www.CruiseSpecialists.com | Toll Free: (800) 544-2469 | Fax: (206) 219-2494 221 First Avenue West, Suite 210, Seattle, WA 98119 | 100 Rowland Way, Suite 210, Novato, CA 94945 Voyage of the Vikings Exclusive Shore Excursions ms Rotterdam | July 20 - August 24, 2016 Godafoss Falls, Iceland Exclusive Shore Excursions We are excited to present our collection of shore opportunities for the 2016 Holland America Voyage of the Vikings. All tours will be escorted by a Cruise Specialists representative and operate in private motorcoaches arranged for our groups. We hope that you take advantage of these preferred tours and pricing and join your Voyage Hosts, Henk & Lucia Barnhoorn, and your fellow Cruise Specialists cruisers on these fun excursions. TOUR ACTIVITY LEVELS: These guidelines are meant to help you select the tours that are best suited to your physical abilities and level of comfort. If you use a wheelchair, or have any mobility challenges, please contact us to discuss your tour options. All tours, regardless of level of activity, involve stepping in and out of vehicles or motorcoaches. All clients signing up for tours should be able to embark or disembark vehicles/ motorcoaches with minimal assistance. Strenuous tours are not suitable for anyone who has difficulty walking or who has serious back or knee problems. Easy Activity Very light activity. May include short distances to walk and some stairs. Moderate Activity Requires some effort, including walking medium distances over uneven surfaces and/or stairs. Strenuous Activity Requires active participation, walking long distances over uneven and steep terrain and/or stairs. 1 Thingvellir National Park, Iceland 2 3 | VIP Cruise Collection Experience Iceland’s Famous “Golden Circle” with Lunch July 30 – 8 ½ hours – Lunch Included Reykjavik, Iceland This popular Reykjavik excursion encompasses the “Big Three”: Gullfoss Waterfall, Geysir Hot Springs area and Thingvellir National Park. They are collectively known as the “Golden Circle” and provide a look at some of the Iceland’s most scenic wonders. Begin your day venturing into the beautiful Thingvellir National Park–a UNESCO World Heritage Site about 30 miles from Reykjavik. Thingvellir ranks as one of Iceland’s top attractions. The area is surrounded by mountains and encompasses a vast lava plain of green moss and wild flowers. It is regarded by the Icelanders as a sacred place, for the world’s oldest legislative parliament was founded here in 930. Leaving Thingvellir, continue to Gullfoss Waterfall, also known as the “Golden Waterfall.” Gullfoss is the most famous of Iceland’s many waterfalls. The river Hvita, “The White River”, drops 96 feet in two falls, creating an awesome spectacle. Stopping at the Geysir area, you will be able to see hissing springs and other geothermal phenomena. After lunch at the Hotel Geysir, start the return journey to Reykjavik. Once back in the capital, make a short stop at the Pearl vantage point, for another photo opportunity, before arriving back at the pier. Moderate Activity 3 Gullfoss Waterfalls, Iceland 4 5 | VIP Cruise Collection Gullfoss Waterfalls, Iceland Puffin Paradise Express July 31 – 2 hours Reykjavik, Iceland This tour offers the opportunity to observe these magnificent birds up close and get a glimpse of their particular paradise. A transfer by motorcoach takes you to the dock, where you will board your small, charming motorized wooden vessel for your short cruise to Lundey and Akurey Islands, located in the Reykjavík bay area. The boat is specially designed to get you close to the islands to allow for better views of the puffins resting on the islands, sitting on the ocean’s surface or flying in the sky. The puffin is the most common bird in Iceland, with the country being home to about 10 million of these charming animals. The Puffins are colonial nesters and inhabit Akurey and Lundey while raising their offspring. Fifteen thousand pairs are believed to nest on Akurey, while approximately ten thousand pairs nest on Lundey. The islands are nature reserves and no one is allowed to land there during the nesting season. Upon arrival to the islands, the boat’s engine will be turned off so that guests can enjoy the birds and beautiful surroundings in silence. Your local guide will share a wealth of knowledge of the ornithology of the area, providing fascinating insights into the birds and their habitat. In addition to viewing puffins, you may also see Northern Fulmars, Cormorants, Eider Ducks, Gulls, Arctic Terns and Black Guillemots. At the conclusion of your wildlife viewing, return to shore for your motorcoach transfer to the ship. Guests wishing to explore Reykjavik City Center on their own after the tour will be offered an optional drop off in downtown. Guests taking advantage of this option will be responsible for making their own way back to the ship. Please