Cloud Boat Amsterdam – 420 Friendly Smoke Boat Tour – review

Amsterdam’s liberal views on cannabis have made the city immensely popular among stoners worldwide. Among people who are familiar with recreational or medicinal use of marihuana, the Netherlands will always be remembered as one of the first countries where one could legally buy and smoke marihuana. Although more countries around the world are lifting restrictions on the use of weed and hash, Amsterdam will always be remembered as a frontrunner.

Suppose you’re visiting Amsterdam to explore the numerous coffee shops and experience firsthand how liberal laws on cannabis can benefit society. In that case, we have the perfect canal tour for you! The Cloud Boat will offer you the joy of a delightful canal cruise, whilst being accommodating to your wish to smoke some of that quality stuff that Amsterdam is known for.

What is important to know before booking is that you must bring your own supply. Selling marijuana in Amsterdam is strictly limited to coffeeshops, so you can not buy any on the Cloud Boat. Therefore, if you wish to enjoy the boat ride while smoking a joint, be sure to visit a coffeeshop first and buy your favourite strain to smoke on the cruise! Also, if you prefer to smoke with tobacco, you have to bring this yourself, as you can not buy it on the cruise. Want to find out more about the cruise? Read on to know what to expect and learn from our experience!

The Cloud Boat is the ultimate tour for cannabis enthusiasts!

The Cloud Boat is perfectly prepared to accommodate “puffers”: complimentary water, rolling trays, smoking paper, ashtrays and sweets are readily awaiting!

Grab a rolling tray and get busy rolling a doobie just the way you like!

What to expect

The Cloud Boat departs from Oudezijds Voorburgwal 230, located in the famous Red Light District of Amsterdam. The easiest way to navigate to the departure point is to first go to Dam Square and then follow the Damstraat (located directly behind the monument) towards the Red Light District. You will see the departure point directly on your left when Damstraat intersects with Oudezijds Voorburgwal. There will be hosts to welcome you at the designated departure point. Please arrive a bit before departure time, as the canal tours in Amsterdam are on a tight schedule and can’t wait for you to depart. If you miss the tour, you can request a rescheduling, but it’s not guaranteed.

The friendly crew will welcome you aboard the comfortable boat. In our case, we visited in the fall, and the boat was covered to protect it from the rain. However, we were lucky enough to have some sunshine, so our female crew partially opened the cover to ensure the best views. The boat is perfectly prepared to welcome blazers. It features everything a smoker can wish for: rolling trays with smoking papers and tips, complimentary mineral water to combat a dry mouth, and candy in case the munchies kick in. All of this is included in the ticket price. Optionally, you can choose to top off your experience with an ice-cold soda or beer at an additional charge.

The vibe on the boat was really relaxed; it’s a genuine stoner vibe that reminded us of an Amsterdam coffeeshop, where everybody just sits back and enjoys their smoke. The crew consisted of a hostess and a captain, who were very accommodating. The hostess was a smoker herself and could even help you out in case you didn’t know how to roll up.

What sets the Cloud Boat apart from other 420-friendly cruises is the fact that it’s guided with live commentary from the hostess. During the cruise, she would share a lot of fun facts, insights into the city, as well as some knowledge particularly tailored to a stoner audience. The fact that this specific crew were “cannaseurs” themselves helped them understand their audience well! Therefore, there was also considerable interaction between the crew and the passengers.

The welcoming crew of the cloud boat consists of a hostess and a captain. The hostess can accommodate you with drinks, blankets and live commentary, while the captain ensures a smooth and safe boat ride.

The inside of the Cloud Boat is comfortable, with cushions that resemble clouds, hence the name. The see-through cover against the rain can be easily opened partially, if the weather allows it. Blankets are readily available when it becomes chilly.

The route and places of interest

The Cloud Boat tour starts at the famous Red Light District of Amsterdam. Although the route can alter slightly throughout the year, these are some of the highlights that you’re likely to see on your cruise:

• The Red Light District
• Sea Palace Floating Chinese restaurant
• Amsterdam Central Station
• NEMO Science Museum
• National Maritime Museum and the VOC ship replica in front of it
• The Skinny Bridge (Magere Brug)
• The Dancing Houses (De Dansende Huisjes)
• National Opera & Ballet

Floating by the national maritime museum, with the replica VOC sailing ship in front of it

Directly after leaving the Red Light District, you will pass by the floating Chinese restaurant Sea Palace and the striking NEMO Science Museum building in the background.

The Cloud Boat cruise is the only guided 420-friendly boat tour. The hostess will provide live commentary with lots of quirky facts, local stories, and insider tips! Feel free to ask questions as well.

Prepare your Cloud Boat cruise well!

If you want to get the most out of your Cloud Boat smoke cruise, you mustn’t forget to prepare. Therefore, remember that if you want to smoke a joint during the cruise, you must first visit a coffeeshop to buy your favourite cannabis. If you want to smoke your joint with tobacco, also make sure to bring it, as it won’t be available on the boat. If you’re unsure about rolling a joint, we recommend buying a pre-rolled one, so you only have to light it up. Additionally, if you haven’t had much experience rolling, it might be a good idea to do so at the coffee shop. This way, you don’t have to miss out on the beautiful views and can just relax during the boat tour!

Drinks are not something to worry about during your preparation: complimentary mineral water is available, as well as soft drinks and beer at an additional charge. Please note that the Cloud Boat does not have an onboard toilet; therefore, please ensure you use a restroom before boarding!

The fridge is filled with ice-cold soft drinks, fruit juices or a beer/wine if you prefer an alcoholic beverage.

The Cloud Boat is equipped with a removable cover to protect against wind and rain, allowing you to take the tour year-round. Blankets against the cold are available on board.

Hosts are awaiting passengers at the departure point of the Cloud Boat.

Our experience

The Cloud Boat offered us a really laid-back boat ride on the canals of Amsterdam. The crew was very accommodating, and the boat was well-prepared to welcome cannabis smokers aboard. We really appreciated the fact that complimentary mineral water, rolling paper, and candy were readily available!

On the boat, the vibe was really chill and reminded me a bit of a coffeeshop stoner’s vibe. For the occasion, we decided also to roll a joint and blend in with the vibe. The hostess went above and beyond to ensure people were comfortable, offering blankets and helping roll a joint. The fact that she was a 420-enthusiast herself helped her relate to her audience.

The Cloud Boat differs from other 420-friendly boat tours by offering a guided experience. Thus, combining the best of both worlds: allowing people to get high while also informing them about the city. Most other marijuana-friendly tours do not engage as much with their passengers, offering live commentary.

We can recommend this boat tour to any “cannaseur” looking to explore the Amsterdam canals while getting high with some like-minded people. Do make sure to read our paragraph about preparation so that you can make the most of your experience!

Enjoy a drink and a smoke on the Cloud Boat