Inspire, 8 Night Belgium & Holland in Spring – Northbound ex Brussels (Brugge), Belgium to Amsterdam, The Netherlands

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 local brew in Antwerp and sculpted monuments and chocolate in Belgium…

Day 1
Tour begins: 4:00 PM, Brussels. A transfer is included from Brussels Airport directly to your riverboat, where embarkation begins at 4:00 PM. Settle in aboard ship and then meet your fellow river cruisers this evening at a welcome cocktail reception followed by dinner.

Day 2
Antwerp is Belgium’s second largest city, the capital of the province of Flanders, also known as the Low Countries, where Dutch is the official language. Go on an orientation tour of the city and take a guided walk through the historic center. As you stroll along the cobbled streets, hearing stories and insights from your local guide, discover 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 explores Antwerp through beer! Take to the streets on a walking tour to a number of local pubs for samplings of typical Belgian beer varieties.

Day 3
You’re off on a choice of excursions this morning. One brings you to Flemish city of Bruges, known as “the Venice of the North,” for its canals and tiny medieval streets; have lunch in town. On your walking tour in cobblestoned, fairy tale-like Bruges, 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 bell tower is well worth the effort; you’ll be rewarded with wonderful panoramic views. The other choice brings you to another Flemish city, Ghent, for a walking tour through 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. Tonight, your ship charts a course for the Netherlands.

Day 4
Today you’ll dock in 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 selection of morning excursions offers you the choice of excursions in the village of Kinderdijk. 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. Enjoy lunch back aboard the riverboat before departing back out for a walking tour that reveals Dordrecht’s notable architecture and monuments in its medieval inner city, as well as the surrounding ring of 19th-century buildings. Dinner onboard your ship tonight is followed by a performance by local musicians.

Day 5
Arrive this morning in 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 an afternoon to explore Rotterdam at your leisure. Tonight, drive 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.

Day 6
You’re off this morning for a flower-filled visit to Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse, where you will discover “the most beautiful spring garden in the world.” A rolling carpet of color, Keukenhof is one of Europe’s most iconic – and fragrant – places to witness springtime in all its glory. For eight springtime weeks every year, more than seven million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths blanket the 80-acre landscape with color and fragrance unequaled anywhere. 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. Spend the morning here and have lunch. Return to your ship this afternoon and cruise on to your final destination, Amsterdam.

Day 7
Enter Enkhuizen – once one of the most important port cities in the Netherlands, today Enkhuizen retains much of that quaint charm and provides visitors with a crystal clear window into its maritime history and rich Dutch heritage. And what better way to acquaint yourself with that history than with a Tauck exclusive, early morning opening and guided visit of the Zuiderzeemuseum! Devoted to preserving the cultural heritage and maritime history of the old Zuiderzee region, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the outdoor portion of its museum. Following lunch aboard the ship, set off on a choice of excursions. You’ll have the choice between either a schooner cruise on Ijsselemeer Lake, where you’ll help take part in working and running the 100-year-old sailboat, or, enjoy free time to explore Enkhuizen as you wish.

Day 8
Awaken on your riverboat today before heading out for a full day of exploration in Amsterdam – a vibrant blend of the historic and the contemporary, from its medieval core to the bustling shops, cafés and rich cosmopolitan life of a 21st-century European metropolis. After lunch aboard the ship, begin your exploration of this nearly car-free city of flower-rimmed canals, gracious gabled mansions, and people on bikes on a choice of excursions! One option takes you on canal boat cruise through the network of 17th-century canals at the core of the old city, that offers a refreshing perspective of the Netherlands’ capital city. As you’ll discover, Amsterdam boasts more canals than Venice… and, as it happens, more museums per kilometer than any other European capital. One of the most famous is the matchless Rijksmuseum – filled with myriad works by the Dutch Masters, including Rembrandt’s The Night Watch and Vermeer’s The Milkmaid – which you’ll visit following your canal cruise. Another is a full-day excursion to the Dutch countryside, complete with a guided tour of a tulip and vegetable nursery. And your final choice is nearby exploration in Huizen. Return to your riverboat for your final evening afloat, which includes a farewell reception and toast, followed by dinner and onboard entertainment.

Day 9
Tour ends: Amsterdam. After disembarking and bidding captain and crew adieu this morning, a transfer is included from the riverboat to Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport or Centraal Train Station; all guests must disembark the ship by 9:00 AM. Fly home anytime; allow 3 hours for departure flight check-in at the airport.

The new Inspiration Class ships maintain Tauck’s high standards for luxury and comfort… and take their name from ms Inspire, which will cruise exclusively on the Rhine and Moselle rivers. With a maximum of 130 guests, ms Inspire and her sister ship ms Savor continue our tradition of providing the most space per guest on Europe’s inland waterways – we will transport the fewest passengers of any longship (135 meters). Our deck plan for our Inspiration Class riverboats is innovative. With a total of 67 cabins, our most popular cabins tend to be our largest… so we have used the added ship length to offer twenty-two 300-square-foot-suites aboard ms Inspire and her sister ship – the most of any river cruise ship on any European river. To increase the amount of natural sunlight on the lower deck, we’ve created 8 loft cabins that extend from the first to the second decks, providing guests with an additional view; all windows in these loft cabins open.

