Amsterdam Dinner Cruise – Tickets & Prices, Menu, Duration and more!
Savoring gourmet meals while cruising through Amsterdam's scenic canals lined with twinkling bridges and charming houses makes for an indulgent dining experience. This guide covers everything you need know about Amsterdam Dinner Cruise - Tickets & Prices, Food & drinks, Meeting point / Pick-up & drop-off, and many more. Read on.
- By: Eleanor Whitfield
Enjoying a leisurely gourmet meal paired with stunning views of Amsterdam’s bridges arching over the water and elegant gabled canal houses glowing as dusk falls makes for an utterly unforgettable dining experience. Dinner cruises allow you to combine incredible cuisine, gorgeous waterside vistas, and a one-of-a-kind romantic ambience all in one. This all comes together to provide a taste of Amsterdam’s flavor that you simply can’t replicate anywhere else.
As your meal progresses, watch the city slowly illuminate under twinkling lights while gliding by landmarks and soaking in the charm of the quaint canal neighborhoods. Waiters will attend to your every need as you dine, topping up your wine or champagne while the city floats by your panoramic window table. It’s truly an incredible multi-sensory affair, from the delectable food and drinks to the stunning changing views of Amsterdam’s beauty during your 2-3 hours onboard.
Whether celebrating a special occasion, surprising a loved one, or simply indulging on your vacation, an Amsterdam dinner cruise promises memories to last long after your plates are cleared and you disembark back under the city’s lights. This guide will walk through everything you need to know to plan out and book your own perfect fine dining experience cruising through one of Europe’s most captivating capitals from an entirely unique perspective on the water.
Types of Amsterdam Dinner Cruises
Multi-Course Meal Cruises offer set plated dinners ranging from three to five courses as you glide along Amsterdam’s scenic canals. Menus often include choice of meat, fish, or vegetarian entrées. These cruises focus on showcasing gourmet traditional Dutch or modern European fare.
Themed Event Cruises enhance the experience with entertainment like live jazz concerts, comedy shows, or interactive murder mystery performances as you dine. For special occasions, Holiday Dinner Cruises have celebratory menus and onboard decorations for occasions like Valentine’s Day, Christmas, anniversaries, or birthdays.
Those looking to pair fine wine with their meal can book a Wine and Cheese Cruise offering tastings of premium vintages along with cheeses, meats, and accompaniments expertly selected to complement the wines. Dessert cruises take the traditional multicourse progression and focus the event on an indulgent, decadent spread of cakes, chocolates, ice creams, and other sweet delicacies.
Many providers also allow chartering your own Private Catered Boat for groups, letting you fully customize cuisine and details. And late morning Brunch Cruises offer lighter daytime dining with mimosas, Bloody Marys, and scenic tranquil routes.
With such diverse options, you can tailor an Amsterdam dinner cruise to match any palate, occasion, or ambience you desire once the sun goes down. Find the ideal culinary canal tour to satisfy your taste buds and appetite for adventure.
Popular Amsterdam Dinner Cruise Providers
Blue Boat Company, one of the city’s most established cruise operators, offers indulgent Valentine’s Day dinner cruises along with special holiday meal tours like at Christmas and New Year’s. Their ships have panoramic windows and plush indoor seating.
Lovers Canal Cruises is known for its intimate Jazz Dinner Cruises featuring live music as you savor Dutch and international dishes. Their wooden saloon boats create an elegant, sophisticated setting.
Rederij Kooij specializes in romantic private chartered dinner cruises for two where you customize everything from cuisine, music, decor and more. Their classic boats have over a century of history.
Rent Boat Amsterdam provides cozy small crafts you can pilot yourself along the canals during your private catered charter for ultimate flexibility.
Those Dam Boat Guys offer great value with affordable BBQ, Italian feast, and 3-course dinner cruises catering to groups looking to keep costs down.
