Itinerary

Individual arrival in Rotterdam. Embarkation from 4:00 pm. Rotterdam is a city with many faces: important port city, classy shopping city and hip artists’ city, but most importantly a city of architecture, and one of the most interesting cities in Europe.

Keep cycling alongside the waterfront via Krimpen aan den IJssel to Kinderdijk, where you will find the most famous group of windmills of the Netherlands. Dating back to the 18th century, the 19 well- preserved mills were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Continue through the polder area of the Albwasserwaard to reach Dordrecht. Dordrecht is considered to be Holland`s oldest city. With about 1000 historic buildings that are housing restaurants, museums or theatres, the city`s rich history and the marvellous historic port area will enchant you.

After a short ferry ride, you reach the beautiful De Biesbosch National Park, where several rivers come together to form a fresh-water delta of no less than 8.000 hectares. You may enjoy a wonderful boat trip, offered here everywhere, before continuing your tour through the Rhine- Delta area and crossing over to Gorichem by water taxi. Do not miss out on the picturesque Old Town of this small but charming city.

Today an interesting and varied tour awaits you. From Gorinchem, cycle via Leerdam – famous for the Leerdammer cheese – into the fortified city of Vianen. Here you may stop for a short break in one of the numerous street cafes. Take the ferry boat to cross the Lek, and keep cycling to Vreeswijk with its narrow lanes. Continue to the little town of Nieuwegein – perhaps take a short side trip to Fort Jutphaas, hidden in a green oasis in Nieuwegein -before reaching Utrecht. Utrecht is considered the heart of Holland. The city was built around the cathedral. That is why it is almost impossible to lose your way in the car-free town with its picturesque canals.

This morning, be sure to take some time to explore the beautiful town of Utrecht, before getting back on your bike. Cycle tour through the beautiful polder landscape via Oudewater, with its famous Witches` Weigh House, (none of the so-called witches ever weighed here was found to be too light of weight and thus none of them was sentenced) to Schoonhoven, the Silver City of the Netherlands, with its typical Dutch Old Town.

From Schoonhoven, cycle leisurely to the city of Gouda, which is famous for its cheese. When the weather is fine, you may take a detour for a refreshing bath in the lake Reeuwijkse Plassen. Your today’s destination is Rotterdam. Tip: you should experience the harbour of Rotterdam on an interesting harbour tour.

Two options for today’s cycling tour: First one will lead you to Delft (Tip: visit of the porcelain manufacture), second directly to the governmental seat Den Haag and to the North Sea coastal town and health resort Scheveningen and back. Alternatively, you can also go back to Rotterdam by train (rail and bike is not included, approx. € 16.- p. Pers, not in rush hour between 16:30 h and 18:00 h).
You do not fancy a bike ride? Rotterdam offers endless possibilities to design your day. Really one is spoilt for choice

After breakfast checkout until 9:00 am– have a safe journey home.

Tour character

Easy

Nearly all routes are easy to cycle. You cycle on asphalted and signposted bike paths

Prices & Dates

Prices per person in EUR

Services & extras

Services

Included Services

7 nights in outside cabins of the MS Normandie shower/WC in the booked cabin category
Programme according to routing from/to Amsterdam
Welcome-Drink
Room cleaning every day
Changing of towels and bed cloths if wanted
Full board consisting of 7x breakfast buffet, 6x lunch snack on board (non-cyclists) or lunch package for cycle tours, 6x coffee or tea in the afternoon, 7x 3-course-dinner
Printed instructions and detailed maps for daily individual bike tours (1 per cabin)
Daily meeting for the cycle tours
Tour guide

Not included Services

Journey to and from Amsterdam
parking fee
shuttles
bike rental
entrance fees and excursions
ferry tickets
drinks on board
tips
travel insurances

Arrival/Parking

For example: Parking Oosterdok www.parkingcentreamsterdam.com , economy fare approx. € 25.-/24 h or Valet Parking Service (via holiday extras), approx. € 145.-/week (Rate depends on capacity; application form with your booking confirmation).

Your journey to and from Amsterdam will be individual.

Basically, we reserve the right to make changes of routing and program. If there is low or high water and a route cannot be shipped, the captain reserves the right to change the route in view of your safety (this cannot be accepted as a reason for free withdrawal).

The interior of the ship is a non-smoking zone: smoking is only allowed on the sun deck. As a safety measure, a statutory smoking ban applies in all cabins; this means that all cabins and rooms on board are non-smoking areas.

Embarkation: 3-4:30 pm

Disembarkation: after breakfast at 9 am.

Bicycles on board: 7 gears unisex trekking bicycles with normal mount (ladies model) and 8 gears E-Bikes with normal mount (ladies model). Brand: Velo de Ville. Each with hand brake, coaster breaking hubs or freewheel hubs (subject to availability - please indicate as non-binding customer request when booking) and pannier bag. E-bikes are available after prior request and at limited number only.

Please indicate your body height when you book.

To bring your own bike: on request only – due to lack of space on sundeck.

Languages on board: German, English

Cycle tours: all distances are “approximate distances” of recommended bike tours. When a guest does not want to cycle one day, she/he can skip the bike tour and relax on board while cruising to the next harbour. The bike tours are individual, at your own pace, without a tour guide, but with daily briefings on board and detailed bicycle maps and directions. Nearly all cycle tours can be classified as being easy.

Excursions: we offer a small excursion program, that can be booked directly on board at the cruise director only. You will get a brief description together with your travel documents. Depending on the number of participants some excursions could be carried out in 2 languages (German/ English).

Luggage: we recommend: rainwear, bicycle helmet, sunhat and sneakers.

Travel documents: EU-citizens (without special situations like dual citizenship, main residence abroad or a limited-validity passport) are required to have a valid passport or ID-card, not expiring within six(6) months of the return of your cruise. We kindly ask non-EU citizens, EU-nationals with multiple citizenship or anybody who has to respect special legal entry requirements for the country to visit, to inform about visa and entry documents at the competent embassy.

This trip is not suitable for guests with reduced mobility.

Further information

Further important information according to the package travel law can be found here!