Are drinks really unlimited on open bar canal cruises in Amsterdam?

Yes. On verified unlimited drink cruises (such as Starboard Boats, Eco Boats Spritz Cruise, Pure Boats, Bow's Journeys, and Sebi Boat Tours), guests are served free-flowing drinks throughout the entire duration of the tour with no drink tickets or cash required on board.

Can I get local craft beer on an Amsterdam canal cruise?

Yes, but exclusively on Pure Boats. While other tours pour standard Dutch lagers or house beers, Pure Boats is the only operator in Amsterdam serving authentic local craft beers like Brouwerij 't IJ's IJwit, Texels Skuumkoppe, and vandeStreek Playground IPA (non-alcoholic), paired with organic European wines.

Do open bar canal boats have restrooms on board?

Some do, but not all. Pure Boats vessels, Bow's Journeys on Sophie, Sebi's Giuliana, and Offcourse private boats (Diana and Curaçao) feature private onboard restrooms. Smaller 60-minute open sloops (like Starboard and Eco Boats) do not have toilets onboard, so guests should use facilities before boarding.

Can I bring my own drinks on a canal cruise in Amsterdam?

On private charters (like Diana, Curaçao, or Giuliana), BYOB is welcome with a small corkage fee (€5/person/hour or €50/hour flat). On shared open-bar cruises, outside drinks are not permitted since the bar is already provided on board.

Is music played on drinks cruises in Amsterdam?

Blasting loud music is strictly banned across Amsterdam's canals, with heavy fines targeting noisy party boats. On professional commercial cruises, skippers will occasionally play low-volume, mellow background music, but the focus is on relaxed conversation and taking in the sights at water level.

Planning & FAQ

Best Amsterdam Boat Tour with Unlimited Drinks: Beer, Wine, Craft Beer & Open Bar Guide

Compare top open bar canal cruises, terrace pricing math, and onboard amenities.

Across the 75 active bookable cruises on BoatLocal, open-bar options fall into three distinct tiers: high-energy social cruises with free-flowing beer, wine, and Aperol Spritz; boutique small-group voyages pouring curated Dutch craft beers; and classic private salon boats where an unlimited drink package can be added on for an exact flat rate. Knowing which cruise format suits your group comes down to drink quality, physical boat comfort, and understanding Amsterdam's strict waterway sound and behavior bylaws.

Cruise / Operator	Price Tier	Duration	Group Size	Included Drink Selection	Vibe & Highlight
Amsterdam Spritz Cruise (Eco Boats)	€21.50 / person	60 min	Max 25	Unlimited Aperol Spritz, beer, wine, soft drinks	Lively & social; steps from Centraal Station
Shared Canal Cruise with Drinks (Starboard)	€22.50 – €31.50 / person	60 min	Max 26	Unlimited Heineken, wine, prosecco & soda	Central Red Light dock; energetic host & skipper
Shared Hidden Gems Canal Cruise (Offcourse)	€35.00 / person	90 min	Max 12	Unlimited drinks add-on (€10/p/hr) or pay-per-drink; cheese & snacks	Intimate floating living room; quiet Jordaan canals
Shared Cruise on the Sophie (Bow's Journeys)	€55.00 / person	90 min	Max 12	Full open bar: wines, spirits, beer, coffee, tea & nibbles	Singel departure; covered saloon & toilet; witty local skipper
2-Hour Cruise with Drinks & Snacks (Sebi Boat Tours)	€67.50 / person	2 hours	Max 12	Unlimited beer, wine, gin & tonic, Dutch jenever, warm bitterballen	Historic electric boat Giuliana; heated cabin & toilet
The Ultimate Canal Cruise (Pure Boats)	€77.00 / person	90 min	Max 16	Local craft beers (IJwit, Skuumkoppe, Playground IPA 0.0%), organic wines, Dutch platter	High-end luxury; onboard toilet; Keizersgracht dock
Private Charters: Diana, Curaçao & Giuliana	From €310 – €390 private charter	90 – 120 min	Max 8–12	Flat-rate unlimited bar add-on (€10–€20/p/hr) or BYOB	Entire boat private; quiet waterways; dedicated skipper & toilet

The Economics: Comparing Open Bar Cruises to Canal Terrace Prices

Guests enjoying drinks on an electric open canal boat in Amsterdam

Open-bar cruises on small electric sloops allow guests to enjoy chilled drinks at water level while maintaining normal conversation volumes.

