Springtime in the Gardens of Holland & Belgium with Floriade
April and May 2022 | 7 days from £1,099 per person
- Visit the once-in-a-decade Floriade Expo
- Spend time in the Dutch capital of Amsterdam
- See Kinderdijk’s famous windmills
- Enjoy time exploring Dordrecht & Rotterdam
- Discover the world-famous diamond shops of Antwerp
- Witness the wonderful blooms at Keukenhof Gardens on an optional excursion
Description
Once every 10 years in the Netherlands, we are treated to the world’s ultimate flower show in the form of a spectacular festival. In 2022, the Floriade World Horticultural Expo takes place in the Dutch town of Almere and will be spread over five themed zones in a celebration of plants, vegetables, fruit and produce.
The Expo’s theme, ‘Growing Green Cities’, will focus on the Green City of the Future. This colourful river cruise will give you the option to spend time in the magnificent Keukenhof Gardens, the Dutch capital of Amsterdam and the famous ‘diamond city’ of Antwerp. And, to complete this floral bonanza you can visit Appletern Gardens, and the National Botanic Garden of Belgium – making this the perfect spring escape.
Itinerary
Day 1 | UK – Amsterdam
We travel to Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands, and enjoy a relaxing evening onboard our ship.
Day 2 | Floriade
After breakfast, we are taken by coach to the Floriade World Horticultural Expo in the town of Almere where you will have plenty of time to enjoy this floral delight.
Floriade Expo 2022 will be an extraordinary expo. For six months the attention to the theme ‘Growing Green Cities’ will be focused on the cities of the future. Visitors will have a unique and meaningful experience: while visiting the expo they will be invited to ‘explore, touch and change’.
This expo will also be the start of a new city district close to Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Almost everything that will be built for the exhibition will become part of the legacy of Almere and the structures will remain and become part of the community. The expo site will be developed as a Green City Arboretum, serving as a model for green structure development in cities. This arboretum will consist of a variety of trees, shrubs, perennials, creepers, hydrophytes and flower bulbs, all of which contribute to a green, healthy and sustainable city. Around 3000 species have been selected that contribute to the green city in terms of biodiversity, air purification, food production and city climate management. We return to the ship in Amsterdam where we overnight.
Day 3 | Kinderdijk – Dordrecht – Antwerp
This morning we reach Kinderdijk, which is renowned for its 19 beautifully preserved windmills. Our optional excursion visits one of the mills, where we learn about the lifestyle of a miller and the mechanism of a mill. We return to the ship and set sail for Dordrecht where you can join our optional excursion to Appeltern Gardens, which is home to 200 model gardens bursting with colour and inspiration. Dinner is served onboard this evening as we cruise overnight to Antwerp.
Day 4 | Antwerp
We arrive in Antwerp this morning. Here you can join our optional excursion to Floralia, the spring flower show held in the grounds of Château de Grand Bigard, where you can wander among more than a million bulbs and admire the glasshouse exhibits. We return to the ship for lunch, then the remainder of the day is free to explore Antwerp which is renowned for its skilled diamond cutters and cherished artist Peter Paul Rubens.
Day 5 | Antwerp – Rotterdam
This morning’s optional excursion takes you to the National Botanic Garden of Belgium (Meise) and the Plant Palace. This is one of the largest botanic gardens in the world, which also boasts an enormous glasshouse filled with more than 10,000 plant species. We return to the ship for lunch and begin cruising overnight to Rotterdam.
Day 6 | Rotterdam – Amsterdam
After breakfast our coach departs for our optional excursion to Keukenhof Gardens where there are over seven million bulbs on show. You can follow the pathways which surround shimmering lakes, ancient trees and wonderful works of art, plus browse the pavilions, find your way around the hedge maze and enjoy the entertainment taking place throughout the day. This evening we enjoy our final dinner onboard the ship and sail overnight to Amsterdam.
Day 7 | Amsterdam – UK
We bid farewell to our captain and crew after breakfast and set off on the return journey.
What's Included
- Six nights cruise on a full board basis
- Five visits included to Amsterdam, Kinderdijk, Dordrecht, Antwerp and Rotterdam
- Excursions: Floriade
- Welcome drink and Captain’s Gala Dinner
- Morning and afternoon tea/coffee and a late evening snack
- On board entertainment every evening
- Services of a Cruise Manager
Travel Options
South East – coach via Dover
For those who live in the South East, you can join our coach from one of over 30 complimentary pick up points. You can also make your own way to Dover, where parking is available.
