3Shelaghs Posted November 23, 2023 #1 Share Posted November 23, 2023 Trying to decide which one is more appealing. Yes, there is a difference in ports, but Tulip Time ports appear to be much of the same? Weather end of March?? Anyone's thoughts would be appreciated. Have been to Amsterdam many times, and spending another week there this spring before a Rhine cruise. Need to venture out for something a little different, but in same area. Also thoughts re direction of cruise ie embarkation point ....Amsterdam vs Antwerp for the Holland/Belgium cruise. Lastly thoughts re land stay in Brussels precruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare YoungDubFan Posted November 24, 2023 #2 Share Posted November 24, 2023 I did a Tulip Time cruise with Avalon at the end of April this year. The tulips were late blooming (didn’t start this year until Apr. 13) so they were at peak when I was at Keukenhof. The cruise had stops in Netherlands and Belgium. In addition to Keukenhof, I really enjoyed the excursion to the Delta works. It was fascinating to see how they have tamed the tides to prevent devastating flooding. A few of our tour guides had survived the last major flooding and it was interesting to hear their stories. The cruise was round trip from Amsterdam. I went in 1 day early because I hadn’t spent much time in Amsterdam. I don’t know if you are only looking at Viking but I would encourage you to look at the other companies as well. They may stop at other cities that may be interesting. So many people only know about Viking and there are plenty of other options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharkster77 Posted November 24, 2023 #3 Share Posted November 24, 2023 We sail this April on Tulips and Windmills. We chose that one (last year) because we wanted to see more of Belgium, which T&W had more of than H&B. Just last week we were notified that a change in itinerary removed that advantage--it looks like we can opt for Bruges but Ghent may be off the table. H&B goes to Aachen in Germany, which would be interesting, as it was Charlemagne's capital, and the cathedral is said to look like a fortress as much as it looks like a church. T&W does Keukenhof at the end of the cruise, while H&B does it at the beginning. I guess it becomes six of one, half-dozen of the other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare notamermaid Posted November 24, 2023 #4 Share Posted November 24, 2023 2 hours ago, sharkster77 said: H&B goes to Aachen in Germany Nice move! Aachen is highly interesting for its cathedral and a nice compact town to walk around. Recommend it. Does not quite fit the theme of Netherlands/Belgium cruise, but is rarely offered otherwise and on no navigable river. Precruise stay in Brussels: interesting city, just not old or "beautiful". Recommend the waffels, chocolate and the Art Nouveau architecture. Is a European centre for comics, if that interests you. For old town charm choose another city. notamermaid 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitina Posted November 25, 2023 #5 Share Posted November 25, 2023 On 11/24/2023 at 10:16 AM, sharkster77 said: T&W does Keukenhof at the end of the cruise, while H&B does it at the beginning. We've booked H&B, but in the opposite direction (Belgium to Holland) with the Viking pre in Belgium. We finish in Amsterdam and Keukenhof Gardens is an included excursion at the end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitina Posted November 25, 2023 #6 Share Posted November 25, 2023 On 11/23/2023 at 2:29 PM, 3Shelaghs said: Weather end of March?? Most likely jacket weather, mid-50s. We start our trip with the Bruges & Ghent Extension late March, but hopefully end in Amsterdam during tulip season mid April. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharkster77 Posted November 26, 2023 #7 Share Posted November 26, 2023 4 hours ago, Mitina said: We've booked H&B, but in the opposite direction (Belgium to Holland) with the Viking pre in Belgium. We finish in Amsterdam and Keukenhof Gardens is an included excursion at the end. Oh, OK. T&W goes Amsterdam to Amsterdam, so I just assumed H&B did the same. I can see now how reversing direction would change Keukenhof from one end of the cruise to the other. I would rather do Keukenhof, the highlight of the cruise, at the end, when jetlag is no longer a factor! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted November 26, 2023 #8 Share Posted November 26, 2023 1 hour ago, sharkster77 said: I would rather do Keukenhof, the highlight of the cruise, at the end, when jetlag is no longer a factor! Keukenhof is so big that it's worth 2 days – one at the beginning of the trip and the other at the end. That allows you to see that parts you missed, and also to see how the later blooms transform the look of many areas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3Shelaghs Posted November 28, 2023 Author #9 Share Posted November 28, 2023 Good thought re changing scenery due to blooms erupting. I've missed it every time we've been there, fingers crossed for an early bloom this spring, and if not.... then next spring... Ideas on sites to see in Brussels. Does Viking offer the odd tour when you book a land portion? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare notamermaid Posted November 28, 2023 #10 Share Posted November 28, 2023 Perhaps you would like to have a look around here? notamermaid 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted November 28, 2023 #11 Share Posted November 28, 2023 2 hours ago, 3Shelaghs said: Ideas on sites to see in Brussels. Not sure how you would get here on your own [AMA took us as part of their Tulip Time cruise]: Floralia Flower Show at the Kasteel (Castle) van Groot-Bijgaarden in a suburb of Brussels. A beautiful display of more than a million tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils (but a more manageable size than Keukenhof). https://www.floralia-brussels.be/en/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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