The Experience ANTWERP PRIDE!
Once you’ve cleared customs at the Brussels International Airport(BRU), you will be greeted by a Transcend Cruises representative, transferred to Antwerp, and embark upon your floating hotel for the week, The Gentleman. Enjoy lunch onboard and spend the afternoon enjoying the myriad of activities planned during Antwerp Pride Weekend! Later this evening, join your fellow travelers for a memorable Welcome Reception and culinary experience onboard hosted by Chef Todd Erickson.
Note: Guests who select the VIP Early Boarding Promotion will board in Brussels on Thursday, August 7, 2025.
The Experience
Your second day in Belgium offers you the chance to visit one of two national gems: beautiful Bruges, the capital of West Flanders and one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe, or fascinating Ghent, the capital of East Flanders, whose long history does not weigh on its vibrant present. Belgium’s second-largest city, Ghent, abounds in medieval architecture, but nothing museum-like about the city. It’s lively and brims with cutting-edge boutiques and galleries. Since cars are entirely banned in Ghent’s historic center, it’s a particularly pedestrian-friendly area. Stroll with your guide from the Church of Saint James, with its two Romanesque towers, to the Friday Market square, which, as its name suggests, was the site of a huge market every Friday in the Middle Ages. You’ll pass the magnificent 15th-century Great Butchers’ Hall and the elegant medieval trading houses that line Graslei and Korenlei streets. Your last stop is the Belfort, the great bell tower that rises above the Old Town. Afterward, you’ll have time to explore and savor Belgian treats on our included foodie tour. Enjoy the remainder of your afternoon exploring Ghent independently with a complimentary return shuttle to the ship.
Alternatively, you may choose a scenic drive to Bruges, which gives Amsterdam a run for its money as the “Venice of the North” as you cruise through the UNESCO-designated city center. The town grew up around a fort built by the first Count of Flanders to defend against Viking invaders. By the 14th century, Bruges had become the center of the international cloth trade. Merchants and traders worldwide came to Bruges for Flemish cloth, and the town’s bounty of beautiful churches and mansions testify to its prosperity. The city also became a financial services center, offering banking, money-changing, and maritime insurance. Your local guide will take you past the Begijnhof and the Church of Our Lady to the canal cruise terminal, where you’ll board boats for a cruise through Bruges’s picturesque canals. Swans share the quiet backwaters of some canals; others are lined with tall brick townhouses and open up to splendid views of historic churches. After a close-up look at the city and lunch on your own, see it from above: the Belfry Tower, looming over Market Square, offers an incredible view of the city. This afternoon, return to Ghent to enjoy some independent exploration before heading back to the ship later this afternoon.
The Experience
This morning, we arrive to Rotterdam. A thoroughly modern city —you’ll soon understand why it’s sometimes called “Manhattan on the Meuse”: The Maas Tower, the Montevideo, the Millennium Tower and the spectacular Erasmus Bridge make for a dazzling skyline. Begin your day by exploring this modern city on a Dutch culinary stroll, with a stop at the architectural milestone, Market Hall. Erected in 2014, it’s known for its futuristic look and unique Dutch and global culinary offerings. Later, head to Kinderdijk to discover why windmills are such an iconic symbol of Holland; marvel at their engineering and learn about their role in changing the course of Dutch history.
Alternatively, guests may opt to spend the day in Amsterdam. The Netherlands’ largest city is celebrating its 750th anniversary in 2025. This morning, start your day like a local with our expert guide on the IC Direct high-speed train for a 40-minute ride to Amsterdam’s city center. Following, we enjoy a art-historian-led tour of the Van Gough Museum before heading off on a lively Foodie and Beer Tour of Amsterdam, which has grown to be one of Europe’s top culinary destinations. This afternoon, enjoy time at leisure, enjoying everything the city has to offer before returning to the ship via high-speed train for dinner and a lively sailaway party from Rotterdam.
The Experience
Enjoy a scenic sail this morning, enjoying everything your floating hotel offers. Enjoy a cooking class with Chef Todd Erickson, or opt for our Bloody Mary Bar set-up on the sun deck this morning as you enjoy the passing scenery. We arrive at Dusseldorf after a beautiful lunch outdoors (weather permitting) on our Sun Deck. A city that inspires diversity and is built close to the water: The Rhine metropolis of Düsseldorf awaits you with modern architecture around the Medienhafen. Dusseldorf’s historic city center is also known as “the longest bar in the world”. In over 300 pubs, the freshly tapped Altbier brings a wide variety of people together. We join our city tour by walking the luxury boulevards such as the “Kö” and strolling through the green parks and the beautiful Rhine promenade. Guest may join a lively pub tour of Dusseldorf or head off with our shipboard Wellness Expert for an e-bike panoramic tour of the city! Tonight, enjoy an incredible drag performance and dance the night away with DJ Matt Consola.
The Experience
Sailing the Rhine River today is to experience quintessential Germany at its best: a picture-postcard landscape. This magical river quietly winds across Central Germany’s vast plains and lush valleys. This morning, choose to join a lively guest cooking competition with Chef Todd Erickson and our crew as the judges! Alternatively, enjoy a relaxing massage or simply soak up some sun on the top deck. This afternoon, enjoy our Tea Dance on deck with DJ Matt Consola and a very special guest!
The Experience:
Today, we dock at Mannheim and join a short coach ride to Heidelberg, sometimes called the most romantic city in Germany. It is home to the nation’s oldest university, a charming baroque Old Town along the banks of the Neckar River, and stunning castle ruins overlooking the town. Your tour will take you to the castle, with its views of the red-tile roofs of the city below, the handsome Old Bridge and the wooded hillsides beyond, and then into Old Town, where you will see the late-Gothic Holy Spirit Church, the Student Prison and the longest pedestrian street in Germany.
The Experience:
Upon arrival in Strasbourg, which has been controlled over the centuries by either France or Germany, the city—cross-cultural and bilingual—offers a delightful combination of old and new and French and German characteristics.
Set off for the pier in downtown Strasbourg, where you will board a panoramic boat that will take you to the famous district of Petite France. Its canals, charming houses with colored, half-timbered walls, and narrow alleyways will enchant you. You will glide past the Tanners Quarter, the Covered Bridges (Ponts Couverts), and the Panoramic Terrace on the Vauban Dam. Our cruise will continue through the German Quarter. Following the French defeat in 1870, Germany planned to make Strasbourg the capital of the Reichsland or Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorraine. This district referred to as the “new town”, represented a new form of urban planning, featuring wide roads, monumental administrative and cultural buildings, and luxurious private homes. Landscaping also played a crucial role in this impressive urban planning scheme. Then, you will get to see the European Parliament Building, completed in 1999, which was designed to host monthly sessions of the European Parliament. The architecture of the building is based on a combination of circles and ellipses, with the building laid out and organized into several identified areas. Finally, you’ll discover the Human Rights Building, which is where the European Court of Human Rights is located.
The Experience
Following breakfast, we bid you farewell and provide airport transportation to Basel(BSL) or the Zurich(ZRH) International Airport with memories of a remarkable cruise.
Pre-reserve your spot by November 29th to guarantee your place.
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