Flowers of Holland Spirit of the Rhine

Includes insurance and cancellation cover§ Price reduction available if not required.

Discover the floral highlights of the lowlands...

aboard Spirit of the Rhine – see pages 144-149 for details

No fly option

Marvel at the majesty of Keukenhof Gardens

Day 1: UK to Amsterdam. Travel to Amsterdam to embark Spirit of the Rhine and enjoy a welcome reception and dinner on board as you moor here overnight. Day 2: Amsterdam This morning choose from an included city tour or culinary themed walking tour of Amsterdam. Later, why not accompany your expert gardens host on an optional excursion to Hortus Botanicus – Amsterdam’s botanical gardens, one of the oldest in the world – or join an excursion to Vondelpark. Sail to Zaandam this evening for an overnight mooring. Day 3: Zaandam . Enjoy an included fullday excursion to Keukenhof Gardens, also known as the ‘Garden of Europe’, where over seven million bulbs fill the park. The first open-air exhibition, to promote the region’s bulb growers and flower exporters, was held here in 1949. Now the exhibition is an annual event lasting eight weeks. Admire displays of tulips, dafodils and hyacinths and visit flower and plant shows in the pavilions. Perhaps pick up ideas for your own garden…. Of course, the tulip displays are weather dependent, but they’re normally in bloom from mid-March to mid-May. Day 4: Zaandam to Beverwijk . Continue your cruise to Beverwijk this morning, arriving at lunch time. Explore at leisure this afternoon or join an optional walking tour of Alkmaar and its Cheese Museum. Your ship remains moored in Beverwijk overnight. Day 5: Beverwijk. This morning you have a choice of included excursions: a trip tour of a tulip farm and scenic drive, or a visit to the Frans Hals Museum. Your ship sets sail again at lunchtime for an overnight cruise to Antwerp.

Day 6: Antwerp. Arrive in Antwerp early this morning and join an included half-day excursion to the 18th annual Floralia Brussels flower show in the grounds and greenhouses of the castle of Groot-Bijgaarden. The 14 hectares incorporates more than one million bulbs with nearly 400 types of tulips on display. The rest of the day is at leisure in Belgium’s second city. Your ship departs late tonight and begins the overnight journey to Utrecht.

Day 7: Utrecht to Amsterdam. Arrive in Utrecht after lunch for an included halfday trip to the Botanical Gardens which incorporate six diferent areas, including a Rock Garden, Tropical Greenhouses and an Outer Fort where marsh marigold and huge skunk cabbage flourish in the spring. At dinner sail on to moor in Amsterdam overnight. Day 8: Amsterdam to UK. Disembark Spirit of the Rhine after breakfast ahead of your return journey or continue your holiday with an optional two-night hotel stay in Amsterdam.

EXTEND YOUR HOLIDAY

Amsterdam 2 night with breakfasts

included. After your cruise stay two nights in Amsterdam at the locally rated 4-star Westcord Fashion Hotel (4Q). The hotel has great links to be able to explore at your leisure – located five minutes from the tram which arrives into Amsterdam Central 15 minutes later. Available only when you fly or travel by Eurostar. Please see page 143 for details.

LOOK WHO’LL BE JOINING YOU ON BOARD…

Charlie Dimmock

The gardening expert and television presenter will deliver a series of talks and join you on your included excursions.

Look forward to visiting the spectacular Keukenhof Gardens

Visit Holland at the most vibrant time of the year

The Floralia Show is held at the Groot-Bijgaarden Castle in Brussels

RIVER CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS

The gardens of Amsterdam

Spend a full day in the Dutch capital, but instead of taking the tourist trail, perhaps visit the city’s gardens instead. You can accompany your expert gardens host on an optional excursion to Hortus Botanicus – Amsterdam’s botanical gardens, one of the oldest in the world. The grounds incorporate three greenhouses: the Palm House where some of the world’s oldest plants are kept, the three-climate greenhouse with its subtropical plants, and the butterfly house. Another option is to join an excursion visiting Vondelpark, Amsterdam’s largest park.

Utrecht Botanical Gardens

Enjoy an included half-day trip to Utrecht Botanical Gardens. Originally called Hortus medicus, the gardens were first laid out in 1639 and are one of the oldest university gardens in the Netherlands. They were installed for students of medicine and played an important role in the development of systematic botany in the Netherlands.

Alkmaar and the Cheese Museum

The city of Alkmaar is best known for its popular Cheese Market, which is held every Friday between April and September. An optional excursion here includes a walking tour of the historic city centre and visit to the Cheese Museum, where you can learn more about the age-old method of creating, storing and selling cheese. There’s even a tasting session at the end of the visit.

SO MUCH INCLUDED…

Included travel insurance

VIP door-to-door travel service – see page 155

20 meals: 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 70 dinners

Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner Free bar open 12 hours a day†

Cruise Host

Interactive maps and audio headsets for independent exploration.

Plus...Drinks reception and Captain’s dinner • Complimentary Wi-Fi on board • All gratuities on board • Return coach travel via Eurotunnel or ferry.

INCLUDED EXCURSIONS

• Amsterdam city tour OR culinary walking tour of Amsterdam • Floralia Brussels • Utrecht Botanical Gardens • Keukenhof Gardens. • Tulip farm tour and scenic drive OR Frans Hals Museum.

Beverwijk Zaandam

Amsterdam

Utrecht

NETHERLANDS

BELGIUM Antwerp

Prices are £s per person from: Apr 13, 2022 Lower Deck Twin (Forward - E) 1849 1649 Lower Deck Twin (D) 1949 1749 Middle Deck Twin, French Balcony (Forward - C) 2299* Middle Deck Twin, French Balcony (B) 2399* Upper Deck Twin, French Balcony (A) 2549 Lower Deck Sole occupancy (D) 2549* Middle Deck, French Balcony Sole occupancy (B) 3149* Upper Deck, French Balcony Sole occupancy (A) 3399* Cruise code AH611 Flowers on Parade. 7 nights. §If you choose to opt out of the included insurance and cancellation cover, a reduction applies of £20 – see page 150 for details. TRAVEL OPTIONS: Prices based on return coach travel from Folkestone to Amsterdam via Eurotunnel or ferry. Eurostar standard is available for a supplement departing from London St Pancras direct to Amsterdam. Flights from Heathrow are also available for a supplement.

Be quick – to be guaranteed the best price, book early as flights can sell out and prices sometimes increase.

Please note: †The free bar, open midday to midnight, serves non-branded alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Some of the highlights may only be seen on optional excursions at an additional cost, or by exploring independently.