Amsterdam: Pizza Cruise with New York Pizza & Drinks

Amsterdam looks especially good from the water, and this 75-minute pizza cruise adds a warm meal to the usual canal sightseeing. You cruise past Centraal Station, the canal belt, Magere Brug, and the old merchant houses while pizza, drinks, and dessert are served on board.

I like the simple all-in price and the choice of beer, wine, soft drinks, vegetarian pizza, and vegan pizza. I also like that the boat provides a comfortable evening plan, especially in cool weather, with food, music, and attentive service rather than a bare sightseeing loop.

The main consideration is that this is a dinner cruise first and a history tour second. The English-speaking host may share some commentary, but the focus can shift toward music, food, and atmosphere. If detailed Amsterdam history is your priority, you may want a separate canal tour.

Key points to know before booking

• Thirty minutes of cruising comes first: The boat cruises for about half an hour before docking briefly while your pre-ordered pizza is served.
• Unlimited drinks are included: You can choose from beer, wine, and soft drinks during the cruise.
• Pizza must be selected in advance: Options include Margherita, Pepperoni, Hawaii, Chilli Chicken, Californian Veggie, vegan Margherita, and a smaller children’s Margherita.
• The route covers major canal sights: You pass Centraal Station, Brouwersgracht, Keizersgracht, Magere Brug, Herengracht, Nieuwmarkt, and De Negen Straatjes.
• Dessert is part of the deal: Ben & Jerry’s Cookie Dough Chocolate Chip Ice Cream is included. The meal description also refers to a brownie slice, so confirm the current dessert details if that matters to you.
• This is not suitable for wheelchair users: Children age three and under go free if they do not need their own seat.

Why a pizza cruise works well in Amsterdam

A canal cruise can be an easy way to see Amsterdam when your feet need a break. The city’s central canals are not just pretty waterways. They are the old transport routes that shaped the city, lined by narrow houses, bridges, former warehouses, and busy streets that can be hard to appreciate from ground level.

This cruise adds a practical advantage: dinner is built into the sightseeing. You do not have to choose between finding a restaurant and fitting in an evening boat ride. At $28 per person, the price includes an individual pizza, unlimited drinks, and dessert, which makes the package particularly attractive if you plan to have beer or wine.

I would not book it as a serious food tour. The pizza is a New York-style meal prepared for the boat, not a long restaurant dinner with several courses. But for a relaxed night out, the combination is useful. You get a proper meal, a canal route, and a friendly onboard setting in one compact outing.

The atmosphere can vary by departure. Several details point to an upbeat evening: music, a humorous host, an entertaining captain, and staff who keep drinks moving. That suits couples, groups of friends, and families who want something easy and social. It may be less appealing if you prefer a quiet boat with detailed narration.

Boarding at Lovers Canal Cruises

The departure point can be one of two locations connected with Lovers Canal Cruises: the Lovers Canal Cruises dock or the LOVERS Café. Your exact meeting point depends on the option you book, so check your confirmation rather than assuming one location.

The booking includes skip-the-ticket-line access, which keeps the arrival process simple. Still, give yourself time to find the correct dock. Amsterdam has several canal cruise operators near the center, and a short walk in the wrong direction can become stressful when the boat has a fixed departure time.

An English-speaking host or greeter handles the activity. The cruise is designed for an international audience, and the service team also handles pizza choices and drinks. Since your pizza is selected when you book, the crew can prepare the meal before you arrive.

A small but important booking tip: the system allows only one pizza choice per booking. If people in your group want different pizzas, make separate bookings under the same name. That gives the crew the information they need while helping them seat your party together.

The first 30 minutes: Centraal Station and the western canals

The boat begins with roughly 30 minutes of cruising before the meal service. This is the best time to focus on the city rather than your plate.

The route includes Amsterdam Centraal Station, a useful landmark for getting your bearings. From the water, the station helps place the old center in relation to the canal ring. It is a busy transport hub, but on a cruise it becomes part of the city view rather than a place you need to navigate.

