Europe
Escorted tours
Tauck World Discovery
Amsterdam to Brussels at Tulip Time
Amsterdam to Brussels at Tulip Time
Glory in the vivid
colors of spring in the Netherlands and Belgium with a riverboat cruise
through centuries-old inland waterways. View windmills standing sentinel over
lush landscapes that stretch as far as the eye can see, and celebrate the
season with a visit to Keukenhof Gardens. Take a canal ride through the
medieval town of Bruges, and experience the past at the Zuiderzee Museum.
Taste Dutch gin, learn how Belgian chocolate and Dutch cheese are made, and
dine at a castle. Visit renowned art museums and World War II sites, with city
sightseeing in Amsterdam, Antwerp, and Maastricht on this interesting and
colorful Belgium and Holland cruise.
Limited time only – enjoy special
savings of $500 per cabin on April 21
departure when you book by March 1, 2006. Call for details.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Click here for Northbound, starting in Brussels.
• Indicates day of cruising
Day 1: Amsterdam
highlights
Holland cruise begins at 3:00 p.m. at the
Amsterdam Marriott Hotel in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Upon arrival, a
transfer is included from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport to your center-city
hotel. Join a local guide to see the Dam, the 15th-century New Church, and the
Royal Palace, a Neo-Classical building still used by the Dutch Royal family on
official occasions. Admire masterpieces by Rembrandt and Old Dutch Masters at
the Rijksmuseum. Cap the day with the welcome reception and dinner.
Meals: Dinner
Lodging: Amsterdam Marriott Hotel, Amsterdam,
Netherlands
• Day 2: The blooms of
Amsterdam
Depending on your tour’s departure date, visit the famous Aalsmeer Flower
Auction or enjoy an Amsterdam canal boat ride. Journey to Keukenhof Gardens in
Lisse where millions of blooming tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths create
flower carpets of color. Board your riverboat, and enjoy a Dutch gin tasting
before dinner.
Meals: Dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard
MS Switzerland II or
MS Swiss Emerald
• Day 3: Historic
buildings & windmills
Dock in Hoorn, a port town with 16th- and 17th-century houses. Choose either a
town walking tour, or a visit to the Schermer Museum Mill and the Zeezicht
cheese farm for a cheese-making demonstration. Cruise to the picturesque
fishing town Enkhuizen to visit the Zuiderzee Museum, a reconstructed historic
town with costumed guides.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard
MS Switzerland II or
MS Swiss Emerald
• Day 4:
Airplanes/architecture or birds/art
Your Holland cruise continues as you travel along the picturesque banks of the
Lek and Rhine Rivers. In the afternoon, choose between two excursions. You can
take a walking tour of the town of Deventer followed by a visit to the World
War II Airborne Museum. Alternatively, you can visit De Hoge Veluwe National
Park, the country’s largest nature reserve, and then peruse works by Vincent
Van Gogh at the Kröller-Müller Museum.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard
MS Switzerland II or
MS Swiss Emerald
• Day 5: Maas River
cruising & antiquities
Arrive in Nijmegen, the Netherlands’ oldest city. Explore the ancient ruins of
Valkhof, Charlemagne’s 8th-century stronghold, and the artifact-filled museum.
See St. Stevenskerk, a 14th-century church, and the Grote Markt before
resuming your cruise along the Maas River through the beautiful Dutch
countryside.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard
MS Switzerland II or
MS Swiss Emerald
• Day 6: Magic of
Maastricht
Explore the Old Town of Maastricht, Netherlands, including the16th-century
Spanish Government House, and Helpoort, an entry through the medieval town
wall built in 1229. View the Basilica of Our Lady and Sint-Servaasbasiliek,
one of the oldest churches in the Netherlands.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard
MS Switzerland II or
MS Swiss Emerald
• Day 7: A memorial and
a castle
Pay respects at the American War Cemetery, where thousands of U.S. World War
II soldiers are buried. Have lunch at Château Neercanne, a terraced castle.
Cruise the Albert Canal from the Netherlands into Belgium, enjoying the
riverboat views from the sundeck or lounge. Arrive in the cultural center of
Antwerp, and savor Belgian specialties at dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard
MS Switzerland II or
MS Swiss Emerald
• Day 8: A day in
Antwerp
See Antwerp’s railway station, opera house, and city park. Discover the
secrets of Belgian chocolate making at a local chocolatier. Visit the home of
renowned 17th-century artist Peter Paul Rubens, and see more of his work at
the Cathedral of Our Lady, Belgium’s largest Gothic cathedral. Enjoy some free
time in the city, and then attend
the farewell reception and Captain’s dinner, marking the conclusion of your
Belgium and Holland cruise.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard
MS Switzerland II or
MS Swiss Emerald
Day 9: Bruges beckons
Disembark from the riverboat, and journey to historic Bruges, one of Europe’s
best-preserved medieval cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take a boat
cruise through quaint canals and under arched bridges. Then take a walking
tour through cobbled lanes to view the celebrated architecture. Enjoy free
time in this fascinating city before traveling to Brussels.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Hotel Amigo, Brussels, Belgium
Day 10: Journey home
Tour ends in Brussels, Belgium. Your transfer to Brussels Airport from Hotel
Amigo is included in the tour price. Allow 2 1⁄2 hours for departure flight
check-in.
