Holland & Belgium at Tulip Time
8 Days from $3,399 per person
This itinerary adds a contemporary flair to the classic tulip time experience, where you’ll find an ideal mix of old and new, historic and modern, in some of Europe’s liveliest cities.
Overview
This itinerary adds a contemporary flair to the classic tulip time experience, where you’ll find an ideal mix of old and new, historic and modern, in some of Europe’s liveliest cities.
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Day 1: Brussels (airport)
Arrive at Brussels Airport, where you will be transferred to the ship.
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Day 2: Brussels
Brussels, the capital of Belgium, offers a treasure trove of historic architecture, along with a rich culinary tradition, chocolate, and a vibrant culinary capital. Food lovers will be lured by the divine aromas drifting from delightful cafés and chocolate shops. After a panoramic tour of Belgium’s historical and contemporary capital city, get an up-close view of the city center with a guided tour on foot. Then, treat yourself to something delicious at Planet Chocolate, or visit Castle Groot-Bijgaarden, a magnificent Renaissance castle just outside of Brussels, where beautiful gardens open to the public for a few months each year–attracting some 50,000 plant lovers annually.
Featured Excursion:
Brussels city tour with Planet Chocolate demonstration and tasting -
Day 3: Antwerp
It may be the diamond capital of the world, but Antwerp is also known for a number of other sought-after cultural gems, including Golden Age art, Belgian beer, waffles, pralines and fries, chocolate and more. Your walking discovery tour of Antwerp complete with Belgian treats features the City Hall, Market Square and the UNESCO-designated Cathedral of Our Lady, which houses four extraordinary works by one of the city’s most beloved sons—Peter Paul Rubens. At the old riverside dock area, there is a 19th-century warehouse that has been transformed into a restaurant and brewery where you can partake in a tasting of Pakhuis’ unfiltered blonde beer.
Featured Excursion:
Antwerp walking discovery tour with Belgian treats (fries, pralines, beer) -
Day 4: Maastricht
Your first stop in the Netherlands— Maastricht—is a city with more than 1,670 national heritage sites, some of which can be seen on your Old Town walking discovery tour. And not only that, but it’s known as one of the most beautiful and romantic cities of Holland and loved for its convivial lifestyle and historic center, which has long played a strategic role in European politics. Or you can choose to make a pilgrimage to the 65-acre Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, the final resting place of 8,301 U.S. soldiers who perished during the Second World War. The cemetery is the only American military center in the Netherlands and sits near the famous Cologne-Boulogne highway that was constructed by the Romans for Caesar to use for his conquests. Choose to explore the beguiling banks of the Muese River, the second oldest river in the world.
Featured Excursion:
Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial visit
Choice of Maastricht’s historic walls, Burgundian culinary hub and chic European lifestyle or “Let’s Go” Maas River biking -
Day 5: Cuijk (Nuenen), Heusden
Follow in Van Gogh’s footsteps today as you stroll through Nuenen, where the artist once lived and painted The Potato Eaters. After lunch in an old water mill, which was even painted by Van Gogh, view the Hieronymus Bosch exhibit at the Noordbrabants Museum, or choose to walk or cycle through Heusden, where you can observe a working mill, learn to make bread at a local bakery, explore the remnants of a 13th-century fortress, and marvel at the memorial in front of town hall dedicated to the Huesden Town Hall Massacre.
Featured Excursions:
Van Gogh “Village Day” in Nuenen with a country lunch at the old mill
Heusden “Village Day” -
Day 6: Heusden, Schoonhoven, Amsterdam
Bike around the town of Schoonhoven, best known for its silversmiths, abundant clock makers and quaint shop-lined avenues. Or venture forth to Kinderdijk to see its 19 well-preserved, UNESCO-designated windmills that were originally erected in the 1700s. Learn about the historical significance of these engineering marvels in the Netherlands’ long quest to hold back the sea. If you wish, you’ll have an opportunity to venture inside one of these iconic structures and marvel at Holland’s largest concentration of old windmills.
