5 Star Merlijn boat/barge tour reviews — 1 to 30 of 179
Sandra B.
5 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Würzburg to Nuremberg
Germany
Sept 23 - 29, 2023 Nürnberg to Würzburg on the Merlijn : This was our 6th Bike & Barge trip with Tripsite (it would have been our 8th, but you know that story!), and we wouldn't dream of booking with anyone else! We'd taken a trip on the Merlijn in 2017, but since then, the interior has been renovated. Very nice! Food and accommodations were excellent, staff was friendly and helpful. Our bike guide, Thomas, prepped us each day, reviewing the routes and stops, always prioritizing our safety. The bikes were new and well maintained. The staff took the time to adjust each to personalize the fit and comfort. The hybrid bikes are Dutch and light weight, which my husband rode. This was the second trip I've taken using an e-bike and I'm hooked! The biking routes were generally level and we mostly rode on dedicated bike paths. When riding through a town, Thomas did a great job of keeping us together, advising us on how to approach intersections. Another fabulous B & B trip and we're already planning our 7th!
bozena • 5 months ago Tripsite Staff
Hi Sandra! Thank you for your continued trust in Tripsite and for sharing your experience with us. We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your 6th Bike & Barge trip with us and that the Merlijn's interior renovations met your expectations. It's great to know that you found the food, accommodations, and staff to be excellent. Thomas sounds like a fantastic bike guide, and it's wonderful to hear that the biking routes and e-bikes made for a fantastic experience. We look forward to welcoming you back on another adventure with us!
Nancy V.
5 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Mainz to Merzig
Germany
It is hard to decide on just one memorable part of the trip. Sailing along the Rhine with a drink, seeing castle after castle along the beautiful hills, drinking “fresh wine” at the lunch stop during one of our rides along the Mosel, riding through charming town after charming town, each was highly memorable. This was my dream vacation.
The only thing I would change is that I should have ridden an e-bike. Had I not been recovering from a recent illness, it would not have been necessary, but as one can never predict one’s future health at time of booking, I would consider an e-bike an insurance policy in case one is not 100%. It would have made some days more enjoyable.
Harvey S.
5 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Mainz to Merzig
Germany
My Second B&B trip on Merlijn. After my wife & I had such a great experience in Belgium & The Netherlands on the Merlijn, I pledged That I would try to reserve the entire barge and recruit 22 of our friends to join us on another trip. We did just that. We just finished our second trip - This time Mainz to Merzig in Germany.
Safe to say we all had a great experience that we will long remember.
Barbara M.
5 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Mainz to Merzig
Germany
Loved having our “hotel” come along for the ride. That’s all.
Deborah D.
6 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Mainz to Würzburg
Germany
Excellent itinerary with great paths and trails. Love the Merlijn and all that it has to offer. Coen and Christina along with the crew are 5star! Thomas was a terrific guide and fun to travel with.
Deborah D.
6 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Würzburg to Nuremberg
Germany
The crew and owners Coen and Christina are just so friendly and they make you feel like family. The ship is so clean and very luxurious. I did 4 weeks straight on the Merlijn and had 2 different guides. llse and Thomas were just a joy to be with. They are both exceptionally good at guiding! There are not enough words to say about this fantastic journey.
Edith S.
6 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Nuremberg to Passau
Germany
Everything about the trip was wonderful, the food on the Merlijn was spectacular. Our guide on the bike trip, Ilsa, was well prepared and did an outstanding job leading us. The Merlijn was well managed, clean and organized. Overall it was my best trip ever.
Linda C.
6 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Nuremberg to Passau
Germany
Our trip began in Passau which is a beautiful, scenic town in Bavaria. We were greeted on the Merlijn by the owners, Coen and Christina and our guide, Ilsa. They offered to take our suitcases to our cabins for us. I was immediately impressed. The food was excellent, and Christina made delicious sack lunches for us each day for the ride. I can’t emphasize enough how gracious they were and how well they took care of us. Additionally, the rides were through scenic towns and the quiet countryside, where Ilsa gave us brief descriptions of the towns and the areas of interest in each place. She was a terrific guide. I felt reluctant to get off the ship in Nuremberg because I enjoyed this trip so much that I would do it again in an instant. I highly recommend this trip.
Keith M.
