Each spring, for just a few short weeks, the Netherlands quietly transforms. Fields of tulips stretch out in every direction, soft colors blending into the horizon. The air feels different. Slower. Lighter. Like the world has taken a deep breath. And right in the middle of it all… you’re there.

There are some places in the world that are beautiful year-round… and then there are places that are only truly magical for a very short window of time. Keukenhof Gardens in the Netherlands is one of those places.

Every once in a while, an itinerary comes along that just feels a little different—in the best way. This Danube River cruise from Romania to Budapest is exactly that kind of trip.