Cruise Features Included:    

• Luxurious River Cruise Experience - There is really nothing that compares to the luxury of a river cruise.  Experience the personalized VIP treatment on a small ship (only 156 passengers) pampered by the entire crew from the cabin stewards all the way up to the Captain.  Enjoy smooth sailing along the canals of Holland and Belgium docking in the heart of each town we visit for easy exploration.  Once you've tried river cruising with AmaWaterways, no other cruise vacation compares.

• Bus transportation - from Salisbury to Nearby International Airport (likely either Newark or Washington-Dulles) depending upon our group flight arrangements.

• Round trip flights - from nearby International Airport to Amsterdam, The Netherlands

• Two-Nights Deluxe 5-Star Centrally-Located Hotel in Downtown Amsterdam - including daily breakfast and daily tours.

• Transfers to and from the Hotel and Ship in Amsterdam - Our guide will meet us at the airport and escort us to the hotel in Amsterdam and then to the ship after our stay.  Our motor coach will return us to the airport in Amsterdam after our cruise.

• 7-Day Luxurious Cruise on AmaWaterways AmaStella - including gourmet meals, local entertainment and activities onboard the ship.

• Free-flowing complimentary local wine and beer - served at lunch and dinner, plus champagne with breakfast, a complimentary happy hour before dinner each night, and specialty coffees available around the clock.

• Tours Included at No Extra Cost - in each port, there will be a variety of tours available to join.  Tours are further divided into groups based on fitness level, with most in the Regular Walkers group, but some in the Gentle Walkers group who prefer less walking, and others in the Active Walkers group who prefer more exercise and a faster pace.  All participants receive complimentary bottled water and a headset so you can hear the guide at all times.

• Bicycles Available - for organized guided bike tours in most ports or to check out and explore the area on your own. 

• Dedicated Fitness Instructor - onboard the ship who will lead daily exercise classes and other activities to help you burn off those calories and make room for your next delicious meal.

• Tour Hosts (Kelly and Tracy Shannahan, Sal and Colleen Chavez) with you from start to finish.

• Several free gifts and mementos of your cruise from the Salisbury Cruise Club

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Travel Itinerary:        
 

Wednesday, July 29, 2026 - Travel Day

• Bus from Salisbury to Nearby International Airport (perhaps Newark or Washington-Dulles) with a brief stop for dinner at WaWa before our overnight flight to Amsterdam, The Netherlands.  Flight details will be announced in September 2025 once our group flights are booked. ​

• Thursday, July 30 - AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands - Arrive AMSTERDAM - ground transportation to our 5-star hotel downtown - perhaps NH Amsterdam Barbizon Palace Hotel (or similar) - where we will enjoy free time to explore on our own before our Welcome Reception at the hotel and then dinner in Amsterdam (on our own).

• Friday, July 31 - AMSTERDAM - After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a guided tour of Amsterdam, the charming capital of the Netherlands, with its iconic meandering canals, bridges and distinctive architecture.  The afternoon and evening is yours to further explore Amsterdam on your own.

• Saturday, August 1 - AMSTERDAM - After breakfast, we check out of our hotel and enjoy an enchanting cruise along the canal in Haarlem outside of Amsterdam, passing historic architecture, bridges and even a windmill iconic to the region before we  transfer to the luxurious AmaWaterways AmaStella - with time to freshen up before our Welcome Cocktail Party and Gala Welcome Dinner followed by some free time overnight in Amsterdam.

• Sunday, August 2 - AMSTERDAM and UTRECHT, Netherlands - There are 165 canals in Amsterdam, and we will get to enjoy several of them on our canal cruise this morning before we set sail out of Amsterdam at 11:00 am en route to Utrecht arriving at 2:00 pm.  Enjoy a scenic cruise through the IJsselmeer to Utrecht, the religious center of the Netherlands since the 8th century and a far-reaching city boasting a medieval old town, canals and a beautiful Gothic cathedral, some of which you may see on your walking tour, which includes a visit to the whimsical collection of automatically playing musical instruments at Museum Speelklok. Alternatively, marvel at the largest castle in Holland, De Haar on a walking or biking tour. Straight out of your fairy tale dreams, this castle inspires awe with its turrets, moats and suspension bridges as well as its luxurious interior.  You'll have 3 afternoon tour options, including: Utrecht Walking Tour with Museum Speelklok (organ museum) visit, or Castle de Haar visit, or Castle de Haar Bike Tour, with free time to further explore in the evening before our departure at 11:59 pm.

