Starboard Canal Booze Cruise Amsterdam: 1-Hour Electric Boat with an Optional Open Bar
Quick answer
Starboard Boats runs this 1-hour electric canal cruise from $21 per person, with an optional open bar of beer, wine and soft drinks, for up to 28 guests.
Snacks are not included, bring ID, and the cruise holds 4.7/5 from 6,100+ reviews on GetYourGuide.
Starboard Boats
Canal Booze Cruise with Unlimited Drinks Option
4.7 (6,182) · from $21
The Starboard canal booze cruise is a shared one-hour sail on a small electric boat through the old centre of Amsterdam, built around a host who pours drinks and tells stories if you book the open-bar option.
The detail that changes the decision is the one-way route. Starboard now boards near Dam Square and ends at Stopera Pier on the Amstel, about a ten-minute walk from where you started, because city rules no longer let the boat return to its start. Plan your evening around two points, not one. For quieter options, see the canal cruises in Amsterdam overview, or return to the home page.
| Operator | Starboard Boats |
|---|---|
| Boat type and capacity | Electric boat; the listing says up to 28 guests, Starboard's site says up to 30 seats |
| Price | From $21 per person on GetYourGuide (USD, checked 2026-10-17); the operator's page shows EUR 24.50 beside EUR 19.00 for its shared cruise |
| Duration | 1 hour |
| Departure times | Not stated on the listing; the GetYourGuide calendar shows slots |
| Pier | Boarding at Oudezijds Voorburgwal 230 (near Dam Square), drop-off at Stopera Pier, Amstel 13, per the operator for 2026. Boarding point on Google Maps |
| Route | Old centre into the canal belt, onto the Amstel under seven bridges |
| Food and drinks | Unlimited beer, wine and soft drinks with the option; no snack included, stroopwafels sold on board |
| Languages | Skipper in English; digital audio guide in 10 languages |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before for a full refund |
| Rating | 4.7/5 from 6,182+ reviews on GetYourGuide |
What is the Starboard canal booze cruise and what do you see?
It is a shared, social canal cruise where the drinks are optional and the route runs from the centre into the canal belt and onto the Amstel.
- Seven bridges: the listing says the boat passes under seven bridges on the Amstel stretch.
- Houseboats and courtyards: the host points out houseboats and hidden courtyards along the way.
- Leaning canal houses: the narrow gabled houses of the canal belt.
- Local tips: the host suggests bars and restaurants near the finish, according to the listing.
The area you sail is a UNESCO World Heritage landscape.
198.2 ha is the core area of the Seventeenth-Century Canal Ring that UNESCO inscribed on 31 July 2010.
Where does the Starboard canal booze cruise start and finish?
Starboard's own page says shared cruises board at Oudezijds Voorburgwal 230, near Dam Square, and finish at Stopera Pier, Amstel 13, near Waterlooplein.
The GetYourGuide listing describes older, option-dependent starts: the Red Light District, Amsterdam Central, Oudeschans, Herengracht or Prinsengracht. Starboard says the 2026 change follows updated city regulations, and the cruise no longer returns to the boarding point. Reviewers on the listing ask for clearer meeting point details, which fits a recent change, so read your voucher.
| From | To | Time | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam Centraal | Boarding, Oudezijds Voorburgwal 230 | 13 min, 966 m | Walking route on Google Maps |
| Dam Square | Boarding, Oudezijds Voorburgwal 230 | 5 min, 359 m | Walking route on Google Maps |
| Boarding point | Stopera Pier, Amstel 13 | 11 min, 849 m | Walking route on Google Maps |
What is the route, stop by stop?
The listing's itinerary depends on the option you pick, so the sequence below is what both sources support.
- Boarding near Dam Square - Oudezijds Voorburgwal 230 in the old centre. Boarding on Google Maps
- Old canals of the centre - Oudeschans, Herengracht and Prinsengracht appear in the older itinerary, for roughly 5 to 25 minutes each by the listing.
- Canal belt - gabled merchant houses and houseboats.
- Seven bridges - the viewpoint section the listing times at about 2 minutes.
- Amstel and Stopera Pier - the finish at Amstel 13. Stopera Pier on Google Maps
The listing says the minute counts depend on your option, so I do not add them up to a total.
How long is the cruise and when does it sail?
