Tulip Serenade - Belgium Waterways & Netherlands River Cruise

Today we meet with our expert gardener, Frances MacDonald, at Dublin airport for our morning flight to Amsterdam. 

Upon arrival in Amsterdam, we will be met by our local guide who will assist us on the transfer to Amsterdam port. A canal cruise will be provided en-route with highlights that include the city’s man canals, beautiful bridges and the impressive Central Station. 

After some time at leisure, we will be transferred to Amsterdam port to commence boarding. We will settle into our cabin and explore the range of facilities the MS Amara has to offer as we set sail. Sit back with a welcome cocktail in one of the lounge areas, followed by a tasty welcome dinner.

Voted “greenest city in Europe“, Arnhem rebuilt itself after the famed 1944 battle immortalized in the film “A Bridge Too Far“ and is now a thriving artists‘ town with fine museums and beautiful parks. This morning there will be an optional city tour in which you may partake if you wish (payable locally).

This afternoon join us on our included excursion to visit the Kröller-Müller-Museum which houses the second-largest collection of Van Gogh paintings in the world.

This evening is free to relax on board, enjoying a delicious dinner as our vessel cruises onwards to Middelburg.

Before lunchtime our cruise ship will dock at Middelburg, a lovely city featuring historic merchant houses and storefronts lining its canals.  This afternoon there will be an option to join a guided walking tour or visit the Delta Works Project (optional excursions are payable locally) or alternatively to explore independently.

During the night our vessel will dock in Ghent, the ultimate medieval city. Following breakfast we will begin our day exploring the city where we will admire architecture preserved since the late Middle Ages and visit 13th century residence of the Counts of Flanders, the Gravensteen or “Castle of the Counts“.

In the afternoon you will have the opportunity to join an optional tour (payable locally) to Bruges. Due to the canal system the city is also known as the ‘Venice of the North’ and is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. The walking tour will explore the maze of winding, cobbled alleys and romantic canals with highlights including the market, the Burg (site of the former Bruges castle) and the Basilica of the Holy Blood.

This morning our ship docks in Antwerp, the second-largest city in Belgium. Explore this lovely city on your own or take an optional excursion (payable locally) to view the iconic Atomium, which was created for the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair, and to visit the Cinquantenaire Park with its triumphal arch, built to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Belgium’s independence.

An alternative optional tour this afternoon (payable locally), will explore Antwerp in a comfortable coach. Famous for its diamond trade, the city also boasts many cultural highlights such as the Cathedral of Our Lady with paintings by the famous Baroque artist Peter Paul Rubens.

In the evening, enjoy dinner, while our vessel returns to the Netherlands.

Early morning, our ship will arrive in Rotterdam, the second largest city in the Netherlands. After breakfast, there will be an opportunity to visit to Kinderdijk (payable locally), which houses the most unique windmill complex in the world. Built to drain water from the soil, these windmills are now protected by UNESCO and are one of the Netherlands’ most popular tourist destinations.

Following our lunch join us on our included excursion exploring the world famous Keukenhof Gardens. Here we will see one of Europe’s largest garden displays in a park full of royal flair and creative diversity attracting over a million visitors each year. Seven million tulips, narcissi and hyacinths form a colourful carpet of blooms. Alternating exhibitions, know as parades, bloom in several pavilions. Numerous sculptures also lurk between the flowerbeds, as harmony between art and nature is a major feature of the park.

During dinner, the ship departs for the final leg of the cruise back to Amsterdam.

Amsterdam welcomes us back today with its enchanting blend of old-world charm and contemporary allure. Enjoy a day at leisure of perhaps avail of one of an optional cruise (payable locally) through the lovely, verdant canals of Amsterdam while learning more about the city’s history and significance in the morning or alternatively, you can explore Amsterdam independently visiting the Flower Market, the  Rijksmuseum or Anne Franks’ house – or shop!

The festive Captain’s Gala Dinner will provide a fitting finish to this tour.

This morning we say goodbye to our ship after a week of delights. 

Following breakfast, we will disembark and transfer to the city for an included city tour followed by some free time at leisure before our onwards journey to the airport for our afternoon flight back to Dublin.