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River Ambassador

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Go Dutch
The Netherlands. Home to Van Gogh, Rembrandt, the Dutch East India Company with its rich trading and maritime history, seafaring villages and towns, tulips, windmills, bicycles, and one of Europe's most vibrant cities, Amsterdam.

The perfect blend of old world charm and cosmopolitan flair
Amsterdam, a patchwork quilt of tree-shaded canals lined with townhouses and crowned with fancy gables, blends the best of the past with the present. While here, you'll see the legacy "The Golden Age" left as you visit the renowned Rijksmuseum, with the largest collection of Dutch and Flemish art and artifacts in the world including Rembrandt's 1642 masterpiece, The Night Watch.

From Amsterdam, you will step further back into the past to discover how this region is forever tied to the sea. Visit Volendam, a small fishing village where it's not unusual to see locals wearing traditional Dutch clogs and bonnets from an earlier time. You'll explore Enkhuizen, a rich seafaring city which provides its own glimpse into the past with the famous Zuider Zee Open Air Museum showcasing Dutch life of days gone by. Cruise through the canal village of Giethoorn in an open canal boat, and visit one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, Nijmegen. Of course, no visit to this region would be complete without experiencing two of the iconic emblems of the Netherlands, the windmills of Kinderdijk, 19 well-preserved windmills, and the beautiful Keukenhof Gardens, only open nine weeks out of the year, showcasing more than seven million flowers, with one million tulips alone, that will leave your senses mesmerized.

Throughout the cruise, you'll have plenty of opportunity to go shopping for traditional Dutch handicrafts, or perhaps when you are in Amsterdam, you'll want to shop along the "The Nine Streets," picturesque streets straddling the canals from the Singel to the Prinsengracht, with designer boutiques, art galleries, gift and fashion shops, chocolatiers, as well as canal cafŽs galore. This perfectly paced trip is only available during the spring when the low-lying country of the Netherlands begins to bloom again, so plan your trip early.

Who will enjoy this cruise: Art lovers, gardeners and history buffs will enjoy the best the Netherlands has to offer. Plus, those with a real curiosity to see what life was like in centuries past in this colorful part of Europe.

DAY 1: Depart Home Gateway City to Amsterdam

DAY 2: Amsterdam (embark)
Arrive at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport where you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the ship. (D)

DAY 3: Amsterdam
Featured Excursion: City tour including Rijksmuseum visit. Irresistible Optional Tour: See Amsterdam at its romantic best on an evening canal cruise, complete with fresh local cheeses and lovely wines. Spend your first full day in Holland’s largest city, Amsterdam. Your city tour will take you through the canal-lined streets where you’ll view the Mint Tower, Dam Square, the Royal Palace and Museum Square. Visit the renowned Rijksmuseum, which holds one of the most important collections of Dutch paintings in the world, including Rembrandt’s the Night Watch. (B, L, Captain’s Welcome Dinner)

DAY 4: Volendam, Enkhuizen
Featured Excursion: Visit to the Zuider Zee Open Air Museum in Enkhuizen. Depart Amsterdam in the early morning and cruise to Volendam. Enjoy some leisure time in this quintessentially Dutch village. We’ll then travel to Enkhuizen, a lively trading center since the 17th century. While here, visit the magnificent Zuider Zee Open Air Museum, a museum village portraying Dutch life along the Old Zuider Zee. (B, L, D)

DAY 5: Enkhuizen, Kampen (Giethorn), Zutphen
Featured Excursion: Cruise through the village of Giethoorn. Irresistible Optional Tour: Visit the baroque palace, Het Loo, a former summer home of the Dutch Royal family. Our next port of call is Kampen, where we will board our motorcoaches for the tiny village of Giethoorn. This lovely little town is crisscrossed by a network of canals and has hardly any streets. We will admire the thatched cottages of Giethoorn from an open canal boat. (B, L, D)

DAY 6: Nijmegen
Featured Excursion: Liberation Museum. One of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, Nijmegen dates back to Roman times. We’ll visit the Liberation Museum situated in nearby Groesbeek. During our visit, get a first-hand account of WWII by experiencing the occupation, celebrating the liberation and witnessing the rebuilding of the Netherlands and Europe after the war. (B, L, D)

DAY 7: Schoonhoven, Kinderdijk, Rotterdam
Featured Excursion: Kinderdijk windmills. Irresistible Optional Tour: Gouda and taste the delicious cheese, and local syrup and waffles. In the early morning, we sail to Schoonhoven. You'll have time to explore Schoonhoven at your own pace. During the afternoon, we’ll sail to Kinderdijk, where you’ll discover 19 well-preserved windmills, which were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997. In the evening, the ship will dock in Rotterdam. (B, L, D) Note: If docking in Kinderdijk is not possible, the excursion will be arranged by coach from Schoonhoven.

DAY 8: Rotterdam
Featured Excursion: Full-day Keukenhof Gardens. Visit the Keukenhof Gardens. Enjoy a full day in one of the most impressive public gardens in the world. Open only nine weeks out of the year, the Keukenhof is a visual feast for the eyes. With over seven million bulbs planted on over 70-acres, you will find plenty of inspiration for your own gardens. (B, Captain’s Farewell Dinner)

DAY 9: Amsterdam (disembark), transfer to airport
Disembark the ship and transfer to the airport in Amsterdam for your flight home, or extend your stay in charming Bruges.

BRUGES - Known as the "Venice of the North," Bruges is a Belgian treasure just waiting to be discovered. The historical city center was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000. Walk along the maze of winding cobblestone streets and romantic canals, and imagine yourself to be in medieval times.

Included in your 4-day grand city stay:

• 3 nights at the First Class Sofitel Bruges (or similar) with breakfast daily

• Airport-to-hotel and hotel-to-ship, or ship-to hotel and hotel-to-airport transfers

• Fully hosted by expert Uniworld representatives

• Bruges walking tour and canal cruise

Only $649 per person
(single supplement $299)