettes along the way. Alternatively, you could opt for an included city coach tour and canal cruise to see the famous Skinny Bridge, the Montelbaanstoren tower and the Jewish Quarter.

This afternoon you may like to explore further independently or instead join an optional excursion to Volendam, Edam and the Katwoude cheese farm. Spirit of the Danube remains moored in Amsterdam overnight.

Day 8 Amsterdam to UK

Disembark Spirit of the Danube after breakfast for your return journey to the UK.