April 24 - With temperatures between 50-57 degrees Fahrenheit, we were taken to Amsterdam for a city tour and a canal boat cruise. We returned to find warm chocolate drinks on the sun deck of our ship. The MS Amadagio finally began cruising, heading north on the IJ River. We cruised the Ijsselmeer which was formerly the Zuiderzee until the Dutch began the transformation in 1932.

After lunch we arrived at the fishing village of Volendam. We later travelled by bus to the 16th and 17th century village of Edam, while the river boat sailed on to Enkhuizen. At Edam, we visited a traditional cheese factory and tasted the wares.

We returned to the MS Amadagio which was docked at Enkhuizen, where I found Cliff aboard.