• Monday, August 3 - HELLEVOETSLUIS, Netherlands - This morning enjoy a relaxing cruise to Hellevoetsluis arriving at 1:00 pm where you can choose from 4 afternoon tour options, including: Zierikzee “Medieval Harbor Town” walking tour, or Delta Works and Flood Museum tour, or Traditional Dutch flat-bottom boat visit, or Haringvlietdam bike tour, before dinner and departure at 10 pm for overnight cruising to Ghent, Belgium.  Enjoy a scenic morning cruise through the delta before arriving in Hellevoetsluis, an island metropolis of South Holland. During your tour of this medieval harbor town, you may see enchanting sites such as its iconic working De Hoop windmill and witness the charming wharf houses. Later in the day, you may discover the intriguing history of how the Delta Works, a unique storm surge barrier, came to be while visiting the Flood Museum. More than half of the Netherlands lies below sea level and the Delta Works were built to prevent a recurrence of the 1953 flood disaster. Alternatively, visit a traditional Dutch flat-bottom boat and learn about the history of this unique type of vessel. For those who prefer an active adventure, pedal from Hellevoetsluis, with its cobblestone streets and charming harbor, across the Haringvlietdam and back.

• Tuesday, August 4 - GHENT/Bruges, Belgium - After our arrival in Ghent at 8:30 am, choose either a Full-Day Bruges “Capital of West Flanders” walking tour and Church of Our Lady visit, or choose between two morning tours, including: Ghent “Capital of East Flanders” walking tour, or Ghent Bike Tour, after which you can choose between two afternoon tours, including: Highlights of Bruges tour, or Castle of the Counts of Flanders to see the ghoulishly interesting collection of medieval torture devices before departure at 7 pm for Brussels.  There are several choices of excursions in Ghent, depending on your interests. Stroll through the Capital of East Flanders, learning about its unique history on your walking tour, or pedal through the spellbinding town on a guided bike tour. Alternatively, visit Bruges, one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe, on a full-day excursion that includes the renowned Church of Our Lady, home to the beautiful Carrara marble Madonna and Child sculpture by Michelangelo. If you prefer a shorter excursion in Bruges, visit the town later in the day or spend your afternoon at Ghent’s moated Castle of the Counts, which boasts an eye-catching design as well as a ghoulishly interesting collection of medieval torture devices

• Wednesday, August 5 - BRUSSELS, Belgium - After our arrival in Brussels at 9:30 am, choose between 3 morning tours, including: “Capital of Belgium” tour, or Belgian chocolate tasting, or Laeken bike tour.  After lunch on the ship, we will all be treated to an afternoon tour of  Gaasbeek Castle before dinner on the ship and departure at 11:59 pm.  Explore Belgium’s captivating capital on your guided walking tour or pedal through Brussels on a guided bike ride that takes you into Laeken Park, where you will see the unique architecture of the Far East Museums as well as the jaw-dropping iron molecule sculpture known as the Atomium. Alternatively, delight your palate with a very special Belgian chocolate tasting. In the afternoon, visit Gaasbeek Castle, a 13th-century fortified castle built to defend the Duchy of Brabant against the County of Flanders

• Thursday, August 6 - ANTWERP, Belgium - wake up in Antwerp and enjoy one of two morning tours including: “City of Diamonds” walking tour and cathedral visit or Antwerp bike tour.  After lunch on the ship, enjoy one of three afternoon tours including: Belgian beer tour, or Flavors of Belgium culinary tour, or Antwerp bike tour with a visit to the Red Star Line Museum,  before dinner on the ship and departure at 8 pm.  Explore Belgium’s trendy “City of Diamonds” on a walking tour where you’ll see Antwerp’s Steen Castle, Grote Market and Brabo Fountain, along with the UNESCO-designated Cathedral of Our Lady. Active travelers may prefer instead to bike through Antwerp. Later in the day, beer enthusiasts will appreciate a tasting of the local brew while foodies may prefer our excursion to sample some of Belgium’s culinary delights such as its fresh and fluffy waffles. An afternoon bike tour is also available for those who prefer to get their heart beating later in the day, and it includes an opportunity to visit the Red Star Line Museum, highlighting the historic shipping line responsible for transporting three million immigrants to America.

