Reviews

Fabulous itinerary, accommodation, meals and crew were great!

We took the Hanseatic Tour on the Gandalf. It was like being among family – small, intimate yet room for privacy if wanted. The staff were helpful and capable: the cook was off for the week and Captain Hans Petrus prepared most of the meals. Our tour guide was terrific – the cycling pace was manageable in spite of our ages and his knowledge of Holland, past and present, made for interesting days.

Information was clear and accurate, no problems with booking, no problems with check in and finding the boat, trip was exactly as advertised–and was fantastic!

Everything went like clockwork in a very relaxed way! Our small group of 14 might have been the reason. The dinners were top notch and special every day. Breakfasts and our boxed lunch systems were very good too. It gave us needed calories for pushing the heavy bikes and the selection was large and perfect for the varied tastes. We wished the bikes were lighter and the seats were more comfortable. I am short so I felt the handlebars were too high and couldn’t be adjusted. We observed that e bikes make riding a different experience for some of us with regular bikes. We liked the shorter options which were perfect to view the forest, water, animal and tourist sights. Our bike tour leader Thomas was well organized and always had good advice. He was very encouraging and knowledgeable and kept us moving safely with planned rest stops. We enjoyed our conversations with him. Everyone on the boat crew was wonderful too and made our week very enjoyable. Chef Lars’ passion for cooking was fully evident in the delicious and varied creations every night! All in all, a fantastic experience! Our first boat and bike trip! Thank you for making these trips available.

Excellent very well organised tour

Wonderful cycling along the Danube, experience on board the ship surpassed our expectations – great service, fabulous food. The reason for only 3 stars is that communication left a lot to be desired. Having done other cruises, including along the Rhine, we are used to more information in advance. For this tour we didn’t even receive our embarkation dock information – and there is over 3 kms between locations in Passau. We had to call the night before to inquire and find out. Once on board, the information was also lacking. Directions for cycling needed more detail. The docking in Bratislava was not as instructed – the boat ended up being far away from where we had been told it would be. No one from the boat was on the boardwalk to direct us. Fortunately we came upon one of the other very confused and frustrated groups from our tour who had a phone and were able to call to find out where we needed to go. Excursions for the “rest” days were not up to par. Happy to provide more info if interested (don’t want to make the review too long!). Overall, we loved our experience on board and thoroughly enjoyed the cycling when we weren’t lost. Would probably try another company next time.

Outstanding experience!

Four of us travelled on the Southern loop bike tour. Oh, what to say – it was just great. It was an absolute highlight of our European adventure. Peter and Paulette were knowledgeable and welcoming hosts, and every effort was made to stop us getting lost. All the staff were friendly and efficient. The food on board was great and the option to make our lunches each day was helpful. We loved the visits to local farms and shops, and especially appreciated the coffee stop recommendations. I agree with the suggestions made by the Two Happy Bikers below, and can’t stress enough how useful the GPS was. We also got to meet and chat with other tourists but were able to ride during the day without being in a huge group of people. We learnt lots about the Netherlands, and saw many different environments. The bikes themselves were excellent, our experience with hired bikes elsewhere wasn’t so good. My only negative comment is that there is a big difference in riding levels between the dutch and aussies. I still remember Paulette telling us that it was “Just a little ride…not even quite 50k” . So I’d suggest that unless you are a very regular rider that you get an ebike, and a gel seat cover to go with it. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone who can ride a bike, and I would love to do it again.

Great and knowledgeable tour guides. Our family with kids 11 & 14 immensely enjoyed the bike rides through spectacular scenery. E-bikes were ideal. The New Star boat was top notch. Highly recommend this trip!

The barge was very comfortable, meals attractive and delicious, tour leaders knowledgeable and personable, and the bike tours varied and beautiful. Altogether, a wonderful experience going from Bruges, Belgium to Amsterdam.