Copenhagen & Holland & Belgium in Bloom

By the 11th century, Copenhagen was already an important trading and fishing centre and today you will find an attractive city which, although the largest in Scandinavia, has managed to retain its low-level skyline. Discover some of the famous attractions including Gefion Fountain and Amalienborg Palace, perhaps cruise the city’s waterways, visit Rosenborg Castle or explore the medieval fishing village of Dragoer. Once the home of Hans Christian Andersen, Copenhagen features many reminders of its fairytale heritage and lives up to the reputation immortalised in the famous song ‘Wonderful Copenhagen’.

Welcome to Denmark and Copenhagen, the fascinating capital city that is home to centuries of Danish royal family history and national heritage. You'll be transferred from the airport to your hotel for your included three-night stay. This evening, enjoy meeting your fellow guests and tour director for a convivial welcome drink.

By the 11th century, Copenhagen was already an important trading and fishing centre and today you will find an attractive city which, although the largest in Scandinavia, has managed to retain its low-level skyline. Discover some of the famous attractions including Gefion Fountain and Amalienborg Palace, perhaps cruise the city’s waterways, visit Rosenborg Castle or explore the medieval fishing village of Dragoer. Once the home of Hans Christian Andersen, Copenhagen features many reminders of its fairytale heritage and lives up to the reputation immortalised in the famous song ‘Wonderful Copenhagen’.

Enjoy your time in the Danish capital, a beautiful city that blends Old-World charm and historical landmarks with a green, sustainable and contemporary element. Your tour director will be more than happy to help you plan your Copenhagen explorations during your stay.

Included Excursion
Guided City tour of Copenhagen and Canal Cruise
Today, join a guided city tour and enthralling journey through the heart of Denmark's capital, where rich historical landmarks blend with picturesque waterways. As you glide through the serene canals, you'll pass by charming old buildings and iconic sights, such as the colourful Nyhavn district, where prolific Danish author Hans Christian Andersen lived and drew inspiration for his literary fairy tales. Along the way, you'll also spot the regal Amalienborg Palace, residence of the Danish royal family

By the 11th century, Copenhagen was already an important trading and fishing centre and today you will find an attractive city which, although the largest in Scandinavia, has managed to retain its low-level skyline. Discover some of the famous attractions including Gefion Fountain and Amalienborg Palace, perhaps cruise the city’s waterways, visit Rosenborg Castle or explore the medieval fishing village of Dragoer. Once the home of Hans Christian Andersen, Copenhagen features many reminders of its fairytale heritage and lives up to the reputation immortalised in the famous song ‘Wonderful Copenhagen’.

During your free time in Copenhagen, enjoy exploring Copenhagen at leisure, soaking up the sights of this enchanting Nordic city. You may wish to visit the world-famous Tivoli Gardens, or Rosenborg Castle, a four-century-old Renaissance castle that houses the Danish crown jewels. Perhaps relax at one of Copenhagen's delightful café terraces, or sample traditional open-faced sandwiches with a cold beer at one of the capital’s many restaurants.

EmeraldPLUS
Visit to Christiansborg Palace
Begin your day with a visit to the striking Christiansborg Palace, once the home to Danish kings and queens and today, the seat of the Danish Parliament and Supreme Court.

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Tastes of Denmark (extra expense)
Embark on a flavourful journey through Denmark, where every bite reflects centuries of culinary tradition. Delight in the airy sweetness of æbleskiver, indulge in elegant tarteletter filled with creamy goodness, as well as an additional regional tasting and a typical Danish beverage. Today’s tasting experience invites you to discover the heart of Danish cuisine - simple, authentic, and delicious.
Activity Level: Easy, Duration: 3 hour

By the 11th century, Copenhagen was already an important trading and fishing centre and today you will find an attractive city which, although the largest in Scandinavia, has managed to retain its low-level skyline. Discover some of the famous attractions including Gefion Fountain and Amalienborg Palace, perhaps cruise the city’s waterways, visit Rosenborg Castle or explore the medieval fishing village of Dragoer. Once the home of Hans Christian Andersen, Copenhagen features many reminders of its fairytale heritage and lives up to the reputation immortalised in the famous song ‘Wonderful Copenhagen’.

