Tulips & Windmills

Paris to Arles - 16 days

CRUISE HIGHLISTS INCLUDE:

• 14-night cruise in a riverview stateroom on the elegant River Baroness and the breathtaking
• All meals onboard
• Complimentary fine wine during dinner, bottled water in your stateroom, and 24-hour specialty coffee
• 12 shore excursions fully hosted by English-speaking guides
• State-of-the-art Quietvox portable audio headset system on all shore excursions
• Complimentary use of bicycles
• Exciting onboard entertainment and insightful lectures
• Exclusive Epicurean Adventurer Program
• 2 Captain’s Welcome & 2 Farewell Dinners
• An experienced Cruise Manager and attentive, all English-speaking staff
• All transfers on arrival and departure days

ITINERARY

• DAY 1: Depart home gateway city to Paris Departing Flight
• DAY 2: Paris
  Arrive at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport where you’ll be transferred to the ship.
• DAY 3: Les Andelys
  Featured Excursion: Walk to Château Gaillard
  Les Andelys was of considerable strategic importance during the Middle Ages, prompting King Richard the Lionheart to build a fortified castle to protect the Duchy of Normandy from the French King Philip II in the 12th century. Walk to the English king’s stronghold and admire the remains of the impressive Château Gaillard.
• DAY 4: Rouen
  Featured Excursion: Walking tour of Rouen
  Our visit to Rouen will take you to the stunning gothic cathedral of Rouen, the haunting medieval quarter with its half-timbered, glazed tile houses; and the Gros Horloge, a Renaissance clock tower that arches overhead. The walk ends at Vieux Marche, where Joan of Arc was punished for her defiance.
• DAY 5: Rouen (Normandy Beaches)
  Featured Excursion: Full-day Normandy beach tour
  Spend the day where one of the most famous events in recent world history took place—the beaches of Normandy, site of the D-Day Invasion by the Allied forces during WW II. Visit the American Cemetery at Colleville sur Mer, the Allied landing sites at Omaha Beach, Mulberry Harbor at Arromanches, and the battlefield of Pointe du Hoc, which are all haunting reminders of the Allies’ hard fight for freedom.
• DAY 6: Caudebec (Honfleur)
  Featured Excursion: Visit to Honfleur
  After crossing the majestic Normandy Bridge spanning the river delta, travel overland to Honfleur, a charming French harbor town recreated in numerous paintings by such artists as Gustave Courbet and Claude Monet. You’ll be taken on a guided walking tour from the former smuggler’s harbor of Vieux Bassin—the most frequently painted scene in Honfleur, where the fishing village backdrop is seemingly unchanged from over 500 years ago—through the pedestrian streets to St. Catherine’s Church.
• DAY 7: Vernon (Giverny)
  Featured Excursion: Monet’s Giverny
  Visit Monet’s home in his beloved village of Giverny, where he lived for 43 years, until his death in 1926. You’ll explore Monet’s house, furnished as it was when the leader of the Impressionist school lived here, including his precious collection of Japanese engravings. Strolling the gardens, you’ll see the familiar Japanese bridge and water garden shaded by the weeping willows that so inspired this master’s work. Watch the light play on the pond which is covered with the water lilies reproduced in Monet’s numerous enchanting versions of The Nympheas (The Water Lilies).
• DAY 8: Paris
  Featured Excursion: Paris city tour