There are lots of dinner cruise style options across high-end refined experiences to more casual BBQs and buffets. Each company aims to showcase Amsterdam’s cuisine, scenery, and ambience in unique ways after dark.
| Company | Sample Dinner Offerings |
|---|---|
| Blue Boat Company | Valentine’s Day Dinner Cruise |
| Lovers Canal Cruises | Jazz Dinner Cruise |
| Those Dam Boat Guys | Italian Feast Cruise |
| Wetlands Safari | Wine & Cheese Cruise |
Here are the most popular Amsterdam Dinner Cruises
Dinner Cruise in Amsterdam - How much does it cost?
A standard multi-course dinner canal cruise generally costs around €65-100 per adult and €30-50 per child when booked advance online. More luxury offerings with premium menus, fine wines, and special occasions like Valentine’s Day or New Year’s Eve run €100-150+ per adult.
Private chartered dinner boats start around €300 per hour for smaller groups up to 12 passengers. For larger parties of 20-40, expect to spend €1,000-2,000+ for a multi-hour charter with catering. Added costs like flowers, cakes, decor further increase pricing.
All-inclusive packages that cover drinks tend to run €20-40 higher than cruises where beverages must be purchased individually. Brunch cruises are more affordable at €50-70 with lighter fare than elaborate dinners.
Across the board, booking early online provides around a 10-20% discount compared to last-minute or walk-up ticket pricing. Watch for seasonal deals as well.
While not necessarily budget friendly, dinner cruises offer exceptional value when you factor in the gourmet cuisine, premium entertainment, fantastic service, and views of one of Europe’s most scenic cities from the water.
Where you should buy tickets for Amsterdam Dinner Canal Cruise?
There are many platforms which offer to order Amsterdam canal cruise tickets in advance. Some of the most popular ones are “Tiqets” which is a Netherlands company, or “Getyourguide” which consider a very well-known online tickets platform.
Another great way to secure tickets is directly through the canal cruise company’s website, which will offer the full range of available dinner offerings and often discounted pricing for advance online booking.
If you are already in Amsterdam, tickets can also be purchased at the cruise operator’s dock kiosk on the day of departure. However, gourmet dinner tours often sell out so walk-up availability is limited.
Some hotels and tourism shops sell packaged Amsterdam canal cruise deals that may include dining options, but pricing is usually marked up compared to direct bookings.
When purchasing dinner cruises as part of a bigger Amsterdam city pass package, carefully verify what’s included – sometimes drinks or other amenities require separate fees.
For the widest variety of culinary cruise choices, optimal pricing, and guaranteed seats at the time you want, reserve your Amsterdam dinner cruise tickets online directly through the operator’s website in advance of your trip.
Menu - Food & drinks
Multi-course plated dinners often start with an appetizer like smoked salmon, prawn cocktail, or Dutch cheese sampler. Soup and salad courses follow before moving to the mains. Entrée selections generally include meat options like seared steak or lamb, poultry such as duck breast, and fish selections like grilled sea bass or salmon. Vegetarian diners can usually substitute pasta or risotto dishes.
Sides often feature Dutch specialties like roasted new potatoes and seasonal vegetables. Desserts tend to include sweets like chocolate mousse cake, tiramisu, or fruit tarts. The meals are very generously portioned.
Some cruises offer signature cocktails before dinner. Wine pairings with each course are popular. Boats have full bar service with beers, wines, spirits and non-alcoholic beverages available for purchase separately.
Date, cherry, apple, and other seasonal ingredients are incorporated into the dishes and desserts. Menus change frequently to reflect what’s fresh. Dinner cruises showcase Amsterdam’s creative cuisine.
| Course | Sample Dishes |
|---|---|
| Appetizers | Smoked salmon, prawn cocktail, cheese |
| Soups & Salads | Seasonal soups, mixed green salads |
| Mains | Seafood, steaks, duck, vegetarian |
| Sides | Potatoes, roasted vegetables |
| Desserts | Chocolate cake, tiramisu, fruit tarts |
| Drinks | Cocktails, wine, beer, non-alcoholic |
Booking Tips
- Reserve your cruise tickets directly through the company’s website well in advance for the best rates and availability. These popular tours sell out.
- Carefully select your departure time to allow sufficient hours for a leisurely multi-course meal before other plans.
- If available, preorder wine pairings or drinks packages to complement your meal.