We couldn’t find just the right words to describe the sumptuous new bedding and amenities we custom ordered for your in-cabin cruising comfort… 400-thread-count satin bed linens made from the finest combed cotton… puffy white duvets and pillows of very fine mako cotton, with a hypoallergenic 90% down filling… 100% cotton blankets, temperature balancing and so soft to the skin… and thick pillow-top mattresses that lull you to sleep… along with the Essentials Line of Molton Brown bath products, exclusive to Tauck… absorbent terry cloth robes and fluffy towels… hair dryers… but we do know they are key for waking up refreshed and relaxed for your traveling pleasure.
– See more at: http://www.tauck.co.nz/river-cruises/river-cruise-ships/ms-inspire.aspx#sthash.2wN88GyY.dpuf

Inspirational cruising… and the promise of fun. Cruise travel at its best.

What makes Tauck’s Small Ship Cruising and River Cruising unique is our focus on the destination – in scenic ports of call that connect you with people and places… moving, compelling and heart-warming experiences onboard and ashore… inspiration through Tauck’s cruise travel. We cast anchor in pristine bays, off island beaches and at docks accustomed to personal yachts… in small towns and villages along the great rivers of Europe… and in some of the world’s favorite cities. Our time ashore is enriched by in-depth cultural exploration and insider access that ensures up-close-and-personal connections with the locals and daily life. Our cruise travel adventures include guided sightseeing with local experts such as naturalists, historians, and accomplished lecturers. You’ll dine on regional cuisine on land at aboard ship that showcases specialties of the destination. And after a day of extraordinary sightseeing, we welcome you back onboard our hand-picked vessels for warm camaraderie and lively conversation that’s inherent on every Tauck cruise travel experience. The stories are endless, the memories are timeless and the connections priceless.

Select the Deck to view detail.

Inspire - Emerald Deck

Inspire - Ruby Deck

Inspire - Diamond Deck

Inspire - Sun Deck

Select the Cabin to view detail.

Category 7 Suite

22 luxurious 300-square-foot Category 7 suites on the Diamond Deck boast two floor-to-ceiling French balconies with sliding door and large marble baths with double sinks.

1. Two floor-to-ceiling French balconies, each 98 inches x 75 inches with one sliding door that opens

2. 32″ LED TV

3. Pull-out sleeping couch (triple & quad capacity; quads for children only)

4. Walk-in closet with built-in shelves and a safe

5. Minibar stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks, replenished daily

6. Storage / drawers

7. Coffee maker

8. Full-size bathroom featuring enhanced lighting, marble counters, additional storage and a hair dryer

9. Large shower featuring rainfall shower head (note: no bathtub)

10. Pillow top queen-sized bed, 62 inches x 77 inches (with optional twin-bed capacity)

11. Padded headboard with reading lamps

Additional Amentities

* Elegantly designed 300 sq. ft. suites

* 400 thread count cotton linens / white duvets and pillows of mako cotton with hypoallergenic 90% down filling

* Molton Brown toiletries – a Tauck Exclusive

* Terry-cloth bathrobes plus slippers

* Breakfast room service

* Iron plus ironing board

* 220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom

* Easy under-bed luggage storage

*Telephone and individual climate control

* Onboard wi-fi available

Category 6 Cabin

Sixteen elegant 225-square-foot Category 6 cabins, each featuring a floor-to-ceiling French balcony with one sliding door, are situated aft on the Ruby Deck.

1. One floor-to-ceiling French balcony (98 inches x 75 inches) with one sliding door that opens

2. 32” LED TV

3. Full-sized window (98 inches x 37.5 inches)

4. Pillow top queen-sized bed, 62 inches X 77 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration)

5. Padded headboard with reading lamps

6. Storage / drawers

7. Minibar stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks, replenished daily

8. Large closet

9. Safe

10. Full-sized bathroom featuring enhanced lighting, additional storage and hair dryer

11. Large shower featuring rainfall shower head

Additional Amenities

* Elegantly designed 225 sq. ft. cabins

* 400 thread count cotton linens / white duvets and pillows of mako cotton with hypoallergenic 90% down filling

* Molton Brown toiletries – a Tauck Exclusive

* Terry-cloth bathrobes plus slippers

* 220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom

* Easy under-bed luggage storage

* Telephone and individual climate control

* Onboard wi-fi available

Category 5 Cabin

Located on Ruby Deck and Diamond Deck.

Eight spacious, Category 5 cabins on the Ruby Deck measuring 225 square feet.

