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Is It Worth Going on an Amsterdam Canal Cruise?
Absolutely!
The canals of Amsterdam are diverse, fascinating and full of history, and the cruise companies set the bar high with well-executed and high quality boat tours.
1. 🏆 Best Amsterdam Canal Cruise Overall with Unlimited Food/Drinks (Captain Jack)
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Pros:
✔️ Best Cruise in the "Smaller Boat" Category
✔️ Perfect 5.0 Rating from 13,000 Reviews
✔️ Sightseeing Only (20€) and Unlimited Food/Drinks (40€) Tiers
✔️ 90 Minutes Duration
✔️ Cozy, Small Boat with Max. 20 Passengers
✔️ Comfortable Padded Seats
✔️ Best Variety of Iconic Dutch Nibbles and Drinks
✔️ Live English Commentary
✔️ Best Skipper Captain Experience, Can Talk with Skipper and Ask Questions
✔️ Boat Becomes Open Air in Summer
✔️ Two Meeting Points near Central Station and Rijksmuseum
Cons:
❌ Tolerable in Winter — Insulated, but Not Heated
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Summary
💡 Tip: All cruises have a generous cancellation policy, allowing a full refund if canceled 24 hours before the activity. Additionally, they offer a reserve now, pay later flexible payment scheme.
This is a 90-minute canal cruise that starts from either the Rijksmuseum or Central Station and takes a leisurely paced lap counterclockwise of Amsterdam’s canals, making it perfect for sightseeing.
Our skipper, an older gentleman, added to the experience with his entertaining and informative commentary, making the trip even more memorable.
For those who want to indulge in all the iconic Dutch nibbles, this cruise is perfect as it offers unlimited food and drinks with the greatest variety out of all the cruises available.
The boats have a 20-person capacity, so it won’t feel crowded. The seats are comfortably padded with pillows, and the boats are insulated in the winter but not heated. The boat loses its cover and becomes open-air in the summer.
In summary, this is the perfect way to spend an afternoon in Amsterdam. It is a relaxing and enjoyable canal cruise with unlimited food and drinks, where you can sit back, relax, and take in the beauty of the city.
📋 Something unclear or missing? Let us know, and we’ll fix it ASAP!
🎥 Video: Watch this short video I made of the highlights of Captain Jack's Amsterdam canal cruise.
Summer Cruise Photos (New!)
Here are some photos showing what to expect during the summer on a Captain Jack cruise (unlike my original winter photos).
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Detailed Breakdown
Itinerary
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- Captain Jack canal cruises follows a standard Amsterdam inner-city itinerary, but unlike most companies, they cruise the route counterclockwise, which I found quite enjoyable.
Meeting Point
- 🗺️ Near the Rijksmuseum: Museumbrug 2, 1073 AX Amsterdam, Netherlands
- 🗺️ Near Central Station: Prins Hendrikkade 33b, 1012 TM Amsterdam, Netherlands
The Ship
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- The boat has a capacity for up to 20 passengers. The sides are 50–50% split between semi-permanent wooden sidewalls and a temporary winter cover. The entire roof is also temporary.
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- There’s comfortable padded seating with (Flagship branded?) pillows and a mini bar table in the middle where you can access snacks and drinks.
- Winter: The ship is well insulated but not heated, which on the positive side means there is no fogging of windows. I did not feel cold when I was in November. You get 360° panoramic views through the large windows.
- Summer: Both the wooden sidewalls and temporary covers are removed, and the boat becomes fully open-air.
Food And Drinks
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- I have tried several “unlimited food and drinks” cruises, but this one had the most extensive selection of all.
- They had a variety of typical Dutch food that everyone would love to taste, such as stroopwafel, Christmas ginger cookies, Gouda cheese, sausage, crackers, and more.
- The cruise also offered a wide range of soft drinks, wines, beers, and possibly even Prosecco.
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Crew
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- On this particular canal cruise, there was only a captain on board, instead of the usual captain and service crewman who serve food and drinks.
- I really enjoyed the experience. The captain was an old-school sailor who fit the role perfectly and was a great storyteller, with a deep and distinct Arnold Schwarzenegger-like voice and accent. The pace of the stories was relaxed, and I appreciated the personal style of storytelling.
