Delft is a city well known for its ties to the royal family and to Dutch master Johannes Vermeer (Girl with the Pearl Earring). Delft is most famous for its blue and white pottery. You’ll also have the opportunity to experience the incredible historical monuments the city has to offer. From there, we move on to The Hague, the seat of Dutch government and home to the royal family. The city center is easily accessible by foot and contains architecture from the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods. The Hague has already merged with the coastal Scheveningen, a fishing village in the past, and a resort suburb today as evidenced by the magnificent building at the Kurhaus and the picturesque strip of sandy beach.

The beautiful city of Bruges is one of the best preserved medieval cities of Europe. It has played an integral role in western trade as well as in Europe’s artistic and architectural evolution, this has become one stop in Belgium you simply can’t miss! With this excursion we will discover one of the pearls of the Low Countries. This gorgeous city has the whole city center designated as an UNESCO world heritage site. During the bus transfer to Bruges, your guide will inform you about the history and tradition of the city and of the country. On arrival, you will start your walking tour and discover all the highlights of the city including Saint John’s Hospital, Our Lady Church, the Market Square with the Belfry, the old City Hall and the Holy Blood Chapel, and much more. After some free time, return to your ship.

Visit chocolate shops in this beautiful city and taste the flavors of the locals!  Taste chocolate in the form of the Cathedral, a chocolate in the form of a hand (which happens to be the logo of Antwerp), and a cookie in the form of a hand.  Depending on the weather, either hot chocolate or more chocolate pieces will be available. In addition to tasting all the chocolate, a guide will teach you everything there is to know about chocolate and what makes it so mouthwatering.  Minimum of 20 passengers needed for tour to run

This lively guided tour takes you into the lovely Dutch country-side. The Zaanse Schans is a unique part of the Netherlands, full of wooden houses, mills, barns and workshops. Located  25 km from Amsterdam, it is an open-air museum housing more than 30 houses built in 16-17 centuries, all of which invite you to discover the country-side life of Medieval Holland. More than a thousand windmills were built along the Zaan river but only 6 remain. The village has preserved old Dutch traditions of house building, clog making and old fashioned cheese production – which you will have a chance to not only see but sample as well!. Nearby is Volendam, a fisherman village, well-known for its delicious shrimps, eels and herring. Enjoy some free time to explore this authentic town with its own culture, language and locals wearing national dresses. IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to time limitations in Amsterdam, to avoid disappointment, this tour should be pre-ordered.     

Keukenhof is the most beautiful spring garden in the world. More than seven million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths cover  over 32 hectares with magnificent  color and fragrance!

*AVAILABLE 23 MARCH through 14 MAY 2023     

With a rich cultural life and a wide range of entertainment, Amsterdam is a full-scale city, which has managed to retain its small-town feel. Your walking tour of the city center will introduce you to highlights including the famous market place, Dam Square, the Central Station, and the unique medieval houses built along the vast system of canals that criss-cross the city!  

Rotterdam is truly a world city. The impressive skyline can be seen from afar, enhancing the city’s imposing appearance characterized by such landmarks as the Euromast observation tower and the swan-like curve of the Erasmus Bridge. Rotterdam is known in the Netherlands and abroad as a city of great architecture, featuring many examples of innovative construction. The 800-metre long Erasmus Bridge spans the Maas River and links the northern and southern parts of Rotterdam. The suspension bridge has a 139-metre high steel pylon, which is secured with 40 cables. The shape of the pylon gave the bridge its nickname, ‘The Swan’. The Erasmus Bridge is the icon of Rotterdam. The Euromast Tower is the highest observation tower in the Netherlands. At 100 metres, the tower provides a fantastic panoramic 360° view of the city and much further afield. The cube houses were designed by Piet Blom, who saw his design as a tree and the entire complex as a forest. Blom wanted to develop a village within a large city; a safe haven where various different functions could take place.

