Early Morning Canal Cruise Amsterdam

Captain Dave's canal cruise is a nice way to start the day!

I took the earliest reservation, which is at 8am, and waited at the meetup spot half an hour early. I'm a real early bird, especially during vacation so I don't miss out on anything, but I would advise you not to worry if you think you'll be cutting it close.

The boat didn't arrive until five minutes to the scheduled time, which also is good to note that you shouldn't expect the boat to be sitting there before 8am. I spent most of my free time searching for it, when I could've stayed at the empty part of the canal and waited patiently. So, if you consider taking this tour, remember that you will NOT see the boat early before your start time.

Upon arrival, we were invited in by the actual Captain Dave! There are several hosts within the tour, and I was lucky enough to meet the founder. He introduced himself to us, and gave us a chance to introduce ourselves too. This could be a problem to guests who'd rather sit quietly and enjoy the view because throughout their over an hour journey, you will be talking with other passengers. If not, it's likely the Captain will check in with you to make sure you're having a good time.

I did speak with people, but I was the only attendee from my reservation, which is probably why the Captain gave me a little more attention at certain points. While it wasn't necessary, as I'm comfortable sitting in silence, I did appreciate his efforts to keep me entertained.

I took this cruise on my 1st full day in Amsterdam. I believe it provides a great overview of what the city has to offer on land & sea. I chose the earliest time too because less boats are in motion; so if you're looking for a peaceful, intimate setting to observe the area, then this is your best option.

There is sweet bread offered, along with coffee, tea & orange juice. Not exactly filling for breakfast, but enough to keep your stomach from rumbling. It did taste good, and I caught myself refilling my glass with juice and my plate with bread & butter.

Captain Dave had a vast amount of knowledge about the area, with things I would've never known about if I hadn't taken his tour. Without spoiling, some information ranged from where you could spot Old versus New Amsterdam, the history behind the buildings, and even how the boat is connected to royalty!

The tour did last longer than anticipated, and we were done by around 9:30am, which was warned beforehand, but be wary in case you plan for any other events so they don't clash with the time.

Ultimately, I found this to be a worthwhile experience and I'd recommend it to anyone visiting Amsterdam for the first time. Before you head into the most popularized parts of the city (AKA Red Light District) take a step back, relax, and appreciate the history that has been built around you.

The canal cruise was great! Super informative and really comfortable. I'd totally recommend it - and I thought the early morning was gorgeous & less people were out. Really enjoyed it!

We took the 10am cruise with Capt Dave. He owns the boat and is Capt Dave unlike other boats with a captain’s name. The boat is 50 years old and in great condition. It has large windows a large sun roof and a back seating area with a canvas cover. Dave provides delicious snack and unlimited sodas, coffee, beer and whiskey and has a bathroom on board. Very comfy boat. Capt Dave explains all about the area and the highlight points of interest, but he slap informs you about the history of the area and how it was developed. He s as Lao tells personal stories of himself snd his family. He is very friendly s as nd entertaining. He even let us take turns driving the boat! I highly recommend Capt Dave for your Amsterdam canal cruise!

A delightful saunter through the canals in a very small boat with a charming captain/guide. The boat only holds about 10-12 people, so the experience is more intimate than the many larger boats around. It's a very relaxed experience, and the guide relied heavily on questions from the visitors (rather than a long detailed rehearsed speil) -- this may not be ideal for everyone, but we very much enjoyed it and found our guide to be knowledgeable and charming (like most of the locals we encountered in this utterly charming and very liveable city).

It is our honeymoon and Captain Dave treated us like royalty. 8am was worth it for the calm and quiet. 6/5 stars if I could!

We thoroughly enjoyed this scenic cruise with Gus. He was friendly, knowledgeable and made the experience very relaxing. We had a nice assortment of coffee, tea, juices, water and a smoothie mix on board. The wooden boat was beautiful and very comfortable. Much better than a larger tour boat. I highly recommend it!

Early morning light on the water was blissful with amusing anecdotes from Captain Gus and great refreshments as we quietly navigated the waking city. There is no better way to see this beautiful city.

Captain Dave was fantastic! He was knowledgeable, funny and a true captain of the canals!

captain Dave shared great history of the city and added personal touches of his life growing up in Amsterdam.

Can’t recommend enough the 8am morning cruise- the waterways are so peaceful and you get to see the city come to life. The boat is covered (good if you’re worried about rain) with coffee/juice/snacks on board.

Informative and entertaining captain. Great way to introduce yourself to the city and its history. Beautiful houses, house boats, and canal views.

Well worth an early start, Captain Dave’s canal trip was exactly as described and more. A perfect combination of history and humour. We had a peaceful trip round the canals of Amsterdam before the rush of the day and the coffee, tea, fruit juices and sugar bread kept hunger pangs at bay. Captain Dave was rightly proud of his boat and its heritage and very enthusiastic and informative about the history of Amsterdam through the centuries. Highly recommended.

What a fantastic and relaxing morning canal cruise in Amsterdam. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our 100 minute tour. The boat was beautiful. As we were readying to get under way I was wondering where Captain Dave was? A lovely young woman was greeting us and offering hot drinks and juices. Where was the Captain?, I was thinking. Well, it turned out the the lovely young woman WAS our Captain. Captain Anna was exceptional in every way. Her warmth, knowledge and skill made for a wonderful early morning trip. From the light jazz to the tasty breakfast cake, this trip is worth the money. Capt. Anna’s joyful knowledge of all things Amsterdam was engrossing and informative. I’m sure Capt. Dave is a great host as well, but Capt. Anna made our day!
I HIGHLY recommend booking this early morning gem.

What a wonderful way to start our first day in Amsterdam. I was a little concerned we wouldn’t find the right location but by following Google Maps, it was a 15 minute walk from where we were staying right to the exact spot we needed to be. Captain Dave pulled up in his beautifully restored canal boat from the Dutch Royal Family right on time. Captain Dave is personable, kind and gives a well informed tour. Taking the early morning coffee tour allowed us to enjoy the canals virtually free from other canal boat traffic, making for a peaceful tour. Coffee was make your own from a capsule coffee maker. Other beverages offered were water smoothies, beer, wine, orange juice and tea. A delicious sugar bread was also served. I highly recommend this tour.

The best way to do a canal boat tour in my opinion and I’m not a morning person. You get to be on a historic boat, the water is quiet, you can see things without distractions and you can hear Captain Dave without straining. You don’t feel as if you’re on a typical tour, it feels more like a family get together with your cousin telling stories - some historic, some personal, but always memorable, interesting and entertaining.

Phenomenal tour. I was looking for something early before the canals got crowded and an experienced tour guide. Dave was excellent and the tour was just what I was looking for. Highly recommend!

Informative and interesting tour given by captain Dave about the history of building and development of Amsterdam with personal anecdotes of growing up near the canal. Small groups better and early morning best time to be out on the canal no queues!

Captain Dave was an amazing guide. As a group we were able to choose where we wanted to go, so we opted for a tour that went beyond the usual tourist route. In addition, Dave was full of interesting information about the history of Amsterdam and how the canals were made. It was my birthday on the day of my cruise, so he also made the day special with humour and a Prosecco! The boat is absolutely gorgeous and the small group size make it a memorable experience! I highly recommend Captain Dave!

Thoroughly enjoyed our boat trip with Captain Dave. Very knowledgeable and funny. It was a lovely way to see Amsterdam and take in some history.