Springtime in the Gardens of Holland & Belgium
Awaken your senses on this ultimate spring adventure, bursting with vibrant colours and incredible sights. See for yourself one of the world’s largest and most beautiful spring gardens as you walk among seven million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths at the famous Keukenhof. From the Garden of Europe, your journey continues through the Dutch countryside, featuring iconic windmills and model gardens. Cross over to Belgium and visit the must-see Floralia Spring Flower Show and explore Antwerp, before returning to the Netherlands. You’ll be sailing on your stylish ship the MS Arena, so you can relax knowing that the crew on board will be taking great care of your every need.
Day 1: UK – Amsterdam
We travel to Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands, and enjoy a relaxing evening onboard our ship.
Day 2: Amsterdam
This morning you have the opportunity to join our optional coach excursion to the Aalsmeer Flower Auction, where you can experience the hustle and bustle of the auction floor and admire the stunning flowers traded daily from more than 10 countries (a packed breakfast will be taken because of the early start). This evening you can join another optional excursion which reveals the best views of Amsterdam on a cruise around the city’s canals, with cheese and wine included.
Day 3: Kinderdijk – Dordrecht – Antwerp
This morning we reach Kinderdijk, which is renowned for its 19 beautifully preserved windmills. Our optional excursion visits two of the mills, where we learn about the lifestyle of a miller and the mechanism of a mill. We return to the ship and set sail for Dordrecht where you can join our optional excursion to Appeltern Gardens, which is home to 200 model gardens bursting with colour and inspiration. Dinner is served onboard this evening as we cruise overnight to Antwerp.
Day 4: Antwerp
We arrive in Antwerp this morning. Here you can join our included excursion to Floralia, the spring flower show held in the grounds of Château de Grand Bigard, where you can wander among more than a million bulbs and admire the glasshouse exhibits. We return to the ship for lunch, then the remainder of the day is free to explore Antwerp which is renowned for its skilled diamond cutters and cherished artist Peter Paul Rubens.
Day 5: Antwerp – Rotterdam
This morning’s optional excursion takes you to the National Botanic Garden of Belgium (Meise) and the Plant Palace. This is one of the largest botanic gardens in the world, which also boasts an enormous glasshouse filled with more than 10,000 plant species. We return to the ship for lunch and begin cruising overnight to Rotterdam.
Day 6: Rotterdam – Keukenhof – Amsterdam
After breakfast our coach departs for our included excursion to Keukenhof Gardens where there are over seven million bulbs on show. You can follow the pathways which surround shimmering lakes, ancient trees and wonderful works of art, plus browse the pavilions, find your way around the hedge maze and enjoy the entertainment taking place throughout the day. This evening we enjoy our final dinner onboard the ship and sail overnight to Amsterdam.
Day 7: Amsterdam – UK
We bid farewell to our captain and crew after breakfast and set off on the return journey.
• Visit the capital cities of the Netherlands and Belgium
• See over 200 model gardens on an included visit to Appeltern
• Walk around Château de Grand-Bigard during the spectacular Floralia spring flower show
• Entrance to one of the largest botanic gardens in the world, the National Botanic Garden of Belgium
• See the Plant Palace which houses more than 10,000 plant species from around the world
• Visit Keukenhof, the most beautiful spring garden in the world
Ships
We offer a number of flexible travel options for you to join your cruise, whether you want to travel to the port of departure or directly to the ship. Please see below: On many of our cruises you can take advantage of our convenient and FREE regional coach departures aboard our modern executive coaches from a town or city near you to the port of departure and onwards to meet the ship. When you travel by coach or car, you will join a ferry at Dover, depending on your chosen cruise, and cross over to Europe. Our coach will then take you to meet our ship at the embarkation point as shown in the cruise itinerary. Travel at your own pace, in the comfort of your own vehicle and stay overnight at Dover or Ashford, in accommodation close to the port of departure and be collected/returned by our coach. Prices start from £55 per person per night on a bed and breakfast basis and include parking for one vehicle for the duration of your cruise. Enjoy the benefits of rail travel – boarding at London St Pancras International, you will be whisked effortlessly along by Eurostar whilst relaxing in your reserved seat. You have the freedom to stretch your legs whenever the mood takes you and purchase drinks and snacks from the buffet carriage. Air travel is included as an air inclusive option with flights and return transfers to the ship included. Regional flight options are available, call our Holiday Advisors for details. Make your own travel arrangements at your convenience to join your selected cruise, simply board your cruise ship at the embarkation point. Coach via Dover
