Joy, 8 Night Holland & Belgium in Spring – Southbound ex Amsterdam, The Netherlands to Brussels (Brugge), Belgium – 24 Apr 2027 – Cruise Traveller

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

Cruise Line
Tauck
Ship
Joy
Cruise Departs
24 Apr 2027
Cruise Duration
8 Nights
Embark Ship
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Disembark Ship
Brussels (Brugge), Belgium
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Interior Oceanview Balcony Suite
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Cruise Itinerary

DateActivityArriveDepart
24 Apr 2027
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
25 Apr 2027
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
26 Apr 2027
Bruges, Belgium
27 Apr 2027
Rotterdam, Netherlands
28 Apr 2027
Willemstad, Netherlands
29 Apr 2027
Ghent, Belgium
30 Apr 2027
Antwerp, Belgium
01 May 2027
Brussels (Brugge), Belgium
02 May 2027
Brussels (Brugge), Belgium

All itineraries and ports of call at the discretion of the cruise line subject to local weather conditions and may change without notice.

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…

Day 1
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 this evening aboard the riverboat.

Day 2
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 choice of excursions; one takes you on 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. Your final choice offers a day of exploration in nearby Huizen (where your ship is docked).Your ship departs early this afternoon, allowing you ample time to enjoy the weather and take in the sights as the dutch countryside passes you on both sides. Your ship arrives early this evening in Enkuizen.

Day 3
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 4
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.

Day 5
Today, arrive 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. Continue 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 or a boat ride (your choice) 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 your ship arrives in Rotterdam early this evening.

Day 6
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 Belgium.

Day 7
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 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. Enjoy dinner onboard tonight as you sail on to Antwerp.

Day 8
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 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. Dinner tonight is aboard the ship.

Day 9
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.

Our new Inspiration Class ships maintain Tauck’s high standards for luxury and comfort… including ms Joy, launching in 2016, which will cruise exclusively on the Danube River. With a maximum of 130 guests, ms Joy and her sister ships ms Grace, ms Savor and ms Inspire 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 Joy and her sister ships – 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.

Ship Profile & Stats

  • Length: 135 metres
  • Maiden Voyage: 2016
  • Passenger Capacity (dbl): 130
  • Crew Nationality: European
  • Officer Nationality: European
  • Dining Staff Nationality: European

Ship Amenities

  • 110-volt and 220-volt outlets included in every cabin for small electronics
  • Terry-cloth bathrobe plus slippers
  • Minibar stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks
  • 32” LED TV
  • Direct-dial telephone
  • In-room Safe
  • Individual climate control
  • Onboard wi-fi available

Ship Facilities

  • Arthur’s Lounge
  • Compass Rose Open Seating Dining Room
  • Jacuzzi
  • Al fresco dining on Sun Deck, weather permitting
  • Unlimited complimentary beverages aboard ship include regional wine, beer and premium spirits in addition to specialty coffee, water and soft drinks
  • Onboard entertainment includes enrichment lectures, piano music nightly, in-room movies, culinary demos, local entertainment and “themed” fun
  • Fitness Centre
  • Massage Room
  • Putting Green on Sun Deck
  • Bicycles available aboard for use ashore
  • Hair salon
  • Laundry service available

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.

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