Reviews

All connections were made seamlessly. Magnifique IV is a beautiful ship. Accommodations and food were fantastic. Guides were amazing and helped make the trip so much fun. Great value for the money.

The team (captain Paul, chef Michael, sailor Albert, Hostesses Annika & Ingeborg and tour guides Hans & Wilfred) on Magnifique IV is amazing. They are always cheerful, attentive and are so hardworking. Every meal was exquisite and the warm and delicious snacks offered after a long (wet) bike ride were so appreciated. The barge is beautiful. It is clean and well appointed. We appreciated the 2 usb ports to charge our phones in our large suite. We were conservative with water so had lots for a hot shower after a day of cycling. The scenery was gorgeous. If we had stopped at every place for a beautiful picture, we would still be in Ghent! Our tour guides were very knowledgeable about the area. They easily answered our questions with enthusiasm and humour. Our daily route was tweaked according to the groups’ abilities, interests and, of course, the weather. Tips -Pack light. We avoided long lineups at every airport because we had only carry-on luggage. -Unless you are cycling outside this tour, don’t bring a bike helmet. They are provided. -Rent one of the e-bikes. Even though the routes are mostly flat, we so appreciated having a little boost. I had mine on level 1 most of the time. Level 2 was for near the end of the ride. Level 3 only for going up hills. Make sure to unlock your bike and turn your battery on again after a stop. -Keep some distance between your bike and the one ahead. Not everyone will be experienced with cycling in groups and hand signals. This tour is rated as easy. Don’t expect to go really fast, even or especially in the rain. -Do bring a gel seat cover with a waterproof bag. You can cover it, or just take it off when stopping. The seats on the bikes are just okay. They were much more comfortable with an additional squishy layer. -Do bring water-PROOF raingear, top and bottom. We kept warm and almost completely dry with ours. Others went with water RESISTANT and regretted it. In fact, next time I’m bringing good quality covers for my shoes. The staff kindly put our shoes in the engine room to dry out. This worked beautifully when they were damp, but let’s just say that stronger measures were needed on other days. Bring an extra pair of shoes. Your waterproof jacket needs to have a hood. Note, the ball cap I wore under my helmet to keep the sun out of my eyes also kept the rain off my face. We had a mix of weather. Definitely dress in layers if you are doing a tour in late September. I was glad I packed warm long-sleeved tops, hoodies and wool socks. I also had a warm coat and a scarf for the cool evenings in the various beautiful cities. -Do bring a few ziploc bags. These will come in handy on wet days, even with the waterproof satchels. -Don’t believe the nice lady at the dairy farm. Unless you are going back home right away, uncover and place the cheese you buy in a fridge. Simply opening the package to let it breath won’t be enough to prevent mold from growing. -Do get a data package with your cellphone company. Not every place will have wifi when you need it. Staying in Bruges and then in Amsterdam for a few days is a great idea. -Do be prepared for the BEST boat bike experience. We so enjoyed ours from Bruges to Amsterdam. It was our first time and we are recommending it to all of our friends.

Great crew made our trip

This trip was above and beyond our expectations. The boat, the food and the service was all amazing. We had a fantastic time. Loved the rides and everything we saw and experienced. We will definitely travel with them again.

5 stars all the way! The rooms are beautifully appointed and roomy; great heated towel rack; strong shower pressure was a nice surprise and even a decent closet with shelves – plenty of room for clothes. The food was delicious and varied each day, with standards for breakfast which is nice for a yogurt and fruit person. I loved that at breakfast we prepared our own lunches and are on the ride in really interesting places. The bikes were in great shape and easy to handle. We had the assist (ebike) and only used it for high winds and those very short, steep bridges over canals but it was really nice to have the option when you’re just plain tired after a long day. I highly recommend getting one. The guides and entire crew…perfection! Friendly and fun and interesting and full of useful information about the areas we biked or ‘parked’ for the night. A few of us are ready to sign up for another tour with them in another area of Europe. Communication with the company was very good during the confusing ‘do we-don’t we go?’ question that was ever present for 3 yrs. We waited and they agreed and it turned out perfect!

This trip has been in the making for several years. We had originally wanted a September 2019 departure date. (Un) or may be fortunately, the date and boat we wanted was sold out so we scheduled it for early September 2020 adding several of our friends to the “ride”. We named the group with the first two letters of our last names, AKA the Portland Gang. due to the pandemic, we rescheduled twice and eventually embarked in the best adventure one could hope. The accommodations were top notch. we couldn’t have asked for a better crew. Everyone of them! Congratulations to management for putting together such outstanding people, and such a great program.

Fabulous trip that exceeded my expectations. The staff was attentive and fun. The food was consistently excellent and well presented. Drinks were reasonably priced and there were always snacks. Rooms were comfortable and storage space plentiful considering the small space. Each evening you’re given an overview of what to expect the next day. The landscape was as delightful as I could imagine. The riding pace was a bit slow, so good for most levels, but too tedious for a serious biker. Some guides point out more than others as you ride.

The crew was fabulous! The guides made sure we were safe and well supported every step of the way. The food was excellent, and the Magnifique IV was luxurious in all respects. It was an exceptional trip!

After the terrific success of our 5 day Tulip Tour this spring, we naturally had high expectations for this eight day trip from Amsterdam to Brugges. Without a doubt those expectations were matched, and even exceeded a little! We were on the same boat as we were in April, and it is still as lovely as it was. We were very excited to see that our chef, John, from our previous trip was also on board. He recognized us immediately and gave us exceptionally warm welcomes. The rest of the crew were terrific, and our guides Hans and Wilfred were outstanding. On several occasions they modified what the cycling plan for the day was based on road conditions/closures, and weather. They made the right call every time! We appreciate the fact that they can exercise their discretion in this manner. These vacations are exceptionally good value, and we felt that we were more than just tourists, because we became a part of the every day lives of the people and places we saw. I would much rather cycle beside and through the farms, fields, and villages, then look at them from the deck of a passing boat. Now to figure out which one we’re going to do next!

Wonderful trip based on: appropriate length of rides each day, great guides who made stops & explained the area, wonderful boat crew who were friendly & helpful, great food & drink. The barge was excellent: clean & comfortable. We loved it!