Bike Tour: Bike Boat Northern Tour - 8 days

De Willemstad 
De Willemstad is the youngest member of the “family”, which also includes De Amsterdam, De Holland and De Nassau. The comfortable ship was completely renovated and converted in 2017/2018. There are two tour leaders on board during the tours with this ship. The ship was used for cycling cruises for several years on the Danube river under its previous name Arlene II. Look forward to meeting nice people, riding beautiful bike tours and spending pleasant hours on board.

Description of the cabins:
All cabins are ‘outside cabins’ that are equipped with two single beds, TV, mini safe and individually controlled air conditioning. Each cabin has a bathroom with shower, toilet and hairdryer.

Upper deck: There are 8 suites (approx. 15 m² / 161 sq.ft) with a French balcony and opening floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door, two single beds, set together as a queen size bed and a small seating area. On the upper deck there are also 16 twin cabins (approx. 10 m² / 108 sq.ft) with two separate single beds.. The twin cabins on the upper deck have a panoramic window that can be opened.

Lower deck: There are 24 twin cabins with two separate single beds and a large window with an upper hinged window that can be opened for ventilation.

Description of the ship:
In the salon / bar with large panoramic windows on the upper deck, you can review the day’s experiences in a pleasant way while enjoying a beer or a glass of wine. Your physical well-being is taken care of in the tastefully furnished and air-conditioned restaurant on the lower deck. The spacious and partly covered sundeck offers space to let the landscape pass comfortably in a deck chair. The bicycles are stored on the rear part of the sun deck.

Facts about the ship

• Year of construction: 1986, renovation: 2017/2018
• Flag: Dutch
• Length: 91.35 m / 300 ft
• Width: 10.45 m / 34 ft
• Draught: 1.45 m / 5 ft
• Passengers: 96
• Crew: 20
• Number of cabins: 48
• Credit and debit cards (with PIN): Visa, Master Card (no cash payment possible)
• Currency on board: Euro
• Wi-Fi on board (for a fee)
• Languages ​​on board: English / German

Vegetarian meals are possible at no surcharge. Other diets (like gluten free or for lactose intolerance) are possible at a fee. All diets and vegetarian meals must be booked and confirmed well in advance (only vegan meals are not possible).

Included in this tour:

• 8 days/7 nights
• 7 x breakfast
• Packed lunches
• 7 x 3-course dinner
• Coffee and tea on board till 4 PM
• Welcome drink
• Use of bed linen and towels
• Daily cleaning of the cabin
• Climate-controlled cabin
• Daily briefings
• Semi guided cycling tours (guest cycle independently, tour leader also cycles the tour);
• Some short walking tours
• Maps and notes for cycling tours (1 set per cabin)
• GPS tracks
• Use of a waterproof pannier bag
• Biodegradable water bottle
• Ferry ticket to Texel
• Wi-Fi is available in restaurant – data use is not included
• Live music on board
• Carbon offset payment to the non-profit organization Justdiggit

Not included in this tour:

• Coffee and tea on board after 4 PM
• Drinks
• Bicycle rental or E-bike rental
• Helmet rental
• Personal insurances
• Gratuities (at your discretion)
• Entrance fees and excursions
• Fees for ferries (ferry to Texel included)
• Transfers to/from the docking place
• Parking fees
• SGR Insolvency protection

Rental bicycle: € 90 per week
Rental E-Bike: € 195 per week (only on request, limited number available)
Parking own bicycle: €10 per week (only a limited number of parking places available: pref. reservation by booking)
Parking + charge station own E-Bike: €25 per week (only a limited number of parking places available: pref. reservation by booking)
Helmets: A helmet can be rented for € 10 per week, only on prior reservation and payment.
Canal cruise Amsterdam: Ticket for a 1-hour canal cruise through Amsterdam – special price for our guests: € 15 (at the ticket desk approx.: € 18). Please book your ticket in advance and you can collect it on board of your ship on the first day of the tour.

It's possible to purchase an optional limitation of liability for damage and loss of your rented bicycle or e-bike: 
Limitation of liability (damage) rental bicycle € 10/tour
Limitation of liability (damage) rental e-bike € 25/tour

This package includes:

• In case of theft of a properly locked bicycle, you are not liable for the loss/cost of the stolen bicycle, as long as you can present the original key of the lock as proof;
• In case of a breakdown, technical failure or flat tire during your tour – but only after you have called and spoken to your tour leader – you can arrange the repair at a local bicycle shop (fietsenmaker). After presenting the receipt, repair costs will be reimbursed;
• In case of damage, no cost for repair will be charged, except when this is a result of your own deliberate or neglectful acting;
• When – as a result of a breakdown, technical failure or damage during your cycling tour – you cannot continue your cycling tour with this bicycle, and after you have spoken with your tour leader, you can safely store and lock the bicycle and travel to your ship by public transportation (if not available: by taxi). After arrival on board travel costs will be reimbursed;
• If necessary and applicable, you can use another bicycle/e-bike for the remaining days of the tour at no extra costs.

**: These arrangements solely apply to and are valid for bicycles and E-bikes that have been rented from Boat Bike Tours. For tours, for which Boat Bike Tours is not the organizing tour operator (but the intermediary), and another partner company is the organizing tour operator, other arrangements may apply.

Please note: For safety reasons, it is not allowed to use the rental (e-) bikes for self-arranged rides in Amsterdam: in these cases, the limitation of liability does not apply.

Almost all of the rental bicycles are traditional touring bicycles (women’s models) with 7 or 8 gears, hand brakes (some with pedal brake) and pannier bags.  E-bikes feature a small electric engine and battery that assist and ease your pedaling, but they do not feature autonomous propulsion. It is like having a tailwind, so it is easier, but you still have to pedal.
Please note: all bicycles have normal pedals, no click pedals. So please wear ordinary sporting shoes. Changing pedals is not possible.

Prices for other rental bicycles, like children’s bikes, tandems, trailer bikes (slip streamers), children’s seats, and bike trailers are available on request. Guests are also allowed to bring their own bicycles or E-bikes, please let us know so we can reserve a space on board for you. 

Parking in Amsterdam (valet parking): prices and pre-booking on request.
Embarking on a boat bike tour means leaving your worries behind. If you’re arriving for one of our tours by car then you can start your carefree experience immediately thanks to the CentralParking valet service.

With this parking service, you can drive directly to your ship’s departure dock. Arrange a drop-off time in advance and a CentralParking valet driver will be waiting to help you with your luggage. Your valet will then drive your car to a secure garage where it will be parked under 24/7 camera surveillance.

Set a pick-up time with CentralParking for your return and your car will be ready and waiting for you when the ship arrives, so you can set out on the road immediately.