Overview
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. Alternatively visit the fascinating Flood Museum to hear and see the stories of the flood 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”.
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 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 harbour-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 Middelburg 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: Visit the fascinating Flood Museum to hear and see the stories of the flood of 1953, reconstruction, the Delta Works, and flood risk management – told by the people who have experienced it. Later, explore the town of Veere.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO WILLEMSTAD (B/L/D)
Willemstad's Windmills and Historic Harbor
- Active: See Willemstad by bike with your Adventure HostGrab a Nordic walking stick for a hike with your Adventure Host in Willemstad., 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)
Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
Life Onboard Avalon Envision
Float along Europe's most famous waterways in relaxed luxury aboard one of Avalon's award-winning Suite Ships. Read more
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 travelers 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
Trip Reviews (2) Most Recent 'Tulip Time Cruise' Reviews
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.
Brochure
Avalon River Cruises (2025-26)
Availability
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Port charges, taxes and fees included.
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 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.
