Reviews

I was on the Zwaantje 8 day tulip Premium Tour. Captain Martijn and crew were fantastic. Helpful, sharing stories, always ready to be at your service. The meals were above and beyond expectations. The bikes were in excellent working order and if repairs needed, completed asap. The boats cleanliness was amazing. The daily rides throughout the countryside and small quaint villages were perfect. A suggestion would be to have stretching prior and after riding each day. One of the best experiences I have had. I will be returning for another tour in the very near future. Loved it!

Took the 8-day tulip tour on Zwaantje boat. Food was fantastic! Crew was very nice and accommodating. Guides Hans and Hilde were great, nice, instructive, helpful. They did all they could to make the journey pleasant for everyone regardless of skill. I would highly recommend. Not for Children.

Let’s be honest, if you are here to read reviews you have already decided to do a barge tour and you are trying to decide which one. So, I am not going to describe in great detail the boat, the bikes or the routes other than to say Zwaantje is absolutely spotless and one of the largest barges still capable of navigating smaller canals and locks. Larger boats are restricted on where they can travel and smaller boats don’t have the space and amenities of Zwaantje. This vessel is the perfect size for France. The bikes are decent quality, well maintained and current models. I am sure there are plenty of other boats similar in size and condition with adequate bikes. So, why cruise on Zwaantje? Three factors will determine if you have a good experience and those same factors make this ship stand out: The Crew, the Chef and the Guides! Zwaantje is owned and captained by Martijn. He has been in the business for 20+ years and the pride he takes in his ship and his operation are immediately evident. Martijn was personable, professional and just a fun guy to be around. Martijn ensured everyone had a great time and had everything they needed to fully enjoy the experience. As a fellow boater, it was great learning about river and canal navigation and talking about his experiences and life on the water. If you ask nicely, he may even let you steer the boat! Next is Karen, I’m not sure what her official title is but she is absolutely wonderful. Karen managed all affairs of the boat as they relate to guest services. She served meals, tended bar, cleaned the cabins, assisted us in any way needed. While this may sound like expected services, Karen went above and beyond with little touches from origami art and candies left in our cabins to providing entertainment at night. She made every one of us feel valued as guests on Zwaantje. Our chef was Frank. He is absolutely hysterical with his mannerisms (you will love his personality) but more importantly you will love his cooking. He is a professional chef and a master in his field. The variety of meals was great, the quality excellent and the portions were huge. Three courses are served for every meal. Martijn’s first mate was also excellent. He made sure all the bikes were in good order each day and quickly loaded and unloaded them for each excursion. A very helpful and efficient member of the crew. While the crew and chef are hired by the boat owner/captain, the guides are actually coordinated through Boat Bike Tours so you may not have our guides (Frank and Thomas). However, these guys were great. They were professional, knowledgeable and prioritized safety. Their senses of humor made for a fun time. While you may not have the same guides it does seem Boat Bike Tours do a fine job of screening and hiring experienced guides. This team made for an exceptional and memorable trip. You will not be disappointed booking on Zwaantje!

We just returned from a 15 day trip from Auxerre to Compiegne on the MPS Zwaantje. We could not have asked for better accomodations and service: the captain and crew of the Zwaantje went above and beyond every day! And our guides were knowledgeable, confidence inspiring, and fun! We loved every minute of the trip.

We had a wonderful week cycling roughly 50km each day in Northern Burgundy and coming ‘home’ each evening to the lovely boat ‘Zwaantje’ and her warm, funny, welcoming and very competent crew. We had two tour guides, professional, knowledgeable, helpful and charming. A tour of Sens cathedral and the inner city was a highlight as were two quite different wine tastings and a cider tasting. Walking tours of the towns where we moored each night were also always most enjoyable. We have no hesitation in recommending this tour.

I had a wonderful experience riding through Northern Burgundy. The rolling hills were challenging sans an E-bike. I choose to spend on day cruising on board and was invited to spend some time with the gracious Captain, Erik. He shared information about the Yonne River and traversing the locks and navigation in general. It was a rare experience which I treasure. The crew members were quite capable AND fun providing service, music and fun.

The food and staff were amazing on this boat. It felt like a vacation family. Be prepared for tiny rooms with little storage space. One suggestion I would make is to improve the bikes offered, even if it adds to the cost. They were clunky about-town bikes, with some of the gears not functional. The first mate doubled as a sometime bike mechanic, but there should be better bikes and bike support. The plus was that the food was out of this world, packed lunches were provided, and drinks were varied and reasonably priced on board. I also think the bike rides should have faster options and allow people back on board earlier so they can go into town. Often it felt like we were purposely slowed down to avoid getting back to the boat before 4 pm. I would have liked faster rides and more choice time later.

The crew was fantastic. They were gracious and helpful in all ways possible. The chef bent over backwards to accommodate all the different eating choices of the occupants. I suggest offering vegan choices. There are going to be more and more people eating this way. Plus, the chefs try to accommodate the passengers choices anyways. I would suggest to update the pillows, mattresses, and bedding. These items were well used and dingy and uncomfortable.

My friends and I (all from U.S.) took the Northern Burgundy, Auxerre – Moret sur Loing on the Zwaantje. Captain Martin and his entire crew were excellent hosts, accommodating, friendly and helpful. The ship is immaculate due to the crew’s hard work and dedication. For the bike riding, some days were very challenging with a lot of hills. These routes were not suitable for individuals who were not good riders or did not have an ebike. The guides did their best to accommodate all abilities For those who preferred to take a break, they were welcome to stay on the boat. I personally enjoyed the riding and found the “off the beaten path” daily riding routine unique and interesting. The riding, other guests and warm hospitality of Captain Martin – lucy, sergie, karen, michel and Karlene made this an outstanding vacation.

This was a great trip; Enjoyable in so many ways. From day 1 we were welcomed and cared for. The staff and guides were friendly. The food was splendid and varied every day. The accommodations were small, but that is to be expected on a boat like this. They were very clean when we arrived and continued to be cleaned daily. Overall, this was a wonderful trip. My only concern is that the routes we rode did not accurately represent the descriptions on the website. They were more difficult than described. With that said, we had a great time.