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Reviews

Netherlands: Southern Tour of Holland
21 May 2023

Jen Jalbert

Our first trip with Boat Bike tours on the Southern Tour of Holland and we knew after being onboard ten minutes we would take another trip with the company. Every staff member was cheerful and helpful. The boat, bikes, the food all great. The bike routes were good variety and beautiful. We even went one rainy day and it was still great. A very stress free vacation as they take care of all the details. Gear up and go!

18 May 2023

Nick

Great experience.best holiday I’ve had.food was fantastic and accomodation was perfect for what we needed.tour guides were there to ask any questions and were very helpful.ebikes we had were smooth and really good to ride.if anything can be improved maybe having a small map for some of the attractions to see or meeting places with info such as best place to park bike etc.timing is important as have to return to ship late afternoon so need to think carefully about how much time to spend along the route.have booked the next one

17 May 2023

Don Cross

You guys did a great job, bicycles we’re very good, and performed excellent. The staff was extremely helpful and polite. Accommodations We’re very clean and neat. The only negative would be, I Think you should charge more if you have to, to improve the food at dinner. But don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed Our trip. Thank you BBT

15 May 2023

YUWEI NIEN

All services are good!

12 May 2023

Mary

The Bike and Boat tour was fantastic. The food and rooms were first class. A few surprises that we had not been made aware of until arrival was the optional beverage package choice for the week of the trip and it included even water or anything you choose to drink with your evening meal or from 4 pm onwards. We were not expecting this, nor did we budget for it. We knew that any evening drinks would be at our cost but not that it included the supper beverage or even water in the evening if we chose to not drink anything else.

29 Apr 2023

customer

The ship had a comfortable lounge and dining room- no frills, but just what was needed; a place to rest and relax after a day out and about exploring. Our room had lots of storage space. The crew worked hard and were always helpful and friendly. We appreciated that we were encouraged to pack a lunch each morning, this created opportunities for picnics along our routes and kept the costs down.

19 Apr 2023

Chris

Many small things left unresolved by management end up making a negative impression of the company and how little they care about their clients. We had a great time, luckily, because of the people we met and biked with. The room, an upper suite, was perfect with lots of storage and space. But, too many things went unresolved until recently being contacted by Romy from Boat and Bike. (*…see below) 1. We showed documentation, a pdf file and room pamphlet, that stated tea and coffee was to be served after we arrived from biking. It was instead, set to a specific hour and then everything was removed. When told, hotel manager and tour guides said they told management but were powerless to match what was written. To this day, no one has responded to us. 2. Dinner was often overcooked and the fish was a disaster often without flavour. We had 3 very good partial meals. The rest was terrible. Potato casserole overcooked. Soup was bland. Breakfasts were good, except for the very salty eggs, but remained the same day after day with little changes. Lunch was breakfast packaged in a sandwich. Advertised drinks were not given out. It was the same thing over and over. 3. Water was removed during dinnertime and management told staff not to serve us water under any circumstances! Bottled water was available for sale. I have never been anywhere where water was removed from the facility. In the end, the company actually lost money by doing this as many of us stopped ordering beer and wine if we had to pay for water! 4. The staff on the ship were doing their best considering all the restrictions put into place by management. 5. The boat was delayed for hours one day, yet our tour guide did not tell us about this until just before it docked. We missed hours of tour time waiting for a boat to arrive. If we arrived late at the ship, we would be left behind. No explanation was given, nor something complimentary to show their appreciation for us waiting for them. 6. Our bike tour guides could do a better job planning the routes through construction areas. It was obvious they did not scope out the route in Rotterdam. Sights to see could be highlighted on the sheet and on GPS. Beyond this, other routes were very beautiful and selected to showcase the region. Adding in more short tours of a city or more professional tours like the one given in Rotterdam would make this a more rounded experience. The tours make the trip much more memorable. Some days left little time to bike and tour the various towns. There is no time as the boat leaves by a certain time. Why not stay longer at the ports? 7. One guide did his best to hide from guests and bike solo on his own while the other gave tours and assisted us when needed. One was so friendly, where the other did not even make eye contact or say hello. Even when we waved him down with bike troubles, he kept riding until someone caught up with him. Then, he does not carry a simple tool to correct the problem! Useless! 8. After surveys, still no one from the organization contacted us about the inclusions that were not given and poor meals we had. Boat and Bike also does not trust their senior employees to solve customer issues on their own. They forbid them to do anything to make up for a problem. What kind of organization does this? 9. The sad part is that I realized later that I read about the exact same issues several years ago! I just did not see these reviews this time during booking. 10. Train your staff to greet people and say hello! 11. Ships crew and hotel staff were very helpful. It is the BOAT and Bike organization that is cutting every corner possible to save a few Euros. 12. It is obvious Boat and Bike is taking the cheap docks. We were docked too far away in Amsterdam to really enjoy the city, when other companies docked closer. This was the case at another location also. Choose piers closer to city center. 13. Why is the ship leaving at 3 or 5 pm? We could travel by night to the next city as it is only a few hours away. Instead, we miss a good portion of the day touring because we have to get back to the ship! Again, there seems to be a cost involved. ** After being contacted by Romy, we decided to change this review to satisfactory. She kindly listened and agreed these small issues could have been resolved by the staff on board and the overall experience would have changed. There seems to be a focus on ensuring upcoming trips have changes in place for the food quality, lack of water, updating some of the bike routes, etc. Also, she was kind enough to offer compensation on future trips or this past trip. Sometimes acknowledging and correcting the small issues can leave a positive impression.

