Hidden Treasures of Holland

We travel to Rotterdam and board our ship for dinner and a relaxing evening. Enjoy the river views as we set sail and cruise to Utrecht where we arrive later in the evening for an overnight stay. 

This morning we leave Utrecht and cruise to the harbour town of Enkhuizen, where we arrive just after lunch. Enkhuizen overlooks the IJsselmeer Lake and is rich in history, the pretty old city is lined with historic buildings and its vibrant harbour is surrounded by shops, cafés and restaurants. Explore at leisure or join us on our optional walking tour to the Zuiderzee Museum, which consists of two sections - open-air Buitenmuseum, with more than 130 rebuilt and relocated dwellings and workshops, and indoor Binnenmuseum, devoted to farming, fishing and shipping. We return to the ship later this afternoon where you are free to relax on board as we berth overnight in Enkhuizen.

We set sail this morning and cruise towards Alkmaar, where we arrive in the afternoon. Alkmaar is known for its traditional cheese market and is surrounded by a web of canals and old buildings, including the Public Weigh House, the 17th century town hall and the St. Laurenskerk Church. You have time at leisure to explore today – don’t miss the city’s must-see museums dedicated to cheese, beer and the city’s rich history and art. It is also home to the largest Beatles Museum and is where John Lennon's first guitar was made. This evening enjoy a relaxing dinner on board as we berth overnight in Alkmaar. 

After breakfast we set sail and cruise to Zaandam. Be sure to take in the scenery on the sun deck as we sail along the picturesque Dutch waterways, arriving in Zaandam early this afternoon. Explore at leisure or join our optional guided tour where we will discover the neighbourhood of Zansche Schanns with its iconic green wooden houses and windmills. We’ll also visit a warehouse specialising in traditional clog making. We return to the ship later this afternoon and stay overnight in Zaandam.

Our final port of call is Rotterdam, where we arrive early this afternoon. Known as ‘Manhattan on the Meuse’ because of its impressive skyline and cutting-edge architecture, Rotterdam is the second largest city in Holland. Join our optional panoramic city tour by coach, where you will see highlights including the Market Hall, Central Station, the Euromast and finally the famous Cube Houses. We end our tour at the SS Rotterdam hotel ship for afternoon tea in a private lounge. Alternatively, why not explore the city on foot where you can visit the iconic Erasmus Bridge or head to the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen to admire the work of some of the world’s finest painters. Enjoy a relaxing final evening on board as we berth overnight in Rotterdam.

After breakfast we bid farewell to our captain and crew and set off on the return journey.