Tulip time in Holland

European river cruises have a lot going for them – wonderful scenery, intimate experiences, and hassle-free shore excursions that don’t involve tenders or long bus rides. No wonder they’re gaining in popularity every year.

One of the most enjoyable European river cruises is a “tulip time” cruise through the Netherlands and Belgium when the spring flowers are at their peak. At Kuekenghof Gardens, you’ll see 70 acres planted with 7 million bulbs. It’s a riot of color you’ll never forget.

More than 90% of the world’s flower supply comes from here. After a long, grey winter, it’s just what the doctor ordered.

The tulip season is relatively short, and most of these trips are offered only in March and April. So you’ll have to act fast to enjoy one this year. But if you do, you’ll be able to take advantage of substantial savings.

Tulip time cruises on AMA Waterways.

AMA Waterways has two river cruise vessels in Holland and Belgium this spring – the 148-passenger Amalyra, which has its maiden voyage last year and the 148-passenger Amalegro, which launched in 2007.

Most of the staterooms on these ships have French balconies, and all have in-room infotainment systems that include Movies, a music library, English-language TV, and Internet access.

Red and white wine are included with dinner each evening and there are bikes on board for passengers’ use.

Kinderdijk windmills

They offer seven-night cruises that begin and end in Amsterdam. Along the way, there are visits to Volendam, Edam – to sample the cheese – Arnhem, Nijmegan, Antwerp, Ghent, Willemstad, Dordrecht, Utrecht, and spectacular Keukenhof Gardens.

At press time, cabins were still available on April departures and fares were starting at $1,999 per person. Contact AMA Waterways for details.

Tulip time cruises on Avalon Waterways.

With four riverboats in the Netherlands this spring, Avalon Waterways has availability on several departures. The Avalon Artistry was one of Conde Nast’s Top Cruise Ships in 2009. The interiors were designed by Hans Sabert and the staterooms are some of the biggest of any riverboat.

The 138-passenger Avalon Felicity is new this year and features a whirlpool on the sky deck. With the bridge at the rear, Avalon Tranquility and Avalon Imagery offer stunning views from their lounges and restaurants.

Kuekenhof Gardens

Avalon’s cruises are also seven nights and begin and end in Amsterdam, but the itinerary is slightly different. After leaving Amsterdam, you’ll visit Arnhem, Dordrecht, and Kinderdijk to see the charming group of windmills. From there, you’ll call at Antwerp, Ghent, Middleburg, Rotterdam with an excursion to Keukenhof Gardens, and return to Amsterdam for an overnight.

Fares start at $2,049 per person – a $2,000 per couple savings. Contact Avalon or Vacationstogo for more information.

Tulip time cruises on Uniworld.

Those with a little more time will enjoy a 9-night cruise on Uniworld’s River Duchess, River Empress, or River Queen. All carry around 134 passengers and include complimentary wine with dinners, portable audio systems for shore visits, and complimentary bicycles.

These sailings include medieval Bruges, which is one of the most delightful cities in the Benelux countries.

Passengers embark in Amsterdam and spend the night there aboard their ship. The next day, you’ll visit Keukenhof Gardens and then sail for Hoorn. Other port calls include Enkhuizen, Nijmegen, Rotterdam, Veere, Antwerp, and Bruges.

The cruise ends in Antwerp.

Fares start at $1,849 per person. Contact Uniworld or Vacationstogo for availability.

At press time, Viking River Cruises tulip cruises were virtually sold out.

Read more about European river cruises.

Tulip time in Holland and Kuekenhof Gardens Images Flickr: ComùnicaTI
Kinderdijk windmills Imagle Flickr: my name is Ingo

Carnival Cruise Ship

Last year, more than 14 million people took a cruise. Most of them were happy, well-fed, and had the time of their lives.

But some were disappointed, disgruntled, and even down-right miserable. So when you’re finally ready to take the plunge and try cruising yourself, how can you sort through all the cruises ships that are out there to find one that’s right for you?

