Travel to the oldest town in the Netherlands, Maastricht, founded 2,000 years ago. Continued to  “Little Switzerland” in Belgium and  to the town of Eupen, which became a Belgian possession though the “Treaty of Versailles.” Pass through the Duke’s forest in Germany to the picture-perfect town of Monschau, a medieval town where half-timbered houses are decorated with flower and cobblestone streets.

You travel to Europe’s smallest nation, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Rolling green hills fill the countryside and little villas filled with parks and recent war history. Stop at Bastogne, the site of the famous “Battle of the Bulge” during WWII, where an outmoded US force held out against huge odds. Visit the museum dedicated to Hitler’s last attempt to win the area.

Take Travel to the 17-century city of Amsterdam. The city is separated by 50 miles of canals and 1,000 bridges. Your city tour will take you around the city highlights and includes a canal boat tour.

Take a drive through the city of Arnhem, known for the World War II battle operation “Market Garden”. In September 1944, the British 1st Airborne Division and the Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade were given the task of securing the bridge at Arnhem, captured in the movie “A Bridge too Far”. You will drive past various spots associated with this event. You will then visit the Airborne Museum in Oosterbeek. The Airborne Museum is a historic building. In mid-1944 it was a hotel, but in September that year, it became the headquarters of the British commander-in-chief, Major General Roy Urquhart of the 1st Airborne Division. From here, Urquhart commanded Operation Market Garden – a dramatic battle in which 92 Polish, 1,482 British and more than 1,800 German troops, along with almost 1,000 civilians, lost their lives. You can still feel the tension, the fear and the hardships in the museum.

Middelburg, the capital of the province of Zeeland, is full of monuments. There are about 1,100 large and small monuments which testify to its rich past. The powerful abbey, the impressive town hall and the splendid old warehouses let you relive this past. During the walk, you will be taken past the stately warehouses and impressive monuments of Middelburg, such as the town hall, the abbey and many more.

After a coach ride, you will reach Bruges. Due to the canal system the city is also known as the “Venice of the North” and is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. The historic marketplace – the center of old Bruges – is cradled by the river Reie and was recognized as cultural world heritage site by UNESCO.

As you walk along the maze of winding, cobbled alleys and romantic canals, you will be transported to medieval times. Besides various other sights, the market, the ‘Burg’ (the site of the former Bruges castle and the Basilica of the Holy Blood are especially worth seeing.

After a comfortable coach ride you will reach Brussels, the capital of Belgium. Your tour starts in the verdant Laken area, which boasts landmarks such as the Heysel stadium, Notre Dame of Laken, the famous Atomium and the royal residence.

The tour continues through the eastern part of the city, including the Cinquantenaire park with its impressive U-shaped buildings, and the city center with the royal palace, the city park and the palace of justice.

To conclude the tour, walk through Europe’s oldest shopping mall before you head back to the ship.

During this excursion you will see one of Europe’s largest garden displays, the Keukenhof Gardens. This park, with its art, royal flair and creative diversity attracts over a million visitors each year. Seven million tulips, narcissi and hyacinths form a colorful carpet of blooms.

Round, oval, triangular and rectangular borders line the park’s driveways, making a cheerful ensemble of colors, shapes and scents. Alternating exhibitions, known as parades, bloom in several pavilions. Numerous sculptures also lurk between the flowerbeds, as harmony between art and nature is a major feature of this park.