Classic Saloon, Drinks Included

Classic Saloon, Drinks Included is one of thirteen canal cruises compared on this site, it runs 1 hour, and the live listing opens at $19.56 a person. It carries 4.8 from 33,435 reviews, reproduced here exactly as the operator publishes it.

Overview

This is a one-hour cruise through the UNESCO-listed canal ring aboard a fully covered, 19th-century wooden saloon boat, run by Flagship Amsterdam. A skipper handles the water and a live guide handles the stories, pointing out landmarks as the boat glides along the Prinsengracht, Amstel, Herengracht, Singel and Keizersgracht. You pass the Anne Frank House, Westerkerk, the Rijksmuseum, the Skinny Bridge, the Bloemenmarkt and the Jordaan without stopping anywhere, so the whole hour is spent watching the city slide by from canal level.

The drinks and cheese option is what sets this apart from a standard sightseeing cruise. If you select it, the guide hands over a platter of Dutch cheese with mustard, plus unlimited wine, beer and soft drinks for the duration. Without the upgrade you still get the guide and the covered boat, just no refreshments.

It suits travellers who want a relaxed, seated hour on the water with live commentary rather than exploring the canals alone. The boat is fully covered, which one reviewer appreciated on a windy day. Groups are capped at 46 travellers, and the operator does not allow bachelor or birthday party groups.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at the dockMake your own way to the centrally located meeting point. If no boat is at the dock, the operator asks you to call or visit their office at Leliegracht 50D, just around the corner from the Anne Frank House.
2. Board the saloon boatStep aboard the covered wooden saloon boat. There is a fairly big step into the boat and stewards assist with it. If you have the drinks option, the cheese platter and drinks are handed out once you settle in.
3. Cruise the PrinsengrachtThe route begins along the Prinsengracht, passing the Anne Frank House and the Westerkerk, then continues down the Bloemgracht.
4. Amstel and landmarksThe boat follows the Amstel past the Skinny Bridge and Koninklijk Theater Carre, with the guide giving the history of each sight along the way.
5. Ring canals and JordaanThe cruise continues along the Herengracht, Singel and Keizersgracht, taking in De 9 Straatjes, the Rijksmuseum, the Bloemenmarkt, the Seven Bridges View Point and the Jordaan district.
6. Return to the startThe cruise ends back at the original departure point, leaving you free to keep exploring on foot. The exact points of interest may vary slightly depending on the departure point chosen.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points come up again and again in reviews and in the operator's own guidance, and they will shape your hour on the water.

• Dress warmly. The operator warns that it is colder on the water and asks you to bring warm clothing. One reviewer mentioned a windy day and appreciated the covered ride. A warm layer is worth packing even in mild weather.
• Punctuality matters. One reviewer describes the operator as very punctual and warns against arriving late. The meeting point is central and near public transport, so plan to arrive with time to spare.
• Group feel. The boat carries up to 46 travellers, and reviewers describe everything from a comfortable few fellow passengers to a full boat where seating felt cramped. Expect a shared, social atmosphere rather than a private cruise. Bachelor and birthday party groups are not allowed on board.
• Drinks and cheese. The unlimited drinks option covers wine, beer and soft drinks, with reviewers mentioning Heineken beer and a branded house wine. The cheese is served as a platter with mustard, and one reviewer hoped for a wider assortment. The drinking age is 18.
• Covered boat trade-off. The full cover keeps you dry and out of the wind, which one reviewer praised on a windy day. If open-air views are your priority, weigh the cover before booking, since the boat is enclosed.
• Photography and seating. Sights come steadily along the route, so keep your camera ready. Seating is shared and one reviewer found it cramped when the boat was full. There are no toilets on board, so plan accordingly.

Common issues. A few travellers found the single cheese assortment and the house wine underwhelming. There are no toilets on board, the boat is not wheelchair accessible, and a fairly big step is needed to board, though stewards assist. Infants aged 0 to 3 travel free.

Questions People Ask