An Enchanting Cruise: Exploring the Christmas Markets in Ghent and Bruges (port-to-port cruise)

Brussels(1) - BRUGES - AALTER - GHENT - Brussels(1)

Possibility of coach transfer between Brussels and Bruges.(1) After boarding at 5:00 p.m., join us for an included tour on foot of the Christmas market in Bruges. The warm atmosphere and festive holiday decorations will instantly put you in the seasonal spirit. Bruges gets dressed up in all its finery during the whole month of December. Two markets are dedicated to the holiday season, the first in the Grote Markt and the second near Simon Stevinplein. During this tour, you’ll run across local craftspeople selling their wares and a bounty of sweet delights.

We’ll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail. Enjoy dinner on board.

Included excursion in the morning: Guided tour of Bruges and a tour and tasting at the Bourgogne des Flandres brewery. We'll leave on foot with our guide to discover Bruges, its picturesque streets, and its fascinating heritage. Then, we'll visit the Bourgogne des Flandres brewery for a tour and taste of its traditional Flemish beer.(2) After some free time on your own, we’ll return to the ship. Enjoy lunch on board.

The ship will begin to cruise to Aalter. Enjoy a tasting of hot chocolate and bredeles on board. We'll cruise through beautiful scenery on the Ghent-Bruges-Ostend Canal. Sit back and relax as the panorama of the Flemish plains unfolds before your eyes.

As we cruise towards Ghent this morning, join us for a tasting of a sweet Belgian treat that originated in Flanders—thin, waffled wafers that melt in your mouth. We'll arrive in Ghent at the beginning of the afternoon. Included excursion: A guided tour of the Ghent Christmas market(3) and a tasting of local specialties. Ghent's city center is a pedestrian's dream—an open-air museum where Flemish architecture accents the indisputable beauty of its medieval heritage. We'll leave on foot with a guide for a tour and tasting. We'll also visit the Christmas market located in the city center, where countless lights and festive decorations accent Ghent's marvelous architecture. The market extends out from Sint-Baafsplein, along the Botermarkt and Klein Turkije to the end of the Korenmarkt. Enjoy some free time strolling along the city's picturesque streets, cheerfully decorated for the holidays, and browse the stands where local craftspeople sell their wares. After our tour, we'll return to the ship on foot. Tonight is our festive gala evening.

Enjoy breakfast on board before disembarking at 9:00 a.m. Possibility of coach transfer between Ghent and Brussels.(1)