  We begin our city tour with a drive up the grand boulevard Champs Elysées and past the Arc de Triomphe. We’ll stop for a photo opportunity at the Eiffel Tower before continuing to Place Vendôme, Hôtel de Ville, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Latin Quarter. Then it’s on to Les Invalides, the Louvre courtyard and the Luxembourg Gardens, where we will see a slice of daily Parisian life—gentleman playing boules and children sailing boats on the glassy pond—as well as view Bartholdi’s model for the Statue of Liberty.
• DAY 9: Paris (disembark), transfer to Chalon-sur-Saône (embark)
• DAY 10: Chalon-sur-Saône (Beaune)
  Featured Excursion: Beaune and Hospices de Beaune, open-air food market visit
  Centered in the heart of Burgundy, Chalon is an important center for France’s wine trade. From here, we will journey to nearby Beaune to visit the famous Hospices de Beaune, a charitable hospital founded by the Chancellor of Beaune in 1443. Marvel at the multicolored roofs of this architectural jewel that has become one of the symbols of Burgundy. The Hospice monks were given some vineyards in the 15th century so they could make wine to auction in order to help support charities, and today this tradition still continues.
• DAY 11: Lyon
  Featured Excursion: Lyon city tour
  Our tour in this lively and creative capital of gastronomy starts with a drive to the Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière, Lyon’s hallmark church, for a dramatic view of the town built at the confluence of the Rhône and the Saône rivers. From the bus, we’ll view Terreaux Square, the Musée des Beaux-Arts, and the Opera House. During the afternoon, you’ll have time to explore on your own.
• DAY 12: Tournon/Tain l’Hermitage, Lyon
  Featured Excursion: Wine tasting and Tournon walking tour
  Nestled among the famous vineyards, the twin cities of Tournon/Tain l’Hermitage provide the perfect setting for those who are true connoisseurs of chocolate and wine. Celebrate the region by indulging in some Côte du Rhône wines. Cross the Marc Seguin suspension bridge and visit Tournon and its historic castle. Discover the secrets of world-famous Valrhona chocolate during an informative onboard lecture and tasting arranged by the Valrhona School of Chocolate.
• DAY 13: Viviers, Avignon
  Featured Excursion: Viviers walking tour
  Charming Viviers, developed around its Romanesque cathedral, has retained much of its historic charm. Our tour in Viviers starts in Old Town with an introduction to the city. We’ll take the Rue Chèvrerie to Porte Riquot, then climb Rue du Château to reach the St. Vincent Cathedral and enjoy spectacular views. Finally, we’ll walk through the medieval streets of this delightful town on our way back to the ship.
• DAY 14: Avignon
  Featured Excursion: Avignon walking tour, Palace of the Popes
  Your walking tour of Avignon, the “City of the Popes,” starts at the fortification walls, then continues to Clocktower Square, with its many cafes, shops, and namesake clock tower dating back to the 1300s and now part of the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall). Next, it’s
• DAY 15: Arles
  Featured Excursion: Arles walking tour
  The name of Arles is closely connected with that of Vincent Van Gogh. Inspired by the unique Provençal light, he spent a period of intense and impassioned work under the bright sunny sky of Provence. During your walking tour, discover Van Gogh’s Arles as well as a fascinating wealth of Romanesque monuments, such as the Roman Amphitheater and Constantine’s Roman baths.
• DAY 16: Arles (disembark), transfer to Marseille Airport Return Flight

