'ABSOLUUT2'

Canal and river cruising in Europe is a relaxing experience that is inherently flexible in nature. The following itinerary is a SAMPLE of the places that you can expect to see and visit during your Tulip Cruise in Holland. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included on board daily, beginning with dinner on Sunday and ending with breakfast on Saturday. Open bar, all excursions, and transfers, Internet access (limited in Holland, only). Water levels, waterway traffic, and maintenance of canals and locks have an effect on canal and river cruising itineraries. Some waterways are subject to occasional closures because of drought, storms, floods, canal/lock repairs, or other unforeseen circumstances. In the event of such occurrences, the appropriate itinerary changes will need to be made.


Sunday—Amsterdam / Schiedam
Meet at your Hotel in Amsterdam at 2:00 p.m. and transfer to ‘Absoluut2.' You are welcomed on board with an aperitif and some time to relax and a stroll around SCHIEDAM, known for its six working windmills (five of which are the highest in the world), or jenever (Dutch gin) distillery. Then enjoy your first dinner on board.

Monday—Schiedam / Leidschendam
We start today with a breakfast cruise through the tiny canals of Schiedam, to Delft, famous for the blue-andwhite porcelain that bears its name. Delft is a beautiful town & has many historic connections including being one of the starting Chambers of the Dutch East India Company and the birthplace of artist Jan Vermeer. Visit a factory to learn how the world famous pottery is made.
Then a late afternoon cruise to moor in Leidschendam

Tuesday—Leidschendam / Haarlem
This morning, we cruise through the University City of Leiden, and on to a small lake.
Spend some time shopping in the cosmopolitan town or visit St. Bavo’s Cathedral, where both Mozart and Handel played on its magnificent Muller organ.

Wednesday—Haarlem / Zaandam
Morning cruise on the Northsea Canal to the historic village of Zaan Schaans with its working windmills; clog makers, cheese farm and mustard mill. Everything the Dutch are know for can be found in this quaint village.

Thursday—Zaandam / Oude Wettering
Morning cruise through the center of Amsterdam. Continue past lifting bridges and canal houseboats to your mooring for the evening in the peaceful countryside. After lunch experience one of the highlights of the cruise. Walk through the Keukenhof Gardens, a 70-acre showcase for the Dutch floral industry. Visitors are treated to an ever-changing display of spring flowers beginning with crocus and narcissus followed by hyacinths and tulips a few weeks later. (On cruise dates when the Keukenhof Gardens are not open, we will enjoy a visit to the Peace Palace instead.)

Friday—Oude Wettering / Schiedam
Early morning cruise to Gouda, see the remarkable stained glass windows in St John’s church dating back to the 15th century and take a walking tour of Gouda, famous for its cheese, pipes and candles. An afternoon cruise down the Ijssle , & through Rotterdam harbour. Here we enjoy special farewell dinner.

Saturday—After a leisurely breakfast, we transfer back to your hotel or to Schipol Airport.

Sunday
As a group we meet you at one hotel, of your choice, in Paris at 14.00 hour & transfer to Absoluut2 for a champagne reception and introduction to the crew and facilities.
Time for a stroll around Joigny, a medieval market town, with its fascinating architecture & wooden statues on some of the houses, before your first gourmet dinner on board.

Monday
This morning we cruise to Villeneuve sur Yonne, home of Louis XIII & french actress Lesley Carron.
We lunch by the quay, and then a drive to Chablis to taste Grand Cru wines, or to Irancy for some Pinot Noir tasting.
Continuing to Caves de Bailly we will enjoy a sparkling Burgundy wine tasting and tour of the statues in the cavernous caves.

Tuesday
We enjoy a morning cruise on to the river town of Sens. Here we visit the 11th century masterpiece that is St Etienne Cathedral and Museum, which features an impressive collection of Gallo-Roman antiquities and Napoleon’s hat.
Sens is a great town to walk around and enjoy the french atmosphere or do some shopping.

Wednesday
We continue winding our way down the river Yonne, along the route that the Paris log floaters used.
This afternoon’s visit is to the fortified medieval town of Provins, where you can see knights jousting or birds of prey being used for hunting.

Thursday
This mornings cruise takes us to where the Yonne river meets the Seine & we continue downstream to St. Mammes. After lunch a drive through the Forest of Fontainbleau brings us to the Chateau... home to 34 different sovereigns since the 16th century.
We tour the state apartments and Napoleons 1st imperial inner apartment.

Friday
This morning, a guided walking tour of Moret sur Loing- a village of flowers and towers, made famous by Alfred Sisley. We can stroll over the stone arched bridge & around the town much represented in the aquarelles and oils of artistes.
A lunch cruise along the canal to Nemours. All the locks today are manual and you are invited to join in, it’s easier than you think and fun too.

Saturday
After a leisurely breakfast we return you to your hotel of choice or the airport.

Please note this is a sample itinerary and is therefore subject to change without notice. Cruises run in the reverse direction on alternate weeks.