Discover the history and the hidden secrets of one of the most beautiful towns in Belgium – Ghent. You’ll be mesmerized by the outstanding beauty of its quays, churches and squares. Every house has its own history and every facade is hiding some legends behind. You’ll learn not only the history of the city, its ups and downs, but also the urban myths, the jokes the citizens have about their town, the adventures of the university students and how these young party-people are giving life to the city. The tour is about 2 hours and it covers the main highlights of the city including the Old Market, central square with the 91m Belfry and the beautiful Cathedral of St. Bavo, home to famous paintings of the great Flemish masters including Frans Pourbus and Peter Paul Rubens.

Despite its European dimension and despite all the different languages spoken on the corner of every street, Brussels is still inspired by a very “village-like” spirit. Of course, it’s well known for its Grand-Place, its Atomium, its Manneken-Pis, its Gueuze and its Kriek, its waffles and its chocolates… You’ll discover a Brussels that’s in the spirit of the times, a capital that’s relaxed and comfortable, as much in its history as in its present-day reality. Headquarters of the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (N.A.T.O.), Brussels is an international financial center and home to the European headquarters of over two thousand multinationals attracting thousands of visitors each year.

It is hard to describe Antwerp in a single word. This historic city has so much to offer: a beautiful cathedral and numerous imposing churches, a magnificent Central Station, the ground-breaking Museum on the River (MAS), the tranquil Rubens House, a delightful sculpture garden (Middelheim), a zoo with a history and so much more. Antwerp is also Belgium’s fashion capital, home to many internationally renowned designers. That is why in the Scheldt city you will find dozens of exclusive boutiques, rubbing shoulders with fun bric-a-brac shops where you can browse for hours. Not surprisingly, the local ‘Antwerpenaars’ – who are fairly loud by nature – are extremely proud of their city. Welcome to Antwerp, the most self-confident city in Belgium!

The Dutch city of Dordrecht is located on an island, surrounded by wide rivers. With its position at a river confluence, Dordrecht was the country’s earliest trading port and grew wealthy with important commercial, military and private boat building since the 14th century. Today you can still sense these prestigious times as you walk through the town. Besides the beautiful inner city harbors, quaint canals, wooden bridges, typical Dutch houses, the many monuments and huge churches, this city has a fantastic atmosphere that gives it the character of an age-old port.

No. Visas are not required for US citizens traveling on this program.

If you have purchased your air tickets through us, your transfers will be included. However, transfers are still available for those who would like to arrange their own airfare, for a fee. For more information about transfer rates for this program, please call our office at (714) 556-8258 or toll free (800) 795-1633.

M/S Crucevita. This elegant, luxurious, boutique style vessel, the M/S Crucevita was designed in an old world grand yacht style. Superb public areas, accented in oak and leather, include a panorama restaurant, cozy bar and lounge, a fire-place, a gym, sauna, library, and sun deck! The cabins area spacious 14 sq m (150 sq ft) and are fitted with beds that are stowed away during the day to create extra space to relax. All cabins include air-conditioning/heating that can be regulated individually, a multi-channel satellite TV with remote control, a mini safety deposit box, a telephone and a hair dryer. The luxury bathroom contains a toilet, enclosed shower, and a stylish wash basin. Cabins on Main deck have panorama windows while cabins on the upper Promenade deck will have new French balconies (renovation scheduled for 2018 winter-season) The decks are interconnected by a regular elevator suitable to carry up to 4 persons. The Sun Deck is accessible from the Promenade Deck by an outside chair lift. Maximum capacity 110 passengers serviced by a young and vivacious crew of 36. Non-smoking interiors. Currency: Euro

There are no telephone lines for outgoing calls on our vessels. Communication from ship to shore can only be done through the Captain’s radio. However, you may bring your US cell phone to use – just please make sure it is “unlocked” by your US provider in order to use it. Wi-Fi is available for a fee and computers are provided near the bar. The level of signal may vary depending on sailing itinerary and location of ports.

