Discover Amsterdam on an Interesting Amsterdam Channel Cruise

Of all the great metropolitan areas that we have visited in Europe, we have found all boast their different qualities and unique features to proffer. With Amsterdam, it is certainly the canals; it isn't known as the "Venice of the North" for nothing. With its three rings of canals establishing ninety islands, the city's key element is water. To discover this city on an interesting Amsterdam channel cruise is without question the best way to observe this magnificent city, whether you are visiting for a few hours or quite a few days.



The history of pleasure cruising on Amsterdam canals goes back to 1621, when Queen Elisabeth Stuart of Bohemia entered the city in a parade of admiralty sloops, with the cheering on bridges and canal sides of thousands of towns-inhabitants. Since that point many dignitaries, including Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, as well as the Beatles have made their way through the city on a canal cruise craft. In the present day it's the most popular tourist points of interest within the Netherlands, with in excess of three million passengers a year. Practically each type of service imaginable that may be obtainable on shore is available on an interesting Amsterdam channel cruise, with a diverse fleet of approximately 200 specialized vessels in business.



1. Private cruises. Almost any occasion can be arranged for on one of several exciting Amsterdam canal cruise excursion boats. You will discover water taxis for just getting about, to well-appointed saloon boats with five star services. These saloon boats go back roughly 100 years, when they had been constructed to cater to the wealthy visitors of the very best city hotels. Many have been restored and are a part of the fleet of vessels available for an interesting Amsterdam channel cruise. These are generally operated by small companies, and tender services from a romantic dinner for two to a celebration with many of guests. Two hour candlelight cruises, a pizza cruise, a two hour wine and cheese cruise, along with a vessel which includes a Hard Rock Cafe are among a variety of options. One offers a delicious meal while cruising for an hour and thirty minutes before a call at the Van Gogh Museum.



2. Public cruises. The vast majority of these are larger companies operating from the Central Station district, or the center of Amsterdam. For our Amsterdam channel cruise we used the extremely cozy canal bus that operates a regular service along three routes with fourteen stops in the neighborhood of key museums and city attractions. These have a tour guide system with interesting commentaries on Amsterdam. Tickets are likely to be valid till midday the following day, which allows you to jump on and off all day, should you want to tour the city that way. Another choice will be the open "whisper boats" that run two routes and navigate to spots in the city which might be less traveled.



Additional observations of Amsterdam: Bicycles are all over the place, and their riders race around at speeds seemingly to the visitor to be unsafe. You would think there are constant accidents in all the chaos, but in some way they seem to dodge each other, and also unsuspecting vacationers. Still, don't use all your time gazing at the marvelous sights. Secondly, do not assume much banter from the wait personnel in dining establishments. They're efficient; however they absolutely fail to perceive their profession as making small chatter.



That said, we really enjoyed our exciting Amsterdam canal cruise and our time there and will definitely go back.  But you must see the city from the canals.  For more information on Europe tours, click HERE, and for excellent tips on how to save money on travel, click HERE.  Glen Wheaton is a writer and avid traveler now living in London.