When: March 30-April 6, 2028
Where: Netherlands and Belgium
Optional Extensions: 2 nights in Amsterdam pre-cruise (we’ll add this after we confirm the trip)
Trip Status: Registration is open
Join us on a 7-night journey through the enchanting waterways of the Netherlands and Belgium! We’ll discover iconic windmills, wander through beautifully preserved medieval cities, and explore charming canals that feel straight out of a storybook.
Stroll with us through vibrant tulip gardens and indulge in the region’s finest treats—from rich Belgian chocolates and warm, freshly made waffles to an array of delicious cheeses—all while soaking in the magic and romance of this unforgettable landscape.
Highlights Include:
- Amsterdam canal cruise
- Scenic cruising in IJsselmeer
- Tour of Giethoorn and Ghent or Bruges*
- Tour of the medieval harbor town of Zierikzee
- Kampen walking tour
- Flevoland tulips and bulb fields
- Floralia excursion in Antwerp
- Visit to Antwerp’s Steen Castle, Grote Market, Brabo Fountain, and Cathedral of Our Lady*
- Visit to the Kinderdijk Windmills*
- Tour of Keukenhof Gardens
- Tour of Rotterdam, the Gateway to Europe
- Food and drink tastings and workshops
- And more – ports will have multiple excursion options, including hikes and bike rides, so you can personalize your experience.
*These are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
A cell phone and international data plan for one adult in your party is required for the duration of the trip. This cruise is recommended for ages 7 and up.
Cabins, Prices, and What’s Included
We have a private charter, so our group will be the only travelers on board. Our cruise fare is deeply discounted and includes almost everything outside of flights and airport transfers.
Cabins have two twins or one queen bed (your choice of configuration). Some cabins have sleeper chairs and sofa beds for an additional one or two people, and a few have connecting doors. Larger families should register early for triple, quad, and connecting cabins – they usually go fast.
Every cabin must have at least one person, age 18 or older. (Age is determined as of the day we embark.)
Cabins are on three decks:
- Lowest cabin deck is mostly below the waterline, except for windows.
- Middle cabin deck sits a little above the waterline.
- Highest cabin deck is well above the waterline.
French balconies are similar to a regular balcony, but the space is inside your room. When the patio doors (floor-to-ceiling windows) are closed, it’s an indoor sitting area with a full view. When you slide the doors open, it’s like a balcony, but you can’t step out (there’s a railing there to keep you from falling into the river). There isn’t a separate outdoor space.
Twin balcony rooms have a French balcony as described above, plus a separate outside balcony.
PRICES ARE PER CABIN, NOT PER PERSON
Category E – Lowest cabin deck, 160 sq ft – No more available
No balcony, windows are high and don’t open, closer to crew cabins
1 person – $5,327 per cabin
2 people – $5,852 per cabin
Category D – Lowest cabin deck, 160 sq ft – No more available
Same as Category E with fixed windows, but cabins are a little farther from crew cabins
1 person – $5,375 per cabin
2 people – $5,900 per cabin
Category CB – Highest cabin deck, 155 sq ft – 1 cabin left
French balcony, end of deck, smallest of all the cabins
1 person – $6,523 per cabin
2 people – $7,048 per cabin
Category CA – Middle cabin deck & highest cabin deck, 170 sq ft
French balcony, end of the middle cabin deck and close to end of highest cabin deck
1 person – $6,923 per cabin
2 people – $7,448 per cabin
Category BB – Middle cabin deck, 210 sq ft – Limited, no connecting cabins left
Larger than previous categories; twin balconies, closer to center of deck, four have connecting doors to accommodate parties of 4, and two cabins can connect to Category AB cabins to accommodate parties of 5 (with sleeper chair)
1 person – $7,523 per cabin
2 people – $8,048 per cabin
Category BA – Highest cabin deck, 210 sq ft – Limited, no connecting cabins left
Similar to Category BB, but on highest cabin deck; twin balconies, closer to center of deck, four have connecting doors to accommodate parties of 4
1 person – $7,723 per cabin
2 people – $8,248 per cabin
Category AB – Middle cabin deck, 235 sq ft – 1 cabin left, can accommodate up to 3 people
Larger than previous categories; twin balconies, center of deck, larger sitting area, most accommodate up to 3 people (with sleeper chair), two cabins can connect to Category BB cabins to accommodate parties of 5 (with sleeper chair) (no AB connecting to BB cabins left)
2 people – $8,448 per cabin
3 people – $12,672 per cabin
Category AA – Highest cabin deck, 235 square feet – No more available
Similar to Category AB, but on highest cabin deck; twin balconies, center of deck, larger sitting area, most accommodate up to 3 people (with sleeper chair)
2 people – $8,648 per cabin
3 people – $12,972 per cabin
Suite – Highest cabin deck, 350 square feet – No more available
Largest cabins, twin balconies, center of deck, tub in addition to a shower, accommodates up to 4 people (with sleeper chair and sofa bed)
2 people – $10,048 per cabin
3 people – $15,072 per cabin
4 people – $20,096 per cabin
Your cruise fare includes port charges, all gratuities (ship staff/crew plus local drivers and guides), excursions, and site admissions on our itinerary during the cruise.
