Traveling through Dutch Waterways

On April 28 of this year 109 excited travelers set sail on an adventure that will be long remembered. These travelers came from 27 different states, all with one thing in mind, to enjoy the best that The Netherlands had to offer. And enjoy they did!

We went along as hosts – and you can’t believe how fulfilling it was to share time with all the good folks who came along.

Just as exciting as the various ports of call we visited, the concept of river cruising was new to most people. Most of their experiences cruising-wise were on large ships, and the comparisons they drew were very complimentary to the river cruising experience. From a single seating for meals, to everyone having an ‘outside’ cabin, our travelers luxuriated in the ease of getting around. And the MS Rigoletto, our floating home for eight days, was a joy to behold. And because most cities grew up around their river location, we found that the truly historical parts of town were within easy walking distance from where we berthed.

We were blessed with marvelous weather, yet everyone was prepared in case the weather gods turned against us. Many will remember sun-kissed days sitting in the town square, enjoying a cappuccino and watching the locals pass by. We also did plenty of shopping along with these very same locals. In Amsterdam we did our share of peeking into the coffee shops where marijuana is legal, and venturing into certain streets where the world’s oldest profession is openly advertised!

As far as the ports of call, we did have one big eye-opener – we asked our travelers in the end-of-trip evaluation what was their favorite port of call. Most told us that picking one or two did not do the others justice. However, our personal favorite was the excursion to Keukenhof Gardens. The included photo only gives you the smallest feel as to what it was like to walk for two hours with flowers and gardens enveloping you at every turn.

We also did a leisurely cruise down the canals of Kinderdijk where three-hundred-year-old windmills were still in working order. Another great visit: most people would be thrilled to see one Van Gogh painting in their lifetime – at the Kröller Müller Museum we had the chance to see 276 of his paintings. Since he only painted for ten years of his life, and did 800 paintings in all, we saw the best that Van Gogh had to offer.

From World War II history to folkloric dancers joining us on board after dinner, we saw The Netherlands as few others have. In fact, we had many travelers with a Dutch lineage, and they were drawn to this program because of its immersion into their heritage. Accompanying us every step of the way were our two Dutch guides who led walking excursions into many areas, as well as giving us outstanding highlights when we ventured away from the river barge.

There were many, many compliments as to the timing of the voyage; our travelers didn’t miss anything, and they never felt rushed or unable to accomplish their personal goals for the trip. It was a smartly planned itinerary – and with our chartering of the entire river ship, we were able to add two ports of call that weren’t on our original itinerary. One more reason for everyone to experience a river cruise with Mayflower Tours.

Everyone is home now, hopefully planning his or her next holiday. All travel is enlightening – great travel is rewarding in such a remarkable way as to transcend most other experiences. To those who joined us on the Dutch Waterways we say thank you. For those who did not, we urge you to put a Mayflower Tours river cruise sailing on your calendar.

John and Mary Stachnik
Co-owners

New for 2010 – We’ll once more be departing on the MS Rigoletto (April 19 & 25) from Basel, Switzerland, along the Rhine and Mosel Rivers, with ports of call in Switzerland, France, Germany and the Netherlands. We’ll even have a chance to experience “Tulip Time” at Keukenhof Gardens in the Amsterdam area. And there are exclusive extra savings available until September 25, 2009.

Click here to view our Dutch Waterways photo gallery!