- Additionally, the cruise took a counterclockwise route in the canal, which was a refreshing change from the usual clockwise route taken by most cruises.
Live Commentary by Skipper
- Instead of a fixed audio guide, Captain Jack offers live narration in English on their cruises. The skipper I got was an older guy who exactly fit in the role of Captain.
- He was quite charismatic and his storytelling was informative and pleasant to listen to. He was happy to answer any questions we had during the cruise.
Quick Facts
- 📅 Schedule: Runs every day from 10:45 to 21:00.
- 🕒 Duration: 90 minutes
- 🎟️ Ticket type: Mobile/printed
- 🌐 Wifi: Not available ❌
- 💨 Open air section: Available (only in summertime) ✔️
- ❄️/🌡️ Aircon: Not available ❌
- 🐶 Animals: Not allowed (except service animals) ❌
- 🚬 Smoking: Not allowed ❌
- ♿ Wheelchair accessible: Not accessible ❌
- 🚻 Restroom: No ❌
- 👶 Baby stroller accessible: Accessible ✔️
- % Children discounts: free for infants (age 0–4), 25€ tickets (age 5–12) ✔️
2. 🥈 Best Sightseeing-Only Canal Cruise in Amsterdam (Lover's Canal)
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Pros:
✔️ Best in the "Bigger Boat" Category
✔️ Accommodates Up to 60 Passengers
✔️ Perfect for Winter, Well-insulated and Heated
✔️ Pre-recorded Audio Guide in 12 Languages
✔️ Complimentary Earbuds
✔️ Entertaining, Enthusiastic, and Knowledgeable Skipper
✔️ Great Panoramic Views
✔️ Small Open-Air Section at the Back
Cons:
❌ Not Open-Air in Summer, but Windows Can Be Opened
❌ Single Meeting Point at Central Station
Summary
❓ Should I book canal cruise tickets in advance? Is it worth it?
💡 Yes — It's worth reserving your ticket in advance to ensure your place on the ship, although you can purchase tickets in person.
You’re in for an amazing treat with this 60-minute canal cruise starting from Central Station, which comes with a built-in audio guide available in 12 different languages.
Our skipper was an absolute gem, a true people person who kept us entertained with jokes, interesting commentary, and pointed out key landmarks throughout the entire cruise. He was fully invested in delivering an incredible experience.
The boats are quite long and can accommodate up to 60 passengers. There are 4 and 6-person tables, making it possible for larger groups to sit together. The audio guide was of excellent quality, both in terms of content and sound, although there might be some issues with the earbuds connection.
Disposable earbuds were provided, which was a pleasant surprise as it allowed passengers to enjoy the audio in different languages.
However, considering the Dutch are known for being environmentally conscious, I was not expecting disposable earbuds. Perhaps they could consider installing permanent headphones, like this cruise company in Budapest, to reduce their environmental impact.
The boats are covered, insulated, and heated during winter and stay covered in the summer, but the windows can be opened to let the breeze in. It is actually quite nice to be protected from the sun, in my opinion. There is also a few square meters of open-air area at the back of the boat.
In summary, this is another relaxing and enjoyable canal cruise for exploring the city’s sights and learning about its history.
🎥 Video: Watch this short video I made of the highlights of Lover's Canal's Amsterdam canal cruise.
Detailed Breakdown
Itinerary
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- Lover’s Canal cruises follow the standard Amsterdam inner-city itinerary without any major differences from most other companies.
Meeting Point
- 🗺️ Near Central Station: Prins Hendrikkade 20B, 1012 TL Amsterdam, Netherlands
The Ship
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- The boat has a capacity for up to 60 passengers. There’s a main indoor passenger area with tables and seats (4 and 6 seats/table) and also a covered but open-air area in the back. The seats were comfortable.
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- Winter: The ship is well-insulated and heated. In fact, I felt it was a bit overheated, so I had to open the windows. You can enjoy a 360° panoramic view through the large windows.
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- Summer: The ship is permanently covered, so it doesn’t change in comparison to winter. To stay cool, the windows can be opened. The back open-air area loses its temporary cover, which means clear panoramic views.
Food And Drinks
- Not available during this cruise.