Alternatively, travel the day before your departure and enjoy an overnight stay, with complimentary parking for the duration of your cruise, before being collected after breakfast the following morning. We also offer complimentary transfers from central London, to our overnight hotels, for those who wish to make their own arrangements by train or coach.
North West & Yorkshire – coach via Hull
For those who live in the North of England, you can join our coach from one of our many complimentary pick up points in the North West and Yorkshire. You’ll be transferred to Hull Docks for an overnight ferry to Rotterdam. Alternatively you can make you own way to Hull Docks where car parking is available for the duration.
On board you can enjoy a fantastic range of entertainment and leisure facilities with en-suite cabin accommodation included. You can also book a meal package, which includes dinner and breakfasts, each way, for £59 per person.
Scotland & North East – coach via Newcastle
For those who live in Scotland and the North East of England, you can join our coach from one of our many complimentary pick up points. You’ll be transferred to Newcastle Docks for an overnight ferry to Holland. Alternatively you can make you own way to Newcastle Docks where car parking is available for the duration.
On board you can enjoy a fantastic range of entertainment and leisure facilities with en-suite cabin accommodation included. You can also book a meal package, which includes dinner and breakfasts, each way, for £59 per person.
Travel by Eurostar
Step aboard Eurostar at London St Pancras for a fast and comfortable journey to mainland Europe. You can even upgrade your reserved seat to Standard Premier – speak to our Holiday Advisors for more information. On arrival in Paris, Lille or Brussels, you will then join connecting services for your onward journey.
For those travelling from further afield, you can also book overnight accommodation in London, before and after your holiday. Speak to our Holiday Advisors for more information.
Fly from London Heathrow
Return flights from London Heathrow with transfers to and from the ship are included in our package on our specific arrival and departure dates. We also include one item of checked in luggage per person.
Fly from other airports
If our included flights are not suitable, alternative flights may also be available from other airports on our arrival and departure dates. These may have an additional supplement and are subject to availability at the time of booking. Where possible, transfers will also be included, although if you choose to arrive or depart on a different day, there may be an additional supplement charged to cover your transfer costs.
Please call one of our friendly Holiday Advisors to check flight options and availability for this holiday.
Meet us at the ship
For complete flexibility, make your own transport arrangements to and from the ship. We will provide you with times and locations as well as some useful information for you to make your own arrangements to join your cruise.
If you require any further information to assist with your travel plans, please contact our Holiday Advisors who will be happy to help.
Central London FREE Shuttle Service
Travel independently to Central London the day before your cruise and take advantage of our complimentary shuttle to Ashford for an overnight stay. Our coach will then collect you after breakfast the following morning.
Pickups are available from London Euston, Kings Cross, Liverpool Street, Paddington Station, Waterloo, St Pancras and Victoria Coach Station.
Call our friendly Holiday Advisors for me information.
Join at Port
You can choose from a wider choice of departure points if you join at the departure port. Leave your car in a secure car park, close to the port of departure and be collected/returned by our coach.
Car parking at Dover Eastern Docks is £9 per day, we can pre-book parking for you at Dover.
Newcastle £12 per day, Hull £8 per day, payable upon departure from the car park.
Please speak to our Holiday Advisors for more information.
Overnight hotel in Dover or Ashford
For an even more relaxed start to your European holiday, why not stay overnight in Dover or nearby Ashford the night before your cruise from only £65pp? All our quoted prices include car parking for one vehicle for the duration of your cruise and cooked breakfast the following morning. Our coach will collect you and return you to the hotel on its way to/from the port of Dover. And if you don’t want that holiday feeling to end, why not do the same on your return journey?
Dates & Prices
Dates:
22, 23, 28 & 29 April 2022
5 May 2022
Prices from: £1099
Single occupancy: £1299
Cabin upgrades: £126
Premium package: £120
Deposit: £150
All prices listed are per person
Accommodation
MS Arena
Our new 4 star ship has all the ingredients of an unforgettable river cruise; comfort, style and the crew’s unfaltering attention to detail is everything.
MS Arena is completely deserving of its place in our premier cruise collection! Whether you’re cruising the Dutch Waterways, the rivers Rhine, Moselle or Danube, all the way to the Black Sea, this elegant, 4-star ship promises everything you’d wish for – and more – making for an unforgettable river cruising experience.
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