Luxury Cruise, Drinks And Bites

Luxury Cruise, Drinks And Bites is one of thirteen canal cruises compared on this site, it runs 1 hour, and the live listing opens at $23.13 a person. It carries 4.9 from 31,736 reviews, reproduced here exactly as the operator publishes it.

Overview

Flagship Amsterdam runs this hour-long cruise on a fully electric luxury boat, with a skipper at the wheel and a live guide telling stories as the city slides past. The route follows the Prinsengracht through the Jordaan, passing the Anne Frank House and her statue out front, then continues to the Spiegelgracht for views of the Rijksmuseum before heading on past Leidseplein, the floating Bloemenmarkt and the Bridge of 15 Bridges. In summer the boat runs open so you can drink in the views along with whatever comes from the onboard bar; on colder or rainy days a covered saloon boat is used, with blankets provided.

Drinks work one of two ways. There is an unlimited drinks and bites option, and one traveller reported it covered wine, beer and a snack box each, though not every item on the menu falls under it. Alternatively you can simply buy drinks from the onboard bar, or skip drinking altogether. The crew, in bright orange shirts, help you over the fairly big step into the boat.

The trip suits most travellers and caps at 35 people per departure. It is pushchair accessible but not wheelchair accessible, and infants aged 0 to 2 ride free. Bachelor and birthday party groups are not allowed on the shared boat, with a private option available by phone instead.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Board the electric boatMeet the Flagship Amsterdam crew, identifiable by their bright orange shirts, and step aboard with their help. Boarding involves a fairly big step into the boat.
2. Cruise the PrinsengrachtSet out through the canals with live commentary from your guide, passing through the Jordaan neighbourhood and along the Prinsengracht.
3. Anne Frank House and WesterkerkPass by the Anne Frank House and the statue out front, then the Westerkerk. These are pass-by sights with no stops.
4. Rijksmuseum viewsContinue to the Spiegelgracht for views of the massive Rijksmuseum from the water.
5. Leidseplein and BloemenmarktPass Leidseplein and the Bloemenmarkt, the floating flower market, as the cruise continues through town.
6. Bridge of 15 BridgesReach the spot where you can see and photograph 15 bridges at once, then continue past the Amstel, the Magere Brug, the Dutch National Opera & Ballet and the Seven Bridges View Point.
7. Return to departure pointThe roughly 1-hour tour ends back where you boarded. The exact points of interest may vary slightly depending on the departure point chosen.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical things shape how this hour goes, from where you sit to what you wear.

• Dress warmly. The listing warns it is colder on the water and asks travellers to bring warm clothing rather than be surprised by the chilly Dutch weather. Blankets are available on board.
• Sit near the guide. One reviewer noted the guide has no microphone, so hearing the commentary depends on where you sit. If the stories matter to you, choosing a seat close to the guide is the safer bet.
• Boat type varies. The listing says the boat runs open in summer and covered on colder or rainy days, and reviews confirm the type of boat you get can differ from what you expected. Some travellers got a covered boat instead of an open one, and rain covers can also interfere with the view even when rolled back.
• Drinks and snacks. With the unlimited option, one traveller reported wine, beer and a snack box each, though not every menu item is covered. You can also buy drinks from the onboard bar, or choose no drinks at all. The guide often doubles as the server.
• Group feel. It is a shared departure, not a private charter.
• Weather flexibility. When rain or cold sets in, the operator switches to a covered saloon boat, and one reviewer said the company let them join a closed boat when rain ruled out the open one. Poor weather can also cancel the trip, with a different date or a full refund offered.

Common issues. A few honest caveats come up. One reviewer said the route did not pass every landmark advertised, including the Rijksmuseum and the Anne Frank House, and the listing itself notes that points of interest may vary depending on the departure point. One reviewer mentioned wet seats, and another found the covered boat's clear plastic dirty enough to spoil the view. One reviewer also noted the lack of a microphone making the guide hard to hear at times.

Questions People Ask