This morning, after breakfast, it’s time to say farewell to charming Copenhagen and transfer to the airport for your onward flight to the Netherlands and Amsterdam, where you'll embark on your luxury Emerald Star-Ship.

Amsterdam combines the unrivaled beauty of the 17th-century Golden Age city center with plenty of museums and art of the highest order, not to mention a remarkably laid-back atmosphere. It all comes together to make this one of the world's most appealing and offbeat metropolises in the world. Built on a latticework of concentric canals like an aquatic rainbow, Amsterdam is known as the City of Canals—but it's no Venice, content to live on moonlight serenades and former glory. Quite the contrary: on nearly every street here you'll find old and new side by side—quiet corners where time seems to be holding its breath next to streets like neon-lit Kalverstraat, and Red Light ladies strutting by the city's oldest church. Indeed, Amsterdam has as many lovely facets as a 40-carat diamond polished by one of the city's gem cutters. It's certainly a metropolis, but a rather small and very accessible one. Locals tend to refer to it as a big village, albeit one that happens to pack the cultural wallop of a major world destination. There are scores of concerts every day, numerous museums, summertime festivals, and, of course, a legendary year-round party scene. It's pretty much impossible to resist Amsterdam's charms. With 7,000 registered monuments, most of which began as the residences and warehouses of humble merchants, set on 160 man-made canals, and traversed by 1,500 or so bridges, Amsterdam has the largest historical inner city in Europe. Its famous circle of waterways, the grachtengordel, was a 17th-century urban expansion plan for the rich and is a lasting testament to the city’s Golden Age. This town is endearing because of its kinder, gentler nature—but a reputation for championing sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll does not alone account for Amsterdam's being one of the most popular destinations in Europe: consider that within a single square mile the city harbors some of the greatest achievements in Western art, from Rembrandt to Van Gogh. Not to mention that this is one of Europe's great walking cities, with so many of its treasures in the untouted details: tiny alleyways barely visible on the map, hidden garden courtyards, shop windows, floating houseboats, hidden hofjes(courtyards with almshouses), sudden vistas of church spires, and gabled roofs that look like so many unframed paintings. And don’t forget that the joy lies in details: elaborate gables and witty gable stones denoting the trade of a previous owner. Keep in mind that those XXX symbols you see all over town are not a mark of the city's triple-X reputation. They're part of Amsterdam's official coat of arms—three St. Andrew's crosses, believed to represent the three dangers that have traditionally plagued the city: flood, fire, and pestilence. The coat's motto ("Valiant, determined, compassionate") was introduced in 1947 by Queen Wilhelmina in remembrance of the 1941 February Strike in Amsterdam—the first time in Europe that non-Jewish people protested against the persecution of Jews by the Nazi regime.