Sunday, Day 1 PARIS - NEMOURS
You will be met at 14.00 and transferred to Absoluut2 for a Champagne welcome, and evening cruise through Nemours. Dinner aboard

Monday, Day 2 NEMOURS - NARGIS
After a leisurely breakfast of croissants, preserves and French bread, fresh from the local boulangerie. Drive to Chateau Cely Golf Club, set in 55 hectares of the 14th century château ( 18 holes Par 72 6000m)
For the non-golfers you can visit the world famous chateau of Vaux le Vicomte. If you already know this attaction then you can visit the Chateau de Fountainbleau, famous palace where all the French Kings’ hunted and built monuments to themselves.
Afternoon cruise through beautiful Loiret countryside.

Tuesday, Day 3 NARGIS - MONTARGIS
After lunch, cruise past flower-bedecked bridges and medieval watercourses to the Little Venice, of the north and dinner aboard

Wednesday, Day 4 MONTARGIS- MOUNTBOUY
Morning cruise followed by an excursion to the town of Gien, a pretty town set on the banks of the Loire river. Opportunity to visit the Hunting museum in the Chateau de Gien or the famous Faience museum and boutique.
For the golfers todays venue is Les Bordes Golf Club ( 18 holes par 72 6250m) rated as one of the top courses in France. Picturesque fairways feature densely oak wooded boundaries and large natural water features.
Dinner aboard.

Thursday, Day 5 MONTBOUY - ROGNY-LES-SEPT ECLUSES
Morning or afternoon golf at Roncemay Golf & Country Club. (18 hole, par 72, 6401m) This international standard, challenging course overlooking the Chateau grounds is famous in France.
Other excursions today will include Rogny and its 400 year old 7 lock-flight, now replaced by 6 automatic locks. An alternative excursions is to explore the recreated working Renaissance farm and Chateau of St Fargeau.
Dinner aboard

Friday, Day 6 ROGNY-LES-SEPT-ECLUSES - BRIARE
Tow path bicycling or walking possibilities and excellent cruising to Briare, take in the delightful splendor of the world's longest aqueduct across the mighty River Loire. An afternoon wine tasting in a family run vineyard in the heart of Sancerre with a chance to sample the wines and cheeses for which this region is renowned.
For the golfers todays course is at Golf du Sanserrois. Located on the banks of the river Loire with Sancerre vineyard hills in the background this course, in the midst of century-old trees and natural water hazards, makes it very attractive. (18 hole, par 71, 5820m)
Farewell Dinner

Saturday, Day 7 BRIARE TO PARIS
This morning after breakfast we return you to Paris.

Please note this is a sample itinerary and is therefore subject to change without notice. Cruises run in the reverse direction on alternate weeks.

Sunday: Paris – Joigny
You will be met by our Tour Guide at one collective hotel & transferred by our minibus to Absoluut2 for a Champagne welcome onboard. Walk down cobble streets past half-timbered house before your first dinner on board.

Monday: Joigny - Esnon
Cruise: Up the river Yonne and onto the famous Canal du Bourgogne.
Visit: One of the prettiest towns in France, Auxerre. The success of this thriving town is celebrated by architectural jewels such as the ornately painted 15th century Clock Tower, the soaring Gothic cathedrals of Saint Germain and Saint Stephen and an abundance of ornate Renaissance houses.

Tuesday: St. Florentin
Cruise: Gentle cruising up the Burgundy canal. Enjoy sitting on deck, walking along the towpath or helping wind a lock handle or two.
Visit: The world famous town of Chablis where you'll take a tour of the ancient press and cellars of Domain Laroche, followed by a wine tasting of their various fine vintages

Wednesday: Flogny
Cruise: Further along the Burgundy canal.
Visit: Visit the Grottes d'Arcy sur Cure to visit the caves and see some of the oldest cave paintings in the world. Formed 150000 years ago the Stalagmite and Stalactite formations are fantastic. Cromagnon man painted in these caves 30000 years ago.

Thursday: Tonnerre
Cruise: Along the Burgundy canal.
Visit: This afternoon yuo will visit the Abbay de Fontenay, a UNESCO world heritage site. This wonderful abbey is the last complete Cistercian monastery left in France. It remains a haven of tranquility and beauty.

Friday: Tanlay
Cruise: Along the Burgundy canal.
Visit: Ancy-le-Franc. This Renaissance jewel, set in the centre of a large park on the banks of the canal, houses the biggest collection of Renaissance murals in France making it a direct contender of Fontainebleau Palace. The immense quadrangle, which is a classified historic monument, holds a rich decor attributed to some of the most celebrated Italian, Flemish and Burgundy artists of the 16th and 17th century.

Saturday: Paris
After a one more, leisurely, breakfast your mini bus will transfer you back to your Hotel in Paris.

Please note this is a sample itinerary and is therefore subject to change without notice. Cruises run in the reverse direction on alternate weeks.