Holland & Belgium in Bloom with Carol Klein & Joe Swift

Day 1 Amsterdam
Holland in the spring is a truly memorable sight, and the perfect introduction to any river cruising itinerary that touches on the traditional side of Dutch life. You will be met and transferred from the airport to your luxurious Emerald Waterways Star-Ship. (Dinner)

Day 2 Amsterdam – Zaanse Schans
This morning, you will have the opportunity to experience one of Holland’s many highlights as you venture to Zaanse Schans. Relax on board your Star-Ship, as your delightful EmeraldPLUS experience this afternoon involves welcoming a local clog painter for a demonstration and the opportunity to try your hand at this unique craft.

Your tour to the Zaanse Schans historic windmills will highlight the distinctive wooden houses and artisan workshops that make up the quintessentially Dutch town, where the smell of freshly baked goods and the sight of spinning windmills offers a truly memorable experience.

Alternatively, enjoy a guided bike tour to Waterland, passing picturesque scenery and iconic fields of tulips. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

EmeraldPLUS: Clog painting on board

EmeraldACTIVE: A guided bike tour to Waterland

EmeraldEXCURSION: A tour to Zaanse Schans windmills

Day 3 Rotterdam
Rotterdam is a unique example of a Dutch city because it had to be reconstructed following the air raids of WWII, leaving behind a patchwork of different styles.

Today you will have the opportunity to explore this contemporary city, perhaps trying to imagine how the gabled houses of Amsterdam would have once sat here. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

EmeraldEXCURSION: A tour of Rotterdam

DiscoverMORE: A visit to a Delft pottery factory (extra expense)

Day 4 Veere
Today, you will arrive in Veere, a delightful historic town where normal houses are adorned with miniature classical palace gardens and elegant architecture adorns the surprisingly quiet streets that you will stroll down during your guided tour.

Afterwards, visit the Dutch Delta Works. Witness the sheer enormity of the world’s biggest storm surge barrier and be left awe-inspired by the immense feat of engineering. If you are feeling active, then you can also enjoy a guided bike tour of Veere, stopping to learn about how it encapsulates the opulence of a by-gone era. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

EmeraldPLUS: Visit the Dutch Delta Works 

EmeraldEXCURSION: A guided tour of Veere

EmeraldACTIVE: A guided bike tour of Veere

Day 5 Antwerp
This morning you’ll arrive in Antwerp, Belgium’s biggest port, positioned on the River Scheldt with a large harbour linking to the sea. Home to the famous Baroque artist Pieter Paul Reubens, it attracts art-lovers and diamond dealers from all over the world.

Enjoy a guided tour of the city centre, with its café-filled cobbled lanes, admiring the Renaissance City Hall and Hat Steen, a medieval fortress that was built during the early Middle Ages and one of the oldest buildings in the country. Afterwards, enjoy free time to explore Antwerp at leisure.

Exclusive Event: This morning, visit the Botanical Gardens which lies in the centre of Antwerp. It is home to an array of exceptional trees, shrubs, cactuses, foreign plants and over 2000 herbs. With over 200 years of history, it was originally built to grow medicinal plants to supply St Elisabeth’s hospital next door. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

EmeraldEXCURSION: A tour of Antwerp

DiscoverMORE: An excursion to the medieval town of Bruges (extra expense)

Exclusive Event: This evening, join Joe Swift in the lounge for an informal talk and Q&A.

Day 6 Arnhem
Relax in the comfortable surrounds of your Star-Ship this morning as you sail down Dutch waterways, passing wonderful windmills and quaint traditional villages.

Arnhem is most famous for its great battle during WWII, best learned about during your EmeraldEXCURSION to the Airborne Museum, where you will have the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of British parachutists and immerse yourself in what the battle would have felt like.

Alternatively, embark on a guided bike tour of Arnhem, famous for its postcard-worthy streets, scenic parks and fine museums. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

EmeraldACTIVE: A guided bike tour of Arnhem

EmeraldEXCURSION: A visit to the Airborne Museum

Day 7 Amsterdam
Exclusive Event: This morning, meet Carol & Joe at Keukenhof Gardens – the most beautiful spring garden in the world and Europe’s largest. Situated in the heart of the tulip farm area of Holland, it boasts incredible displays of different flower and plants, with more than seven million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths filling over 79 acres with colour and fragrance. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Exclusive Event: This evening, join Carol Klein in the lounge for an informal talk and Q&A.

EmeraldPLUS: A visit to Keukenhof Gardens

Day 8 Depart Amsterdam
After breakfast, it’s time to bid farewell to your fellow guests and quintessential Holland as you disembark the ship for your transfer to the airport, taking memories of wooden windmills and spring-blooming flowers with you. (Breakfast)

• 20 meals including 7 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches and 7 Dinners
• Boutique contemporary hotel feel, with spectacular on board heated pool, cinema, spa and lounge (Emerald Radiance Star-Ship pool is located on the sun deck and the Cinema is not available.)
• Spacious, comfortable accommodations you'll want to spend time in, with panoramic suites and staterooms, and innovative open-air system for cabins on the Vista and Horizon decks
• Gourmet all-included on board meals and highlight dinner events, al-fresco on The Terrace or in the well-appointed Reflections Restaurant
• Enjoy in depth cultural experiences with EmeraldPLUS excursions; cheese and olive tasting or Provencal dinner on board hosted by a local chef
• Emerald's Concierge Service - served right to your suite, enjoy continental breakfast, pre-dinner canapés and after dinner treats (Only applies to Owner’s One-bedroom Suites, Riverview Suites, and Grand Balcony Suites (CAT S, SA, RA))
• A refined selection of wine, beer and soft drinks to accompany lunch and dinner
• Tea and coffee available at all times
• Bottled water restocked daily in your cabin
• Built-in adventure, with an included on shore excursion at every port
• Visits to many UNESCO World Heritage Sites
• Emerald Active guided biking and hiking tours
• Excellent service from an English speaking crew
• Knowledgeable, personable local destination guides
• Complimentary bicycles on board
• Complimentary on board Wi-Fi
• All airport transfers to and from your Star Ship, and all gratuities
• Port charges now included in your tour price
• All gratuities for onboard and shore side staff

• Itineraries are subject to change.
• Cabin upgrades are available.
• Please ask your Vacations To Go travel counselor for more information.

* The prices shown are U.S. dollars per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability. Prices quoted for land/cruise arrangements are subject to increase without notice. Once we have received your deposit, land/cruise prices are guaranteed. Air prices quoted via phone or email are subject to increase and are guaranteed only from the time that full payment is received. Also, air prices or air promotions mentioned on this site or on the phone do not include baggage fees imposed by airlines. Sorry, we are unable to offer air from countries other than the U.S. However, for those international customers who are able to arrange their own transportation to the trip origination city, we are able to offer the land/cruise portion of the package at the price quoted.