Crew
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- During the canal cruise I went on, there was only one crewmember on board, the Captain. He introduced himself as Captain Sparrow and had a laid-back personality that made everyone feel at ease. Throughout the trip, he kept us entertained with his humorous remarks about the various sights we saw along the way.
- He also made sure to point out where we needed to look to see what the audio guide was explaining at any given time. Overall, Captain Sparrow really set the tone for a fun and enjoyable canal cruise.
Audio Guide via Earbuds
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- There’s an audio guide available in 12 languages (Arabic, German, Chinese, Russian, Korean, Portuguese, Japanese, English, Italian, French, Dutch, Spanish). The content quality is great, and I found it interesting.
- The Captain (“Jack Sparrow”) was a cheeky fellow. He really set the tone with his introduction and shared funny and interesting comments during the cruise.
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- There are disposable earbuds available that you can plug into the audio guide on the walls at each table. It’s nice, but not too environmentally friendly. You can also use your own earbuds.
- I missed some of the narration due to a bad connection between the earbud cable and the audio guide. I tried both the disposable and my own earbuds, but I got the same effect.
Quick Facts
- 📅 Schedule: Runs every day between 09:30–21:00 and ships depart every 30 minutes.
- 🕒 Duration: 60 minutes
- 🎟️ Ticket type: Mobile/printed
- 🌐 Wifi: Not available ❌
- 💨 Open air section: Available ✔️
- ❄️/🌡️ Aircon: Available ✔️
- 🐶 Animals: Not allowed (except service animals) ❌
- 🚬 Smoking: Not allowed ❌
- ♿ Wheelchair accessible: Not accessible ❌
- 🚻 Restroom: No ❌
- 👶 Baby stroller accessible: Accessible ✔️
- % Children discounts: free for infants (age 0–4), 10€ tickets (age 4–13) ✔️
3. 🥉 Also-Great Amsterdam Canal Cruise with Optional Unlimited Cheese/Drinks (Flagship)
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Pros:
✔️ Most Popular Cruise with Over 130.000 Combined Reviews
✔️3 Meeting Points — Central Station, Anna Frank House, Rijksmuseum
✔️ Sightseeing Only (20€) and Unlimited Cheese/Wine (32.50€) Tiers
✔️ Cozy, Small Boat — Max. 30 Passengers
✔️ Comfortable Padded Seats
✔️ Live English Commentary
✔️ Great Skipper Captain Experience — Can Talk with Skipper and Ask Questions
✔️ Boat Becomes Open-Air in Summer
Cons:
❌ Barely Tolerable in Winter — Insulated, but Not Heated
❌ Spotty Winter Cover — Water Can Leak During Rainy Weather
Summary
💡❓ Is it possible to reserve seats on Amsterdam canal cruises? Seats on virtually all canal cruises are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
Note: During my canal cruise, unfortunately, it was dark, freezing, and raining, which overshadowed my experience a little bit (visibility was low, so I couldn't see much and I was cold). I would definitely recommend going during the day instead of at night and hoping for good weather.
This is a 60-minute canal cruise that starts from either the Rijksmuseum, Anna Frank House, or Central Station.
The actual length of the cruise was more like 45 minutes whenI went, and it felt rushed. To be honest, I was so cold I didn’t mind.
Our skipper, a fine young lad who had strong energy and was in good spirits, added to the experience with his entertaining and informative commentary in English, making the trip even more memorable. There was also a friendly lady serving customers food and drinks.
During the cruise, you have the option to enjoy unlimited consumption of two types of Gouda cheese and wine. It’s great if you just want some chow and have drinks with your friends, but if you want to try the bigger palate of iconic Dutch nibbles, I’d go with Captain Jack.
The boats have a 30-35-person capacity. The seats are comfortably padded with pillows; however, the boats weren’t insulated well in the winter, nor were they heated, and I was cold. The rain also leaked in several places.
The boat loses its cover and becomes open-air in the summer. In fact, the boats may change slightly in size and features, so take a look at the listing for what boat you can expect exactly.
In summary, Flagship offers a great canal cruise experience for sightseeing. Personally, I’d book the basic ticket without the food and drinks unless you’re a cheese addict. I recommend going in the summer season during the day to eliminate the risk of dark, cold, or rain ruining your experience.
