When you’re on vacation, time is valuable. There’s nothing worse than spending a day (and your money) doing something that ends up being a total letdown. That’s where companies like Tripadvisor come in. Each year, they compile traveller feedback to highlight the activities that are well worth your time. By Evie Carrick
This year, one experience stood out, topping the list of overall experiences in the Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards. With 9,529 five-star reviews out of 9,998 reviews on Tripadvisor, the Amsterdam Open Boat Canal Cruise with Flagship Amsterdam easily took the No. 1 spot.
This canal cruise in Amsterdam comes with unlimited wine and cheese
The cruise, which takes you through Amsterdam’s iconic canals on an electric saloon boat, is not the sort of experience where you’re herded on a boat with hundreds of other tourists. The capacity of the company’s open-air boats is small, typically around 30 people. The entire one-hour experience is intimate and the level of service is top-notch — each cruise has a private skipper and an English-speaking guide who knows all the ins and outs of Amsterdam. Travellers also note that the crew is more than happy to dole out local restaurant and activity recommendations.
As you cruise along the canals, you’ll pass the city’s most famous landmarks — including the Jordaan neighbourhood and the Rijksmuseum — while the guide shares insight into Amsterdam’s rich trading history and culture. The waterway tour provides great photo ops — especially as you glide under the city’s many bridges (including Magere Brug, aka Skinny Bridge) and pass by the swanky Golden Bend neighbourhood, home to the city’s most coveted canal houses.
The tour starts in front of the Anne Frank House, in the heart of the city, making it the perfect follow-up to a morning spent at the museum.
And while the experience of being out on the water is easily the highlight of the trip, the experience is only enhanced by the food and wine that accompanies it. As you board the cruise, you’ll be greeted with a spread of Dutch cheese and unlimited beer, wine, and soft drinks. Travellers confirm that there’s nothing quite like sipping on a glass of wine and nibbling on cheese while passing by the stunning canal houses lining the water.
The canal cruise with Flagship Amsterdam is currently USD 20.71 or INR 1,623 on Tripadvisor. You can also book directly through Flagship Amsterdam. If booking on Tripadvisor, you can cancel your trip up to two days before your experience without being charged. Those looking for a more flexible cancellation policy might want to book directly with Flagship Amsterdam, which has a 24-hour cancellation policy.
(This story first appeared on www.travelandleisure.com)
(Hero and Feature image credits: Courtesy of Tripadvisor)
Related: Explore Burgundy On A Private Canal Cruise
Written By
