Flowers on Parade

Day 1 UK to Amsterdam

Travel to Amsterdam - a journey from Calais of approximately four hours and 30 minutes - and embark Spirit of the Rhine.

Enjoy a welcome reception and dinner on board as you moor here overnight.

Day 2 Amsterdam 🎧

The day is yours to seek out the delights of the Dutch capital.

Why not accompany your expert gardens host on an optional excursion to Hortus Botanicus – Amsterdam’s botanical gardens, one of the oldest in the world. A peaceful retreat from the hubbub of the city, the attractive grounds incorporate three impressive greenhouses: the Palm House where some of the world’s oldest plants are kept, the three-climate greenhouse with its subtropical plants, and the butterfly house.

Alternatively, you can join an excursion to Vondelpark, Amsterdam’s largest park, or just do your own thing – exploring the tree-shaded canals, colourful cafes and historic buildings of this lively city.

Sail to Zaandam this evening for an overnight mooring.

Day 3 Antwerp

Arrive in Antwerp after breakfast and look forward to an included half-day excursion to take in the splendour of the 17th annual Floralia Brussels flower show in the grounds and greenhouses of the castle of Groot-Bijgaarden. The 14 hectares incorporates more than one million bulbs with nearly 400 types of tulips on display. The rest of the day is at leisure in Belgium’s second city. Perhaps wander the cobbled lanes of the Medieval quarter or seek out a museum dedicated to local son and acclaimed painter Rubens.

Your ship remains moored here until late tonight.

Day 4 Antwerp to Utrecht to Zaandam

Enjoy a relaxing morning on board Spirit of the Rhine, arriving in Utrecht after lunch for an included half-day trip to Utrecht Botanical Gardens.

Originally called Hortus medicus, the gardens were first laid out in 1639 and are one of the oldest university gardens in the Netherlands. They were installed for students of medicine and played an important role in the development of systematic botany in the Netherlands. The gardens incorporate six different areas, including a Rock Garden said to be one of Europe’s finest, Tropical Greenhouses and an Outer Fort where marsh marigold and huge skunk cabbage flourish in the spring.

At dinner sail on to moor in Zaandam overnight.

Day 5 Zaandam

Look forward to an included full-day excursion to the famous Keukenhof gardens, also known as the ‘Garden of Europe’.

More than seven million bulbs fill the park with vibrant colour and fragrance. The park is on land originally attached to a castle (which is opposite the current gardens) and used for hunting and growing herbs for the castle kitchen – hence the name which translates as 'kitchen garden'. The first open-air exhibition, to promote the region's bulb growers and flower exporters, was held here in 1949. Now the exhibition is an annual event lasting eight weeks and featuring various events and themed displays. During your visit you can admire dazzling displays of millions of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths and visit flower and plant shows in the pavilions. Perhaps pick up ideas for your own garden…. Of course, the tulip displays are weather dependent, but they're normally in bloom from mid-March to mid-May.

Day 6 Zaandam to Beverwijk

Continue your cruise to the beautiful city of Beverwijk this morning, arriving at lunch time.

Explore at leisure this afternoon before transferring to Haarlem where this evening the annual Flower Parade that begins in Noordwijk will arrive. You can feast your eyes on a procession of floats carrying magnificent displays before returning to your ship, which remains moored in Beverwijk overnight.

Day 7 Beverwijk to Amsterdam 🎧

Today you’ll be transferred back to Haarlem city centre to take a closer look at the colourful floral displays before you set sail again at lunchtime to arrive in the capital mid-afternoon.

Day 8 Amsterdam to UK

Disembark Spirit of the Rhine after breakfast ahead of your return journey to the UK.