Ferry crossing at Dover or Newcastle
Overnight hotel in Dover or Ashford
Eurostar from London St Pancras
By Air from London Heathrow
Join at the Ship
Dates and pricing
The details below show the travel options, pricing and the available departure dates for this itinerary. If you have any questions about this cruise please do not hesitate to call our Holiday Advisors. Departures
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Enhance your holiday experience with a range of optional and included excursions that allow you to discover the history of our ports of call, experience the tradition of local regions and explore further afield. They’re the perfect complement to your cruise itinerary, but they are subject to availability so we recommend you book early! Included Keukenhof is spring at its most beautiful; where all the best floral features of the season are brought together to form stunning displays which are reflected in the still waters of the surrounding lakes. £39 No visit to Amsterdam is complete without a cruise along its canals. Enjoy a selection of cheeses washed down with a glass of wine as our chartered cruiser, accompanied by English commentary, highlights the sights and places of interest. £29 Visit the largest trading centre for plants and flowers in the world, where you can experience the hustle and bustle of the auction floor, watch traders bidding against the clock and be amazed at the quantity of beautiful flowers traded daily from more than ten countries. You can also visit the Historic Garden which takes you all the way back to 1650 with wonderful displays of plants and tools from a bygone era. Please note: The best time for the auction is early in the morning; therefore we leave our ship around 6.30am following a light breakfast. £33 A walk through this 23-hectare park is an experience for all the senses. There is a free audio tour if you are interested in the story behind Appeltern and want an extra explanation about the gardens, or you can simply enjoy the quiet, the space and the nature. Whichever you choose, you’re almost certain to come away with some fantastic ideas for your own garden. £9 No trip to the Netherlands is complete without visiting these beautiful wooden windmills, which date back to the 1500s.We visit the Museum Windmill Nederwaard and the Museum Windmill Blokweer and gain fascinating insight from both. Included This spectacular show is held in the grounds of Château de Grand-Bigard, where well over a million bulbs have been hand-planted by the castle’s gardeners. Tulips, hyacinths and daffodils are among the 400 varieties on show, along with extremely rare types. There are also displays in the greenhouses, and beautiful arrangements in the chapel and the tower, plus bulbs can be purchased at the entrance to the castle. £22 This is one of the largest botanic gardens in the world, with endless promenades that lead you through beautiful open air collections of medicinal and herbaceous plants, shrubs, trees and conifers. There’s also the Plant Palace, an enormous glasshouse with more than 10,000 plant species from around the world. £132 per person You can book our excursions individually or as a package, but they are subject to availability so we recommend you book early! £120 per person Our Premium Package is a great way to add a touch of something special to your MS Arena river cruise experience. This exclusive package is a pre-bookable addition available across all cabin grades, and includes drinks with your meals, 10% off excursions, a welcome basket of fruit on arrival, water delivered to your cabin, a selection of complimentary toiletries and free use of the wellness and fitness suite aboard MS Arena. For more information call our Holiday Advisers. Keukenhof Gardens
Amsterdam Canal Cruise with Cheese & Wine
Aalsmeer Flower Auction
Appeltern Gardens
Windmills of Kinderdijk
Floralia Flower Show
National Botanic Gardens of Belgium
Package Price
Premium Package
At a glance
Length: 7 days
From: Amsterdam
Ends: Amsterdam
Travel options available:
- Coach via Dover
- Ferry crossing at Dover or Newcastle
- Overnight hotel in Dover or Ashford
- Eurostar from London St Pancras
- By Air from London Heathrow
- Join at the Ship
Included in the Price
- Six nights’ cruise on a full board basis
- Excursions: Keukenhof Gardens, Floralia Flower Show
- Welcome Drink
- Afternoon tea/coffee and cake & late evening snack
- Complimentary tea, coffee and WiFi
- Visits to Amsterdam, Kinderdijk, Dordrecht, Antwerp and Rotterdam
- Services of a Cruise Manager