South Holland Trip 8-days Bike and Boat Tour

Through the Netherlands by Bike and Boat. Discover the Netherlands in a unique way on an 8-day-journey by bike and barge. Well-built cycle paths as well as wide and extensive waterways guarantee an unforgettable holiday. Throughout the day you are cycling on your own through the beautiful landscapes in Rembrandt’s and Van Gogh’s country and in the late afternoon your “floating hotel”  will be at your disposal. And if you don’t like to cycle every day, you can stay on board and enjoy the passing countryside. The Province of the Southern Netherlands: You are travelling through the green heart of the Netherlands. Hardly any province is more changing and many-faceted than the Southern Netherlands. Big cities as well as untouched nature are so close to each other. The many waterways offer uncountable opportunities to discover the wonderful landscapes and culture historical highlights of the province “ZuidHolland”. Experience such different cities like Dordrecht, Utrecht and of course Rotterdam, also known as the “Manhattan on the river Maas”. Beautiful landscape of Polderland, the famous windmill row of Kinderdijk and not to forget the major porcelain manufacture in Delft with its “Delfter Blue”.

Accommodation:

You will be immediately aware of the cosy and informal ambience on board. In winter 2019/2020 all cabins were completely renovated. On the upper deck you will find the comfy panorama salon with its bar, on the main deck the comfortable restaurant (no direct access from the cabin-zone). On deck there are both deck chairs and ordinary chairs and tables, which encourage conversation and communal activity in fresh air. The boat possesses altogether two 1- bed-cabins and forty-nine 2-bed-cabins. They are all outside cabins, giving some 10-11 square metres of space (2-bed) and about 7 qm (1-bed). All 2-bed-cabins on main and upper deck are equipped with two lower hotel beds, shower and WC, hairdryer, TV, safe (deposit), central air-conditioning and a picture window. Only on the upper deck the windows may be opened. 1-bed cabins have one lower hotel bed and are otherwise equipped with same features.

Tour Character: Level 2

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. This trip is not suitable for guests with reduced mobility. 

Included in the Bike and Boat Tour:

• 7 nights in outside cabins with private facilities in the booked cabin category 
• Programme according to routing from/to Rotterdam 
• All charges for harbours, bridges and locks 
• Room cleaning every day, changing of towels and bed cloths as necessary 
• Welcome-Drink 
• 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 
• Daily meeting for the cycle tours 
• Printed instructions and detailed maps for daily individual bike tours (1 per cabin) 
• GPS tracks 
• Tour guide on board

Not included in the tour:

• Journey to and from Rotterdam
• Shuttles
• Helmet (please bring your own or 40 EUR on board selling)
• Bike rental
• Entrance fees to museums and excursions
• City maps
• Ferry fees
• Travel insurances
• Parking fees
• Tips
• Drinks on board

If you would like to rent a bike (89 EUR) or e-bike (199 EUR), please contact our office when booking: [email protected]

Notes:

• Upper deck cabins available from 849 EUR (twin) 2-bed cabin for single use (on request)
• 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. 
• Please indicate your body height when you book a bike so an appropriate size is given
• Languages on board: German, English 
• 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)
• Minimum number of participants 60 guests, max 100 (must have been reached within 21 days prior to departure)
• To bring your own bike On request only–due to lack of space on sun deck
• Luggage we recommend: rainwear, bicycle helmet, sunhat and sneakers.
• Schedule and program changes:  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). Same applies to previously unknown administrative orders of lock or bridge repairs.
• 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 

Arrival/ Departure/ Parking: 

• Embarkation 4:00 pm  Disembarkation until 09:00am
• Passenger car parking options in Rotterdam (subject to change, effective May 2024) Car park near the docking location (about 10 minutes walking distance), approx. € 25.- every 24 hours or Valet Parking Service (via Holiday Extras), approx. 170.-/week (rate depends on capacity). The reservation should be made directly through the company Holiday Extras.

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