Overview
Read 2 reviews and enjoy exclusive savings on Avalon's 8 Day Tulip Time Cruise. 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. 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 read more 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. In Ghent, Belgium, join a local expert for a guided tour of the city, including a visit to St. Baaf’s Cathedral.
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. 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.”
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. 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.”
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US$2,939 per person
Price shown based on twin share
Save up to $1,612 per person
Cruise Length
8 Days
Cruise Starts
Amsterdam
Cruise Ends
Amsterdam
Cruise Departures
Apr 2026 to May 2027
Rivers Sailed:
Cruise Line
Avalon
2 Trip Reviews
Avg. Rating: 3.5/5
Passengers
166
Crew
47
Launched
2019
Cruise Code
WAA
Itinerary
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 5pm.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ROTTERDAM (D)
Dutch Treats and Flowers Sweet.
Visit 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.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ANTWERP (B/L/D)
Cathedrals, Carats and Crêpes.
- Active: 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.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO GHENT (B/L/D)
Medieval Masterpieces and Flemish Finery.
- Active: Explore a different side of Ghent by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:
- Classic: Explore Ghent—“The Diamond of Flanders”—with a Guided Sightseeing Tour of this showcase of medieval Flemish wealth. You'll visit St. Bavo's Cathedral—with its remarkable Flemish artwork.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MIDDELBURG (B/L/D)
A Spicy History in Middelburg's Dutch Harbor Town.
Join 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.
- Active: Alternatively bike from Middelburg to Veere with your Adventure Host.
- Classic: Join a Guided Walking Tour of Veere—a delightful historic town full of interesting sights dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries. Immerse yourself in its rich heritage, explore charming streets, and uncover hidden gems.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO WILLEMSTAD (B/L/D)
Willemstad's Windmills and Historic Harbor.
- Active: 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 Cheese Tasting on board as you prepare to sail to Amsterdam.
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO AMSTERDAM (B/L/D)
Canals of Colorful Amsterdam.
- Active: Start your day joining your Adventure Host on an early morning walk in Amsterdam, OR:
- Discovery: 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: Discover the true beauty of Amsterdam with an off-the-beaten-path Guided Walking Tour through its cobblestone streets for a captivating look at this legendary city, OR:
- Classic: Explore the iconic waterways of Amsterdam on a Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam's “Golden Age.”
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM (B/L/D)
Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
Life On Board
One of our favourite sayings that describes Avalon Waterways is ‘the possibilities are as wide open as the views’. From Europe to the Galapagos and Asia, you can cruise in relaxed luxury with Avalon Waterways, with choices as unique as you. Avalon offers you a range of choices from excursions, dining options, activities more that help you tailor your experience.
Just imagine gliding away down the world’s most spectacular rivers, all while enjoying a unique vantage point from your own private oasis. Our floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows in our suites blur the line between where the world ends, and your suite begins; allowing you to experience the world less seen from the comfort of your bed. This is river cruising from a unique point of view.
Just imagine gliding away down the world’s most spectacular rivers, all while enjoying a unique vantage point from your own private oasis. Our floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows in our suites blur the line between where the world ends, and your suite begins; allowing you to experience the world less seen from the comfort of your bed. This is river cruising from a unique point of view.
Avalon Envision
Float along Europe's most famous waterways in relaxed luxury aboard one of Avalon's award-winning Suite Ships. Read more
Our Vision. Your View.
With the only Open-Air Balconies in river cruising, experience Europe with a view like no other in a Panorama Suite. Read more
Exclusive Meets Inclusive
Avalon features all the right inclusions which compliment your luxurious river cruise experience. Read more
Avalon Choice
Personalise your cruise to make it your own with Avalon Choice. Select whichever included excursions interest you the most. Read more
Active & Discovery
Avalon's Active & Discovery river cruises offer activities for travelers with varying interests & for all energy and fitness levels. Read more
From View to Table
Savour regional cuisine and familiar favourites using the freshest local ingredients throughout your river cruise. Read more
Trip Reviews (2)
Another great trip 3
Carolyn , VIC, Australia, Apr 2019
I was a bit unlucky with the weather but it did not stop me having a great time. Especially seeing the tulips which was my main reason for taking this river cruise. I really enjoyed the trip, my accommodation was excellent (even if I was at the end of the corridor) the staff were excellent as usual. Food, wine and entertainment were very good, as was the organisation.
A tip toe through the tulips 7
Allen & Vyvette , QLD, Australia, Apr 2019
We booked this Tulip Time Cruise because my husband is a keen gardener and thought we would be gliding down the rivers of Holland and Belgium seeing endless fields of tulips. Unfortunately this was not the case and the only opportunity to see tulips was the included visit to Keukenhof Gardens. In fact, we did not see much of the countryside at all as read more the boat sailed at night except for 2 afternoons towards the end. This was very disappointing and rather disturbing sleep wise.
The cities we visited were all lovely with beautiful old buildings we don't have in Australia but I would have liked to see the little towns along the river too. The boat was nice and well appointed, the staff friendly and very helpful and of course the food was good with a French chef, maybe a little bit too fancy as only the French do.
There was a mix of nationalities on board, the majority of passengers being American, Australian, and English. Everyone seemed to get along. We had a few showery days and it got unseasonably cold for the last few days but overall the weather was as expected. We were disappointed with the amount of entertainment on board... there was only a few nights when anything was on. They were good acts but we were expecting more local acts.
We booked the trip with Jemma and as usual it was easy and everything went as planned. Thanks Global Journeys once again.
The cities we visited were all lovely with beautiful old buildings we don't have in Australia but I would have liked to see the little towns along the river too. The boat was nice and well appointed, the staff friendly and very helpful and of course the food was good with a French chef, maybe a little bit too fancy as only the French do.
There was a mix of nationalities on board, the majority of passengers being American, Australian, and English. Everyone seemed to get along. We had a few showery days and it got unseasonably cold for the last few days but overall the weather was as expected. We were disappointed with the amount of entertainment on board... there was only a few nights when anything was on. They were good acts but we were expecting more local acts.
We booked the trip with Jemma and as usual it was easy and everything went as planned. Thanks Global Journeys once again.
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Avalon River Cruises (2025-26)
Avalon Waterways has redefined cruising by going against the current and away from the ordinary. One step aboard our modern, luxurious Suite Ships with the grandest views in cruising and it’s easy to see how the tides are changing. Welcome to a new wave in cruising. Welcome aboard Avalon Waterways.
Dates & Pricing
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Cabin Layout Options:
Select Cabin Preference:
Thursday
02 Apr 2026
02 Apr 26
Amsterdam
Thursday
09 Apr 2026
09 Apr 26
Amsterdam
Details
Avalon Expression
River View
Sold Out
Unavailable
Sold Out
Thursday
09 Apr 2026
09 Apr 26
Amsterdam
Thursday
16 Apr 2026
16 Apr 26
Amsterdam
Details
Avalon Expression
River View
Sold Out
Unavailable
Sold Out
Saturday
25 Apr 2026
25 Apr 26
Amsterdam
Saturday
02 May 2026
02 May 26
Amsterdam
Details
Avalon Panorama
River View
Sold Out
Unavailable
Sold Out
Tuesday
28 Apr 2026
28 Apr 26
Amsterdam
Tuesday
05 May 2026
05 May 26
Amsterdam
Details
Avalon Envision
River View
Sold Out
Unavailable
Sold Out
Note
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Avalon. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Avalon. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
