ELLINGTON’S SACRED CONCERT IN THE NETHERLANDS:
River Cruise Concert Tour
JUNE 21 – 29, 2019
You’re invited to participate in a 7-day, 3-concert cruise tour throughout the Netherlands, performing Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concert, accompanied by jazz sextet. Read below for more details and the preliminary commitment form.
TOUR PRESENTED BY: Witte Performance Tours (Click Here for more info about Witte)
CONTENTS INCLUDED:
PROPOSED ITINERARY
21, Friday Depart
Overnight flight to Amsterdam.
22, Saturday Arrive, Delft, Oosterbeek
Welcome to the Netherlands! After passport control and baggage claim, board the waiting motorcoaches. From there you travel to Delft (Click here to read about Delft) for lunch and afternoon sightseeing. This town is famous for its blue painted pottery. You continue to Arnhem where you board the M.P.S. Salvinia. After time to settle in, enjoy a “welcome aboard” dinner while you cruise to medieval Doesburg, the overnight stop.
23, Sunday Zutphen, Kampen
A morning on your own in Zutphen (Click here to read about Zutphen). Here you may wish to attend the morning worship service at the 13th-century St. Walburgskerk. You may not understand the sermon but you’ll certainly enjoy hearing the wonderful organ. In the afternoon cruise on the Ijssel River, past Deventer and Zwolle, to Kampen. (Click here to read about Kampen)
24, Monday Den Helder, Schagerbrug
Enjoy the ship today as you cruise via the Ijsselmeer and the Wadden Sea (An UNESCO World Heritage Site – Click Here to read more). You’ll have an early dinner as you stop in Den Helder for a possible evening concert. After the concert you will continue to your evening port in Schagerbrug.
25, Tuesday Alkmaar, Amsterdam
This morning, continue cruising southward along the picturesque North Holland Canal. Once in Alkmaar you’ll have an optional guided walking tour through this historic city (Click here to read more about Alkmaar). After lunch, you board a bus for the 1-hr drive to Amsterdam. There is a potential concert this evening. (The Salvinia meets us in Amsterdam)
26, Wednesday Amsterdam
Our time in Amsterdam continues (Click here to read more about Amsterdam). After a brief optional walking tour, the day in Amsterdam is free. Consider booking tickets to the Anne Frank House or Rijksmuseum, renting a bike for the day, trying herring at Westergasfabrik or visiting the floating flower market. Dinner is served on the ship at 6 p.m.
27, Thursday Dordrecht
After breakfast and a morning in Amsterdam, travel 1.5 hrs by bus to Dordrecht (Click here to read more about Dordrecht). There is a potential concert this evening.
28, Friday Kinderdijk, Nunen, Wijk bij Duurstede
This morning you sail to Kinderdijk, to see the UNESCO World Heritage windmills (click here to read more). Here, watch a short film in the Wisboom pump station before visiting some windmills. After lunch you head south to the village of Nunen to visit the Vincentre. This town was very influential in Vincent van Gogh’s life and is where he painted the Potato Eaters. Then you’ll meet the ship in Wijk bijDuurstede for your farewell dinner.
29, Saturday Return
All too soon, it’s time to head for home! After saying tot ziens (goodbye) to the captain and crew of the Salvinia, take a bus to Schiphol Airport for your transatlantic flight back to the U.S.
THE SHIP
The charming MPS Salvinia is your floating hotel.
This ship was chosen to be your home away from home. It is smaller than some river cruise vessels, which allows it to access rivers, waterways and locks that larger ships cannot access, making your itinerary one-of-a-kind.
The MPS Salvinia bridge is open to the public. Converse with the captain and watch the river pass by. The rest of the public areas are divided among the ship’s three decks. The Observation Deck offers a lounge that opens onto the Sun Deck. The restaurant and lobby are on the Promenade Deck. The whirlpool and sauna can be found on the Main Deck. The decks are connected by an elevator and stairs. Between the four decks, the welcoming staff, complimentary WiFi, and newly renovated ship, you’re sure to enjoy the comforts of your floating hotel. There is plenty of space to unwind and you’ll enjoy uninterrupted views in all the public areas and cabins. Relax in style and comfort.
Passenger cabins are located on the Main and Promenade Decks. All double cabins are furnished with two single beds, one of which converts to a sofa during the day. Rooms are also equipped with private facilities, a safe, flat-screen TV, and individually controlled air-conditioning. Promenade Deck cabin windows are larger than those on the Main Deck. The rooms are comparable in size. All windows open to let fresh air into the cabins.
Throughout the cruise you will eat the traditional Dutch menu. Early morning risers can enjoy freshly brewed coffee in the lounge before breakfast. Breakfast and lunch are buffet-style meals. Choose from fresh breads, local cheeses, eggs and meats. Delicious three-course meals are served at dinner. Be prepared for the potato, a Dutch staple! Each day a new specialty will be served. Try croquettes, herring and other wonderful delicacies. Seating at meals is not pre-assigned—use this time to move around and make new friends.
Please note that our tour is a full-ship charter, meaning our concert tour participants will be the only passengers on the ship.
THE MUSIC & ARTISTS
Each of our concerts will feature a complete performance of Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concert, exactly as the Boulder Chorale and Montview’s Westminster Choir learned (or will learn) the piece for our respective spring concerts. Conducting our performances are Vicki Burrichter, Artistic Director of the Boulder Chorale and Adam Waite, Minister of Music at Montview Church.
We will be accompanied by a jazz sextet comprised of NYC and Denver professional musicians. We also anticipate enthusiastic audiences, as there are a lot of jazz fans in the Netherlands!
COSTS
The cost of the trip will be between $3994 – $4394 per person/double occupancy ($250 surcharge for single)
(The cost range is dependent on number of total paid travelers and level of stateroom selected).
INCLUDED IN COST
✈AIR TRANSPORTATION
From Denver to Amsterdam and from Amsterdam returning to Denver via a regularly scheduled air carrier. *Travelers wishing to make their own flight arrangements, will have their tour cost due to Witte adjusted accordingly.
🚌LAND TRANSPORTATION
for the complete itinerary by deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach.
🏨ACCOMMODATIONS
On board the MPS Salvinia.
🍴MEALS
All meals are included.
👤TOUR PERSONNEL
Three multilingual European Tour Managers, from arrival until departure, along with local guides for sightseeing tours and visits.
📷ADMISSION FEES
Sightseeing and admission fees in accordance with the itinerary.
💰TIPPING AND TAXES
on all tour services, including tipping to the tour managers, motorcoach driver and local guide, and all hotel, local government and airport taxes.
All current airline taxes, security fees and fuel surcharges.
🎁MISCELLANEOUS
Travel document wallet and choice of Travel Bag / Passport Holder / Souvenir Video
NOT INCLUDED IN THE COST
Passports, airline luggage fees, optional travel protection plan (including luggage and trip-cancellation coverage), optional excursions, independent sightseeing, independent meals taken off the cruise ship, beverages with dinner, and any other items not mentioned as included.
REGISTRATION
An official tour booklet and registration packet will be available from Witte by August 1.
In the meantime, use the form below to indicate your preliminary commitment to participate in our tour. By registering, you indicate your firm intent to participate in the tour.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS
If you have additional questions about the tour, please contact:
Baiba Lennard at cololennards1@msn.com (Boulder Chorale)
Heidi Shriver at hshriver105@comcast.net (Montview Westminster Choir)
ADAM WAITE 