Five Star Tulip River Cruise Tour

***SPECIAL OFFER*** Save up to £100 per person on 2021 departures when you book on or before 31st May 2020

TOP SELLER! Book Early for 2021

Discover the magnificent floral displays of the Keukenhof Gardens and enjoy a talk onboard ship from television personality Charlie Dimmock on this wonderfully diverse 7 night cruise on the enchanting Belgian and Dutch waterways.

On this tour you will uncover the beautiful historic cities of Amsterdam, Ghent and Antwerp as well as the Battlefields of Ypres, the spectacular Keukenhof tulips and the Hoorn-Medemblik steam train. Also enjoy a talk from army veteran and battlefields expert Colonel Piers Storie-Pugh OBE on this memorable river cruise.

Itinerary 

Day 1: London to Amsterdam 
Meet your Tour Manager at London St Pancras today, where you board the Eurostar Service to Amsterdam, where you’ll be escorted you to the ship. On arrival you board your vessel and settle into your cabin and your new surroundings. Later, enjoy a welcome drink in the lounge before a sumptuous 5-course first dinner in the restaurant. Includes: Dinner

Day 2: Amsterdam 
After waking up to your first morning and breakfast on board, you are given a choice between two fascinating excursions. Your first option is a guided sightseeing tour of Amsterdam, taking in all the sights which make this enigmatic port city one of the most loved in Europe. Discover the Royal Palace, Dam Square and the pretty canals for which Amsterdam is famous. Your second option is a visit to the town of Hoorn where you embark on a nostalgic steam train trip on the wonderful Medemblik Steam Railway. Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Battlefields of Ypres 
Your vessel arrives into Ghent today, in Flemish Belgium. This morning, Colonel Piers Storie-Pugh MBE comes aboard to deliver a fascinating talk about the battlefields in the region, using his impressive expertise in the field to take you back in time. In the afternoon, our excursion takes you to the infamous Ypres Battlefields, a key battlefront in the First World War. You also see the Tyne Cot cemetery where many of the combatants were buried. Return to the ship later for dinner. Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Ghent & Bruges
Discover the attractive town of Ghent this morning as you venture into the narrow streets and pretty boulevards for a guided tour. Built in an instantly identifiable style, the architecture lends an elegant grandeur to the buildings here, and you will discover some of the finest examples on our tour which includes the ever impressive St Bavo’s Cathedral and the Belfrey. After lunch, pay a visit to the fairytale city of Bruges. An exceptional example of a medieval town which maintains its historicity, Bruges is truly an enchanting city with winding streets opening up to large squares which are often filled with locals enjoying the local cafés serving Belgian delicacies. Here you will discover the canals, churches and noble old townhouses which are famous across Europe. Later, after your day in the towns of Belgium, you enjoy another delicious dinner on board our vessel. The ship sails overnight to Antwerp. Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Antwerp
This morning, your cruise arrives into the diamond town of Antwerp in the far north of Belgium, near the Netherlands. A superb city of magnificent colour and style, Antwerp is famous for its role as the world’s leading diamond authority. It is estimated that around 70% of the world’s diamonds are sold and bought here. You will visit the diamond district and more on a guided tour of the city’s medieval streets Later in the afternoon, you depart Antwerp sailing along the Rhine and the Scheldt-Rhine Canal. This man-made stretch of water was created to serve trade routes along the Rhine. You will discover more about the history of the canal from your Cruise Director. Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Arnhem 
You arrive into Arnhem this morning. After free time, you have another choice of two excursions. Your first option is to visit the excellent Hartenstein Airbourne Museum in nearby Oosterbeek for a guided tour. This institution is based on the fierce Battle of Arnhem in WWII, the setting of the war film ‘A Bridge too Far’. The museum features a collection which includes various artefacts from the battle itself. Alternatively, you may wish to join the excursion which visits the Netherlands Open Air Museum, recanting the storied history of flight in this proud European country. Tonight you sit down to an elegant Gala dinner with our captain and crew. Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 7: Keukenhof Gardens
This morning you arrive back in Amsterdam, and are joined on board by the wonderful Charlie Dimmock, star of the BBC’s Ground Force. You will enjoy a presentation as well as a question and answer session with her, learning about her time at the BBC and her tips on horticulture and garden care. Later, you experience a true highlight of the tour, visiting the magnificent kaleidoscope of colour that is Keukenhof Gardens. Lined and filled with all manner of glorious tulips displays of all sizes and variety, this is one of the best floral displays in Europe and indeed the rest of the world. In the evening, you are serenaded back on board by a Dutch sea shanty choir. Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 8: Homeward Bound 
After a buffet breakfast, your cruise comes to an end and you disembark your ship in Amsterdam. Here you are escorted by your Tour Manager by rail back to London. Includes Breakfast.

MS Amadeus Queen
Sleek, elegant and comfortable, the MS Amadeus Queen is an excellent river going vessel, offering one of the finest ways to discover the stunning rivers of Europe. Well-maintained facilities, superb service and tasteful cabins all combine to make passengers’ time on board the Amadeus Queen a delight. Enjoy the serene scenery as it passes by, through specially designed floor-to- ceiling windows or perhaps from the Sun Deck at the top of the boat, as you relax on loungers and deck chairs with your fellow travellers.

Across the four decks, the ship has a range of amenities available to passengers including a restaurant, a panorama-bar and a fitness room. A recent addition has seen an indoor pool installed at the rear of the boat. Each room has a television, an en suite bathroom, a mini bar and a hairdryer, while the suites enjoy a walk-out exterior balcony as well.

***SPECIAL OFFER*** Save up to £100 per person on 2021 departures when you book on or before 31st May 2020

Departure Dates & Costs per Person#

15/04/2020: £1,695

04/04/2021:-£1,795 £1,695

06/04/2021:-£1,795 £1,695

19/04/2021:-£1,795 £1,695