Two 190-square-foot Category 5 corner cabins are set extreme forward on the Diamond Deck.

1. One floor-to-ceiling French balcony (98 inches x 75 inches) with one sliding door that opens

2. 32” LED TV

3. Storage / drawers

4. Pillow top queen-sized bed, 62 inches x 77 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration)

5. Padded headboard with reading lamps

6. Safe

7. Minibar stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks, replenished daily

8. Large closet

9. Full-size bathroom featuring enhanced lighting, additional storage and hair dryer

10. Large shower featuring rainfall shower head

Additional Amentities

* 400 thread count cotton linens / white duvets and pillows of mako cotton with hypoallergenic 90% down filling

* Molton Brown toiletries – a Tauck Exclusive

* Terry-cloth bathrobes plus slippers

* 220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom

* Easy under-bed luggage storage

* Telephone and individual climate control

* Onboard wi-fi available

Category 4 Cabin

Two spacious 190-sq. ft. Category 4 cabins are situated extreme forward on the Ruby Deck, featuring one floor-to-ceiling French Balcony and bathrooms with marble counters.

* Elegantly designed 190 sq. ft. cabins

* Bed size: 62 inches X 77 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration)

* 400 thread count cotton linenswhite duvets and pillows of mako cotton with hypoallergenic 90% down filling

* One floor-to-ceiling French Balcony (98 inches wide x 75 inches high) with one sliding door that opens

* Bathroom with marble counters, larger showers with rainfall shower heads, enhanced lighting, and under-sink storage space

* Molton Brown toiletries – a Tauck Exclusive

* Terry-cloth bathrobe plus slippers

* Coffee maker plus minibar stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks replenished daily

* 32” LED TV

* 220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom

* Built-in closet and drawers

* Easy under-bed luggage storage

* Telephone, safe and individual climate control

* 2 chairs

* Onboard wi-fi available

Category 3 Cabin

On the Emerald Deck, 8 innovatively designed, 225-sq. ft. Category 3 loft cabins with large marble bathrooms extend from the first to second deck for additional views.

1. One-and-a-half deck window that opens at the top, electronically controlled

2. Loft sitting area

3. 4 steps up to loft area

4. Railing

5. Full-sized bathroom
featuring enhanced lighting, additional storage and a hair dryer

6. Large shower featuring rainfall shower head

7. Closets

8. Storage / drawers

9. Safe

10. Minibar stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks, replenished daily

11. Pillow top queen-sized bed, 62 inches x 77 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration)

12. Padded headboard with reading lamps

13. Storage / drawers (credenza not visible from this perspective)

14. 32” LED TV (on credenza below; not visible from this perspective)

Additional Amenities

* Innovatively designed 225 sq. ft. “split-level” loft cabins

* 400 thread count cotton linens / white duvets and pillows of mako cotton with hypoallergenic 90% down filling

* Window (98 inches x 114 inches) can be partially opened

* Molton Brown toiletries – a Tauck Exclusive

* Terry-cloth bathrobes plus slippers

* 220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom

* Built-in closet with drawers

* Easy under-bed luggage storage

* Telephone and individual climate control

* Onboard wi-fi available

Category 2 Cabin

Three Category 2 cabins are located on the Ruby Deck, measuring 150 square feet and featuring one floor-to-ceiling French Balcony with one sliding door.

* Elegantly designed 150 sq. ft. cabins

* Bed size: 62 inches X 77 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration)

* 400 thread count cotton linenswhite duvets and pillows of mako cotton with hypoallergenic 90% down filling

* One floor-to-ceiling French Balcony (98 inches wide x 75 inches high) with one sliding door that opens

* Marble bath with shower
Molton Brown toiletries – a Tauck Exclusive

* Terry-cloth bathrobe plus slippers

* Minibar stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks replenished daily

* 32” LED TV

* 220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom

* Built-in closet with drawers
Easy under-bed luggage storage

* Telephone, safe and individual climate control

* 2 chairs

* Onboard wi-fi available

Category 1 Cabin

Situated on the Emerald Deck, six 150-square-foot Category 1 cabins each feature a marble bath with shower with Molton Brown toiletries, a Tauck Exclusive.

* Elegantly designed 150 sq. ft. cabins, including four dedicated solo traveler cabins

* Bed size: 62 inches X 77 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration)

* 400 thread count cotton linenswhite duvets and pillows of mako cotton with hypoallergenic 90% down filling

* Two 2’ by 3’ fixed windows

* Marble bath with shower
Molton Brown toiletries – a Tauck Exclusive

* Terry-cloth bathrobe plus slippers

* Minibar stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks replenished daily

* 32” LED TV

* 220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom

* Built-in closet with drawers
Easy under-bed luggage storage

* Telephone, safe and individual climate control

* 2 chairs

* Onboard wi-fi available