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DFDS Newcastle to Amsterdam: Why The Ferry Is The Best Way To Get There

Europe , Netherlands , Travel | November 20, 2017

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I’ll be honest – before I was invited to review a DFDS trip from Newcastke to Amsterdam , I wasn’t sure I could think of anything worse than being trapped on a ferry overnight.

I wasn’t expecting supreme comfort, top-notch food and a memorable night out, but that’s what I got.

My friend Shannon and I set off for a girly 24 hours in Amsterdam, which is one of my favourite European cities. We board the ferry at North Shields Port for the 5pm sailing with low expectations, and enjoyed an overnight trip full of surprises.

My review of the DFDS ferry trip from Newcastle to Amsterdam

My preconceived idea that the DFDS ferry trip to Amsterdam was a voyage only drunk teenagers enjoyed only made my fab experience all the more pleasant!

DFDS ferry review

The first thing that struck me upon boarding the ferry was how welcoming all of the staff are, and then I started to take in all of the amenities.

I was blown away by the facilities onboard the DFDS ferry to Amsterdam. There’s not only a cafe, kids’ play area, ‘sea shop’ with a pretty decent array of goods for sale and various restaurants – there’s even an onboard nightclub with live entertainment and a cinema!

I may have been on a ship, but this was a massive upgrade from the ferry I usually catch to Isle of Man (that’s ‘home’ for me, in case you didn’t know).

After chucking our bags in our cabin, we dashed around the ship like overexcited kids. We made a pitstop at a bar for a frozen strawberry daiquiri each then made our way to the Seven Seas Restaurant for a buffet dinner.

Now, I’m a bit snobby about buffets thanks to my year of inhaling gourmet food at Dubai’s various luxury brunches , but I was very impressed by the Seven Seas offering. We loaded our plates with seafood, roast meat and more, then finished with a cheese plate. Delicious!

Stomachs full, we headed towards the music and launched into holiday mode. Bottles of prosecco were ordered, lyrics were belted out and friends were made. We ended up in the nightclub until the early hours, and I pretty much forgot that I was on a boat. I think I also forgot my own name at one point that night…

Early next morning, a bus drove us from the port to Amsterdam, and we got to exploring – but more about that later. First, I’ll tell you about the journey back.

Are commodore cabins on DFDS ferries worth it?

For the DFDS sailing from Amsterdam back to North Shields we were lucky enough to bag ourselves a commodore cabin, and it wasn’t so different to a four-star hotel room.

With two portholes, a larger bathroom with plenty of toiletries and towels, we were living in luxury. Our cabin even had a fully stocked, free mini bar with sparkling wine, beer and soft drinks.

We may have indulged a bit too much in Amsterdam, but we were still on holiday so we booked a slap-up two-course dinner in the ship’s steak restaurant, Explorers. The food was absolutely beautiful, and again I almost forgot that I was on a boat in the middle of the North Sea.

Our night ended with a slightly more sensible cup of tea, then we fell into our big double bed for an early night, watching TV until we both passed out.

With the commodore cabins, you’re given the option to enjoy breakfast in bed, but we fancied a nosy at the buffet so we ventured out into the restaurant. The breakfast offering lived up to what had become high expectations, and we devoured our fry ups before disembarking.

I usually can’t wait to get off the boat when I take ferry trips but I didn’t even want to abandon ship when we docked.

For anyone who might be put off the DFDS sailing because they suffer from sea sickness, I’ll let you into a secret: I suffer too! Thankfully, we had an extremely smooth sailing.

I have another Amsterdam post if you’re interested in more things to do – check out my two day Amsterdam guide

Where to stay in Amsterdam

For luxury, try The Hoxton or The Pulitzer Hotel . If you’re on a budget, The Flying Pig Hostel is a great choice.

Search for all Amsterdam accommodation using the map below.

Planning your DFDS to Amsterdam trip

Book your DFDS sailing to Amsterdam on their website

See all tours and activities in Amsterdam

Search hotel prices and availability in Amsterdam

If you’re able to get the time off and don’t mind spending some of that time at sea, I highly recommend the DFDS sailing from North Shields to Amsterdam. If you splash out on a commodore cabin, you’ll have a super comfortable night’s sleep and you can kick your holiday off onboard at the various restaurants, bar and nightclub. Yes, really!

