Ostend to Dinant (ODI) - 6 days -or- Dinant to Ostend (DIO) - 6 days	For further assistance call 1-800-526-8539
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Detailed Itinerary: Ostende to Dinant (ODI)

Meeting in Dinant early in the afternoon and coach transfer to Ostend. Boarding in Ostend at 5.00pm. Departure of the boat. Settling into your cabin. Presentation of the crew and welcome cocktail. Dinner on board. Stopover depending on sailing conditions.

Day 2:  Bruges - Ghent

Breakfast during the cruise. Sailing on the Ostend-Ghent canal. Arrival in Bruges around 9.00am. Departure for the optional guided tour of the “Venice of the North”, a town of lace, full and olde worlde charm that time has left untouched. For 200 years, Bruges was the leading town in northern Europe in terms of trade, politics and art. Back on board. Lunch. Departure by coach for the optional guided tour of Ghent, cultural centre and reflection of a medieval past. Departure of the boat for Lovendegen where we will rejoin it at the end of the afternoon. We will continue our cruise in the direction of Asper. Overnight stopover. Dinner on board, entertainment in the lounge bar.

Day 3: Ghent - Tournai - Mons

Departure at 6.00am in the morning. Breakfast during the cruise. Disembarkation at 9.00am in Audernarde, departure by coach for the optional guided tour of Tournai. A Roman town and then the royal seat of the Franks, Tournai was involved in the spectacular development of northern Europe. The town has conserved numerous points of interest from this prosperous period (half Romanesque, half Gothic cathedral, town square, Pont des Trous). Back on board in Tournai and departure of the cruise. Lunch. Arrival in Péronne around 2.30pm, point of departure for the optional excursion to the Château de Belœil . The castle has been the residence of the Princes of Ligne for six centuries and contains a rich collection of artefacts from the 15th to 19th centuries, including the famous library of 20,000 tomes. The little train will take you across the 25-hectare 18th century park which is one of the most beautiful French style gardens in Europe. During this time, the boat will sail on alone. Back on board on the way. Continuation of the cruise to Mons, arriving at the end of the day. Dinner on board, followed by entertainment in the lounge bar.

Day 4: Mons - Strepy Thieu - Auvelais

Breakfast during the cruise. Through the boat lift in Strepy-Thieu, a unique civil engineering work. Lunch on board. Departure from Gosselis by coach for the optional excursion to the Abbey of Aulne, followed by a visit to the Val de Sambre brewery and beer tasting. Back on board and continuation of the cruise. Sailing down the Sambre, arriving in Auvelais in the evening. Gala evening. Overnight stopover.

Day 5: Auvelais - Namur - Dinant

Departure early in the morning for Namur. Breakfast on board. Arrival of the boat around 9.00am and departure for the optional guided tour of Namur. This little town situated at the confluence of the Sambre and the Meuse is full of charm. Optional guided tour. Chocolate tasting followed by a tour of the historic centre of Namur. You will wander through the old quarter and its picturesque narrow streets on foot. Back on board for lunch and departure of the cruise, sailing on the Meuse to Dinant. Arrival around 5.00pm. Back on board, dinner followed by an after dinner walk to explore the town in the company of our hostess.

Day 6: Dinant (Disembarkation)

Breakfast on board. Disembarkation at 9.00am. End of our journey.

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Detailed Itinerary: Dinant to Ostende (DIO)

Day 1: Dinant (Embarkation)

Boarding in Dinant at 6.00pm and time to settle comfortably in your cabins before meeting the crew during a welcome cocktail reception. Dinner on board then follow your guide on a walking tour of the old town. Overnight stop.

Day 2: Dinant - Namur

Breakfast on board before we sail down the Meuse to Namur, passing through several locks on the way. Lunch will be served on board before reaching Namur around 1.00pm. This charming town lies at the junction of the Sambre and the Meuse. Take a guided tour of the town (optional) visit the historic centre, before continuing on foot through the picturesque narrow streets to visit the old quarters. Return to the ship for dinner and a free evening. Overnight stop.

Day 3: Namur - Mons

Early morning start and breakfast cruising up the Sambre, passing through several locks, stopping off at the lock in Auvelais from which an excursion is organised to Aulne abbey, followed by a visit to the Val de Sambre brewery. Lunch while cruising along the Charleroi-Brussels canal, through the locks and arriving in Seneffe where it branches off into the Nimy Blaton canal and on through the boat lift in Strepy-Thieu, which is unique in its kind (passage through the lock can also be scheduled day 4 morning if necessary). Dinner will be served on board as we sail through 2 more locks and on to reach Mons around 8.00pm.Overnight stop.

Day 4: Mons - Tournai - Oudenarde - Lovendegen

Breakfast on board before leaving on an excursion (optional) to Beloeil castle which has been the home of Princes for over 6 centuries and boasts a rich collection of antiques from between the 15th and 19th centuries, not to mention the famous library with over 20,000 works. The miniature train will take you across the huge 17th century park which stretches over 25 hectares to admire the most beautiful formal gardens in Europe. In the meantime, the ship sails on along the Nimy Blaton canal to Peronne where we will join it around noon for lunch. We set sail again towards Tournai, arriving there around 2.00pm for a guided tour. Before becoming a Royal city under the Franks it was a Roman town and played an active role in the spectacular development of Northern Europe. The city has kept a great number of treasures from that great period – its half Romanesque, half Gothic cathedral, ‘Grand Place’ and ‘Bridge of Holes’. Return to the ship around 5.00pm in Audenarde. Enjoy some free time or accompany your hostess on a walking tour of the town. Back to the ship for dinner and a gala evening before cruising off towards the lock in Lovendegen.

Day 5: Ghent - Bruges - Ostend

Breakfast while cruising to reach Lovendegen from where an excursion is organised (optional) to Ghent, whose medieval centre and typical houses still bear witness to the splendour of its past. Return to the ship in Bruges for lunch. Around 1.00pm, departure by coach on the optional sightseeing tour of the city, known as “Venice of the North”. Bruges is famous for its lacework and old world charm. For over 200 years, it was the most prominent town in Northern Europe for trade, politics and art. Return to the ship around 3.30pm before sailing off towards Ostend. Dinner will be served while cruising on to reach Ostend during the evening. Overnight stop.

Day 6: Ostend (Disembarkation) - transfer to Dinant

Breakfast on board before disembarking at 9.00am. Return to Dinant by coach. End of our journey.

Note:

• Please check with us regarding availability of English shore excursions.
• A valid passport is required for travel. Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.