GCCL TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDE Holland & Belgium in Springtime 2022 Learn how to personalize your experience on this vacation Grand Circle Cruise Line® The Leader in River Cruising Worldwide 1 Grand Circle Cruise Line ® 347 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210 Dear Traveler, At last, the world is opening up again for curious travel lovers like you and me. Soon, you’ll once again be discovering the places you’ve dreamed of. In the meantime, the enclosed Grand Circle Cruise Line Travel Planning Guide should help you keep those dreams vividly alive. Before you start dreaming, please let me reassure you that your health and safety is our number one priority. As such, we’re requiring that all Grand Circle Cruise Line travelers, ship crew, Program Directors, and coach drivers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at least 14 days prior to departure. Our new, updated health and safety protocols are described inside. The journey you’ve expressed interest in, Holland & Belgium in Springtime River Cruise, will be an excellent way to resume your discoveries. It takes you into the true heart of Holland and Belgium, thanks to our groups of 38-45 travelers. Plus, our Dutch or Belgian Program Director will reveal their country’s secret treasures as only an insider can. You can also rely on the seasoned team at our regional office in Bratislava, who are ready to help 24/7 in case any unexpected circumstances arise. Throughout your explorations, you’ll meet local people and gain an intimate understanding of the regional culture. Visit a family-owned tulip farm in Amsterdam to learn about the daily life of modern tulip farmers; and enter the home of a local family in Enkuizen for a Home-Hosted Op de Koffie where you will share coffee, cake, and conversation. Plus, a portion of our proceeds goes toward the charitable efforts of Grand Circle Foundation: inside you’ll also see how your travel dollar helps make the world a better place. We understand that no two people are the same. That’s why more than 80% of our travelers take advantage of the freedom to personalize their experience. Join the 47% of travelers who extend their time abroad. Add the pre-trip extension to Belgium: Bruges, post-trip extension to The Netherlands: Amsterdam or Germany: Berlin, or a combination of these extensions to your Holland and Belgium vacation. I hope you find this Grand Circle Travel Planning Guide helpful. If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to contact one of our Travel Counselors at 1-800-221-2610. Warm regards, Harriet R. Lewis Vice Chairman Overseas Adventure Travel P.S. For further peace of mind, please know that we are EXTENDING our Risk-Free Booking Policy through 12/31/21. Learn more at www.gct.com/riskfree-booking. 2 WHAT’S INSIDE TRIP SUMMARY It’s Included . 4 Departure Dates and Prices . 5 Deck Plans. 6 Freedom to Personalize Your Experience . 8 DETAILED DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY . .9 ESSENTIAL TRAVEL INFORMATION . 28 Travel Documents & Entry Requirements . 30 Rigors, Vaccines & General Health . 32 Money Matters: Local Currency & Tipping Guidelines . 35 Air, Optional Tours & Staying in Touch . 39 Packing: What to Bring & Luggage Limits . 43 Climate & Average Temperatures . 49 Aboard Your Ship: Cabin Features, Dining & Services . 51 About Your Destinations: Culture, Etiquette & More. 56 Demographics & History . 72 Resources: Suggested Reading & Movies . 79 Health & Safety Measures – Vaccines Required . 86 MAP . 87 3 Holland & Belgium in Springtime Belgium: Antwerp, Ghent | The Netherlands: Veere, Kinderdijk, Dordrecht, Rotterdam, Enkhuizen, Amsterdam Countries: 2 | Cities: 8 | 10 Nights Aboard Our Privately Owned 140-Passenger M/S River Harmony or 162-Passenger M/S River Aria Keukenhof Flower Park, the Netherlands Celebrate the beauty of spring at the lowest prices per day on our enchanting Holland & Belgium River Cruise $ IT’S INCLUDED 12 days from 2795 Including international airfare International airfare, airport transfers, government taxes, fees, and airline from New York fuel surcharges, unless you choose to make your own air arrangements Travel from only $233 per day Accommodations for 10 nights aboard a private river ship with wireless Internet access in all common areas and cabins $ 11 days from 1995 ALL meals: 10 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 10 dinners—plus all onboard house beer, River Cruise only wine, and soft drinks Travel from only $182 per day 10 included tours with personal headsets and 2 Exclusive Discovery Series events—Home-Hosted Op de Koffie • Tulip farm visit Single Supplement: $ 595 Local Program Directors, a Grand Circle Cruise Line exclusive: Our dedicated experts are with you