Christmas Canal Cruise Amsterdam — Private Boat, Heated Cabin
A private Christmas canal cruise in Amsterdam on a historic saloon boat — heated cabin, double-pane windows, a bubbly welcome drink and Christmas music on board, with the canal houses lit up all around you.
Six Christmas cruise options, from a 1-hour sightseeing tour to a 4-course dining experience.
Amsterdam is at its best on the water in winter
The canals empty out, the bridges are strung with lights, and the windows of the canal houses glow from the inside. From a heated private boat it is genuinely the best season to see the city — provided the boat is built for it.
Warm the whole way
Proper heating and a fully enclosed cabin, with blankets on board. You cruise in your jumper, not your coat.
Windows you can see through
Double-pane glass instead of plastic sheeting — so no condensation blurring the lights you came to see.
Quiet canals
Far less traffic on the water than summer, so the captain can take the narrow canals at a proper pace.
Dark by five
You do not need a late booking for a night cruise — even a 4pm departure gets you the illuminated city.
Six ways to do a Christmas cruise
From a straightforward hour of festive sightseeing to a four-course dining experience across several restaurants. Every option is a fully private boat for your group.
1hr Christmas Cruise
Our classic sightseeing tour during the Christmas period. Suitable for small groups or up to 12 guests.
Check availability →1.5hrs Christmas Cruise
An extended Xmas cruise to celebrate for longer. Includes a welcome drink — prosecco, beer or a soft drink — plus hot coffee and tea.
Check availability →1.5hrs Light Festival Cruise
The Amsterdam Light Festival seen from a heated private saloon boat. Double-pane windows give the clearest views of the installations.
Light Festival cruise →2hrs Christmas Dinner Cruise
Our classic private dinner cruise, ordered à la carte on board. Choose from a range of canal-side restaurants and their Christmas menus.
Dinner cruise details →3hrs Fine Dining Surprise Menu
Something fancier, with top local restaurants such as Amstel Restaurant, Johannes or Le Hollandais.
Dinner cruise details →3.5hrs Extended Xmas Dining
The ultimate version: four courses, drawn from different restaurants if you prefer, combined into one culinary evening.
Dinner cruise details →Food is charged separately on the dining cruises — see the restaurant menus. To check a specific date or time over the festive period, message us on WhatsApp.
Christmas canal cruise prices and inclusions
Christmas cruises start from €250 for an hour and run up to €720 for the 3.5-hour four-course experience. Whichever option you take, the boat price covers the same essentials.
- ✓Your private boat — a historic saloon boat for your group alone, 2 to 12 guests
- ✓A local captain who doubles as your guide through the canal ring
- ✓A welcome drink per guest — prosecco, beer or a soft drink
- ✓Hot coffee and tea throughout the cruise
- ✓Heating and a fully enclosed cabin with double-pane windows
- ✓Christmas music on board, with festive decoration on request
- ✓VAT and tourist tax included in the quoted price
Food on the dining cruises is charged separately — see the restaurant menus. Extra drinks come from the onboard minibar, and you can estimate the full evening with the budget calculator.
Festive drinks, high tea and dinner on board
A warm drink is what makes a winter cruise. Your welcome drink is a prosecco, beer or soft drink, and hot coffee and tea are served throughout. The minibar also carries wine, beer and Champagne from €75 a bottle.
For a proper festive evening, add a 2, 3 or 4-course dinner from one of our canal-side partner restaurants — the food is collected during the cruise and served on board, so you never leave the boat. A festive high tea can also be catered, with Champagne or oysters alongside it.
- ✓Welcome drink included — prosecco, beer or a soft drink
- ✓Hot coffee and tea throughout the cruise
- ✓Champagne from €75 per bottle, up to Dom Pérignon and Cristal
- ✓Festive dinner from partner restaurants, from a 2-hour cruise
- ✓Festive high tea, optionally with Champagne or oysters
- ✓Christmas music on board, festive decoration on request
Who books a Christmas cruise
Because the boat is private, the same cruise works as a company party, a family outing or a proposal — it is simply a question of what you add to it.
Company Christmas parties
Up to 12 guests with dinner and drinks on board — a better story than a hotel function room.
Families visiting for the holidays
Warm, private and easy with children. Pizza on board instead of fine dining is entirely possible.
Couples and proposals
Dimmed lights, decorations and Champagne. See the proposal cruise for the full setup.
Light Festival visitors
The Amsterdam Light Festival runs from late November into January, seen best from the water.
Planning a Christmas cruise: what to know
- ✓Book early for December. Festive evening slots are the most requested of the year, so give yourself as much notice as you can.
- ✓Go after dark, not before. Sunset is around 4.30pm in December, so any evening slot gives you the fully illuminated city.
- ✓Order food in advance. Partner restaurants need notice, so a festive dinner cannot be added at the last minute.
- ✓Dress normally. The cabin is heated and enclosed, so heavy coats are usually unnecessary once you are aboard.
- ✓Combine it with the Light Festival. If you are visiting in December or January, the artwork route makes the cruise doubly worthwhile.
- ✓Request the festive extras. Christmas music and decoration are arranged on request, so mention them when booking rather than on the day.
Christmas canal cruise Amsterdam — FAQ
Six: a 1-hour cruise from €250, a 1.5-hour cruise from €340, a 1.5-hour Light Festival cruise from €360, a 2-hour 2-course dinner cruise from €430, a 3-hour fine dining cruise from €610, and a 3.5-hour 4-course experience from €720. To check a specific date, message us on WhatsApp.
Not on these boats. The cabins are fully enclosed and properly heated, with blankets on board and free coffee and tea throughout. Guests routinely cruise in January without a coat on.
No. Our saloon boats have double-pane glass windows rather than the plastic sheeting used on many winter cruises, so the view stays clear even with a warm cabin and cold air outside.
From €250 for one hour and €340 for 1.5 hours, rising to €430 for a 2-course dinner cruise, €610 for 3-course fine dining and €720 for the 3.5-hour 4-course experience. Food and extra drinks are charged separately.
Both, with advance notice. A 2, 3 or 4-course dinner from a partner restaurant can be added to any cruise of 2 hours or longer, and we can also cater a festive high tea — optionally with Champagne or oysters.
Yes — the festival runs from late November into mid-January, and we offer a dedicated Light Festival cruise along the artwork route. Mention it when booking so your captain plans the route accordingly.
Anything from about 4.30pm onwards in December, since it is dark by then. Early-evening slots also suit families better than a late departure.
Very much so. The boat takes up to 12 guests and can be booked with dinner, drinks and decorations. For larger groups, get in touch and we will look at options across the fleet.
Book your Christmas canal cruise
A private heated saloon boat, your own local captain, warm drinks on board and Amsterdam lit up for the season. From €250 — and December fills up fast.