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Great Rail Journeys · Escorted River Cruise

Springtime Tulips & Keukenhof Gardens - Fly

Eight-day Amsterdam river cruise with tulips, steam train, and World War I battlefields

Illustration of Springtime Tulips & Keukenhof Gardens - Fly

Great Rail Journeys operates this 8-day escorted river cruise combining the tulip season and the MS Amadeus Amara, a five-star luxury ship based in Amsterdam. You begin with a return flight from London Heathrow on Day 1, stepping aboard the ship the same day. Days 2 through 7 take you through the Netherlands and Belgium: a canal boat cruise through Amsterdam; optional excursions to either Bruges or Ghent with chocolate tasting; a choice between the Ypres Battlefields or leisurely exploration; two museum options in Arnhem; and a nostalgic ride on the Medemblik steam train through Dutch countryside. The centrepiece is Day 7, a full-day guided tour of Keukenhof Gardens at peak bloom, featuring over seven million spring-flowering bulbs. Throughout, you sleep and dine aboard, with onboard presentations by horticulturist Charlie Dimmock and battlefield historian Piers Storie-Pugh. All meals, drinks at dinner, guided tours, and excursions are included. The trip suits luxury-seekers, history enthusiasts, and those who value escorted comfort with expert commentary.

What to know before you look closer

  • Single supplement is GBP 1,200 (nearly 60 percent of the double price), a substantial premium
  • Only one departure listed: April 2027; confirm availability well in advance
  • The tour is escorted and structured; unguided time is limited to free afternoons in Ghent and optional excursion choices

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: MS Amadeus Amara (Amsterdam)

    Flying to Amsterdam to board our luxurious ship

    Your springtime holiday begins today at London Heathrow. Meet the Tour Manager and your group of fellow travellers, then board the flight to Amsterdam. On arrival, transfer to the luxury cruise ship and be welcomed by the crew. Free time to settle into your cabin, familiarise yourself with the ship's amenities and soak up the new surroundings provided by Amsterdam's skyline. This evening, enjoy the first dinner together in the panoramic restaurant before a Dutch sea shanty choir provides evening entertainment.

    Meals: Dinner

  2. Day 2overnight: MS Amadeus Amara (en route to Ghent)

    Exploring Amsterdam on a canal boat cruise

    After breakfast onboard, enjoy a scenic canal cruise of Amsterdam, admiring views of the city's picturesque waterways and architecture. Crossed by more than a thousand bridges and lined with elegant gabled houses, the canals reveal the history and charm of Amsterdam. Enjoy lunch back on board before a free afternoon to explore Amsterdam at your own pace – wander charming side streets, enjoy a canal-side café, or visit world-class museums such as the Rijksmuseum or Van Gogh Museum. Set sail towards Ghent later this afternoon and enjoy dinner onboard. Note: on the 29th April departure, Days 2 and 7 will be swapped, and Keukenhof Gardens will be visited today.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  3. Day 3overnight: MS Amadeus Amara (Ghent)

    Excursions to beautiful Belgian cities

    Wake up on the water and enjoy breakfast on board as the ship arrives in Ghent, a historic city in Flemish Belgium. Battlefield expert Piers Storie-Pugh joins on board to deliver a fascinating talk about the region's battlefields. After a relaxed lunch, choose between two excursions: an afternoon coach tour to Bruges (an enchanting medieval town with winding streets, stately townhouses and grand squares) or a guided sightseeing tour of Ghent including a chocolate tasting. Return to the ship for dinner and drinks this evening.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  4. Day 4overnight: MS Amadeus Amara (en route to Arnhem)

    The battlefields of Ypres or at leisure in Ghent

    This morning, choose to take an optional excursion to the Ypres battlefields, including entrance to Sanctuary Wood – a key battlefront during World War I with an original trench layout dug by British troops. Alternatively, explore the attractive town of Ghent at your own pace, visiting St Bavo's Cathedral and the Belfry. Return to the ship for lunch, then set sail towards the Netherlands. Spend the afternoon relaxing amongst the ship's facilities or in your cabin before dinner this evening.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  5. Day 5overnight: MS Amadeus Amara (Arnhem)

