Our trip to the Netherlands April 2020
04-20-2019, 02:13 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Our trip to the Netherlands April 2020
For those of you who have followed my previous threads about our adventures to the Canadian Rockies on the Rocky Mountaineer, and the Paris to Normandy Seine River cruise (via Avalon Waterways), here is the next, but I hope not the last, installment. I have just booked a Tulip Time Cruise, again with Avalon, for next April. You know I always plan well ahead. 
Here is the itinerary. After consultation with the +1, I chose the Garden and Nature Lover themed cruise, so there is an emphasis on gardens in addition to the regular tours offered. Of course, the stars of this trip are the beautiful tulips. I have been to some of the places on the itinerary, including Amsterdam and the spectacular Keukenhof Gardens. The +1 has been to Rotterdam. But there will be plenty new for us to see and experience. Really looking forward to this one.
https://www.avalonwaterways.com/river-cruise/tulip-time-cruise/waa/
More to follow up to the time of the cruise, as well as pics afterwards. Will be booking flights on Air France shortly. Really loved Air France for our Paris trip.
Here is the itinerary. After consultation with the +1, I chose the Garden and Nature Lover themed cruise, so there is an emphasis on gardens in addition to the regular tours offered. Of course, the stars of this trip are the beautiful tulips. I have been to some of the places on the itinerary, including Amsterdam and the spectacular Keukenhof Gardens. The +1 has been to Rotterdam. But there will be plenty new for us to see and experience. Really looking forward to this one.https://www.avalonwaterways.com/river-cruise/tulip-time-cruise/waa/
More to follow up to the time of the cruise, as well as pics afterwards. Will be booking flights on Air France shortly. Really loved Air France for our Paris trip.
Last edited by MsPerky; 01-23-2020 at 12:31 AM.
04-20-2019, 02:21 PM
#2
Thread Starter
Should have included Belgium in the title, since two of the stops are Antwerp and Ghent!
Last edited by MsPerky; 04-20-2019 at 02:25 PM.
04-20-2019, 04:50 PM
#3
I traveled on business to Amsterdam and Germany. I loved Amsterdam. Friendly people who spoke good English and the best beer anywhere. We toured the Heineken brewery did some window shopping and got to know the locals who invited us to their private club. I would like to take the river cruises and see the places you did. Are these the Viking cruises I see advertised.
04-20-2019, 07:36 PM
#4
Looks like a great trip, Deb. We did a DIY tour in early May 2016 to see the Keukenhof Gardens. Stayed in our favorite nearby town, Haarlem; took the train almost everywhere. As Ray said, the people are very friendly and English widely spoken.
My only issue with the Europe river cruises is this tiny print on your cruise: "n 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" We have a couple friends who have had to deal with this issue in the past year or two, which sort of takes away some of the "unpack once" concept of a cruise.
My only issue with the Europe river cruises is this tiny print on your cruise: "n 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" We have a couple friends who have had to deal with this issue in the past year or two, which sort of takes away some of the "unpack once" concept of a cruise.
04-20-2019, 08:50 PM
#5
Looks like a great trip, Deb. We did a DIY tour in early May 2016 to see the Keukenhof Gardens. Stayed in our favorite nearby town, Haarlem; took the train almost everywhere. As Ray said, the people are very friendly and English widely spoken.
My only issue with the Europe river cruises is this tiny print on your cruise: "n 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" We have a couple friends who have had to deal with this issue in the past year or two, which sort of takes away some of the "unpack once" concept of a cruise.
My only issue with the Europe river cruises is this tiny print on your cruise: "n 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" We have a couple friends who have had to deal with this issue in the past year or two, which sort of takes away some of the "unpack once" concept of a cruise.
