Indulge in Art, Heritage, and Flavors on a Cruise along Belgian Canals (port-to-port cruise)

HALLE - STREPY-THIEU - MONS - PÉRONNES-LEZ-ANTOING - OUDENAARDE - ASPER - GHENT

Possibility of transfer between Brussels and Halle (about a one-hour ride).

Passengers are welcome to board our ship at 6 p.m. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we’ll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail.

This morning, we'll take a coach to Brussels for a guided tour of the city and a Belgian chocolate maker's workshop. We'll set off for the Belgian capital. In the city center, we'll see the Grand-Place with its glorious city hall and lavish guildhalls. With its richly decorated facade and impressive tower, the City Hall is one of the most beautiful buildings in the country. Further along, we'll see the iconic Manneken Pis and the Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries. After, we'll visit a Belgian chocolate maker in the heart of Brussels. Learn about our favorite indulgence—from its Mayan origins to the modern creations of master chocolate makers—while watching a demonstration of the meticulous and precise work through windows peering into the small factory. We’ll return on board the ship in Halle.

Afternoon sailing on the Canal du Centre to Strepy-Thieu.

We'll spend the morning cruising. The next adventure is the monumental Ronquières Inclined Plane, built between 1960 and 1968. Construction of the plane reduced delays caused by the 14 previous locks. Then our barge takes a boat lift. Using two independent caissons, the lift allows a crossing in less than 35 minutes with a 240-foot height difference (75 m) and single-handedly replaced four former boat lifts and two locks. We'll continue cruising to Mons.

Set off on a visit to the Château de Beloeil (1) and the Chant d’Éole vineyard. We'll head over to the Château de Beloeil—nicknamed the Belgian Versailles—which contains a valuable collection of 15th- to 19th-century art, including a library with more than 20,000 books and precious manuscripts. The furniture is a sampling of some of the top work of French cabinet makers in the 17th and 18th centuries. The paintings depict the grand achievements of most of the castle's family members. We'll continue on to the Chant d’Éole estate. The vineyard came to be when a family of Belgian farmers joined forces with a family of eminent sparkling-wine makers. They use the best modern techniques to guarantee a sparkling wine that adheres to Belgian tradition. We'll take a guided tour recounting the vineyard's history. Our enthusiastic guides will explain the different stages of production—from planting to bottling, and everything in between. We'll finish up the tour will a tasting of three signature spirits—the Brut Blanc de Blancs, the Rosé Brut, and the Elixir Saint-Georges. We'll return to Mons.

Join us for a food tour in Mons. Few cities can boast about their heritage like Mons can. This is a vibrant, modern city with a deep, historic past. The Grand-Place offers a myriad of places to lose yourself in. Our guide will take us to the center of Mons to learn about the city's history and edible delights. This stroll is a combination of history, culture, and anecdotes accented by a tasting of four local specialties. Indulging in the local cuisine makes this tour an unforgettable experience.

We'll spend the afternoon cruising on the Nimy-Blaton-Péronnes Canal, a strategic waterway in the center of Belgium. The canal opened in October 1955 and enabled a liaison between the Canal du Centre and the Scheldt River. We'll arrive in Péronnes-lez-Antoing at the beginning of the afternoon

Morning cruising to Oudenaarde. Take advantage of some downtime to relax on the Sun Deck and watch the scenery roll by. We'll cross through the city of Tournai before arriving in Oudenaarde in the early afternoon.

Join us for a guided tour of Oudenaarde and a distillery. Oudenaarde is a picturesque city full of historic monuments, with the most notable being the town hall and its two main churches. Other memorable sites include the lovely beguinage, the house where Margaret of Parma was born, the Boudewijnstoren, and the 18th-century meat market. Everything is testimony to a rich and lively past. The city has more than 100 historic monuments. Set off on an urban hike taking you to the loveliest areas and tourist sites. Enjoy some free time on your own to see what the city has to offer. We’ll then head over to a distillery. This will be the time to learn about how jenever, gin, and whiskey are distilled. Of course, we'll have a taste!

Return on board. Overnight stopover.

In the morning, join us on a guided tour of Ghent. Departure by coach to Ghent. You will discover the historic centre of Ghent, birthplace of Charles V and former capital of the County of Flanders. You will admire its rich medieval heritage, including Saint Bavo’s Cathedral, the Gothic Belfry, the Cloth Hall, as well as the Graslei and Korenlei quays, up to the Counts’ Castle (external view). Free time will allow you to enjoy the city, followed by a stop at a local brewery where you will taste a gruut beer and learn about Ghent’s brewing history.

Return on board at Gavere-Asper (or nearby) for lunch.

In the afternoon, join us on a guided tour of Bruges and a brewery. Drive to Bruges (about 1 to 1h15 by coach from Ghent). Its art collections, quality of life, romantic aura, and architectural charm are some of the assets of the “Little Venice of the North,” a gem of Flanders and a must-see stop in Northern Europe. A rich maritime city in the 14th century, Bruges still preserves an elaborate, elegant, and discreet architecture from that era. Then visit a brewery and enjoy a tasting. This brewery’s history began in 1856. After many years and six family generations, it is now a dynamic brewery faithful to its origins, offering authentic Bruges beers.

Return to the boat in Ghent.

Gala evening.

Enjoy breakfast on board this morning before disembarking at 9:00 a.m.

Possibility of transfer from Ghent to Brussels.