INTRAV Springtime on the Dutch and Belgian Waterways
14 Days/13 Nights

May 2-15, 2001

SOCIETY MEMBERS SAVE $250 PER PERSON OFF BROCHURE RATES!

Itinerary

Day 1 -  Depart New York

Day 2 -  Amsterdam, Netherlands (Embark)
We arrive early this afternoon and transfer to our private riverboat, the 98-passenger Switzerland II. Tonight, we'll cruise historic Amsterdam, with its concentric rings of canals and countless 17th-century merchant homes.

Day 3 -  Amsterdam/Hoorn
Spring is the perfect time to visit Amsterdam, with blooms everywhere. We'll spend the morning at Keukenhof, one of the world's largest flower gardens.

Our excursion ends in Hoorn, where we rejoin our ship for lunch. This afternoon, you can explore the old harbor on your own, or discover Hoorn's rich maritime history during a walking tour. You'll meet the captain at this evening's welcome reception and dinner. The Switzerland II docks for the night in Hoorn's medieval harbor.

Day 4 -  Cruising the Zuyder Zee/Kampen (for Giethoorn)/Deventer
Today, we cruise across the old Zuyder Zee (now a lake) to the slower-paced province of Overijssel. From Kampen, you will have an opportunity to visit Giethoorn. In this picturesque village, there are no streets ­ only canals; people, goods, and even cows are transported by small boats.

Next, drive through the Dutch lowlands back to Kampen, with its string of towers and spires ­ remnants of the prosperous era of the Hanseatic League. Rejoin the Switzerland II, and cruise the IJssel River to the old Hanseatic town of Deventer, where the evening is at leisure.

Day 5 -  Deventer/Nijmegen
Join us this morning for a walking tour of Deventer. The town is a virtual museum; an area called the Bergkwartier features ancient houses, many in the Gelderland-Overijssel style, which were refurbished in the 1960s. See the Northern Bergkwartier where the oldest house in the Netherlands is found, as well as the Buiskens Monastery. Continue to the city hall, famous for its 17th-century Renaissance gable.

This afternoon, you will visit Arnhem's Kröller-Müller Museum; its glass-walled rooms house more than 250 of van Gogh's paintings and drawings. Take time to stroll the museum's grounds ­ surrounded by tall trees, landscaped gardens, and one of Europe's largest sculpture parks.
You'll meet the Switzerland II in Arnhem and sail for Nijmegen, where we overnight.

Day 6 -  Nijmegen/Roermond
As we walk among the hills of ancient Nijmegen, you'll see why Charlemagne chose to build a fortress here in the eighth century. Its strategic position is clearly visible from the Valkhof, high above the Waal River. We'll explore the Valkhof ruins and see the extensive Renaissance architecture on the market square.
We spend the afternoon cruising the meandering Maas River, arriving in Roermond for the night.

Day 7 -  Maastricht
Sail past cliffside castles, picturesque villages, and historic churches en route to Maastricht, Holland's oldest city. We arrive midday and dock in the heart of town. Tonight, we venture just outside the city to Castle Erenstein, where we'll enjoy a gala reception followed by a private dinner on the castle grounds. You'll have time to explore this 13th-century moated castle, nestled among the hills of the unspoiled Dutch countryside.

Day 8 -  Maastricht/Antwerp, Belgium
Our walking tour delves into Maastricht's long and diverse history ­ from Roman traders and Charlemagne's soldiers to the signing of the Maastricht Treaty, which unified Europe's new currency. You could spend a lifetime soaking up all the history here, but it would be just as easy to relax in the many pubs and cafés. We'll concentrate on the past, however, exploring the city's medieval architecture as we stroll. Later, as we cruise the waterways of Belgium, enjoy an INTRAV reception. Our ship docks in Antwerp.

Day 9 -  Antwerp (for Brussels)/Terneuzen, Netherlands
This morning, disembark for an excursion to Brussels, the capital of Belgium and hub of world diplomacy. You'll see many notable sights ­ Saint Michael's Cathedral, the Atomium, Place Louise, and the imposing EU buildings ­ en route to the city's historic square, Grand-Place.

This cobblestoned square is home to gabled houses, Gothic halls, and the Town Hall. Nearby is the famous Manneken Pis fountain of Brussels' legendary boy-hero. Meet the Switzerland II in Terneuzen.

Day 10 -  Terneuzen (for Bruges, Belgium)/Ghent
Join us for a full-day tour of Bruges, one of Europe's most charming towns. Behind the historic ramparts and moats, Bruges' Old Town has maintained the rich architecture and medieval traditions that attract visitors year-round. Our explorations include the intimate Beguinage, the Town Hall on Markt (market square), and the belfry's world-famous 47-bell carillon. Rejoin the Switzerland II in Ghent, where there is plenty of free time.

Day 11 -  Ghent/Middelburg, Netherlands
The Three Towers of Ghent ­ St. Bavo's, the Belfry, and St. Nicholas' ­ create a dramatic townscape, but the city's real beauty is at street level, where gabled guild houses and private mansions lead to charming bridges and canals. During our tour here, it's easy to imagine life in the Middle Ages.

We will meet our riverboat in Terneuzen and arrive this afternoon in the typically Dutch town of Middelburg, the capital of the province of Zeeland. During a walking tour, see the ornamented town hall and the abbey, dating back to the Romanesque and early Gothic periods.

