Come travel aboard the MS Amadeus Aurea as we explore the beautiful tulip gardens and picturesque locations of Holland. Through a vast network of waterways and canals, we’ll uncover hidden gems highlighting both Holland and Belgium. Marvel at the architecture, charming villages, and scenic countryside in this unforgettable region.
- Visit Keukenhof garden, considered the most beautiful garden in the world
- Cruise the scenic waterways of Holland and Belgium on board the MS Amadeus Aurea
- Explore Castle Heeswijk, a beautifully restored 11th century fortress
- Explore the famous Dutch and Belgian cities of Amsterdam, Middelburg, Ghent, Antwerp, and Delft
- Visit the Dutch Open-Air Museum with its authentic farmhouses, mills, and workshops depicting Dutch life from 1700–1970
- Take an optional visit to either medieval Bruges or Belgium’s capital of Brussels
DAYS 1-2: WELCOME TO AMSTERDAM!
Following an included overnight flight, arrive in Amsterdam. Transfer to the charming town of ’s-Hertogenbosch (also known as Den Bosch) for a guided walking tour. Settle into the Golden Tulip Hotel Central and enjoy a group welcome dinner. Meals In-Flight, L, D
DAY 3: CASTLE HEESWIJK/DEN BOSCH
This morning, take a guided tour of Castle Heeswijk, a restored 11th century fortress. Later, enjoy visiting the Gardens in Demen with layouts carefully devised according to color and floral variety. Enjoy free time in Den Bosch before tonight’s group dinner. B, L, D
DAY 4: KEUKENHOF
Your day begins with Keukenhof, considered the most beautiful garden in the world. More than seven million tulips and other regional flowers fill 80 acres with color and fragrance. Later, board the MS Amadeus Aurea and enjoy a welcome dinner plus entertainment by a “shanty choir” of Dutch sailors. B, D
DAY 5: SITES OF AMSTERDAM
In Amsterdam, see the Royal Palace, Museum Quarter, and enjoy a traditional canal cruise to see a portion of the village’s 90 islands and 400 bridges. This afternoon, enjoy free time on your own; perhaps you’ll visit one of Amsterdam’s world-renowned museums or spend time relaxing on board the ship before dinner. B, L, D
DAY 6: ARNHEM/OPEN-AIR MUSEUM
Today, drive through Arnhem, known for World War II’s “Operation Market Garden.” The actions here became the basis of the historical movie, A Bridge Too Far. Continue to the Open Air Museum, containing more than 80 historic houses, farmhouses, and mills, showing how the Dutch people lived from 1700 to 1970. B, L, D
DAY 7: MIDDELBURG
Visit Middelburg, the capital of the province of Zeeland. The powerful abbey, the late-gothic town hall, and the old warehouses let you relive this past. When walking through the dreamy streets, one really can’t believe that the entire city center was pretty much destroyed to bits during the Second World War. The city was rebuilt in the same style and today, one can still feel what life must have been like during the 16th century. B, L, D
DAY 8: GHENT
Visit the Belgium city of Ghent, full of rich history and impressive medieval buildings. Today’s walking exploration will include the fortress “Gravensteen,” built in the 12th century by the Count of Flanders after he returned from his crusades. Walk through Ghent’s charming city center and behold its belfry, a medieval bell tower, and much more. This afternoon, enjoy time in Ghent on your own. B, L, D
DAY 9: FAMOUS BELGIAN CITIES
Today we stroll through the historic city center of Antwerp and visit the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe (Tower of Our Lady) Cathedral—the largest Gothic church in Belgium. After lunch, choose between visits to Bruges or Brussels. Historic Bruges is cradled by the River Reie and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spend time sauntering along the maze of cobbled alleys and cruise its romantic canals. In Brussels, the capital of Belgium your tour starts in the verdant Laken area, which boasts landmarks such as the Heysel stadium, Notre Dame of Laken, the famous Atomium and the royal residence. The tour continues through the eastern part of the city, including Cinquantenaire park and the famed city center. B, L, D
DAY 10: DELFT
Spend the day in Delft, one of the oldest Dutch cities. Delft reflects its past as a flourishing Golden Age trade hub. Though a 16th-century fire and a 17th-century armory explosion destroyed much of the city, its historic center and canals remain beautifully preserved. After Amsterdam, Delft is the Netherlands’ most popular tourist destination. B, L, D
DAY 11: VAARWEL!