The cruise lasts one hour from boarding, and it runs rain or shine, according to the listing.
| Item | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise length | 1 hour | Listing and operator |
| Weather | Runs rain or shine | Listing know-before |
| Free cancellation | More than 24 hours before | Operator and listing |
| Boat capacity | Up to 28 (listing) or 30 seats (operator) | Listing and operator |
| Music on board | Not allowed on the canals | Listing |
The listing prints no timetable, and reviewers ask for schedule updates, so check your slot the day before. Neither source says how early to arrive, so I'd allow 15 minutes for the walk and boarding.
What is on board and what is included?
The base ticket covers the cruise, a skipper and a host; the open bar is an option, and snacks are not part of the ticket.
- Included: a canal cruise, a skipper and a host, and a digital audio guide in 10 languages.
- Open-bar option: unlimited beer, wine and soft drinks for the hour. The listing text says "the drinks are on us" but its inclusion list says "if option selected", so I treat the bar as an option.
- Not included: a snack; Dutch stroopwafels are for sale on board.
- Headphones: the inclusion list mentions headphones, but the know-before and the exclusions say none are provided. Trust the exclusions and bring your own.
- Bring: a passport, ID card or driving licence; the listing does not say why or give a minimum age, so ask the operator.
Rules: no pets, no outside food or drink, and no music on the canals. A reviewer adds that the crew are strict about arms outside the boat, for safety reasons.
How does the Starboard cruise compare with other drinks cruises?
It matches the $21 price of the other drinks-led cruises and rates higher than the Flagship and Red Light District alternatives.
| Tour | Price | Length | Rating (reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starboard canal booze cruise (this page) | $21 | 1 h | 4.7 (6,182) |
| Flagship unlimited drinks cruise | $21 | 1 - 1.5 h | 4.5 (27,085) |
| Eco Boats evening and sunset cruise | $21 | 1 h | 4.8 (5,232) |
| Open-bar Red Light District cruise | $16 | 1 h | 4.5 (125) |
| Flagship evening cruise with a bar | $16 | 1 h | 4.3 (1,427) |
| Starboard private silent-disco cruise | $606 | 1 h | 4.8 (22) |
The same operator also sells a private version, the silent disco private party cruise, for groups who want a boat to themselves. For a lower price, the open-bar Red Light District cruise costs $16, and the Flagship cruise is the most reviewed option with a drinks package.
Is the Starboard canal booze cruise worth it versus a quieter canal cruise?
If you want a social hour with drinks in a small group, I'd book it, but for pure sightseeing the $15 Blue Boat is cheaper.
At $21 for one hour the rate is $21 per hour, under half the $50 median. Sub-scores run Guide 4.8, Transportation 4.8 and Value for money 4.6, so travellers rate the host and the boat higher than the price.
- Book this cruise if: you travel as a pair or small group, want a host who talks and pours, and can walk between two points.
- Choose another boat if: you want a quiet sail, an audio guide in a specific language on headphones, or a return to your start.
Compare it with everything else on the Amsterdam boat tours hub and the Blue Boat city cruise.
When is the best time to go?
Evenings from April to September are the most sociable, but the boat is covered in rain and the cruise runs year-round.
| Month | Avg high 2025 | Rain days | Sunset | On the water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 6.2 °C | 16 | 16:58 | Cold and wet; covered saloon boat only |
| Feb | 6.8 °C | 7 | 17:54 | Cold; bring gloves for open decks |
| Mar | 12.1 °C | 3 | 18:46 | Dry month so far; still cool on open boats |
| Apr | 15.5 °C | 5 | 20:40 | Mild; evening cruises start after 8 PM |
| May | 18.2 °C | 6 | 21:30 | Pleasant; long evenings |
| Jun | 21.3 °C | 12 | 22:06 | Warmest light; sunset after 10 PM |
| Jul | 22.5 °C | 14 | 21:58 | Warm; showers are common |
| Aug | 22.3 °C | 8 | 21:07 | Warm; sunset moves back to 9 PM |
| Sep | 18.8 °C | 12 | 19:57 | Mild; golden hour near 7:30 PM |
| Oct | 14.6 °C | 15 | 18:48 | Wettest month; pick a covered boat |
| Nov | 10.1 °C | 12 | 16:50 | Dark by 5 PM; lights show from the first sailing |
| Dec | 8.2 °C | 6 | 16:29 | Short days; light festival season |
The sunset column runs from 4:29 PM in mid-December to 10:06 PM in mid-June. Rain days ran 15 in October and 16 in January 2025, against 3 in March, so a covered boat is a real benefit. The next Dutch public holidays are Christmas Day and St. Stephen's Day on 25 and 26 December, per the Nager.Date API.