🎥 Video: Watch this short video I made of the highlights of Flagship's Amsterdam canal cruise.
Detailed Breakdown
Itinerary
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- Flagship cruises follow the standard Amsterdam inner-city itinerary without any major differences from most other companies.
Meeting Point
- 🗺️ Near Central Station: Stationsplein 26, 1012 TM Amsterdam, Netherlands
- 🗺️ Near Rijksmuseum: Museumbrug 1, 1017 RW Amsterdam, Netherlands
- 🗺️ Near Anna Frank House: Prinsengracht 263, 1016 GV Amsterdam, Netherlands
The Ship
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- The boat has a capacity for up to 30–35 passengers. The sides are 25–75% split between semi-permanent wooden sidewalls and a temporary winter cover. The entire roof is also temporary.
- There’s comfortable padded seating with pillows and a mini bar table in the middle where you can access snacks and drinks.
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- Winter: The ship isn’t well insulated or heated, and I felt cold during my cruise in November. It was raining, and the water leaked in at certain spots.
- The visibility was not great through the plastic covers due to the darkness and rain. The views were slightly better through the glass windows.
- Summer: The ships become fully open air during the warmer seasons, and this is when this cruise becomes a hundred times better. They may switch up the boats slightly, but you can expect something similar to what you get in winter.
💡 Tip: If you like sightseeing, go during the day rather than at night. Otherwise, if you just want something to eat, drink, and hang out with friends, go during the night.
Food And Drinks
- The drink selection on board includes a variety of beers, wines, spirits, and even prosecco.
- Only Gouda cheese is available during the cruise, in soft and hard variety.
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- Attending the cruise doesn't require purchasing the unlimited food or drinks option; you can opt for a regular sightseeing cruise and buy what you need on board.
- Alternatively, if you originally purchased the cheaper option, you can upgrade your ticket on the spot.
Crew
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- During the cruise, there was a full crew consisting of a captain and service crew woman.
- The crew made sure we were entertained and well taken care of throughout the journey. I cannot recall the name of the female crew member, but she was extremely accommodating and ensured that we always had food and drinks in our hands. Overall, it was a fairly decent experience.
Live Commentary by Skipper
- Instead of a fixed audio guide, Flagship offers live narration in English on their cruises.
- The narration was both entertaining and informative and the skipper was happy to answer any questions we had during the cruise.
- The cruise had more of an “eat, drink, and get drunk” vibe, and not so much on sightseeing. However, this was heavily influenced by the fact that the weather was dreadful, and couldn’t see anything outside.
Quick Facts
- 📅 Schedule: Runs every day between 10 AM to 10 PM and ships depart every 15–30 minutes.
- 🕒 Duration: 60 minutes
- 🎟️ Ticket type: Mobile/printed
- 🌐 Wifi: Not available ❌
- 💨 Open air section: Available (only in summertime) ✔️
- ❄️/🌡️ Aircon: Not available ❌
- 🐶 Animals: Not allowed (except service animals) ❌
- 🚬 Smoking: Not allowed ❌
- ♿ Wheelchair accessible: Not accessible ❌
- 🚻 Restroom: No ❌
- 👶 Baby stroller accessible: Accessible ✔️
- % Children discounts: free for infants (age 0–2), 13.50€ tickets (age 3–11) ✔️
4. 🎖️ Also-Great Sightseeing Canal Cruise in Amsterdam (Blue Boat)
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Pros:
✔️ Also Great in the "Bigger Boat" Category
✔️ Accommodates Up to 55 Passengers
✔️ Perfect for Winter, Well-insulated and Heated
✔️ Pre-recorded Audio Guide in 19 Languages
✔️ Complimentary Earbuds
✔️ Great Panoramic Views
✔️ Small Open-Air Section at the Back
Cons:
❌ Not Open-Air in Summer, but Windows Can Be Opened
❌ No Skipper Interaction - As a Result Flatter Vibe
❌ Two Meeting Points at Virtually a Single Location near Rijksmuseum & Heineken Experience
Summary
Blue Boat is similar to Lover’s Canal — they have large 55-person capacity boats with a built-in audio guide in 19 languages that can be listened to via free earbuds which they provide.