note: This tour is not recommended for guests with walking difficulties or physical limitations. It is recommended that guests dress in warm, layered clothing and wear flat, comfortable shoes. Guests should also bring raingear in case of inclement weather. Time spent viewing the Puffins from the boat is approximately 30 minutes. Wildlife sightings are likely but not guaranteed. Binoculars are provided on board. Depending upon the size of our group, Cruise Specialists may share the boat with other non-Cruise Specialists guests. Easy Activity 5 Nesting puffins near Reykjavik, Iceland 6 7 | VIP Cruise Collection Historic Delft & The Hague with Lunch August 6 – 9 hours – Lunch Included Rotterdam, The Netherlands Begin your exciting day in the Netherlands with an approximately thirty minute drive by comfortable coach to medieval Delft. Once in Delft, you will visit one of the two original remaining Delftware manufacturers in the world, “The Delftse Pauw”. Enjoy a guided tour of this small and interesting place, with an opportunity to purchase some original Delftware. Following your visit to the Delftware manufacturer, a short drive will take you to the medieval city center. Stroll along the canals and discover the most beautiful spots of historic Delft. The city is also known as “Miniature Amsterdam” because of its canals and the grand monumental merchant’s mansions in the old town center. The town center is one of the best-preserved examples of a medieval Dutch town. It is a town with rich historic and cultural heritage. Delft is also the home of the painter Johannes Vermeer. There will be a guided walking tour through the small historical city center including visits to the Old and New Church, which are both of great importance for the city of Delft. All of the Royal family members are buried in the New Church. Here you will also find the well- decorated tomb of Willem of Orange. In the Old Church rest the well-known painter Johannes Vermeer and great ocean commanders such as Piet Hein and Maarten Tromp. There are also some spectacular stained glass windows in the Old Church, done by the famous artist Joep Nicolas. We will also pass by the street where Vermeer painted his famous painting “The Little Street”. After a few minutes of leisure time, continue to historic The Hague for a typical Dutch lunch on the main square. The Hague is the home of King Willem Alexander, the Dutch parliament and well-known museums. After lunch, we will take you for a short walk through the parliament buildings “Inner Court” with the “Knights Hall”, the oldest part of The Hague from the 13th century. Next, one of the highlights of the tour is a visit to the Mauritshuis Museum for a guided tour. The museum building is from 1637 and was once the home of Johan Maurits, former governor of Brazil. In 2014, the museum had an extensive renovation and it is now one of the oldest and most important museums in the Netherlands. The museum contains notable works from Johannes Vermeer including his famous “The Girl with the Pearl Earring” and the “View of Delft”. In addition, you will also find a large collection of Rembrandts, “The Goldfinch” by Fabritius and other 17th century painters, such as Hals, Rubens, Steen and Avercamp. It is an amazing collection! Next, continue with a scenic drive through the historical city center including a photo stop at Palace Noordeinde, the working Palace of the King. Finally, enjoy a backstage tour at the spectacular Panorama Mesdag Museum. The Panorama is a cylindrical painting, more than 45-feet high and 390-feet in circumference. It is the oldest 19th century panorama in the world in its original site. Afterwards, return to Rotterdam to rejoin your ship. Please note: This tour is not suitable for guests in wheelchairs. Several venues visited include some stairs. 7 The Hague, The Netherlands Moderate-Strenuous Activity 8 9 | VIP Cruise Collection Best of Rotterdam with Snack August 7 – 5 ¾ hours Rotterdam, The Netherlands Begin your day with a short drive to the steam ship ss Rotterdam, the former flagship of Holland America Line. The fifth ss Rotterdam, also known as “The Grande Dame”, is a former ocean liner and has been a hotel ship in Rotterdam since 2010. She was launched by Queen Juliana of the Netherlands in a gala ceremony on September 13, 1958, and was completed the following summer. The ss Rotterdam was the last great Dutch “ship of state”, employing the finest artisans from the Netherlands in her construction psrocess. Her career spanned forty-one years. She sailed from 1959 until her final retirement in September 2000. Upon arrival, there will be a guided tour through the ship including visits to the bridge, engine room and the beautifully decorated lounge areas. After this exciting visit, there will be a short drive to the famous Hotel New York, where coffee or tea with a Dutch pastry will be served.