- Specify any dietary restrictions or allergies so they can accommodate you.
- Request a waterside table for optimal romantic canal views during your meal if an option.
- For special occasions, see if you can arrange flowers, gifts, or cakes to be waiting at your table.
- On private charters, customize details like music, decor, route, and catering to make it a personalized evening.
- Read online reviews of different provider options to select the ambiance and cuisine that suits you.
- Triple check the departure dock location and arrive 15 minutes before boarding time so you don’t miss this special evening.
- Dress up a bit – dinner cruises tend to have more elegant, refined atmospheres.
Advance planning and taking advantage of add-ons allows you to tailor the perfect romantic indulgent escape on the water. Follow these tips when booking your Amsterdam dinner cruise.
Meeting point / Pick-up & drop-off
Most dinner cruise companies depart from conveniently located docks in the city center. This allows you to simply walk, take a taxi, or use public transport to arrive at your embarkation point.
Popular docks near top attractions and accommodations include across from Central Station, next to the Anne Frank House museum, behind the Bloemenmarkt Flower Market, and along the Amstel River by the Hermitage Museum.
When booking, carefully confirm the exact meeting time and departure dock address so you arrive in time for boarding. Arrive 10-15 minutes early. If running late, urgently call the provided contact number so they can wait if possible.
At the end of your cruise, the boat will return to the original docking point or a nearby disembarkation jetty. This is again located centrally. From here you can walk, hail a taxi, or take a short tram ride back to your hotel or next destination.
Some companies offer hotel pick-up/drop-off services within the city center for an added fee. This can provide door-to-door convenience if you’d rather not transit before and after your dinner cruise. Just account for traffic delays.
Double checking the logistics in advance results in a smooth rendezvous and wonderful evening on the water without having to worry about Amsterdam transport before or after.
Typical duration for Dinner canal cruises in Amsterdam:
Here are some details on the typical duration of dinner cruises in Amsterdam:
- Standard Multi-Course Dinner Cruises: These usually last 2-3 hours to allow sufficient time to enjoy a leisurely paced 3-4 course plated meal with scenic cruising.
- Brunch Cruises: Brunch tours are shorter, averaging 1-2 hours to enjoy lighter daytime fare at a relaxed pace.
- Theme Cruises: Specialty event cruises with entertainment often run 2-3 hours as well, to incorporate dining.
- Private Charters: Groups can fully customize duration from 1 hour up to 4-5 hours for extended events like weddings or large parties.
- Holiday Cruises: Festive holiday meals generally take 2-3 hours for multi-courses.
- Dessert/Tastings: Cruises focused just on sweets and tastings tend to run 60-90 minutes.
Considering most dinner tours include about 3 courses spaced 15-20 minutes apart, with breaks to digest, 2-3 hours allows dining at an unrushed pace to savor both the food and views. Budget your evening to allow sufficient time to indulge.
What to Expect During a Dinner Cruise in Amsterdam?
You can anticipate exceptional multi-course meals, creatively presented with fresh local ingredients. Menus change seasonally to incorporate what’s current. Expect attentive table service from friendly staff topping up your wine, champagne, and ensuring a memorable evening.
Boats feature panoramic windows with either open seating or assigned tables. If reserving a private table, waterside spots overlooking the canals are ideal but book early. Table service dining creates an upscale ambiance.
Depending on the cruise, live background music like jazz, DJs, or even comedy shows provide entertainment while cruising between dinner courses. Others focus solely on fine cuisine. Guides share history and details about sights.
You’ll spend 2-3 leisurely hours enjoying Amsterdam’s charm from the water in a unique setting while indulging in drinks and fantastic food. It’s elevated dining taken to a new level of pampered luxury with the added bonus of exploring one of Europe’s most picturesque cities as your dinner backdrop.
Take advantage of this rare chance to combine exquisite meals, incredible views, and first-class onboard service into one memorable Amsterdam evening out.
Top sights and landmarks you'll often see while on a dinner cruise in Amsterdam:
- The Skinny Bridge (Magere Brug) – This picturesque drawbridge lit up at night is one of Amsterdam’s most iconic sights.
