Tulip Time (Smithsonian Journeys)

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Tulip Time (Smithsonian Journeys)



Tour Description:

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.

Map for Tulip Time (Smithsonian Journeys)
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Dates & Pricing

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Saturday 04 Apr 26 — Saturday 11 Apr 26Starting at $3,949Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Thursday 09 Apr 26 — Thursday 16 Apr 26Starting at $4,049Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Thursday 16 Apr 26 — Thursday 23 Apr 26Starting at $4,249Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Thursday 08 Apr 27 — Thursday 15 Apr 27Starting at $4,979Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Thursday 15 Apr 27 — Thursday 22 Apr 27Starting at $4,979Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 16 Apr 27 — Friday 23 Apr 27Starting at $4,979Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Thursday 22 Apr 27 — Thursday 29 Apr 27Starting at $4,979Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Check Mark Icon Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.


ITINERARY

Day 1
AMSTERDAM – EMBARKATION. Embark your ship in Amsterdam for your 7-night cruise.

Day 2
KAMPEN, NETHERLANDS. Cruise from Amsterdam across the Ijsselmeer, a large freshwater lake created when a dam was built across the Zuiderzee in 1932. Dock in the port of Kampen, once an important hub in the medieval Hanseatic trade network. In the afternoon, venture to Giethoorn, a storybook village of thatched-roof cottages and gardens where canals and biking or walking paths take the place of streets. Alternatively, you may choose to go for a guided bike ride through the countryside or visit the dazzling tulip fields of the Flevoland region. (Meals: B,L,D)

Day 3
DELTA WORKS/ZEELAND. Cruise inland waterways toward the Zeeland coast, taking in the scenery of the delta formed by the confluence of the Meuse, Scheldt and Rhine rivers. Step back in time in the medieval harbor town of Zierikzee, visiting its 16th-century Gravensteen, which served as a prison for centuries, as well as the Old Fish Market and the freestanding Dikke Toren church tower. Make a stop at the Oosterschelde Kering, the largest storm surge barrier of the Delta Works, an innovative system built to prevent the sea from flooding the lowlands of the Dutch coast. Alternatively, set off on a guided bike ride in the fishing village of Bruinisse. (Meals: B,L,D)

Day 4
GHENT OR BRUGES/BELGIUM. Cross into Belgium and go ashore in Ghent, once the prosperous medieval capital of Flanders, known for its powerful trade guilds and its manufacture of luxury cloth. On a walking tour, admire the town’s World Heritage-listed architecture and historic highlights such as the Castle of the Counts and St. Bavo’s Cathedral—the home of the famous Adoration of the Mystic Lamb altarpiece. Or meet with a master chocolatier and try your hand at making chocolate. Instead of Ghent, embark on a full-day visit to Bruges, another beautifully preserved medieval town recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stroll through Grote Markt and Burg Square, and visit the Church of Our Lady, and, if you wish, sample local specialties. If you prefer, visit both Ghent and Bruges today on shorter half-day tours. (Meals: B,L,D) * Not combinable with other tours on this day.

Day 5
ANTWERP, BELGIUM. Delve into Belgium’s vibrant second city on a walking tour, learning about its history as a thriving center of commerce and publishing in the 1500s. Admire its grand architecture—ranging from baroque to Art Nouveau—as you stroll through café-lined squares and winding alleys or explore on a guided bike ride. In the afternoon, set out on a culinary tour, sampling three of Belgium’s most beloved exports: chocolate, waffles, and beer. Alternatively, see the works of important Flemish painters such as Rubens and Van Eyck at the renowned KMSKA Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, or roam through Floralia, an annual spring flower show held in Groot-Bijgaarden castle. (Meals: B,L,D)

Day 6
ROTTERDAM AND DELFT. Cruise back into the Netherlands to the port city of Rotterdam, known as the "gateway to Europe.” Travel to the Hague to visit the Mauritshuis Museum, where you’ll see Johannes Vermeer’s iconic Girl with a Pearl Earring and other famous works. Or visit Delft, where blue Delft earthenware has been crafted for centuries at the Royal Delft Porcelain Factory and Museum to see early examples of Delftware and watch artisans at work. Alternatively, see Rotterdam’s eclectic architecture on a walking tour, and taste bitterballen, a classic Dutch snack and other local specialties. If you prefer a more active adventure, go on a guided bike ride through Rotterdam. In the afternoon, experience the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kinderdijk, where 19 windmills were built in the 1700s to drain the marshlands. Visit a private windmill via electric boat or pedal to the windmills on a bike ride. Alternatively, head to Delfshaven, from which some of the America’s first pilgrims departed on August 1, 1620, and tour the FENIX Museum of Migration set within a former harbor warehouse. (Meals: B,L,D)

Day 7
AMSTERDAM AND KEUKENHOF. Enjoy a relaxing morning of cruising on your way back to Amsterdam. After lunch, admire the city’s historic harbor, bridges and waterways on a private canal cruise or immerse yourself in a spectacular display of tulips, hyacinths, daffodils and narcissus at the incomparable Keukenhof Gardens. Open for just two months every year, the gardens are planted annually with some seven million bulbs. You’ll have free time to stroll through the gardens and their pavilions, where rare hybrids in incredible colors and shapes are showcased. After lunch, admire the city’s historic harbor, bridges, and waterways on a private canal cruise, or join a specially guided tour of the world-renowned Rijksmuseum, with over 8,000 objects on display celebrating Dutch history and art. (Meals: B,L,D)

Day 8
DISEMBARKATION – DEPART AMSTERDAM. After breakfast, disembark the ship and transfer to the airport for your flight home. (Meals: B)

Check Mark Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.