Through the Netherlands “South Holland”, MS NORMANDIE
Idyllic waterways and big city flair
Rotterdam - Embarkation
Individual arrival in Rotterdam. Embarkation from 4:00 pm. Rotterdam is a city with many faces: important port city, classy shopping city and hip artists’ city, but most importantly a city of architecture, and one of the most interesting cities in Europe.
Rotterdam – Dordrecht, Cycle tour approx 40 km
Keep cycling alongside the waterfront via Krimpen aan den IJssel to Kinderdijk, where you will find the most famous group of windmills of the Netherlands. Dating back to the 18th century, the 19 well- preserved mills were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Continue through the polder area of the Albwasserwaard to reach Dordrecht. Dordrecht is considered to be Holland`s oldest city. With about 1000 historic buildings that are housing restaurants, museums or theatres, the city`s rich history and the marvellous historic port area will enchant you.
Dordrecht – Gorinchem, Cycle tour approx. 46 - 53 km
After a short ferry ride, you reach the beautiful De Biesbosch National Park, where several rivers come together to form a fresh-water delta of no less than 8.000 hectares. You may enjoy a wonderful boat trip, offered here everywhere, before continuing your tour through the Rhine- Delta area and crossing over to Gorichem by water taxi. Do not miss out on the picturesque Old Town of this small but charming city.
Gorinchem – Utrecht, Cycle tour approx. 47 km
Today an interesting and varied tour awaits you. From Gorinchem, cycle via Leerdam – famous for the Leerdammer cheese – into the fortified city of Vianen. Here you may stop for a short break in one of the numerous street cafes. Take the ferry boat to cross the Lek, and keep cycling to Vreeswijk with its narrow lanes. Continue to the little town of Nieuwegein – perhaps take a short side trip to Fort Jutphaas, hidden in a green oasis in Nieuwegein -before reaching Utrecht. Utrecht is considered the heart of Holland. The city was built around the cathedral. That is why it is almost impossible to lose your way in the car-free town with its picturesque canals.
Utrecht to Schoonhoven*, Cycle tour approx. 40 - 49 km
This morning, be sure to take some time to explore the beautiful town of Utrecht, before getting back on your bike. Cycle tour through the beautiful polder landscape via Oudewater, with its famous Witches` Weigh House, (none of the so-called witches ever weighed here was found to be too light of weight and thus none of them was sentenced) to Schoonhoven, the Silver City of the Netherlands, with its typical Dutch Old Town.
*Depending on the official authorities responsible for the distribution of moorings, Vianen can also be called as an alternative for Schoonhoven. Then itinerary on 5th day Utrecht – Vianen, cycle tour approx. 45 – 55 km and on the 6th day: Vianen – Gouda – Rotterdam, cycle tour approx. 59 km. Final decision approx. spring 2024.
Schoonhoven* – Rotterdam, Cycle tour approx. 43 km
From Schoonhoven, cycle leisurely to the city of Gouda, which is famous for its cheese. When the weather is fine, you may take a detour for a refreshing bath in the lake Reeuwijkse Plassen. Your today’s destination is Rotterdam. Tip: you should experience the harbour of Rotterdam on an interesting harbour tour.
*Depending on the official authorities responsible for the distribution of moorings, Vianen can also be called as an alternative for Schoonhoven. Then itinerary on 5th day Utrecht – Vianen, cycle tour approx. 45 – 55 km and on the 6th day: Vianen – Gouda – Rotterdam, cycle tour approx. 59 km. Final decision approx. spring 2024.
Rotterdam, Day at leisure / Cycle tour from Rotterdam to Delft and back or from Rotterdam via Den Haag to Scheve-ningen and back, approx. 40 - 70 km
Two options for today’s cycling tour: First one will lead you to Delft (Tip: visit of the porcelain manufacture), second directly to the governmental seat Den Haag and to the North Sea coastal town and health resort Scheveningen and back. Alternatively, you can also go back to Rotterdam by train (rail and bike is not included, approx. € 16.- p. Pers, not in rush hour between 16:30 h and 18:00 h).
You do not fancy a bike ride? Rotterdam offers endless possibilities to design your day. Really one is spoilt for choice
Departure from Rotterdam
After breakfast checkout until 9:00 am– have a safe journey home.
Tour character
Nearly all cycle tours can be classified as being easy
| Season A 23.03.2024 | 30.03.2024 | 05.10.2024 | Saturday | Season B 06.04.2024 | 13.04.2024 | 21.09.2024 | 28.09.2024 | Saturday | Season C 20.04.2024 | 27.04.2024 | 07.09.2024 | 14.09.2024 | Saturday | Season D 04.05.2024 | 11.05.2024 | 18.05.2024 | 25.05.2024 | 22.06.2024 | 29.06.2024 | 06.07.2024 | 13.07.2024 | 20.07.2024 | 27.07.2024 | 03.08.2024 | 31.08.2024 | Saturday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS NORMANDIE, Bike & Boat South Holland, UPPER DECK, NL-SHSSN-08I-O | ||||
| Base price | 849.00 | 949.00 | 1,049.00 | 1,199.00 |
| 2-bed cabin upper deck astern | 799.00 | 899.00 | 999.00 | 1,149.00 |
| 2-bed-cabin astern in single use | 1,198.50 | 1,348.50 | 1,498.50 | 1,723.50 |
| 1-bed-cabin | 1,149.00 | 1,299.00 | 1,449.00 | 1,599.00 |
| 2-bed cabin in single use | 1,273.50 | 1,423.50 | 1,573.50 | 1,798.50 |
| MS NORMANDIE, Bike & Boat South Holland, MAIN DECK, NL-SHSSN-08I-H | ||||
| Base price | 699.00 | 799.00 | 899.00 | 1,049.00 |
| 2-bed cabin in single use | 1,048.50 | 1,198.50 | 1,348.50 | 1,573.50 |
- Seven 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, 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
Journey to and from Rotterdam, shuttles, bike rentals, entrance fees and excursions, city maps, ferry fees and fees for waterbus, travel insurances, parking fees, tips, drinks on board
Important remarks:
Passenger car parking options in Rotterdam (subject to change, effective May 2023)
Car park near the docking location (about 10 minutes walking distance), approx. € 25.- every 24 hours.
Bikes:
- 7-gear-Unisex-trekking bikes und 8-gear-E-Bikes (brand: Velo de Ville - special SE-Tours edition)
- With hand brake and pedal brake or hand brakes only (subject to availability, please indicate as a non-binding customer request by the booking)
- Pannier bag and rental bike insurance included.
- E-Bikes on a limited number only
- Please indicate your body height by the booking
Travel safe and secure with SE-Tours: We recommend to wear a bike helmet. Please bring your own bike helmet (no onboard selling).
Your journey to and from Rotterdam will be individual. • 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). • 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. • Embarkation: 4:00 pm • Disembarkation: until 09:00 am • To bring your own bike: on request only – due to lack of space on sun deck. • Languages on board: German, English • Cycle tours: 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. • 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). • Luggage: we recommend: rainwear, bicycle helmet, sunhat and sneakers. • 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.
Minimum number of participants: 60 guests (must have been reached within 21 days prior to departure). You may cancel the booking at any time. For cancellation fees, please refer to the booking conditions of SE-Tours. The tour operator’s terms and conditions apply: SE-Tours GmbH, Am Grollhamm 12a, 27574 Bremerhaven. We recommend that you take out a travel health insurance with repatriation coverage as well as baggage, accident and travel cancellation insurances.
MS NORMANDIE
On joining this vessel you are immediately aware of the cosy and informal ambience on board. 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.
