Fluvius boat/barge tour reviews — 31 to 60 of 128
Anita G.
2 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Fluvius
Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium
The Trip met or exceeded all of our expectations. I enjoyed seeing the Netherlands and Belgium from a variety of vantage points. Walking into Antwerp old central square at night was magical.
randall r.
2 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Fluvius
Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium
I was very disappointed with this trip! Not only were the cabins very small, they were completely enclosed with no external air flow systems. So, when one person in our group came down with COVID, it quickly spread to 4 more.
Since I had been rooming with one of the persons who tested positive, I offered to leave the trip [so I would not spread the virus to other customers] with the understanding that the ship's crew would pay for my hotel stay in Gent Belgium and the cab fare from the boat to the hotel. Moreover, I expected the crew to give me a refund for the portion of the trip I could not use [not the entire sum, but just what they would save on meals, etc.]. However, after packing my suitcase, isolating from the rest of the customers on board, and preparing to deboard, I was told than not only was the crew not going to pay for the items they said they would, the crew insisted that I pay a surcharge of another 30 Euros for increased fuel costs.
Tripsite Staff • 2 years ago Tripsite Staff
We understand your disappointment. It is incredibly frustrating to look forward to a trip only to have it interrupted in the way that it was. COVID has been a nightmare in general, but especially on boats where quarantine is nearly impossible. Unfortunately, hotels and other costs incurred are the responsibility of the traveler. Some travel insurance companies will reimburse if only partially for this. Understandably, however, this is not how you wanted to spend your vacation and we are so sorry. We are required to abide by local and international regulations. With things improving as they are, we are expecting that off-boat quarantine will not be required in the future.
Donna D.
2 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Fluvius
Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium
This trip was a disappointment compared to our previous week on the De Holland. This barge has no ventilation. The lower rooms were very damp and moldy smelling. We would have to open the door to the hallway after we showered. No fan in the bathroom and no way to eliminate moisture or odors. They were not using a proper disinfectant spray between groups so the virus germs can stay in these damp rooms. One woman entered the barge with Covid. She ended up passing it to 9 people.. They were all asked to leave the barge on their own expense. People need to be aware of this potential expense. Guides were ok but best for experienced riders. They encouraged independent travel but they are in the process of changing from the GPS maps so it was confusing and we frequently were lost and had to look at the map. No serious troubles.
Tripsite staff • 2 years ago Tripsite Staff
Thank you so much for taking the time to write to us, your comments are incredibly important!
I'm so terribly sorry for the experience you had aboard the Fluvius. The boat was not at all up to our standards during your departure, as we have been made aware. The boat is currently in the shipyard to undergo renovations and deep cleaning for the coming season. We will ensure these problems are rectified!
COVID is still a lurking issue when it comes to travel. At the time, regulations required anyone infected to quarantine off the boat. We understand how inconvenient this is, most of us here in the office have experienced it. Unfortunately, post-COVID travel carries this risk. Thankfully, these regulations are loosening every day and we could see them disappear entirely in the future.
Thank you again for this feedback, this is how we get better.
Caryl M.
2 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Fluvius
Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium
Kudos to chef Joost! Great food.
Also to tour guide Ingrid who gave us background into Dutch culture and history.
I did fine on the heavy Dutch bike but if you want to have an easier time of it, rent an e-bike and have no worries about the cycling.
Ray T.
2 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Fluvius
Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands
Bike and barge was amazing! We were on the Fluvius, staff there were great! Pre-trip planning with Trip site and Anna was stress free and informative! We have already recommended tripsite and bike and barge trips to our friends. We will probably book another one next year!
Frank G.
2 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Fluvius
Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands
The ebike trips through wonderful countryside and lovely small towns en route were great. Dinners were excellent on board but I would try a better quality boat. The Fluvius is old, tiny cabins, no bathroom hooks, towel racks; shower head falls, dangerous 6” high step which caused a fall, unresponsive captain to requests to fix shower. Crowded buffet in a tiny space for 40 people. Bikes and staff excellent except captain. Tripside is doing a disservice by choosing such a downgraded boat. Surely there are better choices.
