Magnifique IV boat/barge tour reviews — 31 to 60 of 91

The bike ride through towns and the countryside was fabulous. Dont need to be in super fit shape but helps to wear padded bike shorts or bring a padded seat cover.

The barge accommodations are luxurious and food was excellant.

food
guests
biking

Guides could have had more info. Sometimes they knew nothing about the cities we stopped in and just told us to read the brochure.It doesn't take much to give them a one page cheat sheet to tell us a bit about the history of the place and the buildings.
Went on the same trip six Yeats ago and the guide had a wealth of information. The guides were very nice ladies however.

The crew was amazing. The boat very comfortable. The scenery outstanding. The food excellent. Even the weather behaved. Our Guides Andre and Franklin provided historic information in addition to keeping us all safe. It was great to be on a trip with people of the same interests. One suggestion would be if you are sensitive to insect bites bring repellant!
A great experience overall. So glad we checked it off of our to do list!

We enjoyed our trip from Bruges to Amsterdam. The Magnifique IV was very comfortable. The food and service was terrific.

Our tour guides (Corrie and Mariah) lead us through the countryside and small towns. The gave us history lessons and local insight on our rides and after dinner walks, making the journey much more enjoyable.

Over the week we rode each date for a total of 278km. There was very little elevation change and we were fortunate to have the wind at our backs for much of the trip. Be sure to pack a raincoat. The weather conditions were variable, affected by the proximity to the ocean.

We can't wait until we do this again.

Tour leaders were great.
Always very helpful and knowledgeable.
They knew the territory and landscape and brought us to the most beautiful sights.

The staff aboard the Magnifique IV were fabulous. We had great bike tour guides. The people we met on the ship were from all over the world and we all became friends. I would highly recommend this tour and we will be doing this again

Although the guided tour had its frustrations and the rainy - windy weather didn’t help, the experience was worth the trip. However, it was frustrating that more attention/instruction was not given to novice bikers. Firstly, they needed to understand the e-bike, specifically to understand the function of gearing down and powering up when needed. Secondly novice bikers didn’t understand NOT to crowd other bikers and to keep a safe distance. Also your marketing should be clear state that they shoukd be experienced bikers. Some areas were highly trafficked - bike auto and train - therefore novice bikers are at great risk. The guides were unfamiliar with the trail and particularly in the first days were getting lost. Your selection for lunch stops were poor. We ate our sandwiches (which got really boring after the second day) outside in the rain. Suggest you add some lunch stops at some local sheltered restaurants with enough time to enjoy and experience the local fare.

From the moment we boarded the Magnifique IV to the morning we left everything was exceptional…Mariela was our cycling guide for the week and she couldn’t have been more lovely. We had beautiful weather and each day of cycling was interesting and fun! All members of the crew went out of their way to make us comfortable and the food prepared by Jules was delicious! We had a great group of travellers and enjoyed our social time on the barge each evening. We would highly recommend the adventure!
John and Kate

Barge facilities, food and staff were outstanding. Beds were comfortable; rooms were of good size (we were on the upper level); dinners were gourmet and sufficient in size; breakfast was ample.

For me the most memorable part was traveling on the boat through the amazing waterways of the Netherlands and visiting 4 different towns. I did not bicycle but chose instead to walk in each place and get to know them a little. The staff was amazing and very supportive of my decision to stay on board. The Magnifique 4 is a lovely vessel. The rooms were very comfortable, the food excellent and the whole package was relaxing and fun. I encourage others who are not really bike riders to sign up and see first hand how intimately connected people in the Netherlands are to the water. I also really enjoyed the trip to the flower auction especially after reading Flower Confidential by Amy Stewart. So amazing to see the hub of the cut flower industry in action.

Trip to the tulip venue was a nice route getting there.

If not getting a e-bike be prepared for strong head winds You may be called out for slowing the group down.

Keukenhof Gardens. E bike was great for riding with wind.
Be sure to bring rain gear (jacket and pants) and disposable gloves to use as liners if rain is predicted. Wear layers in cooler weather.

The Tulip gardens were beautiful as well as the tulip fields we biked past on way to garden

For me the most memorable part was traveling on the boat through the amazing waterways of the Netherlands and visiting 4 different towns. I did not bicycle but chose instead to walk in each place and get to know them a little. The staff was amazing and very supportive of my decision to stay on board. The Magnifique 4 is a lovely vessel. The rooms were very comfortable, the food excellent and the whole package was relaxing and fun. I encourage others who are not really bike riders to sign up and see first hand how intimately connected people in the Netherlands are to the water. I also really enjoyed the trip to the flower auction especially after reading Flower Confidential by Amy Stewart. So amazing to see the hub of the cut flower industry in action.

We had a wonderful time on our trip. The Boat ,room, staff, and meals were excellent. All the staff work very hard to make sure all have a great trip.
One thing I would recommend to others is to bring light rain gear and gloves for riding

The people on board. And the food. Stella was great, too. I liked the open windows in the upstairs rooms. Also, coffee or cappuccino, espresso 24/7.

