A tourist cliché for some, a marvellous escape for others, a boat excursion certainly offers new and different perspectives. The water-level view of the series of seven bridges on Reguliersgracht, for example, is alone worth the trip. The companies do not all offer the same route, but they all follow the Herengracht and the IJ, and many take the Oude Schans and the Amstel. The ticket offices can explain the variations.