Bike Tour Reviews Amsterdam – Bruges By Bike And Boat – Princesse Royal
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★★★★★ go for it June 2, 2017Adventure of a lifetime!
Everything could not have been better. The small group(30)was just right for riding and for socializing on the boat. The staff were so helpful and friendly. We had an excellent guide whose pride in his country and knowledge of history shone through.
The bike routes and stops for lunch and for evening walks were idyllic. The bikes were well maintained and comfortable to ride. Coming to the boat for a first class meal at the end of the day, was a delight.- What was the date of your tour?
- May 6-13 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- none
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Natalie123 December 9, 2015
Outstanding itinerary and tour company
I went on this tour as a staff member at BikeTours.com. I did this itinerary, but not on the Fluvius (the boat described on this page). I was on the Magnifique, which can also be booked on this site. Here are the parts of my review that you can find on the Magnifique's tour page that apply to this same program on the Fluvius...
Biking is such a part of Dutch culture, so we got to explore the country like the locals live it while benefiting from great infrastructure (dedicated bike paths, good signage, friendly drivers). The landscapes were charming: gardens around every cottage, wide green fields divided by canals, windmills. The Belgian countryside was also beautiful and you're often following river paths, but the Netherlands' villages stole my heart.
The cycling is leisurely: flat, distances not too long, plenty of breaks for snacks and stretching. The guide was great, but my friend and I decided to go off on our own a couple of days, armed with the route numbers that the group would be following so we could catch up to them if needed and find our way back to the boat. We got a bit lost one day on our own, but that became its own adventure and we didn't mind at all.
The thing I like the least about touring is having to pack and unpack every day, so it was a small luxury to be able to unpack on day 1 and not think about bags again since we were in the same cabin all week.
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Families with teens, Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
Video: A typical scene along the route - cows and sheep aplenty, quiet and well maintained bike path, and of course windmills!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nczbAMMMCM4 (404)
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★★★★★ Natalie123 December 7, 2015
Leisurely luxury through classic Europe
I went on this tour as a BikeTours.com staff member. I was excited to check out this ever-popular bike and boat tour because our clients usually give it rave reviews. Now I know why!
Biking is such a part of Dutch culture, so we got to explore the country like the locals live it while benefiting from great infrastructure (dedicated bike paths, good signage, friendly drivers). The landscapes were charming: gardens around every cottage, wide green fields divided by canals, windmills. The Belgian countryside was also beautiful and you're often following river paths, but the Netherlands' villages stole my heart.
The cycling is leisurely: flat, distances not too long, plenty of breaks for snacks and stretching. The guide was great, but my friend and I decided to go off on our own a couple of days, armed with the route numbers that the group would be following so we could catch up to them if needed and find our way back to the boat. We got a bit lost one day on our own, but that became its own adventure and we didn't mind at all.
The Magnifique is cozy. The cabins are small (as expected) but comfortable, the dining room and bar are nice communal spaces for relaxing with new friends, and the hot tub on deck is the very best place to watch the passing scenery! The food is excellent, and the guide took us on a walking tour each night after dinner to learn about whichever city we were docked in overnight.
The thing I like the least about touring is having to pack and unpack every day, so it was a small luxury to be able to unpack on day 1 and not think about bags again since we were in the same cabin all week.
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Families with teens, Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
Video: Pedaling along a canal-side bike path in Bruges
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WgZNJQ3t40 (404)
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★★★★★ vickiboys September 16, 2018
Awesome experience
This trip on Magnifique III was our second after an equally great trip on Magnifique II last year. The boat and bikes were great and the group of 40 people from all over the world made for awesome conversation and fun. Our guide Hester (same as last year) was truly amazing and we were fortunate to have her again. The only negative aspect was the air conditioner broke down on the second day of our August trip which made for some very uncomfortable evenings on board.
- What was the date of your tour?
- August 4,2018
- How many tours have you completed?
- 2
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Vickie Brunstetter November 7, 2022
The perfect way to experience the Netherlands and Belgium
I highly recommend this bike and barge. It is so nice to have the barge to come back to every night with food and drinks waiting. To not have tool pack up each day made for a much more leisurely trip. The weather was perfect and the guides excellent.
- What was the date of your tour?
- May 2022
- How many tours have you completed?
- 2
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ GatorDavid October 24, 2016
Fantastic Way to Tour Netherlands and Belgium!
We had never been on a barge trip, and did not know what to expect. The boat was very well maintained, the food was great, the cabin was clean, comfortable, and adequately sized so that we could sit in the cabin when we didn't want to be in the common spaces. The crew, staff, and guide were friendly, approachable, accommodating .... they really went out of their way to make guests comfortable. The bar was well stocked, and very reasonably priced. The guide (Paul) was knowledgeable, patient, and was fine if we rode with his group or out on our own (which we did most days). Overall, this bike tour was a great value considering the accommodations, service, food and quality of food, bikes, guide services.
- What was the date of your tour?
- October 8 - 15
- How many tours have you completed?
- 2
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Canuks September 6, 2018
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 11 to 17.
- How many tours have you completed?
- Zero.
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Eric12302 October 28, 2019
First biking vacation but won't be our last!
