Join Bellissimo Travel Specialists for a Spectacular Tulip Time River Cruise!
April 8-19, 2011
onboard the NEWEST ship in the European Fleet,
the MV LUMINARY !
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Travel in Style on the Youngest Fleet of River Vessels in Europe with Bellissimo Travel Services & Avalon Waterways!
Imagine floating on the great rivers of commerce in Europe, stopping in the city centers of the romantic cities of Europe, while savoring delicious local cuisine from the various regions of Europe, & relaxing from the privacy of your luxury stateroom!
With AVALON WATERWAYS, you will receive: floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors in most staterooms, French balconies in most staterooms, Flat screen satellite TV & radio, private bathroom with a shower & amenities, comfortable, hotel-style beds, European-style duvets, Egyptian super-combed cotton linens, large closets & storage, minibar, hairdryer & personal safe, and a climate controlled stateroom. Staterooms feature a minimum opf 172 square feet of space and are the largest on the European rivers today! The MV LUMINARY, our ship for the TULIP TIME viewing, is making its debut this Spring, 2010, and will offer relaxed & refined public areas, music and entertainment onboard, local lectures, a Professional Guide throughout the tour & especially during the traverse in Veere of the Delta Works, one of the world's most complex engineering projects in Holland. She will also feature elegant interiors with abundant glass, polished metal, vibrant colors & contemporary appointments. Avalon Waterways has captured a 96% traveler satisfaction rating* as well as the prestigious Conde Nast Traveler Gold List 2009 award! (*2007 Avalon Survey Results)
Personalized service is a trademark of Avalon Waterways, and you will enjoy sumptous buffet breakfasts, lunches with your specifications, and fine dining for dinners which feature complimentary regional wines, coffee, tea, & soft drink beverages! Of course, room service is available in all Royal Deck Staterooms & suites!
On land, as part of the Globus Family of Brands, you will delight in the over 80 years of personal service in the travel industry, which will benefit you with "seeing destinations like a local!" We will learn 'inside secrets' of the cities and regions,. as will as see the area's most famous sights. (Headsets are standard for all guided shore excursions in Europe.)
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TULIP TIME CRUISE
9 DAYS - Amsterdam to Amsterdam
April 8-16, 2011
Daily Itinerary:
Day 1: Board your overnight transatlantic flight.
Day 2: Amsterdam, Holland (Embarkation).
Welcome to Amsterdam! Holland's capital is sophisticated & moders, with a rich & fascinating history. This delightful 700-year-old city, with its elegant & classic architecture, cafes, restaurants, & lively marketplace has a distinct ambience! The works of famous Dutch masters can be seen in world-renowned museums such as the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh. This afternoon, board your river cruise vessel, the MV LIMINARY, and meet your friendly crew at a WELCOME RECEPTION! (D)
Day 3: Arnhem-Dordrecht. Excursion to Kinderdijk.
One of the major tragedies of World War II was the Battle of Arnhem, featured vividly in the AIRBORNE MUSEUM HARTENSTEIN & the inspiration for the movie A Bridge Too Far. Sitting between two branches of the Rhine, charming Dordrecht inspired many painters in the 17th & 18th centuries. Visit nearby KINDERDIJK with its picturesque row of windmills. A special treat after dinner onboard will be a DIAMOND PARTY! (B,L,D)
Day 4: Antwerp, Belgium.
Antwerp is Belgium's second-largest city and one of the world's most important ancient seaports. Included sightseeing shows you its superb architecture, & the GROTE MARKT with its beautiful city hall & the Church of Our Lady make this city well worth a visit! An optional excursion to nearby Brussels, Belgium's capital & home of the European Union (EU), is available. (B,L,D)
Day 5: Ghent.
In a uniquye way, Ghent, the "diamond" of Flanders, has managed to preserve its medieval charm & power while keeping up tiwh the times. A Local Guide will prodly point out that the city center alone is a showcase of medieval Flemish wealth & commercial success, & will take you into ST. BAAF'S CATHEDRAL. From here, an optional excursion to fascinating Bruges, with its criss-crossed canals & charming old patrician houses, is available. (B,L,D) |
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Daily Itinerary, Cont.:
Day 6-Middelburg, Holland - Veere-Delta Works:
It is certain that Middelburg was originally built as a stronghold to protect the population os Zeeland from the water and from enemies. Later, it became a prosperous merchant city that spent great wealth on the construction of important buildings such as the town hall. The eye-catching high tower of the town hall dominates the charming town of Veere, which was once an important wool-trading center. Take your photos before continuing to one of the world's most complex engineering projects, the DELTA WORKS, located nearby. After the flood of 1953, during which more than 1,800 people drowned in one night, the Delta Plan was born to prevent another disaster of this magnitude. The final defense in the battle against the water is the storm flood barrier, almost six miles long and considered a technical miracle. The project took 30 years to complete. (B,L,D)
Day 7-Rotterdam. Excursion to KEUKENHOF GARDENS:
Rotterdam is a bustling port city that was leveled by German bombs in WWII. Now, it has become a modern, high-tech looking city & boasts the world's busiest port! Today's highlight: the gardens of KEUKENHOF near Lisse, which encompasses over 70 acres of parkland with lakes, sculpture gardens, greenhouses, and a windmill to explore. Millions of flower bulbs are grown here that present a spectacular disply of blooms every year! Certainly a 'feast for the eyes!' (B,L,D)
Day 8 - Amsterdam - Volendam, Escursion to EDAM:
There is no better way to see Amsterdam than by CANAL BOAT, cruising through the elegant 'grachten' lined with stately homes dating back to Amsterdam's "Golden Age." An Excursion takes you north of the city to Volendam on the IJsselmeer, a maze of fishermen's houses built on poles and a unique open harbor! The small, timbered church dates back to 1658. Continue to EDAM, whose cheese of the same name has become famous worldwide and where cheese markets are still held in the summer months. The old town center, especially the Kwakelsteeg, still has lovely characteristic Waterland houses. (B,L,D)
Day 9 - Amsterdam (Disembarkation):
Your homebound flight arrives the same day, unless you would like to make plans for an extension in Amsterdam or elsewhere on the continent. (B) Bellissimo Travel Services will be happy to arrange your pre-cruise or post-cruise extended stay anywhere you desire! Bon Voyage and THANK YOU for joining us on this Spectacular Avalon Waterways River Cruise!
Contact Priscilla @ 231.9327553 or Toll-Free 866.7877553
bellissimotravel@sbcglobal.net |
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