Meals: Breakfast
Prices
10 Days from $3,240 plus
airfare
Save up to
$500 per cabin on April 21 departure;
offer valid until March 1, 2006 – call for
details.
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Cruise Price per Person aboard MS Swiss Emerald |
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Category 1 – Double, Emerald Deck |
Double $3490 |
Single $6020 |
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The following dates sail on the MS Swiss Emerald: April 2, 16, 30 (southbound); April 9, 23 (northbound); May 7 (northbound) |
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Cruise Price per Person aboard
MS Switzerland II |
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Category 1 – Base Double, Emerald
Deck |
Double $3490 |
Single $6020 |
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The following dates sail on the MS Switzerland II: March 31 (northbound); April 14, 28 (northbound); April 7, 21 (southbound) |
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Limited triple accommodations may be available; ask upon booking.
22 meals included.
8-day cruise-only option is only available on
Northbound itinerary, with fares starting at $2740. Ask at time of
booking for details.
Price includes cruise fare, port
charges, wine with dinner aboard ship, shore excursions and gratuities to ship
staff and Tauck Directors.
International air is additional. Tauck
can book your international air for travel originating in the United States,
subject to availability; inquire upon booking for special fares that may be
available.
Itinerary Changes – Although not
expected, Tauck reserves the right to alter the sequence of ports or omit or
substitute scheduled ports or attractions at any time without prior notice.
Need to Know
Cruise prices are per person in U.S. dollars.
All accommodations, motor coach and cruise ship transportation,
sightseeing, admissions, shore excursions and services of Tauck Directors,
ship crew and drivers are included.
Hotel Accommodations – Tauck’s price
includes all hotel accommodations with private baths. The Tauck standard is to
provide the best available hotels without sacrificing value. Although the
quality of accommodations may differ from place to place, this standard
remains uncompromised. Two-bedded rooms are reserved in most hotels. Triples
are two-bedded rooms plus a rollaway cot and are not recommended for comfort.
Meals – Most meals are included as
specified in the itinerary. Meal codes are: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner.
Gratuities Included – All appropriate
gratuities for bellmen, luggage handling, doormen, dining room servers, Tauck
Director, local guides and cruise ship staff are included.
Tauck Director – Each Belgium and
Holland cruise is conducted by a Tauck Director who remains with the group
throughout the duration of the cruise. Your Tauck Director is a professional,
fully-trained employee of Tauck World Discovery.
No Options Sold – With the exception of
select options detailed in the itinerary, Tauck’s price includes
entertainment, special dinners, sightseeing and most activities. Tauck
Directors may assist with information on other free-time activities, based on
honest opinion, but will not sell you any “extras.” This means better value
and a more relaxed, pleasant experience for you.
Scheduled Activities Southbound -- If
you are booked on a cruise departing on April 16, or 30, enjoy a morning visit
to the Aalsmeer Flower Auction on Day 2. If you are booked on a cruise
departing on April 21, enjoy a boat ride through Amsterdam’s canals on Day 2.
Scheduled Activities Northbound -- If
you are booked on a cruise departing on April 14, or April 28, enjoy a morning
visit to the Aalsmeer Flower Auction prior to visiting Keukenhof Gardens on
Day 8. If you are booked on a cruise departing on April 9, April 23, or May 7,
enjoy your visit to the Aalsmeer Flower Auction prior to the city tour on Day
9.
Airfare to the cruise departure point and from
the cruise ending point is not included. Airfare may be purchased from
Tauck for travel originating in the United States.
Hotel Rooms Before & After Cruises –
Due to time schedules and the possibility of flight delays, many guests prefer
to make hotel arrangements for the night preceding their Belgium and Holland
cruise. As a service, Tauck will make reservations before or after your
Belgium and Holland cruise. Rooms are reserved on a space-available basis and
must be booked through Tauck to qualify for Tauck’s special rates. These hotel
room charges will be added to the cruise cost. Note: Airport transfers are not
included for these bookings. If you wish to spend additional nights in
Brussels or Amsterdam, please discuss this at the time of booking.
Tauck Director Gratuities – The
customary gratuity to the Tauck Director is included.
Personal Expenses such as phone calls,
room service, alcoholic and bar beverages, laundry, airline excess luggage
charges, visa fees, vaccinations, airport and departure taxes and other
optional incidental extras are not included and may be significant.
Luggage Responsibility – Although every
effort is made to handle guests’ luggage carefully, we cannot be responsible,
assume liability or accept claims for loss or damage to luggage and personal
effects due to breakage, theft, or fair wear and tear through hotel, airline
and group carrier handling. It is important for your own self-interest and
protection that you make certain you have adequate insurance to cover these
eventualities. U.S and Canadian residents: refer to Tauck’s Cruise Protection.
