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History, Art & Architecture along the North Sea

History, Art & Architecture along the North Sea

From AUD $6,150

Description

This voyage is an art connoisseur’s dream, visiting some of the best museums in the world in the space of nine days, with a state-of-the-art five-star small luxury cruise ship as our means of transportation. We begin our journey in Copenhagen with a visit to the marvelous collection of modern art at Louisiana Museum, situated at water’s edge with views of Sweden across the sound. Then transiting the Kiel Canal, we spend five days on the eastern shores of the North Sea exploring the great museums of Holland and Belgium.
During an overnight in Amsterdam, we will enjoy special access and a reception at the Stedelijk Museum of modern and conetmporary art.

Accompanying us will be Till-Holger Borchert, renowned art historian and Director of the Municipal Museums of Bruges, who will provide context for the paintings, sculptures and architecture we encounter as we enjoy special and exclusive access to these unparalleled collections.

Trip Name
History, Art & Architecture along the North Sea
Days
8
Overview
Vessel Type: Luxury Passenger Capacity: 92 cabins Built: 2017/2018 Featuring innovative and environmentally-friendly equipment, elegantly designed staterooms, spacious suites with large windows, and lounge areas that open onto the outside, this new limited-capacity yacht boasting just 92 staterooms and suites will offer you a truly unique cruising experience. As the first ship in a new series that remains true to the Ponant spirit, Le Dumont d'Urville will embody the unique atmosphere that is the cruise line’s hallmark: a subtle blend of refinement, intimacy and comfort. Aboard this ship that flies the French flag, you will experience the incomparable pleasure of an intimate cruise, with the possibility of exploring an ever-increasing range of destinations in an ethnic-chic ambiance with luxury service. Experience a luxurious setting where the accent is on authenticity and passion for travel. RESTAURANTS As it is an essential part of French culture, gastronomy will naturally have pride of place aboard this new ship. Through its two restaurants, Le Dumont d'Urville will invite you on a journey to elegance and epicureanism. In a relaxed atmosphere, a first dining area located on Deck 3 and able to seat 70 will serve grilled meats daily, along with a variety of salads and desserts. To the back of Deck 4, you will find a 260 m² panoramic restaurant which can accommodate all of our passengers in a single sitting. Designed differently to that on our other ships, this dining area, which opens onto the outside, will have a buffet of salads, desserts and cheeses at your disposal. Our discreet and attentive crew will provide table service for hot meals. PUBLIC AREAS Like Le Boréal and its sisterships, Le Dumont d'Urville has many common areas that are designed and equipped to meet all of your needs while preserving the intimacy of each passenger. A 140 m² reception area includes: A reception/concierge desk, An excursions desk, The ship’s administrative services, The sales office, manned by our Guest Relations Officer, Our 50 m² boutique which sells clothing, jewellery, beauty products, postcards and various accessories, Toilets accessible to passengers with reduced mobility. A new hydraulic platform with adjustable height provides: Easier boarding than on any other cruise ship, Easier Zodiac embarkation and disembarkation for expeditions, Easier access to the sea for swimming and practising various water sports such as kayaking or paddle-boarding. A pool deck offering: A pool with a panoramic view, equipped with a counter-current swimming system, A pleasant solarium, An outdoor bar and lounge with armchairs and sofas. A 200 m² main lounge which can accommodate all of our passengers to share convivial moments and to host activities organised during the day or evening. Lastly, a theatre that seats 188, equipped with: The latest sound and lighting technology, A LED wall as the stage backdrop, for the projection of high-resolution images and videos.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 COPENHAGEN
Connected to the far eastern side of Sealand island, a few kilometres away from the Swedish coasts, Copenhagen offers you the high colour of Scandinavian capitals. You can discover the city's riches that weaves through the canal networks through the historical districts of Christiansborg and Nyhavn. Many palaces provide an apercu of Danish history. For eating, you can try out the smorebrod, a traditional dish composed of several kinds of smoked fish.