After breakfast, disembark the MS Amadeus Aurea for your included flight home. B, Meals In-Flight
ACCOMMODATIONS:
Nights 2-3: Golden Tulip Hotel Central, Den Bosch, Netherlands
Nights 4-10: 5-Star MS Amadeus Aurea
Departure Cities:
- St. Louis
- Kansas City
- Springfield, MO
Depart: April 10, 2027
Return: April 20, 2027
Price Per Person: See Chart Below
*Price per person includes roundtrip airfare from STL/MCI/SGF. Please call for other gateway cities.
Walking Distance
To fully enjoy your vacation, you should be in good physical health and understand there are times when a good deal of walking is involved on tour. Those who have difficulty walking may not want to take this trip or should discuss their personal situation with their doctor before deciding. You should be able to walk at a steady pace for a mile at a time for a daily total of three to four miles per day and be able to manage steps to board/de-board the motorcoach several times a day. In addition, many US and European airports require lengthy walks to get from ticketing counters to your departure gate.
We are finding that larger European cities are closing their historic districts to motor traffic. This, of course, adds to the amount of walking involved when visiting a city (sometimes on uneven and/or cobblestone walkways). In addition, you should know that you may be required to exit the motorcoach at each stop because local law often does not allow travelers to remain on the motorcoach while it is parked for a scheduled stop.
Average Temps
The Netherlands – high of 57°, low of 41°
Belgium – high of 57°, low of 42°
Currency
Euro
Time Zone
GMT+1 (5 hours ahead of New York)
Hotel Amenities
All AMADEUS ships have an elevator that operates between the Mozart, Strauss and Haydn decks. The sun deck is not accessible by elevator.
Wi-Fi is available aboard the ship and the price is fully covered by CTD. We will travel in rural river landscapes, meaning the Wi-Fi connection at times can be limited.
All cabins and suites are equipped with high-quality care products, such as soap, shampoo, body lotion, and shower gel. You will also find a hair dryer, sewing set, shower cap, and nail file in your cabin. Laundry is available onboard for a small fee.
Breakfast and lunch are lavish meals, with evenings featuring chef’s specialties and regional dishes. In addition, a light breakfast and lunch is offered in the Panorama-Bar. There is always a vegetarian option for all meals on board.
Identification
Valid passport required for travel.
Other General Information
We will send 3 key communications for your tour; “Get Ready” is your email confirmation and initial tour information sent upon registration, “Get Set” email will be sent about two months before departure, “Go” trip documentation mailing is sent via USPS 3-4 weeks before departure and will include your daily itinerary, luggage tags and final departure information.
Travel Protection is optional and highly recommended and can be purchased until the day before departure. We offer Travel Guard from AIG, which costs 8.5% of your tour, information about which will be sent with your Get Ready email.
Unless otherwise noted, your Sunrise Tour includes: Professional Sunrise Tour Director, meals as indicated, local step on guides including gratuity (international tour guide gratuity inclusion vary by tour), deluxe motorcoach transportation w/rest room, admission to activities and events as indicated, airfare from designated airports, transportation to/from designated airports from our convenient local pickup points*, luggage handling at hotels when available
We believe tipping is a personal and discretionary interaction between our guests and our staff. A typical gratuity for your Sunrise Tour Director and motorcoach driver may be $5-$7 per person, per day on tour. Sunrise Shuttle drivers appreciate gratuities (suggest $5 per person) for excellent service as well. Our staff will not solicit gratuities or pass out envelopes.
We are happy to offer refreshments on most motorcoach travel days on tour. We recommend you bring a refillable water bottle to maintain healthy hydration.
If less than 4 people request a pickup point, we may ask that you choose another pickup point from which to join your Sunrise Tour.
If you would like to join a tour from a city not listed as a departure point, we would love to have you along! Please discuss arrangements with our friendly reservation team. From a departure city not listed, typical airfare will be +$100 higher than our published fare for domestic tours, and +$200 for international tours.
If you have a TSA precheck or Airline Rewards numbers, you MUST give those numbers to our reservations team at least 60 days before departure, otherwise they may not be applied.
Preferred seating may not be available on group air. In some cases, seats are not assigned until the airport. Your tour fare includes an economy seat on the flight; it does not include seat selection. Seat upgrades may be available at an additional cost.
To help make our tours the most comfortable in the business, we limit Sunrise Tours motorcoaches to 80% capacity, or 44 passengers on a coach built for 55. We reserve the right to amend this practice.
Your Tour Director will rotate seats on the motorcoach each day of your tour. A single fare does not guarantee two seats on coach; you may be seated next to another friendly Sunrise Tours guest.
Terms and Conditions
Please refer to our policies HERE for more information on our terms and conditions.
