Explore historical Rotterdam and the intriguing attractions nearby, including the windmills at Kinderdijk, the namesake cheeses in Gouda and the extraordinary porcelain produced in Delft.
Please Note:
NOTE: The nearest international airport is Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, therefore, arrival flights must be into Amsterdam.
NOTE: This program includes up to 1½ hours of walking each day, plus additional walking at the guests’ discretion during free time. There are cobblestone surfaces to negotiate in parts of the city and steep steps at the windmills on Day 2. This tour is not available to wheelchair guests and those with mobility concerns should evaluate their stamina and ability before joining the program.
Day 1
After flying into Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, you will be met and transferred to the Mainport Hotel or similar in Rotterdam for a 2:00pm check in. If you arrive earlier than the check-in time, your room may not be ready. You can, however, store your luggage at the reception.
The remainder of the day will be at your leisure with meals on your own. If you wish to explore Rotterdam, many of its attractions are within walking distance. The hotel concierge will be happy to offer suggestions and directions to highlights such as Market Hall and the Cube Houses.
Being on the banks of the River Maas, the hotel offers sweeping views of the river and Rotterdam, a city known as “Manhattan on the Maas.”
Day 2
Following breakfast at the hotel, you will depart for Kinderdijk, a village situated in low-lying land known as a polder that a system of windmills drained beginning in the Middle Ages. UNESCO has deemed Kinderdijk a World Heritage site for its ingenious hydraulic works that include windmills, reservoirs and pumping stations. The drained land has been settled and used for agriculture for a thousand years, and the drainage continues today.
Upon arriving in Kinderdijk, you will take a relaxing walk past the windmills, while the guide describes their construction and the folktale associated with the village’s name. You will also meet a miller that will delve into further detail about the windmills from an insider’s point of view.
Upon returning to the hotel in Rotterdam, the remainder of the day will be at your leisure. If there are attractions of interest that you didn’t visit on Day 1, you will have plenty of time to see them.
Meals will be on your own today and you will spend another delightful evening at the Mainport Hotel.
Day 3
Following breakfast at the hotel, you will drive to Gouda, a city first and foremost known for its namesake cheese. As you walk through the narrow, cobbled streets of historical Gouda, which dates to the mid-13th century, you will pass the town hall, the cheese market and the weighing scales, which feature an intriguing exhibit on the history of Gouda cheese.
You will also pause for photos of the exterior of St. John’s Church. It was constructed in 1350 in a high-Gothic style and is the Netherlands’ oldest and tallest church, as its front façade towers more than 400 feet high. The church’s dozens of 16th-century stained-glass windows depict the history and faith of Holland. The windows illustrating The Last Supper and the Relief of Leiden are of particular note.
Continuing on, you will next visit the 17th-century Weigh House for a sampling of several distinctive Gouda cheeses, accompanied by a glass of red wine. A knowledgeable cheese expert will tell you the history of the world-famous Gouda cheese and explain how it is made.
After the tasting session, you will have a bit of free time to stroll about Gouda and perhaps shop before transferring back to the hotel for the evening.
Day 4
Following breakfast at the hotel and check out, you will drive through the outskirts of Rotterdam and on to The Hague, the third largest city in the Netherlands and the country’s seat of government. Along with being the home of King Willem-Alexander, it is also recognized as the judicial capital of the United Nations. During your narrated panoramic tour, you will pass the Houses of Parliament, the Peace Palace, which houses the International Court of Justice, as well as several royal palaces.
You will next drive to Delft for a fascinating guided walk through the narrow streets of this charming 17th-century city of canals, cobbled alleys and gabled houses. Although famous for its porcelain, Delft is also the birthplace of the revered painter Vermeer and is notoriously known as the city where William the Orange was assassinated in 1584.
As you will discover while touring the Royal Delft factory, its Delft Blue earthenware is still produced using the same handmade methods employed since the factory’s founding in 1653. You will have the opportunity to observe the artists as they demonstrate the meticulous hand-painting that makes each piece a unique work of art. Afterwards, you may shop for extraordinary porcelain at the factory store.
You will then drive to the port in Amsterdam and board the cruise ship.
Land Program Details Step by Step
•The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. This program is subject to flight confirmations, which are beyond our control. Programs details including timings and flights indicated below are approximate, given here for general reference purposes and subject to change. Direct flights are never guaranteed.
•Itineraries with up-to-date details will be issued when you are emailed your final cruise documents 21 days prior to sailing. You will receive a final itinerary from our ground operator with a Welcome Letter upon arrival or at the hotel. Please carefully review the Welcome Letter and final itinerary for amendments.
•The hotels used for this land program will be the hotel listed in this document unless you have been advised otherwise in advance of the land program start date.
•Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered no-shows and their hotel space released.
Extra Nights
•If you book extra nights through the cruise line, you will be met as per the flight details provided and transferred to your hotel. Check-in is 2:00pm (subject to change). Meals other than breakfast, as well as activities, are on your own.
•If you have an early-arriving flight, you may wish to book an extra night as your room will not be ready for occupation until approximately 2:00pm.
