Join me in celebrating spring amongst the tulips on the beautiful AmaVenita March 31 - April 7, 2025.
What's included in this trip:
SPACIOUS STATEROOMS
7 nights luxury accommodation on the AmaVenita
Entertainment-On-Demand in all staterooms with free high-speed internet access
Mini-fridge, desk and sitting area
Bottled water replenished daily
AN ARRAY OF AMENITIES
Wellness Activities with a dedicated Wellness Host leading various exercise classes as well as discussions on healthy eating and relaxation techniques, both on board and on shore.
Personalized service from a highly trained Cruise and Group Manager during both cruise and land programs
Internet and Wi-Fi access
Heated sun deck pool with swim-up bar and walking track
Fitness room, massage services and hair salon
Main Lounge with panoramic views and bar
Daily entertainment including local cultural performances
AWARD-WINNING DINING
All onboard dining in a variety of venues
Regionally inspired cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients
The Chef’s Table specialty restaurant
Welcome Cocktail, Welcome Dinner, La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs exclusive dining experience, Captain's Cocktail and Gala Dinner
Unlimited fine wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
Unlimited sparkling wine and fresh juice with breakfast
Sip & Sail Daily Cocktail Hour with complimentary wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks
Tapas, sandwiches, snacks and refreshments served daily in the Main Lounge
A WORLD OF EXPLORATION
Immersive tours in every destination
Gentle, regular, active and late-riser tour options (choose any for no additional cost!)
Bike tours and hikes
Special Interest Tours
Knowledgeable guides
Personal headset for easy exploration
Airport transfers with purchase of air from AmaWaterways
What's not included:
Airfare
Transportation to/from the airport (unless air is purchased through AmaWaterways)
Travel Insurance
Note: Airfare will not be available to purchase until 10-months prior to travel.
Itinerary:
Celebrate spring in the Netherlands and Belgium when the Keukenhof Gardens and Floralia come alive. Experience the whimsical Kinderdijk windmills. Discover the timeless traditions of Delft porcelain and revel in the medieval architectural treasures of Bruges or Ghent. Throughout your journey indulge in Belgian chocolates, warm waffles and delicious cheeses—all while savoring the storybook atmosphere of the region.
Countries: Belgium, Netherlands
Rivers: Dutch & Belgian Waterways
Day 1 (Amsterdam, Netherlands): Embark your ship in Amsterdam for your 7-night cruise.
Day 2 (Amsterdam to Kampen, Netherlands): Enjoy a scenic cruise through the IJsselmeer to Kampen. Venture to the charming, canal-laden village of Giethoorn, nicknamed the “Dutch Venice.” Capture wonderful photos of the picturesque thatched-roof farmhouses, which are seemingly lifted straight from the pages of a fairytale. In the afternoon, go for a guided bike ride through the Dutch countryside or visit Noordoostpolder’s vibrant tulip fields.
Day 3 (Bruinisse, Netherlands): After enjoying a scenic cruise through the Delta, join a guided tour to the medieval harbor town of Zierikzee, brimming with delights, from its 16th-century stone-built Gravesteen to its lovely harborside shops and cafes. This excursion includes a photo stop at the Oosterschelde Kering, the largest storm surge barrier of the Delta Works. Alternatively, focus your tour on the history of the Delta Works at the Flood Museum. More than half of the Netherlands lies below sea level and the Delta Works were built to prevent a recurrence of the 1953 flood disaster. Prefer discovering Bruinisse on two wheels? Join our guide for an exhilarating bike tour.
Day 4 (Ghent, Begium): Admire Ghent’s canal-side architecture and some of its famous sights, including the Castle of the Counts and St. Bavo’s Cathedral and its Adoration of the Mystic Lamb. Those with a sweet tooth can visit a chocolate maker's shop. After being greeted with a glass of champagne, a master chocolatier will brief you on the history of chocolate. You will also have the opportunity to taste different types of pralines - and try your hand at making your own. Alternatively, take a full-day tour of Bruges, one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stroll through Grote Markt and Burg Square, visit the centuries-old Church of Our Lady with its prominent spire, and, if you choose, sample some of the local specialties, from Belgian fries to waffles to chocolate, before returning to the ship.
