Cruises to Amsterdam

908 Reviews
Amsterdam (Photo:Brian Kinney/Shutterstock)

About Cruising to Amsterdam

There is a fairytale quality to the tree-lined canal streets of Amsterdam. Boutiques, cafes, apartments and hotels may hide behind the facades of the gabled townhouses, but the look of this beautiful old city has not changed much since its 17th-century Golden Age. Some 7,000 historic buildings remain, many of them beautiful merchants' mansions, located along canals that are laid out in five concentric circles, connected by bridges and intriguing small streets. No matter how many times you walk along the canals, they are enchanting to see, even when traffic and whizzing bicycles dispel the Old-World illusion. On a silent Sunday morning or on a summer evening when the old facades are floodlit, the city is magical.

Amsterdam is small enough that much of the city can be covered on foot, allowing visitors to savor sights such as the charming no-two-alike gables atop the houses, houseboats bedecked with potted greenery and masses of blooms in the colorful, floating flower market. Shops offering antiques and avant-garde art beckon everywhere. Outdoor markets, selling everything from postage stamps and parakeets to "junk-tiques," are another intriguing facet of the city.

Considered one of Europe's major art capitals, Amsterdam boasts three great Dutch museums as well as a branch of the Hermitage, the famous trove of art treasures in St. Petersburg, Russia. The Anne Frank House and Rembrandt's home are also popular attractions. In the performing arts, the city has two international stars: the National Ballet and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. (A 2008 poll from classical music magazine Gramophone called the latter the world's best.)

The canal streets of the old city are protected by ordinance and will never change, but Amsterdam is expanding outward and architecture buffs will find both modern and historic neighborhoods to explore. Though quite close to the old city, Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA), known as "the wave" for its free-form facade (shaped like a whale), is the part of the Eastern Docklands area where shipping docks have given way to neighborhoods of striking contemporary design that now house more than 20,000 people. Muziekgebouw aan het IJ, a concert hall for jazz and modern music, is adjacent to the terminal, and ongoing construction will bring many more amenities, including hotels.

With so much to see and do, Amsterdam makes for a rewarding stay before or after cruising. Explore cruises to Amsterdam in our latest Netherlands cruise itineraries.

  • More about Amsterdam

  • Why Cruise to Amsterdam?

  • Amsterdam Cruise Port Facilities?

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Viking Sigrun
TA Viking Sigrun

9 Night
Tulips & Windmills

55 Reviews
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Norwegian Dawn
Norwegian Dawn

13 Night
Europe - Northern Capitals

3,015 Reviews
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Cruise Critic Favorite
Star Legend
Star  Breeze pool lighting

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The Emerald Isle & Scottish Highlands 10d Le1-ams

124 Reviews
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Viking Bragi
Viking Bragi

7 Night
Rhine Getaway

157 Reviews
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14 Night
Repo - Transatlantic

3,258 Reviews
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7 Night
Viking Shores & Fjords

2,050 Reviews
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14 Night
North Cape & The Midnight Sun

267 Reviews
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12 Night
Europe - Baltic

3,015 Reviews
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14 Night
Iberian Adventure

267 Reviews
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11 Night
Europe - Other

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31 Night
World Cruise

282 Reviews
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Europe - Northern Cruise

317 Reviews
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13 Night
13 Nt Western Europe Transatlantic

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Rhine Getaway

157 Reviews
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Europe - Baltic

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More about Amsterdam

Why Cruise to Amsterdam?

Pros:

Amsterdam is charming and easy to navigate, and most people speak English

Cons:

There's way too much to see and do in just one day

Bottom Line:

Plan ahead to maximize time in port during your visit

Amsterdam Cruise Port Facilities?

Though vendors usually appear in the terminal when a ship arrives, there is far more to do, see and buy nearby in town. The port offers a welcome market in the terminal, where you can buy access cards for various attractions. You can also purchase an iAmsterdam card at the tourist office in front of Central Station. The card will give the holder discounts on bus tickets, museum admission and entrance to other places of interest.