Tripsite Staff • 2 years ago Tripsite Staff
Thank you so much for your feedback. You help us be better! I'm so sorry your time on the Fluvius was not enjoyable. The Fluvius is one of the older boats in our program. We try to be as transparent as possible about the accommodations, from the good and bad to the ugly, but this boat definitely needed maintenance and thorough cleaning. I apologize so much you didn't get to experience it in its best condition. The owner has informed us that the Fluvius is in the boatyard currently to undergo much needed revisions.
Angela H.
2 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Fluvius
Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands
First of all, we worked with Anna Zdancewicz at Tripsite and she was an amazing communicator. She provided clear and detailed answers to any questions we had and was very timely in her response to us via email. We also spoke with her on the phone a few times and enjoyed the conversations as well as the information. We would definitely use Tripsite again for another booking and we often recommend Tripsite to others.
The upside of our trip was Jack, our bicycle tour guide each day. He was great and very knowledgeable of the sites we rode to and also he gave a few evening guided walking tours which were also excellent. We really enjoyed Jack and his helper Johan, who was the “Sweeper”…taking the rear positon of all bike riders keeping us all Read More together.
The downside of the cruise for us were issues concerning the boat, Fluvius. The Fluvius is a small and pretty old boat with up to 44 passengers. This boat is well-worn and old and definitely shows it. It is clearly in need of a facelift and major update throughout the entire boat. Even the bed linens and bed comforter was just a little too old and did not seem crisp and fresh. The dinners served on the boat were very good and well presented. We did not want to eat fish and they kindly gave us something else as a substitute. However, the breakfasts were really lacking and uninspired. But worst of all were the lunches that everyone had to put together themselves every day to take with them on their bikes. The bread for the sandwiches was always very dry. And overall, the items one could pack for lunch were very limited and not very tasty or appealing. If you wanted to just have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, you had to open about 7 or 8 small packages of each to make one sandwich. The choice of fruit was just so very limited and the drinks offered were juices boxes that tasted not great. For water, you were given a reusable plastic bottle that you were expected to fill yourself each day in your bathroom. We never did that. Instead, we bought bottled water to take with us.
The cabin we were in (which was one of the two very best ones) did not seem very clean. The shower did not seem well scrubbed out after the previous guests. I understand that there is not much time between one set of guests disembarking from a cruise and the next group arriving. However, rooms need to be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized between groups and clearly this was not done. I also felt that the overall ship could have been cleaner.
Another aspect of this cruise I would like to comment on is the bikes. The majority of riders rode ebikes. The ebikes on the Fluvius were old and should be replaced. I noticed also that most of the bikes were dirty even on the first day of use which proved to be just a sign of their overall condition which was poor. My own ebike required maintenance twice during the week. There was only one guy who was in charge of maintaining all the bikes and he definitely seemed overwhelmed with the responsibility of this.
Our tour guide Jack mentioned that the boat had recently been purchased by a young entrepreneurial type of guy. Perhaps Tripsite might let the boat owner or local partner know about these short comings and needed changes. Also, it might be helpful if Tripsite conducted an annual review of the boats you represent to be sure things are up to par and meet your standards and the expectations of your clients.
On a final note, I would like to say that we enjoyed the daily rides and felt that Jack, the tour guide, did an excellent job. Without him, the overall experience would have been less enjoyable.
Julie S.
2 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Fluvius
Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands
The guides were excellent (Hetti and Jacqueline) and I was impressed with the quality of food and accommodations. It surpassed my expectations for the price. Great value.
Janet D.
2 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Fluvius
Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands
The tour went through amazing neighborhoods and towns, so much beauty. The bike was comfortable, but wish I had a gel seat cushion! It would have been a plus to have that added to the things to bring on the trip. The tour guides were very personable and knowledgeable.
My biggest room for improvement would be the food. It was so carbohydrate based, too many sweets for breakfast, it was a challenge for the chef to keep up with eggs in the mornings. Surprising we never had a salad or greens. I can only believe it is due to refrigeration on the boat, but that was a disappointment.
Overall, I would do this tour again.
Jodee T.
2 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Fluvius
Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands
I had a great time! I didn’t ride as much as I thought I would, but I have a shoulder issue and it wasn’t cooperating. But I loved just sitting on the top deck watching Belgium and The Netherlands go by. The crew was outstanding, and very cooperative. And everyone of them could do most anything.