Day 12 -  Veere/Rotterdam
We sail to the tiny harbor of Veere, our starting point for an excursion to see the Delta Works, one of the world's largest hydraulic engineering plans undertaken by Dutch engineers to avoid catastrophic flooding in the southwestern Netherlands.

Cruise the Switzerland II from Bruinisse to Rotterdam, where we'll enjoy the captain's farewell reception and dinner party on board tonight.

Day 13 -  Rotterdam (for The Hague)/Amsterdam
Join today's full-day excursion to The Hague ­ seat of Dutch government and home of the royal family. You'll see the city's noble houses, mansions, Parliament, International Court of Justice, and Palace Noordeinde. Next, you will walk through The Hague's old section and Parliament's inner court. Then stop at the Mauritshuis Museum, which houses paintings from the Dutch golden age. After lunch, continue to Amsterdam for a city over-view and a visit to the van Gogh Museum. Return to the ship now docked in Amsterdam.

Day 14 -  Amsterdam (Disembark)/Return to New York

About the Switzerland II:
The 98-passenger Switzerland II was built exclusively for river cruising, with a draft of four feet enabling her to easily cruise the historic rivers and waterways of Europe. Each cabin features a large picture window for excellent views of life on the water's edge. Your cabin converts from a sitting room by day to a bedroom at night, and features a music system, minibar, safe, hair dryer, private bathroom facilities with shower, and individual temperature control.

The ship's intimate size contributes to the onboard comfort and friendliness without sacrificing fine service and convenience. Public areas include a spacious lounge with panoramic views, an adjoining bar, a library, solarium, swimming pool, and sun deck where passengers can view the riverbanks, quaint towns, and castles.

Three meals daily are served in leisurely single seatings. Cuisine includes regional specialties. To enhance the ship's food and hospitality services, dining and hotel management aboard the Switzerland II are provided by Clipper Cruise Line, a subsidiary of INTRAV.

Tour Cost:

Category 1 2 3 4

Deck(s) Lower Deck Lower Deck Upper Deck Upper Deck

Description (Aft) Outside Twin with Window Outside Twin with Window (Aft) Outside Twin with Window Outside twin with window

Price $3,795 $4,095 $4,495 $4,795

Rates are per person and based on double occupancy.
Limited singles are available in categories 2 and 4; single supplement is $2,400.

SOCIETY MEMBERS TAKE $250 PER PERSON OFF THE ABOVE RATES!

Rates include round-trip international airfare from New York and all port charges.

Add-on fares available from many U.S. cities.
International Air Credit (per person): $400

Passengers electing to use this air credit are solely responsible for all air transportation.

Reservations and Payment:
A deposit of $500 per person is required to confirn reservations. Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure.

Here's What Your Voyage Includes:

Air Transportation
*Round-trip, international airfare from New York.
*All overseas airport/ship transfers for INTRAV air-ticketed passengers traveling on scheduled dates of departure and   return, including tips to porters for luggage handling.
*Flights from your home city to meet our international flights, as well as upgrades to business or first class, are   available upon request through INTRAV.

Twelve-night cruise aboard the exclusively-chartered
*All meals during the cruise portion of your trip.
*Captain's welcome reception and dinner
*Dutch flokloric show
*Gala reception and dinner at Castle Erenstein in Maastricht
*INTRAV reception
*Captain's farewell reception and dinner
*Amsterdam canal cruise
*Keukenhof tulip tour
*Hoorn walking tour
*Giethoorn/Kampen tour
*Deventer walking tour
*Kröller-Müller Museum tour
*Nijmegen walking tour
*Maastricht walking tour
*Brussels city tour
*Bruges tour
*Ghent tour
*Middelburg walking tour
*Delta Works tour
*Full-day The Hague and panoramic Amsterdam city tour
*Lecture series on local history and culture; daily commentary on board

Plus Many Extras
*Luggage handling, including tips to porters and bellmen.
*The services of an experienced INTRAV travel director throughout your trip.
*INTRAV travel bag, luggage tags, and name badge.
*Full pretrip information and assistance provided by INTRAV
*Automatic $250,000 travel insurance policy for each INTRAV-ticketed passenger.

Optional Trip Extensions:

Amsterdam Pretrip Extension:
2 Days/1 Night
*One night at the deluxe Hotel Okura, with breakfast
*Amsterdam city tour, with lunch (en route to the ship)
*All airport/hotel/ship transfers for INTRAV air-ticketed passengers traveling on scheduled dates of departure and   return*
*Exclusive concierge service at the INTRAV hospitality desk; services of INTRAV travel director

$ 395 per person, double occupancy
$ 495 single occupancy

Paris Post-trip Extension:
3 Days/2 Nights
*Flight from Amsterdam to Paris, and all airport/hotel transfers for INTRAV passengers traveling on scheduled dates of   departure and return*
*Two nights at the deluxe Le Grand Inter-Continental Hotel, with breakfast daily
*Paris panoramic city tour
*Exclusive concierge service at the INTRAV hospitality desk; services of INTRAV travel director

$ 695 per person, double occupancy
$ 1,045 single occupancy

*Airfare and transfers for these optional extensions are included only when international air is ticketed by INTRAV.

Please call us with questions, bookings:
800-IRT-4881
www.irtsociety.com

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