Ninety Minutes, All Inclusive

Ninety Minutes, All Inclusive is one of thirteen canal cruises compared on this site, it runs 1 hour 30 minutes, and the live listing opens at $29.65 a person. It carries 4.9 from 18,656 reviews, reproduced here exactly as the operator publishes it.

Overview

Ninety minutes on an electric open boat, with beer, wine and Dutch snacks included for the whole ride. Captain Jack Amsterdam runs this as a historical cruise through the UNESCO-listed canal ring, and the operator is blunt about what it is not: a booze cruise. Come for the commentary and the view, and let the unlimited drinks be a bonus rather than the point.

The route is a loop of pass-bys rather than stops. A free audio guide covers nine languages if you would rather listen on your own track.

The format suits first-time visitors more than anyone, and one reviewer said a canal cruise on day one left them seeing the city with different eyes afterwards. Couples appear in the feedback, and the group is capped at 24. In the warmer months the boat is open to the air; from late autumn into early spring it runs as a heated, closed boat instead. Arrive about ten minutes early, because the captain can only hold the dock for five minutes.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at the dockCheck in at the departure dock around ten minutes before the scheduled time. The captain waits a maximum of five minutes past departure due to dock traffic.
2. Rijksmuseum stretchThe cruise starts with a 15-minute pass by the Rijksmuseum. Admission to the museum is not included; you view it from the water only.
3. Amstel and the eastThe boat passes the Amstel, Koninklijk Theater Carre, the H'ART Museum, the Blauwbrug and the Dutch National Opera and Ballet, then continues past the South Church, Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder and the Nieuwmarkt.
4. The classic canal ringThe route runs the Emperor's Canal, Herengracht and Singel, passing Centraal Station, St. Nicholas Basilica and the OBA Library of Amsterdam along the way.
5. Amstel back southThe return leg passes the Magere Brug, or Skinny Bridge, the Rembrandthuis, the National Maritime Museum, the Munttoren, the Museum of the Canals, the Amstelveld and the Joods Museum.
6. Centre and museum quarterAll stops are pass-bys with no disembarking.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points shape this cruise more than most, from the open deck to the boarding step.

• Drinks and snacks. Heineken beer and wine are unlimited, with typical Dutch snacks served alongside. The listing does not itemise the snacks, so treat them as a bite on the water rather than a meal.
• Weather gear. The boats are open, so rain can reach you, and the listing says so plainly. Rebooking for rain is possible according to the operator, and weather cancellations come with a different date or a full refund.
• Boarding the boat. A fairly big step is needed to get in, though the crew assists. The boat is not wheelchair accessible, but pushchairs are, and service animals are allowed while other animals are barred by food regulations.
• Group feel. The cap is 24 travellers, and reviewers describe a casual, conversational atmosphere where questions get answered. The listing pitches it as a chance to get to know your fellow cruisers, so expect a shared sociable boat rather than a private one.
• Commentary quality. Most reviews praise the captains as knowledgeable and funny, with plenty of history and anecdotes. One reviewer found the information lighter than hoped, so depth can vary by captain on the day.
• No toilet. There is no toilet on the boat. Plan around that before boarding, since the full cruise runs 90 minutes with no break.

Common issues. The honest weak points are practical rather than dramatic. The open boat means you can get wet in rain, boarding requires a big step, there is no toilet on board, and the cruise is not wheelchair accessible. One reviewer found the commentary thinner than expected, so depth can vary by captain. The operator also states plainly that anyone expecting a party boat should book something else, since this is pitched as a historical cruise.

Questions People Ask