Amsterdam: Pizza Cruise with New York Pizza & Drinks

Pizza tastes better on Amsterdam water. This 75-minute cruise pairs the city’s historic canals with an individual New York-style pizza, unlimited beer, wine, or soft drinks, and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream for dessert. I like the excellent food-and-drink value and the chance to see Amsterdam after dark without planning another evening meal. I also like the warm, social setting, especially when the music and crew bring some energy to the boat.

The main consideration is that this is more of a relaxed dinner cruise than a serious sightseeing tour. You pass important sights, but commentary about Amsterdam’s past may be limited. The boat is also not suitable for wheelchair users, and you need to choose your pizza when booking.

Five things to know before you book

• The first 30 minutes are for cruising, followed by a short docking period when your hot pizza is served at your table.
• Unlimited drinks are included, with beer, wine, and soft drinks available during the cruise.
• Dessert is part of the meal, with Cookie Dough Chocolate Chip Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and a brownie slice.
• You must select one pizza per booking, so separate bookings are needed if people in your group want different pizzas.
• Evening departures can be especially attractive, since the canals, bridges, and old buildings take on a different mood after dark.
• The tour lasts 75 minutes, making it easy to fit into a busy Amsterdam day.

What the Amsterdam Pizza Cruise is really like

This experience is built around a simple idea: combine a canal ride with dinner, and remove the usual fuss of finding a restaurant afterward. You board near the central canal area, settle in, and begin with a short sightseeing cruise before the meal is served.

The boat follows a route through several of Amsterdam’s best-known waterways. You pass near Amsterdam Centraal Station, Brouwersgracht, Keizersgracht, Magere Brug, Herengracht, Nieuwmarkt Square, and the Nine Streets area. The route gives you a broad look at the old center rather than focusing on one single monument.

After about 30 minutes, the boat docks briefly so the pizza can be served fresh from the chef’s kitchen. That pause is useful. Instead of trying to balance a plate while the boat moves, you can eat at your table and enjoy the meal with fewer bumps and distractions.

The food is served with drinks, a brownie slice, and Ben & Jerry’s Cookie Dough Chocolate Chip ice cream. The menu is casual and familiar, which suits the setting. You are not booking a refined Dutch tasting menu. You are booking an easygoing dinner with canals outside the window.

Pizza choices that work for different groups

You choose your pizza at the time of booking. The standard options cover the usual preferences, with one vegetarian and one vegan choice included.

The Margherita comes with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and garlic oil around the edge. Pepperoni adds a meatier, saltier flavor. Hawaii combines turkey ham, pineapple, extra mozzarella, and garlic oil, so it is the sweet-and-savory choice.

The Chilli Chicken pizza includes hot chicken, iceberg lettuce, sweet chili sauce, mozzarella, and garlic oil. This is the more strongly flavored option on the menu. The Californian Veggie pizza has red onion, bell pepper, mushrooms, olives, and extra mozzarella.

The vegan Margherita uses vegan cheese. Children under 14 can have a smaller 20-centimeter Margherita, but that option is intended only for children below age 14.

There is one booking detail worth taking seriously. The booking system allows only one pizza choice per reservation. If one person wants Pepperoni and another wants Hawaii, make separate bookings under the same name. That gives the crew a way to seat your party together.

Unlimited drinks add real value

The drink policy is one of the strongest reasons to compare this cruise with a normal canal ride. Beer, wine, and soft drinks are included, and the supply is described as unlimited during the experience.

That matters because many Amsterdam canal cruises charge separately for every drink, while dinner cruises often add a substantial beverage cost. Here, you can enjoy your meal without watching the bill climb each time you order another drink.

You should still think about what kind of evening you want. The unlimited drinks make this a good fit for friends, couples, and small groups looking for a sociable night out. If you want a quiet cruise with detailed commentary and no meal, another canal option may suit you better.

The crew receives especially strong praise for being friendly and attentive. The onboard host has been described as funny, and the music helps create a party-like mood without changing the basic sightseeing purpose of the cruise.

Amsterdam Centraal begins the canal story

Depending on the departure option, you start at Lovers Canal Cruises or the LOVERS Café near Amsterdam Centraal Station. The station area is one of the easiest parts of the city for many people to reach, though the precise meeting point can vary with the option you select.

Seeing Centraal Station from the water gives you a useful sense of how Amsterdam is organized. The station sits at the edge of the old center, with the canal belt spreading behind it. From the boat, the city quickly shifts from transport hub to rows of historic buildings, bridges, and narrow waterways.

The cruise does not stop for a walking visit at each sight. You are viewing them from the boat, so keep your expectations in line with that format. It is a pleasant way to get your bearings, not a replacement for exploring the streets on foot.

Brouwersgracht and Keizersgracht show two sides of the canal belt

Brouwersgracht is one of the attractive waterways along the western side of the old center. As you pass, look for the combination of house fronts, bridges, and canal-side views that makes Amsterdam feel distinct from other European cities.

Keizersgracht is one of the major canals in the canal belt. Its wider waterway gives the boat more room, and the long views help you appreciate the scale of the city’s planned canal district.

These sections are good examples of why a boat ride adds something to a visit. From street level, buildings and bridges can feel close and crowded. From the canal, you get a wider view of the facades and the way the waterways connect.

Magere Brug brings the classic Amsterdam view

The cruise also passes Magere Brug, one of Amsterdam’s best-known bridges. Its name means Skinny Bridge, and it is a familiar part of the city’s postcard image.

Seeing it from the water gives you the view most walking routes cannot provide. Bridge crossings, reflections, and passing boats all become part of the scene. If your cruise runs at night, this section can be especially attractive, with the city lights adding a softer mood.

