One of the premiere river cruise experiences along the waterways of Europe are without a doubt the spring “Tulip Time” cruises that explore the colorful floral landscapes of Belgium and the Netherlands.

A Tulip Time cruise is a fantastic way to see the best that Belgium and the Netherlands have to offer. Itinerary map courtesy of AmaWaterways

Beginning on March 28, 2012 and continuing on until the end of April, AmaWaterways returns to this beautiful region of Europe to offer its luxurious brand of river cruising on 7-night “Tulip Time” cruises. Even better, AmaWaterways is offering numerous departures aboard the line’s sleek, elegant AmaLyra, AmaVerde, AmaDante and AmaDolce.

The full itinerary:

If you’re looking for an added “WOW!” factor, why not be among the first to sail aboard AmaWaterways’ newest gem, the elegantly appointed AmaCerto.  She’ll debut in April of next year, operating this popular itinerary on April 12 and April 19, 2012.

A rendering of one of the elegant, modern staterooms featured aboard AmaWaterways' upcoming AmaCerto. Photo courtesy of AmaWaterways.

Besides the stellar river cruise experience, which allows you to explore numerous cities and sights while unpacking just once, your time ashore on these Tulip Time voyages is likely to be a memorable one; in fact, 2012 may be the perfect year to experience the spring season in Europe, thanks largely in part to the return of one of the most highly sought after festivals: the Floriade Exposition.

The Floriade Exposition is the one of the world’s largest horticultural shows, with more than 100 exhibitors from across the globe. Often referred to as the “Theatre of Nature,” the exposition revolves around five unique “worlds,” each offering its own décor and cultural programs that allow visitors to interact with the beauty and majesty of nature in an ever-changing fashion.

The Floriade Exposition is one of the largest horticultural exhibitions in the world. Photo courtesy of Floriade 2012.

Floriade only comes around once every decade, so your next chance to take part in this remarkable event won’t occur until – you guessed it – 2022. Next year, guests sailing with AmaWaterways can explore this once-in-a-decade feature during their port call in Nijmegen, Netherlands.

But it’s not just horticulture lovers that will find themselves entranced; the rich histories of Belgium and Holland run back centuries, and their idyllic combination of lush, rolling hills, iconic windmills, and historic cities are sure to impress even the most seasoned traveller.

While Amsterdam’s appeal is universal, AmaWaterways has also included off-the-beaten-path itinerary calls to places like Volendam and Edam. In Arnhem, guests have the opportunity to see the Arnhem Bridge which was featured in A Bridge Too Far.

Guests can even choose to explore the Belgian capital of Antwerp or take an optional tour from Antwerp to nearby Brussels to enhance their exploration for an additional € 45 per person.

The inviting bar aboard Amadante. Photo courtesy of AmaWaterways

Of course, travelling with AmaWaterways is a unique event unto itself. The line’s high standard of service, coupled with popular features like complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks with dinner; complimentary bottled water replaced daily in staterooms; complimentary first-run movies and WiFi internet access; and a variety of complimentary tours ashore geared to both active and casual travellers means enjoying yourself won’t be an issue onboard your river cruise ship or ashore.

Next year may truly be the best time to take a Tulip Time cruise with AmaWaterways, so don’t wait – these sailings are likely to fill up fast due to their continuing popularity!

For more information on AmaWaterways and their fleet, be sure to check out our AmaWaterways line and river cruise ship profiles here on The Avid Cruiser!

Flowers in Keukenhof. Photo courtesy of Uniworld River Cruises

River cruises offer guests the chance to get up-close and personal with their surroundings. Land is never out of sight, and the beautiful passing countryside combined with the “unpack once” convenience of a cruise has made river cruising one of the most popular ways to explore Europe.

One itinerary in particular has proven to be exceptionally popular, especially for beginning river cruisers: the famous springtime Tulips and Windmills voyages.

Typically operated between late March and early May, these river cruises sail throughout the Netherlands and Belgium, and offer guests the chance to experience the rich history of these regions along with their natural springtime beauty and famous flowers. In fact, more than 70 percent of the world’s flower supply comes from this one region alone; impressive if you consider how many flowers there are.

So popular are these cruises that they’re offered by nearly every river cruise line, including AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, Tauck World Discovery, Uniworld, and Viking River Cruises. If you’ve never been to this region of Northern Europe before, or have never taken a river cruise, these voyages are the perfect starting point.

Not into flowers or windmills? There’s still plenty to enjoy here. The Netherlands is famous for its cheese, and there’s nothing like “real” Belgian chocolate to stimulate the taste buds.

So what does a typical Tulips and Windmills itinerary look like? Have a look at this itinerary operated by AmaWaterways [read more]