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Vacations By Rail · River Cruise

Springtime Tulips Cruise: Holland & Belgium

Eight-day river cruise through Holland and Belgium in springtime tulip season

Illustration of Springtime Tulips Cruise: Holland & Belgium

Vacations By Rail's eight-day Springtime Tulips Cruise sails through Holland and Belgium in April and May, when the region blooms with spring flowers. The journey begins in Amsterdam and ends at Keukenhof Gardens, the Dutch garden masterpiece. The ship, the MS Amadeus Amara, is your home for all seven nights; you wake in different ports, including Ghent, Bruges, Arnhem, and Hoorn, and step ashore for guided excursions. The itinerary balances on-water time and on-shore exploration. You will ride a heritage steam train through the countryside near Hoorn, visit the battlefields and museums of Ypres and Arnhem with expert commentary, explore the medieval streets of Bruges, and enjoy a full day at Keukenhof Gardens with a horticultural specialist. An experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team escort the group throughout. Five-star onboard service, meals at every table, and a drinks package with dinner are included. This trip suits travelers who prefer guided comfort, history enthusiasts drawn to World War sites, and those who want the ease of sleeping aboard and waking to new ports.

What to know before you look closer

  • On the April 29th departure, the itinerary is reordered: Days 2 and 7 are swapped, and Keukenhof Gardens is visited earlier in the trip
  • Flights and airport transfers are not included in the from-price
  • Several excursions are optional rather than included; the final activities depend on your choice on Days 3, 4, and 5

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: ship

    Boarding our luxurious ship in Amsterdam

    Arrive in Amsterdam and make your own way to the waterfront to board the cruise ship. Meet the Tour Manager and fellow travelers before the first dinner in the panoramic restaurant; a Dutch sea shanty choir provides evening entertainment.

  2. Day 2overnight: ship

    Exploring Amsterdam on a canal boat cruise

    A scenic canal cruise of Amsterdam after breakfast, lunch onboard, then a free afternoon to explore the city before setting sail toward Ghent. Note: on the April 29th departure, Days 2 and 7 are swapped and Keukenhof Gardens is visited on this day instead.

  3. Day 3overnight: ship

    Excursions to beautiful Belgian cities

    Arrival in Ghent; an onboard talk from battlefield expert Piers Storie-Pugh, then a choice of an afternoon coach tour to Bruges or a guided sightseeing tour of Ghent including chocolate tasting.

  4. Day 4overnight: ship

    The battlefields of Ypres or at leisure in Ghent

    Optional excursion to the Ypres battlefields including entrance to Sanctuary Wood, or explore Ghent at your own pace. The ship sets sail towards the Netherlands after lunch.

  5. Day 5overnight: ship

    Hartenstein Airborne Museum or Netherlands' Open-Air Museum

    Sailing to Arnhem with an onboard presentation on the Battle of Arnhem from Piers Storie-Pugh; choice of the Hartenstein Airborne Museum in Oosterbeek or the Netherlands' Open-Air Museum.

  6. Day 6railovernight: ship

    Hoorn & the Medemblik Steam Railway

    A guided tour of Hoorn's historic center, then a nostalgic journey through the countryside aboard the Medemblik steam train, before boarding the ship again to sail overnight to Amsterdam.

  7. Day 7overnight: ship

    The sights and scents of Keukenhof Gardens

    Horticulturist Charlie Dimmock joins the ship for a presentation and Q&A, followed by a visit to Keukenhof Gardens, the 'Garden of Europe'. Last night onboard with an elegant gala dinner.

  8. Day 8

    Traveling home

    Leisurely breakfast, disembark, and say goodbye to the ship's crew before beginning onward travels home.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Scenic canal cruise through Amsterdam, past flower-lined canals and arched bridges before setting sail toward Ghent
  • Day 3Choice between a guided coach tour to Bruges or a sightseeing tour of Ghent with chocolate tasting, plus an onboard talk from battlefield expert Piers Storie-Pugh
  • Day 6Heritage ride on the Medemblik steam train through the Dutch countryside past tulip fields and windmills, after a guided tour of Hoorn's historic center
  • Day 7Full-day visit to Keukenhof Gardens, the Garden of Europe, with a horticulturist presentation by Charlie Dimmock and a gala dinner that evening

Included

  • Escorted throughout your tour by our 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 your tour
  • Breakfast, lunch and dinner each day, including a spectacular gala dinner
  • Drinks package with dinner every night of your cruise
  • Superb excursions included

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour but can be arranged
  • Flights and Airport transfers not included

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The package includes standard class rail travel and all coach travel throughout the tour. A heritage steam train ride on the Medemblik railway is also included as part of Day 6.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. Vacations By Rail provides an experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team throughout the eight days.
What is included in the price?
The seven-night cruise onboard the MS Amadeus Amara, all meals, a drinks package with dinner, complimentary onboard Wi-Fi, standard class rail travel, all coach travel, and guided excursions are included. Flights and airport transfers are not.
When does this trip run?
Departures occur during spring tulip season, typically April and May. A specific April 29th departure is mentioned with a reordered itinerary.
What hotels are included?
You sleep aboard the MS Amadeus Amara for all seven nights; this is a river cruise, not a land-based hotel tour.
How much walking is involved?
The tour includes canal boat cruises, guided city walks in Amsterdam, Ghent, and Hoorn, and optional visits to museums and battlefields. A moderate level of walking is expected, but the ship-based format minimizes luggage handling.

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