Is the cruise line's "windmills, canals and cheese" tour worth it, or should we do it ourselves?
Both work; it depends on whether you want a guide or your own pace. One 2026 guest described the line's tour as laid back, with a stop at a cheese farm for a demonstration and working windmills, and a knowledgeable guide; another traveler warned the Beemster polder itself has little to see unless fields are in bloom. On your own, with a car by the hour, you choose the farm and the windmills and add Edam or Volendam: five hours costs €325 in Business Class, or €400 in Van Class for up to seven.
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With a chauffeur by the hour: prices per vehicle
| Option | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Business Class, with a chauffeur by the hour | €65 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · E-Class, EQE, EQE SUV, BMW i5, BMW 5 Series · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
| Van Class, with a chauffeur by the hour | €80 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · V-Class, EQV · up to 7 passengers, 7 bags |
| First Class, with a chauffeur by the hour | €100 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · S-Class, EQS, EQS SUV, BMW i7 · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
By the hour: minimum 2 hours, 40 km included per hour, starting and ending in the same city. The chauffeur waits between stops. Prices are per car, not per person, with 9% Dutch VAT included, and the same day and night. During ADE week (pickups October 20 to 26, 2026) fixed ADE-week prices apply, shown before you book; promo codes cannot be used that week. Booked less than 12 hours before pickup: +10%. At an airport or an intercity station the first 60 minutes of waiting are free, elsewhere 15 minutes; after that waiting is charged per minute at the class's hourly rate (Business €65 an hour). Free cancellation up to 1 hour before pickup.
What is included in the price
- A fixed price confirmed at booking, with VAT included: no meter and no surge
- The chauffeur’s name, car and phone number before pickup, plus e-mail reminders 24 hours and 2 hours ahead
- Water and phone chargers (iOS and Android) in the car
- Status updates to the person who booked, if that is not the passenger: confirmed, chauffeur en route, guest in the car, arrived
The same ground, two ways
| Cruise line tour | Your own car | |
|---|---|---|
| Who explains | A guide | The places themselves; ask for a guided farm tour |
| Pace | The group's | Yours |
| Stops | Fixed in advance | Cheese farm, Zaanse Schans windmills, Edam or Volendam |
| Booking | Through the cruise line | Any time |
Cheese stops forum regulars suggest
Cheese farms at the Zaanse Schans and in Katwoude near Volendam, the Cheese Factory in Volendam, and in season the Friday cheese market in Alkmaar.
Related questions
Is the Beemster worth a detour?
It's a UNESCO-listed polder; flat and green, best when you know what you're looking at.
Can we buy Beemster cheese on the way?
Cheese shops in Edam and Volendam stock it.
Does the car fit after a cruise with luggage?
On disembarkation day, yes: bags stay in the trunk.
Sources
- TripAdvisor: Avalon "Windmills, canals & cheese" thread (2026) (checked October 31, 2026)
Book it, or ask dispatch first
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