The overall organised week-the daily presentation of our next days excursions. On top of biking through beautiful routes , we also benefited from nightly activities and presentations of local cultural products such as chocolaterie,beer and cuisine.
The warm and welcoming reception of the whole crew, especially our two experienced and knowledgeable guides : Peter Van Avermaet & Tom Stout ,their camaraderie and sense of humor made the whole group feel at ease !
The chef was very accommodating as I had requested a gluten and lactose free diet. Many thanks !!!
Tips - In order to fully enjoy this wonderful adventure ,when booking a Bike & Barge ,you should be ready ,comfortable and expecting to be biking !!!!

The whole trip was amazing!! But the one thing that sticks out is when we we stopped at the Canadian war cemetery…. And after touring around… Peter our guide stood proud in front of us and read the Poem “Flanders Field”. It brought tears to most of eyes.
Tips& suggestions… please make sure you know how to ride a bike! Being a bike tour… this is very important, as our tour guides did have to make the decision to have one couple stay back as they were not confident on the bikes. It is an easy ride but we did ride in towns and over cobble stone road ways. But they had to make that decision for the safety for them and others and I know it was a hard decision, but for that we thank them.

The whole trip was memorable and the guides made it even more special. They was so funny and very informative. Always wanting to help you if you needed it and always so approachable.

The ship’s crew on the Magnifique IV was outstanding. Hardworking, pleasant, efficient and the ship was very clean. The food was very good.

The tour guides failed to give clear instructions and some times were rude to the passengers. They did not follow the ride GPS even though they insisted on us downloading it. One time they would not allow us to enter a museum because we came “late” even though the museum was opened for another hour. They were not a highlight of my experience.

Antwerp, Ghent and Brugge were our favourite towns/cities. The tour leaders were fun and informative and our experience on the boat - food, accommodation and relaxed atmosphere - was wonderful. Would recommend to anyone.

Crew and meals were awesome. Would be great if they introduced everyone at the first meeting or meal. Also would be great if they had a signup sheet for emails to keep the group connected.

The boat was fabulous and the crew exceptional. The guides were great. The whole experience exceeded my expectations

Muito Obrigado pelo passeio!!!
Superou todas as minhas expectativas, os guias ofereceram conhecimento e entretenimento e a equipe de bordo muito entusiasmada, a alimentação sensacional. E o tamanho do barco proporciona interação entre os passageiros.
Agradecemos a toda equipe do návio em especial ao Ronald, Steve e Jolene.
Luciana e Giovanni

Até Breve!!!

The Magnifique IV is as comfortable and roomy as a canal barge can be. The crew and guides were caring and attentive, performing their roles perfectly. The meals were lovely, excellent, beautifully prepared and presented.
The daily routes were delightful, with a dramatic scenic build as we entered The Netherlands and approached Amsterdam.
Bring a strap-on water bottle cage for easy and frequent hydration during the day.

The food, crew, and guides were top-notch. It was our first barge trip. It was a very relaxing yet active way to explore historic cities and the roads and waterways connecting them.

The staff was absolutely tremendous. I have nothing but praise for them. The boat was very well appointed and meticulously maintained. Thank you all so much for fabulous trip and memories that will last a lifetime!

We loved all of our trip! The barge was lovely, the food first class and the 2 guides were excellent. We enjoyed meeting new people, the relaxed atmosphere and our daily rides.

The interaction with your wonderful crew and guides. They made everyone and every day special.

The most memorable aspect of our trip has to be the incredible staff members and friendly people of The Netherlands! Each of the staff was welcoming, engaging, and so hard working! We mostly experienced Cori as she led our biking group, and she proved to be a very effective leader. She was a highly capable biker, very knowledgeable about all things Dutch, and kept our group on schedule with a steady, relaxed attitude. The other bike tour leader Angela was also quite helpful and capable, always willing to help find an answer to support us. Another staff member who really caught our attention was Ingeborg. Talk about a hard worker! She was a jack of all trades with a wonderful disposition and demeanor that was so fun and friendly. We truly enjoyed her for the warmth of her personality as well as her dedication to serving our needs! Our Chef Jorde's menu selections, plating and presentation was fantastic. We sure missed him once we arrived back at home and had to cook for ourselves! The food was memorable, varied, and delicious. It was clear that the staff members, led by the Captain, had a collaborative team mentality that prioritized our comfort and needs. The days are quite structured between meals, biking, and daily agenda meetings. The communication from staff about each day's itinerary and the support with bikes and equipment was very effective at keeping the group informed and ready to roll. We prepared for the conditions by dressing in layers and brought rain gear, as the weather proved to be quite variable. And after being on a bike for a good portion of the day, we looked forward to the comfort of the barge with a soak in the hot tub a delicious dinner, and a good night's rest. The variety of sites visited and terrain covered by both bike and barge was very enjoyable. From the city of Amsterdam to the Netherlands countryside with the windmills, the gorgeous tulip fields and gardens, and ultimately to the North Sea coastline, we enjoyed it all!