Amsterdam: All-Inclusive Saloon Boat Cruise & Unlimited Drinks

Unlimited drinks and snacks while the city floats past your window

You board a 12-person saloon boat at Central Station and spend the afternoon or evening floating Amsterdam's UNESCO-listed canals with unlimited wine, beer, soft drinks, and Dutch snacks included. The local skipper narrates the highlights: the Red Light District, the Basilica of St. Nicholas, the leaning Dancing Houses, the illuminated bridges at night, while you stay warm inside and never run out of a drink. No need to arrange separate tickets or worry about finding a restaurant. It's all on the boat.

Step-by-step itinerary

Amsterdam canal cruise and landmarks

• See Amsterdam on UNESCO canals
• Visit Basilica of St. Nicholas
• View the decorative spire tower
• Pass the Blauwbrug (Blue Bridge)
• See the Amstel River
• View the Dancing Houses on Damrak canal
• Explore the Old Church in Red Light District
• Walk through Zeedijk street

The experience

The boat fills up fast, and you realize halfway through your first glass of wine that you're not going to run out, of anything. Unlimited beer, wine, or soft drinks come with the ticket, along with a plate of Dutch tapas, and the skipper (who speaks English and Dutch) is already pointing out the Basilica of St. Nicholas as you push away from the dock right in front of Central Station. Twelve passengers maximum means you're not crammed in with a hundred other people, which changes how the whole thing feels. The route shifts depending on the day and the water, so you might see the Dancing Houses leaning at their impossible angles, or cruise past the H'ART Museum along the Amstel, or drift through the Red Light District where the Old Church sits in the middle of everything. The skipper explains it all as you go.

What makes this Amsterdam saloon boat cruise different is that you're not watching the city from a bench while someone passes around a single shared bottle. The unlimited drinks mean you can actually relax into it, and the snacks keep coming. If you go in the evening, the bridges light up with thousands of small bulbs strung across them, which sounds like it might be cheesy until you're actually floating under them with a glass in your hand and the water reflecting all that light back at you. Winter gets cold on the water, they warn you about that, so bring a proper jacket, but the boat keeps moving and the drinks keep flowing, so it doesn't really matter.

The skipper handles the talking, pointing out landmarks like the Blauwbrug (the Blue Bridge over the Amstel, named after a 17th-century wooden bridge that was painted blue) and explaining why those canal houses lean the way they do. If you don't speak English, there's a free digital booklet with guided information in eight languages: English, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, and Chinese. You're only getting alcoholic drinks if you're 18 or older: minors get the same snacks and unlimited soft drinks, which is fair. The boat itself won TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice award in 2025, which is the kind of thing that matters when you're booking something sight unseen.

What’s included

• Your ticket includes a glass of champagne to begin, then unlimited beer, wine, and soft drinks throughout the cruise, plus a plate of Dutch tapas.
• The local English-speaking skipper narrates the highlights of Amsterdam's canals, and a free digital booklet with guided information in eight languages is available if you prefer to follow along in your own language.
• Small group format keeps the boat at 12 passengers maximum.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 7 Aug 2027

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (15 and older) · Child (4 to 14 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish and Dutch

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “Our location is right in front of Amsterdam Central Station, directly in front of the tram stops by the water.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Eco Boats Amsterdam

Is this one for you?A good fit if you want to see Amsterdam's main canal landmarks without arranging separate tickets, restaurants, or worrying about running out of a drink: the all-inclusive format and small group size handle all of that. Plan for the boat to be cold on the water in winter, which is why bringing warm clothes matters, but that's also what keeps the experience intimate instead of crowded.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Dutch.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 14 years); Infant (under 4).

What time do boats depart?

Daytime and evening departures are available. The exact schedule is not listed in the product details. Check with the operator for times.

Is the boat suitable if I have mobility issues?

The product is listed as suitable for all physical fitness levels. Contact the operator about specific accessibility needs.

What if the weather is bad?

Winter in Amsterdam can be cold on the water. Wear warm clothes. The route may vary depending on external factors like water conditions.

Where do I meet the boat?

The departure point is right in front of Central Station. Public transportation options are available nearby.

What's included in the ticket?

A glass of champagne to start, followed by unlimited beer, wine, soft drinks, and a plate of Dutch tapas. The boat is a TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice 2025 winner.