Amsterdam to Antwerp - 11 days

CRUISE HIGHLISTS INCLUDE:

• 9-night cruise in a riverview stateroom on the luxurious River Duchess, the regal River Queen, or the beautiful
• All meals onboard
• Complimentary fine wine during dinner, bottled water in your stateroom, and 24-hour specialty coffee
• 8 shore excursions fully hosted by English-speaking guides
• State-of-the-art Quietvox portable audio headset system on all shore excursions
• Complimentary use of bicycles
• Exciting onboard entertainment and insightful lectures
• Captain’s Welcome & Farewell Dinners
• An experienced Cruise Manager and attentive, all English-speaking staff
• All transfers on arrival and departure days

ITINERARY

• DAY 1: Depart Home Gateway City to Amsterdam
• DAY 2: Amsterdam
  Arrive at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport where you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to your ship. (D)
• DAY 3: Amsterdam
  Featured Excursion: City Tour including Rijksmuseum visit
  Spend your first full day in Holland’s largest city, Amsterdam. Your scenic tour will take you through canal-lined streets as you enjoy the sights of Mint Tower, Dam Square, the Royal Palace and Museum Square. Visit the renowned Rijksmuseum, with priceless works of art by Vermeer, Rembrandt and other Dutch Masters of the Golden Age. In the afternoon, enjoy leisure time to explore this fascinating city on your own. (BB, L, Captain’s Welcome Dinner)
• DAY 4: Amsterdam and Hoorn
  Featured Excursion: Keukenhof Gardens and Hoorn walking tour
  During the morning, enjoy a visit to the Keukenhof Gardens, a 70-acre showcase of seven million flowers, before your floating hotel cruises to the rich seafaring town of Hoorn, once the leading port on the Zuider Zee. As you walk along the attractive 17th-century streets lined with gabled houses, listen to your guide provide insight on history and famous natives like Abel Tasman. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 5: Hoorn and Enkhuizen
  Featured Excursion: Enkhuizen Walking Tour
  Cruise to Enkhuizen, a lively trading center since the 17th century. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 6: Nijmegen
  Featured Excursion: Kröller-Müller Museum
  Spend the morning cruising before reaching Nijmegen. From here, you'll head to the famed Kröller-Müller Museum, home to 278 of Van Gogh's paintings, as well as pieces by Monet, Gauguin and Picasso. You'll also see the museum's beautiful sculpture garden, which is the largest in Europe and features works by Rodin. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 7: Rotterdam (Kinderdijk) and Dordrecht
  Featured Excursion: Kinderdijk Windmills
  Irresistible Optional Tour: Visit famous Delft, home to Dutch Master Vermeer and to Delft Blue Pottery
  Sail to Rotterdam, and cruise through its harbor, since 2004 the world’s third largest after Shanghai and Singapore. Then head to Kinderdijk, where you will discover 19 astonishingly well-preserved windmills dating back to the 1500s and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Later in the afternoon sail to quaint Dordrecht, one of Holland’s oldest cities, and enjoy leisure time to explore this charming town. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 8: Veere
  Featured Excursion: Delta Works and leisure time in Veere.
  In the morning, stroll through charming Veere before visiting the engineering marvel known as the Delta Works. You’ll sail to Antwerp in the evening. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 9: Antwerp
  Featured Excursion: Walking tour of Antwerp with cathedral visit
  Irresistible Optional Tour: Experience bustling Brussels
  Spend a full day in the exciting diamond capital of the world, Antwerp. You will be guided to the Cathedral of Our Lady that houses four masterpieces by Peter Paul Rubens, who was born in Antwerp; visit Market Square, where you’ll see the Brabo Fountain; and discover charming hidden sidestreets. In the afternoon, you may choose to take a shuttle to Diamondland, Antwerp’s largest diamond manufacturer and shop. (BB, L, Captain’s Farewell Dinner)
• DAY 10: Antwerp and Bruges
  Featured Excursion: Full-day Bruges with canal cruise
  Your second day docked in Antwerp takes you to Bruges, one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the town as its original visitors did – aboard a canal boat – and discover why Bruges is often called the “Venice of the North.” (BB, D)
• DAY 11: Depart Antwerp
  Disembark the ship in Antwerp and transfer to the airport in Brussels for your flight home.

2009 Cruises

*On these dates cruise operates from Antwerp to Amsterdam.

Prices: Prices are per person, based on two people sharing a stateroom or hotel room. Cruise/tour prices are based on costs, charges, tariffs, rates, taxes, levies, and exchange rates as of June 15, 2008. Should the total cruise/tour price increase by more than 10%, passengers will have the right to cancel their cruise within 7 days of notification of the surcharge without penalty. No surcharges in respect of cost or currency fluctuations will be made once payment for the deposit of your cruise/tour is received. This does not apply to fuel surcharges and any taxes, charges, or levies imposed by any government or their agencies. Air-inclusive pricing is provided from NYC, CHI, and LAX only. Other gateway cities are available at additional costs. Please ask your Reservations Consultant at the time of booking for details. A limited number of singles are available for an additional supplement. Reservations and Payments: A deposit of at least $200 per person is required at the time of reservation. Final payment is due at least 90 days prior to departure. Reservations will be cancelled if final payment is not received in a timely manner.