For past Tauck guests only, one extra night at Tauck's selected hotel. Valid for new bookings made December 22, 2023 – July 31, 2024. Subject to availability. Deposit must be paid at time of booking, please ask for details at time of booking (certain other restrictions apply, not combinable with other offers).
Contact one of our Tour Specialists for more information. Offer valid on new bookings only. Savings vary per cabin category on select river cruises. Cannot be combined with any other offer, promotion or discount. Capacity controlled and may be removed at any time without notice. Certain restrictions may apply; ask at time of booking.
In the Netherlands, flowers are a way of life... You'll see flower boxes abloom with tulips and an array of colorful potted plants in villages and towns all over Holland. Gardens grace the landscapes everywhere you look, paying homage to an economy which is largely horticultural based...Everywhere you look, a kaleidoscope of colorful images... on walking tours and bicycle rides... in the seasonal pageantry of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths abloom in Keukenhof Gardens... in Kinderdijk windmills and coastal villages steeped in cultural treasures... at a Tauck Exclusive dinner in a palace museum rich with Old Dutch art masterpieces... in gabled houses dressed in maritime lore along Amsterdam's tree-lined canals... on walking tours of cobblestoned Ghent and the fairy tale streets of Bruges... during discoveries about immigrant voyages and sculpted monuments and chocolate in Belgium...
Tour begins: 4:00 PM, Amsterdam. Upon arrival, a transfer is included from Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport or Centraal Train Station directly to your Tauck riverboat. After settling into your cabin, attend a discovery briefing, then enjoy a welcome reception followed by dinner and Dutch entertainment this evening aboard the riverboat.
Explore Amsterdam today, blending past with present, from its medieval core to the bustling shops, cafés and rich cosmopolitan life of a 21st-century European metropolis. Disembark for a guided canal boat cruise under the curved bridges and past merchants' homes along the 17th-century grachten (canals) of the city. The three main canals, dug during the Dutch Golden Age, form concentric belts around the city, and are resplendent with 1,550 monumental buildings. Your cruise ends with a guided tour of the Rijksmuseum to see works by the Old Dutch Masters, including Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Van Gogh. Alternatively, enjoy a full day excursion to the Dutch countryside, complete with a guided tour of a tulip and vegetable nursery. Enjoy free time in Amsterdam to explore the sights as you wish.
Disembark the riverboat for an excursion to Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse, the home of famous show gardens and millions of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths, in various stages of bloom and particularly beautiful at this time of the year. A rolling carpet of color, Keukenhof is one of Europe's most iconic – and fragrant – places to witness springtime in all its glory. Your visit here offers you a choice; One option has you explore the illustrious gardens on foot; the other takes you on a bike ride around the gardens (Note: this bike ride does not take place in the gardens) finishing with a bit of time to walk the gardens. After lunch ashore, return to the riverboat for an afternoon of cruising. This evening, travel to The Hague (the royal city of Den Haag to the Dutch), for a sparkling Tauck Exclusive evening featuring dinner, live music and a tour showcasing Dutch Golden Age paintings at the Mauritshuis, a renowned art museum housed in a historic 17th-century building.
Arrive this morning in the Dutch village of Kinderdijk, where 19 original 18th-century windmills – preserved today as a UNESCO World Heritage Site – create an iconic polderscape that's better than any picture-postcard, which you'll enjoy on a boat cruise. There's no other place in the world besides Kinderdijk where can you see so many historic windmills together in an authentic setting. During your visit, discover how a windmill works both inside and out, and explore the quintessentially Dutch history of windmills. Alternatively, you can choose a bicycling excursion amidst the Kinderdijk windmills. Cruise on to nearby Dordrecht, a historic island city bordering no less than five rivers in the South Holland province of The Netherlands. Reflecting the definition of the Dutch word for harbor – "haven" – the city's charming harbor district preserves many historic warehouses, merchants' mansions and quays, and its role as a major port city from the 15th to 18th centuries. A walking tour reveals Dordrecht's notable architecture and monuments in its medieval inner city, as well as the surrounding ring of 19th-century buildings. Return to the ship for dinner and evening activities as you sail on to Belgium tonight.
This morning, your riverboat arrives in the historic port city of Ghent in Flanders, arguably Belgium's most beautiful city. Your day begins with a visit to Bruges, known to many as "the Venice of the North," for its canals and tiny medieval streets. On your walking tour along Bruges' cobblestoned lanes, you'll feel like you've walked into a painting by Jan Van Eyck, who captured life in the city during its heyday in the 15th century. The hike up the stairs of the medieval belltower is well worth the effort; you'll be rewarded with wonderful panoramic views. After lunch and some free time to explore Bruges as you like, head back to Ghent for a walking tour of its Old Town; the pedestrian-friendly cobblestoned town center feels like an outdoor museum of early Flemish architecture. Think about climbing to the top of the 14th-century belfry, crowned with a dragon, for the view – Ghent laid out before you is a visual feast of castles, churches, and historic merchants' houses. Be sure to try the local specialty, Ghent noses, a traditional raspberry candy sold at stands on the street – or a warm waffle with sugar or honey. Enjoy dinner onboard tonight as you sail on to Antwerp.