Amsterdam combines the unrivaled beauty of the 17th-century Golden Age city center with plenty of museums and art of the highest order, not to mention a remarkably laid-back atmosphere. It all comes together to make this one of the world's most appealing and offbeat metropolises in the world. Built on a latticework of concentric canals like an aquatic rainbow, Amsterdam is known as the City of Canals—but it's no Venice, content to live on moonlight serenades and former glory. Quite the contrary: on nearly every street here you'll find old and new side by side—quiet corners where time seems to be holding its breath next to streets like neon-lit Kalverstraat, and Red Light ladies strutting by the city's oldest church. Indeed, Amsterdam has as many lovely facets as a 40-carat diamond polished by one of the city's gem cutters. It's certainly a metropolis, but a rather small and very accessible one. Locals tend to refer to it as a big village, albeit one that happens to pack the cultural wallop of a major world destination. There are scores of concerts every day, numerous museums, summertime festivals, and, of course, a legendary year-round party scene. It's pretty much impossible to resist Amsterdam's charms. With 7,000 registered monuments, most of which began as the residences and warehouses of humble merchants, set on 160 man-made canals, and traversed by 1,500 or so bridges, Amsterdam has the largest historical inner city in Europe. Its famous circle of waterways, the grachtengordel, was a 17th-century urban expansion plan for the rich and is a lasting testament to the city’s Golden Age. This town is endearing because of its kinder, gentler nature—but a reputation for championing sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll does not alone account for Amsterdam's being one of the most popular destinations in Europe: consider that within a single square mile the city harbors some of the greatest achievements in Western art, from Rembrandt to Van Gogh. Not to mention that this is one of Europe's great walking cities, with so many of its treasures in the untouted details: tiny alleyways barely visible on the map, hidden garden courtyards, shop windows, floating houseboats, hidden hofjes(courtyards with almshouses), sudden vistas of church spires, and gabled roofs that look like so many unframed paintings. And don’t forget that the joy lies in details: elaborate gables and witty gable stones denoting the trade of a previous owner. Keep in mind that those XXX symbols you see all over town are not a mark of the city's triple-X reputation. They're part of Amsterdam's official coat of arms—three St. Andrew's crosses, believed to represent the three dangers that have traditionally plagued the city: flood, fire, and pestilence. The coat's motto ("Valiant, determined, compassionate") was introduced in 1947 by Queen Wilhelmina in remembrance of the 1941 February Strike in Amsterdam—the first time in Europe that non-Jewish people protested against the persecution of Jews by the Nazi regime.

Beyond Amsterdam’s storied canals, a gentler rhythm unfolds as you venture into the Dutch countryside.

Included Excursion
Tour to Zaanse Schans windmills
Travel to the charming village of Zaanse Schans, just north of Amsterdam. It’s famous for its picturesque windmills on the edge of the water, traditional green wooden houses and artisan workshops making traditional handicrafts. This is a quintessentially Dutch town where the smell of freshly baked goods and the sight of spinning windmills offer a truly memorable experience

EmeraldACTIVE
Guided e-bike tour to Waterland
Enjoy an active cycling tour of the pretty Waterland area, famed for its green landscapes, winding canals and charming villages. Accompanied by a local guide, it’s a relaxed ride on flat ground that will immerse you in Dutch daily life.

EmeraldPLUS
Clog painting on board
Relax on board your Emerald Star-Ship this afternoon, as a local clog painter will come on board for a demonstration. You’ll also have the opportunity to try your hand at this unique craft.

Rotterdam is a city that's a long way removed from most people's stereotypical notion of the Netherlands. There are few, if any, canals to be found here nor are there any quaint windmills. There is, however, a thriving modern city which is one of the busiest ports in the entire world.

The second-largest city in the Netherlands and the busiest port in Europe, Rotterdam is a modern multicultural hub. Its historic centre was largely destroyed by German bombing in World War II, and the subsequent reconstruction efforts utilised a patchwork of architectural styles, forever altering the city’s skyline. It is home to the tallest commercial and residential buildings in the country, a visual symbol of Rotterdam’s spirit of innovation.

EmeraldPLUS
Private visit to the Mauritshuis and orientation walk in The Hague
Visit the royal and administrative capital of the Netherlands, The Hague. Set on the North Sea coast, the city is home to a thriving cultural and culinary scene, historical monuments, and the International Court of Justice. Within your guided tour, you’ll visit the beautiful Mauritshuis museum, home to the best of Dutch painting from the age of Rembrandt and Vermeer, including the famous Girl with A Pearl Earring.

EmeraldACTIVE
Cycling and tasting tour of Rotterdam
Meet your local guide for a cycling tour. Travel through the historic Noordereiland district, pass the Lost Luggage Depot sculptures and stop at Fenix Food Factory for a tasting of local delicacies. Cross the Erasmusbrug to the Old Harbour and Maritime Museum area before returning to your Emerald Star-Ship.