All meals are included – breakfast, lunch, desserts, snacks, sandwiches, and multi-course dinners. Regional wines and beer are included for lunch and dinner, with cappuccino, latte and espresso available upon request. Soft drinks, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and water are available all day, and bottled water is provided in the cabins.
Your cruise fare doesn’t include airfare, airport transfers, any extra tours or excursions you do on your own, any meals while off the ship, trip insurance, and the optional pre-cruise extension.
Payment Schedule, Cancellation, and No-Refund Policy
A registration fee of $100 per-person (non-refundable) is required when you submit your registration. This fee is separate from your cruise fare. If I can’t accommodate one of your cabin category choices, this fee will be returned.
Half of your cruise fare is due within 7 days of my confirmation of your spots. I can’t hold spots after 7 days. The remaining balance is due by August 31, 2026.*
*IMPORTANT NOTE: I need full payment in advance because this a deeply discounted private cruise with unforgiving contract terms. The contract must be signed a year or more in advance, and once signed, I’m responsible for paying for the entire ship, regardless of whether all cabins are filled or not. This is also why I can’t refund any payments for any reason (medical, job lay-off, death in the family, anything). Your cabin/spots aren’t transferable. Please make sure you understand and agree with this before you register – no refunds, no matter what. I can’t afford to pay for empty spots. Your signed registration form and payment acknowledge your understanding and agreement with my no-refund policy.
I accept checks (personal, bank checks, BillPay through your bank) and Zelle transfers (if your bank offers that and allows you to transfer the full payment amount – no split payments). I don’t accept credit or debit cards (other than for the registration fee), money orders, PayPal, Venmo, anything that requires me to provide my account number to a third party, or any other payment method.
Travel insurance that covers your expenses if you cancel the trip is highly recommended. Thoroughly research policies to make sure of the reasons you can cancel, and that it covers emergencies and any unforeseen circumstances such as sickness, death of a loved one, and acts of God (natural disasters, etc.). Pandemics and civil unrest usually aren’t covered, so make sure you check carefully.
Food Allergies, Special Needs
Make sure you list any food allergies or other special needs on your registration form. I’ll check to see if your needs can be accommodated before I confirm your registration. (No refunds or special accommodations can be made due to allergies or other special needs if you don’t tell me about them when you register.)
Transportation
Airfare and transfers to and from the airport are not included in the price. Don’t purchase non-refundable airfare until the trip is confirmed. Airlines have their own refund policies and I have no control over them. I’ll email flight recommendations and more details after the cruise is confirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this trip still open? Are any spots left? Will you have a waitlist? Is it first come, first serve.
I’ll update this page if we run out of spots. I can’t answer “do you have spots left” questions because I receive registrations throughout the day. What’s available when I get your email may not be available when you register five minutes later.
Waitlists are not first-come, first-serve. Notifications go to everyone who signed up, and everyone has an equal chance of getting spots, regardless of when they signed up.
When the cancellation period for a trip closes, the waitlist also closes since we can no longer replace spots
To increase your chance of getting waitlist spots, make sure to follow the instructions in the text you receive and provide the requested information.
Is the price per person?
It’s per cabin, not per person. For example, a Category E cabin is $5,852 total for two people. The cabin is $5,327 if there’s only one person in the cabin.
This is a lot of money to send to someone I don’t know, especially with no refunds. Can you provide references?
