Springtime in the Gardens of Holland & Belgium NEW with Floriade

Springtime in the Gardens of Holland & Belgium with Floriade

aboard MS Arena NEW

Once every 10 years in the Netherlands, we are treated to the world's ultimate flower show in the form of a spectacular festival. In 2022, the Floriade World Horticultural Expo takes place in the Dutch town of Almere and will be spread over five themed zones in a celebration of plants, vegetables, fruit and produce. The Expo’s theme, ‘Growing Green Cities’, will focus on the Green City of the Future. This colourful river cruise will also see us spend time in the Dutch capital of Amsterdam and the famous ‘diamond city’ of Antwerp. And, to complete this floral bonanza you can visit the magnificent Keukenhof Gardens, Appletern Gardens, Floralia, and the National Botanic Garden of Belgium – making this the perfect spring escape.

7 DAYS FROM £1099

Kinderdijk

Day 1: UK – Amsterdam We travel to Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands, and enjoy a relaxing evening onboard our ship. Day 2: Floriade After breakfast, we are taken by coach to the Floriade World Horticultural Expo in the town of Almere where you will have plenty of time to enjoy this floral delight. Floriade Expo 2022 will be an extraordinary expo. For six months the attention to the theme ‘Growing Green Cities’ will be focused on the cities of the future. Visitors will have a unique and meaningful experience: while visiting the expo they will be invited to ‘explore, touch and change’. This expo will also be the start of a new city district close to Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Almost everything that will be built for the exhibition will become part of the legacy of Almere and the structures will remain and become part of the community. The expo site will be developed as a Green City Arboretum, serving as a model for green structure development in cities. This arboretum will consist of a variety of trees, shrubs, perennials, creepers, hydrophytes and flower bulbs, all of which contribute to a green, healthy and sustainable city. Around 3000 species have been selected that contribute to the green city in terms of biodiversity, air purification, food production and city climate management. We return to the ship in Amsterdam where we berth overnight. Day 3: Kinderdijk – Dordrecht – Antwerp This morning we reach Kinderdijk, which is renowned for its 19 beautifully preserved windmills. Our optional excursion visits one 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 optional 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 optional 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.

YOUR CRUISE INCLUDES

� Six nights’ cruise on a full board basis � Excursion: Floriade � Five visits included to Amsterdam, Kinderdijk,

Dordrecht, Antwerp and Rotterdam � Welcome drink & Captain's Gala Dinner � Afternoon tea/coffee and cake & late evening snack � Complimentary tea, coffee and Wi-Fi � Services of a Cruise Manager & a Cruise Director

YOUR TRAVEL OPTIONS

BY COACH

� Coach travel to the port from your local area � Ferry crossing from Dover, Hull or Newcastle � Hull & Newcastle: Two nights’ overnight ferry crossings with cabin accommodation

STAY OVERNIGHT IN DOVER OR ASHFORD

� Travel the day before your cruise and stay overnight in Dover or Ashford with free parking from £69pp � Take our complimentary coach service the day before your cruise from a selection of London

Stations to Ashford for an overnight stay from £69pp

BY RAIL

� Travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras � Return connecting rail journeys � Coach transfers between station and ship

BY AIR

� Return flights from Heathrow with coach transfers between airport and ship � Regional flight options available, call for details.

Prices are subject to change and availability and will be confirmed at the time of booking.

TOURS & EXPERIENCES

� Windmills of Kinderdijk � Appeltern Gardens � Floralia � National Botanic Garden of Belgium � Keukenhof Package Price £165 per person

Premium Package £120 per person

see page 15 for details

2022 dates No. of days Coach routes Ferry crossing/ train station/ airport

22 April 9 HULL 23 April 7 D1 D2 D3 23 April 7 23 April 7 28 April 9 NEW 29 April 7 D1 D4 D5 Hull Dover St Pancras Heathrow Newcastle Dover

29 April 7

St Pancras 29 April 7 Heathrow 5 May 7 D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 Dover 5 May 7 St Pancras 5 May 7 Heathrow

HOLIDAY PRICES Tour code: FLSPG

COACH INCLUSIVE – from £1,099 per person

Coach via Coach via Coach via Deck Dover 7 days Hull 9 days Newc 9 days

Main Standard £1,099 £1,249 £1,299 Main Superior £1,225 £1,375 £1,425 Upper Superior £1,275 £1,425 £1,475 Main Single £1,299 £1,449 £1,499

AIR & RAIL INCLUSIVE – from £1,149 per person

Cruise only Deck Air 7 days Rail 7 days 7 days

Main Standard £1,149 £1,199 £949 Main Superior £1,275 £1,325 £1,075 Upper Superior £1,325 £1,375 £1,125 Main Single £1,349 £1,399 £1,149