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Delft Pottery Factory visit (extra expense)
Learn about one of the most popular forms of earthenware in the Netherlands, Delft pottery, during a visit to a working factory. Hear about how the local people maintain this rich tradition, dating back to the 1500s.
Activity level: Easy, Duration: 4 hour

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Royal Delft Tile Workshop (extra expense)
Experience the craft of Delft Blue yourself during one of the workshops at Royal Delft. Discover how the world-famous tin-glazed earthenware is made and paint your own tile to take home.

Rotterdam is a city that's a long way removed from most people's stereotypical notion of the Netherlands. There are few, if any, canals to be found here nor are there any quaint windmills. There is, however, a thriving modern city which is one of the busiest ports in the entire world.

Spend your morning in Rotterdam. Later, return to your Emerald Star-Ship at lunchtime and cruise to the small town of Willemstad, known for its well-preserved historic fortifications.

Included Excursion
Architectural tour of Rotterdam
Uncover the fascinating architectural legacy of Rotterdam. Its reputation as the city of high-rises has historical roots, beginning with the construction of a 45-metre (148 ft) office building, the Witte Huis, in 1897, which was the tallest office building in Europe. Your local guide will explain the city’s modern skyline on a coach tour, followed by a walking tour of the Museum district and a tasting at a local market.

EmeraldACTIVE
Guided e-bike tour through the Dutch countryside
Meet your local guide at the ship for a cycling tour. Travel across reclaimed land that is now verdant Dutch countryside, pass the city’s notable landmarks and finish back at the ship.

Explore Antwerp, Belgium's second city. Known for its diamond cutting industry, fashion and the many great artists that lived in its vicinity, Antwerp is a city focused on art and culture.

This morning, you’ll arrive in Belgium's largest port, Antwerp. Located on the River Scheldt, the city's large harbour provides a link to the sea. Home to the famous Baroque artist Pieter Paul Rubens, Antwerp attracts art lovers from around the world.

Included Excursion
Walking tour of Antwerp
Enjoy a guided tour of the city centre, with its café-lined cobbled lanes. Admire the Renaissance city hall and Hat Steen, a medieval fortress built during the early Middle Ages, and one of the oldest buildings in Belgium. Afterwards, enjoy free time to explore Antwerp at your leisure.

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Excursion to Bruges (extra expense)
Known for its canals, cobblestone streets and well-preserved historic architecture, Bruges is a picturesque medieval gem. Your expert guides help you delve deeper into the history of its Gothic landmarks, bell towers and basilicas. If you wish to experience the culinary scene in your free time, try the city's famous chocolate, fries and beer.
Activity level: Active, Duration: 9 hours

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Antwerp’s hidden treasures (extra expense)
Join your local guide on a walking tour through this beautiful city known for its rich tradition of chocolate making. You’ll also enjoy a tasting and a hands-on workshop.
Activity level: Moderate, Duration: 2 hours

Welcome to Nijmegen, the Roman settlement of Noviomagus and the oldest town in The Netherlands. Although its history stretches back more than 2,000 years, it also has a youthful vibe thanks to its large university, as well as beautiful scenery, lush green spaces and world-class museums.

Included Excursion
Walking tour of Nijmegen
Join a walking tour through the town centre, exploring its architectural wonders, rich history and charming streets. From Roman relics to medieval architecture, you’ll explore the city's landmarks, including the Valkhof Park and St. Stephen's Church, while learning about Nijmegen’s fascinating past.

EmeraldACTIVE
Cycling tour of Nijmegen
Join your fellow travellers on a guided cycling tour of Nijmegen. Ride along the River Waal and learn about the city during Roman times and under the rule of Charlemagne, as well as the role Nijmegen played in World War II.

