Windmills, Vineyards & Paris (Paris to Amsterdam)

Day 1 (Tue) Paris. Travel to Paris where you will be met and transferred to the Le Meridien Montparnasse or the Hilton Arc de Triomphe hotel for two nights.

Day 2 (Wed) Paris. During your included sightseeing tour of Paris, see magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral, the unique Louvre Museum with its glass pyramid as a contrast to the Renaissance style architecture, the commemorative Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Madeleine, Champs Elysées and the Eiffel Tower, a structural miracle of its age. The city is well known for its colourful nightlife including some of the world’s most famous cabarets. (B)

Day 3 (Thu) Paris - Remich. This morning, board the high-speed TGV train for a swift, comfortable journey to Metz. From here, drive to Remich in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, where your cruise ship is docked. (B,D)

Day 4 (Fri) Trier. This venerable Episcopal city on the Moselle River is the oldest in Germany and some claim, even older than Rome. The famous Porta Nigra is the only surviving fortified gate from the original Roman settlement and it still gives access to the town centre. See the highlights on your included tour. The Moselle is some 312 miles long, rising in the Vosges Mountains of north-eastern France and entering Germany at Trier. The entire Moselle Valley is famous for its beautiful and tranquil scenery. (B,L,D)

Day 5 (Sat) Bernkastel. In the middle of the Moselle region is the charming wine village of Bernkastel with its well-preserved, half-timbered houses surrounding the beautiful market place. Wine growers in this area look after Germany’s largest expanse of vineyards, the most celebrated of the vintages being the Bernkasteler Doktor. Before dinner, visit a local wine cellar and taste several of this region’s varieties. (B,L,D)

Day 6 (Sun) Beilstein - Cochem. Beilstein is dominated by the castle of the Dukes of Metternich, famous for their political influence in Europe after the Napoleonic Wars. Enjoy a few hours of free time in this charming town before continuing to Cochem. Visit Reichsburg Castle, which sits atop a vine-covered hill. From here the views of the little town nestled below and of the river valley are splendid. Cruising the wide, peaceful curves of the river, it is obvious that the Moselle is an important wine-growing region. Most notably, the Riesling grape is cultivated, producing a dry to sweet, floral white wine. (B,L,D)

Day 7 (Mon) Rhine Gorge - Rüdesheim. The dramatic Rhine Gorge is the most beautiful stretch of the river. Pass the legendary Lorelei Rock, where it was thought sweet songs of local beauties lured enchanted sailors to their doom. Rüdesheim is the perfect example of a Rhine Valley wine town – enjoy a visit to Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum and free time to explore the Drosselgasse. (B,L,D)

Day 8 (Tue) Cologne. Cologne is the capital of the Rhineland and one of Germany’s largest cities. The soaring twin steeples of the magnificent gothic cathedral dominate the skyline. The Germano-Roman Museum, next to the cathedral, is a must for history buffs. Alternatively, the Old Town abounds with taverns, cafés and shops. Try a Kölsch, the favourite local beer and shop for a bottle of 4711, the original ‘eau de cologne’. (B,L,D)

Day 9 (Wed) Arnhem - Dordrecht. Excursion to Kinderdijk. One of the major tragedies of World War II was the Battle of Arnhem, featured vividly in the Airborne Museum Hartenstein and the inspiration for the film ‘A Bridge Too Far’. This afternoon we cruise to charming Dordrecht, situated between two branches of the Rhine and the inspiration for many painters in the 17th and 18th centuries. From here, enjoy an excursion to nearby Kinderdijk with its picturesque row of windmills. (B,L,D)

Day 10 (Thu) Ghent. Ghent, the ‘diamond’ of Flanders, has a beautifully preserved and restored medieval centre. A Local Guide will show you the city centre, a showcase of medieval Flemish wealth and commercial success, and take you into St Baaf’s Cathedral. From here, an optional excursion to Bruges, with its criss-crossed canals and charming old patrician houses, is available. (B,L,D)

Day 11 (Fri) Middelburg – Veere - Delta Works. Middelburg was originally built as a stronghold to protect the population of Zeeland from the water and enemies. Later, it became a prosperous merchant city that spent great wealth on the construction of important buildings such as the town hall. The eye-catching high tower of the town hall dominates the charming town of Veere, which was once an important wool-trading centre. Continue to one of the most complex engineering projects, the Delta Works, located nearby. After the flood of 1953, during which more than 1,800 people drowned in one night, the Delta Plan was born to prevent another disaster of this magnitude. The final defence in the battle against the water is the storm flood barrier, almost six miles long and considered a technical miracle. (B,L,D)

Day 12 (Sat) Amsterdam. Holland’s capital is sophisticated and modern, with a rich and fascinating history. The works of famous Dutch masters can be seen in world-renowned museums such as the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh Museum. There is no better way to see the city than by canal boat, cruising through the elegant grachten lined with stately homes dating back to Amsterdam’s ‘Golden Age’. There is plenty of free time for you to explore on your own. Your Cruise Director will have suggestions of how to make the most of your stay. (B,L,D)

Day 13 (Sun) Amsterdam. Disembark and transfer to the airport or station for your journey to the UK. (B)