Murray and I just came back from this cruise and we loved it so much we wanted to go right back. So I've arranged for Michele's Tulip Time Cruise!
The April 28th, 2018 AmaWaterways Tulip Time Cruise should hit the gardens at their peak and give us some really nice weather for the cruise. The 7-night cruise is roundtrip Amsterdam and will visit Ghent, Antwerp, and Rotterdam with excursions to Bruge and to the Floralia show outside Brussels. We'll also stop at Kinderdjiik, a UNESCO World Heritage site, to see the windmills, as well as other small and picturesque villages throughout Belgium and the Netherlands.
All the excursions are included in the cost and there are various activity levels to choose from, including bicycle tours and ones for "gentle walkers" - those not quite as spry as they once were!
This cruise was really wonderful for it's rich diversity of things to see and do. Belgian chocolate and beer tastings (not necessarily together!); the art of Van Gogh, Rembrandt, and Rubens; not only floral shows at Keukenhof and Floralia but a visit to a tulip farm, for those interested in the scientific and business aspect of tulip growing; World War Two battle sites (remember the Band of Brothers episode "Market Garden" and the film "A Bridge Too Far"); and windmills! Who knew? They're actually for water control and the entire top can be turned to face into the wind. We toured them with a woman who grew up in one and said it was like being in a small wooden ship on a vast ocean. More interested in the modern than the ancient? There was also an excursion to parts of the vast water control site, the Zuiderzee Works, a collection of dams, sluices, locks, dikes, levees, and storm surge barriers which, along with the Delta Works, have been declared one of the Seven Wonders of the World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. Something for everyone!
The ship, AmaPrima, is lovely and intimate, with a total of only 82 cabins. 65 of these feature the AmaWaterways exclusive twin balconies - a Juliette or French balcony and a porch-style one with two chairs and a table. Another 17 are fixed window at a lower price point. Wifi is included onboard the ship. So is alcohol at meals, all bottled water, and anything from the 24-hour tea and coffee station, which I love for the cappuccinos! Also included in the price is a specialty dinner in their “Chef’s Table” restaurant. AmaWaterways is the only river cruise line to belong to the gourmet brotherhood Chaines des Rotisseurs, so their food is the best on the rivers.
Cabins start at $2949 per person, which represents a $250 per person discount off the brochure price. You can hold a cabin with a deposit of $400 per person, with final payment being due January 28th, 2018. I strongly suggest you do this as soon as possible. These Tulip Time cruises only sail for two months each spring and they fill up fast. Reserving your cabin now will allow you to select the cabin category and stateroom position that you want. We can also add extra days in Amsterdam if you'd like, as well as securing you discounted airfare (if you don't have the miles to fly that way). Plus, as always when you book with me, there are some lovely added goodies and surprises along the way!
I've got PDFs or Word docs with pics of the ship as well as the complete itinerary, the deck plans and prices, etc. I'm happy to email copies to you. Just contact me at michele.marden@cruiseplanners.com or give me a call 904-687-7224