What is the difference between a salon boat and a dinner cruise?

  • Thomas van Loon
  • 🕐 6 min leestijd

You’re looking for a fun way to host a group on the water in Amsterdam, but you’re wondering: what’s actually the difference between hiring a salon boat and booking a dinner cruise? At first glance, they may seem like comparable options, but there are important differences that determine which one best suits your occasion. In this article, we explain it clearly, so you know exactly what you’re choosing.

What exactly is a salon boat?

A salon boat is a classic, covered vessel specially fitted out for groups who want to cruise privately on the water. Think of a comfortable interior with seating, windows all around, and often an open deck as well. The boat is entirely for your group, with no other guests on board.

What makes hiring a salon boat in Amsterdam so appealing is the flexibility. You decide the atmosphere, the duration of the cruise, and what is served on board. The boat is a floating event space that you shape according to your own wishes: drinks with snacks, an elaborate dinner, or simply a relaxed afternoon on the water with drinks and music.

What is a dinner cruise and how does it work?

A dinner cruise combines a boat trip through the Amsterdam canals with a meal on board. You sail while you eat, and the route takes you past the most beautiful spots in the city. The meal takes center stage: from a walking dinner and buffet to a fully served multi-course menu.

A dinner cruise is essentially a specific format of a salon boat experience, in which the food plays the starring role. With our packages, you can choose from a variety of catering options, from an informal walking dinner to an elegant three-course dinner. The entire boat is for your group, making the evening truly yours.

What is the difference between a salon boat and a dinner cruise?

The short answer: a salon boat is the vessel, a dinner cruise is the experience. But in practice, there are a few concrete differences worth knowing:

  • Focus: On a salon boat, the cruise and the social atmosphere take center stage. On a dinner cruise, the meal takes center stage.
  • Program: A salon boat is flexible and can be used for anything from drinks receptions to team-building events. A dinner cruise has a fixed structure built around the meal.
  • Duration: A drinks cruise typically lasts 1.5 to 2 hours. A dinner cruise lasts 3 to 4 hours.
  • Atmosphere: A salon boat can be informal and relaxed. A dinner cruise often has a somewhat more formal character.

In practice, the two concepts frequently overlap. Many groups opt for a salon boat with dinner included, which is essentially a dinner cruise. The difference, then, lies more in the emphasis than in a strict distinction.

Which option is best suited for a corporate outing?

For a corporate outing, it depends on what you want to achieve. Looking for an informal drinks reception where people can mingle freely? Then a salon boat with appetizers is ideal. Want an evening where dinner is the connecting element and everyone sits down together? Then a dinner cruise is the better choice.

A major advantage of being on a boat is that everyone stays on board. There’s no slipping away early, and that creates genuine connection. That’s precisely why a boat trip works so well as a corporate outing: the setting brings people together in the most natural way. For a corporate outing on the water, we can accommodate up to 60 people per boat on the canals, and for larger groups we combine multiple vessels.

How much does a salon boat or dinner cruise cost?

The price depends on the duration, group size, and chosen package. As a general guideline, based on approximately 50 people:

  • Drinks cruise (1.5 to 2 hours): approximately $50 to $60 per person
  • High tea cruise (2 hours): approximately $75 to $80 per person
  • Walking dinner (3 hours): approximately $110 to $120 per person
  • Three-course dinner (3 to 4 hours): approximately $120 to $130 per person

These prices include the captain, host, and catering. You don’t need to think separately about transportation, venue, or service staff. Everything is included, which makes organizing the event considerably simpler.

How do you plan a salon boat or dinner cruise for a large group?

Planning a cruise for a large group requires a bit more preparation than organizing drinks at a bar. A few practical tips:

  1. Determine your group size early: This determines how many boats you need and which packages are available.
  2. Book in advance: Popular periods such as April through June, September and October, and December fill up quickly. Ideally, plan several months ahead.
  3. Choose a departure point that works for your group: Departing from near the RAI, Zuidas, or the Scheepvaartmuseum is entirely possible.
  4. Think about the program: Do you want to cruise only, or would you like to combine the trip with entertainment, a quiz, or a speaker?
  5. Communicate dietary requirements: Pass these on in good time so the catering can be tailored accordingly.

How Rederij de Nederlanden helps you choose and plan

Whether you want to hire a salon boat for an informal drinks reception or organize a full dinner cruise for a large group, Rederij de Nederlanden handles everything from start to finish. We work exclusively with private groups, so the boat is always entirely for your party. No other guests, no shared tables.

  • Choice of multiple catering formats: from walking dinner and buffet to a fully served three-course menu
  • Capacity from 10 to over 1,000 people by combining boats
  • Sailing area extending beyond the canals to Volendam, Zaanse Schans, and the IJsselmeer
  • All-inclusive: captain, host, catering, and bar
  • Over 20 years of experience with corporate groups and MICE events

Want to find out what we can do for your group? Read more about Rederij de Nederlanden or submit a no-obligation inquiry and we’ll be happy to think along with you.

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