6 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Nuremberg to Passau
Germany
I really liked the bicycle riding. The scenery was beautiful and it's a great way to see the German countryside. Our guide Ilsa was fantastic and the crew of the Merlijn was first rate. The chef on the boat prepared tasty cuisine for us every night.
Keith M.
6 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Nuremberg to Passau
Germany
I really liked the bicycle riding. The scenery was beautiful and it's a great way to see the German countryside. Our guide Ilsa was fantastic and the crew of the Merlijn was first rate. The chef on the boat prepared tasty cuisine for us every night.
Deborah D.
6 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Nuremberg to Passau
Germany
This tour was fantastic! To start off, you are on the most beautiful ship out there - the Merlijn. This ship is pure luxury! Also, the crew and owners are the best out there. Ilse, the guide was just awesome. She is full of energy and so much knowledge. I learned so much from her about the area we were biking in and sailing in. Don’t hesitate, book now for 2024 on the Merlijn. You won’t be sorry.
Deborah D.
6 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Along the Danube - Passau to Vienna
Austria, Germany
The scenery along the Danube River was just spectacular. The little villages along the way were so beautiful to photograph. Traveling on the Merlijn is like being in a 5 star hotel. The ship is just beautiful and the food is downright amazing and delicious. The crew members are like your family. Love the Merlijn!
Anne C.
6 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Along the Danube - Passau to Vienna
Austria, Germany
Biking thru the small villages of Austria, enjoying their beautiful, clean lifestyle and the magnificent Danube was memorable. Our guide was quite capable and knowledgeable adding to the experience. Would recommend this trip highly!
Mark S.
6 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Along the Danube - Passau to Vienna
Austria, Germany
The crew and our guide were very friendly and knowledgeable. We had a great time biking through beautiful countryside and learned alot about local culture and history. The food was great.
Cynthia D.
8 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Berlin to Wolfsburg
Germany
The Berlin to Wolfsburg was an amazing experience. This was my second trip on the wonderful boat, Merlijn and it won't be my last. We already have one booked for next year! The pedaling was fun and easy and the historical sites fascinating with a great guide. I highly recommend this trip!
Peter D.
8 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Saarburg to Mainz
Germany
Everything about the Bike and Barge tour on Merlin was first class.
We have been fortunate enough to have enjoyed many large ship ocean cruises and rail holidays throughout Europe and can confidently say that Bike and Barge tours tops them all.
My wife, not being a cyclist hired an electric powered bike and although always being a little dubious about cycling every day finished the tour saying; " We must do this again, it's much better than the fancy cruises".
The accommodation on the barge Merlin although being tight is excellent, the food (breakfast, lunch and dinner) exceptional as were the crew and of course the scenery as we slowly cycled along the Mosel and Rhine rivers was stunning.
Thank you TripSite and particularly the good Barge "Merlin".
We highly recommend this amazing holiday experience to all those young at heart.
The 24 guests (maximum number) on board ranged from Read More their early 40's through to an average age of about 65.
Despite several very inexperienced cyclist on board all managed the ride comfortable
Only one concern (being Australian) and that is that making payment was a bit messy.
Peter and Christine Dearle
Perth
Western Australia
Cynthia D.
9 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Berlin to Wolfsburg
Germany
This was my second trip with the Merlijn and I will travel with them again in the future. The staff made our our living conditions on board very comfortable, the food is always amazing and the biking was outstanding. We had a family emergency which they handled professionally and efficiently. The friendly relaxed atmosphere that this boat/barge provides in a small group setting is exactly what we look for.
Leah D.
9 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Berlin to Wolfsburg
Germany
Lovely biking holiday! So enjoyed the bits of history as we biked through German villages and towns. The The boat was delightful, food delicious, and the hosts went out of their way to ensure a wonderful time.
Ivy J.
10 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Tulip Tour - Amsterdam to Bruges - 11 day
Netherlands, Belgium
The barge we were on, the Merjlin, was amazing- first rate service and food. The rooms were very comfortable and quiet. The common area was a great place to relax before meals and converse with our fellow travelers. The food was amazing and the service was great.
One thing we were not prepared for is the issue of tipping- the suggested tip was for $10/pp/day for the ship staff and $10/pp/day for the guide- which would add $440 to the cost of the trip. Of Read More course as we are from the US, we are very familiar with the tipping culture but we were not expecting it on a European adventure. Yes, it's mentioned on the information section but I guess we skimmed over that. I would prefer they pay their staff a living wage and skip the tip. It costs the customers the same.
