Karen
Happiness is a trip on the Zwaantje. The crew and boat makes it special and exciting in every way. They take care of everything! The bikes are well maintained as is the boat. The food is delicious and plentiful. All of the rides were well paced and balanced with information about the sights and history and culture of the Dutch people. All of the crew had a delightful sense of humor and were responsive to my every need.I am a neophyte on a e-bike so I appreciated all the extra attention. The captain truly cares about each and every passenger and his amazing crew. The result is a fantastic experience that I will never forget.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience on the Zwaantje with us! We're thrilled to hear that you found happiness on your trip and that the crew and boat made it special and exciting in every way. It's great to know that they took care of everything and that the bikes and boat were well-maintained. We're glad to hear that the food was delicious and plentiful, and that the rides were well-paced and balanced with information about the sights, history, and culture of the Dutch people. It's wonderful to hear that the captain truly cares about each and every passenger and that his amazing crew made your experience unforgettable. Thank you for choosing to travel on the Zwaantje, and we hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back for another amazing adventure in the future! Warm Regards, Romy
TimHoehn
Staff was great and so pleasant. Book was also great including the cook and food Bikes were also perfect for the trip. We loved it.
Hi Tim, Thank you for your review! It's wonderful to hear that you had a great experience with the staff, who were pleasant and provided excellent service. We're glad to hear that you enjoyed the book and the food, and that the bikes were perfect for your trip. It's great to know that you loved the overall experience. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon! Warm Regards, Romy
Wendy Meraw
I was on the Zwaantje 8 day tulip Premium Tour. Captain Martijn and crew were fantastic. Helpful, sharing stories, always ready to be at your service. The meals were above and beyond expectations. The bikes were in excellent working order and if repairs needed, completed asap. The boats cleanliness was amazing. The daily rides throughout the countryside and small quaint villages were perfect. A suggestion would be to have stretching prior and after riding each day. One of the best experiences I have had. I will be returning for another tour in the very near future. Loved it!
Hi Wendy, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience on the Zwaantje 8 day tulip Premium Tour! We're thrilled to hear that you had a fantastic time and that Captain Martijn and the crew were helpful and attentive throughout the trip. It's great to know that the meals exceeded your expectations and that the bikes were in excellent condition. We're also happy to hear that you enjoyed the daily rides through the countryside and small villages. We appreciate your suggestion to have stretching sessions before and after the rides and will certainly take that into consideration. Thank you for your kind words and we look forward to welcoming you back for another tour in the near future! Warm Regards, Romy
Mel
Took the 8-day tulip tour on Zwaantje boat. Food was fantastic! Crew was very nice and accommodating. Guides Hans and Hilde were great, nice, instructive, helpful. They did all they could to make the journey pleasant for everyone regardless of skill. I would highly recommend. Not for Children.
Hi Mel, Thank you for sharing your experience on the 8-day tulip tour on Zwaantje boat! It's great to hear that you enjoyed the tour and found the food fantastic. The crew and guides, Hans and Hilde, sound like they were amazing and did their best to ensure everyone had a pleasant journey regardless of skill level. Thank you for recommending the tour. Warm regards, Romy
Steven Lucas
Let’s be honest, if you are here to read reviews you have already decided to do a barge tour and you are trying to decide which one. So, I am not going to describe in great detail the boat, the bikes or the routes other than to say Zwaantje is absolutely spotless and one of the largest barges still capable of navigating smaller canals and locks. Larger boats are restricted on where they can travel and smaller boats don’t have the space and amenities of Zwaantje. This vessel is the perfect size for France. The bikes are decent quality, well maintained and current models. I am sure there are plenty of other boats similar in size and condition with adequate bikes. So, why cruise on Zwaantje? Three factors will determine if you have a good experience and those same factors make this ship stand out: The Crew, the Chef and the Guides! Zwaantje is owned and captained by Martijn. He has been in the business for 20+ years and the pride he takes in his ship and his operation are immediately evident. Martijn was personable, professional and just a fun guy to be around. Martijn ensured everyone had a great time and had everything they needed to fully enjoy the experience. As a fellow boater, it was great learning about river and canal navigation and talking about his experiences and life on the water. If you ask nicely, he may even let you steer the boat! Next is Karen, I’m not sure what her official title is but she is absolutely wonderful. Karen managed all affairs of the boat as they relate to guest services. She served meals, tended bar, cleaned the cabins, assisted us in any way needed. While this may sound like expected services, Karen went above and beyond with little touches from origami art and candies left in our cabins to providing entertainment at night. She made every one of us feel valued as guests on Zwaantje. Our chef was Frank. He is absolutely hysterical with his mannerisms (you will love his personality) but more importantly you will love his cooking. He is a professional chef and a master in his field. The variety of meals was great, the quality excellent and the portions were huge. Three courses are served for every meal. Martijn’s first mate was also excellent. He made sure all the bikes were in good order each day and quickly loaded and unloaded them for each excursion. A very helpful and efficient member of the crew. While the crew and chef are hired by the boat owner/captain, the guides are actually coordinated through Boat Bike Tours so you may not have our guides (Frank and Thomas). However, these guys were great. They were professional, knowledgeable and prioritized safety. Their senses of humor made for a fun time. While you may not have the same guides it does seem Boat Bike Tours do a fine job of screening and hiring experienced guides. This team made for an exceptional and memorable trip. You will not be disappointed booking on Zwaantje!
