Cruises

Cruises from Port of Amsterdam

Port of Amsterdam — departures, itineraries, shore excursions and the practical details.

Photos for Amsterdam are still on their way. Every listing below is real.

The port: Port of Amsterdam

River and sea cruises share the IJ: the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA) at Veemkade handles ocean ships; river ships dock along De Ruijterkade near Centraal.

Cruise lines sailing here

Holland America Line
MSC Cruises
Celebrity Cruises
Viking (river)
Avalon (river)

Lines and deployments change yearly — verify the season's schedule on each line's official site before booking.

Itineraries

Typical departures: British Isles, Norwegian fjords, Baltic capitals (7–14 days); river cruises on the Rhine to Germany. The PTA is a 10-minute walk from Centraal — the easiest embarkation in Europe.

Compare departure dates — the same cabin can swing hundreds between peak and shoulder season.

Shore excursions

Zaanse Schans windmills (~20 min by train)
Keukenhof tulips (spring, ~40 min by bus)
Haarlem old town (~15 min by train)
Amsterdam itself — the canal ring from the water

Getting to the port

The train from Schiphol to Centraal is ~15–20 min; the PTA is walkable from Centraal. Overnight pre-cruise in the centre and walk to the ship.

What to pack & when to book

Pack layers — North Sea weather changes hourly. Book summer Baltic/fjord sailings 6+ months ahead; spring and autumn repositioning sailings are the value window.

Pre-cruise hotel: stay near the port the night before — book via Booking.com and compare.

Common questions

Which cruise lines sail from Port of Amsterdam?

See the lines above — deployments change yearly, so verify the season's schedule.

What are the best shore excursions?

See the excursions above — the port's highlights, with honest travel times.

How far is the port from the city?

See 'Getting to the port' above.

When is the best time to book?

Book peak season 6–9 months ahead; shoulder and repositioning sailings are the value window.

More to explore in Amsterdam

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