Merlijn boat/barge tour reviews — 1 to 30 of 258

The Merlijn is a beautiful boat, very clean and up to date. The bikes are brand new, easy to use. The food was wonderful and the staff so friendly and attentive. I don't have anything negative to say about this experience, it was so much fun.

What an incredible trip and we are SO thankful to have chosen the Merlijn barge. The crew were so nice and the barge was beautiful. I would HIGHLY recommend this trip and this particular barge. They have GREAT bikes available, incredible tour guides, helmets with speakers in them to help make the tour very safe and informative.

I really enjoyed the tour of the cheese farm in Gouda! Plus the evening walks after dinner were very informative!

From the meticulously repurposed barge, to the fantastically beautiful daily rides with an expert guide, to the daily on-board meals made with heart, this was one of the best tours of our lives. I recommend it to anybody that likes to hop on a bike (there was lots of e-bikes). Coen is a real master captain, and he spares no energy sharing his commitment to detail and perfection.

Biking through the countryside and seeing fields of tulips growing was amazing. The country itself was wonderful even without the tulips. Our guide, Hetty, was fun and kept a pace that worked for all. We were on the Merlijn, which had just been refurbished. It was beautiful and the owners and staff were great!

the whole experience was great. The barge was lovely. The Captain and Mrs. were very welcoming. the tour guide was fantastic. Also a wonderer group of people.

The owners and crew of the Merlijn were fantastic!! The ship its self was immaculate, rooms extremely comfortable and can’t say enough about the meals cooked by Christina, one of the owners. The e-bikes made the days ride very easy and having the state of art helmets with microphone to hear our guide was a nice touch. You didn’t feel like you missed out on what the guide was saying if you weren’t at the front of the group. And I can’t say enough about our guide Hetty. She was very personable, knew the area and history well and went out of her way to ensure we all enjoyed the tour. I would definitely travel with this ship again!!

The Merljin is a beautiful and classy barge. The staff are first rate and the food very special. Our guide Tammy was superb and the other members of our group all terrific. This goes down as a "one of best" vacations ever. We learned so much about the Netherlands, the culture, history, and resources. And, of course the flowers along the way were amazing!

Our experience on the Merlijn was outstanding! Captain Coen and chef Cristina own the boat, and their pride of ownership made this our favorite (of three) Tripsite bike and boat vacations. They made us feel like we were guests in their home. (It is their home, actually). The high quality bikes, remodeled cabins, and delicious meals had our group of 24 guests singing their praises. We had wonderful rides through towns, neighborhoods, past windmills and farms. The crescendo was seeing the vast fields of flowers and the famous Keukenhof Gardens. I just can’t say enough about this amazing trip.

Bicycling past the flower-growing fields was a magical experience.

The trip on the Merlijn was wonderful. The captain, crew, and guide were all 5 star. Accommodations on the barge were very nice, with modern baths, excellent lighting, and adequate storage. The guide was very knowledgeable about the history of the areas we biked through. The wine tour we had one evening was the best I have ever taken. One evening we all had a meal out at a German restaurant that was delightful. I like the bike helmet they provided. It networked with the guides helmet and she was able to give us information as we road on excellent bike paths.

The Merlijn is the best sailing ship in all of Europe if you want to bike. The captains Coen and Cristina (also the ship owners) are just wonderful people. I feel like family every time I travel with them and this was my 8th trip with them (7 trips in the last year alone). So if you want 5 star accommodations, service and meals, this is the ship to sail on. Their bikes are the best out there and I feel confident in saying that as I have done 15 bike and barge trips! Give the Merlijn a try and you will be hooked like I am. The Merlijn also gets the best bike guides out there along with extremely friendly and caring crew. Love the Merlijn and Coen and Cristina.

Perfect trip from the ship, the Merlijn, and its crew headed by Coen and Cristina, to the dining, our guide, Thomas to the location along the Neckar and Rhine rivers with the little towns (and bakeries and cafés). It was like spending a holiday inside a magical storybook.

Every part of the trip was memorable.
Although the weather didn't always cooperate we had an amazing time and when the skies opened up we managed to keep dry in a winery... Could be worse :)
The breakfasts were excellent, lots of selection cold and hot and nutritious, lunches were packed by the crew and again excellent. Dinners were three course meals and our last was a four course meal, absolutely delicious.

The boat and bikes were in perfect condition and always clean.

The staff was courteous and helpful, our guide Thomas knowledgeable and always watchful of the group.

The locations we stopped at were beautiful.

I had never ridden an e-bike before the trip but it was easy to learn and a lot of fun. No struggling to get up any hills :)

I would recommend this trip to anyone of all ages, as long as you can ride a bike.

