In the early evening, gather for an introductory briefing about your ship. Whenever you have leisure time at a port along your journey, you’ll receive a ship’s briefing about the port area and town prior to arrival so you can make the best use of your free time. These are called “Port Talks.”

 After your briefing, get better acquainted with your Program Director and traveling companions over dinner. Then test your geography skills in an “Around the World” quiz.

 Your afternoon is free to further discover the city on your own. You may want to visit the house of the great painter, Peter Paul Rubens. He purchased a 16th-century house off the Meir when he returned from Italy in 1608 and transformed it into one of the most elegant Renaissance-baroque houses in the Low Countries. Today it is a museum housing many of Rubens’s finest works, as well as works by some of his contemporaries. Or you could visit the Steen, the small stone castle that stands at the entrance to the city. Begun as part of a 13th-century fortification, the castle has served as a prison and today houses the National Navigation Museum. Or explore the Jewish District, which has contributed to Antwerp’s rich heritage since before the 13th century.

 While Amsterdam is the world’s largest diamond cutting center, Antwerp is the biggest area for diamond trading. Those interested can join your Program Director in a visit to “Diamond Land” in the heart of the Antwerp diamond district. This is a compact museum that offers displays and photographs illustrating the history, geology, mining, and cutting of diamonds. The display of major diamond types is particularly informative. You’ll also have the opportunity to purchase diamonds here.  

In late afternoon you return to your ship and gather on deck to celebrate the start of your river journey as you set sail.

 Later, you'll be officially welcomed onboard and you'll meet the ship's crew at the Captain's Welcome Cocktail Reception and Dinner. We cruise to Willemstad, where we dock for the night.

After lunch, disembark and walk to Kinderdijk, where you'll see 19 windmills built around 1740. Holland, of course, is known for its windmills, and nowhere will you find more than near this little village. These sturdy windmills have been well preserved, and in 1997 were made a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You have time to stroll around the site, and take pictures of these signature attractions of Holland, which are supported by the Grand Circle Foundation.

This is Germany’s Paris, a wealthy and elite city renowned for fashion. Ironically, “Dorf” means village, for Düsseldorf began life as a village on the Düssel River. In fact, the fertile valleys around the city have been called “the wine cellar of the Holy Roman Empire” because it was the Romans who planted the first grapes here more than 2,000 years ago.

Like many German cities, Düsseldorf was largely destroyed during World War II but many of the old landmark buildings were carefully replicated and today stand side by side with newer, architectural wonders, like the famous Düsseldorf tower. You’ll see the highlights of this lovely city on your included tour.

 Then return to your ship and relax during a leisurely afternoon of sailing.
 Join us in the lounge for after-dinner entertainment

You then see the imposing Porta Nigra (“Black Gate”), a towering Roman gateway built around A.D. 200. This is the largest surviving city gate from ancient Roman times, and for the empire it served not only as a means of protection but also as a symbol of strength and power. 
 
You’ll visit the pedestrian-only Market Square, one of the most magnificent squares in all of Germany.  Here you can admire the central fountain built in 1595. You can take some free time on your own here at the market, or join us in seeing the massive basilica, built by Constantine in A.D. 310, and St. Peter’s Cathedral.  Parts of this impressive cathedral date to the fifth century.  St. Peter’s and the nearby Church of Our Lady represent one of the largest early Christian examples of dual church buildings.
 
After returning to the ship for lunch, the balance of your day is at leisure.  You can use our shuttle service to revisit this delightful town and then set out to explore it on your own.
You may want to visit the Frankenturm (Tower of Franco), built in the twelfth century.  This “tower” is typical of the fortified stone houses built by wealthy merchants during the Romanesque period. Named for its 14th-century resident, Franko von Senheim, the tower contains the medieval family’s living quarters.
 
After dinner join us on an optional Musical Trier, an evening excursion to the University of Theology for a piano concert of classical music.

In addition to a city tour and a visit to the American Cemetery, where many soldiers who lost their lives in the Battle of the Bulge are buried, lunch and free time to explore on your own are included in this optional tour. 

German forces occupied Luxembourg in May of 1940, and its liberation (primarily by American troops) began in September of 1944. The Battle of the Bulge began with Hitler’s desperate attack through the Ardennes to attempt to drive out the Allied forces. The resulting battle, called “the greatest American battle of the Second World War” by Winston Churchill, raged here from the 16th of December 1944 through the 28th of January 1945. Though 200 men from the 10th British Corps were killed in this action, the U.S. (8,447 killed, 46,170 wounded, 20,905 missing or imprisoned) and Germans (10,749 killed, 34,439 wounded, 32,487 missing or imprisoned) suffered tremendous losses. In the city of Luxembourg itself, you’ll see the market square, the Palais of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and the cathedral.  

Or, spend a leisurely day relaxing onboard as we cruise to Traben Trarbach. Upon arrival in the afternoon, go ashore with your Program Director to enjoy a walking tour of Traben and Trarbach—another set of twin towns on either side of the Mosel River. Traben, on the northern bank, was once a military site—note the two ruined fortresses above the town. If you enjoy architecture, you’ll love the Art Nouveau buildings along the riverfront. The Trarbach Bridge Gate built around 1898, is an example of Art Nouveau design elements.  

Join us tonight after dinner for entertainment in the ship’s lounge.