The tradeoff is timing. The listed route includes the bridge, but the 75-minute schedule does not allow for a long stop. Have your camera ready rather than waiting for a formal photo break.

The canal belt becomes your dinner room

The meal is served in the Grachtengordel, Amsterdam’s canal belt. This is the central visual appeal of the experience: you eat while the city continues outside the windows.

The cruise first spends about 30 minutes on the water, then docks briefly for the pizza service. The exact order and timing can depend on the operation that day, but the important point is that you are not expected to eat immediately after boarding. You get a short sightseeing period before dinner.

I like this arrangement because it gives the meal a clear rhythm. You board, look around, settle into the route, eat, and then continue taking in the city. The brownie and ice cream help make the meal feel more complete than a simple slice-and-drink outing.

The food is best understood as casual comfort food. The pizza is individual and New York-style, with familiar toppings. If you want a polished restaurant meal with elaborate presentation, this will not be the right choice. If you want a hot pizza, a drink in hand, and changing canal views, it makes good sense.

Herengracht adds grand canal views

Herengracht, or the Gentlemen’s Canal, is another major part of Amsterdam’s canal belt. It is known for its impressive canal houses and long, elegant stretches of water.

From the boat, you get a better feeling for the scale of these historic homes than you do while rushing along a sidewalk. The route lets you look across the water at facades that were designed to be seen from the canal as well as from the street.

The available information does not promise a detailed historical talk at every point. One important consideration is that the cruise may provide more atmosphere and sightseeing than formal education. If learning the story behind each building is your main goal, bring a guidebook or choose a dedicated history-focused cruise.

Nieuwmarkt Square and the Nine Streets finish the city picture

The route includes Nieuwmarkt Square, an active part of the old center surrounded by historic buildings and city life. From the boat, you see the area as part of the larger canal network rather than as a standalone square.

The cruise also passes the Nine Streets area, known for its small streets, shops, and canal views. This is a useful reminder that Amsterdam’s charm is not limited to its grandest waterways. Smaller connections between the main canals create much of the city’s character.

After the final sightseeing stretch, the boat returns to Lovers Canal Cruises or the LOVERS Café, depending on the departure option. Since the cruise is only 75 minutes, it works well before a later reservation or as a compact evening activity.

Price and value at $28 per person

At $28 per person, the value is strong if you plan to eat and have several drinks anyway. A standard canal cruise costs money on its own, and a separate pizza meal plus drinks can easily bring your evening total above this price.

The included ice cream and brownie also matter. They turn the experience into a full meal rather than a cruise with a snack. You are paying for the boat ride, the meal, the drinks, the dessert, and the convenience of combining them in one booking.

The value is less compelling if you do not drink, dislike pizza, or want detailed commentary. In that case, much of the package is not useful to you. You might prefer a simpler canal ride and a restaurant chosen for its food.

A rating of 4.4 from 1,840 bookings suggests that the experience works well for a broad audience, especially people who value the friendly service, generous drinks, music, and relaxed evening mood.

Who should book this cruise?

I would recommend it to couples, groups of friends, and families who want an easy evening with very little planning. It is also a practical choice for a first visit because you see several central areas from the water in a short period.

Families should note the age rules. Children aged three or younger go free if they do not use their own seat. The smaller 20-centimeter Margherita is available only for children under 14.

The cruise is less suitable for anyone using a wheelchair, since the experience is not suitable for wheelchair users. It may also disappoint people who want a long, formal talk about Amsterdam’s past. The host may be entertaining, but the emphasis is on food, drinks, music, and views.

The onboard mood can be lively. That is a strength for a social night out, but not always ideal if you want a quiet, intimate meal. The setting is shared, and the experience has more energy than a private canal tour.

Small details that make the booking easier

Choose your pizza before you arrive. If you are booking for a group with different preferences, use separate reservations under the same name so the crew can seat you together.

The host speaks English, and the activity offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Amsterdam schedule is still changing.

The meeting location varies by the option booked, with Lovers Canal Cruises and LOVERS Café listed as the two starting and ending points. Check the exact departure details rather than assuming every sailing uses the same entrance.

Should you book the Amsterdam Pizza Cruise?

Book it if you want a good-value evening that combines a canal cruise, a full pizza meal, unlimited drinks, music, and dessert. The strongest parts are the friendly crew, generous drink policy, comfortable dinner format, and night views of the canals.

Skip it if your priority is serious architectural commentary, a quiet private boat, or a meal built around Dutch specialties rather than pizza. For most people who want an easy and social way to see central Amsterdam, the package offers a lot for 75 minutes and $28.

FAQ

How long does the Amsterdam Pizza Cruise last?

The cruise lasts 75 minutes.

What food is included?

You receive one individual New York-style pizza, a brownie slice, and Cookie Dough Chocolate Chip Ben & Jerry’s ice cream.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Beer, wine, and soft drinks are included, and drinks are unlimited during the cruise.

Which pizza choices are available?

Choices include Margherita, Pepperoni, Hawaii, Chilli Chicken, Californian Veggie, vegan Margherita, and a 20-centimeter Margherita for children under 14.

Can people in the same group choose different pizzas?

Yes, but you need to make separate bookings for different pizza choices. Use the same name on each booking so the group can be seated together.

Where does the cruise start?

The starting point may vary by the option booked. The listed locations are Lovers Canal Cruises and LOVERS Café.

Can young children join for free?

Children aged three or younger can join free if they do not occupy their own seat.

Is the cruise suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The experience is not suitable for wheelchair users.