Springtime Tulips & Keukenhof Gardens - Fly

 Your springtime holiday begins today at London Heathrow. As you arrive, meet the Tour Manager and your group of fellow travellers, and together, we board our flight to Amsterdam, the charming capital of the Netherlands.  

Touching down in the Dutch capital, we are transferred to our luxurious cruise ship and are welcomed by our crew. Once on board our floating home, there is 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, we enjoy our first dinner together in the panoramic restaurant before a Dutch sea shanty choir joins us on board, providing our evening entertainment and a fitting start to our cruising experience.

*If you would like to travel by rail, view our Rail & Cruise option here.

• Dinner

After breakfast onboard the ship, we get to know the Dutch capital on a scenic canal cruise, 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 - a city unlike anywhere else.   

We enjoy lunch back on board the ship before a free afternoon to explore Amsterdam at your own pace.  As you discover the city at leisure, you may choose to wander the charming side streets and hidden courtyards, enjoy a drink at a canal-side café, or visit one of the city's world-class museums, such as the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh Museum. We set sail towards Ghent later this afternoon and enjoy dinner onboard this evening.   

  Please note: on the 29th April departure, Days 2 and 7 will be swapped, and we will visit Keukenhof Gardens today. 

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 Waking up on the water, we enjoy breakfast on board and time to admire the changing scenery before our ship arrives in Ghent, a historic city in Flemish Belgium. This morning, renowned battlefield expert and war cemetery authority Piers Storie-Pugh joins us on board to deliver a fascinating talk about the region's battlefields. A former infantry battalion commanding officer, Piers uses his expertise in the field to take us back in time.

After a relaxed lunch, you can choose between two excursions: an afternoon coach tour to Bruges or a guided sightseeing tour of Ghent. Bruges is an enchanting medieval town with a proud history. Here, you'll uncover winding streets, stately townhouses and grand squares, often filled with locals enjoying cafés serving Belgian delicacies. Alternatively, explore Ghent, one of Belgium's oldest cities, on a tour that showcases the city's medieval architecture and includes a chocolate tasting. 

This evening, we return to our ship for dinner and drinks. 

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 This morning, you have the choice to take an optional excursion to the Ypres battlefields, including entrance to Sanctuary Wood. This area was a key battlefront during World War I and stands today as a poignant reminder of the conflict. The museum at Sanctuary Wood takes visitors back to 1914, with an original trench layout dug by British troops.   

Alternatively, you could explore the attractive town of Ghent at your own pace, venturing into the narrow streets and pretty boulevards. The architecture lends an elegant grandeur to the buildings here, such as the impressive St Bavo's Cathedral and the Belfry.    

  As we return to the ship for lunch, we set sail towards the Netherlands once more. You can spend this afternoon relaxing amongst the ship's facilities or unwinding in your cabin as the scenery passes by before dinner this evening. 

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 Breakfast and lunch are served on board today as we continue sailing to Arnhem. Piers Storie-Pugh again lends his expertise as he delivers a presentation on the Battle of Arnhem, providing insights into the Allied offensive of September 1944.    

On arrival in the Dutch town of Arnhem, you have a choice of two excursions. Your first option is to visit Oosterbeek and enjoy a guided tour of the Hartenstein Airborne Museum. This institution focuses on the fierce Battle of Arnhem, part of Operation Market Garden in World War Two, the story of which was later detailed in the 1977 war film A Bridge Too Far. For a glimpse into Dutch heritage, you could visit the extensive Netherlands' Open-Air Museum. This 44-hectare museum park brings to life the country's culture and history through authentic buildings, farmhouses and mills from across the ages, as well as demonstrations of traditional crafts.     

Back on board our ship, we enjoy dinner and drinks this evening.  

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 Delightful harbour-town views greet us this morning as we reach Hoorn, one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands.    

Here, we enjoy a guided tour of Hoorn's historic centre after breakfast. Hoorn grew rapidly during the Dutch Golden Age and prospered as a centre for trade, including as a base for the influential Dutch East India Company. Sights include the 15th-century Hoofdtoren, a former harbour control tower, and the charming main square lined by attractive buildings, including the grand Statencollege. Later, we embark on a nostalgic journey through the countryside aboard the Medemblik steam train*. During the trip, we can admire evocative Dutch landscapes of tulip fields, windmills and charming villages - the epitome of the Netherlands' culture.    

Boarding our ship later this afternoon, we begin sailing to Amsterdam, where we dock for the night. 

*Please note: trains are steam-hauled where possible; however, due to timetable changes or weather conditions, heritage diesel locomotives may be running instead.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 Renowned horticulturist Charlie Dimmock joins us on board after breakfast this morning. The star of BBC's Ground Force delivers a presentation about her time at the BBC and her tips on horticulture and garden care. Afterwards, there is a question-and-answer session with Charlie before we set off to experience a highlight of our cruise - a visit to the incredible Keukenhof Gardens.

Also known as the 'Garden of Europe', it bursts into colour as the glorious tulip displays begin to bloom. 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. Besides early spring flowers, there are seasonal shows of scented freesias, chrysanthemums and roses. Soak it all up as you walk, surrounded by swathes of flowers of every hue and shade that contrast with brightly coloured sculptures to create a one-of-a-kind experience. 

  Tonight, we enjoy our last night onboard with an elegant gala dinner.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 From the flower-lined canals of Amsterdam to the spectacular tulip fields of Keukenhof Gardens, this river cruise through the Netherlands and Belgium has revealed the culture, history and beauty of these two countries. Experts Charlie Dimmock and Piers Storie-Pugh were welcomed on board our luxury ship to deliver informative talks on horticulture and the battlefields of Flanders and Arnhem. A choice of excursions also provided the opportunity to immerse yourself in your areas of interest, giving you the chance to explore the attractive cities of Bruges and Ghent, or uncover the poignant battlefields of Ypres and Arnhem.     

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

• Breakfast