| | | | | Arrive | Depart |
| 8th08 | AugAug | 202222 | Amsterdam, Netherlands, embark on the Scenic Opal | | |
| 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. Fly to Amsterdam from one of up to 16 UK airports. You'll then be transferred to your Scenic Space-ship. This evening, raise your glass to a fabulous cruise at this evening's welcome reception. |
| 9th09 | AugAug | 202222 | Veere, Netherlands | | |
| Freechoice: Choose a guided tour through the quaint streets of Veere, or cycle through the town with a local guide and admire the surrounding dykes. Alternatively, marvel at the modern wonder that is Holland's Delta Works, including a visit through the Storm Surge Barrier. |
| 10th10 | AugAug | 202222 | Antwerp, Belgium | | |
| 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. Freechoice: Be seduced by beautiful World Heritage-listed Bruges, or learn about the famous Flemish painter, Peter Paul Rubens in Antwerp. Alternatively, take a guided walking tour of Antwerp, followed by leisure time, or take the opportunity to visit the towns of Ypres & Passchendaele to learn about the World War I battle of Passchendaele. Visit the memorials dedicated to the Allied troops who perished during this terrible battle. |
| 11th11 | AugAug | 202222 | Nijmegen, Netherlands | | |
| Freechoice: Explore the Arnhem Airborne Museum and learn about the Battle of Arnhem. Alternatively, visit the Netherlands Open Air Museum and discover historic houses, farms and windmills, or, if you are feeling energetic, take an active bicycle tour through the city. |
| 12th12 | AugAug | 202222 | Maastricht, Netherlands | | |
| Freechoice: Enjoy a guided tour of Maastricht, or visit Aachen and learn the tale of the city that borders three countries. Alternatively, visit the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial. Dedicated to the American soldiers who perished in this region during World War II. You will also get to visit the Eben Emael Fortress, which was bulilt to protect the city from the German invasion during the second world war. |
| 13th13 | AugAug | 202222 | Düsseldorf, Germany | | |
| Freechoice: Discover the charming town of Düsseldorf on a guided walking tour, or join a guided cycling tour along the river, passing by Düsseldorf's bustling modern harbour precinct. Alternatively, learn about the city's long beer producing traditions as you visit some local Microbreweries, you will also get to taste the local Altbier, a dark beer traditional to this region, or visit the Zollverein industrial site, once the largest and most productive coal mine in Europe. |
| 14th14 | AugAug | 202222 | Cruising | | |
| 15th15 | AugAug | 202222 | Cochem, Germany | | |
| A medieval gem resting on the banks of the Moselle River, Cochem will make you feel as if you are stepping directly off the ship and into a fairytale. Freechoice: Explore Cochem during a guided tour and visit the iconic Reichsburg Castle, or if you are feeling more active, join a guided bicycle tour and explore this beautiful region on two wheels. |
| 16th16 | AugAug | 202222 | Bernkastel-Kues, Germany | | |
| Freechoice: Journey to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg for a guided tour. Alternatively, take a guided walk through Trier, a city with an important Roman past, or take in beautiful Bernkastel, with its perfectly preserved half timbered houses located on the picturesque Moselle River. |
| 17th17 | AugAug | 202222 | Koblenz, Germany | | |
| Located in the West of the country, Koblenz is one of the oldest cities in Germany. It is situated on both banks of the river Rhine, at its confluence with the Moselle River. The beginnings of Koblenz can be traced back to its military beginnings around 8 BC. The city is rich in its history and heritage and is easily explored on foot. Take the cable car crossing over the river Rhine for spectacular aerial views or enjoy the city from the one thousand year old fortress, Ehrenbreitstein. The upper middle Rhine Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its unique landscape can be enjoyed and discovered through the interactive multimedia journey at the Romanticum. Historical and architectural sites of interest include Stolzenfels Castle, the Electoral Palace of Koblenz and Old Town. From the romantic winding streets and small squares of Old Town, stroll through the alleyways from the Church of the Holy Virgin to the St Kastor Basilica and enjoy the picturesque buildings and squares along the way. Koblenz is also very popular for its Riesling and strong Spatburgunder wines since the Romans introduced it two thousand years ago. Freechoice: On arrival to Koblenz take advantage of a guided tour of this historic city, or visit a local winery for a guided tour and tasting of its fine wines. Alternatively, take a cycling tour around this fascinating city, that lies at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers, or visit Marksburg Castle for a tour. Perched high above the river, this is the only castle on the Middle Rhine that has avoided destruction. |