I will go on more of these bike / ship trips!

The bike touring, our guide, the boat staff, the food and the boat itself were all memorable.

This was a fantastic trip! The Merlijn was absolutely perfect. The crew was outstanding, the chef simply amazing. Our rooms were small but quite nice and always clean. Our bikes were so easy to ride and our guide, well I cannot think of any better guide that we could have had. A simply stunning view of Germany and the most fun way to see it.

Most memorable: The barge, Merlijn, and the captain, chef, crew and tour guide were spectacular. Highly recommended.
Tips: If traveling in September be prepared for cold, rainy weather.

Our guide Ilsa, providing historical information from Ancient Rome to the Middle Ages to Modern Times throughout the ride.
The crew were wonderful. Couldn’t be more pleased with the entire trip.

Coen and Christina and the crew. We appreciated how all of you worked together to make us comfortable and cared for.
For Elizabeth, the bike ride and for Kathryn the special attention given to me after the injury.

Recommend a suggested packing list.

The Merlin ship was extremely impressive. The captain and crew ensured all participants were well taken care of. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were fabulous, and the deserts were lovely! Our bike tour guide shared historical information on most outings, which was quite interesting. Additionally, there were tours along the way of castles and wineries - an added benefit. We highly recommend the trip and the Merlin ship in particular!

First and foremost, the captain, chef and crew were outstanding. The trip would not have been the same without their host of talents & hospitality. The Merlijn itself was pristine with all the comforts of home. The passengers were treated like royalty. The bikes were upright which allowed for comfort and made the scenic views easily accessible. Our biking guide Ilse, was knowledgeable about all the historical sites we visited. She was extremely patient with her 22 riders. The cycling was easy with predominantly paved trails with minimal incline. Moving through large cities (ie:Trier) was often difficult with 22 riders often separated through stop lights. It may have been safer to split the groups.
It was our first trip to Germany and the scenery was stunning along the Saar, Mosel & Rhine rivers and many photo predominantly were included. We were especially impressed by the day we biked from Cochem to the town of Eltz, enjoyed an enchanting hike to the Eltz castle, toured castle and biked on to Koblenz. Another highlight was the tasting tour by the owner of Storck Winery in the town of Traben-Trarbach. The unexpected meeting of Captain Coen’s parents and rafting with their barge on the Rhine was delightful. We always looked forward to the cruises during and after breakfast!
Overall, the bike & barge was more than a bike trip. It was all the experiences of boating, dining, biking, hiking and making new friends from all over the world. We would highly recommend this trip!
Thank you Coen & Christina for making the magic happen on your Merlijn ☺️

Disappointing trip. Our only day in Potsdam nearly every museum was closed. Countryside and small towns just were not very interesting. I don’t believe this same itinerary is being offered next year. Food on Merlijn was just ok and we were given small sandwiches for lunch.

This tour onboard the Merlijn was amazing. It was very well organized.
The crew, staff and tour guide provided to give us a magical experience.
We biked and toured through well crafted locations. We laughed and ate delicious meals. We made new friends!
I will cherish this week forever! Can't wait for the next one!

In fact, the whole trip was memorable! There are a few reasons why the whole trip surpasses by far the "one memorable moment" that most people enjoy taking from a trip. Firstly, the captain, the cook, the guide, and the rest of the members of the crew demonstrated one of the highest levels of professionalism and also a most friendly welcome aboard throughout the trip. Secondly, the Merlijn was kept in such a state of good care and good taste that it was the perfect "home away from home". And thirdly, although pure coincidence, from the very first moment we set sail and, again, throughout the trip, the best rapport and camaraderie permeated the whole group of twenty people who didn't know each other previously and came from so many different walks of life.

Our Tripsite bike and barge tour with the Merlijn was absolutely fantastic!!! We now have such wonderful memories of the crew, food, our cycling guide, and the new friends we shared this adventure with. We can’t wait to go on another trip!!

The people on the trip and the staff were all memorable. The scenic trails and the system of rivers and canals. Visiting the towns and villages on our own.

Our Merlijn adventure was a magical package- from the cozy cabins, fabulous food, smooth! charming bike paths, and superior guide -to congenial fellow bikers. And the ebike made it possible for my elderly knees. The scenic rides were away from the hustle and bustle of large cities. Idyllic, highly recommend.

Boat and Crew was absolutely Fantastic. Lia our Bike Guide was Amazing.

The boat/barge Merlijn. We have done more than a dozen bike barge boats and the Merlijn is by far the premier of the lot. The service and cuisine on board was superb as well.

The way the trip was arranged was very interesting. The cities were educational and the trails were easy to navigate.