The exquisitely preserved medieval town of Bruges is a veritable jewel. Step back in time as you begin your guided walk through Bruges, often called 'Die Scone' or 'the beautiful'. The charm of this lovely medieval city will capture you immediately. As you walk through the narrow streets, passing by picturesque scenes of ancient buildings, tree-lined canals and gabled facades, you’ll see the bustling marketplace, The Belfry Tower, the Town Hall and the Chapel of the Holy Blood.

The highlight of this walking tour will undoubtedly be a 30-minute canal tour. While sitting back in a small boat, you’ll enjoy the serene waterways of this romantic historical city. Since Bruges is full of lace and chocolate shops, you’ll certainly find the perfect souvenir as you explore the area on your own. To end this perfect tour, your guide will lead you by the romantic 'Lake of Love' on the return drive to your ship.

A scenic ride through the charming Flemish countryside takes you to Ghent, a delightful town that is proud of its medieval heritage.

Your guide will lead you to the pontoon where you’ll board a canal boat for a fun and thorough exploration of the city. As you cruise through the historic city, see highlights such as the impressive castle of the counts, the Fish Market, 13th century monasteries and the ancient port of Ghent along with its mercantile houses. Once your canal cruise ends, you’ll have free time to independently explore this gracious city. You may choose to enjoy a locally brewed beer in one of the stylish bars, or maybe a coffee in one of the waffle houses. Strolling along the narrow streets, many of which are pedestrian, you’ll be enthralled by the unique architecture, while the shops will tempt you with their fine chocolates, Flemish lace and other locally-crafted wares.

This excursion is organized for those guests who have previously visited Bruges or who want to explore independently. Transfer to the entrance of the old city, where you will have approximately 5-hours of free time to take in the activity of your choice. A tour escort will be aboard to answer any questions you may have regarding the best places to see or shop. The escort will remain at the drop off point to further assist you if needed. Return to your coach at the appointed time and place for your return drive to the ship; please be punctual.

A drive of approximately two hours will take you from Zeebrugge to Brussels. Your panoramic drive will pass the King Boudewijn Stadium (Belgium’ national sport stadium), the Atomium statue (built for the World Fair in Brussels in 1958 which represents an iron molecule). A tour leader will assist you from the ship to the Grand Place of Brussels, where you’ll receive additional information about what to see and do. During your free time, you can admire the Old Town area with The St. Hubert Arcades and its shops as well as Butchers' Street with its plethora of restaurants and cafes. You can meet 'Manneken Pis', Brussels best-known little boy and search for your perfect Belgian souvenir. You’ll have no problem finding a nice place to eat and enjoy some typical Belgian products. After a short walk back to the coach, you’ll be transferred to your ship.

Bruges is an exquisitely preserved medieval town. Linked with the sea by a navigable waterway, the city became a leading member of the Hanseatic League in the 13th century.

Upon arrival in Bruges, a guided walk through the historical center introduces you to this beautiful, romantic city. During the walk, your guide will point out such major sights as the Market Square with its Guild houses, the Belfry Tower, and Burg Square. Burg Square is the focal point of ancient Bruges, flanked by many magnificent buildings. See the Town Hall, the former Recorder's House from the 1530's, and the Chapel of the Holy Blood.

Your walk then takes you to a Belgian chocolatier’s workshop to see, firsthand, how raw chocolate bars are made into the fine Belgian chocolates using only the freshest and best ingredients. At the end, there is some time to purchase some if you wish and pay a brief independent visit to the Chocolate Museum. Bruges is full of lace and chocolate shops, and your free time will allow you to search for the perfect souvenir.

Your guide will lead you past the romantic Lake of Love on the way back to your coach.

This dynamic modern city has a center straight out of the Middle Ages. After a one-hour drive on the highway passing the typical Flemish countryside, you arrive at Ghent. Your guided walking tour passes by St. Michael’s Bridge. On top of St. Michael’s Bridge you’ll have the most impressive view of the historical city center. From that point, you can see the Old Port with gabled-guild houses, the 1,000-year old Castle of the Counts and the famous 'row of the 3 towers' - St. Nicolas Church, The Belfry Tower and St. Bavo's Cathedral. Your guide will lead you through the old town passing the old port, the Butchers’ Hall and City Hall on your way to St Bavo’s cathedral. Inside St. Bavo’s Cathedral you’ll see the beautiful decorated wooden pulpit. You can enjoy some free time for shopping to find the perfect souvenir. After this free time, your coach will bring you back to your ship.