Good to Know?

The Red Light District can get a bit rowdy at night, with the mobs coming out to pay their respect for various reasons. Amsterdam visitors should also be aware that the term "coffee shop" has a different meaning here; these are places where no hard liquor is sold, but the sale of marijuana is officially tolerated.

Getting Around?

On Foot: For visitors who plan to explore on their own, almost everything can be done on foot -- and when you tire, trams cover the main areas of the old city, and buses go almost everywhere, including the Docklands area. (The tourist office, opposite Central Station, is a convenient place to get maps and information and purchase tickets.).



The city's central point is the huge Dam Square, just a five-minute walk from Central Station via Damrak, a busy tourist street. The canals form five circles around Dam Square, and several other squares will help you get your bearings as you study the city map. Lively Leidseplein and Rembrantsplein are lined with sidewalk cafes that are ideal places to rest and watch the passing scene.



Major museums and the classic Concertgebouw concert hall are near the Museumplein, just beyond the canals. Waterlooplein is home to the Jewish Museum, the Muziektheater, the city's handsome concert hall, and Amsterdam's biggest flea market; the Hermitage museum and Rembrandt's House are also nearby. The Jordaan, a bohemian neighborhood with unusual shops and galleries, can be found by looking for the Westerkerk Church and the Anne Frank House.



The adventurous can join the Dutch on their bicycles; rentals are available at MacBike at Central Station.



By Bus: The #326 bus, headed to Central Station, stops right in front of the cruise terminal; the #16 trolley travels from the passenger terminal to the city center. The Canal Bus, a cruise boat traversing the canals with stops at all the city's main attractions, is a sightseeing trip, as well as an easy way to get around; you can get on and off all day.



By Taxi: Metered taxis are readily available, but they can be expensive. There are also human-powered Tuk Tuk taxis. Pricing is based on "zones."

Currency & Best Way to Get Money?

The Netherlands is part of the European community, and the euro is the official currency. For up-to-the-minute conversions, visit www.xe.com or www.oanda.com.



Bank hours are typically Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.; on Mondays, some banks are open only in the afternoon. ATM's are plentiful; a machine can be found just to the left as you exit the cruise terminal, as well as at the airport, train station and dozens of banks. When out and about, look for the ubiquitous lion symbol (IMG ATM's). Credit cards are widely accepted.

Language?

Dutch is the official language, but English is the second language of the Netherlands and is spoken everywhere.

Where You're Docked?

The Amsterdam cruise terminals are busy in season, hosting more than 200 oceangoing vessels and more than 1,800 river ships that carry more than 786,000 passengers from spring through fall.

If you're on an ocean cruise, you'll dock at one of two areas. The Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA), near the start of the new Eastern Docklands development, is a 10-minute walk or a five-minute ride from Central Station, where all of the city's bus, trolley and boat lines can be boarded. The second terminal area is Felison Terminal, which recently added a second berth. This area is located just in front of the locks.



The city's multitude of river cruise vessels dock behind the Central Station on the River IJ, along a long street called de Ruyterkade.


Amsterdam Cruise Reviews
Amsterdam was a pleasant surprise. We only had an afternoon of touring the city and found it fascinating. It made us wish we had scheduled an extended stay there prior to status cruise.Read More
Gray gray Lady
Took an Uber to try to see the Anne Frank house but tickets are booked months in advance. Took a nice stroll through Amsterdam and resolve to return another time.Read More
Mani a
We had two days in port which was awesome. The ship is right in Amsterdam so it was easy to walk off and explore the city. Read More
canadiancruiser99
I definitely wouldn't mind visiting Amsterdam again. The canals are beautiful. There are a lot of young people, vibrancy, and life here. I booked a ticket for the Anne Frank house (which you need to do in advance as Read More
Enjoying the Journey

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