Holland ‘Tulip Cruises’ (available March 31 —May 24 2008)

Sunday
You are met at your hotel in Amsterdam at 2.00pm and driven through the scenic heart of Holland to Absoluut2 for a champagne welcome onboard. We begin our cruise with a trip through Rotterdam harbour, the second largest in the world, past an amazing display of Dutch architecture both modern and ancient. From there we head north up the river Ijssel to our first mooring and your first gourmet meal onboard in the quaint town of Gouda.

Monday
After breakfast there is time to explore the historic riches of Gouda including the fascinating St John church, dating back to 1280 with it’s colourful stained glass windows, the picture-perfect town hall and square plus the Waag where the famous Gouda cheese has been weighed since 1668. Then back to Absoluut2 for a lunch cruise through some of Holland’s most beautiful countryside to our next overnight stop in Haarlem.

Tuesday
Spend the morning shopping in the cosmopolitan town of Haarlem followed by a visit to the great church of St. Bavo’s. This gothic masterpiece houses the Christian Muller organ, which was graced by the likes of Handel and the very young Mozart. Our afternoon is taken up viewing the fields of tulips drifting by as we head north up the Spaarne to the region of Zaandam with its traditional Dutch green ‘dollhouse’ architecture.

Wednesday
This morning, we visit the historic village of Zaan Schaans with is working windmills, clog makers, cheese farm and mustard mill. Everything that the Dutch are famous for can be found here in this tiny village. A real treat and an ‘absoluut’ must for anyone travelling to Holland. We then enjoy an afternoon cruise through the centre of Amsterdam, past the lifting bridges and canal houseboats to our mooring for the night in the peaceful countryside of the Amstel River.

Thursday
If flowers are your passion then one of the highlights of the voyage will definitely be the visit to Keukenhof gardens. Stroll through 32 hectares of glorious color and scent as you are immersed in a sea of flowers in this unique park. Absoluut-ly breathtaking! After lunch we cruise to Delft to spend the afternoon wandering through this fascinating city and to see first-hand the artisans that make the Royal Delftware porcelain.

Friday
After breakfast and a short morning cruise we find ourselves in the fascinating town of Schiedam. This little town has some amazing sights including six of the world’s largest working traditional windmills, a glass museum, a chocolate art factory, historic boat harbour plus it is also famous for it’s Jenever (Dutch gin) distilleries. So a visit to the gin museum and tasting room is a must!

Saturday
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before we return you to the airport or your hotel.

Champagne Cruises between Paris and Epernay (or reverse)
available June 08—21 and October 12—November 01 2008

A glorious week of cheese and wine tasting while cruising on the Marne, one of the most beautiful rivers in France….

Sunday
We meet at your hotel and drive to Absoluut2, moored in the heart of Paris. After a champagne reception you settle in to your cabin and we cruise through the center of Paris, past the Eiffel tour, Notre Dame, and under 30 of her bridges then onto the Marne River, through a tunnel, for our first gourmet dinner on board.

Monday
Morning visit to the magnificent Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte. Rejoin Absoluut2 for an afternoon cruise to Meaux in time to stroll around town and visit the cathedral.

Tuesday
This morning we can take a cheese tasting of the famous Brie de Meaux and visit Pomery Mustard de Meaux. bringing both of them back to add to the lunch. A scenic cruise brings us to La Ferte with its delightful riverside walks, and its imposing 17th Century buildings.

Wednesday
A morning cruise to Chateau Thierry, the scene of American battles in World War I. Optional visit to Hill 204 and Belleau Wood battlefield.

Thursday
The Marne takes you through vine-covered hills dotted with small wine villages to the delightful town of Damery. This afternoon we visit the vast cellars of Moet et Chandon for a private tasting.

Friday
We leave the river Marne for a small canal leading to Epernay. Visit the Abbey of Hautvilliers where the monk Dom Perignon first made champagne. The afternoon in Reims visiting the cathedral, shopping or down into the cellars of Tattinger, Clicquot or Pomerey. Farewell dinner on board.

