DAY 1: Friday August 8, 2025

Antwerp, Belgium

Once you’ve cleared customs at the Brussels International Airport (BRU), you'll 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.

DAY 2: Saturday August 9, 2025

Ghent or Bruges, Belgium

On your second day in Belgium, visit either Bruges, the capital of West Flanders and a well-preserved medieval city, or vibrant Ghent, the capital of East Flanders. Ghent is lively, full of medieval architecture, and pedestrian-friendly. With your guide, stroll from the Church of Saint James to the Friday Market square, passing the Great Butchers’ Hall and elegant trading houses. Your tour ends at the Belfort bell tower. Enjoy a foodie tour and some free time to explore Ghent before returning to the ship.

Alternatively, take a scenic drive to Bruges, known as the "Venice of the North" for its UNESCO-designated center. Once a hub for the international cloth trade, Bruges boasts beautiful churches and mansions. Your local guide will lead you to the canal cruise terminal for a boat ride through its picturesque canals, flanked by swans and historic homes. After lunch on your own, enjoy incredible views from the Belfry Tower before returning to the ship.

DAY 3: Sunday August 10, 2025

Rotterdam or Amsterdam, The Netherlands

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.

DAY 4: Monday August 11, 2025

Dusseldorf, Germany

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.

DAY 5: Tuesday August 12, 2025

Scenic Sailing The Rhine River

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!

DAY 6: Wednesday August 13, 2025

Mannheim & Heidelberg, Germany

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.

DAY 7: Thursday August 14, 2025

Strasbourg, France

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.

DAY 8: Friday August 15, 2025

Basel, Switzerland

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.