Although the routes each day were flat, this is not as easy as it might seem. It does require some training. The bikes are heavy, and not in the best shape. In the future, I’d choose an e bike, although they are very heavy also. Our guides were great, and worked with me, and my shoulder, to enable me to do the most riding I wanted to do.
Fernanda D.
3 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Fluvius
Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium
Cycling from Vianen to Schoonhoven, and the walk through Bruges beautiful historic city. Bring cycling waterproof gear and be ready to take lots of pictures…
Jayne B.
3 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Fluvius
Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium
We loved seeing the beautiful countryside, small quaint towns and unique places away from the usual busy tourist sites. It was so fun to get to know our fellow passengers and the staff on the ship was excellent, to include our outstanding guides!
Barbara S.
3 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Fluvius
Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands
We lucked out with the most gorgeous weather and didn't need to break out any of our raingear. We enjoyed meeting our fellow travelers. The meals were fabulous and our tour leaders were knowledgeable and informative. Others may find some extra comfort if they bring added bike seat cushion (memory foam or gel). The tour leaders adjusted our itinerary when changes had to be made due to high winds and we still had a good time. Most memorable was seeing Kinderdijk, swans nesting on the polder, and storks on their nests.
Gloria A.
3 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Fluvius
Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium
Visiting the beautiful cities of Bruges and Ghent
Greg S.
3 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Fluvius
Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands
Riding in the countryside was wonderful, the ride in the urban parts was much more stressful. Our barge was divided into two groups which had significantly different experiences. Group one (which we were not in) had 2 guides while ours which was the same size had only one which meant that one of us had to take on the role of sweep. Our group leader did not stop or explain anywhere near as much as the other. Our group leader was unwilling to wait to make sure everyone was accounted for. For one example he took part of the group to a canal tour and said it should return on time. When I asked if he would wait for us if it was a few minutes late he said "I don't know, maybe" and when we were still getting our bikes out of the racks, he left with the rest of the group and was out of sight. luckily we were able to catch up but this incident seemed to characterize our whole experience with this guide.
Jehiel • 3 years ago Tripsite Staff
Hi Greg,
Thanks for leaving us this feedback. Sorry to hear the experience you had with your guide was a negative one. We have shared this feedback with our partners.
Glad you enjoyed riding the Dutch countryside! This is one of our favorite parts of bike touring as well.
Jehiel • 3 years ago Tripsite Staff
Hi Greg,
Thanks for leaving us this feedback. Sorry to hear the experience you had with your guide was a negative one. We have shared this feedback with our partners.
Glad you enjoyed riding the Dutch countryside! This is one of our favorite parts of bike touring as well.
Andrea F.
3 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Fluvius
Tulip Tour - 5 day
Netherlands
Hilde our tour guide was extra special. Really enjoyed learning about her and her country. Biking around Amsterdam was amazing!! My favorite location was the Keukenhof gardens. Breathtaking!!
Nancy L.
3 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Fluvius
Tulip Tour - 5 day
Netherlands
Loved the bike rides through the tulip and hyacinth fields...............the fragrance was awesome. the Flower garden was inspiring. I loved the Flower Mart. wilma did a great job of leading and making us all feel comfortable. Food was delicious.
Eric W.
3 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Fluvius
Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands
It would very difficult to limit it to ‘the most memorable part’! The entire trip was magical!
The staff and crew of the Fluvius were super kind and friendly and always willing to help. Big shout out to Robi, Tara and Anita and chef Astrid’s meals were delicious and all beautifully prepared.
What amazed us, coming from the States, was the incredible biking system throughout Belgium and the Netherlands! Our guide, Tom, laid out and explained each day’s planned journey but with the excellent maps and Ride with GPS app, it was almost impossible to get lost, even taking alternative routes or detours into other towns or sites.
Although every cycling day brought new experiences, the last day cycling from Breukelen to Amsterdam was particularly picturesque. And the e-bikes were fantastic!!
We would highly recommend this trip to any one of any age and will most likely plan another bike and barge trip in the future.
Thank you!
Eric & Annie
Prosper B.
3 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Fluvius
Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium
I’ve used Tripsite for 9 bike/barge tours in the past 6 years. From Italy to France to tours of 5 countries along the Danube.