Saturday
After breakfast you are transported to your hotel or the airport.

Burgundy Cruises between Nemours to Auxerre
(or reverse, available available June 29—October 1 2008)

Sunday
Pick up at your hotel in Paris at 2pm. Transfer to Absoluut2 moored at Nemours. Champagne reception and and introduction to the facilities. Time for a stroll around the village, before your first gourmet dinner on board.

Monday
A drive through the Forest of Fountainebleau brings us to the 16 Century Chateau… home to 34 different sovereigns. We tour the State apartments and Napoleon I’s imperial inner apartment. Then cruise on to the beautiful village of Moret-sur- Loing made famous by Impressioniste painter Alfred Siley. You can stroll over the arched bridge and around the town. All the locks are manual and you are invited to participate! It’s a lot easier than it looks, and fun.

Tuesday
Today’s cruise takes us from the Canal Lateral du Loing to the River Seine and on to the River Yonne for our mooring in Sens. Here we visit the 11th century masterpiece that is St Etienne Cathedral, with time to stroll and or shop.

Wednesday
A morning visit to St. Florentin, on the Burgundy Canal to see goat milk cheese being made and to savour a tasting. An after lunch cruise with more bike riding or a nap on deck to Joigny; a medieval market town with wooden statues on some of the houses. Time to explore or enjoy a game of boules.

Thursday
We continue winding our way up the River Yonne. After lunch we drive to Chablis to taste Grand Cru wines. Then, on to Irancy for some Pinot Noir, continuing to the Cave de Bailly for a sparkling tasting and tour of the statues in the cavernous caves.

  Friday
A morning cruise brings us to Auxerre, arguably the most beautiful city in France, for a fantastic walking tour around this ancient town. You will be transported to another time as we walk through the winding streets past the well-preserved half-timber façades. Auxerre features some of the best gothic architecture in Europe with its churches, crypts and abbey, plus the clock tower from the 15th Century. Some of the main streets of the old town have been pedestrianized and provide an ‘absoluut’ shopper’s heaven.

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

Northern Burgundy Cruise between Paris to Auxerre
(and reverse, available (available October 05—11 2008)

Sunday
You will be met at your hotel at 2.00pm and chauffeured to Absoluut2 moored in Paris for a champagne welcome. Once you’re settled in you’ll spend the afternoon marveling at the sights of Paris from the deck as we cruise past Notre Dame cathedral, the Louvre museum, the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower. We will moor that night just out of town, in the quiet, where you will enjoy your first gourmet dinner on board.

Monday
After breakfast there is an excursion to a Baroque style chateau—the Vaux-le-Vicomte. After lunch on to the charming 12th Century medieval village of Moret, where the Impressionists Monet, Renoir and Sisley sought inspiration.

Tuesday
This morning we visit the gardens and stables of Fontainebleau. Then cruise on the upper part of the Seine to Montereau, where the River Yonne meets us.

Wednesday
A pleasant morning cruise along the beautiful River Yonne to the lovely little town of Sens. The afternoon’s excursion to one of the largest and finest gothic cathedrals in Europe, St-Etienne will leave you in awe; it is a magnificent building that took over 300 years to construct. There is plenty of time to shop, visit the museum or stroll around the town.

Thursday
Winding up the River we arrive at the riverside town of Joigny, with its houses of sculpted wooden façades, on narrow cobblestone streets. The church is perched on top of the village with great views.

Friday
Now we cruise along the upper reaches of the River Yonne to Auxerre, this most beautiful of Burgundian towns whose skyline is punctuated by church spires and its streets lined with timbered 16th century houses. Time for shopping, or photographing the 15th century clock tower. Our last night together on the river is celebrated with a special gourmet dinner of French cuisine.

Saturday
After a leisurely breakfast you will be transported to the airport or your hotel.

PLEASE NOTE ALL ITINERARIES ARE SIMPLY A SAMPLE OF WHAT YOU MIGHT DO ON YOUR CRUISE. ALL ITINERARIES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND THIS IS AT THE CAPTAIN’S DISCRETION.