04-20-2019, 08:57 PM
#6
For those of you who have followed my previous threads about our adventures to the Canadian Rockies on the Rocky Mountaineer, and the Paris to Normandy Seine River cruise (via Avalon Waterways), here is the next, but I hope not the last, installment. I have just booked a Tulip Time Cruise, again with Avalon, for next April. You know I always plan well ahead. Here is the itinerary. After consultation with the +1, I chose the Garden and Nature Lover themed cruise, so there is an emphasis on gardens in addition to the regular tours offered. Of course, the stars of this trip are the beautiful tulips. I have been to some of the places on the itinerary, including Amsterdam and the spectacular Keukenhof Gardens. The +1 has been to Rotterdam. But there will be plenty new for us to see and experience. Really looking forward to this one.
https://www.avalonwaterways.com/rive...?nextyear=true
More to follow up to the time of the cruise, as well as pics afterwards. Will be booking flights on Air France shortly. Really loved Air France for our Paris trip.
Here is the itinerary. After consultation with the +1, I chose the Garden and Nature Lover themed cruise, so there is an emphasis on gardens in addition to the regular tours offered. Of course, the stars of this trip are the beautiful tulips. I have been to some of the places on the itinerary, including Amsterdam and the spectacular Keukenhof Gardens. The +1 has been to Rotterdam. But there will be plenty new for us to see and experience. Really looking forward to this one.https://www.avalonwaterways.com/rive...?nextyear=true
More to follow up to the time of the cruise, as well as pics afterwards. Will be booking flights on Air France shortly. Really loved Air France for our Paris trip.
04-21-2019, 01:27 AM
#7
Thread Starter
Water was not an issue on our trip in France. They have to put that disclaimer in there. It would never keep me from taking a river cruise. Mother Nature can disrupt any vacation.
And Ray - our cruise to France and this new one are with Avalon. I did a lot of research before booking our cruise in France and determined that Avalon was the best for what we wanted. Many passengers on our cruise reaffirmed that we made the right choice. Some of them had cruised with Avalon multiple times. I have nothing negative to say about the company or the boat. Just fantastic all around. We actually were on board a Viking boat docked at one of the ports we visited because the boats are sometimes stacked against a dock. We walked through a Viking boat to get to the dock. Viking is obviously a popular choice, just not the one I preferred.
And Ray - our cruise to France and this new one are with Avalon. I did a lot of research before booking our cruise in France and determined that Avalon was the best for what we wanted. Many passengers on our cruise reaffirmed that we made the right choice. Some of them had cruised with Avalon multiple times. I have nothing negative to say about the company or the boat. Just fantastic all around. We actually were on board a Viking boat docked at one of the ports we visited because the boats are sometimes stacked against a dock. We walked through a Viking boat to get to the dock. Viking is obviously a popular choice, just not the one I preferred.
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04-21-2019, 01:29 AM
#8
Thread Starter
Looking like Air France may not be the carrier. They do not have any direct flights to Amsterdam from Dulles. I definitely want direct going. Coming back don't really care. So I'm investigating a couple of other options. TBD...
04-21-2019, 01:33 AM
#9
Thread Starter
David - the fjords of Norway, Northern Lights, etc have long been on my list of dream trips. Just not sure when we will get there. Logistics and cost are more of an issue.
04-21-2019, 12:25 PM
#10
Water was not an issue on our trip in France. They have to put that disclaimer in there. It would never keep me from taking a river cruise. Mother Nature can disrupt any vacation.
And Ray - our cruise to France and this new one are with Avalon. I did a lot of research before booking our cruise in France and determined that Avalon was the best for what we wanted. Many passengers on our cruise reaffirmed that we made the right choice. Some of them had cruised with Avalon multiple times. I have nothing negative to say about the company or the boat. Just fantastic all around. We actually were on board a Viking boat docked at one of the ports we visited because the boats are sometimes stacked against a dock. We walked through a Viking boat to get to the dock. Viking is obviously a popular choice, just not the one I preferred.
And Ray - our cruise to France and this new one are with Avalon. I did a lot of research before booking our cruise in France and determined that Avalon was the best for what we wanted. Many passengers on our cruise reaffirmed that we made the right choice. Some of them had cruised with Avalon multiple times. I have nothing negative to say about the company or the boat. Just fantastic all around. We actually were on board a Viking boat docked at one of the ports we visited because the boats are sometimes stacked against a dock. We walked through a Viking boat to get to the dock. Viking is obviously a popular choice, just not the one I preferred.