Day 1 - UK - Amsterdam - Lelystad

Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home for your journey to Dover, where we take a break before boarding our coaches, for the Channel crossing to Calais and onward journey to Amsterdam.

Upon arrival, embark our ship, where light refreshments are available, and we’ll have some time to settle in before we set sail this evening.

MS River Discovery II (4-star)

Day 2 - Almere (Floriade) - Enkhuizen

Visiting Floriade is an experience unlike any other. This Horticultural Exhibition takes place just once every 10 years, so you can be assured it will be a sight not to be missed. This huge project, spanning 60-hectares, is near the city of Almere just outside Amsterdam. It’s the biggest, greenest event of 2022, presenting a truly unique collection of trees, flowers, plants and shrubs that will engage all your senses.

While the event will undoubtedly be visually captivating - the Netherlands is the flower capital of the world after all - it also offers an ethically meaningful experience. The 2022 theme is ‘Growing Green Cities’ and it will showcase innovations that promote a more sustainable way of living, starting with the ‘green cities of the future’. This living laboratory of exhibitions is set to feature buildings that have seemingly sprouted straight from the ground, treehouse-like structures and sustainable architecture that works with nature. There’ll also be live entertainment, workshops and sustainability talks. Almost everything that has been built for the expo will become part of a brand new, functioning city after the event.

After a day exploring, we’ll sail for Enkhuizen this evening.

• Floriade horticultural exhibition (all day)

MS River Discovery II (4-star)

Day 3 - Enkhuizen - Hoorn

In the historical harbour town of Enkhuizen, you’ll feel as if you’ve been transported back in time. The beautifully preserved town and harbour are peaceful today, but once sheltered the Dutch merchant fleet. The Zuiderzee indoor/outdoor museum is one of the country’s finest and features a reconstructed fishing village from before IJsselmeer Dam was built in 1932. You might choose to join our optional excursion to the museum this morning.

This afternoon we continue sailing to charming Hoorn, named after its magnificent horn-shaped harbour. With a string of museums, beautiful Dutch Renaissance architecture and bobbing boats in the harbour, Hoorn makes for an ideal spot to explore for the afternoon. We dock until late this evening.

MS River Discovery II (4-star)

Day 4 - Amsterdam

Enjoy a whole day in Amsterdam to explore the city’s crooked waterside houses and Golden Age architecture. We’ll enjoy the ‘classic’ Amsterdam experience as we sail along the world-famous canals on an included cruise. Enjoy the sights in the flourish of spring as we float under pretty bridges and past gabled merchants’ houses.

The rest of the day is yours to enjoy Amsterdam - perhaps view the world-class collections in the Rijksmuseum or step inside the Museum Our Lord in the Attic, a townhouse which hides a secret 17th-century church in its attic.

• Private Amsterdam Canal Cruise (morning)

MS River Discovery II (4-star)

Day 5 - Rotterdam - Kinderdijk

The Netherlands’ second city prides itself on its unique architecture and modern centre. It’s sometimes overshadowed by Amsterdam, but the truth is it offers an entirely different experience. This waterside city has less historic, canal-lined streets and more sprawling parkland, cutting-edge design and contemporary culture. And it’s really fun. You’ll have the morning to explore at your leisure before we set sail for Kinderdijk this afternoon.

Kinderdijk is a beautiful view of endless marshes and waterways punctuated only by 19 historic and beautifully well-preserved windmills. Lily pads float lazily on the water and bird song is the only sound to break the silence. It’s a peaceful - and quintessentially Dutch - sight. We’ll join a local guide to discover the windmills in more detail, some of which are now used as residences.

• Visit to Kinderdijk Windmills (afternoon)

MS River Discovery II (4-star)

Day 6 - Arnhem

The catastrophic Battle of Arnhem in 1944 means the centre of this little town on the banks of the Nederrijn River was all but levelled during WWII. But Arnhem has rebuilt itself and today is a gift of museums, leafy parkland and beautiful, wide promenades lined with pavement cafés and eateries. You can either spend the day exploring under your own steam or choose to join our optional city tour with a visit to the Airborne Museum, dedicated to the Battle of Arnhem.

MS River Discovery II (4-star)

Day 7 - Cologne

Renowned as one of Germany’s most beautiful cities with its medley of Gothic, medieval and Roman architectural influences. You’ll spot the soaring spire of the city’s grand cathedral from the top deck long before we arrive in the city. The cathedral is as magnificent in size as in decoration and was painstakingly built over the course of hundreds of years.

We’ll enjoy an included walking tour together this morning as an introduction before enjoying free time to explore as you please.

• Walking tour of Cologne (morning)

MS River Discovery II (4-star)

Day 8 Cologne - UK

After breakfast we board our waiting coaches for the return journey to Calais and Channel crossing. Upon arrival in Dover, your Titan vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.

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