What’s included when you rent a boat with skipper
When you rent a boat with a skipper from Amsterdam Boothuur, the charter covers the whole vessel, the skipper who acts as your host and guide, the route and the city centre permit; catering and drinks are arranged separately in advance.
The boat and the skipper
A charter covers the entire vessel for the agreed period, not a seat on it. You travel only with your own party. The skipper is included: he steers, sets the route with you, explains what you pass and keeps an eye on the group. He speaks fluent English. Because Amsterdam Boothuur owns the boats and employs the skippers, the vessel named in your quotation is the vessel you board. The charter options are described on boat rental.
What is on board
The salon boats Marjet from 1929 and Valerie from 1930 have an enclosed, heated saloon with a table, a toilet on board and a sound system for background music. Personal speakers are not used in the saloon. The sloops Willy and Marijn Joris are open boats seating up to forty guests, without a table or a toilet on board; for sloop trips a separate facility along the Amstel is available. Life jackets for children without a swimming certificate are available on board on request.
What is arranged separately
Food and drinks are agreed in advance and quoted alongside the charter, from an aperitif to a full dinner served at the table. On the sloops you may bring your own drinks; on the salon boats this is agreed beforehand. Boarding takes place inside the canal belt, which is included; boarding outside the canal belt is possible and involves additional costs. Extras such as an accordionist on board can be arranged on request. Catering options are set out on culinary on board.
From enquiry to departure
You send the date, the number of guests, the occasion and the preferred boarding point, and receive a quotation covering the boat, the skipper and everything agreed on board. After confirmation you receive the boarding location and time in writing, and the skipper contacts you shortly before departure. If the weather turns, the bad weather guarantee applies without conditions. Further practical answers are collected on the FAQ page.
Because Amsterdam Boothuur is the direct owner and operator of its fleet rather than a booking agency, there is one point of contact from the first enquiry to the moment you step ashore. Changes to the route, the timing or the catering are agreed with the people who will be on board, and there is no separate invoice from a third party afterwards.
One question comes up more than any other: whether the quoted amount is the amount you pay. It is. The proposal covers the boat, the skipper, the agreed catering and boarding inside the canal belt in a single figure, and anything extra is agreed beforehand rather than added afterwards. If your plans change between booking and the day itself, the revised quotation is issued before you confirm.
Guests travelling with children should know that life jackets for children without a swimming certificate are available on board on request, and that the route can pass Artis so animals are visible from the water. A dog is welcome on board as long as the upholstery is left undamaged.
Frequently asked questions
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Yes. Every charter is with a skipper, who acts as your host and guide during the cruise. Amsterdam Boothuur does not rent boats without a skipper.
Would you like to know what a charter covers for your party? Request a no-obligation quote.
