Avalon has designed included activities with a choice of experiences. We invite you to select the tours, activities, and events that interest you most, so you can experience your cruise your way. There are three types of included shore excursion on every Europe cruise:
Classic
Your local expert is ready to guide you through the history and heritage of local destinations. You’ll marvel at the legends, lore, and spectacular architecture of iconic and historic sites.
Active
Embark on energetic excursions to keep you in motion and on the go - from a guided jogging tour of Amsterdam, to biking, paddling, and hiking your way through scenic locales.
Discovery
We’ve found inspiring and interactive activities to speak to your interests - from cooking classes, to painting workshops - to immerse yourself in each culture you explore.
Embark on energetic excursions to keep you in motion and on the go - from a guided jogging tour of Amsterdam, to biking, paddling, and hiking your way through scenic locales.
We’ve found inspiring and interactive activities to speak to your interests - from cooking classes, to painting workshops - to immerse yourself in each culture you explore.
Day 1 AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND
Arrive in Amsterdam for a day of leisure. Explore shops and cafés in this colorful city.
Day 2 AMSTERDAM (EMBARKATION)
Classic
Your local expert is ready to guide you through the history and heritage of local destinations. You’ll marvel at the legends, lore, and spectacular architecture of iconic and historic sites.
Explore the iconic waterways of Amsterdam on a Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam’s “Golden Age.” Join a Guided Tour of breathtaking Keukenhof known as the “Garden of Europe”—for its 70 acres of lush parkland, lakes, and the world’s largest flower gardens—with more than seven million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths as well as other bulbs, planted each year.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO NIJMEGEN
Day 3 NIJMEGEN
Wildlife, WWII Valor, and Famous Mills
Discovery
We’ve found inspiring and interactive activities to speak to your interests - from cooking classes, to painting workshops - to immerse yourself in each culture you explore.
Join a Guided Sightseeing to discover Arnhem—a key WWII operations site and home to impressive historical monuments and memorials—then visit a medieval castle for a regional herb and vegetable product tasting, OR:
Classic
Your local expert is ready to guide you through the history and heritage of local destinations. You’ll marvel at the legends, lore, and spectacular architecture of iconic and historic sites.
Join a Guided Tour of the Airborne Museum of Hartenstein commemorating the 1944 WWII Battle of Arnhem.
Active
Embark on energetic excursions to keep you in motion and on the go - from a guided jogging tour of Amsterdam, to biking, paddling, and hiking your way through scenic locales.
Enjoy nature’s splendor on this Guided Hike through Hoge Veluwe National Park, the Netherlands’ oldest and largest nature reserve!
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MAASTRICHT
Day 4 MAASTRICHT
Dutch History, School Spirit, and an Architectural Feast
Enjoy an early morning sailing to Maastricht.
Classic
Your local expert is ready to guide you through the history and heritage of local destinations. You’ll marvel at the legends, lore, and spectacular architecture of iconic and historic sites.
Discover this vibrant university town with its lovely cathedrals, old houses, historical buildings, and impressively cobblestoned town center.
Discovery
We’ve found inspiring and interactive activities to speak to your interests - from cooking classes, to painting workshops - to immerse yourself in each culture you explore.
Join a Guided Experience in a unique natural reserve and discover the typical heath landscape of Benelux.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO NAMUR
Day 5 NAMUR, BELGIUM
Ancient Architecture and Charming Cafés
Discovery
We’ve found inspiring and interactive activities to speak to your interests - from cooking classes, to painting workshops - to immerse yourself in each culture you explore.
While sailing satisfy your curiosity about botany and nature during a lecture hosted by a local expert.
Classic
Your local expert is ready to guide you through the history and heritage of local destinations. You’ll marvel at the legends, lore, and spectacular architecture of iconic and historic sites.
Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of the picturesque old-town, fortress citadel, and medieval architecture.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN NAMUR
Day 6 LIÈGE
Historic Wonders and Wonderful Waffles
Classic
Your local expert is ready to guide you through the history and heritage of local destinations. You’ll marvel at the legends, lore, and spectacular architecture of iconic and historic sites.
Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of the “Fiery City” of Liège with its beautiful ancient quarters, peculiar alleys, and romantic streets. Don’t miss sampling authentically sweet Liège Waffles.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ANTWERP
Day 7 ANTWERP
A Rubenesque Cathedral in Artful Antwerp
Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.
Classic
Your local expert is ready to guide you through the history and heritage of local destinations. You’ll marvel at the legends, lore, and spectacular architecture of iconic and historic sites.
Take a Guided Tour of this sophisticated city to visit the central Grote Markt, lined with 16th-century guildhall houses. You’ll also see the beautiful city hall, the Cathedral of Our Lady with its stunning altarpiece paintings by Rubens, OR:
Discovery
We’ve found inspiring and interactive activities to speak to your interests - from cooking classes, to painting workshops - to immerse yourself in each culture you explore.
Spend some time surrounded by nature’s magnificence on this inspiring guided excursion to the Arboretum Kalmthout botanical gardens.While sailing, discover more about botany and nature joining a lecture hosted by a local expert.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BRUSSELS
Day 8 BRUSSELS
Ancient Landmarks and New Haunts
Classic
Your local expert is ready to guide you through the history and heritage of local destinations. You’ll marvel at the legends, lore, and spectacular architecture of iconic and historic sites.
