Individual arrival at Bruges
Individual arrival at Bruges. You boat awaits you in the Bruges harbor. Embarkation and check-in where the crew will welcome you on board is from 3 to 5 p.m. Take some time to discover the interesting city of Bruges – The Venice of the North – is widely known in Europe for its art and museums. Bruges’ old town with its number of Grachten (small channels) belongs to the UNESCO world’s cultural heritage. Enjoy the bustle activity around the Grote Markt (the big market place) while having a nice tea or coffee.
Trip around Bruges to the North Sea (cycle tour approx. 55 km/33 mi)
Your first cycle tour will take you at the beginning over Damme, Till Eulenspiegel’s place of birth to the seaside. Sandy beaches and a lot of cafés (you can swim in the sea there) will give you the opportunity for a nice rest. After approx. 2 hours you are cycling back to Bruges.
Bruges – Moerbrugge – Ghent (Merelbeke) (cycle tour approx. 40 km/24 mi)
During breakfast your boat is shipping to Moerbrugge. The whole cycle route follows the Ghent-Oostende-Canal through the wide Flemish plain to Ghent. In the Middle Ages Ghent was the second largest city after Paris and has preserved its architectural wealth in the historic city centre until today. MS Mecklenburg will dock for the night in Merelbeke (at the lock), a suburb of Ghent and approx. 30 cycling minutes to the city centre.
Ghent (Merelbeke) – Dendermonde – Sint Amands (cycle tour approx. 48 km/29 mi)
After breakfast you are going by bike to Dendermonde today. A coffee break on the wonderful Flemish Grote Markt is a must. In the evening shipping to Sint Amands one of the most beautiful and winding parts of the route on the river Schelde.
Sint Amands – Temse – Antwerp (cycle tour approx. 42 km/25 mi)
In Sint Amands you start today’s cycle tour. You are passing the water tower and cross the Brussels-Rupel-canal. After that you are cycling through a historic area of brick burning, where bricks have been produced since the Middle Ages until today. Then you follow the river Rupel until you come to the river Schelde. From Rupelmonde you are comfortably cycling towards Hemiksem, then down the river Schelde to Antwerp, the world’s centre of diamond-processing and your today’s destination. Antwerp offers a number of interesting sights such as the richly decorated town hall in renaissance style, the historic Grote Markt, the huge Liebfrauen Cathedral and the medieval Steen Castle.
Antwerp – Lier – Willebroek (cycle tour approx. 45 km/27 mi)
After breakfast you are starting your bike tour, passing the suburban of Antwerp with their beautiful exclusive residential area via Lier along the river Nete to Willebroek where MS Mecklenburg is already waiting for you.
Willebroek – Mechelen – Vilvoorde – Brussels (cycle tour approx. 40 km/24 mi)
While your ship is going through the Willebroek canal today, your last cycle tour is leading you through green, soft and hilly landscapes over Mechelen to Vilvoorde. In Mechelen, you will find the remarkable density of more than 300 listed buildings (classified as historical monuments), among them eight churches, all built within an area of only three square kilometres. From Vilvoorde you are shipping to Brussels. Take some time to wander around the old town that is worth seeing, having a look at the Gothic town hall, the beautiful guild houses, the big market and the “Männeken Pis”.
Departure from Brussels
Disembarkation after breakfast till 09:30 a.m.
Tour character
The quality of the cycle ways along this route is excellent. Most of the way is paved or asphalted and does not have any gradients of note. This makes the trip suitable for cyclists with an average physical condition.
- 7 nights tour and accommodation on board of MS Mecklenburg in the booked category
- Program according to the routing
- Welcome drink
- Full board (7x breakfast, 6x picnic lunch during bike tours, 6x coffee and tea in the afternoon,
7x 3 course dinner) - All charges for harbours, bridges and locks
- Daily cabin cleaning
- Use of linen and towels
- Daily briefing on the respective bike tours
- Tour guide for guided bike tours
- Printed instructions and detailed maps for daily bike tours (deposited on board, 1 per cabin)
- GPS tracks
Journey to Bruges and from Brussels, parking fee, shuttles, bike rental, entrance fees and excursions, town maps, ferry tickets, drinks on board, tips, insurances.
Passenger car parking options in Bruges (subject to change):
Guarded parking areas at the main station (Stationsplein), approx. 5–7 € per day. No reservation possible. Transfer by taxi from Stationsplein to ship berth approx. 10-20 €.
Return transfer by train from Brussels to Bruges approx. 18 € per person.
Important remarks:
Your journey to Bruges and from Brussels will be individual. • Embarkation: from 03:00 p.m. to 05:00 p.m. • Disembarkation: After breakfast by 09:30 a.m. • Bicycles on board Unisex trekking bicycles with normal mount (ladies model), 7 gears, hand brake and pedal brake or hand brakes only (subject to availability) and pannier bag. E-Bikes are on these tours only available after prior request (by booking) and confirmation and at limited number. •To bring your own bike: On request only – due to lack of space on sundeck. Please indicate your body height by booking. • Languages on board: German, English • Cycle tours: Daily guided bike tours by one guide. It is also possible to ride the bike tours individually. Tour description and maps are available on board. The kilometers/miles indicated for the cycle tours are approximate. The quality of the cycle ways along this route is excellent. Most of the way is paved or asphalted and does not have any gradients of note. This makes the trip suitable for cyclists with an average physical condition. • Luggage on board: We recommend waterproof rain gear, bike helmet, sun hat and sports shoes. We would like to ask you to do without hard-side luggage as storage space in the cabin is very limited! • Alterations of schedule or program: Subject to change. In case that as a result of nautical, technical or meteorological reasons a route cannot be taken, the skipper reserves the right to change the route for your safety (this would not be a rea-son for fee-free cancellation) • 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: 18 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 MECKLENBURG
The MS MECKLENBURG is a small river cruiser with family atmosphere and your swimming hotel during the tour. On the partially roofed sun deck are sitting places (tables + chairs) and storage room for the bikes.