    Hartenstein Airborne Museum or Netherlands' Open-Air Museum

    Breakfast and lunch are served on board as the ship continues sailing to Arnhem. Piers Storie-Pugh delivers a presentation on the Battle of Arnhem, providing insights into the Allied offensive of September 1944. On arrival in Arnhem, choose between two excursions: a guided tour of the Hartenstein Airborne Museum in Oosterbeek (focusing on Operation Market Garden, the story later told in the 1977 film A Bridge Too Far) or a visit to the extensive Netherlands' Open-Air Museum (a 44-hectare museum park with authentic buildings, farmhouses and mills, plus demonstrations of traditional crafts). Return to the ship for dinner and drinks this evening.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  6. Day 6railovernight: MS Amadeus Amara (Amsterdam)

    Hoorn & the Medemblik Steam Railway

    Arrive at Hoorn, one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands. Enjoy a guided tour of Hoorn's historic centre after breakfast – Hoorn grew rapidly during the Dutch Golden Age as a centre for trade and base for the Dutch East India Company. Sights include the 15th-century Hoofdtoren and the charming main square. Later, embark on a nostalgic journey through the countryside aboard the Medemblik steam train, admiring Dutch landscapes of tulip fields, windmills and charming villages. Board the ship later this afternoon and begin sailing to Amsterdam, where the ship docks for the night. Note: trains are steam-hauled where possible; heritage diesel locomotives may run instead due to timetable changes or weather conditions.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  7. Day 7overnight: MS Amadeus Amara (Amsterdam)

    Charlie Dimmock talk & Keukenhof Gardens

    Renowned horticulturist Charlie Dimmock joins on board after breakfast to deliver a presentation about her time at the BBC and her tips on horticulture and garden care, followed by a Q&A session. Then set off to visit the incredible Keukenhof Gardens – also known as the 'Garden of Europe'. Open only from the end of March to the beginning of May, the gardens present an astonishing display of more than seven million daffodils, tulips, hyacinths and other spring-flowering bulbs, as well as scented freesias, chrysanthemums and roses. Tonight, enjoy the last night onboard with an elegant gala dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  8. Day 8

    Homeward bound

    After a leisurely breakfast, disembark and say goodbye to the ship's crew. Transfer to Amsterdam airport by coach and fly back to London Heathrow, where the holiday comes to an end.

    Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Canal boat cruise through Amsterdam admiring the city's arched bridges and elegant gabled houses lining the flower-lined waterways
  • Day 6Nostalgic journey aboard the Medemblik steam train through the Dutch countryside after a guided tour of Hoorn's 15th-century Hoofdtoren and historic centre
  • Day 7Full-day guided tour of Keukenhof Gardens, showcasing over seven million spring-flowering bulbs and Dutch cultural heritage

Included

  • Escorted throughout by experienced Tour Manager/Cruise Director team
  • 7-night cruise onboard MS Amadeus Amara
  • Five-star service onboard
  • Complimentary onboard Wi-Fi
  • Standard Class rail travel
  • All rail and coach travel throughout the tour
  • Return flights from London Heathrow to Amsterdam
  • Breakfast, lunch and dinner each day of the cruise including a spectacular gala dinner
  • Drinks package with dinner every night of the cruise
  • Superb excursions included
  • Canal boat cruise of Amsterdam
  • Guided tour of Hoorn's historic centre
  • Medemblik steam train journey
  • Full-day guided tour of Keukenhof Gardens
  • Onboard talks by Charlie Dimmock and Piers Storie-Pugh
  • Choice of excursion in Ghent: coach tour to Bruges or guided sightseeing tour of Ghent (with chocolate tasting)
  • Choice of excursion at Arnhem: Hartenstein Airborne Museum or Netherlands' Open-Air Museum

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance
  • Optional excursion to Ypres battlefields (Day 4)
  • Bar costs (drinks outside dinner drinks package)
  • Personal expenses

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included in the price?
Yes. The package includes the Medemblik steam train journey from Hoorn to Medemblik, plus all other rail and coach travel throughout the tour.
What is the accommodation?
Seven nights onboard the MS Amadeus Amara, a five-star luxury river cruise ship with all meals and drinks at dinner included.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. Great Rail Journeys provides an experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team throughout, plus onboard talks by horticulturist Charlie Dimmock and battlefield historian Piers Storie-Pugh.
What are the choice excursions?
Day 3: coach tour to Bruges or guided sightseeing tour of Ghent with chocolate tasting. Day 4: optional excursion to Ypres Battlefields with entrance to Sanctuary Wood. Day 5: Hartenstein Airborne Museum or Netherlands' Open-Air Museum.
Are flights included?
Yes. Return flights from London Heathrow to Amsterdam are included.
What meals are provided?
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included each day of the cruise, with a drinks package provided at dinner every night.

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