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Old Dec 17, 2008, 8:26 pm
  #1  
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Amsterdam Boat Tour?

Going to AMS next week for the first time and would like to tour the canals. Any suggestions for a charter or tour company? Private is preferable but im sure quite expensive...
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Old Dec 18, 2008, 6:30 pm
  #2  
 
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Try any of these. Plus you can earn double miles with bookings thru Viator right now.

http://www.viator.com/tours/Amsterda...d525-2550LIN10

http://www.viator.com/tours/Amsterda.../d525-2550LIN9

http://www.viator.com/tours/Amsterda...525-2550AMSBBD

http://www.viator.com/tours/Amsterda...25-2544CANAL01

http://www.viator.com/tours/Amsterda...d525-2550LIN1A

http://www.viator.com/tours/Amsterda...25-2544CANAL05

Offer for double miles.

http://travelblog.viator.com/special...m/?aid=svv1203

Enjoy
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Old Dec 18, 2008, 11:25 pm
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Oh god the boat tour is the most touristy thing you could possibly do in AMS. I don't recommend doing it in the winter, kind of cold ya?.

The only boat tour I semi enjoyed is at Brugge (Bruges) in West Flanders, Belgium and of course in Venice in a Gondola. (and the one in Vegas)

If you really want to do the boat tour, go in the spring/summer.

Frankly I think AMS (the old city center at least) is best explored by foot and a GVB (tram) all zone day card.

If you want to see canals, my suggestion is to hop on a train travel south to one of the old dutch towns : Delft, Leiden or Utrecht come to mind. Wander around. A lot more authentic, minus the tourists. 40 minutes to an 1 hour train ride from Amsterdam.

There also has been a movement to restore old windmills as well in these towns. An added bonus...

Last edited by meFIRST; Dec 18, 2008 at 11:40 pm
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Old Dec 19, 2008, 6:11 pm
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meFIRST, prob a stupid questions but "If you want to see canals, my suggestion is to hop on a train travel south to one of the old dutch towns : Delft, Leiden or Utrecht come to mind. Wander around. A lot more authentic, minus the tourists. 40 minutes to an 1 hour train ride from Amsterdam"

Is it safe to do that?

"Oh god the boat tour is the most touristy thing you could possibly do in AMS. I don't recommend doing it in the winter, kind of cold ya?."

YA, but I am a tourist!

Im probably going to take your advice as i only have 3 days there and do most of my sightseeing on foot. I think you're right and its probably going to be too cold to enjoy any type of boat tour.
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Old Dec 19, 2008, 10:01 pm
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Tour boat we took was enclosed and quite cozy. Don't write it off quite yet.

Originally Posted by precision80
I think you're right and its probably going to be too cold to enjoy any type of boat tour.
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Old Dec 20, 2008, 1:45 am
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Originally Posted by precision80
meFIRST, prob a stupid questions but "If you want to see canals, my suggestion is to hop on a train travel south to one of the old dutch towns : Delft, Leiden or Utrecht come to mind. Wander around. A lot more authentic, minus the tourists. 40 minutes to an 1 hour train ride from Amsterdam"

Is it safe to do that?
There are no stupid questions, the answer is simply "yes".

Originally Posted by precision80
"Oh god the boat tour is the most touristy thing you could possibly do in AMS. I don't recommend doing it in the winter, kind of cold ya?."

YA, but I am a tourist!

Im probably going to take your advice as i only have 3 days there and do most of my sightseeing on foot. I think you're right and its probably going to be too cold to enjoy any type of boat tour.
Most people (including me) believe that a boat tour is a very good introduction to Amsterdam.
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Old Dec 20, 2008, 9:15 am
  #7  
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All the larger Amsterdam canal boats are enclosed. Most are 1-2 hour tours (day or candlelight) and reasonably cheap, interesting and informative. I have taken them and recommend them.

MisterNice
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Old Dec 20, 2008, 3:01 pm
  #8  
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Did you guys take one of the ones Henwood suggested?
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Old Dec 21, 2008, 6:08 pm
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Originally Posted by precision80
meFIRST, prob a stupid questions but "If you want to see canals, my suggestion is to hop on a train travel south to one of the old dutch towns : Delft, Leiden or Utrecht come to mind. Wander around. A lot more authentic, minus the tourists. 40 minutes to an 1 hour train ride from Amsterdam"

Is it safe to do that?

Absolutely. It's the Netherlands.... ^
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Old Dec 21, 2008, 6:25 pm
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Took the boat tour during Christmas a few years back and learned quite a bit about the city from being on the water.
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Old Dec 21, 2008, 7:24 pm
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I've walked around the old amsterdam quater late, late night without any problems. Ditto as well, the small towns I mentioned to you, late night.

You'll find more Politie (police) roaming the streets in amsterdam than in the small towns.

Like anyplace, it's best to use common sense where ever you go.

And if trouble finds your way, I find it remarkable that most dutch people (with the exception the occasional elderly folk from the country side) are able to comprehend and speak perfect english.

You'll be fine. Most of the towns I mentioned to you also have a VVV (tourist office) that can point you in the right direction.
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Old Dec 22, 2008, 8:41 am
  #12  
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Canal tours, including the Canal bus, which you can hop off and on:

http://www.canal.nl/en/theme.php?theme_id=3
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Old Dec 22, 2008, 11:06 am
  #13  
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Originally Posted by PrePress420
Canal tours, including the Canal bus, which you can hop off and on:

http://www.canal.nl/en/theme.php?theme_id=3
this looks perfect. thanks!
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Old Dec 30, 2008, 1:35 pm
  #14  
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I am exceptionally posting in this forum to offer my highest recommendation (management, facilities, administration) to this firm:
http://www.privateboattours.nl/content/vloot_en.php
Top level, fine people. Book well in advance.
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Old Apr 17, 2015, 7:09 am
  #15  
 
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Reviving old thread.

We're arriving early morning in mid May via overnight from NY to join a 12 day cruise. We have exactly 72 hrs in AMS before boarding so we thought the first activity to help getting over jet-lag and to learn a little of the town is the canal tour. We figured starting off right after checking in, unpacking, quick shower, light meal - around noon time.

Besides the usual question of which operator, what is recommended at that time of year between open and enclosed boats? Also, length and time - a couple of hours? Ideally we'd like to end up in neighborhood like Jordaan that would permit us to stroll leisurely for another 1 or 2 before we head back to crash by early evening!

This trip we'll probably crash early each night and miss the nightlife....so dinner canal tour is not in play.
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