OVERVIEW

Bicycle the flat, tree-lined path that connects Bruges to the tiny village of Damme, taking in the serenity of the countryside among locals who will probably be biking, too. You will follow a tree-lined canal all the way to Damme, a straight route with a bicycle path on one side of the waterway and a road on the other. Not having to contend with vehicular traffic will make the trip all the more relaxing and carefree. The terrain is completely flat and easy to pedal with minimal effort, allowing you to concentrate on the sights. The bucolic scenery is so wonderfully peaceful, it could well be the inspiration for a Flemish landscape painting. Along the way, you will pass charming cottages, iconic windmills and small boats inching along the waterway. Chances are, you will be riding among locals, as bicycling between Bruges and Damme is a popular way that locals get away from the urban hustle and bustle.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Bicycle through the bucolic countryside on a flat road that prohibits motorized vehicles.
• See iconic windmills, charming cottages and small boats in the canal that the road follows.
• Ride among local bicyclists between Bruges and the village of Damme.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Take a guided tour of Bruges, where the charm of this lovely medieval city will capture you immediately. The highlight of this tour will undoubtedly be a beer tasting session at a local cafe. Beer is deeply rooted in culture and tradition in Belgium and is more than just a drink, with the country offering more than 450 varieties. Your beer expert will explain the history of Belgian beer brewing and you'll explore the delicious taste and flavor of four different kinds of beer.

There is no doubt that Belgium is the country of beer. What other country can offer more than 450 varieties of beer? Beer is deeply rooted in culture and tradition and is more than just a drink. These are certainly not the only reasons why Belgium deserves its title 'Beer Paradise'. After a 30-minute drive from the port, you arrive at Bruges where your guided walk will start. Often called 'Die Scone' or 'the beautiful', the charm of this lovely medieval city will capture you immediately. Your guide will walk with you through the narrow, twisting cobbled streets, passing by picturesque scenes of ancient buildings, tree-lined canals and gabled facades. See the bustling marketplace, Belfry Tower, the Town Hall and the Chapel of the Holy Blood. The highlight of this tour will undoubtedly be a beer tasting session at a local cafe. Your beer expert will explain the history of Belgian beer brewing and you’ll explore the delicious taste and flavor of four different kinds of beer. As Bruges is full of lace, chocolate and beer shops, your free time will allow you to search for the perfect souvenir. Your guide will lead you by the romantic 'Lake of Love' on the way to your coach that will bring you back to the ship.

OVERVIEW

Follow a gourmet guide through the historical heart of Bruges and sample foods that best reflect the cuisine. UNESCO declared Bruges a World Heritage site for its medieval and Gothic architecture so the setting is extraordinarily atmospheric. Even so, the focus will be on food, especially snacks favored by the locals. As you might expect, you will enjoy a thick Belgian waffle made with crunchy pearl sugar and topped with fruit, whipped cream or perhaps a chocolate spread. You will also sample a selection of Belgian chocolates, which are exceptionally rich due to their high cocoa content and pure cocoa butter. Then there is Brugge Old Cheese, a Gouda-like product that is aged for at least 10 months, which lends it a distinctive flavor and aroma. A refreshing Brugse Zot beer and crispy fries – a side dish often cooked in beef tallow – round out the tastings. Afterwards, you can independently explore Bruges

HIGHLIGHTS

• Walk along the cobblestone streets of Bruges and sample the city’s signature snacks.
• Enjoy rich creamy Belgian chocolates and a traditional Belgian waffle.
• Snack on flavorful Brugge Old Cheese, which is named for its longer aging time.
• Try a Brugse Zot beer and the local fries, which are double-fried unlike French fries.
• Admire the architecture that earned Bruges a UNESCO World Heritage site designation.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Ride through the medieval downtown of Bruges on a Segway, a simple-to-operate personal transporter that allows you to easily access the landmarks. Before taking off, you will learn how to operate a Segway in a practice area. With just two wheels, the Segway stays balanced, so all you have to do is to hop on, stand upright and lean one way or the other to move in that direction. Once you feel comfortable operating the Segway, you will set off caravan-style. Highlights along the way include the Markt, a sprawling square that has been a marketplace for more than 1,000 years, and the Belfry, an iconic tower built in the 13th century. During the five hours or so of free time, you could climb to the top of the tower for the ultimate view of Bruges. You might also walk about the square out front as it has abundant shops and restaurants.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore historical downtown Bruges while riding in a caravan of Segways.
• Appreciate how easy it is to operate the Segway, even with no prior experience.
• Admire the architecture that earned Bruges a UNESCO World Heritage site designation.
• Delve deeper into the attractions of Bruges during five hours or so of free time.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy an enlightening walking tour through the medieval quarter of Bruges, which UNESCO declared a World Heritage site for its extraordinary Gothic architecture. Canals run throughout the city, the first one being built in the 12th century to connect Bruges to the North Sea. As you will see while passing by, Dijver is one of the prettiest canals and the street that parallels it is just as lovely. Burg Square is named for the castle that once stood there and today landmarks such as the 14th-century Renaissance-style city hall and the 12th-century Basilica of the Holy Blood surround it. The architecture lends the entire square a wonderful, fairytale-like ambiance. If not the most well-known medieval attraction, The Belfry is certainly one that is impossible to miss. Built in the 13th century, the ornate building features a 275-foot-high carillon with 47 bells that are still played three days a week.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy the fairytale-like atmosphere in medieval Bruges, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• See the 12th-century Basilica of the Holy Blood and the 14th-century city hall.
• Spend free time exploring other attractions or perhaps shopping and dining.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.