As the RHS Chelsea Flower Show prepares to open its gates next week, Riviera Travel is inviting garden enthusiasts to go behind the curtain of the global floral industry. Riviera unveils its 2027 itinerary, Spring in the Netherlands: Amsterdam & the Tulips, positioning the Zaan region as the “Backstage Pass” to the world’s most prestigious flower show.
The launch comes as Riviera reports a 15% year-on-year surge in demand for garden-inspired travel across March, April, and May, proving that the “Dutch Bloom season” is increasingly driving British travellers to holiday in this period.
The Cradle of the Gold Medal Bloom
While the Chelsea Flower Show is a boutique, 11-acre showcase of the world’s finest specimens, Riviera is taking guests to the birthplace of those very stars. The high-spec tulip and narcissus varieties that frequently win Gold medals at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, are born in the “industrial” fields of the Zaan region in April.
On this new itinerary, guests witness the “Source Code” of the spring season on a massive, raw agricultural scale – exploring over 80 acres of vibrant blooms at Keukenhof and the surrounding fields – weeks before the most elite specimens are curated for the London showgrounds.
Zaandam: A Proactive Cultural Choice
Departing from April 2027, the cruise uniquely centres in Zaandam. Rather than treating the town as a mere gateway to Amsterdam, Riviera is championing Zaandam as a standalone cultural gem away from the tourist heavy centre.
The Monet Muse: Zaandam was the primary inspiration for Claude Monet, the world’s most famous painter-gardener, who produced 25 masterpieces here. As Chelsea designers constantly strive to recreate the “Impressionist look,” Riviera guests step into the exact landscape that taught Monet how to capture light and flora.
The Original Blueprints: At the Zaanse Schans, guests explore heritage cottage gardens that serve as the living originals for the “Restoration Gardens” seen at Chelsea. This is a rare opportunity to see the centuries-old DNA of Dutch design that modern show designers frequently try to emulate.
New ship and no‑fly option
Selected departures will sail aboard MS Riviera Resplendence, Riviera Travel’s newest ship, which enters service in early July 2026. Sister ship to Riviera Radiance, Resplendence features the operator’s largest suites to date, designed to offer more space and comfort for longer, seasonal journeys.
The cruise is also available with a no‑fly option, providing a fully managed alternative for travellers who prefer to begin their holiday without airports.
Sustainable “Garden-to-Garden” Travel
Reflecting the eco-conscious values of the modern gardener, the itinerary offers a seamless no-fly option via Eurostar. This allows travellers to journey from the heart of London to the heart of the Dutch flower fields with a significantly lower carbon footprint.
The cruise will also feature selected departures aboard MS Riviera Resplendence, Riviera’s newest ship launching in 2026, featuring the fleet’s largest-ever suites to provide a five-star retreat amidst the fields.
Spring in the Netherlands: Amsterdam & the Tulips River Cruise
First sailing: 2 April 2027
Zaandam, Keukenhof, Enkhuizen & Amsterdam
Select departures aboard MS Riviera Resplendence
Images supplied
