Overview
Visit Ghent, “The Diamond of Flanders,” and marvel at its medieval Flemish artwork. Walk the winding cobblestones and canals of Middelburg. See the windmills and historic harbor of Willemstad, and return to Amsterdam to browse the largest flower auction in the world or tour the city on a canal cruise. Envision the 17th-century maritime days of the Zuiderzee in Enkhuizen, see the second largest collection of Van Gogh masterpieces in Arnhem, and admire innovative architecture in Rotterdam. Return to Amsterdam to cruise its colorful canals. Windmills, waterways, and wonderful springtime views are all waiting for you on this river cruise through Holland and Belgium in tulip season. And on 8th April departure do not miss the opportunity to visit the Floriade International Horticoltural Expo!
Itinerary
Welcome to Holland. Your Avalon Waterways 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)
Dutch Treats and Flowers Sweet Visit the Adventure centre 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.
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)
Cathedrals, Carats and Crepes
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.
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 crepes-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)
Medieval Masterpieces and Flemish Finery
Active: Explore a different side of Ghent by foot 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.
You 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)
A Spicy History in Middelburg's Dutch Harbor Town
Join your Adventure Host for today's special activities.
Active: Explore Vlissingen by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:
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.
VEERE: The Delta Works Stand Strong as a Technical Marvel
Active: Bike your way to the beach from Veere with your Adventure Host, OR:
Discovery: Join a guided tour of the Delta Works, the largest flood-protection system in the world, and a miracle of modern technology.
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: Explore the iconic waterways of Amsterdam on a Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam's "Golden Age."
This afternoon choose among the many guided Optional Excursions available. Take some free time to explore Amsterdam's colourful streets and canal houses, galleries, and shops.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM (B/L/D)
Holland's Lively Capital
Your day in Amsterdam is free to explore at your leisure. You may join a guided Optional Excursion to beautiful Zaanse Schans, where you'll see a wonderful collection of well-preserved historic windmills and Dutch houses.
OVERNIGHT SAILING TO ENKHUIZEN (B/L/D)
Tulips Fields, Flower Farms and the Zuiderzee
Enjoy a leisurely morning cruise.
Active: Explore Enkhuizen by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:
Discovery: Join a guided tour of local tulip fields and Dutch flower farms, OR:
Classic: Take a guided tour of Zuiderzee Museum to discover cultural traditions and maritime history.
Spend the rest of the afternoon walking or biking through Enkhuizen. Later, enjoy onboard live entertainment.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN ENKHUIZEN (B/L/D)
Home and Hearth in a Dutch Harbor Town
Visit the Adventure centre for today's activities with your Adventure Host.
Classic: Take a guided walking tour of Enkhuizen to experience the charm and beauty of this historic harbor village.
Enjoy a brief afternoon cruise to Friesland.
SNEEK, FRIESLAND: The Heavens, Holsteins, and Horses of Friesland
Classic: Take a Guided Excursion to visit the Royal Eise Eisinga Planetarium-the oldest planetarium still working in the world. Watch for the world-famous black-and-white cattle and black Friesian horses.
Take time for a stroll before dinner.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN SNEEK (B/L/D)
Maritime Marvels of 17th-Century Shipbuilding and Horticoltural Expo
Enjoy a leisurely morning cruise.
Active: Enjoy a relaxing walk in Lelystad with your Adventure Host, OR:
Discovery: Learn all about the Netherlands' shipbuilding and seafaring past on this exciting step into the Golden Age at the Batavia visitor's centre and museum, OR:
Discovery: Visit the Floriade, International Horticoltural Expo, an international exhibition of flowers and gardening that is held every 10 years in the Netherlands*.
Discovery: Enjoy an onboard Cheese Tasting with Genever-the national and traditional liquor of the Netherlands.
OVERNIGHT SAILING TO ARNHEM (B/L/D)
* 8 April departure only
Spiced Honey Cake, WWII Valor, and Van Gogh
Discovery: This morning, attend an onboard lecture about Holland and a tasting of the authentic Dutch Deventer Koek Cake while cruising to Arnhem.
