Tulip Time (Smithsonian Journeys)

Embark your ship in Amsterdam for your 7-night cruise. (D)

Cruise from Amsterdam across the Ijsselmeer, a large freshwater lake created when a dam was built across the Zuiderzee in 1932. Dock in the port of Kampen, once an important hub in the medieval Hanseatic trade network. In the afternoon, venture to Giethoorn, a storybook village of thatched-roof cottages and gardens where canals and biking or walking paths take the place of streets. Alternatively, you may choose to go for a guided bike ride through the countryside or visit the dazzling tulip fields of the Flevoland region. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• The IJsselmeer scenic cruising
• Giethoorn and Kampen tour OR Flevoland tulips and bulb fields OR Kampen bike tour

Cruise inland waterways toward the Zeeland coast, taking in the scenery of the delta formed by the confluence of the Meuse, Scheldt and Rhine rivers. Step back in time in the medieval harbor town of Zierikzee, visiting its 16th-century Gravensteen, which served as a prison for centuries, as well as the Old Fish Market and the freestanding Dikke Toren church tower.

Make a stop at the Oosterschelde Kering, the largest storm surge barrier of the Delta Works, an innovative system built to prevent the sea from flooding the lowlands of the Dutch coast. Alternatively, set off on a guided bike ride in the fishing village of Bruinisse. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Scenic cruising
• Zierikzee city tour with Old Fish Market and Dikke Toren OR Delta Works OR Bruinisse bike tour

Cross into Belgium and go ashore in Ghent, once the prosperous medieval capital of Flanders, known for its powerful trade guilds and its manufacture of luxury cloth. On a walking tour, admire the town's World Heritage-listed architecture and historic highlights such as the Castle of the Counts and St. Bavo's Cathedral—the home of the famous Adoration of the Mystic Lamb altarpiece. Or meet with a master chocolatier and try your hand at making chocolate.

Instead of Ghent, embark on a full-day visit to Bruges, another beautifully preserved medieval town recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stroll through Grote Markt and Burg Square, and visit the Church of Our Lady, and, if you wish, sample local specialties. If you prefer, visit both Ghent and Bruges today on shorter half-day tours. (B/L/D)

* Not combinable with other tours on this day.

Excursions:

• Ghent walking tour with Adoration of the Mystic Lamb OR Chocolate Workshop OR Full-day Bruges excursion with Cathedral of Our Lady* OR Full-day Bruges and Ghent excursion

Delve into Belgium's vibrant second city on a walking tour, learning about its history as a thriving center of commerce and publishing in the 1500s. Admire its grand architecture—ranging from baroque to Art Nouveau—as you stroll through café-lined squares and winding alleys or explore on a guided bike ride.

In the afternoon, set out on a culinary tour, sampling three of Belgium's most beloved exports: chocolate, waffles, and beer. Alternatively, see the works of important Flemish painters such as Rubens and Van Eyck at the renowned KMSKA Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, or roam through Floralia, an annual spring flower show held in Groot-Bijgaarden castle. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Walking tour and cathedral visit OR Antwerp bike tour
• Belgian chocolate, beer and waffle tasting OR KMSKA Royal Museum of Fine Arts – Smithsonian Journeys Exclusive OR Floralia Flower Show  

Cruise back into the Netherlands to the port city of Rotterdam, known as the "gateway to Europe.” Travel to the Hague to visit the Mauritshuis Museum, where you'll see Johannes Vermeer's iconic Girl with a Pearl Earring and other famous works. Or visit Delft, where blue Delft earthenware has been crafted for centuries at the Royal Delft Porcelain Factory and Museum to see early examples of Delftware and watch artisans at work. Alternatively, see Rotterdam's eclectic architecture on a walking tour, and taste bitterballen, a classic Dutch snack and other local specialties. If you prefer a more active adventure, go on a guided bike ride through Rotterdam.

In the afternoon, experience the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kinderdijk, where 19 windmills were built in the 1700s to drain the marshlands. Visit a private windmill via electric boat or pedal to the windmills on a bike ride. Alternatively, head to Delfshaven, from which some of the America's first pilgrims departed on August 1, 1620, and tour the FENIX Museum of Migration set within a former harbor warehouse. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• The Hague with Mauritshuis Museum – Smithsonian Journeys Exclusive OR “The Best of Delft” excursion
• Rotterdam walking tour and Tastes of Rotterdam OR Rotterdam architectural bike tour OR Rotterdam & Delfshaven US Immigration Tour
• UNESCO Windmills with private windmill OR Kinderdijk bike tour OR Holland America and US Immigration Tour 

Enjoy a relaxing morning of cruising on your way back to Amsterdam. After lunch, admire the city's historic harbor, bridges and waterways on a private canal cruise or immerse yourself in a spectacular display of tulips, hyacinths, daffodils and narcissus at the incomparable Keukenhof Gardens. Open for just two months every year, the gardens are planted annually with some seven million bulbs. You'll have free time to stroll through the gardens and their pavilions, where rare hybrids in incredible colors and shapes are showcased.

After lunch, admire the city's historic harbor, bridges, and waterways on a private canal cruise, or join a specially guided tour of the world-renowned Rijksmuseum, with over 8,000 objects on display celebrating Dutch history and art. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Scenic cruising into Amsterdam
• Keukenhof Gardens excursion OR Amsterdam canal cruise  
• Rijksmuseum guided tour – Smithsonian Journeys Exclusive OR Amsterdam canal cruise

After breakfast, disembark the ship and transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B)