As is so often the case, our advice is to do plenty of trip planning in advance. The more you figure out ahead of time, the happier you’ll be.

A good travel agency that specializes in cruising can help you make an informed choice. But don’t leave the choice of a cruise line up to them. It’s your money – and precious vacation time.

Here are ten questions that can help you narrow down the field:

1) When you go out to eat, where do you go? Do you like Olive Garden, the little corner bistro where they know your name and your wine order, or the buzzy place with the celebrity chef that’s nearly impossible to get into?

2) When you go to a hotel, where do you stay? At a Comfort Inn, a Hilton, or a Four Seasons? Are you okay with a standard room, or do you need an ocean-view suite? Which amenities are most important to you?

3) What kind of car do you drive? A domestic sedan, a minivan, or a European import? Which kind of rental car do you get?

4) How social are you? When you’re in line, do you often talk to whoever is next to you or do you usually keep to yourself? How do you feel about dining with strangers?

5) What kind of clothes do you wear? Is comfort more important than style, or is your appearance your top priority? Do you hate to dress up or do you get all decked out every chance you get?

6) How do you feel about crowds? Are you a more-the-merrier person or someone who likes their personal space? Do you like being around other people or do they usually bug you?

7) Are you adventurous, cautious, or fun-loving? Easy going, or tightly wound? Do third-world countries intrigue you or make you nervous?

8) When you travel do you want to have lots of exciting new experiences, or just relax and unwind?

9) Do you love kids or do you like them only from a distance?

10) When you travel, do you worry about every dollar or figure you’re on vacation, so who cares? Which is more important to you – price or value?

Once you’ve answered these questions, finding the right cruise ship shouldn’t be too hard.

If you travel with kids, enjoy other people, and want a wide range of fun activities and a party atmosphere, you’ll probably enjoy the “fun ships” of Carnival. Carnival cruises ships are big and boisterous and the passengers are there to have a good time. Think conga lines and umbrella dinks.

For something a little more refined, but still casual and fun with an emphasis on activities, try Royal Caribbean or Norwegian. From the fitness facilities to the swimming-with-the-rays shore excursions, these cruises are for active travelers who’d rather participate than watch. In fact, you may find it a challenge to do nothing but relax in a deck chair on these ships.

Baby Boomers who want a near-luxury experience without the luxury price tag should look at Celebrity. The food on board is more up-scale – more Roy’s than Red Lobster – the ambience more sophisticated, and the décor more elegant. Most of the passengers enjoy wearing designer clothes to dinner. If you like a martini made with flavored vodka, Celebrity is a good choice.

Travelers who want a relatively calm experience, like to dress for dinner, and want to see the sights and then return to the ship for a relaxing afternoon will enjoy Princess or Holland America. There are certainly plenty of activities to choose from – but many, such as wine tasting and art auctions, are pretty low key. Food, service, and entertainment are all good. With older passengers, smaller ships, and more formal ambience, Holland America is less likely to satisfy active travelers.

Those who want luxury, and are willing to pay for it, have several great options.

Crystal has lots going for it – incredible suites, world-class cuisine, and impeccable service. But their 900+ passenger ships are large in a category where smaller is generally thought to mean better. What you gain in amenities, you’ll trade for flexibility. Fixed dining times, rare on luxury cruises, are the norm. Given all that, Crystal’s passengers are extremely pleased with the experience and return again and again.

If you want to visit exotic destinations, eat as well at sea as ashore, and spend your time at sea in the spa or a beautiful stateroom, you’ll likely love Seabourn or Silversea. These two lines have some of the smallest cruise ships at sea in terms of passenger capacity. So if it’s personal attention you crave, these set the standard. Passengers are always well dressed, and tuxedos are the rule after sun down. A nice benefit of these cruises is that they include many of the things less expensive cruises charge for.

We hope these tips will help you find the cruise ship of your dreams.

If you’re interested in repositioning cruises, you can learn more about them here.

Get more tips for finding the right cruise ship here.

Carnival Cruise Ship Image Flickr: motleypix