Mini Cruise ? Taster Cruise.

Cruise Companies do offer itineraries for less than 7 nights. Some call them mini cruise, some taster but whatever you call them do not think they are a waste of time. For the new to cruise market this can be an amazing experience to sample the whole experience. For the seasoned cruisers who may have less time to spare these too will fit the bill.

Now any duration shorter than a week cannot offer much variety of ports, however with a bit of planning you can get the most from a short visit. The most often sailed to port being Zeebrugge, a massive industrial port that most people associate with Bruges. If you have taken a mini cruise you may well have visited this romantic historic city several times. Famous for its canals, lace making and chocolate.

But why not get off the ship and turn left instead of right and head to the contemporary Spa Town of Knokke-Heist a 15 minute drive away. This is one of Belgium’s best seaside towns with over 12 kms of fantastic beaches, a nature reserve, extensive shopping and luxury hotels. So keep that in mind when you hear yourself saying Bruges again.

Amsterdam another historic but very modern city. Known as the Venice of the north with over 100 kms of canals and more bicycles than I have ever seen. Cruise ships normally birth withing walking distance of Dam Square so getting around is so easy. Amsterdam has a well deserved reputation for being a party city, but still keeping its cafe society, however when the Dutch say cafe they mean pub and coffee shops are what we call cafe. With over 250 coffee shops all around the city, the prettiest along the canals or around the famous floating flower market (which no longer floats as too big)

With a village like charm this city has some of the top ranking art museums, parks and gardens allowing you to escape the tourist trap. It is also home to the oldest botanical gardens on the world the Hortus and for just 8.50 euros you can see the synonymous tulips Amsterdam is also famed for. We took canal boat tour which took us to see some beautiful areas we may not have seen on foot. The many house boats bridges, buildings and ladies in the windows was a sight to be seen. The shopping too was everything from designer boutiques, famous department stores to standard tourist tat oh I meant to refer to them as souvenirs. I could not walk in these clogs or they would have come home with me.

Do not think mini cruise I will be bored …. oh no you will not.