What I found to be a bit of a letdown, is that our skipper doesn’t interact with the passengers at all. The skipper didn’t make any comments or point out what the audio guide was talking about, and they didn’t even introduce themselves. In my experience, canal cruises with friendly, talkative skippers are much more enjoyable.
The same environmental problem with disposable earbuds applies to Blueboat as to Lover’s Canal.
Blue Boat vessels are excellent. They are covered, well-insulated, heated, spacious, and equipped with 4-person tables. No surprises from bad weather here!
The boats are kept covered during the summer, but the windows can be opened to allow fresh air in. I personally find it pleasant to be shielded from the Sun. There is also a few square meters of open-air area at the back of the boat.
The audio guides are interesting and high quality, but it would be better if the narrations were more frequent, longer, and identified the points of interest. Even a simple “to your left/right you can see…” would suffice.
In summary, Blue boat cruises are as good as any for exploring the city’s sights and learning about its history, but I find the lack of skipper interaction with the guests to be a negative.
🎥 Video: Watch this short video I made of the highlights of Blueboat's Amsterdam canal cruise.
Detailed Breakdown
Itinerary
- Blue Boat cruises follow the standard Amsterdam inner-city itinerary without any major differences from most other companies.
Meeting Point
- 🗺️ Near Rijksmuseum: Stadhouderskade 501, 1071 ZD Amsterdam
- 🗺️ Near Heineken Experience: Stadhouderskade 550, 1072 AE Amsterdam
During The Cruise
The Ship
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- The boat has a capacity for up to 55 passengers. There’s a main indoor passenger area with tables and seats (4 seats/table) and also an uncovered open-air area in the back.
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- Winter: The ship is well insulated and heated, which on the positive side means there is no fogging of windows. I did not feel cold when I was in November. You get 360° panoramic views through the large windows. The seats were comfortable.
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- Summer: The ship is permanently covered, so it doesn’t change in comparison to winter. To stay cool, the windows can be opened.
Food And Drinks
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- The regular sightseeing cruise ticket does not come with any food or drinks. However, I decided to upgrade my ticket for an additional cost of 10 euros, which included a snack box.
- The snack box had a soft drink (or beer or wine), chips, popcorn, peanuts, and stroopwafel. It wasn’t anything exceptional, but if you want some snacks to munch on, it’s a decent option.
Crew
- During the cruise, there was only one captain on board. However, he didn’t introduce himself or engage with the passengers in any way. He was solely focused on driving the ship. As a result, the atmosphere on the boat was duller compared to other cruises where the captain was more interactive and entertaining.
Audio Guide via Earbuds
- There’s an audio guide available in 19 languages (Spanish, Turkish, Traditional Chinese, Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Dutch, English, French, German, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Arabic, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian).
- The sound and content quality are great, and I found it interesting. However, the narration is too sparse (at least initially), and I felt the narration parts were too short. Additionally, it doesn’t point out which side to look at when discussing buildings.
- The Captain didn’t introduce himself and wasn’t an active participant in the cruise. As a result, the cruise felt flatter.
- There are disposable earbuds available that you can plug into the audio guide on the walls at each table. It’s nice, but not too environmentally friendly. You can also use your own earbuds.
Quick Facts
- 📅 Schedule: Runs every day between 10:15–21:00 and ships depart every 60 minutes.
- 🕒 Duration: 60 minutes
- 🎟️ Ticket type: Mobile/printed
- 🌐 Wifi: Not available ❌
- 💨 Open air section: Available ✔️
- ❄️/🌡️ Aircon: Available ✔️
- 🐶 Animals: Not allowed (except service animals) ❌
- 🚬 Smoking: Not allowed ❌
- ♿ Wheelchair accessible: Some boats are wheelchair accessible, but call ahead for exact times ✔️
- 🚻 Restroom: No ❌
- 👶 Baby stroller accessible: Accessible ✔️
- % Children discounts: free for infants (age 0–4)
5. 🎖️ Yet-Another Great Amsterdam Canal Cruise with Open Bar Option (Friendship)
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Pros:
✔️ Also Great in the "Smaller Boat" Category in (Only in Summer)
✔️ Sightseeing Only or Open Bar Tickets
✔️ Cozy, Small Boat — Max. 30 Passengers
✔️ Single Meeting Point is located in the heart of the city and can be easily reached from any location.