•If you book extra nights on your own, transfers are not included.
Day 1
Fly into Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport
Transfer to your hotel in Rotterdam
2:00pm check-in at the hotel
Meals on your own
Overnight at the Mainport Hotel or similar hotel
Meet and Greet and transfers
•Final cruise documents will be emailed 21 days prior to sailing. The local ground agent’s telephone number will be on page 1, if you can’t locate the meet-and-greet representative upon arrival. Be aware that the representative may be assisting others and may not be in sight when you first exit Customs and the luggage claim area.
•Look for someone holding a sign with the cruise line logo and possibly your name. If in doubt, ask the airport staff to direct you to the meeting area for transfers or to page our representative.
•Meet and Greet and transfers are arranged for guests arriving on Day 1 of a land program or for extra nights booked through the cruise line and are arranged based on the flight details received by guests at least 14 days before sailing. Transfers are not included for guests arriving independently before the program start date.
•If we have not received your flight details or your flights have changed, and the Destination Services Land Team has not been notified, then a transfer cannot be provided. Guests will then be responsible for getting to the land program hotel at their own expense. Please immediately contact our Reservations Department for any flight changes before departure.
Day 2
AM Breakfast at the hotel
9:00am Transfer to Kinderdijk
9:45am Walk through Kinderdijk
10:30am Transfer to a windmill
10:45am Visit the windmill
11:45am Enjoy coffee, tea and a pastry
12:15pm Depart for the hotel
1:00pm Arrive at the hotel
Remainder of the day at your leisure
Lunch and dinner on your own
Overnight at the Mainport Hotel or similar hotel
Day 3
AM Breakfast at the hotel
9:30am Drive to Gouda
10:15am Walking tour of Gouda
11:15am Cheese tasting in Gouda
12:00pm Free time in Gouda
12:30pm Walk back to the motor coach
12:45pm Drive back to the hotel
1:30pm Arrive at the hotel
Remainder of the day at your leisure
Lunch and dinner on your own
Overnight at the Mainport Hotel or similar hotel
Day 4
AM Breakfast at the hotel
8:15am Check out of the hotel
8:30am Drive to the Hague
8:30am Tour the Hague
9:45am Drive to Delft
10:15am Free time at the Royal Delft factory
11:15am Drive to the Delft City Center
11:30am Walk to the Delft Market Place
11:50am Photo stop at the Delft Market Place
12:10pm Walk back to the coach
12:30pm Transfer to the port in Amsterdam
1:30pm Arrive at the port to embark the cruise ship
Expected Weather
In Rotterdam, the summers are comfortable, and it is partly cloudy year-round. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 34°F to 72°F and is rarely below 21°F or above 82°F.
Weather conditions can change quickly, and guests should be prepared for the possibility of rain. Weather-appropriate clothing, an umbrella and flat, comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
Currency
The Euro. U.S. dollars are not accepted.
Electricity
220 volts. We recommend bringing a universal travel adaptor for electric devices.
Documents and Visa Requirements
A valid passport is required.
Accommodation
Mainport Hotel Rotterdam
Leuvehaven 77, 3011 EA Rotterdam, Netherlands
Phone: +31 10 217 5757
*We will only substitute the hotel in unforeseen situations. If the hotel is substituted, it will be similar and with equal ratings and standards and guests will be notified in advance. If guests are not notified of any changes before departure, then the hotel listed in this program will be used.
Program includes
3 nights at the Mainport Hotel or similar - City XL room
Breakfast daily and porterage based upon 2 suitcases per person
English-speaking tour guide each day
All sightseeing per the program itinerary
Transfers
Please Note: Guests booking their own flights independently of the cruise line are responsible for ensuring that the cruise line has the updated arrival information, so your transfer can be arranged. If you book additional nights independently of the cruise line, an arrival transfer is not provided. If we do not receive flight details a minimum of 14 days in advance, transfers will not be provided.
Program Excludes
Personal expenses
Any meals or beverages not mentioned
Hotel incidentals including room service and mini bar
Gratuities to drivers and guides
Please note: Land programs that encompass multiple days ashore customarily include extensive and prolonged activity, while those of shorter durations typically have more moderate activity levels. However, each program varies, and participants should be prepared to negotiate a mixture of surfaces which may include inclines, cobblestones, sand, gravel and natural paths. There may also be a need to climb steps or stairs on occasion. Guests who utilize a wheelchair and those with mobility concerns are advised to check with the cruise line in advance to see if any portion of the tour program may not be considered suitable for their individual situation.
Please note: All land programs are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Programs falling under the minimum number of required participants are subject to cancellation. Pricing listed is also subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases for transportation, land arrangements or currency fluctuations. Once purchased, pricing is guaranteed and not subject to change. Land programs must be purchased no later than 60 days prior to your sail date. Cancellations made within 60 days or less prior to the sail date are subject to 100% cancellation penalty. There are no refunds for unused portions of any program. Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered no-shows and their hotel space released.
Prices are per person, based on double occupancy and subject to availability.