• Friday, August 7 - DORDRECHT/Rotterdam, Netherlands - After our arrival in Dordrecht at 8 am, choose between 3 morning tours including: “Holland’s Oldest City” walking tour, or Rotterdam tour and Delfshaven, or Dordrecht Bike tour.  After lunch on the ship, enjoy one of two afternoon tours including: Kinderdijk UNESCO Windmills tour, or Kinderdijk Bike tour before dinner on the ship and departure at 6 pm for our return to Amsterdam arriving at 4:30 am.  Established in 1220, Holland’s oldest city was virtually destroyed by a devastating flood in the 15th century that essentially created the city’s wetlands. Learn more about Dordrecht’s fascinating history on your walking tour, or visit Rotterdam, the “Gateway to Europe,” as well as Delfshaven, where, on August 1, 1620, the Pilgrim fathers departed on their epic journey aboard the Speedwell. Stopping in Southampton, many then boarded the Mayflower and concluded their journey at Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts. If you prefer to venture off the beaten path, go on an architectural bike tour through Rotterdam. In the afternoon, venture to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kinderdijk, a lovely village renowned for having the country’s greatest concentration of windmills, all dating from the 18th century. You may also pedal past the windmills from the seat of a bike

• Saturday, August 8 - Travel Day - AMSTERDAM - DISEMBARK the AmaStella and board our motor coach to the airport for our flight home; then board our motor coach to Salisbury.

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Cabins and Other Features of AmaStella:

The AmaStella has 78 staterooms for no more than 156 passengers served by 51 crew members.  The AmaStella is an incredible twin-balcony ship with generous personal space, multiple dining choices and exceptional stateroom comfort. On board, you’ll find an all-day tapas menu and afternoon tea, as well as a 24-hour coffee station, in addition to AmaWaterways’ signature exquisite, locally-sourced cuisine in the Main Restaurant and at The Chef’s Table. Active leisure amenities include a sun-deck walking track, pool with swim-up bar, fitness room and bicycles for in-port exploration.

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Staterooms are equipped with everything you need for a relaxing vacation.  Each stateroom features: All outside accommodations, most with revolutionary twin balconies; Marble bathrooms, multi-jet showers, soothing bath products, cotton bathrobes, slippers and hair dryer; Generous closet and storage space with in-room safe; Entertainment-On-Demand with high-speed Internet and Wi-Fi, movies, music and English-language TV; Individually controlled air-conditioning; and Bottled water replenished daily. 

 

A brief description of each cabin type is as follows:

• The Category E and D River View cabins are each 160 square feet in area and are located on Deck 1 (Piano Deck).  Category D cabins are located closer to the mid-ship stairs which is why they are slightly more expensive.  They have two relatively large fixed windows to allow plenty of light into the room, but they are located about 5 feet above the floor and above the water line so they don't offer much of a view.  These cabins also do not have elevator access so they are not suitable for all guests.

• The Category CB French Balcony cabins are each 155 square feet in area and are located at the end of the hallway on Deck 3 (Violin Deck).  They have a sliding glass door that allows you to stand inside your cabin and enjoy the fresh air and scenery, but they do not have a step out balcony.  Although smaller and not as conveniently located as the other cabins, please note that the ship is not very large (only 443 feet from bow to stern) so these are still nice cabins and lower priced than the Twin Balcony cabins.

• The Category CA French Balcony cabins are a little larger at 170 square feet in area and are located at the end of the hallway on Deck 2 (Cello Deck) and near the end of the hallway on Deck 3 (Violin Deck).  They are identical to the Category CB French Balcony cabins regarding the sliding glass door (not a step out balcony), but they have a little more room with a couple of chairs and a table for sitting.

• The Category BB and BA Twin Balcony cabins are each 210 square feet in area and are located about halfway down the hallway on Deck 2 (BB cabins) and the higher Deck 3 (BA cabins).  These cabins have both a sliding glass door section as well as a small outside balcony with a table and a couple of chairs where you can sit to enjoy the fresh air and scenery.  The bathroom and shower stall is also more roomy and a little more comfortable than the Category CB, CA, D and E cabins.

• The Category AB and AA Twin Balcony cabins are a bit larger and wider (with 2 chairs in the interior sitting area), at 235 square feet each, and are located closer to mid-ship offering a shorter walk to the reception desk and access stairs to the Sun Deck, as well as the forward activity areas (the main lounge and restaurant).  The only difference between the AB and AA cabins is the deck location with the AB cabins located on Deck 2 and the AA cabins located higher on Deck 3.  These cabins have both a sliding glass door section as well as an outside balcony with a couple of seats where you can sit to enjoy the fresh air and scenery.  The bathroom and shower stall is very similar to the Category BA and BB cabins and perhaps slightly larger with more room to spread out.

• The Category SS Suite cabins are significantly larger at 350 square feet and also features a larger bathroom with a double sink, shower and bathtub.  Suites also come with Butler Service.  They are ideally situated on Deck 3 very close to the reception desk, access to the Sun Deck, lounge and restaurant.  The suites also have both a sliding glass door section as well as an outside balcony with a couple of seats where you can sit to enjoy the fresh air and scenery.

