Unlimited Drinks Canal Cruise

Unlimited Drinks Canal Cruise is one of thirteen canal cruises compared on this site, it runs 1 hour, and the live listing opens at $23 a person. It carries 4.5 from 26,504 reviews, reproduced here exactly as the operator publishes it.

Overview

This is a one hour canal cruise run by Flagship Amsterdam, with a local skipper giving live commentary in English as the boat works through the historic canal district. The boat is fully electric, and the route passes the Hermitage Museum, the Skinny Bridge and the Amstel Hotel, with the 17th century canal houses of the Grachtengordel on either side.

The tour is built around the weather. On sunny days it runs on an open boat where you can order from an onboard bar. If it rains or turns cold, the operator switches to a heated, covered saloon boat instead, so the cruise goes ahead either way. The boat in the listing photos may not be the one you get, since it depends on availability and conditions.

The headline extra is the unlimited drinks option, which covers beer, wine and soft drinks plus small savory bites. Without that option you can still buy drinks on board, including cocktails and hard liquor, which are never part of the unlimited package. It suits travellers who want a short, relaxed cruise with live commentary. Large bachelor and birthday groups are not allowed on this trip.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at your departure pointThere are 4 meeting points and the one you use depends on the option you select. Check the details on the booking page before you go.
2. Board the electric boatBoarding is quick, with one reviewer noting very little waiting around beforehand. The boat will be an open vessel in good weather or a covered saloon boat in rain.
3. Cruise the historic canalsThe skipper gives live English commentary on Amsterdam's history and development as you pass the 17th century canal houses of the Grachtengordel.
4. Pass the Skinny Bridge and Amstel landmarksThe route glides under the Skinny Bridge, passes the Amstel Hotel and goes by the Hermitage Museum.
5. Drinks and bites on boardWith the unlimited option, beer, wine and soft drinks flow throughout, along with small savory bites. Without it, drinks can be bought from the onboard bar.
6. Return at the end of the hourThe cruise lasts 1 hour in total.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points before you book, drawn from the listing and from what travellers say about this cruise.

• Bring layers. The listing recommends warm clothing, plus a sun hat and sunscreen. You will be on the water for an hour, and the open boat offers no shelter on bright days.
• Weather decides the boat. Sun means the open boat, rain or cold means a heated covered saloon boat. The cruise runs either way, so dress for the forecast rather than the photos.
• Guides carry the trip. Reviewers repeatedly single out the skippers as knowledgeable, entertaining and funny, and several say the guide made the experience.
• Drinks and snacks. Unlimited beer, wine and soft drinks plus small savory bites come only with the drinks option. Cocktails and hard liquor are always an extra purchase.
• Peak season delays. The listing warns that in peak season departure times can be delayed because of heavy canal traffic. Build some slack into your plans if you have a timed commitment afterwards.
• Dogs are welcome. Dogs are allowed on board. Large bachelor and birthday groups are not.

Common issues. The main complaint in the review summary is that some travellers wanted clearer information on what the unlimited drinks and snacks actually include, so read the option details carefully before booking. Departures can be delayed in peak season due to canal traffic. The unlimited package covers only beer, wine and soft drinks, so anyone expecting cocktails or spirits will need to buy them separately. The boat itself is not guaranteed, since weather and availability determine whether you get the open boat or the saloon boat. Large bachelor and birthday groups cannot join this trip.

Questions People Ask