Does the DFDS ferry trip to Amsterdam appeal to you? If you’re North East based and have considered it before, what’s stopped you? Has my review changed your mind? Leave any questions in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer them.

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This is a sponsored post but views are entirely my own. Trust me – I would have made it clear if I didn’t enjoy this trip!

Katie Jane says

November 21, 2017 at 4:04 pm

I’ve wanted to do this crossing for years! But I’ve heard some absolute horror stories, but you’ve really changed my mind. I’d 100% go commodore. I just need to convince my sailor boyfriend that spending his leave at sea will be worth it! Katie x

Dannielle | While I'm Young says

November 22, 2017 at 9:07 am

Haha yeah that might prove difficult! I don’t know why I had a negative preconception but I would definitely do it again Katie. x

Stuart Forster says

November 21, 2017 at 5:11 pm

It’s been a while since I crossed to Amsterdam on the ferry. It sounds like the service is now putting markedly more emphasis on quality. Perhaps time to give it another go.

November 22, 2017 at 9:06 am

Definitely!

Chloe - New Girl in Toon says

November 21, 2017 at 5:45 pm

I went to Amsterdam with a girlfriend many moons ago and we had a great time, I loved the city and I’d really like to take my husband one day. I’ve been tempted by the DFDS cruises but have heard a few horror stories about drunken teens and rowdy idiots so decided it might not be the nicest way to get there. So happy you had such a great experience, I think I might revisit the idea. You only live once!

I know what you mean about the food, we did a days DFDS sail to see the Sunderland Airshow last year and the food was outstanding, we were seriously shocked!

We travelled mid-week so there weren’t any drunken crowds, but to be honest there’s so much on the ship that even if there were a few rowdy groups, you wouldn’t have to go near them. You can cosy up in your commodore cabin, go to the cinema or chill in the cafe.

I’ve never seen the Sunderland Airshow!

Abhinav Singh says

November 21, 2017 at 9:07 pm

I have heard a lot of good things about the services of DFDS. I am glad that the experience broke myths for you. The Dutch pancakes made me drool. Do they also serve vegan food here?

November 22, 2017 at 9:03 am

I think they did have a few options, but I’m not 100% sure.

Mimi & Mitch says

November 26, 2017 at 11:41 am

Gotta go back and try them coffee shops haha! The brunch looks like a nice spot, when it’s approved by locals, well you gotta go right? Great photos! We can’t wait to so something similar!

Neha Verma says

November 27, 2017 at 6:44 am

Although we took a train to Amsterdam and even in the city we didn’t have chance to cruise through the beautiful canals. Your post makes me want to go back there as soon as possible and take this water transport. The views of the city look so lovely from there.

quirkywanderer says

November 27, 2017 at 10:21 am

Stunning pictures!! Haven’t been to Amsterdam but your pictures are just so inviting! The flower market picture is simply stellar! 🙂 I’d love to take the ferry with plush rooms like that and views of the waterfront! Peanut butter cups sound YUMMM! 🙂

Katchutravels (@Katchutravels) says

November 27, 2017 at 10:56 pm

While its good to have luxury that makes you feel the comfort of home, I would prefer a seat on that cruise which would make me spend my time on the deck for the views of where the sailing is. Sea sickness can be a problem, but i find that staring at the sea has a calming effect. Never been on a ship for more than 4-5 hours, so maybe on longer ones like yours one needs other diversions 🙂

Sandy N Vyjay says

November 28, 2017 at 1:12 am

Amsterdam is charming and of course one of the most beautiful cities in the world. But getting to this beautiful destination proved to be a great experience for you on the Ferry. I can see that it was an absolutely rocking time. The facilities, the food , the entertainment all seem top notch. Indeed a great way to get to Amsterdam in style.

Deborah Robson says

November 28, 2017 at 3:38 pm

I went to Amsterdam 3weeks ago x with my friend on the ferry from north shields and we had a fab weekend I would deffo go again x

Amsterdam mini cruise: what happens and is it worth it? our review

An Amsterdam mini cruise is a really popular way to see the European city from the UK and have a break from the norm without sacrificing too much holiday time from work.

