Iris boat/barge tour reviews — 1 to 30 of 139

My trip was Cochem to Metz and it was excellent! The Iris is a beautiful, well furnished barge that had a fabulous welcoming, friendly crew and two fun guides to show us the historical sights along the Moselle River. Extra activities for us were delightful. Fun to be with a smaller group of people on this bike and barge trip. I would definitely go on another excursion!

My recent bike and barge trip "Cochem to Metz" was by far one of the best I have done. The whole process from initial inquiry to disembarkation was handled wonderfully by Trip Site. It so nice be able to speak to a real person whether just calling for information or making sure that the initial booking is in proper order. That process was handled professionally and pleasantly by one Kirsten Hollister. Kirsten was always there to help and advise. I can't thank her enough.
We chose the ship the Iris. Its an intimate barge which holds a maximum of 24 passengers. On our trip there were 19. Our rooms were spacious with two single beds and ample room for storage. The bathroom although small was everything one needed. We were quite comfortable. Above deck there was a spacious lounge and a lovely dining area. Additionally there was seating out of doors on the front deck. Temperatures were a little cool in mid-October so we didn't spend a lot of time there.
The crew consisted of 4: a captain, 1st mate, house keeper and a cook. All were extremely cordial , friendly and professional. The ship ran smoothly. The cook Joost did an excellent job . Cuisine varied from day to day featuring many regional dishes. All delicious. We were well fed. A nice touch were the included wine parings with dinner. It was great sampling the wines for which the Mosel is famous especially after we had cycled past the vineyards from which they were born.
Two guides were there to lead us along the bike paths along the Mosel. We were divided into two groups each with nine or ten. Its was pleasant to be in such smaller groupings. Our guides were experienced, knowledgeable and a whole lot of fun.
I can't say enough about the itinerary. The Mosel is a beautiful meandering river much smaller than the Rhine. Cycling along it was more than enjoyable. The frequent stops whether to have a coffee and pastry or visit a castle were well worth it. We saw and did a lot with memories to last a lifetime.
The itinerary along the Mosel in addition to being intimate and quaint was diverse. The trip begins in charming Cochem with its German heritage and ends in the quintessentially French city of Metz. We did as well venture into tiny Luxembourg to taste the local bubbly. Quite delicious. Thus we experienced three countries and we haven't even mentioned the Romans who were there long before the others!
Cochem to Metz is a great tour. I heartily recommend it. It will be one of your favorites, too.

John L.

A terrific trip on all counts: excellent boat, great crew, wonderful food, a beautiful itinerary, and excellent trip leaders. I especially enjoyed the fact our biking was interrupted with frequent stops to enjoy local sights, learn about regional customs and cuisine and history. Not only did we get some great exercise but we leaned and experienced much more. Wundebahr!

The crew, the food, the beautiful scenery. Very nice time. Thank you

We had an excellent time on the tour. The sites we great, biking path was paved, food and the care on the Iris was excellent.
Biking on the city bridges were not always easy. A little scary with the traffic. Loved the e-bike. Would definitely go on another bike and barge trip.

This was our 4th Bike & Barge trip with Tripsite; all memorable & enjoyable. The 2 guides we had on this trip, Weiger and Hetty were phenomenal. They were very helpful and knowledgeable about so many of the sights along the Moselle River. We had 20 guests on this trip. Most of the 6 biking days, our guides had us split up in 2 groups which worked out perfectly. The weather was great 95% of the time; great Barge Captain and crew. Beautiful scenery and nice barge.

Everything was excellent! Staff, guides, food, the boat, bikes, and the itinerary. We loved the small group experience -25 guests. We got to know everyone:)

Iris and all the staff were terrific. Food was superb. Guides were very good. All around a great experience for our group of 12

Very good boat, great food, excellant guides, staff and captain on Iris.

The vineyards along the Moselle River were loaded with grapes ready to be harvested. A couple of evenings we played card games. The captain joined in!

The trip followed a beautiful terrain along the Moselle surrounded by beautiful vineyards! The tour guides were very knowledgeable about the region and its rich history. We sampled a lot of local wines and dishes! So delightful.
This was out third bike and barge trip! Each one just incredible!!!

The crew was great and the barge very clean and neat. Our chef was amazing and food delicious. He even made his own croissants! Our guides were terrific. One of our guides was the owner of the Iris.

The staff were delightful! Thank you. I loved the ride through the National forest.

I loved everything about this trip!
The Iris was fantastic. Loved the crew, accommodations and food. Our guides, Wim and Alice, were also excellent. They were both super kind and helpful. The route thru picturesque Dutch towns and lovely, green countryside was idyllic. I can’t imagine better hosts than everyone we encountered on this wonderful tour!

The beautiful landscape and communities we road through as well as expert guides. The crew of the Iris and the amenities were amazing also.

The two guides, Hetty and Tim, made the trip. Meals in the Iris were very good. The crew was friendly and helpful. Bikes were comfortable and were easy to use. The nine day trip was perfect.

A fantastic trip exploring the Netherlands - amazing tulips, windmills, sand dunes, canals…. The crew on the Iris were amazing and the meals were excellent. Thomas and Tim were great guides and we learned much about the country at each of our stops. Meeting others who enjoy cycling was a big part of the experience.

Loved visiting the tulip gardens. Food was delicious. Hospitality top notch. Guides very accommodating. High quality of bikes. The Iris is a great boat for this type of travel.

The crew and the guides did a wonderful job of making sure everything wonderful.
All of the extras that were included in our bike outing made the entire trip memorable. Encouraging everyone I know to take this trip. The absolutely perfect way to see The Netherlands!

