Tulip Time Cruise for Beer Enthusiasts

Tulip Time Cruise for Beer Enthusiasts

Tulip Time Cruise for Beer Enthusiasts - Avalon Waterways® Beer Cruise

Tour Netherlands Antwerp Avalon Impression Avalon Panorama Avalon Tranquility Ii Aw_Amsterdam Aw_Antwerp Aw_Beer Aw_Belgium + 19 More Aw_Europe Aw_Featured Aw_Garden Aw_Holland Aw_Rhine River Belgium Europe Ghent Holland Keukenhof Middelburg Rhine 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 with its impressive structures like the Gothic Town Hall, Abbey Tower, and today’s bustling Market Square.

Your 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.The day is yours to relax and discover this delightful 700-year-old city with its elegant and classic architecture, cafés, restaurants and lively marketplace.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.ACTIVE Experience Rotterdam by foot with your Adventure Host, OR: 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 year.CLASSIC As an alternative to the full-day tour, you can join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Rotterdam featuring innovative architecture, including the marvelous Erasmus Bridge.DISCOVERY Onboard lecture hosted by your Beer Expert. Take some free time to relax on the harbor-side in Rotterdam with an artisan beer, a slice of appeltaart (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 CrêpesACTIVE Explore Antwerp by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:CLASSIC 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. DISCOVERY Join a Guided Visit at a local brewery, where you will have the opportunity to learn the traditional way these master brewers create their own delicacy.Alternatively, you may 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. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO GHENT(B,L,D)

Day 4: GHENT

Medieval Masterpieces and Flemish FineryACTIVE Explore a different side of Ghent by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:CLASSIC 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 beer.Alternatively, you may choose to join a full-day 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. You won’t miss the opportunity to explore Ghent since this Optional Excursion ends with an orientation walk of the "Diamond of Flanders."Later, enjoy live entertainment on board.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 cobblestones 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 trading.Spend some free time biking or walking through Middelburg to sample Babbelaar cookies, fries, or beer before cruising to Veere. During lunchtime enjoy a short sailing from Middelburg to Veere.ACTIVE Alternatively bike from Middelburg to Veere with your Adventure Host.VEERE Heritage and Hidden Gems CLASSIC Join a Guided Walking Tour of Veere—a delightful historic town dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries. Explore the charming streets and uncover hidden gems.DISCOVERY This evening, enjoy an onboard food and beer pairing dinner hosted by your Beer Expert.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO WILLEMSTAD(B,L,D)

Day 6: WILLEMSTAD

Willemstad’s Windmills and Historic HarborACTIVE See Willemstad by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:CLASSIC Join a Guided Walking Tour of Willemstad and discover its many beautifully restored buildings from the 17th and 18th Century.DISCOVERY Later, enjoy a Beer & Cheese Tasting on board.AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO AMSTERDAM(B,L,D)

Day 7: AMSTERDAM

Canals of Colorful AmsterdamACTIVE Start your day joining your Adventure Host on an early morning walk in Amsterdam, 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 experience.This 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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