EmeraldPLUS
Shanty choir
On board this evening, enjoy a performance from a traditional Dutch fishermen’s choir. Their songs and sea shanties celebrate the country’s rich maritime heritage.

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Visit to Paleis Het Loo (extra expense)
Visit the Paleis Het Loo, which served as the summer residence of the Dutch royal family from the 17th century until 1975. Enjoy a guided tour of this opulent palace, where you’ll feel as though you have stepped back in time. The palace’s decorations and its spectacular gardens will captivate every visitor.
Activity level: Easy, Duration: 4 hours

Amsterdam combines the unrivaled beauty of the 17th-century Golden Age city center with plenty of museums and art of the highest order, not to mention a remarkably laid-back atmosphere. It all comes together to make this one of the world's most appealing and offbeat metropolises in the world. Built on a latticework of concentric canals like an aquatic rainbow, Amsterdam is known as the City of Canals—but it's no Venice, content to live on moonlight serenades and former glory. Quite the contrary: on nearly every street here you'll find old and new side by side—quiet corners where time seems to be holding its breath next to streets like neon-lit Kalverstraat, and Red Light ladies strutting by the city's oldest church. Indeed, Amsterdam has as many lovely facets as a 40-carat diamond polished by one of the city's gem cutters. It's certainly a metropolis, but a rather small and very accessible one. Locals tend to refer to it as a big village, albeit one that happens to pack the cultural wallop of a major world destination. There are scores of concerts every day, numerous museums, summertime festivals, and, of course, a legendary year-round party scene. It's pretty much impossible to resist Amsterdam's charms. With 7,000 registered monuments, most of which began as the residences and warehouses of humble merchants, set on 160 man-made canals, and traversed by 1,500 or so bridges, Amsterdam has the largest historical inner city in Europe. Its famous circle of waterways, the grachtengordel, was a 17th-century urban expansion plan for the rich and is a lasting testament to the city’s Golden Age. This town is endearing because of its kinder, gentler nature—but a reputation for championing sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll does not alone account for Amsterdam's being one of the most popular destinations in Europe: consider that within a single square mile the city harbors some of the greatest achievements in Western art, from Rembrandt to Van Gogh. Not to mention that this is one of Europe's great walking cities, with so many of its treasures in the untouted details: tiny alleyways barely visible on the map, hidden garden courtyards, shop windows, floating houseboats, hidden hofjes(courtyards with almshouses), sudden vistas of church spires, and gabled roofs that look like so many unframed paintings. And don’t forget that the joy lies in details: elaborate gables and witty gable stones denoting the trade of a previous owner. Keep in mind that those XXX symbols you see all over town are not a mark of the city's triple-X reputation. They're part of Amsterdam's official coat of arms—three St. Andrew's crosses, believed to represent the three dangers that have traditionally plagued the city: flood, fire, and pestilence. The coat's motto ("Valiant, determined, compassionate") was introduced in 1947 by Queen Wilhelmina in remembrance of the 1941 February Strike in Amsterdam—the first time in Europe that non-Jewish people protested against the persecution of Jews by the Nazi regime.

Arrive in Amsterdam / Zaandam again this morning. With more than 100km (62 miles) of canals lined with grand merchant houses and crossed by more than 1,700 bridges, it’s no wonder the Dutch capital is often called the Venice of the North. The city comes especially alive in spring, when its streets and parks bloom in a riot of colours.

Included Excursion
Visit to Keukenhof Gardens
This morning, you’ll visit the iconic Keukenhof Gardens, boasting 32 hectares (79 acres) of spring-flowering bulbs. Open only from March to May each year, more than seven million bulbs are planted, including 800 varieties of tulips. This area is infused with delightful aromas and a swathe of vibrant colours. Soak in the sights of tulips, hyacinths, and orchids of every colour, creating an expertly arranged pattern of beauty. You will also see statues commissioned by world-renowned artists, each adopting the annual theme.

