TULIP TIME CRUISE

TULIP TIME CRUISE

Amsterdam Tulips | Beer River Cruise | Avalon Waterways®

Tour Netherlands Antwerp Avalon Illumination Avalon Impression Avalon Vista Aw_Amsterdam Aw_Antwerp Aw_Artistryii Aw_Beer + 19 More Aw_Belgium Aw_Holland Aw_Impression Aw_Panorama Aw_Rhine River Aw_Tranquilityii Belgium Europe Ghent Holland Keukenhof Middelburg Rhine River River Cruise Rotterdam Veere Willemstad Avalon Waterways 8 Day River Cruise Amsterdam to Amsterdam
This springtime river cruise gets underway in Holland’s colorful capital of Amsterdam. This 700-year-old city offers an abundance of classic architecture, cafés, and restaurants to explore before you embark on your river cruise through Holland and Belgium. For beer enthusiasts, a knowledgeable Beer Expert joins your cruise to host lectures, beer tasting, and food-and-beer-pairings for an authentic Holland and Belgium River cruise experience.

Sail through Rotterdam’s harbor, said to be the world’s busiest port. Garden enthusiasts will delight in a visit to see the breathtaking colors of Keukenhof, also known as the “Garden of Europe.” With 70 acres of parkland and lakes, it’s one of the world’s largest flower gardens with nearly 7 million flowering bulbs bursting with color. Next, sail to Antwerp, Belgium’s second-largest city, known for its centuries-old history in diamond trading amid ancient buildings and monuments combined with modern architecture. Guided sightseeing includes a visit to a local brewery. In Ghent, Belgium, join a local expert for a guided tour of the city, including a visit to St. Baaf’s Cathedral. A canal boat tour with a brewery visit is also included. Your cruise traverses back into Holland, where you’ll explore Middelburg, formerly an important trading city. You’ll still get a sense of its historic wealth today with its impressive structures like the Gothic Town Hall, Abbey Tower, and bustling Market Square. No trip to Holland is complete without a visit to the technical miracle that is the Delta Works, a storm flood barrier almost six miles long, constructed after the floods of 1953. This beautiful and historic springtime river cruise concludes with more time to explore the wonderful city of Amsterdam. See the most fascinating views of the city on a canal cruise along the elegant grachten lined with homes dating back to the city’s “Golden Age.

Day 1: AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND (EMBARKATION)

Welcome to Holland. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding. Flights into Amsterdam must arrive by 3:30 pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.Your day in Amsterdam is free to explore at your leisure. You may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to beautiful Zaanse Schans where you’ll see a wonderful collection of well-preserved historic windmills and Dutch houses. Enjoy dinner and explore the ship on your first night on board. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ROTTERDAM(D)

Day 2: ROTTERDAM

Dutch Treats and Flowers SweetVisit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.CLASSIC Join a full- or half-day Guided Tour of breathtaking Keukenhof—known as the “Garden of Europe”—for its 70 acres of lush parkland, lakes, and the world’s largest flower gardens—with more than seven million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths as well as other bulbs, planted each yearDISCOVERY Onboard lecture hosted by your Beer ExpertTake some free time to relax on the harbor-side in Rotterdam with an artisan beer, a slice of appeltart (Dutch apple pie), and a koffie verkeerd, a typical Dutch drink with equal parts coffee and milk. Take a bike from your ship to explore Rotterdam and the surrounding area. Before dinner, enjoy a cruise through Rotterdam harbor.Later, enjoy live entertainment on board. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ANTWERP(B,L,D)

Day 3: ANTWERP, BELGIUM

Cathedrals, Carats and Crêpes DISCOVERY Take a Guided Tour of this sophisticated city to visit the central Grote Markt, lined with 16th-century guildhall houses. You’ll also see the beautiful city hall, the Cathedral of Our Lady with its stunning altarpiece paintings by Rubens. Your sightseeing will end at a brewery where you will learn something more about the world-famous Belgian beersYou may otherwise choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to the nearby capital, Brussels—considered home to the European Union, and admire its magnificent palaces and cathedrals. You might prefer to take time on your own to indulge in Antwerp’s signature Belgian waffles and crêpes—or explore this bike-friendly city from its old wharfs to its legendary diamond district. Later, enjoy live entertainment on board. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO GHENT(B,L,D)

Day 4: GHENT

Medieval Masterpieces and Flemish Finery DISCOVERY Enjoy a canal boat that will take you through the town of Ghent to one of the very special breweries where you will find how to brew the local Gruut beerYou may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion of Bruges to explore its canals, cobbled streets and medieval buildings. You’ll see its crisscrossed canals, the 13th-century belfry of Market Square, and charming patrician houses. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MIDDELBURG(B,L,D)

Day 5: MIDDELBURG, HOLLAND

A Spicy History in Middelburg’s Dutch Harbor TownJoin your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.CLASSIC Join a Guided Walking Tour through the winding cobblestone and canals of Middelburg. See the 15th-century gothic Town Hall and learn about its important role in the spice trade and Dutch East India tradingSpend some free time biking or walking through Middelburg to sample Babbelaar cookies, fries, or beer before cruising to Veere.VEERE The Delta Works Stand Strong as a Technical MarvelDISCOVERY Join a Guided Tour of the Delta Works, the largest flood-protection system in the world, and a miracle of modern technologyThis evening, enjoy an onboard food and beer pairing dinner hosted by your Beer ExpertEVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO WILLEMSTAD(B,L,D)

Day 6: WILLEMSTAD

Willemstad’s Windmills and Historic Harbor ACTIVE Grab a Nordic walking stick for a hike with your Adventure Host in Willemstad.CLASSIC Join a Guided Walking Tour of Willemstad and discover its many beautifully restored buildings from the 17th and 18th CenturyDISCOVERY Later, enjoy a Beer & Cheese Tasting on board as you prepare to sail to AmsterdamAFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO AMSTERDAM(B,L,D)

Day 7: AMSTERDAM

Canals of Colorful AmsterdamDISCOVERY Discover Aalsmeer Flower Auction—the largest in the world, where around 20 million flowers are sold every day. Later enjoy a typical Dutch breakfast, OR:CLASSIC Explore the iconic waterways of Amsterdam on a Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam’s “Golden Age”, followed by a real Dutch beer experienceThis afternoon choose among the many Guided Optional Excursions available. Take some free time to explore Amsterdam’s colorful streets and canal houses, galleries, and shops. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM(B,L,D)

Day 8: AMSTERDAM (DISEMBARKATION)

Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

Details

Tour Operator
Avalon
Duration (Days)
8

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