River Cruise Itinerary

This springtime river cruise gets underway in Holland’s colorful capital of Amsterdam. This 700-year-old city offers an abundance of classic architecture, cafés, and restaurants to explore before you embark on your river cruise through Holland and Belgium. Sail through Rotterdam’s harbor, said to be the world’s busiest port. Garden enthusiasts will delight in a visit to see the breathtaking colors of Keukenhof, also known as the “Garden of Europe.” With 70 acres of parkland and lakes, it’s one of the world’s largest flower gardens with nearly 7 million flowering bulbs bursting with color. Next, sail to Antwerp, Belgium’s second-largest city, known for its centuries-old history in diamond trading amid ancient buildings and monuments combined with modern architecture. In Ghent, Belgium, join a local expert for a guided tour of the city, including a visit to St. Baaf’s Cathedral. Your cruise traverses back into Holland where you’ll explore Middelburg, formerly an important trading city. You’ll still get a sense of its historic wealth today with its impressive structures like the Gothic Town Hall, Abbey Tower, and bustling Market Square. This beautiful and historic springtime river cruise concludes with more time to explore the wonderful city of Amsterdam. See the most fascinating views of the city on a canal cruise along the elegant grachten lined with homes dating back to the city’s “Golden Age.”

1. Day 1
   AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND (EMBARKATION)

   Tue, Apr 22, 2025

   Welcome to Holland. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding. Flights into Amsterdam must arrive by 3:30 pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.Your day in Amsterdam is free to explore at your leisure. You may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to beautiful Zaanse Schans where you’ll see a wonderful collection of well-preserved historic windmills and Dutch houses. Enjoy dinner and explore the ship on your first night on board. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ROTTERDAM(D)AMSTERDAM-CANAL.jpg
2. Day 2
   ROTTERDAM

   Wed, Apr 23, 2025

   Dutch Treats and Flowers SweetVisit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.ACTIVE Experience Rotterdam by foot with your Adventure Host, OR: CLASSIC Join a full- or half-day Guided Tour of breathtaking Keukenhof—known as the “Garden of Europe”—for its 70 acres of lush parkland, lakes, and the world’s largest flower gardens—with more than seven million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths as well as other bulbs, planted each year.Take some free time to relax on the harbor-side in Rotterdam with an artisan beer, a slice of appeltaart (Dutch apple pie), and a koffie verkeerd, a typical Dutch drink with equal parts coffee and milk. Take a bike from your ship to explore Rotterdam and the surrounding area. Before dinner, enjoy a cruise through Rotterdam harbor.Later, enjoy live entertainment on board. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ANTWERP(B,L,D)KEUKENHOF.jpg
3. Day 3
   ANTWERP, BELGIUM

   Thu, Apr 24, 2025

   Cathedrals, Carats and CrêpesACTIVE Explore Antwerp by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of this sophisticated city to visit the central Grote Markt, lined with 16th-century guildhall houses. You’ll also see the beautiful city hall, the Cathedral of Our Lady with its stunning altarpiece paintings by Rubens. Alternatively, you may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to the nearby capital, Brussels—considered home to the European Union, and admire its magnificent palaces and cathedrals. You might prefer to take time on your own to indulge in Antwerp’s signature Belgian waffles and crêpes—or explore this bike-friendly city from its old wharfs to its legendary diamond district. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO GHENT(B,L,D)ANTWERP-GROTE-MARKT-CAFES.jpg
4. Day 4
   GHENT

   Fri, Apr 25, 2025

   Medieval Masterpieces and Flemish FineryACTIVE Explore a different side of Ghent by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:CLASSIC Explore Ghent—“The Diamond of Flanders”—with a Guided Sightseeing Tour of this showcase of medieval Flemish wealth. You’ll visit St. Bavo’s Cathedral—with its remarkable Flemish artwork.Alternatively, you may choose to join a full-day Guided Optional Excursion of Bruges to explore its canals, cobbled streets, and medieval buildings. You’ll see its crisscrossed canals, the 13th-century belfry of Market Square, and charming patrician houses. You won’t miss the opportunity to explore Ghent since this Optional Excursion ends with an orientation walk of the "Diamond of Flanders." EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MIDDELBURG (B,L,D)GHENT.jpg
5. Day 5
   MIDDELBURG, HOLLAND

   Sat, Apr 26, 2025

   A Spicy History in Middelburg’s Dutch Harbor TownJoin your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.CLASSIC Join a Guided Walking Tour through the winding cobblestones and canals of Middelburg. See the 15th-century Gothic Town Hall and learn about its important role in the spice trade and Dutch East India trading. Spend some free time biking or walking through Middelburg to sample Babbelaar cookies, fries, or beer before cruising to Veere. During lunchtime enjoy a short sailing from Middelburg to Veere.ACTIVE Alternatively bike from Middelburg to Veere with your Adventure Host.VEERE History and Scottish HousesCLASSIC Explore the town of Veere with an expert local guide.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO WILLEMSTAD(B,L,D)MIDDELBURG-DETAIL.jpg
6. Day 6
   WILLEMSTAD

   Sun, Apr 27, 2025

   Willemstad’s Windmills and Historic HarborACTIVE See Willemstad by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:CLASSIC Join a Guided Walking Tour of Willemstad and discover its many beautifully restored buildings from the 17th and 18th Century.DISCOVERY Later, enjoy a Cheese Tasting on board as you prepare to sail to Amsterdam.AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO AMSTERDAM(B,L,D)WILLEMSTAD.jpg
7. Day 7
   AMSTERDAM

   Mon, Apr 28, 2025

   Canals of Colorful AmsterdamACTIVE Start your day joining your Adventure Host on an early morning walk in Amsterdam, OR:DISCOVERY Discover Aalsmeer Flower Auction—the largest in the world, where around 20 million flowers are sold every day. Later enjoy a typical Dutch breakfast, OR:CLASSIC Explore the iconic waterways of Amsterdam on a Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam’s “Golden Age.”This afternoon choose among the many Guided Optional Excursions available.Take some free time to explore Amsterdam’s colorful streets and canal houses, galleries, and shops. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM(B,L,D)AMSTERDAM-CANAL-CRUISE.jpg
8. Day 8
   AMSTERDAM (DISEMBARKATION)

   Tue, Apr 29, 2025

   Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning. (B)AMSTERDAM-SUNRISE.jpg

Inclusions

• In the event of technical or water level issues, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or alter the program, including hotel overnight when necessary.
• Guided Tours, Optional Excursions, activities, sailing and docking schedules may be contingent on weather conditions or other issues outside of our control and could therefore be subject to change at any time.
• Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.
• Departures 329 & 330 will operate the itinerary in a revised order: Day 1 Amsterdam, Day 2 Amsterdam, Day 3 Rotterdam, Day 4 Antwerp, Day 5 Ghent, Day 6 Middelburg and Veere, Day 7 Willemstadt, Day 8 Amsterdam

Port Charges:
$210

Avalon offers the opportunity for solo travelers to sail with no single supplement (subject to availability).

Please call for single accommodation details and prices. Triples not available.

Ship Information

Cabins

Life on Board

Questions & Answers