Spring in the Netherlands: Amsterdam & the Tulips River Cruise - MS George Eliot
Holiday Highlights
- Enjoy two culture-filled guided tours, including iconic Zaanse Schans and the Zuiderzee Museum in Enkhuizen which recreates the 19th-century heritage of Hollands inland bay.
- Marvel at the spectacular Keukenhof, the world's largest flower garden covering nearly 80 acres.
- Visit the picturesque fishing town of Huizen and cruise across the Markermeer lake.
- See the sights of Amsterdam on a walking tour.
What's Included
- Prices are per person, based on two people sharing a twin cabin with a limited number of sole occupancy cabins available, at the relevant supplement. The price includes:
- Full board during your cruise from dinner on your day of arrival until breakfast on your final day
- Free drinks package
- Complimentary on-board tea and coffee
- Complimentary on-board Wi-Fi (connection speeds may vary)
- All visits and excursions as mentioned
- Return flights
- Coach travel as mentioned
- Transfers from the airport/station to and from the port of embarkation
- English-speaking expert guides
- The services of a Riviera Travel Cruise Director and Host
Itinerary
Day 1
Zaandam - Your journey starts as you step aboard your cruise ship in the picturesque town of Zaandam, celebrated for its green-painted wooden houses and charming windmills. A warm and attentive crew greets you, ensuring a smooth check-in and guiding you to your elegant, generously sized cabin. From the moment you arrive, comfort and sophistication set the tone for an unforgettable experience.
Day 2
Zaanse Schans & Huizen - Travel from Zaandam to Zaanse Schans, where the soft thrum of turning mills welcomes you into a pocket‑sized Netherlands. Timber houses, quaint canals, little bridges, and workaday windmills set the scene. Follow the sweet scent of Dutch pancakes and fresh timber, pause to watch sails catch the breeze, and wander between workshops where time seems to have politely slowed its pace. It’s an easy morning of gentle exploring and as many photo‑worthy angles as your camera can hold. Cast off over the broad, ink‑blue stretch of the Markermeer. The shoreline glides past like scenes from a moving picture, each view unfolding into the next: reed beds, church spires, the odd heron supervising proceedings. High tea is served on board – cups that clink, cakes that disappear a little too quickly, and enchanting riverside scenery. We arrive in Huizen with time to stretch our legs before dinner. Stroll the harbour where neat little boats bob on the water and fishermen’s cottages stand shoulder‑to‑shoulder. It’s the sort of place where you catch yourself walking more slowly, just to make the moment last longer. With the arrival of the first course at dinner, the ship slips into the broad expanse of the old Zuiderzee. As you sail towards Enkhuizen, the horizon transforms – its blues giving way to copper tones in the fading light.
As with all Riviera Travel cruise ships, MS George Eliot was built to the highest specifications and strict safety regulations by Scylla AG, world-renowned builders of the most modern cruisers in Europe.
Guests are welcomed in the elegant lobby with its gleaming marble floor, well-lit by sophisticated lighting. Thoughtful design is on tasteful display throughout the ship – sustainable hardwood furniture, intricate wrought-iron work, and polished copper and brass are beautifully complemented by soft leather and sumptuous Italian fabrics.
MS George Eliot offers the convivial ambience and personal service of a luxury boutique hotel with an enjoyable and intimate service.
There are 70 luxuriously appointed suites and cabins, which all feature an en-suite bathroom with shower, individually controlled air-conditioning, flat-screen TV, hairdryer, safe, mini fridge, telephone and facilities for making tea and coffee. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout the ship.
From 2027, MS George Eliot will become the world’s first river cruise ship dedicated exclusively to solo travellers. Every departure will be solo-only, with no single supplements and a full season of thoughtfully curated itineraries designed for independent explorers. This pioneering move means more choice, more space, and the freedom to enjoy your own double cabin while sharing the journey with like-minded guests.
A small number of bicycles are available on board for our guests. Please enquire at the reception desk for information.
View a 360 tour of the MS George Eliot