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HomeAmsterdam GuidesAmsterdam Aperol Spritz Cruise: Real Prices, Drink Tiers & Open Sloop Guide

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Amsterdam Aperol Spritz Cruise: Real Prices, Drink Tiers & Open Sloop Guide

If you look up the Amsterdam Spritz Cruise online, you will often see a starting price of €21.50. But check the booking tiers before heading to the dock: that €21.50 base fare is strictly a dry ticket labeled "Adult without any drinks". The actual unlimited drinks option—which includes free-flowing Aperol Spritz, chilled beer, wine, and soft drinks—is the €35.00 customer tier. Crucially for groups of friends or couples, you are not locked into drinking spritzes alone: anyone who prefers draft beer or crisp wine has full access, and non-drinkers can simply book the €21.50 dry seat on the exact same boat.

Understanding the Two Price Tiers: €21.50 vs €35.00

Guests drinking Aperol Spritz, beer, and wine aboard an open electric sloop at Stationsplein 18

Boarding takes place at Stationsplein 18 directly opposite Amsterdam Centraal, where electric sloops turn immediately into the Open Havenfront basin.

The cruise operator, Eco Boats Amsterdam, offers two distinct customer options on this 60-minute electric sloop tour:
  • Adult without any drinks (€21.50): Standard admission to the boat. You get the full 60-minute canal tour on the open electric sloop, but no drinks are included. Ideal for designated drivers, non-drinkers, or anyone who simply wants to enjoy the boat ride with their friends.
  • Adult with drinks and spritz (€35.00): The full open-bar ticket. You receive unlimited freshly mixed Aperol Spritz, chilled beer, white wine, and soft drinks poured throughout the hour. (Strictly 18+).
A common worry when booking a themed cruise is that someone in your group dislikes bitter spritzes or does not drink alcohol at all. On this boat, that is a non-issue. The onboard cooler is stocked with chilled Heineken draft or bottled beer, crisp white wine, and sparkling mineral water alongside the Aperol station. Friends can mix and match tickets: two people can book the €35 drinks tier while a non-drinking companion books the €21.50 dry ticket, sitting side by side on the same bench.
Amsterdam Spritz CruiseShared cruise
Amsterdam Spritz Cruise

€21.5per person

Up to 251 hourRain protected
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Not Just Spritz: Beer, Wine, and Group Flexibility

While the cruise takes its name from the orange aperitivo, the host serves much more than just spritzes. The crew mixes every Aperol Spritz fresh on board—retail Aperol, chilled Italian prosecco, and soda water poured over ice with fresh orange slices. However, if bitter herbal liqueurs are not your style, you are never restricted to them:

The bar includes continuous pours of cold Dutch beer, refreshing white wine, and non-alcoholic options like Coca-Cola, Sprite, and sparkling mineral water. If your group includes a wine lover, a beer enthusiast, and two spritz fans, all four can book the €35 drinks tier and drink what they prefer. Nobody is forced into a one-size-fits-all cocktail.

The Math: Is the €35.00 Drinks Ticket Worth It Over a Terrace?

Sit down at a canal-side café terrace along the Herengracht or Prinsengracht and order two Aperol Spritzes, beers, or glasses of wine. Between €9.50 and €12.50 per spritz or €6.00 to €8.00 per glass of wine, your bill easily lands between €19.00 and €25.00 before tip, leaving you seated on dry pavement next to delivery bikes.

Now compare that to the boat: taking a standard dry commercial sightseeing tour like Stromma or Lovers costs ~€16.00 to €18.50 with zero drinks. If you add two café drinks afterwards on a terrace (€20.00 to €22.00), your combined spend is ~€38.00 to €40.00. At €35.00 for the full cruise with unlimited pours of spritz, beer, or wine, the Spritz Cruise costs less than buying a dry boat ticket and visiting a terrace, while delivering open-air cruising and continuous refills on the water.

The Boat Setup: Open Sloop Seating and Low Waterline Sightlines

Standard commercial tour boats operate like floating subway cars: high capacity, diesel engines, and enclosed glass solariums that trap heat on warm afternoons and fog up on damp days. Because those large glass cruisers sit high in the water, they are physically barred from the shallowest canals and force passengers to view the city through scratched, reflective windows.