Featured Excursion:
Choice of Kinderdijk 19 windmills to harness the elements or “Let’s Go” biking the dams and windmills -
Day 7: Amsterdam
The Netherlands’ largest city, Amsterdam has been an international port and financial center for 400 years, endowing it with a lively cosmopolitan feeling to match its historic architecture. The famous Keukenhof Gardens is a 70-acre park planted with millions of tulips and other flowers—an extraordinary sight in the spring. Spend the day here or “Do as the Locals Do” in Amsterdam, with a guided stroll through the historic canal district and a look inside the Museum Van Loon, a restored 17th-century canal house.
Featured Excursion:
Full day at Keukenhof Gardens
Choice of Exclusive “Morning with the Masters” at the Amsterdam Hermitage Museum -
Day 8: Amsterdam (disembark), transfer to the airport
Disembark the ship and transfer to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport for your flight home.
Request a Quote
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Transfer Guidelines - Europe
Flights must arrive between 5am and 5pm and depart between 6am and 6pm. Airport arrival and departure transfers are included on arrival and departure days only.
| Cruise Start Date | Classic | Deluxe | French Balcony | Suite | Availability | Price | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 24 Mar 19 | Sold Out | $3,399pp | $3,899pp | $5,999pp | Request Quote | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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SHIP: River Queen Amsterdam to Brussels |
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| 31 Mar 19 | Sold Out | $3,399pp | $3,899pp | $5,999pp | Request Quote | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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SHIP: River Queen Brussels to Amsterdam |
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| 7 Apr 19 | Sold Out | $3,799pp | $4,299pp | $6,399pp | Request Quote | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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SHIP: River Queen Amsterdam to Brussels |
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| 14 Apr 19 | Sold Out | $3,799pp | $4,299pp | $6,399pp | Request Quote | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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SHIP: River Queen Brussels to Amsterdam |
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- All fares are per guest in US Dollars based on double occupancy unless otherwise noted.
- Fares are capacity controlled and are subject to change at any time without notice.
- Availability of all stateroom categories cannot be guaranteed.
- Single Supplement applies for single accommodation.
- Itineraries, hotels, and vessels may change, and substitute visits to other sites may occur during your trip due to water level fluctuations and other uncontrollable factors.
- The order of sightseeing and docking ports are subject to change according to port authority assignments.
- Prices exclude additional port charges of $170 per person.
- AARP Members are entitled to an exclusive $100 Member Benefit Discount on all Uniworld River Cruises booked through Grand European Travel plus receive a free travel gift.
- Past Travelers receive additional savings. Call for details.
- View River Cruise Terms & Conditions
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All Meals
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WIFI on Coach and in Hotels
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Personal Flight Options
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Professional Cruise Management
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VIP Access
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Cultural Enrichment
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All Gratuities
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Sightseeing with Local Experts
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Six-Star Ships
Dining
- All meals onboard, prepared using the finest and freshest ingredients
- 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners
- Captain’s Welcome and Farewell Receptions
- Welcome and Farewell Gala Dinners
- Unlimited beverages onboard, including fine wine, beer, spirits, soft drinks, specialty coffee and tea, and mineral water
Accommodations
- 7-night cruise in a riverview stateroom on the regal River Queen
- Lavishly appointed riverview staterooms and suites have handcrafted Savoir® of England beds, high-thread count 100% Egyptian cotton sheets and European duvets, and a menu of pillow options
- Free Internet and Wi-Fi access
Excursions
- 6 days of excursions, including “Choice Is Yours” options, all fully hosted by English-speaking local experts
- Guided “Do as the Locals Do,” “Village Day” and “Gentle Walking” programs
- State-of-the-art Quietvox portable audio-headset system on all excursions
- Use of bicycles and Nordic walking sticks
Experiences
- 2 countries: Belgium and The Netherlands
- 4 UNESCO World Heritage sites
- Services of an experienced Uniworld Cruise Manager
- All transfers on arrival and departure days
- Captivating onboard local entertainment
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Transfer Guidelines - Europe
Flights must arrive between 5am and 5pm and depart between 6am and 6pm. Airport arrival and departure transfers are included on arrival and departure days only.