It's not every day that we receive feedback as detailed, thoughtful and lovely as yours. But trust us when we say that it does not go unnoticed. We make sure that it will be shared with our entire team to spread the positivity around. We are grateful that we had the opportunity to host you as a guest, and we hope your next trip with us will be just as exceptional and memorable. Best, Romy
Sandy Shapleigh Perkins
We just returned from a 15 day trip from Auxerre to Compiegne on the MPS Zwaantje. We could not have asked for better accomodations and service: the captain and crew of the Zwaantje went above and beyond every day! And our guides were knowledgeable, confidence inspiring, and fun! We loved every minute of the trip.
Hi Sandy, Thank you for taking the time to write these nice words. Your impression is very important to us. We are very pleased that you left us a 5-star rating. We hope to have you on board again next season. Best, Romy
Eleonore
We had a wonderful week cycling roughly 50km each day in Northern Burgundy and coming ‘home’ each evening to the lovely boat ‘Zwaantje’ and her warm, funny, welcoming and very competent crew. We had two tour guides, professional, knowledgeable, helpful and charming. A tour of Sens cathedral and the inner city was a highlight as were two quite different wine tastings and a cider tasting. Walking tours of the towns where we moored each night were also always most enjoyable. We have no hesitation in recommending this tour.
Your feedback made our day Eleonore, We are very happy to read your lovely words, they mean a lot to our entire team. We look forward to seeing you again very soon. Best, Romy
Paula May Moore
I had a wonderful experience riding through Northern Burgundy. The rolling hills were challenging sans an E-bike. I choose to spend on day cruising on board and was invited to spend some time with the gracious Captain, Erik. He shared information about the Yonne River and traversing the locks and navigation in general. It was a rare experience which I treasure. The crew members were quite capable AND fun providing service, music and fun.
Hi Paula, We are incredibly grateful that you took the time out to share your feedback with us. It means a lot to our entire team That you rated our trip so positively. We look forward to welcoming you back again soon. Best, Romy
Ellen Guerin
The food and staff were amazing on this boat. It felt like a vacation family. Be prepared for tiny rooms with little storage space. One suggestion I would make is to improve the bikes offered, even if it adds to the cost. They were clunky about-town bikes, with some of the gears not functional. The first mate doubled as a sometime bike mechanic, but there should be better bikes and bike support. The plus was that the food was out of this world, packed lunches were provided, and drinks were varied and reasonably priced on board. I also think the bike rides should have faster options and allow people back on board earlier so they can go into town. Often it felt like we were purposely slowed down to avoid getting back to the boat before 4 pm. I would have liked faster rides and more choice time later.
Hi Ellen, Thank you so much for sharing your experience with on board of the Zwaantje. We are very happy with your positive rating. Your feedback helps us improve our product for everyone. If you’d like to discuss how we could’ve made your experience better, please call us at +31 20 72 35 400 or send us an e-mail to info@boatbiketours.com. We look forward to hearing from you! Warm regards, Romy
Theresa Ditter
The crew was fantastic. They were gracious and helpful in all ways possible. The chef bent over backwards to accommodate all the different eating choices of the occupants. I suggest offering vegan choices. There are going to be more and more people eating this way. Plus, the chefs try to accommodate the passengers choices anyways. I would suggest to update the pillows, mattresses, and bedding. These items were well used and dingy and uncomfortable.
Hi Theresa, Thank you very much for your feedback. We are extremely grateful that you took the time to send us your feedback about our Burgundy tour on board of the Zwaantje. I read through your feedback carefully, and consider your suggestions to be very insightful. I will pass it on to our product manager and to the owner of the Zwaantje to see if they could implement any of these changes in the upcoming season. Thanks once again and looking forward to welcoming you back on board for your next boat and bike adventure. Warm regards, Romy
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