Witness a young, vibrant Europe alongside the treasures of its luxurious past

Sail through three countries, visiting some of the most exciting cities in Western Europe. Delight in the sights and sounds of this dynamic region. Sail the Rhine and its Dutch and Belgian tributaries, providing a link to the region’s rich historical past as well as a vantage point from which to witness its present-day vitality.

Experience cosmopolitan Brussels, the “Capital of Europe”; sparkling Antwerp, worldwide center of the diamond trade; hip, sophisticated Maastricht, the gastronomical capital of the Netherlands; Venlo, 2012home to the Floriade, a decennial expo of all things botanical; and Cologne, home to Cologne Cathedral,the tallest Gothic structure in Europe. En route, sail past a dreamy countryside rich with UNESCO World Heritage Sites, imposing castles, and quaint villages.

You will discover the best of the old and the new Europe. Visit museums that house the treasures of the Great Masters and galleries where the cutting edge of contemporary art alternately draws its inspiration from or leaps beyond art historical tradition.

DAY 1: Brussels

Arrive at Brussels Airport where you’ll be transferred to the ship. (D)

DAY 2: Brussels

Featured Excursions: Brussels city tour and exclusive chocolate demonstration and tasting at Planet Chocolate factory

Your panoramic tour of Brussels presents this European village in all its splendor. From the Atomium Monument, symbol of a modern Belgium, you’ll travel up grand boulevards, where elegant palaces rub shoulders with the gleaming modern structures that house the institutions of the European Union, and down narrow lanes, where citizens have lived and worked for hundreds of years. Arrive at the Grand-Place—the magnificent city center—where the Gothic spires that rise from City Hall testify to the importance of this mercantile city in Medieval times. Then discover the delights of Belgian chocolate at an artisanal chocolate factory where the maitre chocolatier will share his secrets and offer a tasting of this country’s most delicious export. (BB, L, Captain’s Welcome Gala)

DAY 3: Antwerp

Featured Excursions: Antwerp walking tour and exclusive Belgian brewery with beer tasting

A guided morning stroll through the compact city center reveals Antwerp’s Medieval splendor. See City Hall and the guild houses surrounding Grote Market, and visit Our Lady’s Cathedral—the highest cathedral in the Low Countries and home to four paintings by Rubens, one of the city’s most famous residents. Along with chocolate, the most beloved Belgian comestible export has to be beer, and this country takes its beer very seriously. Enjoy an exclusive visit to a family-owned brewery for a tasting and learn how Belgium’s brewing history traces its roots to the 17th-century Trappist monks who produced beer to feed their community. Spend the afternoon at leisure exploring Antwerp’s fine shopping and exquisite museum collections. The city was home to an astounding concentration of artistic genius in the 16th and 17th centuries—with the Brueghels, van Dyck, and Rubens just the tip of the iceberg—and today it is the center of the worldwide diamond trade. (BB, L, D)

DAY 4: Maastricht

Featured Excursion: Maastricht walking tour

This morning’s guided stroll of the city center introduces you the culture and history of this Dutch provincial capital which straddles the river Meuse (Maas). Known as the gastronomic capital of the Netherlands, Maastricht has also played a strategic role in European politics—most recently hosting the 1992 signing of the treaty that gave the EU the Euro. The city has a beautiful historic center and enjoys the cultural influences of an international population of students intermixed with antique dealers, outstanding restaurants, world-class art, fabulous shopping, and a green market every day but Sunday. (BB, L, D)

DAY 5: Venlo (Floriade or Venlo)

Featured Excursion: Choice of Floriade 2012 OR Venlo walking tour

Take an excursion to Floriade for a full day of music, art, and cultural events celebrating the botanical world. This International Horticultural Expo is held just once every 10 years in the Netherlands, and this year it covers over 160 acres of Venlo, with exhibits exploring green energy, healing, and botanical innovation. You will delight in the world-class expo of pioneering architecture, as well as the extensive array of local and international cuisines and lively performances. Venlo is the perfect setting for a multi-sensory celebration of the natural world, as it was named Europe’s “Greenest City” just a few years ago. Alternatively, you may choose to explore the city of Venlo on a guided walking tour. Discover the city’s history, which dates to Roman times, and take a scenic stroll or bike ride along the Meuse River. Enjoy lunch on your own at one of the many cafés at Floriade or relax with a picnic on the river bank. (BB, D)

Note: On the April 1 departure, the order of sights will vary to accommodate the April 5 start date of Floriade.

DAY 6: Cruising the romantic Rhine River, Cologne

Featured Excursions: Choice of Cologne walking tour with cathedral OR Roman-Germanic Museum and exclusive Kölsch beer tasting

This morning, relax as you sail down the Rhine to Cologne, enjoying the exquisite scenery from your ship’s panoramic deck. Then discover one of Germany’s oldest cities, which was founded in 38 BC and named after its earliest Roman settlement, Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium. On your guided tour of Cologne’s Old Town, you’ll see Romanesque churches, the Renaissance City Hall, Medieval houses, and UNESCO-designated Cologne Cathedral—one of the tallest Gothic buildings in the world. Or choose to take a guided tour of the fascinating Roman-Germanic Museum including the beautiful Dionysus mosaic. Afterward, mingle with the locals at a tavern when you join in an exclusive tasting of Kölsch, the popular local brew served in test tube-like glasses. The rest of the evening is yours to spend as you please, whether you go back to re-examine the city’s architecture, explore a museum, or engage in world-class shopping on downtown’s pedestrian mall. (BB, L, D)

DAY 7: Königswinter, cruising the romantic Rhine River, Cologne

Featured Excursion: Exclusive Castle Drachenfels by cogwheel rail

Awaken in the quaint village of Königswinter, which lies at the foot of the Siebengebirge. We are entering the romantic Rhine, where many more than Siebengebirge (seven mountains) provide the dramatic backdrop to this storybook part of Germany. It is here that Siegfried slew the dragon and the sinister Hagen sank the treasure in the Rhine—a legend immortalized in Wagner’s Der Ring der Nibelungen. Your ride on the nostalgic cogwheel rail to the dragon’s former lair, Drachenfels (Dragon Rock), takes you to an exclusive visit to Castle Drachenfels and a stunning panoramic view of the Rhine Valley. Then relax onboard your ship as you sail back to Cologne. (BB, L, Captain’s Farewell Dinner)

DAY 8: Depart Cologne

Disembark the ship in Cologne and transfer to the Düsseldorf airport for your flight home. (CB/BB)

River Ambassador