Amsterdam Boat Experience Review

If you're looking for a budget excursion with a luxurious feel, Amsterdam Boat Experience has you covered. For $40, enjoy unlimited wine and Dutch cheese on an hour-long cruise through Amsterdam's vibrant UNESCO canals. Narrated by local guides, this is a great way to embrace Amsterdam's history and soak up panoramic views of the buzzing city.

The cruise begins and ends in central Amsterdam at the historic Anne Frank house, where the famous Jewish diarist hid for two years during WWII. From outside the city, catch the sprinter train to Amsterdam central station and walk for 20 minutes. The landmark is packed, and finding your boat is complicated, so arrive an hour early. Guests must make a large, rather treacherous step when boarding, making the tour inaccessible for some, including wheelchairs. Take this tour between April and October to avoid the cold, and pack something warm regardless due to open areas onboard.

Guests sit on plush seats surrounding an elegant table serving bottomless rose, white and red wines and beer. Not just any beer, Amstel beer, "made from the canal water, which is pure enough to drink" the guide said while drinking a cup. The Dutch cheese, gouda and emam, has been produced in the Netherlands since the Middle Ages, which becomes apparent when you taste the nutty, fresh flavours . Guests see Claude Monet's 1874 "Zuiderkerk in Amsterdam" come to life, and re-live history while sailing through the red-light district, old harbour, and gold bend neighbourhood.

Leave the kids at home; the red-light atmosphere isn't exactly PG. Couples can enjoy the ambiance of Amsterdam and share a kiss under the skinny bridge, which Dutch legend says makes love everlasting. The intimately sized group of around 25 onboard makes mingling easy for solo travellers and groups. Budget travellers can take this opportunity to indulge without overspending. And don't worry, clean bathrooms are onboard after a couple (or many) glasses of wine.