Join a Guided Tour of Brussels, see the Town Hall with its landmark buildings and discover the many local bars, cafés and shops of the Lower Town Streets, OR:
Discovery
We’ve found inspiring and interactive activities to speak to your interests - from cooking classes, to painting workshops - to immerse yourself in each culture you explore.
See the major highlights of Brussels and join a do-it-yourself chocolate workshop for a fun and interactive experience.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BRUSSELS
Day 9 BRUSSELS
Filling Fare and Fabled Beer
Spend a day at leisure to sample Brussels hearty cuisine and famous beer.
Enjoy dinner on board as you sail for Ghent this evening.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO GHENT
Day 10 GHENT
Medieval Masterpieces and Flemish Finery
Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.
Classic
Your local expert is ready to guide you through the history and heritage of local destinations. You’ll marvel at the legends, lore, and spectacular architecture of iconic and historic sites.
Explore Ghent—“The Diamond of Flanders”— with a Guided Sightseeing Tour of this showcase of medieval Flemish wealth. You’ll visit St. Bavo’s Cathedral—with its remarkable Flemish artwork.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BOSSUIT
Day 11 BOSSUIT
Battlefield Remembrances in Flanders
Discovery
We’ve found inspiring and interactive activities to speak to your interests - from cooking classes, to painting workshops - to immerse yourself in each culture you explore.
Visit the In Flanders’ Field Museum in Ypres— learn about the story of the invasion of Belgium, the first months of the mobilization, the four years trench war in the Westhoek, the end of the war, and the permanent remembrance ever since. After your visit, enjoy lunch at the museum’s café.
Discovery
We’ve found inspiring and interactive activities to speak to your interests - from cooking classes, to painting workshops - to immerse yourself in each culture you explore.
Following the museum visit battlefields, cemeteries, memorials and private collections.
Discovery
We’ve found inspiring and interactive activities to speak to your interests - from cooking classes, to painting workshops - to immerse yourself in each culture you explore.
Experience the Last Post Ceremony, taking place nightly under the arches of the Menin Gate. Enjoy some free time for dinner before the Ceremony starts.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MIDDELBURG
Day 12 MIDDELBURG, HOLLAND
A Spicy History in Middelburg’s Dutch Harbor Town
Classic
Your local expert is ready to guide you through the history and heritage of local destinations. You’ll marvel at the legends, lore, and spectacular architecture of iconic and historic sites.
Join a Guided Walking Tour through the winding cobblestones and canals of Middelburg. See the 15th century Gothic Town Hall and learn about its important role in the spice trade and Dutch East India trading.
VEERE
Discovery
We’ve found inspiring and interactive activities to speak to your interests - from cooking classes, to painting workshops - to immerse yourself in each culture you explore.
Join a Guided Tour of the Delta Works, the largest flood-protection system in the world, and a miracle of modern technology.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT SAILING IN KINDERDIJK
Day 13 KINDERDIJK–ROTTERDAM
Harnessing the Wind 300 Years
Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.
Classic
Your local expert is ready to guide you through the history and heritage of local destinations. You’ll marvel at the legends, lore, and spectacular architecture of iconic and historic sites.
Join a Guided Tour of Kinderdijk where 19 windmills were built in 1740 as flood prevention and water management. You’ll hear about the windmill’s vital role in the Netherland’s history and why it became a national symbol of Holland.
Classic
Your local expert is ready to guide you through the history and heritage of local destinations. You’ll marvel at the legends, lore, and spectacular architecture of iconic and historic sites.
Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Rotterdam featuring innovative architecture, including the marvelous Erasmus Bridge.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ZAANDAM
Day 14 ZAANDAM–HAARLEM
Windmills, Waterways, and Waving Fields of Flowers
Arrive in Zaandam this morning with free time to explore this quintessential Dutch town. See windmills, waterways, and flower farms, while discovering Dutch history in its handicraft shops and museums.
Cruise to Haarlem this afternoon while enjoying lunch on board.
HAARLEM
Classic
Your local expert is ready to guide you through the history and heritage of local destinations. You’ll marvel at the legends, lore, and spectacular architecture of iconic and historic sites.
Visit Haarlem, a major flower bulbs growing district outside of Amsterdam. Explore the former North Sea trading port with its medieval features, gabled houses, and leafy courtyards.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM
Day 15 AMSTERDAM
Canals of Colorful Amsterdam
Classic
Your local expert is ready to guide you through the history and heritage of local destinations. You’ll marvel at the legends, lore, and spectacular architecture of iconic and historic sites.
Explore the iconic waterways of Amsterdam on a Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam’s “Golden Age”, OR:
Active
Embark on energetic excursions to keep you in motion and on the go - from a guided jogging tour of Amsterdam, to biking, paddling, and hiking your way through scenic locales.
See the sights of Amsterdam from a unique perspective by joining our Guided Jogging Tour of the city—all at an easy pace with stops for commentary.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM
Day 16 AMSTERDAM (DISEMBARKATION)
Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning
Start sooner, stay longer. Start your vacation earlier or stay longer with destination options before or after your Avalon cruise.