While most of Western Europe has adopted the EURO, some of the Eastern European countries still use their own (Hungary-Forint, Serbia – Dinar, Bulgaria-Lev, Romania-Lei). For the rate of exchange to the US dollar, please check online a few days prior to your departure as some of these currencies fluctuate daily. Due to varying foreign currency laws, our ships do NOT have exchange offices on board. Therefore, we highly recommend that you BRING A SUFFICIENT QUANTITY OF EUROS OR DOLLARS in CASH prior to your departure. You will then have ample opportunity to change either Euro/dollar to local currencies.

While on board the ship, all costs are quoted in Euros. Direct payments are accepted in cash (Euros) or signed to your cabin and paid at the end of the navigation by cash or credit card (Visa or MasterCard only). However, a service may be applied to credit card transactions. Please check in advance and remember – cash is still “king” in most Eastern European countries. Personal and Traveler Checks are not accepted.

Due to strict foreign currency laws, here are important notes regarding on shore expenses:
Cash: is accepted and preferred. (Euros & USD)
Credit Cards: are accepted, VISA OR MASTERCARD ONLY! (Limited use outside of urban areas.)
*Credit Card Note: As of May 2014, European credit card processors require credit cards with chips and a 4-digit PIN code. Your USA magnetic strip cards may NOT work at local ATM’s requiring a PIN. Ask your bank for a chip card and/or bring along a debit card with your PIN (or enough cash to cover your expenses!)

Although everyone is different, we suggest that you set aside at least 700 Euros/$1000 USD per person – to cover your optional tours and shopping expenses. If you are planning on purchasing more expensive items you may want to bring more.

Yes, a number of optional excursions will be offered for sale during your cruise. These optional services are priced in Euros. They may be signed to your cabin and paid at the end of the cruise with cash or via Visa or Matercard.

Tipping today has become commonplace in all former Eastern Bloc countries. Due to the volatile nature of these new economies, salaries for regular folk are pitiful compared to the rising costs and inflation – let alone if we compare them to western standards. For the majority of the people working in the service industries (hotels, ships, restaurants, travel), tips and gratuities have become large sources of their income. Therefore, your gracious generosity will be appreciated throughout your trip. However, tips in the “East” are still left to your discretion. Therefore, no service – no tip! We generally recommend that each person set aside $250 to cover all tipping needs for the total duration of the program – but this is merely a suggested amount. You may leave as little or as much as you feel comfortable with. If you endear yourself to any particular crew member and wish to award them directly – please feel free to do so!

For more information about tipping, including Individual vs. Pooled Tipping, please take a look at our detailed Tips on Tulip and Rhine Cruises.

Special meal requests are possible. If you have any food allergies or special dietary needs, please be sure to notify our office at least 90 days prior to your departure. We and the restaurant staff will make every effort to arrange for special meals, however, if you have strict dietary restrictions, you may want to bring some non-perishable snacks, crackers, dried fruits, dietary sweeteners, or other items that will compliment the limited variety of special meals.

For a complete list of suggested items to bring, please read our detailed Tips on Tulip and Rhine Cruises. But here are a few important items that often get overlooked!

Electrical current in hotels and on the ship is 220 volts/50MHZ. In order to use appliances, including shavers, hair-dryers, chargers for movie cameras, etc., you will need to bring:
1) Universal Transformer: to convert from US 110 Volts to 220. (Note: recent electronic equipment such as laptops and cameras MAY automatically convert. Please check your individual item.)
2) Universal Adapter Plugs: Round pins for sockets that are different than at home. Since there are no supplies of converters/ adapters, we recommend you purchase a transformer/ adapter plug set at any electronics or appliance store before you leave.

PLEASE DO NOT FORGET: Medications which are vital to your health. A letter should accompany these from your doctor (signed and dated), certifying that such medications are vital to your health. Dosage should be indicated. Always pack any personal medications in your carry-on luggage, not in your checked baggage. Additionally, those passengers with lighter physical disabilities must report them to us at the time of booking.