✔️ Comfortable Padded Seats
✔️ Blankets Available
✔️ Live English Commentary
✔️ Great Skipper Captain Experience — Can Talk with Skipper and Ask Questions
✔️ Boat Becomes Open-Air in Summer
Cons:
❌ Intolerable in Winter — Not Well-Insulated, Cold Air Flows Inside the Boat and Isn't Heated
❌ Spotty Winter Cover - Water Can Leak During Rainy Weather
Summary
Friendship offers a 60-minute canal cruise that can also be a great option if you like the smaller, intimate, skipper storytelling cruise experience. This cruise is similar to Flagship or Captain Jack’s.
Our skipper was a middle-aged gentleman who added to the experience with his informative commentary, calm storytelling style, plus a lot of back-and-forth conversations. We also had a young gentleman who was our server.
Their boats can accommodate up to 24 passengers. Unfortunately, it was inadequately covered, so the water leaked in several places.
The front and back of the ship were left uncovered, and the cold air flowed in. Because of this, I was freezing and shivering during the cruise.
Thankfully, they had blankets, which helped keep us warm somewhat. But they should definitely cover the entire boat; otherwise, guests will start falling like flies due to hypothermia (joking!).
Otherwise, everything was great. The boat is equipped with comfortable, padded seats and pillows. During summer, the boat’s cover is removed to provide an open-air experience. Optional drinks and snacks are also available during the cruise.
In summary, excluding the bad winter preparation, Friendship Cruises is comparable to its competitors in the same category, but make sure to go during the summer.
🎥 Video: Watch this short video I made of the highlights of Friendship's Amsterdam canal cruise.
Detailed Breakdown
Itinerary
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- Friendship cruises follow the standard Amsterdam inner-city itinerary without any major differences from most other companies.
Meeting Point
- 🗺️ Near City Center Oudezijds Voorburgwal 230, 1012 GK Amsterdam, Netherlands
The Ship
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- The boat has a capacity for up to 24 passengers. It’s fully covered by a temporary winter cover, including the sides and the roof. It was the flimsiest cover out of all the cruises.
- There’s comfortable padded seating with pillows and a mini bar table in the middle where you can access snacks and drinks.
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- Winter: The ship is not well insulated and isn’t heated. I was freezing during my cruise in November, which detracted a lot from the experience. I couldn’t see much over the plastic windows and it was leaking in many spots.
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- Summer: The temporary covers are removed, and the boat becomes fully open-air when this cruise, like all the others, becomes a lot more enjoyable.
Food And Drinks
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- This cruise offers a variety of drinks, including cocktails, wines, beers, prosecco, and energy drinks. Guests can purchase drinks individually or opt for the unlimited consumption package.
- Food is not served on board.
Crew
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- We were fortunate to have a captain and two servicemen on board, which made our cruise experience all the more enjoyable.
- The captain himself narrated the entire cruise and made it an interactive experience. We were able to ask questions and engage in conversations with him during the cruise.
- Additionally, we were well taken care of when it came to food and drinks. All in all, it was a decent cruise.
Live Commentary by Skipper
- Instead of a fixed audio guide, Friendship offers live narration in English on their cruises. Each skipper is different, and I enjoyed our young skipper’s narration, mostly because it was like a conversation. Naturally, he was happy to answer any questions we had during the cruise.
Quick Facts
- 📅 Schedule: Runs every day between 11:00–22:00 and ships depart every 60 minutes.
- 🕒 Duration: 60 minutes
- 🎟️ Ticket type: Mobile/printed
- 🌐 Wifi: Not available ❌
- 💨 Open air section: Available (only in summertime) ✔️
- ❄️/🌡️ Aircon: Not available ❌
- 🐶 Animals: Not allowed (except service animals) ❌
- 🚬 Smoking: Not allowed ❌
- ♿ Wheelchair accessible: Not accessible ❌
- 🚻 Restroom: No ❌
- 👶 Baby stroller accessible: Accessible ✔️
- % Children discounts: free for infants (age 0–3), 9.50€ tickets (age 4–15)
6. Amsterdam Light Festival Canal Cruise with Unlimited Drinks (Starboard Boats)
Summary & Review — How Was It and What to Expect?