Your riverboat arrives this morning in the major port city of Antwerp for a day in the capital of the Belgian province of Flanders. Take an orientation tour of the city and a guided walk through the city's historic center. As you stroll and hear stories and insights from your local guide, take in Grote Markt, the old market square and numerous restored merchants' houses, harkening back to the days of the 16th-century Age of Exploration when Antwerp – at the time a powerful center of international commerce – was the richest city in Europe. After lunch aboard ship, you'll have some free time to explore more of Antwerp on a choice of excursions. One option offers you a visit to the Red Star Line Museum, sharing the stories of the over two million passengers who traveled to America on Red Star Line ships. Your other choice is a history lesson and beer tasting at one of Antwerp's local breweries. Dinner tonight is aboard the ship.
Morning guided sightseeing today in Brussels, Belgium's capital and a key center of European trade and culture since the 13th century, begins with a city tour that takes in the Atomium, a 338-foot-tall structure resembling atoms, built for the 1958 World's Fair and winds up at Grand-Place, one of Europe's loveliest city squares, boasting a Gothic town hall surrounded by Renaissance-era guildhalls. Alternatively, you can choose an Art Nouveau tour in Brussels this morning. Return to the riverboat for lunch; this afternoon, you might choose to participate in a demonstration by a local chocolatier. Then join us this evening for a farewell reception and dinner marking the end of this fabulous spring river cruise!
Tour ends: Brussels. Fly home anytime; all guests must disembark the riverboat by 9:00 AM. A transfer is included from the riverboat to Brussels Airport; allow 3 hours for flight check-in.
Welcome to Rotterdam, the second-largest city in the Netherlands and a centuries-old seaport that's among the largest and busiest in the world. After most of its historic center was obliterated during World War II, the city rose from the ashes to become the thriving commercial and transportation center it is today; renowned for its cutting-edge architecture and vibrant cultural life, 21st-century Rotterdam has been called the "Gateway to Europe." You can explore Rotterdam's stunning 21st-century Markthal (Markethall) and its contemporary culinary culture on your food-focused walking tour, or visit The Royal Delft pottery factory where generations of craftsmen have been making Delft Blue pottery by hand since 1653 for a painting workshop with master tile painters that includes high tea. Lunch today is aboard the riverboat followed by time to explore Rotterdam at your leisure before your ship departs for Dordrecht.
In the Netherlands, flowers are a way of life... You'll see flower boxes abloom with tulips and an array of colorful potted plants in villages and towns all over Holland. Gardens grace the landscapes everywhere you look, paying homage to an economy which is largely horticultural based...Everywhere you look, a kaleidoscope of colorful images... on walking tours and bicycle rides... in the seasonal pageantry of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths abloom in Keukenhof Gardens... in Kinderdijk windmills and coastal villages steeped in cultural treasures... at a Tauck Exclusive dinner in a palace museum rich with Old Dutch art masterpieces... in gabled houses dressed in maritime lore along Amsterdam's tree-lined canals... on walking tours of cobblestoned Ghent and the fairy tale streets of Bruges... during discoveries about immigrant voyages and sculpted monuments and chocolate in Belgium...
The Tauck experience was everything we expected it to be. We also appreciated the warm reception as their first cruise on the Danube since the Covid shutdown. Their professional staff navigated the travel restrictions as we moved from country to country and overall elimated those worries for us. Their were 52 (of a possible 130) passengers on board so to say we were given VIP treatment is an understatement. We loved the crew on board the MS Joy as well as the talented Cruise Director and Tour Directors. The experience that they created for us is the reason why we will continue to travel with Tauck and recommend them to others. On a negative note, I was disappointed in the hotel selection in Prague. The InterContinental where we had originally been booked was under renovation. We were shifted to the Hilton which was average at best. Additionally as a Category 7 traveler, we were put in a standard room. Other Category 7 travelers were upgraded to the premium floors which I found irritating.
Once you take a Tauck tour, you'll never go with another Operator. The Tauck experience was incredible and totally worth the money. Can't think of one thing to complain about or would change.
Enjoyed all aspects of the Tauck Cruise.
It is wonderful to have every detail taken care of with a smile on the face of the staff.
Tauck is always an outstanding experience.
While watching a video on the history of Tauck during a coach ride portion of this tour, I was surprised to find out that this company pioneered land tours in North America, and was the first to offer European river cruises. Tauck takes care of even the smallest details, from tipping local guides to providing us with coins to use restrooms during walking tours of the various cities we visited. WiFi onboard is complimentary -- something even NatGeo doesn\'t offer on their cruises. And, an open bar to boot, where I ordered the most exotic cocktails and kept the bartenders grinning and guessing as to their ingredients. Our arrivals at hotels in separate coaches on land portions of the tour were coordinated beforehand with our rooms and luggage, so that we did not have to spend any time standing in large gatherings in the hotel lobby waiting for rooms to be assigned and room keys slowly doled out as in other tours. As we off boarded our coaches, we were handed our room keys and were able to proceed immediately to our rooms, with our luggage delivered soon thereafter. Each hotel stay was fabulous and impressive -- four stars all the way. Live orchestral music gave our dining experiences a truly special touch.
Vacationing has never been easier or cheaper with the help of a dedicated travel consultant from AffordableTours.com
Find your perfect trip on our website and simply request a free quote. Need to speak to a live person? Call us 7 days a week at 1-800-342-0019. No robots here!
Your personal travel consultant will reach out and be your point of contact for your entire travel experience from start to finish. Did we mention you'll be working with an award winning team? Sweet!
Because we're one of the largest sellers of travel, we're able to give you a discount on your vacation package. No one beats our prices!
Knowing you got a great deal, all that's left is for you to pack your bags and enjoy your vacation!
We had a marvelous trip. Tauck thinks of everything!!