Best of Times Proudly Presents TULIPS & WINDMILLS 2011 River Cruise
11 DAYS/ 10 NIGHTS
March 25th - April 4th, 2011
Early Booking Discount 2-FOR-1 Package Price. Expires May 25th, 2010
Holland’s floral splendor only happens in the springtime. Come see
the rainbow of colors, and visit some of Belgium’s most beautifully
preserved medieval cities for the ultimate 10-day spring vacation in the
Low Countries. Explore Amsterdam’s cosmopolitan atmosphere and world-famous
museums. Experience Belgium’s Golden Age in historic Antwerp and the
lovely patrician cities of Ghent and Brugge. Learn more about Holland’s
age-old battle against the sea with tours of ingenious windmills and the
massive Delta Works project. Plus, enjoy savory Dutch cheeses, delectable
Belgian chocolates and Belgium’s exquisite, intricate lace on this
delightful vacation.
THE BEST OF TIMES DIFFERENCE
10-day/9-night cruise with river-view, outside cabin onboard deluxe Viking Pride
Roundtrip Airfare from Logan Airport
Roundtrip Transportation to Airport *
Travelers Insurance by TravelSafe Protect-A-Group
Best of Times Professional Tour Director throughout trip**
All Touring Included with private, English-speaking guides
All meals: 9 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 9 dinners
Unlimited Wines with every dinner on board ship
Old World Highlights: Port lectures by our knowledgeable Cruise Manager, wooden shoe carving demonstration and Dutch folkloric entertainment
All Luggage Handling Costs Included
All Driver Gratuities Included for transfers
Welcome Cocktail Reception & Dinner
Payment of all port charges
Special Early Booking & Past Passenger Discounts
The Places We’ll Visit:
Amsterdam Hoorn
Rotterdam Brugge
Nijmegen Kinderkijk
Middelburg Arnhem
Antwerp
The Places We Will Visit:
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Day 2 – 3 Amsterdam
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Day 4 Hoorn Our morning features a guided walk through Hoorn’s cobbled streets. Set along the Ijsselmeer, this maritime town was home to the Dutch East India Company. During our tour, see age-old cheese warehouses, Hoofdtoren Tower and the Westfries Museum on the town’s main square. Lunch is served aboard; you have a free afternoon to explore Hoorn, visit a local bakery and shop for souvenirs. Or, take an optional excursion showcasing the small towns and bucolic landscapes of the northern Holland area. Depart during dinner and cruise through the night. (B,L,D) |
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Day 5 – Arnhem, Paleis Het Loo & Nijmegen We begin our day with Paleis Het Loo, the Dutch Royal Family’s favorite summer residence. Enjoy a guided tour through its sumptuously furnished rooms and have free time to stroll through its beautifully landscaped gardens. Arnhem’s bridge over the Rhine is the site of a major WWII Allied defeat in September of 1944 which today boasts its quaint old town and pedestrian shopping zone. Nijmegen, Holland’s oldest city, boasts its own WWII history. Stroll its charming streets upon your evening arrival or find a local cafe for your evening leisure. (B,L,D) |
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Day 6 Kinderdijk & Antwerp Enjoy your included tour of the 18th Century windmills of Kinderdijk. This UNESCO World Heritage Site offers insight into Holland’s history and culture. Tour a working windmill and learn how mills helped the Dutch fight their battle against the sea. Lunch aboard as we sail toward Antwerp. After dinner aboard, relax on your ship or spend some time exploring the cafés and brew pubs of this extraordinary Flemish capital. (B,L,D) |
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Day 7 Antwerp This morning, enjoy a half-day tour of Antwerp featuring the Cathedral of Our Lady with its three monumental altarpieces painted by Peter Paul Rubens; the Grote Markt (Grand Square) surrounded by the Golden Age Town Hall and guild halls, and Het Steen (Steen Castle), Antwerp’s oldest building. You have afternoon free time before dining aboard; sail tonight for Ghent. (B,L,D) |
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Day 8 Ghent & Brugge Crisscrossed with canals, Brugge is one of Europe’s most beautifully preserved medieval cities and is filled with lovely old patrician houses. Upon our arrival our city walk visits the Church of our Lady, featuring its famous Madonna and Child, sculpted by Michelangelo. Also see the Beguinage, a hidden courtyard inhabited by nuns; many museums, including the Groeninge Museum; and the town’s scenic criss-crossed canals. Stay in Brugge for lunch on your own, or return to Ghent for lunch aboard and an afternoon exploring this extraordinarily charming, canal-filled capital of East Flanders. Enjoy a beautifully lit evening departure from Ghent and cruise through the night. (B,L,D) |
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Day 9 Middleburg, Delta Works & Rotterdam Today we begin with a walk through Middleburg; see the Gothic Town Hall and Lange Jan Tower. From here we go to Neeltje Jans Expo where we learn more about the area’s devastating floods and how the Delta Works protects Holland from the ravages of the sea. See the hydraulic lock system and walk along the massive dam. Arrive this evening in Rotterdam, rebuilt after much WWII destruction. Your evening is at your leisure. (B,L,D) |
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Day 10 Keukenhof Gardens & Amsterdam Sure to be one of the highlights of this trip is your tour to the world’s largest and most picturesque floral park, the Keukenhof Gardens spanning 70 acres, showcases both indoor and outdoor exhibits featuring millions of flowers. Return this evening to Amsterdam with more free time to explore the city on your own as our ship remains docked overnight so you can come and go at your leisure. (B,L,D) |
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Day 11: After breakfast this morning we depart for the airport and continue back home with incredible memories from this magnificent journey. (B) |
Founded in 1270, Amsterdam is a cosmopolitan
capital that has successfully retained its Old World charm. Enjoy the city’s
traditional Dutch architecture with your included canal cruise in a glass-topped
boat, followed by a visit to the famed Rijksmuseum with its superb collection
of Dutch Master’s paintings. Rembrandts famed Night Watch is on display
here. With time on your own be sure to stop at Dam Square, Amsterdam’s
main plaza or take a tour of Anne Frank House. (D,B,L,D)B = Breakfast L = Lunch D = Dinner
*Groups with less than 10 paying customers may be asked to drive to a Best of Times Designated Pick-Up Location instead of their own.
** There is a minimum requirement of 20 paying Best of Times customers to ensure the services of a Best of Times Professional Tour Director.
Special 2-FOR-1 Cruise Package Price with Payment in Full by May
25th, 2010 |
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CAT A Deluxe Cabin Upper Deck |
CAT B Deluxe Cabin Upper Deck |
CAT C Deluxe Cabin Main Deck | CAT D Deluxe Cabin Main Deck | CAT E Standard Cabin Main Deck |
Regular Price $6398pp Our 2-FOR-1 Price $3199pp |
Regular Price $6198pp Our 2-FOR-1 Price $3099pp |
Regular Price $5798pp Our 2-FOR-1 Price $2899pp |
Regular Price $5298pp Our 2-FOR-1 Price $2649pp |
Regular Price $4398pp Our 2-FOR-1 Price $2199pp |
Add $400 per person Taxes & International Transfers
Prices are per person based on double occupancy and include all Items Listed as The Best of Times Difference .
For Reservations or Further Information Please Call Best of Times 1(800)343-8999
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Prices Starting at $2199 Per Person includes |
* Group Discounts Available. Call for details.