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Visit to the flower auction at Royal FloraHolland in Aalsmeer (extra expense)
Wake early to visit the largest floral market in the world, the Flower Auction at Royal Flora Holland in Aalsmeer. Be amazed by the brokers working the bustling floor, where more than 45 million flowers change hands every day.
Activity level: Easy, Duration: 2.5 hours

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Hidden gems of Amsterdam (extra expense)
Explore a quieter, more authentic side of Amsterdam on this relaxed and personal tour through the city’s hidden treasures. Visit the historic Jordaan area and a charming chocolate shop for a sweet treat. Continue through some of the city’s most beautiful streets to Our Lord in the Attic, a 17th-century house with a fully preserved Catholic church in its attic. Finish with a beer and snacks at a local brewery.
Activity level: Moderate, Duration: 2.5 hours

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Dutch apple pie making (extra expense)
Traditions and recipes have long been passed down through generations and are often kept as family secrets. Today, you’ll meet with a local who will tell you all about life in Hoorn and share a family recipe for traditional Dutch apple pie.
Activity level: Moderate, Duration: 4 hour

Amsterdam combines the unrivaled beauty of the 17th-century Golden Age city center with plenty of museums and art of the highest order, not to mention a remarkably laid-back atmosphere. It all comes together to make this one of the world's most appealing and offbeat metropolises in the world. Built on a latticework of concentric canals like an aquatic rainbow, Amsterdam is known as the City of Canals—but it's no Venice, content to live on moonlight serenades and former glory. Quite the contrary: on nearly every street here you'll find old and new side by side—quiet corners where time seems to be holding its breath next to streets like neon-lit Kalverstraat, and Red Light ladies strutting by the city's oldest church. Indeed, Amsterdam has as many lovely facets as a 40-carat diamond polished by one of the city's gem cutters. It's certainly a metropolis, but a rather small and very accessible one. Locals tend to refer to it as a big village, albeit one that happens to pack the cultural wallop of a major world destination. There are scores of concerts every day, numerous museums, summertime festivals, and, of course, a legendary year-round party scene. It's pretty much impossible to resist Amsterdam's charms. With 7,000 registered monuments, most of which began as the residences and warehouses of humble merchants, set on 160 man-made canals, and traversed by 1,500 or so bridges, Amsterdam has the largest historical inner city in Europe. Its famous circle of waterways, the grachtengordel, was a 17th-century urban expansion plan for the rich and is a lasting testament to the city’s Golden Age. This town is endearing because of its kinder, gentler nature—but a reputation for championing sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll does not alone account for Amsterdam's being one of the most popular destinations in Europe: consider that within a single square mile the city harbors some of the greatest achievements in Western art, from Rembrandt to Van Gogh. Not to mention that this is one of Europe's great walking cities, with so many of its treasures in the untouted details: tiny alleyways barely visible on the map, hidden garden courtyards, shop windows, floating houseboats, hidden hofjes(courtyards with almshouses), sudden vistas of church spires, and gabled roofs that look like so many unframed paintings. And don’t forget that the joy lies in details: elaborate gables and witty gable stones denoting the trade of a previous owner. Keep in mind that those XXX symbols you see all over town are not a mark of the city's triple-X reputation. They're part of Amsterdam's official coat of arms—three St. Andrew's crosses, believed to represent the three dangers that have traditionally plagued the city: flood, fire, and pestilence. The coat's motto ("Valiant, determined, compassionate") was introduced in 1947 by Queen Wilhelmina in remembrance of the 1941 February Strike in Amsterdam—the first time in Europe that non-Jewish people protested against the persecution of Jews by the Nazi regime.

After breakfast, it’s time to bid farewell to your fellow guests as you disembark your Emerald Star-Ship for your transfer to the airport, taking memories of wooden windmills and blossoming flowers with you.

This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons such as high and low water. As such, the cruise may operate altered from that stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information.