Amsterdam is a wonderful city to spend some time in but are mini cruises a good way to explore? And what happens on a mini cruise? I’m aiming to answer all your questions here!

Before we sailed on a Newcastle to Amsterdam mini cruise we had no idea about what it would be like and we struggled to find any information or reviews about the trip.

We travelled with our kids, who were young teens at the time but many people do the trip with younger kids, as a couple or even solo!

This article probably contains affiliate links. This means that if you buy or book after clicking, I may get a commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks!

Our Top Pick

Best mini cruise to Amsterdam – DFDS

This is the mini cruise that we went on and can recommend. It’s a really great way to see Amsterdam as a short day trip from the UK!

Who runs mini cruises to Amsterdam? There are currently two options if you fancy a mini cruise: DFDS – Sails from Newcastle to Amsterdam (this is the one we did) P&O Ferries – Sails from Hull to Rotterdam

What is a mini cruise?

• A mini cruise is basically a 2 night ‘cruise’ where you sail late on the first day, sleeping overnight on the boat and arriving at your destination in the morning.
• You then get transferred to the city in the morning (Amsterdam in this case) for a day trip before returning to the ship and having a night on the boat returning.
• You arrive back on the third day in the morning.

DFDS do a couple of different mini cruises – you can do one like we did from Newcastle to Amsterdam (and vice versa) or there’s also one that goes from Denmark to Norway (one to try at another date when we’re travelling around Europe again!). They also used to do one from the UK to Norway but I don’t think that one is currently running.

P&O Ferries also do a very similar crossing but it’s from Hull to Rotterdam . They still transfer you to Amsterdam and that’s the destination for the cruise.

How long is an Amsterdam mini cruise?

Typically the cruise lasts 3 days and 2 nights. You spend the first evening on board the ship, arrive at your destination in the morning to spend the day and then sail back on the 2nd evening.

Is a mini cruise expensive?

Cruising as a term tends to conjure up images and feelings of an expensive trip. So is the mini cruise to Amsterdam expensive?

Currently, in 2022, the headline fares are around £40 per person for P&O and £75 per person for DFDS. Your final price is going to depend on what cabin you choose.

There are often deals to be had when booking the mini cruise with DFDS (and I imagine P&O). We managed to find a 2 for 1 offer which made our whole trip with the most basic cabin come in at around £120 for 4 people.

This gave us a super basic cabin (more on that below) for two nights and coach transfers for us all to Amsterdam. You can upgrade to better cabins should you want and if you can I would definitely recommend it.

On board, as probably expected, it’s a little more expensive than your average restaurant or shop. As is also probably expected, we were way too tight to be spending our cash on board so I can’t unfortunately comment on the quality of the restaurants – we took food with us!

I did see that breakfast was around €15 per adult so if you want to eat on board and not bring food with you make sure to budget accordingly.

What’s it like on board?

As I said before, we didn’t eat in the restaurant and we also didn’t partake in any bar entertainment either. (Although I’d say this wasn’t the best idea – as I mention below, it’s a cruise, don’t hole yourself up in your cabin with rubbish food. Go enjoy yourself!)

There was a cinema on board which was about €8 each, so not too dissimilar to on land and we did consider that if the film we wanted was showing on the way back but unfortunately it wasn’t so we didn’t. So if you see a showing you like, watch it, it might not be on the return journey!

The cabin that we had was very basic but did have everything you needed with a small en suite shower and toilet. You also get towels too so no need to bring those either.

The cabins are a little bit small with four people in them, especially when the upper bunks are down, but it wasn’t too bad really. Of course our kids were nearly grown so it was like having 4 adults in there.

One issue that we had with the cabins were that they were incredibly hot. We did wonder at one point whether they maybe didn’t want you too comfy in the cabins and wanted you to be out spending in the bars! It was like that both ways and just spoiled what would have been a quite enjoyable time otherwise.

Tip – make sure you have plenty of drinks with you. It’ll make the hot cabins a bit better.

Can you leave your belongings on the ferry?

One thing we wondered about and were a little worried about was whether we could leave our belongings on the ship while on the day trip – if you’re also worried, don’t be.  