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The MS AmaStella features: a Panoramic Lounge with bar, piano and dance floor; Walking track, heated pool, fitness room and bicycles for in-port exploration; Complimentary Wi-Fi; Hair salon and massage services (additional cost); The Chef’s Table specialty restaurant with glass-enclosed kitchen and tasting menu;  Made-to-order breakfast and lunch in the restaurant featuring regional cuisine, and also a selection of Grab and Go items available for those who prefer to eat in their cabins, in the lounge or on the Sun Deck; Multi-course dinners made with fresh local ingredients; Hand-selected wine, beer and soft drinks with meals, plus a Sip & Sail cocktail hour each night which is included at no extra charge; All-day tapas menu and afternoon tea; 24-hour specialty coffee station; Welcome Cocktail, Welcome Dinner, La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Dinner, Captain’s Cocktail and Gala Dinner.

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Check out more details and view the Deck plan by clicking the fact sheet here - 

AmaStella Ship Fact Sheet

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Cost and Payment Schedule:

 

The Total Cruise Package Prices below include: round trip bus transportation from Salisbury to our nearby International Airport, round trip air fare to Amsterdam, transfers between the airport, hotel and ship; 2-nights in a 5-star hotel downtown Amsterdam with daily breakfast and daily tours; 7-day cruise aboard AMA Waterways AmaStella - accommodations, gourmet meals, unlimited wine, beer, sodas with lunch and dinner, free happy hour before dinner, entertainment, fitness program, guided tours with audio headset, bicycles available for tours or exploring on your own; all taxes and port charges, and the services of your Cruise Hosts Kelly and Tracy Shannahan and Sal and Colleen Chavez, as well as several free gifts and mementos of your cruise from the Salisbury Cruise Club.  Not included in the prices below is optional (but recommended) travel protection plan, gratuities, meals on travel days, and lunches and dinners in Amsterdam.

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Total Cruise Package Prices - (see explanation above for included and excluded costs)

• Category E - River View Cabins (Sold Out) - $5,800 per person double - $6,800 single

• Category D - River View Cabins - $6,000 per person - $7,000 single

• Category CB - French Balcony Cabins - $6,500 per person - $8,300 single

• Category CA - French Balcony Cabins - $6,900 per person - $8,700 single

• Category BB - Twin Balcony Cabins - $7,200 per person - $9,300 single

• Category BA - Twin Balcony Cabins - $7,300 per person - $9,400 single

• Category AB - Twin Balcony Cabins - $7,500 per person - $9,700 single

• Category AA - Twin Balcony Cabins - $7,600 per person - $9,800 single

• Category SS - Deluxe Suite Cabins - $8,300 per person - $13,100 single

Total cruise package price is based on double occupancy (2 people in the cabin)

We can also accommodate a few singles in their own cabin with very reasonable single-supplement charges, for example $7,000 for a single in a Category D River View Cabin (see single-occupancy pricing above - very limited availability)

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Payment Schedule

• $1,000 per person Deposit Due Upon Registration

  • Please also purchase your Travel Protection Plan upon registration - link provided​

• Half of Remaining Balance - Due on November 15, 2025

• Final Balance - Due on March 15, 2026

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Travel Protection Plan (Optional) - Travel Insured International (TII) is now offering individual Travel Protection policies purchased through the link we will provide to be managed by our travel agency - Salisbury Cruise & Travel.  I receive notice from TII when you purchase your plans and I add a copy of your Confirmation of Benefits to your file in case you need to submit a claim.  As before, I will be available to assist you with any claims that you may need to file associated with your Best of Holland and Belgium Cruise.  You will need to purchase your policy online using the link we will provide and following our step-by-step instructions to purchase one of TII's Worldwide Trip Protector (WTP) policies, including WTP-Essential providing excellent basic coverage, WTP-Deluxe providing a little richer coverage limits and options such as Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage, or WTP-Platinum providing the most extensive coverage limits and options.  Each of these Worldwide Trip Protector (WTP) plans will protect your trip in case of cancellation, interruption, trip delay, missed connection, baggage loss or delay, accident/sickness medical protection, and emergency evacuation.  To protect against unforeseen problems, we strongly recommend that you purchase one of these Worldwide Trip Protector Plans.  We further suggest that you purchase the Plan at time of registration or within 14-days of the date on your deposit check in order to secure coverage for pre-existing medical conditions.  If you decline the Plan, please sign the designated place on the registration form to confirm that you waive the protection and understand that you are assuming all potential costs and losses which may occur before or during the trip.

Download the Schedule of Cancellation Penalties here.

Download the Worldwide Trip Protector Plan Comparison here.

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Please Email Us for More Information

or

Download the Registration Form.

or

Download the Detailed Itinerary.

or

See More Details About the Ports and the Ship for our Best of Holland and Belgium Cruise - July 29 - August 8, 2026 by viewing our PowerPoint presentation at: 

Download the Holland-Belgium PowerPoint.

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