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Premium Tulips Cruise

(Tour code: NER17)Enjoy a wonderful waterways cruise

Discover the beauty and history of the Dutch and Belgian waterways from our elegant 4-star Superior cruise ship, visit the spectacular Keukenhof Gardens during their colourful tulip season, and medieval gems like Antwerp and Ghent.

SPECIAL OFFER

Take advantage of our latest saving of up to £50 per person when booking your 2017 Cruising by Rail holiday on or before 31st October 2016. Terms & Conditions 

8 days from£1,495per person
View Dates & Prices
Tour Highlights
  • Keukenhof Gardens
  • Amsterdam
  • Volendam
  • Arnhem
  • Middelburg
  • Antwerp
  • Ghent
  • Kinderdijk
  • Utrecht
What’s Included (Full details)
  • First Class Rail
    Eurostar Standard Premier
    Eurostar Meals
  • Optional Bag Concierge
  • 5* Cruise Ship
    All-Inclusive Board Basis

Itinerary & Map

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Itinerary Map
Departure Times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.

Amsterdam
Day 1

Eurostar and First Class rail to Amsterdam

Our tour begins at Great Rail Journeys' dedicated departure office in St Pancras International, we then depart by Eurostar for Brussels, travelling in Standard Premier Class, with a light meal and drinks served on board. We continue to Amsterdam in First Class on the Thalys service and on arrival transfer to our 4-Star Superior ship MS Amadeus Silver II for a cocktail reception and welcome dinner. Once our cruise begins, the pace of the holiday is set by you alone - you may wish to join the optional shore excursions, explore independently, or simply take it easy and enjoy the facilities on board.

Includes:
  • Dinner
  • Eurostar Meal
  • Cocktail reception on boarding MS Amadeus Silver
Volendam Harbour
Day 2

Exploring Amsterdam, Volendam and Edam

After breakfast you are free to explore Amsterdam at leisure. You could join an optional city tour, which includes a journey through the historic canals of Amsterdam on a local canal boat. We return to the ship for lunch while cruising the IJsselmeer to Volendam, a charming fishing port best known for the traditional costumes and wooden shoes worn by locals. You can explore Volendam independently or join the optional 'Holland Waterland' excursion, which includes a walking tour of Volendam, a visit to a local dairy specialising in local Dutch cheeses, and a stroll through the village of Edam, world-famous for its cheese.

Includes:
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Arnhem
Day 3

Arnhem

This morning is spent on board the ship as we cruise along the Rhine. We reach the town of Arnhem, famously the site of the Battle for Arnhem Bridge during 'Operation Market Garden'. This afternoon you can choose to join one of two optional excursions. One explores the town of Arnhem, the other is a 'World War II history' excursion which tours Arnhem before visiting Arnhem Airborne Museum, which shows the course of events during one of the major battles of World War II. This evening we continue towards the Dutch province of Zeeland.

Includes:
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
MS Amadeus Silver
Day 4

Middelburg

This morning we wake up in Middelburg, home to the magnificent Middelburg Abbey. The town was almost destroyed during WWII and has since been painstakingly restored. You can explore Middelburg independently or join an optional guided walking tour of the town. Alternatively, you could join an optional excursion to the 'Deltaworks project', which showcases how the innovative Dutch have tamed the environment in which they live. The excursion also includes a visit to the town of Veere, one of the most picturesque towns in the area.

Includes:
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ghent
Day 5

Ghent

This morning we wake up in Ghent, Belgium's fourth largest city which is a pretty maze of quaint cobbled streets and winding canals which has retained its medieval charm. After breakfast you can join an optional guided walking tour of Ghent, which includes the 'Castle of the Counts', a real medieval castle in the centre of town. This afternoon you can join the optional excursion to nearby Bruges, one of Europe's most perfectly preserved medieval cities, whose centre has UNESCO World Heritage status.

Includes:
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Antwerp
Day 6

Antwerp

Today the ship is moored in Antwerp, Belgium's second city and the largest in Flanders. You can explore Antwerp at leisure, admiring the beautiful buildings of the Grote Markt and the imposing Church of Our Lady, or join the optional guided walk. Your afternoon is free to explore at leisure, or alternatively take an optional excursion to nearby Brussels. Belgium's capital is home to a number of attractions including the Grand Place, one of the world's great market squares. Tonight is the penultimate evening of your cruise and the ship's captain welcomes everyone to a special dinner on board.

Includes:
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Kinderdijk Windmill
Day 7

Cruise to Holland

This morning we reach Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage site, home to the Netherlands' largest collection of windmills. We stop briefly in Kinderdijk for an optional guided walk before cruising along the Amsterdam Rhine canal to Utrecht. This afternoon you can join the wonderful optional excursion to the famous Keukenhof Gardens - one of the real highlights of the tour. Admire the spectacular display of bulb flowers in bloom across 80 acres of flower-filled park. About seven million tulip bulbs are planted here each year along with crocuses, daffodils, orchids and other flowers creating an explosion of brilliant colour. Keukenhof also has several ponds, sculpture gardens, greenhouses and a windmill which can be visited. The ship sails on to Amsterdam during this afternoon's excursion. During our final evening on board we enjoy a fascinating Dutch folklore show.

Includes:
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Eurostar
Day 8

Amsterdam to London

We transfer to the station for the Thalys service to Brussels. Here we travel back to London on the Eurostar.

Includes:
  • Breakfast
  • Eurostar Meal

Optional Excursion Package

In each town and city we visit, you have the chance to join an optional guided tour or local excursion. These excursions can be bought on board individually or as a package; please ask for details.

Please note

Please note that while every departure of this tour will feature the same excursions, the order may differ from that shown above.

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