On the Amsterdam Canal Cruise during the Amsterdam Light Festival, you’ll experience a unique view of the city’s vibrant canals, lit up with 20 stunning light installations.
The boat is fully electric, providing a comfortable ride, protected from the elements, and wrapped in warm blankets.
As you cruise through the canals, you’ll pass by glowing art pieces and hear interesting stories about the history of Amsterdam and the festival.
The onboard bar offers unlimited drinks, including glühwein, hot chocolate, beer, wine, and soda.
The theme of this year’s festival, Rituals, highlights how light plays a central role in bringing people together, symbolizing energy and joy. It’s a relaxed and magical way to take in Amsterdam’s beauty during the winter months.
Quick Facts
- 📅 Schedule: Every day at 4:45 PM
- 🎟️ Ticket type: Mobile/printed
- 🧥 Dress code: Smart casual
- 🌐 Wifi: Available ✔️
- 💨 Open air section: Available ✔️
- ❄️/🌡️ Aircon: Available ✔️
- 🐶 Animals: Not allowed (except service animals) ❌
- 🚬 Smoking: N/A
- ♿ Wheelchair accessible: Not Accessible ❌
- 🚻 Restroom: No ❌
- 👶 Baby stroller accessible: Accessible ✔️
- % Children discounts: Offers 70% discount to children (age 15 and below)
- 🚗 Parking: Paid parking available near meeting point ✔️
Meeting Point
- 🗺️ Meeting point: Amstel 178, 1017 AE Amsterdam, Nederland
7. Amsterdam Canal Booze Cruise with Unlimited Drinks Option (Starboard Boats)
Summary & Review — How Was It and What to Expect?
For a true Amsterdam experience, skip the typical bar scene and hop on a boozy canal cruise.
With a small group of just 26 people, this intimate Amsterdam canal cruise lets you explore the city’s famous waterways while enjoying unlimited drinks from the open bar.
Starting in the city center, you’ll cruise through some of Amsterdam’s main canals and onto the Amstel River. Pass under the iconic 7 bridges and discover hidden spots that only a local skipper knows about.
After the cruise, you’ll return to the city center, the perfect spot to continue enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of Amsterdam.
Quick Facts
- 📅 Schedule: Every day at 1 PM
- 🎟️ Ticket type: Mobile/printed
- 🧥 Dress code: Smart casual
- 🌐 Wifi: N/A
- 💨 Open air section: Available ✔️
- ❄️/🌡️ Aircon: Available ✔️
- 🐶 Animals: Not allowed (except service animals) ❌
- 🚬 Smoking: N/A
- ♿ Wheelchair accessible: Not Accessible ❌
- 🚻 Restroom: No ❌
- 👶 Baby stroller accessible: Accessible (️infant seats NOT available) ✔️
- % Children discounts: NONE
- 🚗 Parking: Paid parking available near meeting point ✔️
Meeting Point
- 🗺️ Meeting point: Amstel 178, 1017 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands
- 🗺️ Meeting point: Oudezijds Voorburgwal 230, 1012 GK Amsterdam, Nederland
8. Amsterdam 420-Friendly Smoke and Lounge Canal Cruise (Buddha Lounge Boat)
Summary & Review — How Was It and What to Expect?
For a truly relaxing experience, hop on one of Amsterdam’s most smoke-friendly lounge boat tours. Enjoy your favorite drink, light up, or try a hookah/shisha onboard (available for an extra cost).
Starting at Central Station, you’ll cruise through some of Amsterdam’s most iconic spots, including the Herengracht, Prinsengracht, the Seven Bridges, the Amstel River, Skinny Bridge, and the Dancing Houses.
The boat accommodates up to 22 people, and no matter the weather, the setup ensures a comfortable experience. In summer, all windows open for full views of the city’s landmarks. In winter, the boat has heated seats and closed windows to keep you cozy.