Day 5 (Antwerp, Belgium): Explore this trendy city on a walking tour where you’ll see Antwerp’s Steen Castle, Grote Market and Brabo Fountain, along with the UNESCOdesignated Cathedral of Our Lady. For a more active exploration of the area, join a guided bike tour. Later in the afternoon, you have a choice of two excursions. Foodies will want to go on a culinary tour to indulge in chocolate, waffles and beer. Flower lovers and gardeners can roam through the Floralia, an annual spring flower show featuring approximately one million bulbs that are handplanted each year by the castle staff.
Day 6 (Rotterdam, Netherlands): During the morning, you can go on a walking tour of Rotterdam, nicknamed the "Gateway to Europe,” and taste local specialties. Alternatively, go on an excursion to Delft, known as the home of the painter Johannes Vermeer, Delft Blue earthenware and the Royal House. While here, you’ll visit the Royal Delft Porcelain Factory and Museum. If you prefer a more active adventure, then go on a bike ride through Rotterdam and past some of its famous landmarks and architecture. In the afternoon, venture to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kinderdijk, a lovely village renowned for having the country’s greatest concentration of windmills, all dating from the 18th century. Visit a private windmill via electric boat. You may also pedal past the windmills from the seat of a bike. Or, if you wish to explore the history of US immigration, join us on an excursion that visits Delfshaven, where, on August 1, 1620, the Pilgrim fathers departed on their epic journey aboard the Speedwell, plus tour the FENIX Museum of Migration, a former harbor warehouse currently being transformed into this unique educational experience.
Day 7 (Amsterdam, Netherlands): Enjoy a morning of scenic cruising before venturing out in the afternoon on a smaller boat specially designed to glide beneath the many bridges of Amsterdam. Admire the city’s historic harbor and canals, where you’ll see beautiful homes lining the water and the fabled Skinny Bridge. Alternatively, marvel at one of the most impressive public gardens in the world, Keukenhof, which has presented a spectacular display of millions of flowering tulips spread out over 70 acres for 75 years. Spend time ambling through this legendary garden, open only nine weeks a year and sometimes referred to as the "Garden of Europe."
Day 8 (Amsterdam, Netherlands): Disembark the ship and prepare for your flight home.
For a fun video all about this itinerary with my own cruise director Miriam, view below:
Optional Pre-Nights:
March 29-31: (3 days/2 nights)
March 29: Arrive in Amsterdam and check into your hotel
March 30: Follow your guide through the charming capital of the Netherlands, with its iconic meandering canals, bridges and distinctive architecture
March 31: Enjoy an enchanting cruise along the canal in Haarlem outside of Amsterdam, passing historic architecture, bridges and even a windmill iconic of the region. Later in the day, transfer to your ship.
Cancellation policy:
More than 121 days prior to departure: $200 per person penalty
120-90 days prior to departure: $400 per person penalty
89-60 days prior to departure: 35% of cruise and land price
59-30 days prior to departure: 50% of cruise and land price
29-7 days prior to departure: 80% of cruise and land price
6 days-inside 24 hours prior to departure: 100% of cruise and land price
Please note:
All rates below are listed per-person based on double occupancy. If you require any special occupancy, such as single or triple occupancy, please let me know and we will price that individually for you. Children are permitted on the trip, but there are no activities geared towards them directly.
A $400 per person deposit is due at time of booking to secure your spot on the cruise - space is limited, and subject to change at any time. I encourage you to book early to ensure you can celebrate with us! (Active-duty & Veteran Military members save an additional $250, and there are limited cabins in BB and above that are eligible for an additional 5% discount if booked & deposited prior to May 31, 2024).
Your final payment will not be due until December 20, 2024.
Available Packages
Category D - Piano Deck - Fixed Windows, 160 sq. ft.
March 29: Arrive in Amsterdam and check into your hotel
March 30: Follow your guide through the charming capital of the Netherlands, with its iconic meandering canals, bridges and distinctive architecture
March 31: Enjoy an enchanting cruise along the canal in Haarlem outside of Amsterdam, passing historic architecture, bridges and even a windmill iconic of the region. Later in the day, transfer to your ship.