Classic: Join a guided tour of the Airborne Museum of Hartenstein commemorating the 1944 WWII Battle of Arnhem, OR:
Classic: Take a guided tour of Arnhem's Kroller-Muller Museum with the world's second largest Van Gogh collection.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ROTTERDAM (B/L/D)
Blooming Bulbs and Bold Bridge Design
Join your Adventure Host for today's special activities.
Active: Experience Rotterdam by foot with your Adventure Host, OR:
Classic: Join a full- or half-day Guided Tour of breathtaking Keukenhof-the world's largest flower gardens-with more than seven million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths as well as other bulbs each year, OR:
Classic: Join a guided sightseeing tour of Rotterdam featuring innovative architecture, including the marvelous Erasmus Bridge.
Sample artisan beer, a slice of appeltart (Dutch apple pie), or a koffie verkeerd. Take a bike from your ship to explore Rotterdam. Before dinner, enjoy a cruise through Rotterdam harbor. Later, enjoy live entertainment on board.
EVENING CRUISE TO AMSTERDAM (B/L/D)
Canals of Colorful Amsterdam
Classic: Explore the iconic waterways of Amsterdam on a Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam's "Golden Age".
This afternoon choose among the many guided Optional Excursions available. Take some free time to explore Amsterdam's colourful streets and canal houses, galleries, and shops.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM (B/L/D)
Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
Life Onboard
Float along Europe's most famous waterways in relaxed luxury aboard one of Avalon's award-winning Suite Ships.
With the only Open-Air Balconies in river cruising, experience Europe with a view like no other in a Panorama Suite. Read more
Avalon features all the right inclusions which compliment your luxurious river cruise experience. Read more
Personalise your cruise to make it your own with Avalon Choice. Select whichever included excursions interest you the most. Read more
Avalon's Active & Discovery river cruises offer activities for travellers with varying interests & for all energy and fitness levels. Read more
Savour regional cuisine and familiar favourites using the freshest local ingredients throughout your river cruise. Read more
Cabins
Deluxe Stateroom (Cat. E & D)
- Deluxe Stateroom (172 sq ft)
- Twin Windows
- Comfort Collection Bed with Egyptian super-combed cotton linens, woolen blankets & European style duvets
- Private bathroom featuring full shower, hairdryer & premium L'Occitane bath amentities
- Spacious three-door closets and easy under-bed luggage storage
- Flatscreen satellite with movie channel
- In-room safe, writing Desk/Vanity & direct-dial telephone
- Complimentary Wi-Fi access
- Individual thermostat
- Bathrobes & slippers
Panorama Suite (Cat. B, A & P)
- Wall-to-wall Panoramic Window measuring 11'- 50% larger than industry standard (200 sq ft)
- Wall-to-wall Panoramic Window opens to transform the living space into a large Open-Air-Balcony
- Open-Air-Balcony with spacious sitting area
- Comfort Collection Bed with Egyptian super-combed cotton linens, woolen blankets & European style duvets
- Private bathroom featuring full shower, hairdryer & premium L'Occitane bath amentities
- Spacious three-door closets and easy under-bed luggage storage
- Flatscreen satellite with movie channel
- In-room safe, writing Desk/Vanity & direct-dial telephone
- Complimentary Wi-Fi access
- Individual thermostat
- Bathrobes & slippers
Royal Suite
- Wall-to-wall Panoramic Window measuring 11'- 50% larger than industry standard (300 sq ft)
- Wall-to-wall Panoramic Window opens to transform the living space into a large Open-Air-Balcony
- Open-Air-Balcony with spacious sitting area
- Comfort Collection Bed with Egyptian super-combed cotton linens, woolen blankets & European style duvets
- Private bathroom featuring full shower, hairdryer & premium L'Occitane bath amentities
- Spacious three-door closets and easy under-bed luggage storage
- Flatscreen satellite with movie channel
- In-room safe, writing Desk/Vanity & direct-dial telephone
- Complimentary Wi-Fi access
- Individual thermostat
- Bathrobes & slippers
Brochure
Avalon River Cruises (2023-24)
Prices & Dates
There are currently no departures available on this trip. Either it's the end of the season and new departures will be released shortly, or this itinerary has been changed and will no longer continue. Feel free to contact us for information about when next seasons dates will be released or click here to view the general release dates for all destinations.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Prices and trip information are correct at the time 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 Avalon. These 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.