Quick Facts
- 📅 Schedule: Every day at 12:30 PM
- 🎟️ Ticket type: Mobile/printed
- 🧥 Dress code: Smart casual
- 🌐 Wifi: Not available ❌
- 💨 Open air section: Available ✔️
- ❄️/🌡️ Aircon: Available ✔️
- 🐶 Animals: Not allowed (except service animals) ❌
- 🚬 Smoking: Allowed ✔️
- ♿ Wheelchair accessible: Accessible ✔️
- 🚻 Restroom: Yes ✔️
- 👶 Baby stroller accessible: N/A
- % Children discounts: NONE
- 🚗 Parking: Paid parking available near meeting point ✔️
Meeting Point
- 🗺️ Meeting point: Prins Hendrikkade 33A, 1012 TM Amsterdam, Netherlands
9. Amsterdam Pizza Cruise with Drinks (Tours & Tickets)
Summary & Review — How Was It and What to Expect?
Hop on the Amsterdam Pizza Cruise for a 30-minute scenic ride, then dock briefly to enjoy a fresh, homemade pizza served straight from the chef’s kitchen. Along with your pizza, you’ll get a delicious homemade brownie slice and drinks.
When booking, you can choose one pizza per booking, but if you want different types, like Pepperoni or Hawaii, it’s best to make separate bookings under the same name to ensure you sit together.
Pizza options include classic Margherita, spicy Pepperoni, sweet Hawaii and tangy Chilli Chicken. They also offer menus for vegetarians, such as Californian Veggie or a Vegan Margherita.
Aside from that, there’s also a smaller Margherita pizza for kids. It’s a great way to enjoy the sights of Amsterdam while indulging in a tasty meal!
Quick Facts
- 📅 Schedule: Every day at 6 PM
- 🎟️ Ticket type: Mobile/printed
- 🧥 Dress code: Smart casual
- 🌐 Wifi: ???
- 💨 Open air section: Available ❌
- ❄️/🌡️ Aircon: Available ✔️
- 🐶 Animals: Not allowed (except service animals) ❌
- 🚬 Smoking: Not Allowed ❌
- ♿ Wheelchair accessible: Not Accessible ❌
- 🚻 Restroom: Yes ✔️
- 👶 Baby stroller accessible: Not Accessible
- % Children discounts: free for infants (age 0-3)
- 🚗 Parking: Paid parking available near meeting point ✔️
Meeting Point
- 🗺️ Meeting point: Prins Hendrikkade 25, 1012 TM Amsterdam, Nederland
10. Amsterdam Nighttime Canal Cruise with 4-Course Dinner (Tours & Tickets)
Summary & Review — How Was It and What to Expect?
For the ultimate Amsterdam experience, there’s nothing like dining while cruising through the canals. Departing from Centraal Station, this Canal Cruise offers a 4-course dinner served as you glide past iconic landmarks like the Magere Brug (Skinny Bridge) and Anne Frank House.
As the boat moves through the city’s famous canal belt, you’ll enjoy a freshly made meal with a selection of wines and soft drinks. Commentary in multiple languages explains the highlights, giving you insight into Amsterdam’s rich history.
Choose from three menu options: Meat, Fish, or Vegetarian. Each meal starts with green pea soup with grilled asparagus and ends with homemade tiramisu made with Dutch Stroopwafels.
The Meat menu features beef tartare and a beef casserole, the Fish menu includes house-smoked salmon and baked cod, and the Vegetarian menu offers brioche with scrambled egg and a roasted vegetable lasagna.
Note: Only one menu can be selected per booking. For different options, it’s best to make separate bookings under the same name to ensure you sit together.
Quick Facts
- 📅 Schedule: Every day at 7:30 PM
- 🎟️ Ticket type: Mobile/printed
- 🧥 Dress code: Smart casual
- 🌐 Wifi: Available ✔️
- 💨 Open air section: Not Available ❌
- ❄️/🌡️ Aircon: Available ✔️
- 🐶 Animals: Not allowed (except service animals) ❌
- 🚬 Smoking: Not Allowed ❌
- ♿ Wheelchair accessible: Not Accessible ❌
- 🚻 Restroom: Yes ✔️
- 👶 Baby stroller accessible: Not Accessible ❌
- % Children discounts: NONE
- 🚗 Parking: Paid parking available near meeting point ✔️
Meeting Point
- 🗺️ Meeting point: Prins Hendrikkade 25, 1012 TM Amsterdam, Netherlands