The Amsterdam Spritz Cruise takes a much more flexible approach to boat selection. On clear, dry days, you cruise on an open-air electric sloop capped at 25 guests, seated along perimeter benches barely 40 centimeters above the canal surface. If rain or cold weather is forecast, the operator automatically selects a weather-protected boat equipped with a roof and clear panoramic windows. You remain completely dry and warm while enjoying full 360-degree views of the canal houses and historic bridges without sacrificing visibility.

Pacing and Atmosphere: Why It Is an Aperitivo, Not a Party Boat

The phrase "unlimited drinks cruise" often raises reasonable concerns about rowdy bachelor parties shouting over distorted sound systems. On Amsterdam's canals, municipal maritime law prevents that outright.

Waternet—Amsterdam's municipal water authority—strictly enforces a canal speed limit of 6 km/h. At 6 km/h, the electric motor hums at a decibel level well below normal human speech, eliminating engine vibration and diesel fumes. Crucially, playing amplified music on open boats is strictly prohibited by municipal bylaw across the entire canal ring, backed by active police water patrols, on-the-spot fines of €140 to €220, and immediate equipment confiscation. Furthermore, the drinks tier enforces a strict 18+ policy, ensuring that the ambiance on board remains conversational, relaxed, and sociable—a genuine aperitivo on the water.

OptionTotal CostBeverages IncludedGroup FlexibilityBest Suited For
Spritz Cruise (Drinks Tier)€35.00Unlimited Aperol Spritz, beer, wine & soft drinksCan switch between spritz, beer, or wine any timeDrinkers wanting quality drinks & canal views combined.
Spritz Cruise (Dry Tier)€21.50Zero drinks (dry ticket)Sits on same boat with friends booking the drinks tierNon-drinkers, drivers, or people skipping alcohol.
Café Terrace (Herengracht)€19.00–€25.002 drinks paid individually (€9.50–€12.50 each)Full café menu, but stationary pavement seatingPeople who prefer to stay on land.
Commercial Tour Boat + Drinks on Land~€38.00–€40.00~€17 boat ticket + €22 for 2 drinks laterSeparate activities, rigid glass boat seatingSightseers wanting recorded academic commentary.

Crucial Boarding Details: Stationsplein Dock and Restroom Logistics

Departures leave directly from Stationsplein 18, located directly on the water across from the main entrance of Amsterdam Centraal Station. You step straight onto the pontoon from the street concourse, avoiding the congested pedestrian alleys of the Red Light District where other tour operators dock.

There is one non-negotiable practical detail to prepare for before arriving: there is no toilet on board the boat. Open electric sloops under 10 meters lack the hull volume for a marine head, and municipal waterway bylaws strictly prohibit commercial skippers from making unscheduled emergency stops along canal quays. Be sure to use the public paid restrooms inside Amsterdam Centraal Station before crossing over to the dock.

All reservations include 100% free cancellation up to 24 hours prior to departure, giving you the flexibility to secure your preferred afternoon or sunset time slot in advance while monitoring the local weather forecast.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. The €35.00 drinks tier includes unlimited cold beer, white wine, and soft drinks as well as freshly poured Aperol Spritz throughout the 60 minutes.
Yes. Non-drinkers can book the €21.50 "Adult without any drinks" ticket and sit with companions who have booked the €35.00 unlimited drinks package.
€35.00. The base €21.50 ticket is for the dry cruise without drinks; selecting the "Adult with drinks and spritz" customer type is €35.00 per person.
No. Open electric sloops do not have marine toilets, and skippers are legally prohibited from making unscheduled stops along canal quays. Use the facilities inside Amsterdam Centraal Station before boarding.
Stationsplein 18. The departure dock is located directly on the water across from the front entrance of Amsterdam Centraal Station.
The boat is fully weather-protected. Depending on the forecast, the operator decides which vessel to deploy: an open-air electric sloop on sunny days, or a boat equipped with a roof and clear panoramic windows in case of rain. You stay completely dry and warm with clear views of the canals.
The drinks package requires guests to be 18+. Minors are not permitted on the drinks tier due to Dutch alcohol licensing regulations.
Up to 24 hours. Cancellations made at least 24 hours prior to departure receive a complete 100% refund.

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