You then pass Brouwersgracht, one of the more attractive canals in the central area. Its setting brings together bridges, water, old buildings, and the distinctive narrow frontage that gives Amsterdam its character. The cruise also reaches Keizersgracht, one of the major canals in the canal belt.

Keizersgracht is a good place to notice how the city was planned. The canal belt is made for slow viewing. From a boat, you can look down long stretches of water and compare the grander canal houses with the smaller buildings and bridges nearby.

The boat’s pace gives you time to look around, but do not expect every building to receive a detailed explanation. The host may provide commentary, yet the available information emphasizes sightseeing and entertainment more than a formal lecture. I would treat any historical details as a bonus rather than the main reason to book.

Magere Brug and the canal belt at dinner time

Magere Brug is one of the route’s most recognizable sights. This slender bridge over the Amstel is a classic Amsterdam photo stop, especially when the lights come on. The view is brief, so keep your camera ready, but do not spend the whole crossing looking at a screen.

After Magere Brug, the cruise continues through the Grachtengordel, or canal belt, where dinner is scheduled. The boat docks briefly so the crew can serve the hot pizza you selected at booking. This pause matters because it gives you a more settled meal than trying to eat while the boat is turning beneath low bridges.

The exact rhythm is practical: cruise first, dock for food, then continue sightseeing. That means your first half hour may feel like a traditional canal tour, while the second part becomes more of a dinner outing. If you are hungry when you board, keep that timing in mind.

The meal is an individual New York-style pizza. Choices cover several tastes:

• Margherita, with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and garlic oil on the edge
• Pepperoni, with tomato sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, and garlic oil
• Hawaii, with turkey ham, pineapple, extra mozzarella, and garlic oil
• Chilli Chicken, with hot chicken, iceberg lettuce, sweet chili sauce, and garlic oil
• Californian Veggie, with red onion, bell pepper, mushrooms, olives, and extra mozzarella
• Vegan Margherita, made with vegan cheese
• A 20-centimeter children’s Margherita for children under 14

The children’s pizza rule is specific. The smaller Margherita may only be ordered for children below age 14. Children three and under can join free if they do not occupy their own seat, which is useful for families with very young children.

There is one dessert included: Ben & Jerry’s Cookie Dough Chocolate Chip Ice Cream. The meal description also refers to a brownie slice, so the safest advice is to treat the ice cream as the confirmed inclusion and ask about the brownie if you are planning around dessert.

Herengracht, Nieuwmarkt, and De Negen Straatjes

After dinner, the route continues through Herengracht, another major canal of the central canal belt. This is a good section for taking in the old merchant houses and the changing views along the water. The canal setting gives you a different angle on streets you may already have walked.

Nieuwmarkt Square brings the cruise closer to the lively old center. The square is associated with historic buildings and city life, while the water offers a calmer view than you get on foot. You may find that the contrast between the busy center and the quiet canal is one of the nicest parts of the evening.

The boat also passes De Negen Straatjes, the Nine Streets area. It is known for small shops, cafés, and attractive lanes between the main canals. Seeing the district from the water will not replace walking it, but it helps you understand how the canals connect the center.

The route finishes back at one of the two Lovers locations. Since the cruise starts and ends in the same general canal-cruise network, it is easy to fit into an evening in central Amsterdam. The activity lasts 75 minutes, so you still have time afterward for a walk or another stop, assuming your departure time works with your plans.

Pizza, drinks, music, and service

The strongest part of the package is its convenience. You receive a hot individual pizza, unlimited drinks, and dessert without extra ordering decisions during the meal. Beer, wine, and soft drinks are included, so the value improves for anyone planning to have more than one drink.

The staff are an important part of the evening. The service team is described as attentive and helpful, and the guide and captain contribute humor and energy. Music is also part of the mood. This is not a silent sightseeing boat, and you should expect a social setting rather than a hushed ride.