You keep the same cabin on the outward and inward legs so you can leave whatever you need to on board.

(This was correct when we did the trip – might be worth confirming with the ferry company if it’s a concern for you)

How long do you get in Amsterdam on the mini cruise?

Ok, this is quite a big and common question – how long do you get there? It might vary due to the company and any traffic but in general:

You get about 4 and a half hours in the city of Amsterdam on the mini cruise.

What to do in Amsterdam on a mini cruise?

Your time is going to be limited so bear that in mind when choosing what to do. Here are some ideas of places to go that can be done in the time you have. Unfortunately trips to tulip field and windmills like Kinderdijk will have to wait – you won’t have time.

I highly recommend getting tickets in advance if you can – Amsterdam can be busy!

• Canal cruise
• Van Gogh Museum
• Ann Frank Museum or walking tour
• Heineken Experience
• Rijksmuseum
• Madame Tussauds

What happens on the day trip?

You arrive in the Netherlands at about 9am at a place called IJmuiden which is around a 45 minute drive from the centre of Amsterdam.

After waiting for the car passengers to depart it’s the foot passengers turn to go through passport control. It was fine and fairly quick on the Amsterdam side but returning to Newcastle took forever so something to think about if you’re doing the opposite journey.

The coaches are waiting to take you in to the city and once full they head off, dropping you outside a hotel just opposite the train station so perfect for seeing the old town or getting on a canal cruise.

We probably arrived in Amsterdam at around 10.30am – 11am ish which gave us about 4 and a half hours before we got picked up.

It definitely didn’t seem enough to enjoy all there is in Amsterdam, but for us, as it was our first trip to the city it was nice enough to get a feel for it and wander round.

I really wanted to do some of the museums in Amsterdam and it’s really not enough time for doing that and exploring – but perhaps next time we’ll be able to stay longer!  There are some really great kids museums in the Netherlands so definitely one to return for!

We were lucky and had a dry day to wander around – it would have been a different story if it was raining, but if you’re worried about that make sure you have some activities planned to keep you dry.

Is a mini cruise worth it?

So the main question would be, is it worth it overall?

We all really enjoyed our time away and for what we paid I think it was definitely worth it.

My tips to make the most of the mini cruise to Europe

If I was to do the cruise again here would be my tips to make the most of the day:

• if possible, upgrade the cabin so you’re feeling fresh and so that the cruise section of the trip is part of the experience
• I’d enjoy the restaurants on board more and the entertainment – honestly we used to be on such a budget we’d scrimp everywhere which isn’t always advisable. I’d say that while you can do that, since the mini cruise is the bulk of your time try to enjoy it!
• I’d consider getting some skip the line tickets for the museums I was interested in.
• I’d probably book in advance a trip on the canals .
• I’d definitely get a guide book or check in advance what we should do and where we should eat – we weren’t really prepared and so just wandered round soaking up the city. We were lucky the day was dry!

Useful links: DFDS – for Newcastle to Amsterdam cruise P&O Ferries – for Hull to Rotterdam (and then on to Amsterdam) cruise Get Your Guide – book boat trips and skip the line tickets Lonely Planet Amsterdam guide book

Kirsty Bartholomew

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Is it worth getting the ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam: An honest review

Once upon a time whilst searching the good old internet, we stumbled upon a 2 for 1 deal on a Newcastle to Amsterdam mini cruise. Being the affordable travel lovers that we are, we decided to snap the offer up. And in all honestly we had a lot of fun. We got to sip drinks whilst the sun set over the North Sea and wake up in a completely differently country. In this guide we tell you everything you need to know on getting from Newcastle to Amsterdam by ferry. We also answer the burning question is the Amsterdam mini cruise is worth it? 

Disclaimer:  This post contains affiliate links, so if you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.

Newcastle to Amsterdam by ferry – A Factsheet

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Here is a bit of a factsheet for planning your ferry trip from Newcastle to Amsterdam.

Amsterdam Factsheet

Country: The Netherlands

Language Spoken: Dutch – but you can get by with just English as enough people speak this

Currency : Euros

Known For : Canals, tulips, architecture

Here are some interesting things that you might want to know about Amsterdam. For starters, when we visited we discovered that the city is actually sinking. It lies below sea level, but is being held up by the canal system and wooden poles that support it.