As a result, I’ve come to consider that the boat and it’s crew are the most valuable entity of any tour. The memory of bad service cannot be overcome the joy or beauty of travel.
With this in mind I am pleased to say the service on the FLUVIUS was superb! Every member of its crew invested themselves in our comfort safety and well-being. They took the time to provide excellent service to all of the passengers and left me looking forward to my next Tripsite tour.
TIP: Take your time and read the reviews of customers well before you hit the “Book This Trip” button.
Eileen M.
5 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Fluvius
Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands
The biking and our tour guide Jack amazing and so knowledgeable!
Carol M.
5 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Fluvius
Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands
Very well organised. Beautiful scenery, brilliant guide, lovely food, good company, fantastic weather. Have booked to go on another one!
Glenn S.
5 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Fluvius
Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium
Its hard to single out one thing that was most memorable. The whole experience was really nice from the fine dining, excellent service from all members of the crew including our great tour guides Gus and Hans.
Patricia D.
5 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Fluvius
Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands
Windmills in the mist, cherry beer, lunch with cows, fairy tale villages, and lovely flat bikes paths are memories I’ll treasure forever.
We loved breaking off from the herd for a day of discovery. The bike app made this so easy. Dinners were scrumptious! Highly recommend traveling Brugge to Amsterdam to have the wind at your back along the polders.
Lauren W.
5 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Fluvius
Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands
My son and I bonded while exercising and seeing the world. We had an amazing experience on our Bike and Barge trip from Brugge to Amsterdam, had the most awesome tour guides and met fabulous people. The sites, the accommodations and food were top notch. Not many teens would brag about traveling with their moms but mine did! Thank you!
Georgia P.
5 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Fluvius
Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium
All the thatched houses (amazing) the incredible gardens in the Netherlands and Belgium - how amazingly house proud these nations are and what incredible Gardner’s they are also!! On a bike you get to see all these delights on the back roads and along the canals - counting the windmills - trying out new beers at little pubs along the way - checking out the bakeries - then relaxing on the barge in the evening with a lovely wine and amazing food chatting to people from all around the world!! (And getting to know them as there are only 30 odd or so on the boat ) best vacations ever!!
Rob H.
5 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Fluvius
Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands
Bruges was outstanding, boat crew very nice.
Tim W.
5 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Fluvius
Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands
We just completed the bike and barge tour from Bruges to Amsterdam. The staff were excellent- professional, knowledgeable and safety-conscious. Our cabin on the barge Fluvius was clean and cozy. The food and service on the Fluvius was exceptional. Touring Belgium and the Netherlands by bike was fantastic. We would highly recommend and are already planning our next bike and barge adventure.
Timothy W.
5 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Fluvius
Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands
Our tour leaders Cory and Ilko were knowledgeable, professional, fun and safety minded. We can’t say enough about them! Our group of 35-40 (I think) had varied biking experience and aerobic ability. We were divided into the fast and ‘slightly less-fast’ group on most days and you could choose your group. Additionally, on most days there were two distances offered which allowed individual choice. This was perfect for us.
The scenery was stunning. This was classified as an ‘easy’ bike ride due to the flat terrain and my wife and I agreed that that was an accurate description.
We enjoyed our cabin on the Fluvius. We had a main level cabin with a window that could open. There was a storage closet, room under the bed to store luggage and some shelving beside the bed. Accommodation was a bit tight (to be expected) but we Read More managed just fine.
The food exceeded my expectation. The portions were ample and the meals were very tasty. We had lots to choose from at breakfast, we made our own lunches at the breakfast buffet (I’m not sure how fresh bread and croissants appeared each day) and at dinner there were always two choices provided for the entree. We couldn’t have been happier.
If you are interested in seeing some wonderful scenery in two beautiful countries, enjoy cycling and being active and like the adventure of meeting new people from other countries, this is the trip for you!
Eileen M.
5 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Fluvius
Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands
The biking everyday and our tour guide Jack. Amazing. Also loved the night tours of the towns. Jack was so knowledgeable
Kathy M.
5 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Fluvius
Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands
The scenery was absolutely beautiful and thankfully the weather was the same. If I had to make one suggestion it would be to improve the food on board. I don't think that can vegetables are a great reflection of the fresh vegetables that were all over the countryside. I also think that there should be more options for vegetarians.
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