Spring in Holland:
Tulip tour starting at Volendam and Tulip tour starting at Alkmaar

This five day mini cruise leads you to the most beautiful cities and through the most attractive areas in the "Garden of Amsterdam". These short journeys in late summer offer you an excellent opportunity to visit the most beautiful high points in and around the capital of the Netherlands in a very relaxed way, on board a comfortable ship. Numerous museums and shops entice you in Amsterdam, the "smallest metropolis in Europe", and the canals which quite recently came onto the UNESCO world heritage list are famous all over the world. You visit the historical city of Haarlem, the open-air museum Zaanse Schans with wind mills and a cheese farm, the cheese city Alkmaar and the picturesque small town with a harbour, Volendam am IJsselmeer. The 50 meter long MS Magnifique has a beautiful salon with a huge bar. Meals are served to you daily in the restaurant area. Both sun decks are particularly attractive with chairs and a small whirlpool from which you can enjoy the river landscapes which are slowly passing by. The English-speaking courier takes care of everything: a number of excursions on land & guided tours in the towns are included. Bicycles are available on board for short excursions or longer tours. The cruise program: Amsterdam – Haarlem – Zaanse Schans – Alkmaar – Volendam – Amsterdam.

Itinerary for 5 days / 4 nights: Tulip tour Volendam - Alkmaar

Day 1: Monday:

Own arrival at Volendam at the coast of the Markermeer. Embarkation is around 6 p.m.

Day 2: Tuesday

The bicycle tour starts in Volendam and leads via Monnickendam along the green landscape of Waterland to Broek in Waterland and continues on to Amsterdam. Alternative, you can sail from Volendam to Amsterdam. In Amsterdam, you have the opportunity to take a Grachten tour. In the evening, you can discover Amsterdam. Overnight stay aboard ship in Amsterdam.

Day 3: Wednesday

Excursion by bus to Keukenhof. Visit the flowering tulips in the unique and wonderful park. In the afternoon, sails are set to sail with the Succes from Amsterdam to Zaandam to the Zaanse Schans. Visit of the open-air museum with traditional shops such as wooden shoemaker or cheese dairy, various types of windmills, shops and residences. Overnight stay aboard ship in Zaandam.

Day 4: Thursday

The tour to Zaandam (approx. 44 km) takes you through Krommenie, Uitgeest and Akersloot to Alkmaar. Alternatively, you can stay aboard the Succes. You have time to take a stroll through Alkmaar.

Day 5: Friday

Guided tour of the traditional cheese market in Alkmaar. Disembarkation is around 12:30.

What's included?

Combined sailing and cycling holiday: 5 days and 4 nights, full board (4 x breakfast, 4 x lunch or packaged lunch, 4 x 3-course dinner including coffee, tea, and milk. Additional beverages and drinks are charged by the ship's bar. The sailing and bicycle routes are as described, bus excursion to the flower market in Keukenhof, guided tour of the traditional cheese market. Accommodations are provided in the booked cabin category with shower and toilets. Linens, bed covers, towels, map and route descriptions are provided. Not included: Grachten tour in Amsterdam (approx. € 14.00 per person)

Itinerary for 4 days / 3 nights: Alkmaar - Volendam

1. day, Friday: Own arrival at Alkmaar. Embarkation is around 6 p.m. aboard the Succes.

2. day, Saturday:

You are heading from Alkmaar via Akersloot, Uitgeest, and Krommenie to Zaandam to the open air museum Zaanse Schans, where you can discover old Dutch residences and work places. A cheese dairy, a wooden shoe carver, windmills, and much more is work a visit. As an alternative, you may sail to Zaanse Schans aboard the Succes. Overnight stay on board in Zaandam.

3. day, Sunday:

You sail aboard the Succes from Zaandam to Amsterdam. Then, you take a bus excursion to Keukenhof. In the evening, you can either tour Amsterdam aboard a Gracht and/or take a stroll through the city. Overnight stay on board in Amsterdam.

4. day, Monday:

Disembarkation by 9:00 a.m. in Amsterdam or on request, you can sail with the Succes across the IJsselmeer to Volendam and disembark around 12:00 p.m.
Tip: On 30 April, Holland celebrates a national holiday - the Queen's birthday. Especially Amsterdam has lots to discover. Everyone is allowed to hold a flea market in the city. You arrive early in the morning with the Succes. This gives you plenty of time to experience everything and celebrate.

What's included:

Combined sailing and cycling holiday: 4 days and 3 nights, full board (3 x breakfast, 3 x lunch or packaged lunch, 3 x 3-course dinner including coffee, tea, and milk. Additional beverages and drinks are charged by the ship's bar. The sailing and bicycle routes are as described, bus excursion to the flower market in Keukenhof. Accommodations are provided in the booked cabin category with shower and toilets. Linens, bed covers, towels, map and route descriptions are provided. Not included: Grachten tour in Amsterdam (approx. € 14.00 per person)

Tour Information

Bicycles

The bicycles rental are unisex bikes with 7-gear and different frame heights. Each participant will receive a personal bicycle, suited to body size.
Bicycle accessories: one-sided pannier bag, lock fixed to the bicycle.
It is also possible to use your own bicycles for this tour.

Character of the cycling tours

The bike tours are between 26 to 52 kilometres. The tours do not really include any hilly terrain. They are mostly along paved bike paths and along smaller side roads: on Texel, the tour goes also along forest trails. Cycling tours are at your own risk. We reserve the right to change the routes and programme.
Cycling tours are at your own risk. We reserve the right to change the routes and programme.

How to get to Volendam

By train/bus: Arrival from Amsterdam's main railway station with the bus to Volendam: There is a bus service every 30 minutes. Take line 110 or 110a of Arriva-busses from Amsterdam Central IJsei (at the rear of the main railway station; the road is called De Ruyterkade) to Volendam (cost of a ticket isabout € 3.30). Bus stop Zeestraat. From here, it is about 400 meters to the port.
By car: Parking in Volendam: Parking is free and not guarded at the car park at Marinapark in Volendam, Strandweg/Pieterman. Secure parking with attendant at the parking garage on Bokkingstraat for the cost of € 10.00 per day.
Parking in Amsterdam: Park & Ride (P+R) Zeeburg. Secure parking garage with attendant Costs are approx. € 8.00 to € 13.00 per day including a free ticket to the railway station or to town for up to 5 persons per car. Tram 26 (IJtram) takes you to the main railway station.

Minimum number of participants: 8, Maximum number of participants 24.
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