| 18th18 | AugAug | 202222 | Rüdesheim, Germany | | |
| Freechoice: Board the Winzerexpress mini train for a guided visit of Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. Afterwards, enjoy a cable car ride to the Niederwald Monument. Alternatively, join an excursion to Mainz and see the impressive sandstone cathedral, the tremendous Old Town and visit the Gutenberg Museum. |
| 19th19 | AugAug | 202222 | Mannheim, Germany | | |
| Freechoice: Experience the thrill of the Hockenheim Formula 1 race track with a museum visit and an insiders tour of the circuit. Alternatively, join a historic tour of Heidelberg and visit its Renaissance castle. The castle ruins are among the most important Renaissance structures north of the Alps, or join an orientation tour of Heidelberg, followed by some leisure time. Enrich Enjoy a private concert at the Baroque Palace of Rastatt, one of the most magnificent historic venues in the region. It'll be an evening of grandeur unlike any other, and a rare chance to collect memories that you will cherish for a lifetime. |
| 20th20 | AugAug | 202222 | Strasbourg, France | | |
| Freechoice: Visit Strasbourg, the capital city of the Alsace region in northeastern France, where you'll discover the unique historic quarter and its impressive cathedral, or choose to see the picturesque city from a different perspective on a canal cruise. Admire the stunning district known as Le Petite France and take in the sites such as the European Parliament and the imperial quarter. Alternatively, journey to Mittelbergheim in the Alsace and sample some the best wines the region has to offer. |
| 21st21 | AugAug | 202222 | Breisach, Germany | | |
| Breisach is a town located in Southwest Germany on the French border. The town is situated in the Rhine Valley on the banks of the river Rhine and dates back over four thousand years. Breisach and its history can be experienced through the City History Museum, which houses a permanent exhibition taking you from Stone Age through the Celtic, to the Romans and Middle Ages, right up to modern day. St Stephen's Cathedral is home to the city’s famous art treasures, the wheel wells, which are housed in the neighbouring Radbrunnenturm with the forty one metre deep water well. The cathedral is also home to many other treasures including the High Altar of Master HL and wall paintings by Martin Schongauer as well as High Gothic and Roman architecture. A visit to the Blue House, the former Jewish Community Centre, is highly recommended. Now owned by the Friends of Former Jewish Community House Breisach it exhibits memorials to Breisach’s Jewish heritage. Freechoice: Journey into the picturesque Black Forest region for a guided tour and tasting of the iconic Black Forest cake. Alternatively, enjoy a wine tasting in the Kaiserstuhl region, or take a guided bike ride from Breisach to Freiburg, stopping along the way for a tasting of delicious Black Forest cake. |
| 22nd22 | AugAug | 202222 | Basel, Switzerland, disembark the Scenic Opal | | |
| Basel is a city in northwestern Switzerland on the Swiss, French and German borders. It is located on the bend of the River Rhine and benefits from a Mediterranean climate. It is the third most populated city in Switzerland and has been the commercial hub for Swiss arts and culture since the Renaissance. In 1967 the people of Basel voted to acquire two paintings by Picasso, who was so moved by the Basel people that he donated 3 paintings and a study to the city's Kunstmuseum (Museum of Fine Arts). Visit the Augusta Raurica, one of the largest Roman archaeology parks in Switzerland, and enjoy a river crossings over the River Rhine by non-motorised ferries. During the summer months, time is spent outdoors, either swimming in the River Rhine, dining al fresco, enjoying open air concerts, cinema, street parties and festivals. Basel is home to over 20 restaurants that have won GaultMillau or Michelin awards, and boasts Switzerland's largest collection of theatre shows, including modern contemporary dance, touring and puppetry theatre. After breakfast, transfer to the airport or train station for your return journey home. Travel to one of up to 16 UK airports. 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. |