Day 2 - Day 2 CROSSING THE KIEL CANAL
Spanning around one hundred kilometres, the Kiel Canal links the North Sea to the Baltic Sea, crossing the Jutland peninsula. It is the world’s busiest artificial waterway.
Day 3 - Day 3 HARLINGEN
Lying at the mouth of the Harinxma canal in the Frise province of the Netherlands, Harlingen has always had a very close relationship with the sea. Once a whale fishing centre and today a port specialised in shrimp fishing, its dynamism has transformed it into a modern city which also offers travellers museums and sites of interest. The local museum, the Hannemahuis, is housed in an 18th Century dwelling and presents a collection of regional furniture and objects retracing the history of the city. The lighthouse and the city hall with their typically Dutch architecture also deserve a visit.
Day 4 - Days 4 - 5 AMSTERDAM
Amsterdam is above all a city of water. Omnipresent, it guides the traveller’s steps, from street to street, from canal to canal, its bridges seeming to bend their arches to form allegiances with him. Let yourself fall in love with the grace and romanticism that emanate from this charming scene. Known around the world for its museums and the finest collection of the Dutch and Flemish masters of the golden age, this city is home to many other treasures. Take a stroll through the old district or pay a visit to a diamond house – do not miss this “treasure chest” of the Netherlands.
Day 5 - Day 6 ANTWERP
Located in the Flemish region of Belgium, Antwerp is worth a visit for its remarkable architectural heritage. In this moderately-sized, cosmopolitan city, you will be able to stroll around the ancient city centre, dominated by the most important monument in Antwerp, the Notre-Dame Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The museums of the city retrace the history of Antwerp, including the home of Rubens, containing the works of the painter, and the Plantin-Moretus museum, a print works and publishing house that are UNESCO listed. From Grote Markt, the central square in the city, you will be captivated by the attractive sight formed by the unusual medieval architecture of the guild houses.
Day 6 - Day 7 OSTEND
Located on the Flemish coastline, half way between France and the Netherlands, the elegant city of Ostend is a favourite summer destination for Belgians. You can enjoy the “queen of beaches”, a stretch of fine white sand punctuated by breakwaters, covered by the North Sea at high tide. The seafront boasts sumptuous facades from the Belle Epoque, such as Villa Maritza, which stands witness to this seaside town’s rich past. Art amateurs will enjoy the excellent Kunstmuseumaan Zee, where a retrospective of Belgian art dating from 1830 is on display.
Day 7 - Day 8 HONFLEUR
A treasure of the Côte Fleurie, Honfleur is located on the edge of la Crique de Rouen in Normandy. You will no doubt admire the historical ships moored in its old port. With its tall, slate-covered houses, the quays provide a great setting for a very nice walk. In the streets behind the harbour, you will see many timber houses. These picturesque places were the cradle of several pre-impressionist painters. You can see their works in the Eugène Boudin museum. Exhibited works represent scenes of medieval streets and the coastline as it used to be, as illustrated by the Butin beach and its lush green hillsides.
Day 8 - Please Note:
Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
25-08-201901-09-2019AUD $6,150Deluxe Stateroom
25-08-201901-09-2019AUD $13,440Grand Deluxe Suite
25-08-201901-09-2019AUD $13,810Owner's Suite
25-08-201901-09-2019AUD $6,480Prestige Stateroom Deck 4
25-08-201901-09-2019AUD $6,640Prestige Stateroom Deck 5
25-08-201901-09-2019AUD $6,810Prestige Stateroom Deck 6
25-08-201901-09-2019AUD $8,880Deluxe Suite
25-08-201901-09-2019AUD $12,370Prestige Suite Deck 5
25-08-201901-09-2019AUD $12,720Prestige Suite Deck 6
25-08-201901-09-2019AUD $13,080Privilege Suite

Inclusions

    • Series of lectures and discussions with Till-Holger Borchert
    • Included pre-cruise in Copenhagen with visit to Louisiana Museum
    • Private after-hours tour and reception at the recently renovated Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam
    • Specially designed optional excursions to: Groninger Museum; Rijksmuseum; Mauritshuis; Rubens’ masterpieces in the Antwerp Cathedral; Michelangelo’s Madonna in Bruges

Map