This was our first biking vacation and what a wonderful time we had. The Magnifique 111 was a beautiful barge with all the amenities. The crew and guides were excellent. Thank you Bas, Ingeborg, Sigrid, Alexandra, Derk Jan, Marnik, Corrie and Wilmie. A special thanks to Corrie and Wilmie (our bike guides) who got up a 5:30 am on our last day to see us off and make sure our taxi showed up to take us to the airport. The meals on board were excellent as well as the service. The whole crew went above and beyond all week. The biking route was very scenic and was a route for beginners. It was mostly flat as described with a few inclines mostly going over bridges. Looking forward to another biking trip.
- What was the date of your tour?
- 10/5/2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Cate Adams November 8, 2022
Loved every minute. Can’t wait todo another
My husband and I booked this trip with several friends but we made many new friends on the trip. The guides were so knowledgeable and they too became friends. Each day we would start with a delicious breakfast, make our sack lunch and head out to get our bikes. The days were filled with wonderful cities and gorgeous countrysides. I don’t think you could have this kind of experience in a car or bus. We would have a morning break for coffee and later a stop for lunch either in city pubs or country inns. We returned back to the boat to find appetizers and the bar ready to receive orders. We could return to the comfort of our room for a hot shower or go in the hot tub. Always places you could find to be alone. The days followed the same routine, but the sites an food were always changing. Speaking of food, our chef did a fantastic job cooking for all 30 of us. The ship Captain and crew all pitched in to get our meals out quickly. Evening were sometimes optional tours or casual strolls along the water. Each day was magical.
- What was the date of your tour?
- May 2022
- How many tours have you completed?
- 5
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Klp1 July 6, 2019
Wonderful, unique experience!
The Netherlands is beautiful and the people are very friendly. No real complaints about the experience but one must be flexible in these situations. We had a very nice group of people on our boat. The tour guides were very friendly and accomodating to our skill levels. Pack for all kinds of weather because you never know. We loved the guided city tours after dinner. The food was excellent and plentiful but few vegetarian options.
- What was the date of your tour?
- 6/22/19
- How many tours have you completed?
- None
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Chilly July 5, 2019
- What was the date of your tour?
- June 18
- How many tours have you completed?
- None
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Barbarella529 October 10, 2016
RideEurope2016
A most delightful week meandering through the countryside in both The Netherlands and Belgium. Fabulous bike trails, perfect weather, great group, and an outstanding tour guide. Exceeded my expectations for sure. The barge was superb, the bikes easy to manage, the briefings each evening were thorough and precise. Simply wonderful experience.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 17-24, 2016
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Much easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Laners October 6, 2016
Everything I expected and more!
I hate to write reviews but this one deserved a moment of my time. A great trip, a beautiful barge, a unique way to see this part of the world. I can truly say this was a trip I will remember for years to come.
Not recommended for children.- What was the date of your tour?
- September 10, 2016
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Densi October 14, 2019
Lovely bike trip
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 25 - Oct 2
- How many tours have you completed?
- Several self-guided tours.
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ SusanG September 4, 2017
The trip exceeded our expectations
The Magnifique II is a very comfortable boat with an excellent crew. Our bike tour guide was very attentive to everyone's needs. We were awed by the historic centers in Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges and the beauty of the countryside. The dedicated bike highways all over the Netherlands and Belgium made cycling there safe and easy.
The trip could have been improved by dividing into 2 groups as we were stronger cyclists and would have liked to go faster with fewer stops. We understand that is the plan for 2018- What was the date of your tour?
- August 19th -August 26th 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- only self directed no tours
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Mardi October 13, 2019
Magnifique II bike trip
The staff and barge accommodations were excellent. Our chef prepared gourmet meals every night that were delicious. The bikes were very comfortable and easy to ride. It was a great way to see the countryside. We went from Amsterdam to Bruges and had a head wind most of the way. I might do the reverse trip if I had known. The staff went out of their way to make us comfortable. Couldn't have asked for a better trip!
- What was the date of your tour?
- 9/25-10/2 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- this was my first time
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Badger79 August 29, 2017
Trip of my dreams
The perfect way to get away and see the beautiful countryside of The Netherlands and Belgium. The riding was about 30 miles per day, on completely flat terrain and at a leisurely pace. The tour guide and barge staff were friendly and accommodating. The barge was really nice. The food was excellent.
- What was the date of your tour?
- 8.19.17-8.26.17
- How many tours have you completed?
- First time
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Kath O July 8, 2018
Beautiful surprises every day!
We enjoyed everything about this tour! We’ve We have participated in afew bike trips now and this was the best so far. The beautiful scenery of Belgium and the Netherlands was like a painting. The towns we rode through were so pretty- it was rose and hydrangea season! Always a good beer or rose plus some kind of sweet specialty on offer! Our tour guide was very knowledgeable about the area and took time to get to know all of us. The Zwaantse barge was great- the captain and crew friendly and professional, the cook prepared excellent meals everyday! Couldn’t ask for a better week of riding!
- What was the date of your tour?
- June 23-30
- How many tours have you completed?
- 5
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ nino September 26, 2016
mystery ship
I saw how civilized people should live. great country great food great people!
- What was the date of your tour?
- first 2 weeks of september
- How many tours have you completed?
- 0
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ KanDo August 23, 2017
Wonderful bike and barge
A wonderful way to see Belgium and Holland. The ship is beautiful and the staff was amaing. Highly recommend this tour. I would suggest adding time before and after in Brugge and Amsterdam.
- What was the date of your tour?
- August 12, 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- This was my first
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