Lori C.
10 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Tulip Tour - Amsterdam to Bruges - 11 day
Netherlands, Belgium
enjoying the beautiful countryside on bikes with friends .
Donna R.
10 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Tulip Tour - Amsterdam to Bruges - 11 day
Netherlands, Belgium
I cannot say enough great things about our trip from Brugge to Amsterdam! The Captain and Crew of the Merlijn were awesome, and our intrepid tour guide, Francien was great!
What a wonderful way to experience Belgium and the Nederlands; riding through the countryside, towns, polders, and along the canals on every manner of bike path.
We were spoiled by the food provided by Christina; a delicious breakfast buffet, tasty sandwiches in our packed lunches for the ride, and gourmet meals for dinner with a little bit of history about the dishes.
Our cabin was comfortable and cozy, and the dining room and lounge were always adorned with fresh flowers.
If you want to experience travel in a unique way, then this is the way to go:)
Richard S.
10 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Tulip Tour - Amsterdam to Bruges - 11 day
Netherlands, Belgium
The cycling was the highlight of the trip for us, we thoroughly enjoyed the pace and travel through small towns and villages along the way. Of course the tulips fields are also quite a sight! Although the weather did not always cooperate - we like the motto “there is no bad weather - only poor clothing choices”. Be prepared.
GEORGE C.
11 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Tulip Tour - Amsterdam to Bruges - 11 day
Netherlands, Belgium
It was all perfect, a great experience and the Captain along with his wife and crew were superb
ELIZABETH B.
11 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Tulip Tour - Amsterdam to Bruges - 11 day
Netherlands, Belgium
The Keukenhof gardens were spectacular. The food was also far above expectations.
Steve D.
11 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Tulip Tour - Amsterdam to Bruges - 11 day
Netherlands, Belgium
Coan & Christina own and operate the 50 meter 1930 converted cargo ship Merlijn along with a crew of 3 and a bike guide. The attention to detail , ,new equipment and bikes. The difference is other tour vessels are owned by larger companies and hire a captain a crew with older bikes.
Our guide Francien was very good, had 20 years experience and took us places that you would not see on a self guided tour. In the evenings after our on board gourmet dinner she would take who wanted to go on a tour of the city or town.
The scenery was amazing and a boat canal side tour in Gent was arranged. Our groups average was between 55 and 73 and everyone was able able to keep up a good pass on regular and e bikes.
We will be taking another tour they offer in Germany next year
Deborah T.
11 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Tulip Tour - 7 day
Netherlands
The bike rides and the food.
Debby R.
11 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Tulip Tour - 7 day
Netherlands
The scenery was beautiful! The people that we biked with were great companions for the week!
Kay S.
11 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Tulip Tour - 7 day
Netherlands
Fabulous guide, beautiful bike rides, wonderful food on the boat, great boat crew, fun group of travelers....overall it was a fantastic experience!
Bill N.
11 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Tulip Tour - 7 day
Netherlands
My immediate response would be the expert cycling guide (Tamara), who insured we were 1) safe and knew the cycling etiquette in the Netherlands, 2) took the time to stop and educate us at special points of interest and 3) invited any passengers to accompany her on after dinner walks through the towns the barge overnighted at. Equally memorable were the gourmet meals prepared by Christina and her team. Each night she would announce dinner at 6:30 pm sharp and begin her detailed yet brief explanation of what we were about to savour that evening.
Lynne K.
12 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Tulip Tour - 7 day
Netherlands
This was my first barge trip. Everyone on the trip who had been on other barges informed me that I had started at the top! The crew was amazing and provide first class service. The chef is the captain's wife and cooked us 5 star meals. The lunch she packed for the bike trips was wonderful each day. She accommodated the gluten-free passengers. Our tour guide, Tamy was knowledgeable and friendly. I learned so much about the cities where we docked and the countryside where we rode. This was my first bike trip and the description was accurate. The ride was flat and easy which made looking around at everything pleasurable. I loved that there were only 24 passengers on the boat. I got to know them all and enjoy their company at meals and during the rides. Since this was the first tulip tour of the season, the tulips were not yet blooming in the fields. However, there were many other flowers blooming to see on our ride. We saw many many tulips and other flowers at the Keukenhof where we spent several hours. I am looking forward to traveling on the Merlijn again in the future!
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