Springtime Tulip River Cruises

View Millions of Flowers at the Gardens of Keukenhof in Holland

Oct 13, 2007

Escape bleak winter weather with a springtime river cruise in Holland and Belgium, with stops at quaint towns to photograph windmills and fields of tulips in full bloom.

What better way to celebrate spring than with a river cruise to enjoy the beautiful blooming tulips of the Netherlands?

From the end of March through the beginning of May river cruise operators such as Avalon Waterways and Uniworld offer special sailings in the Netherlands to take full advantage of the fields of flowers in bloom.

Sailings typically start in Amsterdam, where shore excursions allow guests to tour this 700-year-old city that is so rich in art museums, such as the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum. Don't miss touring the Anne Frank House.

Then ships take guests through Holland’s scenic canals and rivers, with stops in port towns for sightseeing and shopping for that famous Dutch cheese. There are plenty of opportunities to snap pictures of legendary windmills, too.

But the main attraction at this time of year in Holland is Keukenhof, stunningly gorgeous gardens where millions of flowers create an amazing display of brilliant color. Seventy acres contain more than 7 million blooms. It is open only nine weeks out of the year; in 2008 that's from March 20 to May 18. More than 800,000 visitors from all over the world descend upon the gardens every year.

These specially themed, springtime river cruises usually sail through the waterways in Belgium, as well. In this country, stops typically include Bruges, a beautifully preserved medieval town, and Antwerp, the diamond capital of the world. Of course, here you will want to shop for Belgian lace and chocolate; both are thoughtful gifts to take back home.

The small ships used on river cruises typically have more spacious accommodations than those on ocean cruise liners. Staterooms sometimes have sliding glass doors and hotel-style beds. Meals are more casual than those on ocean cruises as well, with open seating, as well as local wines served. On-board amenities might include Internet access, fitness centers and libraries or other comfortable gathering rooms.

You can relax on the upper deck of your "floating hotel" to watch scenic countryside, charming villages and major monuments pass by. And how convenient to unpack only once on your vacation, but still be able to explore so many world-famous cities.

Here some springtime river cruise itineraries. For "early bird discounts," book before the end of November. Also consider reputable discounted cruise travel agencies, such as the online AffordableTours.com.

The copyright of the article Springtime Tulip River Cruises in Netherlands Travel is owned by Kara Williams. Permission to republish Springtime Tulip River Cruises in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.