Amsterdam also has more bikes than people. Which honestly I’m not surprised about after visiting. Seriously, getting run over by car isn’t what scares me in Amsterdam it’s the bikes. You just need to be aware and watch out in the cycle lanes.

And if you are wondering why some of the buildings are tall but really narrow, that is because in the 17th Century you actually had to pay based on the width of your house.

Wondering if Amsterdam is worth visiting ? Here is a helpful guide.

If you are wondering how to get from Newcastle to Amsterdam by ferry then you will need to book through DFDS . They run ferry services between the two cities daily and year round. The ferry crossing takes around 16 hours, departing Newcastle around 5pm and arriving in Amsterdam the next morning. 

If you are wondering when the best time of year to get the ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam is we have you covered.

Personally, we think summer is the best time when it comes to weather. The days are brighter for longer, which is nice when you are spending an evening on a boat. You can also sit out on the top deck and enjoy the incredible sea views.

Of course summer is also peak time for people looking to get the ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam. This means prices are way more expensive, and deals are harder to come by. Summer in Amsterdam also means an influx of tourists which is a bit frustrating when you only have a day in the city. You will find yourself queuing up quite a lot.

Winter is an ok time to get the ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam. The Christmas markets are on in December which is nice, and you can ice skate on the canals if it is cold enough.

The downside though is that the weather will be cold, and it is likely it will be rainy. This can be frustrating when you have such a short time in Amsterdam.

We think the best time to do the cruise is in Spring. May is probably most ideal, as it is just before busy season, but the weather is mild. There are far less tourists in Amsterdam and you can find those Newcastle to Amsterdam ferry 2 for 1 deals.

• DFDS do some really good deals for their Newcastle to Amsterdam mini cruise, so do check the website to bag yourself a bargain
• If you want to spend more than 1 day in Amsterdam you can book your return ticket for a few days later
• You need to pay for your bus transfer from the ferry terminal to Amsterdam/Newcastle in advance 
• It takes about 30-40 minutes to get from the ferry terminal to Amsterdam itself
• You can choose various options for your cabin type from single bunk beds, to a double bed. You also need to pay more for a window in your room as the standard option doesn’t include this. 

Once you have booked your Newcastle to Amsterdam mini cruise you are going to want to know the best what to get to Newcastle. The fastest most hassle free option is to drive. There is a car park right near the ferry terminal although be aware that charges do apply. The cost isn’t too bad considering you are leaving your car for a couple of nights and on average you will probably pay around £24 for this. 

If you don’t have a car the quickest way to get to Newcastle is on the train. DFDS organise buses that take you directly from the train station to the cruise terminal. They cost around £4.00 per person each way. Or if you are like us and you get to Newcastle super early you can get the metro to Percy Main station and walk over to the ferry terminal.

Check in for our Newcastle to Amsterdam mini cruise was surprisingly easy and stress free. You can pre-purchase your meals during check in and they are slightly cheaper than what you would pay on board. You also need to make sure that you arrive at least 45 minutes before sailing time. We were super early and within 20 minutes of checking in we were settling into our cabin.

So I’m not going to sugar coat it. The rooms are small. We were in the economy section so we had a bunk bed and no window. This was fine as we were expecting this. It was such a cheap trip and for us the room was really just for sleeping. The only issue we had was that the shower was directly over the toilet in the ensuite bathroom. Still when it is only 2 nights you don’t mind as much. Plus, when you have views of the North Sea to look at who needs to spend time in a room anyway? Of course, you can upgrade to bigger rooms, and rooms with windows if you are so inclined.

The different room types you can book when traveling from Newcastle to Amsterdam by ferry are as follows:

Economy Cabins

 As mentioned we booked the economy room with no window. This was fine for us because it was only 2 nights, and when you have a whole ship at your disposal how much time do you want to spend inside your room? Essentially you get a room with bunk beds, and an ensuite bathroom. Space is limited, but again it’s all part of the experience.

Sea View Cabins

Sea View Cabins are similar to the economy cabins but obviously the big difference is they have a window. In honesty if we ever book again we will probably go with the sea view cabin because our cabin did feel a little claustrophobic.

