For instance, I was just dreaming of a river cruise for my 50th birthday which is coming up this year. Now, I am trying to get a new business off of the ground right now, so this isn't going to happen for me, but a girl can dream, right? So, I started researching what is available in April which would be the time period I would want since that's when my birthday is. Avalon Waterways has a Tulip Time Cruise available that starts and ends in Amsterdam that would leave a few days before my birthday so that I could spend my birthday on a luxurious river boat cruising through Holland and Belgium while the tulips bloom.
I will tell you that as I price this trip, with only three months before the departure date, it's a little pricey since the only rooms on board that are still available for the week I want to go are the most expensive rooms. However, the 2014 schedules are already available and it is the perfect time to start booking for then. The options that I have chosen on this 2013 dream trip are:
- Roundtrip air from DFW $1,160 per person
- 3 nights pre-cruise in Amsterdam $600 per person
- Pre-paid gratuities $98 per person
- Arrival airport to hotel transfer (if I were coming in and going straight to the boat that would be free, since I am arriving 3 days early, the transfer is $50 per person).
- The upgraded cabin which was all that was available at such a late date is $999 extra per person.
- Trip Protection $329 per person
The cruise itself before adding the fancy room was $2,449 per person. I'm getting a $300 discount per person because I have a great travel agent who found me a deal. So the total price per person including taxes, fees and port charges is $5,675. I know what you're thinking. That's a pretty extravagant 50th birthday vacation. But let me tell you what you'll get for the money.
First of all, there are no inside cabins on a river cruise and when you step out onto your balcony, you don't see endless ocean (which is nice but sometimes a little scenery is nice too) you see the country side. In this case the country side is Holland and Belgium in spring when the tulips are in full bloom, with the windmills in the distance and all the beauty that comes with that. Having trouble envisioning it? Maybe it would look a little something like this, but with better resolution.
The cruise itself wouldn't begin until the 4th day in Amsterdam since we added those 3 nights pre-cruise to the trip. So we would board the ship, The Visionary, in the afternoon and meet the crew at a welcome reception scheduled for 6 p.m. local time as we set sail for Schoonhoven nicknamed "Zilverstad" and renowned for it's silver. All meals are included in the cruise but the difference with an Avalon river cruise is that your beer and wine at dinner time are also included in the price of your cruise. Another difference is that the boat stops everyday and you get off everyday, but you still have your included lunch on board since the boat basically stops at whatever sight you are going to.
On Day 2 of the cruise, we'll arrive in Schoonhoven and after breakfast which each day includes complimentary sparkling wine, we'll take off on our excursion which is included in the price of the cruise. Today we are going to Keukenhof-Kinderdijk. The Gardens of Keukenhof near Lisse encompass more than 70 acres of parkland, lakes, sculpture gardens, greenhouses and a windmill. After the visit to the Keukenhof, we will head back to the ship in time for lunch which includes free soft drinks which if you have been to Europe before, you know are more expensive than wine or beer. While you enjoy a leisurely lunch on board, the ship will sail on down to Kinderdijk so that you can view it's row of windmills.
On Day 3 we'll visit Veere and Middelburg seeing the Delta Works and possibly shopping for some nice wool roving to take home and spin from Veere which was once a wool-trading center.
We'll spend Day 4 in the medieval city of Ghent, Belgium with a certified local guide who will take us to St. Baaf's Cathedral among other places.
Day 5 will take us to Antwerp where perhaps we can shop for diamonds in the historic diamond district. After all, diamonds are the April birthstone and where better to get them than one of the diamond capitals of the world. The sightseeing that is included in this day will take you to the Grote Markt and it's city hall along with the Church of Our Lady. But you can choose to take an optional excursion to nearby Brussels for an additional fee.
Day 6 will find us back in Holland in the city of Maastricht which is a university town with an ancient cobblestoned town center as well as lovely old cathedrals and houses to explore. In the afternoon there is free time to explore and shop on your own before setting sail back to Amsterdam in the evening.
Day 7 takes us back to Amsterdam but we will still be housed on our ship for one more night as we explore the city further and enjoy the canals by Canal Boat which is included in the price of the trip.
On Day 8 the vacation ends with disembarkation after breakfast.
For the length of the cruise, the following is included.
- Many shore excursions with local guides
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- Premium coffees, lattes and cappuccinos
- Daily early or late riser breakfast or breakfast buffet including sparkling wine
- Complimentary soft drinks with lunch
- Al fresco lunches at the Sky Bistro
- Four course dinners with open seating
- Complimentary regional wines with dinner
- Free soft drinks or beer with dinner
- Night Fare served every night at 10:30.
- Large bathrooms - showers with glass doors
- Spacious closets with 3 doors
- Flat screen satellite TV with movie channels
- Sky Deck seating areas
- Sky Deck hot tubs on many ships
Viewing the photos on the Avalon website, I would say that if ocean cruising is luxurious, then this must be what royalty experiences. Maybe I should go ahead and start planning a 51st birthday river cruise to get it down to my price range. If this trip is already in your price range and your wheelhouse, give me a call and let's see what we can do. Have a great Tuesday!
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