The listing says the cruise takes place in any weather. Check KNMI's weather warnings for the day, and wear a warm layer after dark.
What do passengers say?
All ten reviews in my sample are five stars, so they show strengths only, and the AI summary adds the meeting-point and schedule complaint.
- Hosts and skippers: eight of ten reviews praise the host or skipper for knowledge or friendliness.
- Stories: one reviewer liked facts about landmarks that are not typical tourist stops, and another learned new things on a second canal cruise.
- Solo and group travel: one solo traveller had a good time, and one group enjoyed talking among themselves.
- Safety rule: one reviewer found the crew strict about arms outside the boat.
- Complaint pattern: the summary asks for clearer meeting point details and schedule updates.
Drinks are called good value by travellers in the summary, which fits the Value sub-score of 4.6.
Who should skip the Starboard canal booze cruise?
Skip it if you want a silent sail, a return to your start or a big party boat.
- Quiet-sightseeing travellers: choose the Blue Boat city cruise.
- Large parties: the cap is 28 or 30, and music is not allowed; see the party boats in Amsterdam.
- Travellers without ID: the listing asks you to bring it.
- Anyone sensitive to alcohol: the open bar is optional, so you can book the plain cruise.
How do you book the Starboard canal booze cruise?
The Starboard canal booze cruise costs from $21 per person for one hour with free cancellation up to 24 hours before; choose the open-bar option and your slot on the booking page.
Check availabilityI earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.
- Pick your date and a time slot, then decide on the open-bar option.
- Read the boarding address on the voucher and compare it with Oudezijds Voorburgwal 230.
- Plan to finish at Stopera Pier, Amstel 13, not at your start.
- Bring ID and your own headphones, and skip outside food and drink.
Frequently asked questions
Is a boat tour in Amsterdam worth it?
Yes for most first-time visitors, because the canal belt is easiest to see from the water. This one costs from $21 and adds an optional open bar.
How much does a boat tour in Amsterdam cost?
This Starboard cruise starts at $21 per person on GetYourGuide, checked on 2026-10-17. Other shared canal cruises on my list cost $15 to $21.
Which is the best boat tour in Amsterdam?
It depends on your priority. I'd pick Starboard for a social hour with drinks, Eco Boats for the highest rating, and Blue Boat for the lowest price.
Are the drinks really unlimited?
The listing says unlimited beer, wine and soft drinks for the hour, but only if you select the open-bar option. Cocktails are not part of it.
Where does the Starboard cruise start and end?
Starboard's page says it boards at Oudezijds Voorburgwal 230 near Dam Square and ends at Stopera Pier, Amstel 13. Walking between the two takes 11 minutes.
Does the boat return to where it started?
No, not for 2026. Starboard says the cruise no longer returns to the boarding point, following updated city regulations.
Is food included?
No. Snacks are not included, though Dutch stroopwafels are sold on board, and outside food and drink are not allowed.
Do I need ID?
The listing asks you to bring a passport, ID card or driving licence. It does not state a minimum age, so ask the operator.
Are headphones provided?
The listing contradicts itself, but its exclusions say none are provided. Bring your own to use the digital audio guide.
Is the cruise open or covered?
The listing describes both, with covered boats on rainy days. Ask Starboard which boat your slot uses.
What if it rains?
The cruise runs rain or shine, and the boats are covered when it rains. Free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before.
Sources: GetYourGuide listing (rating, price, inclusions, rules, checked 2026-10-17); Starboard Boats, shared canal cruise page (2026 boarding and drop-off, seats, cancellation, operator price); UNESCO World Heritage Centre, canal ring; OpenStreetMap routing via the FOSSGIS OSRM server (walking times); Open-Meteo archive API (weather 2025); sunrise-sunset.org API (sunset times); Frankfurter API (USD/EUR rate of 2026-10-16); Nager.Date (Dutch public holidays); KNMI for live weather warnings.
