Grand Tulip Cruise of Holland & Belgium for Garden and Nature Lovers
Begin your tulip season cruise in Amsterdam -perfect for garden and nature enthusiasts. For flower lovers, during the second stretch of your cruise, an expert botanist will provide lectures onboard, sharing his knowledge about botany and the world of plants! Choose a visit to Arnhem’s WWII Airborne Museum or a bike ride. In Maastricht, tour the old cobblestoned university town.
On to Belgium for a sightseeing tour of medieval Namur and free time to browse its ancient architecture, charming cafes, and bookshops. In Liège, see the ancient quarters of the “Fiery City” as well as its romantic streets, steps, and tiny alleyways. Next, you’ll explore the city of Antwerp—birthplace of the master painter Pieter Paul Rubens. Stroll its cobbled lanes amid 16th-century guildhall houses and the cathedral’s stunning altarpiece paintings by the famous artist on your guided tour of the diamond capital. In Brussels, you’ll find landmark buildings of Town Hall with a collection of cafes and shops on the Lower Town streets on your guided tour. Visit “The Diamond of Flanders”, Ghent, for stunning Flemish artwork in St. Bavo’s Cathedral. Sail to Bossuit for moving battlefield remembrances, including In Flanders Fields Museum and the Last Post Ceremony. On to Holland for a visit the former Dutch East India Company trading port. Visit the fascinating Flood Museum to hear and see the stories of the flood of 1953. In Kinderdijk, see 19 windmills built in 1740 for water management and marvel at the Erasmus Bridge in the historic port city of Rotterdam.
Be amazed at the varieties and volume of tulips and other flowering bulbs in the flower farm regions of Zaandam and Haarlem and delight in a visit to see the breathtaking blooming colors of Keukenhof, also known as the “Garden of Europe.” With 70 acres of parkland and lakes, Keukenhof is one of the world’s largest flower gardens with more than 7 million flowering bulbs each year.
This beautiful and historic springtime river cruise concludes with two nights in Amsterdam. Take a guided canal cruise past bridges and homes of a golden age.
Avalon's suite ships in Europe and Southeast Asia boast wall-to-wall windows that transform cabins into open-air balconies, and there are also river-facing beds to make the most of passing views.
The line’s Active & Discovery sailings have optional action-packed experiences alongside traditional shore tours.
Avalon Waterways also offers short-break cruises of three and four nights.
Your Avalon river cruise will bring new tranquility to your traveler's soul, but you'll also find plenty of ways to excite your adventurous spirit to cruise your way! While on board, enjoy the intimate setting of the Avalon Tranquility II with two full decks of Panorama Suites with wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows that create river cruising's only Open-Air Balcony.