I could provide references from families who’ve traveled with me since I began doing these trips in 2006, but references can be faked.
Instead, read my About page to find out more about us, then do a search of “Carolina Homeschooler trips” and “Traveling Homeschooler trips.” If I’ve cheated anyone, it’ll be all over the internet.
My “Traveling Homeschoolers” name is newer, created in 2016 to differentiate between my local member trips, and trips that are open to everyone, so search both names.
You can also get a sense of who I am and what I do if you follow me on Facebook and read the pinned Featured Post at the top, plus the comments and feedback from over 42,000 followers.
It’s too stressful to send money if you don’t trust me. Please research before you register and pay.
I’ve never been on a river cruise before. Can you give me an idea of what the ship is like, activities, etc.?
The ship may change (since it’s 2 years out), but most river cruise ships are similar – the top deck is open for viewing and hanging out with friends. The remaining decks are half cabins, half social areas (lounge, seating areas, restaurants, etc.).
The lower category (smaller and less expensive) cabins have fixed windows, while the higher category (larger and more expensive) cabins have French balconies or twin balconies.
Rooms have two twins or 1 queen (they hook the twins together to make the queen). Some rooms have a chair or sofa that transforms into a sleeper.
You don’t have to pay extra to get better food (like you do on ocean cruise ships) or pay extra for drink packages (soft drinks and adult beverages). You don’t have to pay extra for excursions, either. They’re all included in the price. Port charges and gratuity are also included in the price.
The focus of river cruising is on the places we visit, not the ship (unlike ocean cruises), so there aren’t a lot of planned ship activities during the day (because we’re out touring).
In the evenings, we enjoy socializing, playing games, and just spending time together. They also bring local entertainment (musicians, dancers, singers, etc.) on board.
There’s plenty to do, but also time for parents and children to socialize and bond.
Does the description list everything we’ll be doing?
This is an active itinerary with multiple tours each day, so you’ll have a lot of choices – tours, tastings, walks, hikes, bike rides, etc. However, I’ve listed some highlights of what to expect. (The itinerary for 2028 may change.)
When will you post information about the optional pre-cruise extension?
I’ll post more information when I confirm the cruise.
I have young children. Can we all share one room? I have a baby, toddler, preschooler – do they count in the price?
We can’t accommodate babies, toddlers, or preschoolers on this trip. It’s recommended for ages 7 and up, and everyone counts in the price. Most cabins are limited to two passengers, but we do have a limited number of triples, quads, and connecting cabins. Register as soon as you’re certain you’re going for the best chance of getting these higher-capacity cabins.
Should people with mobility issues go on this trip?
We’ll have “gentle walker” versions of most tours to accommodate travelers with mobility issues. There’s no elevator access to the lowest cabin deck (Category E and D cabins), or the top (open, non-cabin) deck. There’s very limited access for guests confined to wheelchairs.
Describe your issues in the “special needs” section of the registration form and I’ll make sure we can accommodate your issues before I confirm your spots.
What cities will we fly into and out of?
We’ll fly into and out of Amsterdam for this cruise. I’ll provide more flight information when I confirm the trip. Please don’t purchase your flights until I confirm and send you more details.
What payment methods do you accept?
The non-refundable $100 registration fee must be paid by credit/debit card when you submit your registration. It’s separate from your cruise fare.
For your cruise fare, I accept checks (personal, bank checks, BillPay through your bank) and Zelle transfers (if your bank offers that, and if they allow you to transfer the payment in one transfer – no split payments).
I don’t accept credit or debit cards (other than for the registration fee), money orders, PayPal, Venmo, any payment method that requires me to provide my account number to a third party, or any other payment method.
What are the health requirements for this cruise? Are vaccinations required?
We don’t know what health requirements will be in place in 2028. Even if we did, requirements could change even a week or two before our cruise. Only register if you’re willing to accept whatever requirements are in place when we travel.
Want to join us?
- Register here for our Tulip Time River Cruise!
- If you don’t receive a confirmation with payment information within 5 days, please email me.
- Half of your cruise fare is due within 7 days of receiving my confirmation of your spots. The remaining balance is due by August 31, 2026. (Your registration fee is charged upon submission of your registration and is separate from your cruise fare.)
- And that’s it! Email me if you have any questions.