and your group of 38-45 travelers from MAXIMIZE YOUR beginning to end to provide an insider’s knowledge and perspective DISCOVERIES & VALUE Gratuities for local guides and motorcoach drivers All port charges OPTIONAL EXTENSION S all with FREE Single Supplements Baggage handling for 1 piece of luggage per person, including tips Bruges, Belgium 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward your next trip 3 nights pre-trip from $795 Amsterdam, the Netherlands 3 nights post-trip from $945 To get a richer view of the Included Features on this trip, watch our Trip Itinerary video at www.gct.com/shh2022 Berlin, Germany 3 nights post-trip from $895 Holland & Belgium in Springtime 4 HOLLAND & BELGIUM FREEDOM TO PERSONALIZE YOUR EXPERIENCE IN SPRINGTIME From spending more time abroad or adding optional extensions, to choosing your air preferences, our Travel Counselors are here to 2022 DATES & PRICES discuss your personalization options at 1-800-221-2610. To calculate your trip price with airfare, add deck price to air add-ons below. Visit www.gct.com/personalize-shh2022 for details. CABIN CATEGORY MAR 20 MAR 31 APR 9, 10 APR 19-30; MAY A Serenade Deck $ 2695 $ 2995 $ 4045 $ 4495 B (Top Deck w/balcony) $ 2 5 9 5 $ 2 8 9 5 $ 3 8 4 5 $ 4 2 9 5 C Sonata Deck $ 2495 $ 2795 $ 3445 $ 3895 D (Middle Deck w/picture window) $ 2 3 9 5 $ 2 6 9 5 $ 3 3 4 5 $ 3 7 9 5 E Cantata Deck $ 2295 $ 2595 $ 3245 $ 3695 F (Middle Deck w/picture window) $ 2 1 9 5 $ 2 4 9 5 $ 3 1 4 5 $ 3 5 9 5 G Prelude Deck $ 2095 $ 2395 $ 2945 $ 3395 H (Lower Deck w/small window) $ 1 9 9 5 $ 2 2 9 5 $ 2 6 4 5 $ 3 0 9 5 AIR ADD-ONS MAR 20 MAR 31; APRIL-MAY New York $ 800 $ 900 Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, Newark, Washington, DC $ 900 $ 1000 O r l a n d o , P h i l a d e l p h i a $ 1 0 0 0 $ 1 1 0 0 Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Houston, Miami, Phoenix, Seattle $ 1100 $ 1200 Dallas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Tampa $ 1200 $ 1300 Additional departure cities are available. Upgrade to Business Class may be available for the international portion of your flight. Call for details. SHH2022 SHIP & CRUISE DIRECTION Prices are per person. Airfare prices include Anterp to Amsterdam Amsterdam to Antwerp government taxes, fees, and airline fuel surcharges. Standard Terms & Conditions apply, please visit our Departure Ship Departure Ship website: www.gct.com/tc. Every effort has been made 4/10, 4/30 M/S River Harmony 5 / 1 , 5 / 2 1 M / S River Harmony to produce this information accurately. We reserve the right to correct errors. 3/20; 4/9, 4/29; M / S River Aria 3/31; 4/19; 5/9 M/S River Aria Low-cost Single Supplement is $ 595 on your main trip 5/19 & FREE on all extensions. For specific departure dates, current availability, and detailed pricing, visit www.gct.com/shh2022 pricing NEW: SAVE UP TO 10% WITH OUR GOOD BUY PLAN SHARE YOUR LOVE OF TRAVEL The earlier you reserve your departure and pay in full, the more New travelers you refer will instantly save $100, and you’ll earn you’ll save—up to 10%—plus, you’ll lock in your price. increasing rewards—up to a FREE trip! For details, visit www.gct.com/gbd For details, visit www.gct.com/va Publication Date 10/5/20 1-800-221-2610 • www.gct.com/shh2022 5 Your Rhine, Mosel, Main, and Danube river ships Sail aboard our privately owned 140- to 162-passenger vessels Grand Circle Cruise Line’s Rhine, Mosel, Main, and Danube ships were designed specifically to create an unforgettable European river cruise experience for American travelers. Explore storybook landscapes with up to four groups of no more than 38-45 travelers, each with one of our dedicated, local Grand Circle Program Directors, and enjoy the attentive onboard service of our top-notch English-speaking ship crew. Shipboard Features • Dining room with single, open seating: Enjoy • Sun Deck: Sit outside and enjoy the view as your ship regionally-inspired cuisine in your ship’s dining room. glides past the European countryside. • Bar & lounge: Relax with friends old and new. • English-speaking crew: Our crew is dedicated to your comfort, and all shipboard announcements are made • Complimentary beverages: Enjoy house beer and in English. house wine—as well as soft drinks—at any time of day while onboard. • Smoking/non-smoking: Smoking is not permitted indoors, but is permitted on the Sun Deck. • Complimentary wireless Internet access: Connect online in cabins and common areas. Please note: Wireless • Shipboard security: State-of-the-art shipboard radar Internet access may be limited at certain points throughout ensures safe navigation at night and in low visibility; your River Cruise. safe docking space; onboard security staff; state-of- the-art fire safety system; and secured entryway doors.