The second-largest town in the Netherlands after the capital city Amsterdam, and the largest port in Europe, Rotterdam is a charming destination of MSC Northern European Cruises. Located at the mouth of the Nieuwe Maas river and founded in 1270, its historical centre covers an area of picturesque waterways.

MSC Cruises excursions offer plenty of exciting things to see including:

• Canal cruise in Amsterdam
• Amsterdam by your own
• Rotterdam

Amsterdam expands over numerous canals, classified as UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is often referred to as the 'Venice of the North'. MSC Cruises Excursions is pleased to offer you a tour on the canal to enjoy this architectural jewel. Admire the picturesque houses of the historical centre on a boat cruise along the canals, passing by Anne Frank’s house, the iconic 17th-century Westerkerk Church, and the characteristic twin houses and bridges. Take a leisurely tour of the Dam Square, the Royal Palace, the Nieuwe Kerk, the Rijksmuseum, and the Van Gogh Museum.

If you like to explore on your own and take your time in visiting cities at your leisure, there is an excursion just for you. A 1-hour coach drive will take you to Amsterdam where you will have about 4 hours to do whatever you like. This city has so much to offer so, pick up a map and choose your perfect destination for the day. Dam Square, the Royal Palace and Nieuwe Kerk, the museum district and Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, these are only some of Amsterdam attractions. But as the choice is completely yours, just make sure to be on time at the meeting point to catch your coach taking you back to Rotterdam.

MSC also offers an excursion to Rotterdam which begins as you board your coach and travel past creative and modern architectural sights, including the Weena building, Café Rotterdam, Schouwburgplein and Kop van Zuid. You'll witness Coolsingel, the main street of the central area of Rotterdam on the right bank of the Maas. At the near end of this wide street stands the Town Hall (Stadhuis), built between 1914 and 1920 in Dutch Renaissance style. View the 607-foot tall Euromast tower. The city center also boasts pre-war architecture such as the Van Nelle Factory, one of the most important historic industrial buildings in the Netherlands, and the Huis Sonneveld. The innovative and adventurous period after the war is expressed in such structures as the Groothandelsgebouw, one of the first major buildings built after the bombing of Rotterdam in the Second World War, the Kunsthal, the Luxor Theater and the Erasmus Bridge. Your tour continues with a photo stop at Cube Houses, a brief walking tour of Delfshaven, a borough of Rotterdam on the right bank of river Nieuwe Maas before returning to the ship.