The trip was terrific!! We were on the IRIS that is 150% better than our last boat. The crew was terrific, the bike leaders were awesome and I believe they were so important in making the trip such a success. Of the 7 days of riding 1 day was totally in the rain and it was great, not that I wanted to get wet but the bike leqders were so prepared and positive. The other folks on the boat were terrific. And the flowers....mind boggling to say the least. I cannot recommend this trip strongly enough. The cabins were super clean, the showers were great (never ran out of hot water) and the food was good.

Loved the route, the food, the hospitality. We could be busy in the evening or be lazy. We were asked our opinion on the day's events.
One thing I might include from the guides is a few riding lessons on how to use an ebike. How to start from a stop. How to change gears. As a rider, I was doing that for all the inexperienced riders, but wondered if it was my place to do so.

The staff were very aware that people arrived with different skill levels and expectations and were able to accommodate everyone. They were flexible enough as things were not always predictable. Thomas was especially good at his job-very knowledgeable and a fountain of information on the Netherlands, especially any stops we made.

Cycling through the Netherlands with our wonderful guides was a great way to enjoy such a beautiful countryside. It was so nice each day to return to the Iris, welcomed aboard by an amazing crew followed by a delicious dinner each evening.

My husband & I had a fabulous bike & barge trip visiting the Netherlands. We enjoyed beautiful trails, amazing picturesque scenery and outstanding hospitality we experienced during our tour of the of the Netherlands. The Keukenhof was magnificent & definitely did not disappoint with its endless array of tulip & flower varieties. Just fabulous! My husband describes it as the "Disneyland of Tulips". We enjoyed creating new friendships with our fellow biking companions on the Iris. This was our third and I'd say our best bike & barge experience. I credit this extraordinary experience with not only the hard working staff of the Iris but with our superstar biking guides, Hetty & Maaike. These ladies are incredible! They set the tone and pace for the entire group & in doing so, created an environment of community versus competition. What a difference this made! Instead of regular biking folks trying to continuous keep up with the electric bikers, they were able to enjoy their biking day. We absolutely recommend biking & barging as it is the very best way to see and experience a country!
#1 tip: bring rain gear, waterproof, not water resistant a very important distinction! If it rains, as it did for us, being dry & staying dry is essential for your comfort! #2: don't over pack! Biking groups tend to dress very casually.

All members of your team were top notch. Thank you for the beautiful memories!

We have so many great memories of our trip that it is hard to pin down an "absolute favorite". Here are some of our best and most favorites memories, in no particular order of importance! The staff was so welcoming and helpful, we felt connected to all of them right from the start! The bike riding was fantastic--the ease of the e bikes, to the scenery, and then the visits at the historical sites such as the Roman mosaic, the Puerta Nigra, and the bunker from WWI in the farmer's field, we thought we had the best guides and were very well informed about the details of our day. Our accommodations aboard the Iris were comfortable, clean and well maintained. The other passengers were a lot of fun, and we felt comfortable spending time with each group. I cannot say enough about the food! We all looked forward to our excellent dinner after a long day of cycling, and the breakfasts were filling and tasty, every time! One day, after a 35-mile ride, some of the other passengers decided to continue for another 12 miles, but many of us chose to stay on the barge. The captain welcomed us into the wheelhouse and we were educated on how to operate the barge while going through a lock and dam!

The little towns like the v one pictured above. Use deutsch bank ATM to exchange for euros

This was our 8th bike & boat tour with Tripsite and once again it was an outstanding trip. It's difficult to pick a favorite since each one has it's own highlights and we always love to embrace the differences but this one really excelled in every category.

The route - A perfect mix of paved dedicated trails along the 3 rivers, winding streets through classic little medieval towns and a few stretches though bustling cities like Frankfurt. We probably went through a few more small towns and villages than on some of our other trips which was a real plus. We generally had time to stop and look around and sample some local goodies. A highlight was riding through the woods surrounding the Frankfurt airport and stopping to visit the Zeppelin Museum, fascinating history and a lot of exhibits focusing on the Hindenburg. We averaged 26 miles a day on generally level paths. We opted for the e-bikes - we could have done OK without them but when we hit a bit of a climb at the end of the day it was pretty nice to be able to get a little boost. Every night we were docked close enough to the center of town that we were able to take a walk after dinner and get some local flavor - this is one of the things that we like the best about these trips.

The boat - The Iris may not look too fancy from the outside but once inside we were blown away with the way she has been updated and renovated from her days as a cargo ship. The decor and appointments are first class, the cabins are roomy with comfortable beds and well equipped bathrooms, dining area is well laid out, and the front lounge is a cozy place to enjoy a beverage from the self service bar.

The people - The crew and guests are always key to a successful trip and we had a superb group. Our captains, mate and host (Dick & Adrienne, Mark & Anna) did a fantastic job with the day to day operations and made sure that all of our needs were met. Our chef Berber served up amazing meals every day with creative combinations of fresh ingredients that were quite welcome after a long day on the trail. Our guides Ferry and Treasa did a great job of planning the days journey and managing our fairly large group of 23 bikers. The pace and route needed to be adjusted a few times due to weather and construction but at the end of the day everything went smoothly and a good time was had by all. As we have experienced on all of our trips the guests were a fun group from varied backgrounds with the right attitude for an active vacation. Most had been on at least one bike and boat trip previously, some on the Iris as well.

A 5 star experience - we would highly recommend this trip on the Iris for both novice and experienced bikers. Excellent on every measure.

The whole trip was excellent. To many thing to choose just one.

So much fun! Loved all the vineyards and charming towns we rode through. Our captain, mates, chef and guides were top notch! Highly recommend this bike tour, we loved it!