Reply from Boat Bike Tours 21 Apr 2023

Hi Chris, It sounds like you had a disappointing experience during your Boat and Bike tour on board of De Amsterdam. It's understandable that unresolved issues can leave a negative impression, especially when it comes to issues with meals and services that were advertised but not delivered. We regret the lack of response from us, Boat Bike Tours. And it's disappointing to hear that the boat was delayed for hours due to a defect on the motor and that some of the bike tour routes were not planned out as well as they could have been. It's good to hear that some staff members were helpful, but it's unfortunate that some seemed uninterested in interacting with guests or providing assistance when needed. It's also disappointing that you feel that we at Boat Bike tours doesn't seem to have a plan in place for resolving customer issues or offering compensation when things go wrong. I would love to discus this matter further by phone. Can you please let me know when it is convenient for me to call you so we can discuss your experience and hopefully resolve it together. Warm regards, Romy

17 Apr 2023

John Quigley

We did the Southern tour of Holland on Boat Bike Tours and had a great time. The ship, the daily routes and staff were great and the daily routes had beautiful scenery. I did have an issue with my bike, the handlebars were loose and would turn left or right , after the ride I told the 2 gentlemen checking the bikes in about the issue and they started working on it. Next morning I went to get my bike and the handlebars were still loose, I told them It was still the same and their response was: We tried to fix it but couldn’t, do you want another bike? I thought that was a little careless, I could have wrecked if I didn’t check the bike again, the replacement bike was fine. Food on the ship ranged from very good to not so good, we laughed at our table also about the different sizes of food we received, some were almost twice as big as others, The biggest disappointment was: water was not included, we had to buy water. We understand paying extra for wine, beer or soft drinks but water should have been included with each meal.

Reply from Boat Bike Tours 18 Apr 2023

Hi John, Thank you for sharing your experience on the Southern tour of Holland with Boat Bike Tours. We are glad to hear that you had a great time and enjoyed the ship and daily routes, which had beautiful scenery. However, we apologize for the issue you had with your bike's handlebars and for the response you received from the staff. Safety is our top priority, and we understand your concern about the potential risk that the loose handlebars posed. We appreciate your feedback and will work to ensure that our staff is more attentive to these kinds of issues in the future. We are sorry to hear that the food on the ship did not meet your expectations. We aim to provide delicious and varied meals to our guests and are sorry to hear that you found the quality inconsistent. We will share your feedback with the ship owner to improve the food for future tours. We apologize for any confusion regarding the water. Thank you again for your feedback, as it is essential for us to continue improving our tours and services. We hope that you will consider taking another tour with us in the future, and we will ensure that we provide a more positive experience. Warm regards, Romy

20 Oct 2022

Anthony

Our boat bike tour was excellent. The organisation and information ( both predeparture and during the week) were superb. The staff were always helpful and friendly. I had read good reviews and they were all true. Our cabin was clean with a very decent shower room. The food was really nicely cooked and presented. It was tasty and the right amount. Our two guides were both very good. There were only six English speakers on the biat but they ensured we always had a guide or explanation that spoke English e.g at the cheese farm. We will be travelling with them again

Reply from Boat Bike Tours 26 Oct 2022

Hi Anthony, I am delighted to hear that our staff have provided you with excellent service. I will make sure that they receive the feedback and that it will make their day. Best, Romy

7 Oct 2022

Craig

My wife and I had the most amazing and fun trip aboard the Boat Bike Tour of Southern Holland on board the ship De Amsterdam. The cycling routes were scenic and fun and fully accomplished on well-maintained bikes. The on-board food was excellent, the cabin was comfortable and quite cozy with the amenities of a private bathroom and daily housekeeping which at end of the day of cycling was truly welcomed. The entire staff from Captain to crew was friendly and knowledgeable and performed their duties well and above what was expected. Personally, we will not hesitate to travel with Boat Bike Tours again!

Reply from Boat Bike Tours 14 Oct 2022

Thank you so much for such a nice review and for taking the time to write it. We are glad you enjoyed your trip and wish to see you soon. Best Romy

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