First for Bridge Springtime Gardens River Cruise

29 May 2022

7 days from £1,150pp

Once every 10 years in the Netherlands, we’re treated to Floriade, the world's ultimate festival of flowers. In 2022, the Floriade World Horticultural Expo takes place in the Dutch town of Almere. The theme, Growing Green Cities, focusses on the Green City of the Future, along with food, energy and health. You can expect stunning collections of trees, plants, crops and flowers, in a seemingly unending spectrum of amazing colours and scents. Join us and be part of this once-in-a-decade celebration of the world’s most innovative horticulture.

Exclusive bridge playing ship charter on the MS Arena
Varied bridge sessions with Masterpoints and prizes awarded
Full day tour to Floriade – the world’s once-in-a-decade ultimate flower show
Be immersed in one of the largest botanic gardens in the world on a tour to the National Botanical Gardens.
Visit the superbly preserved Windmills of Kinderdijk and discover their Fascinating history.

Join us on this Floral Extravaganza Bridge River Cruise. Explore the Green City Arboretum at the once-in-a-decade Floriade flower festival, blooming with species of trees, shrubs, perennials, creepers, hydrophytes and flower bulbs, all of which contribute to a green, healthy and sustainable city. Step back in time and witness the superbly preserved windmills of UNESCO World Heritage Kinderdijk and wander the cobbled streets and discover the history of Dordrecht, Holland’s oldest city. Be immersed in the tropical Plan Palace of the Botanic Garden of Belgium and soak up the culture of Antwerp.

During the evenings, after a superb dinner on board, we play interesting bridge session with Masterpoints and prizes awarded. There will also be some morning or afternoon sessions to compliment the cruise itinerary.

Day 1: UK – Amsterdam
We travel to Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands, and enjoy a relaxing evening onboard our ship. Evening Bridge.
Day 2: Floriade
After breakfast, we’re taken by coach to the Floriade World Horticultural Expo in the town of Almere where you will have plenty of time to enjoy this horticultural delight.

The theme ‘Growing Green Cities’ will be focused on the cities of the future. Visitors will have a unique and meaningful experience: while visiting the expo they will be invited to ‘explore, touch and change’.

The expo site will be developed as a Green City Arboretum, serving as a model for green structure development in cities. This arboretum will consist of a variety of trees, shrubs, perennials, creepers, hydrophytes and flower bulbs, all of which contribute to a green, healthy and sustainable city. Around 3000 species have been selected that contribute to the green city in terms of biodiversity, air purification, food production and city climate management. We return to the ship in Amsterdam where we are berthed overnight.

This tour departs approx. 08.30 , guests are given a packed lunch and it returns approx. 17.30.

The drive from Amsterdam to Almere is 30km so approx. 30 mins on a good run, but it goes through Amsterdam and can hit traffic. Evening Bridge.
Day 3: Amsterdam - Kinderdijk – Dordrecht
We leave Amsterdam behind this morning and set sail for Kinderdijk, which is renowned for its 19 beautifully preserved windmills. Our included excursion visits one of the mills, where we learn about the lifestyle of a miller and the mechanism of a mill. We return to the ship where we set sail for Dordrecht, arriving around lunchtime. You have the afternoon at leisure or enjoy afternoon Bridge.

Dinner is served onboard this evening followed by an evening of Bridge. We are berthed overnight in Dordrecht.
Day 4: Dordrecht - Antwerp
We set sail from Dordrecht this morning and enjoy a full day cruising towards Antwerp. Enjoy Bridge on board this afternoon before arriving in Antwerp in the evening. Dinner is served this evening before our Bridge session. We are berthed overnight in Antwerp.
Day 5: Antwerp
This morning’s included excursion takes you to the National Botanic Garden of Belgium (Meise) and the Plant Palace. This is one of the largest botanic gardens in the world, which also boasts an enormous glasshouse filled with more than 10,000 plant species. We return to the ship for lunch on board and an afternoon of playing Bridge. Dinner is served on board before an evening of Bridge. We spend another evening berthed overnight in Antwerp.
Day 6: Antwerp
Today is free to explore Antwerp at your leisure or you can stay on board and play Bridge. Afternoon bridge -ok

This evening we enjoy our final dinner onboard the ship and sail overnight to Amsterdam. Evening bridge
Day 7: Amsterdam – UK
We bid farewell to our captain and crew after breakfast and disembark for our return journey back to the UK.

Masterpoints and prizes awarded
Six night cruise on a full board basis
Four visits included to: Amsterdam, Kinderdijk, Dordrecht, Antwerp
Excursions: Floriade, Windmills of Kinderdijk 7 National Botanic Gardens
Welcome drink and Captain’s Gala Dinner
Morning and afternoon tea/coffee and a late evening snack
On board entertainment every evening
Services of a Cruise Manager

Eddie & Kathy Williams

Eddie & Kathy have been playing Bridge for over 30 years. For the last twenty years they have been lucky enough to have bridge as their occupation, running bridge holidays, teaching bridge, organising county events, directing tournaments locally, county wide and nationally. Both are on the national panel of the EBU tournament Directors. They have five children between them and three grandsons, so lead a very full and hectic life.

Meet us at the ship

For complete flexibility, make your own transport arrangements to and from the ship. We will provide you with times and locations as well as some useful information for you to make your own arrangements to join your cruise.

If you require any further information to assist with your travel plans, please contact our Holiday Advisors who will be happy to help.

Include Eurostar from the UK

Picture of - Include Eurostar from the UK

If you would prefer to book your holiday with Eurostar travel included from the UK, our friendly Holiday Advisors would be happy to check availability. Adding travel from the UK to your holiday package will be subject to an administration fee plus the cost of travel.

Include flights from the UK

Picture of - Include flights from the UK

If you would prefer to book your holiday with flights included from the UK, our friendly Holiday Advisors would be happy to check availability from your preferred departure airport. Adding travel from the UK to your holiday package will be subject to an administration fee plus the cost of travel.

Overview

Our new 4-star ship has all the ingredients of an unforgettable river cruise; comfort, style and the crew’s unfaltering attention to detail is everything.

MS Arena is completely deserving of its place in our premier cruise collection! Whether you’re cruising the Dutch Waterways, the rivers Rhine, Moselle or Danube, all the way to the Black Sea, this elegant, 4-star ship promises everything you’d wish for – and more – making for an unforgettable river cruising experience.

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