André Rieu’s New Year Concert in Amsterdam

Düsseldorf's Old Town is packed with more than 260 bars, restaurants, cafes, and breweries, adding to the atmosphere of this historic city. Tour the city firstly by coach with short stops at the Königsallee, a popular area of the city with a landscaped canal that runs through its centre, which is unusual for Germany, and the busy Media Harbour area.

Then travel to the Old Town where your guides will be on hand with tips on what to see as you enjoy some time at leisure. Perhaps discover the Burgplatz (square) with the Schlossturm (palace tower) which holds great charm or choose from one of the numerous cafes to sit back, relax and watch the world go by in this bustling city.

Walking Grade 3

Please note: This is a combined coach and walking tour. There is approximately 40 minutes of compulsory walking during the free time in Düsseldorf Old Town. Walking will be at your discretion but to make the most of your visit we recommend that you should expect to walk approximately 1650 yards over terrain which may be cobbled. There is a total walking/standing time of approximately two hours.

4½ hours

Spread out over 70 islands, the cosmopolitan city of Amsterdam has 60 miles of canals and 1000 bridges. As early as the 13th century, tiny ships sailed from this port into the challenging Zuider Sea. Amsterdam gained renown in the 15th century when it became a major trading centre, steadily assuming commercial leadership and thus controlling the country’s finances, a trend that remains to this day.

Amsterdam is famous for its narrow, gabled houses lining the canals. See the canals in a totally different light as you enjoy the illuminations of the city centre. During the annual light festival, the historic centre of Amsterdam changes into one large open-light museum set against a backdrop of dark night skies. Step aboard a glass-topped canal boat at the cruise terminal that will take you on a one-and-a-half hour tour along the canals, passing major monuments.

In addition to the splendour of the canals, admire highly illuminated works of art on, above and in the water, which have been designed by international light artists.

Walking Grade 2

Please note: There are 12 steps to get on and off the canal boat, aside from this minimal walking of approximately 100 yards is required.

1½ hours

Travel by coach to the village of Zaanse Schans, an open-air museum and quaint windmill village which has been recreated to resemble an 18th-century Zaan community. As you stroll with your guide through the streets, watching the craftsmen perform the trades of yesteryear, you'll get a real glimpse of how Dutch life once was.

There were over 600 windmills in the Zaanstreek, but now only a handful have been preserved. Enjoy a guided tour of the mill 'Het Jonge Schaap', a working example of a 17th-century sawmill. After your tour you will have some free time when you can take the opportunity to see the old Dutch craft of clog making, or simply relax in an outdoor cafe.

Walking Grade 4

Please note: Due to accessibility restrictions for large vehicles at the port of Hoorn, a ten-minute shuttle transfer between the ship and the transfer coach is necessary on this excursion. Expect to walk between one-and-a-quarter and two miles in total, some of which will be over uneven or cobbled ground with the possibility of some steps. During this excursion there is a total standing and/or walking time of approximately two hours.

3½ hours

This is a Gentle Walker Group version of the Zaanse Schans Windmill Village tour.

Please note: Gentle Walker Groups follow an adjusted excursion 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.

4

Travel from your ship by coach and head to your first stop, the Airborne Museum with commentary en route. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to explore independently and get a closer look at different artillery types including the Sherman tank, which stands on the same spot where it was left in battle. Your next stop is the Airborne Cemetery, the final resting place of 1,748 allied troops, which you can explore independently before returning to the ship.

On the way back, you’ll pass by the location for Operation Market Garden which hosted the 2nd Battalion led by Lieutenant Colonel Frost in 1944. Here, with commentary from your local guide, you’ll gain insight into this four-day tragic event which faced overwhelming odds and as a result, many lives were lost. As you continue to where the Allies took refuge in the old church in Oosterbeek you will see the monument honouring those who fought.

Walking Grade 3

Please note: Walking at the Airborne Museum is at your discretion over flat ground as you explore independently. At the Airborne Cemetery, you should expect to walk approximately one mile over grass. Depending on your chosen walking distance during the museum visit you can expect this excursion to have total standing and/or walking time of approximately two hours. This excursion can also operate in reverse starting with the Airborne Cemetery visit and finishing with the Airborne Museum.

4 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

After a short coach transfer you will start your visit at the Rijksmuseum in the heart of Amsterdam’s Museum Square to see the works of 17th-century Dutch masters such as Rembrandt, Vermeer and Hals. The museum, designed by Dutch architect Pierre Cuypers, has been housed in the Rijksmuseum building since 1885 and is now one of the most visited museums in the world. You will explore the main museum independently at your own pace but also included in your visit in is a pre-booked entrance slot to the critically-acclaimed Vermeer Exhibition, where more of his paintings are displayed together than ever before!

Walking Grade 3

Please Note: Standing and/or walking on this tour is mostly at your discretion over level terrain however we would suggest you should expect to walk approximately 1650 yards to make the most of your visit. Some steps may also be necessary depending on your chosen route; however, a lift is available if required.

3 hours

On this guided walk you will explore the pretty town of Hoorn, set on the Markermeer lake and steeped in maritime history. It has an attractive harbour, which you will see during your walk. Hoorn experienced its heyday in the 17th century, when it was one of the most important centres for the Dutch East India Company. As a result of its early seafaring wealth, the town boasts many historic buildings, notably the State Council building with its decorative stone facade. After your tour you may choose to stay in Hoorn and explore further independently or you can return with your guide to the ship.

Walking Grade 4

Please note: Expect to walk approximately one-and-a-quarter miles in total over flat ground with the possibility of cobblestones. This excursion has a total standing and/or walking time of approximately 90 minutes.

1½ hours