That atmosphere can work very well for birthdays, date nights, groups of friends, and families with older children. It also gives solo visitors an easy way to enjoy a meal without arranging a restaurant reservation. On the other hand, if you want to hear every piece of commentary, music and conversation may get in the way.

The food is served after the first 30 minutes, so the experience is not a constant eat-while-you-cruise meal. That is a plus for anyone who likes to look at the sights first. It also means the cruise is organized around the timing of the kitchen and dock, not around a long, leisurely restaurant service.

How the $28 price holds up

At $28, this is strong value if you want dinner and drinks. A canal cruise by itself costs money, and a pizza with several drinks and dessert can quickly approach the same total at street level. Here, you also get the changing views of Amsterdam’s center and a prepared evening plan.

The value is less clear if you do not drink or want only a small meal. A person who prefers a detailed history tour, a quiet boat, or a special restaurant may find better use for the money elsewhere. The cruise earns its price through the combination of inclusions, not through luxury.

The unlimited drinks are the biggest value feature. They include beer, wine, and soft drinks, which makes the price easy to understand for a group with mixed preferences. You are not left guessing how much the evening will cost once you sit down.

The pizza choices also make the activity easier for mixed groups. Vegetarian and vegan options are available, and the children’s pizza gives families a smaller meal choice. Make all selections carefully at booking, since the food is prepared from the choices provided in advance.

Who should book this cruise?

I would recommend it to you if you want a relaxed evening with several things handled at once. It works especially well for:

• Couples who want canal views with a casual dinner
• Families looking for a simple meal and a short sightseeing activity
• Friends who enjoy music, drinks, and a social boat setting
• First-time visitors who want to see several central canals without a long walking route
• Anyone who values a fixed price and does not want to arrange dinner separately

I would be more cautious if you use a wheelchair, since the activity is not suitable for wheelchair users. I would also choose a different canal tour if your main goal is detailed commentary about Amsterdam’s past. The English host may explain sights, but this cruise puts equal weight on food and entertainment.

The timing suits an evening plan, but check the available start times before committing. The duration is fixed at 75 minutes, and the exact meeting point depends on the selected option. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and the reserve-now, pay-later option can help if your schedule is still changing.

Should you book the Amsterdam Pizza Cruise?

Book it if you want good-value canal sightseeing with a real meal, unlimited beer, wine, and soft drinks, and a cheerful onboard mood. The route includes many central sights, and the short length makes it easy to fit into a busy Amsterdam visit.

Skip it if you want a quiet, highly educational cruise or a more refined dining experience. For most people who see the canals as part of an evening out rather than a formal tour, the $28 package is a sensible choice. Choose your pizza carefully, check the departure point, and leave room for the Ben & Jerry’s dessert.

FAQ

How long is the Amsterdam Pizza Cruise?

The cruise lasts 75 minutes.

What is included in the price?

The experience includes the canal cruise, one individual New York-style pizza, unlimited beer, wine, and soft drinks, and Ben & Jerry’s Cookie Dough Chocolate Chip Ice Cream.

When is the pizza served?

The boat cruises for about 30 minutes before docking briefly so the pre-ordered pizza can be served.

Can I choose my pizza when I arrive?

No. You need to select your pizza when booking.

What pizza choices are available?

Choices include Margherita, Pepperoni, Hawaii, Chilli Chicken, Californian Veggie, vegan Margherita, and a smaller 20-centimeter Margherita for children under 14.

Can people in one group order different pizzas?

Yes, but the booking system allows only one pizza choice per booking. Make separate bookings under the same name if your group wants different pizzas.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Beer, wine, and soft drinks are included, and the drinks are unlimited.

Where does the cruise depart?

The starting point may be Lovers Canal Cruises or the LOVERS Café, depending on the option booked. Check your booking for the exact meeting point.

Is the cruise suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The activity is listed as not suitable for wheelchair users.

Can young children join for free?

Children age three and under go free if they do not occupy their own seat.