HER MAJESTY LOOKS BRILLIANT IN BLUE
This ship is fit for a queen, with her charming artwork, white and blue color scheme and functioning fireplace. The readers got it right when naming the River Queen the #1 ship in the entire industry in the 2012 Condé Nast Traveler poll. Original art includes works by Georges Goursat and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.
Click HERE to view a pdf of ship facts (and click HERE to download software to open a pdf file).
Inaugurated: 1999
Renovated: 2010
Guests: 128
Staff: 42
Suites: 4 (214 sq ft)
French Balcony: 16 (151 sq ft)
Deluxe: 37 (151 sq ft)
Classic: 7 (151 sq ft)
Length: 361 ft
Width: 37.5 ft
Voltage: 110/220 volts
SUITES
Lavishly appointed riverview suite (215 sq ft - 20 sq m)
Handcrafted Savoir® of England bed, built-in closet, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat, flat-screen TV with infotainment center and satellite, and bottled water
Marble bathroom with L’Occitane en Provence bath and body products, plush towels, waffle bathrobes, and slippers
Additional special amenities and services
FRENCH BALCONY
Lavishly appointed riverview stateroom (151 sq ft - 14 sq m)
Handcrafted Savoir® of England bed, built-in closet, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat, flat-screen TV with infotainment center and satellite, and bottled water
Marble bathroom with L’Occitane en Provence bath and body products, plush towels, waffle bathrobes, and slippers
Our meticulously designed ships feature enticing public areas and luxurious amenities, including a lounge with full-service bar, well-equipped fitness center, restaurant, Serenity River Spa, and a Sun Deck where you can relax and take in the ever-changing views.
One of the most unique ships cruising Europe’s waterways, the River Queen has an exterior resembling the steamships of the 1930s and an elegant Art Deco interior. Decorated in richly textured blue and white fabrics—with marble bathrooms and inspiring artwork—River Queen is a sublime floating hotel designed with your every comfort in mind. River Queen was rated the #1 ship in the entire cruise industry (both river and ocean) in the 2012 Conde´ Nast Traveler Readers' Cruise Poll.
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Passports and Visas
U.S. citizens traveling to the Netherlands and Belgium must have a current passport valid for six months beyond the conclusion of their trip. You can find information on how to apply for a passport here, and how to renew a passport here. No visa is required for U.S. citizens entering these countries.
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Currency
The currency in the Netherlands and Belgium is the Euro (€). While it’s a good idea to bring some money for when you first arrive in Europe, you’ll usually find a better exchange rate in your destination. The most convenient way to obtain cash is to use your ATM card at local banks. We recommend you also bring a valid credit card for purchases while you are traveling. It is important that you inform your financial institutions of your travel plans before you leave home so they don’t flag your purchases as potentially fraudulent charges.
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Packing
We suggest bringing a variety of lightweight clothing items that can be layered to save space in your suitcase and give you more options for how to dress, as well as comfortable walking shoes and a waterproof jacket with a hood. For more helpful information please refer to our Packing Tips & Packing List.
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Insurance
We highly recommend our optional Travel Protection Plan, which allows you to cancel for any reason up to 48 hours before departure. The plan also includes trip interruption, baggage loss or delay, and medical and emergency assistance. Click here for a summary of coverage details, terms and conditions.
Request a Quote
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Transfer Guidelines - Europe
Flights must arrive between 5am and 5pm and depart between 6am and 6pm. Airport arrival and departure transfers are included on arrival and departure days only.
