Cruise Description
7 Night Cruise sailing from Amsterdam roundtrip aboard AmaLyra.
Tulip Time:
Discover the beauty and history of the Dutch and Belgian waterways in the spring. Admire the spectacular tulip carpets in Keukenhof Gardens. Visit the lush green countryside of Kinderdijk, home to the country’s greatest concentration of windmills, and experience Amsterdam’s distinctive architecture and vibrant nightlife. A wonderful opportunity to admire the great medieval cities of Antwerp and Ghent and to delve into the cultural traditions of the friendly Dutch and Flemish people awaits you.
Detailed Itinerary:
Day 1 ARRIVE IN AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND – EMBARKATION
Welcome to Amsterdam, a modern city with a rich and fascinating 700-year old history. Explore its unique and elegant architecture, lively cafés and markets, and vibrant nightlife. This evening, meet your fellow passengers on board at the Welcome Dinner. (D)
Day 2 AMSTERDAM – VOLENDAM – EDAM
After breakfast, enjoy a scenic morning cruise through the historic harbor and canals of Amsterdam. See the beautiful homes that line the water, the fabled Skinny Bridge, and the famous house where Anne Frank spent years in hiding during World War II. Later, enjoy a panoramic city tour that includes a windmill and other iconic landmarks. Return to the ship for lunch while you cruise the Ijsselmeer towards Volendam. Enjoy a late afternoon tour of Volendam Harbor and see the fishing fleet and fish auction building. Continue by motor coach to Edam, a picturesque town with a rich historic past. You will have a walking tour of the Old Quarter’s beautiful houses, canals, bridges and churches, including one of the largest in Holland, the Grote Kerk (Great Church). (B,L,D)
Day 3 ARNHEM – NIJMEGEN
Arrive in beautiful Arnhem early this morning and see the Battle of Arnhem Bridge made famous by the classic film “A Bridge Too Far.” You’ll also visit the Airborne Museum and learn more about the Battle of Arnhem, one of the major campaigns of World War II. In the alternative, enjoy a tour of the most stunning royal residence in Holland, Het Loo Palace, with lavishly furnished rooms and meticulously sculpted gardens. After your tour, return to the ship for lunch and cruise to Nijmegen for a city tour. Enjoy scenic cruising this evening as you sail through the Netherlands en route to Belgium. (B,L,D)
Day 4 ANTWERP, BELGIUM
This morning, enjoy a walking tour of Antwerp and see Antwerp Castle, Grote Market, Brabo Fountain and the city’s superb architecture. Alternatively, visit the Rubens House, former home and studio of Peter Paul Rubens, the famous 17th century Flemish Baroque painter. You will also visit the Antwerp Cathedral, which houses two of Rubens’ most important works, The Elevation of the Cross and The Descent from the Cross. The afternoon is free to explore Antwerp on your own. Alternatively, take an optional excursion to nearby Brussels, the capital of Belgium and site of NATO headquarters. After dinner, your ship departs for Ghent. (B,L,D)
Day 5 GHENT – TERNEUZEN
After breakfast, take a guided walking tour of Ghent, which includes such highlights as the Belfry Hall, the Koornlei, the Graslei and the Castle of the Counts. Cruise to Terneuzen this afternoon and enjoy some free time. Or take an optional excursion to Bruges, one of Europe’s most perfectly preserved medieval cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Early this evening, cruise through the Dutch region of Zeeland, home to one of the world’s most complex engineering projects, the Delta Works, which took more than 30 years to complete. (B,L,D)
Day 6 WILLEMSTAD, THE NETHERLANDS – KINDERDIJK – SCHOONHOVEN
This morning we will stop in the charming 400-year old town of Willemstad for a walking tour and private organ recital at the oldest Protestant church in the Netherlands. In the afternoon, you will visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kinderdijk, a lovely village renowned for having the country’s greatest concentration of windmills, all dating from the 1500s. Tonight, enjoy a special onboard musical performance as the ship cruises to Schoonhoven, where we will moor overnight. (B,L,D)
Day 7 AMSTERDAM- KEUKENHOF – AMSTERDAM
We arrive in Amsterdam today. Admire the spectacular display of millions of flowering tulips during your morning excursion to the famous 70-acre Keukenhof Gardens. Return to Amsterdam and spend the rest of the day at your leisure. The ship moors overnight in Amsterdam. (B,L,D)
Day 8 DISEMBARKATION – DEPART AMSTERDAM
Disembark the ship. (B)
Cruise Itinerary
| Date | Activity | Arrive | Depart |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24/03 | Amsterdam, Rivers | ||
| 25/03 | Amsterdam, Rivers | ||
| 25/03 | Volendam, Holland | ||
| 25/03 | Edam, Holland | ||
| 26/03 | Arnhem, Holland | ||
| 26/03 | Nijmegen, Netherlands | ||
| 27/03 | Antwerp, Belgium | ||
| 28/03 | Ghent, Belgium | ||
| 29/03 | Willemstad, Netherlands | ||
| 29/03 | Kinderdijk | ||
| 30/03 | Amsterdam, Rivers | ||
| 30/03 | Keukenhof Gardens, Holland | ||
| 31/03 | Amsterdam, Rivers |
Itinerary may vary by sailing date and itineraries may be changed at the cruise lines discretion. Please check itinerary details at time of booking and before booking other travel services such as airline tickets.