- Canal Houses – Elegant gabled houses dating back to the Dutch Golden Age line many canal routes.
- Anne Frank House – This landmark museum recounts Anne’s story in the secret annex.
- Bloemenmarkt – Amsterdam’s famous floating flower market features colorful displays.
- Royal Palace of Amsterdam – The former City Hall overlooks the water on Dam Square.
- Westerkerk – This distinctive church tower amidst the Jordaan district is hard to miss.
- Nine Little Streets – Charming, narrow shopping streets with cafes and boutiques.
- Hermitage Museum – One of Amsterdam’s top art museums located within a historic 17th century building.
- Seven Bridges – The iconic string of seven bridges crossing the Reguliersgracht canal.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do dinner cruises typically last?
Most dinner cruises are 2-3 hours to allow sufficient time for a multi-course meal at a leisurely pace along with taking in canal views.
What type of cuisine is served onboard?
Menus range from traditional Dutch specialties to Pan-European fusion cuisine. Dishes change seasonally based on fresh ingredients.
Can you make special meal requests for dietary needs?
Yes, just notify the cruise company beforehand about any food allergies, restrictions, or preferences so they can accommodate.
Are drinks like wine, beer, and cocktails included?
Drink packages can be added on, but typically drinks must be purchased separately. Some cruises include a welcome drink.
How should you dress for dinner cruises?
While there is no formal dress code, dinner cruises tend to be more refined so smart casual or cocktail attire is recommended.
Can kids and families take dinner cruises?
Yes, though the later timing and formality means they likely appeal more to adults without young children. Discounts for kids 12 and under are common.
What happens if it rains or storms during the cruise?
Most boats have interior saloon seating as an alternative. Tours proceed rain or shine, though may adjust routes if severe.
Amsterdam Dinner Cruise - Pros and Cons
Pros
- Unique setting to indulge in gourmet cuisine while cruising by top sights
- Romantic ambience perfect for date nights or celebrations
- All-inclusive convenience with meals, drinks, and sightseeing bundled
- Excellent value when factoring the high quality food and service
- Chance to see the city from a different perspective after dark
- No need to choose a restaurant or navigate dining in Amsterdam
- Comfort of panoramic indoor seating regardless of weather
Cons
- Pricing can be expensive, especially for premium events and holidays
- Less flexibility or customization compared to dining on land
- Motion sickness potential for those sensitive to boat movement
- Schedule timing needs to accommodate the 2+ hour experience
- Dress expectations are elevated over casual daytime cruises
- Waiting staff moving between tables could disrupt conversations
- Not ideal for young children or fussy eaters requiring kid-friendly meals
Traveler Reviews of Dinner Cruises in Amsterdam
“The food was absolutely delicious and service was five-star. Well worth the price for the experience”.
“Very romantic setting for our anniversary dinner. They even had flowers and a card waiting for us at our table!”.
“The sunset views of the bridges lit up while dining were so incredible”.
“We lucked out booking a waterside table. Make sure to request one if available!”.
“They were so accommodating of my nut allergy and prepared a custom entrée”.
“The jazz trio performing live music really added to the ambience”.
“They could have had more vegetarian options but overall an amazing experience”.
“Arrive hungry – the portions are very generous across all courses!”.
“Dress code felt more formal than expected but I guess it matches the upscale dining”.
“Ended up being one of the highlights of our trip. A must-do when in Amsterdam!”.
More useful information about Amsterdam Canal Cruises
- Read on about all type of Amsterdam Canal Cruises.
- How much are tickets, and where can you buy them? Read our guide for Amsterdam Canal Cruise Tickets.
- Blue Boat Company or Lovers? Check out the top cruise providers in Amsterdam!
- Canal Cruise Amsterdam at Night – Read this before you book tickets!
- Sightseeing Canal Cruise in Amsterdam or a Dinner Cruise? Which one suits you?
We are a group of travelers who love to explore and write about Amsterdam. Over the years, we have gained extensive experience with cruising over the Canals in Amsterdam. Here, you could find all the essential information you need to know about Amsterdam Canal Cruises, including the different types of cruise, prices, tickets, operating hours, departure points, and many more.