boat tour ?

onelovemarley · Post by **onelovemarley** » Thu 3rd Nov 2005 08:11 am

I was wondering if anyone has had a good eperience with the canal tours?

If been reading that some are quite boring and not worth the time/$$...

I am goin with 3 buddies and i would prefer it to be a short tour but be able to take a few pics of nice sights..but most of all i dont want us to be sitting on the boat wishing we werent on it..

I'm sure i can get a reccomendation from someone while i'm there, but i'd trust your opinion over theirs

one love

Boner · Post by **Boner** » Thu 3rd Nov 2005 08:39 am

I've done a few over the years and I like them especially if you haven't been before as they help with orientation, the first time I did the tour I spotted the T-Boat (I had a flyer from a previous year but never found it) so for that alone I think it was worth it, The Rookies coffeeshop does a smoking boat tour (I think its free you just have to tip the captain

) If you can find one I'd recommend one that doesn't do the tour in 3 different languages otherwise by the time the english bit is spoken you've missed the sights!

bigjohn · Post by **bigjohn** » Thu 3rd Nov 2005 08:59 am

Nice one boner. A smoking boat tour

I am off to the dam again on Monday for a couple of days and this is exactly what I was looking for. We are staying near Rookies, will they still be doing the tour this time of year? Any more info would be greatly appreciated.

John

Boner · Post by **Boner** » Thu 3rd Nov 2005 11:06 am

I've been having a search around and it looks like Rookies may still do the tour, it might be worth dropping them a email and asking the qustion - www.rookies.nl - The one I was on about is actually organised by boom chicago http://www.boomchicago.nl/Section/Real-Amsterdam/101 they dont charge but you have to make a donation and by the looks of things it can last up to 2 hours and by using a smaller boat they can get down some of the canals that the 'official' ones can't! Theres a pdf file here - http://www.boomchicago.nl/images/stnickglobepiece.pdf looks like you have to get in touch with Boom Chicago!

Sorry for any confusion but this short term memory loss is getting bloody silly now!!

DR · Post by DR » Thu 3rd Nov 2005 12:26 pm

I took the canal bus two times, both times I bought day ticket and used the canal bus for whole day, jumping on and off whenever I wanted. I had a bit of luck with good weather. Worth a try.
Ticket is full of discount coupons (take a look below) so a good advice is to use the canal bus the first or second day of your Amsterdam trip.

--------------------
In Amsterdam you can also buy your ticket at our shops near Central Station, Rijksmuseum, Leidseplein, Anne Frank House, at the hotels, at the Amsterdam Tourist Information Offices and at our shop in the NZ Hollands Koffiehuis (opposite Central Station). You can also buy your ticket online.
Canal Bus Day Pass €16,– . Valid on all the lines until 12.00 in the afternoon the next day!
Canal Bus Day Pass reduction: €11,– (Children from 4 up to 13 years, groups of minimum 10 people).

You get discounts on the following museums and attractions:

Amsterdam Historical Museum
You can get there with the Red Line. Discount €1,50
Madame Tussaud's
You can get there with all 3 Lines. Discount €4,-
Scheepvaartmuseum
You can get there with the Blue line. Entrance ticket 2 for 1 (discount €9,00)
Holland Casino
You can get there with the Red and Green Line. Free entrance ticket. Save €3,50
Wagamama
You can get there with the Red and Green Line. Free bottle of housewine € 14.95
Mac Bike
You can get there with the Red and Green Line. Save €1,50 on bikerental.
Gassan Diamonds
You can get there with the Blue Line. 10% discount on Watch.
Hard Rock Cafe
You can get there with the Red and Green Line. 2 Great American Cocktails for 1. Discount €6,80
Mc Donalds
Two Big Macs for the price of one.
Holland International Rondvaart
Discount € 4.00 on Dinnercruise
Jewish Historical Museum
Two entrance tickets for the price of 1.
Heineken Experience
Save €2.50 on a copy of ‘The Magic of Heineken”
( more info on Canal company website )
--------------------
Route:

bigjohn · Post by **bigjohn** » Thu 3rd Nov 2005 07:04 pm

Thanks Boner & DR.
The website says it all, If I remember correctly the Boom Chicago have a free magazine in the hotel so will look into booking something when I get there.

It's always the same, have lots of plans for things to see and do, drop the bags at the hotel, go to the nearest coffee shop, the next thing you know is it's time to go to the airport to catch the flight home. Definitely going to make a more determined effort this time. The wife says if we don't see some sites this time, then next time we go away we're going to bloody Prague

Cheers
John

JW · Post by JW » Thu 3rd Nov 2005 10:34 pm

Yeah boat trips are nice. Have a nice smoke before hand theyre well chilled

AzLaker · Post by **AzLaker** » Thu 3rd Nov 2005 10:45 pm

The wife and I took the one across the street from Central station. 8 euros each for a little more then a 1 hour tour. Had a nice time. Saw and learned some things that normally you won't find walking around. AzLaker

mazdog · Post by **mazdog** » Fri 4th Nov 2005 12:52 am

We took a boat tour also. No idea which one cuase it was the second thing we did after gettin to the hotel...first was smoke a phatty of powerplant. I like the tour, learned some things, saw lots of things that i probably would have missed otherwise....good times.

Also since Boom Chicago was brought up, i wanted to say that i also went to their show in the Leidsplein. I enjoyed it, not the funniest comedy show i've ever been to but funny nonetheless.

onelovemarley · Post by **onelovemarley** » Fri 4th Nov 2005 05:38 pm

thanks guys for all the replies...

I've read a few reviews like yours mazdog from other sites where people say they were exposed to things they probably would not have seen if it wasn't for the tour..

I was hoping you could tell me what the name of the tour was and what area was covered, I guess I dont know how far they can cover in a 1 hour tour..
Maybe what canals were most interesting...I just dont want to get stuck on a slow, boring tour..

thanks again,

one love

mazdog · Post by **mazdog** » Fri 4th Nov 2005 10:32 pm

all i remeber was that the boats left from the docking area near the Leidsplein, on the canal in front of the Rijks Museum, then went sorta north up the east side of town then out in the bay behind Centraal Station and the back thru the canals on the west side of town back to the dock.

Boner · Post by **Boner** » Fri 4th Nov 2005 11:26 pm

The ones by Central station have always been alright, the one by the Heineken Museum is crap so avoid that one, I'd see if theres one thats just spoken in English as I've always found that by the time the voice over does the english bit you've already past the site!

onelovemarley · Post by **onelovemarley** » Sat 5th Nov 2005 03:11 am

thanks for the help

bigjohn · Post by **bigjohn** » Sat 5th Nov 2005 09:49 am

Thanks for the message DR. I have printed off the map and your places of interest, better get those camera batteries charged up, should get some good piccies this time instead of just a smokey haze, although, will get some smokey ones as well

John