At any street café or canal terrace along the Prinsengracht or Herengracht, a standard draft Dutch pilsner runs €4.50 to €5.50, an entry-level house wine sits between €6.00 and €7.50, a craft beer or local IPA costs €6.50 to €7.00, and an Aperol Spritz easily reaches €9.50 to €12.50. Ordering two rounds of drinks on a terrace for a couple quickly tallies up to €25 to €35—with zero boat tour attached.

By comparison, entry-tier open-bar cruises in Amsterdam start at €21.50 to €22.50 per person for a 60-minute cruise with free-flowing drinks, while extended 90-minute to 2-hour craft beer and luxury cruises range from €35 to €77 per person. Because a standard canal cruise lasts 60 to 120 minutes, having drinks included means that enjoying three beverages pays for the tour itself, with no surprise service charges or bar tabs at the dock.

The 3 Categories of Amsterdam Unlimited Drink Cruises

Not all open bars are created equal. Operators cater to very different travel styles, which group into three clear categories:

Lively & Social Open Bar Cruises: High-energy, central departures offering unlimited pours of chilled Dutch lager, red and white wines, and soft drinks (like Starboard Boats, max 26 guests) or endless Aperol Spritz mixed live on board (like Eco Boats Amsterdam, max 25 guests). Perfect for couples, friend groups, and weekend getaways looking for a social aperitivo.
Boutique Small Group Cruises: Intimate voyages aboard restored electric boats capped at 12 guests (such as Bow's Journeys on the Sophie, Sebi Boat Tours, and Offcourse's Shared Hidden Gems). These offer relaxed conversation, wine, beer, spirits, or Dutch jenever paired with cheeses and warm snacks in quiet canals.
High-End Craft Beer Cruising (Pure Boats Exclusive): For travelers specifically seeking artisanal Dutch craft beers—such as Brouwerij 't IJ's IJwit, Texels Skuumkoppe, and vandeStreek Playground IPA—alongside organic European wines, Pure Boats operates as the exclusive operator pouring genuine craft beer on the canals.
Private Charters with Unlimited Add-Ons: Historic private salon boats and boutique vessels (like Offcourse's Diana and Curaçao, and Sebi Boat Tours' Giuliana) where you charter the entire boat privately and add a flat-rate unlimited open bar or BYOB option. This gives complete privacy, custom routes, and an onboard restroom without sharing space with strangers.

Lively Social Open Bars: Starboard Boats & The Aperol Spritz Cruise

If you want a fun, upbeat cruise right in the heart of the city, Starboard Boats and Eco Boats Amsterdam are the benchmark options.

Starboard Boats (Item 100): Departing from the historic dock at Oudezijds Voorburgwal 230 in the Red Light District, Starboard's open electric sloop features a live onboard host alongside the captain. The host pours continuous glasses of chilled Dutch pilsner, white and rosé wines, prosecco, and soft drinks throughout the 60-minute trip. Guests sit around perimeter bench seating with clear lines of sight, and you are welcome to bring your own grocery snacks onboard.

Eco Boats Amsterdam Spritz Cruise (Item 481): Departing from Stationsplein 18 directly opposite Amsterdam Central Station, this is the most affordable drinks-inclusive tour in the city at €21.50. The crew mixes ice-cold Aperol Spritz on tap alongside cold beer, wine, and sodas. At 60 minutes, it is an ideal kickoff to an evening out in Amsterdam.

Boutique Small Group Cruises: Hidden Gems, Sophie & Sebi Boat Tours

For guests who prefer a relaxed, small-group atmosphere without crowds, these three shared cruises cap capacity at 12 guests aboard classic or historic vessels with onboard restrooms:

Shared Off The Beaten Path, Hidden Gems Cruise (Item 69, €35): Departing from the Brouwersgracht in the Jordaan, this 90-minute voyage feels like a floating living room. Run by born-and-raised local skippers, guests enjoy comfortable lounge cushions, local storytelling, and quiet residential cross-canals where large tour boats cannot navigate. Drinks are available either pay-per-drink or via an unlimited add-on for just €10 per person per hour.

Shared Cruise on the Sophie (Item 28, €55): Departing from Singel 7 near Central Station, Bow's Journeys operates this 90-minute intimate cruise aboard the historic salon boat Sophie. The ticket includes a generous international open bar with wines, beers, and spirits, plus hot coffee, tea, and sweet and savoury snacks. The boat features an indoor saloon with panoramic windows, an outdoor deck, and an onboard restroom.

Small Group Canal Cruise with Drinks & Snacks (Item 95, €67.50): Run by Sebi Boat Tours from Keizersgracht 196 (beside the Westerkerk), this leisurely 2-hour cruise takes place aboard the 100-year-old historic electric salon boat Giuliana. The all-inclusive fare covers unlimited beer, wine, soft drinks, Dutch jenever, and warm bitterballen served fresh from the oven.

High-End & Craft Beer Cruising: The Pure Boats Difference

Boutique electric boat Diana navigating quiet Amsterdam cross canals

Boutique boats with low bridge clearance can access intimate residential cross-canals in the Jordaan where large commercial vessels cannot enter.

For travelers who appreciate artisanal beverages and an intimate, unhurried atmosphere, Pure Boats operates in a league of its own. Departing from Keizersgracht 106 in the quiet canal ring, Pure Boats caps groups at 16 passengers aboard meticulously restored electric vessels with plush leather upholstery, teak tables, and onboard restrooms.

Instead of standard commercial lagers, Pure Boats showcases Dutch brewing culture with beloved local craft beers like Brouwerij 't IJ's famous IJwit (a crisp Amsterdam wheat beer with coriander and citrus) and the island-brewed Texels Skuumkoppe (a rich, full-bodied amber wheat beer). For guests choosing not to drink alcohol, they pour genuine craft quality rather than generic sodas—notably Playground IPA by vandeStreek, widely celebrated as one of the best non-alcoholic craft beers in the country (<0.5%).

Complementing the beers is a genuinely high-end drinks selection: hand-selected European organic wines, chilled prosecco, and artisanal sodas. On their flagship 90-minute tour, The Ultimate Canal Cruise (Item 86, €77), the full open bar is bundled with an abundant Dutch snack platter including aged Gouda cheese, local charcuterie, and warm snacks. For evening voyages, the Spectacular Evening Cruise (Item 88, €62) delivers a sophisticated adult aperitivo as the city's historic bridges light up.

Private Charters: Curaçao, Diana & Sebi's Giuliana with Open Bar Add-Ons

If you are traveling with family, a private gathering of friends (4 to 12 people), or celebrating an occasion, booking a private charter offers exceptional comfort, personalized routes, and dedicated skipper service without public crowds.

Offcourse operates two private gems from Brouwersgracht: Diana (Item 68, €310, max 8 guests) and the 1950s classic wooden salon boat Curaçao (Item 16873, €315, max 12 guests). Both feature private onboard restrooms, plush cushions, and deployable rain canopies. You can choose pay-per-drink, bring your own drinks for a modest €5 per person per hour corkage, or select the Unlimited Drinks Add-On for €10 per person per hour (beer, house wines, and soft drinks).

For larger private parties, Private Tour on Giuliana (Item 96, €390, max 12 guests) by Sebi Boat Tours offers a century-old electric salon vessel with a heated cabin, panoramic windows, and toilet, with an all-inclusive open bar option (€20 per person) or BYOB with corkage.

Use the interactive calculator below to see live pricing per person based on your exact group size and cruise duration:

How many of you?Calculates exact per-person cost

Private charters include boat hire + €10/person/hr unlimited open bar add-on. Grid compares real total and per-person prices at your group size.

How long on the water?1.5 hours · Classic tour

A solid standard cruise length — good time to relax and soak up the atmosphere. (Exact route depends on departure dock, traffic, and your captain.)

5.0(59)

Diana

Up to 8 guests

1.5 hours

€66.67

per person (incl. drinks)

€400 boat total

Check availability

5.0(59)

Curaçao

Up to 12 guests

1.5 hours

€67.50

per person (incl. drinks)

€405 boat total

Check availability

The Amsterdammer Standard: Noise Bylaws and Responsible Boating

Visitors are often curious about what an Amsterdam open-bar cruise is actually like on the water. If you are picturing rowdy party boats blasting heavy bass, you are thinking of an era that Amsterdam and Waternet have largely phased out.

Loud amplified music from external speakers is strictly cracked down on across the canal ring, with heavy fines and speaker confiscation primarily aimed at rowdy private boats. On commercial canal tours, skippers sometimes play low-volume, tasteful background music to set a relaxed tone, though many stretches of residential canals are kept strictly acoustic. Combined with the city's 6 km/h waterway speed limit, the vibe remains social and conversational rather than like an Ibiza party boat.

You can comfortably chat, sip cold drinks, and enjoy the water-level architecture without having to shout over blasting sound systems.