Double Bed Cabins

If you are travelling as a couple it is probably worth splashing out for a double bed cabin. Again you have the choice of inside cabins (no window) and outside cabins (with a window). The double rooms are slightly more expensive than your economy and sea view cabins with bunk beds.

The ships are also kitted out with accessible and pet friendly rooms as well to meet your individual needs.

There is a lot to do on the ship. There are several bars and restaurants, as well as a cinema. For us it was nice to sit down and enjoy a nice dinner at one of the restaurants. They are a little bit pricey so keep that in mind as you might want to bring your own snacks on board instead.

We loved sipping cocktails on the top deck and watching the sun set over the North Sea. This was certainly a trip highlight for us. We also spent a bit of time in a few of the ship’s bars. They had live music playing, and after a few drunk sing-alongs we decided to go to bed.

In terms of the restaurants when you travel from Newcastle to Amsterdam by ferry you can expect the following:

North Sea Bistro

This includes 2 or 3 course meals including things like steak or fish and vegetables. It’s basically your more high end dining option on board.

Explorers Kitchen

The Explorers Kitchen provide an international buffet where you can help yourself to Mediterranean, Asian, and Italian food – plus much more.  Prices start at £22 and the buffet comes highly recommended.

Coffee Crew Café

If you don’t want a bit feast on board, or are craving a morning coffee head to Coffee Crew Café serving Starbucks drinks, and small bites to eat.

You also have the option to partake in some Duty Free Shopping on board, or enjoy some drinks in one of the onboard bars.

The boat arrives in the morning at the port of Ijmuiden and I should mention that it takes a 40 minute bus ride to get into Amsterdam. Our advice would be to try and get on one of the first coaches if you can as this gives you a bit of extra time in Amsterdam. We arrived in the city at around 11am and we had about 5 hours to spend here before making our way back to the ship.

Obviously 5 hours is nothing in a city as incredible as Amsterdam. But if there is something you really want to do we would recommend booking tickets in advance. The bus drops you off right in the centre of the city. Just make sure you look out for bikes as you disembark the coach.  Here are some of our suggestions on how to pass the time.

Do a canal cruise

Considering Amsterdam is famous for its canals, a great way to see the city is from the water. We really do recommend going on a cruise to orient yourself with the city. Our tour lasted around an hour and we got to see the incredible architecture and learn all about the history of the city and its canals. It is worth booking your cruise online in advance so that you don’t have to waste time lining up for tickets when you arrive.

Fill up on fries and coffee

We didn’t get up early enough to have breakfast on the boat, so we were starving. After the cruise we made our way to a cafe and sat by the canal to eat. If you get the chance to try them, Dutch Fries with mayonnaise are amazing. It is also really nice (weather permitting) to sit by the canal sipping cups of coffee. After all you want to soak in as much of the atmosphere as possible.

Walk around the canals

We spent a lot of time exploring the city on foot. We loved the beautiful canals and discovering beautiful streets. It’s such a picturesque place and it’s just really enjoyable walking around getting lost in the beauty of the city.

Visit the Floating Flower Market

So the Amsterdam Flower Market is the only floating Flower Market in the world. The shops are located inside a row of barges, and is a homage to the days when flowers arrived here by boat from the countryside.

It is probably one of the most colourful places in the city and is a real visual feast. Apart from flowers you can also purchase seeds and gardening tools. It is also a great place to get some souvenirs like fridge magnets and postcards.

Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum or the National Museum of the Netherlands is a great place to visit to learn all about the arts and history of the country. Now this will probably take the full 5 hours in Amsterdam so maybe best saved for longer trips. But if you are super keen then you can book your tickets here in advance .

Anne Frank House

This is probably one of the most well-known museums in Amsterdam. It’s a very sombre reminder of the horrors inflicted during WW2, and if you do get a chance to visit then do. You will learn all about Anne and her family, and you can tour the place they called home for 2 years whilst hiding from the Nazi’s.

Explore the edgier side of the city

On our way back to the bus we decided to have a quick walk through the back streets of the city and have a look at the coffeeshops. You hear so much about them and it was so strange walking past and seeing what they were like in person.

We actually found out that there are some strict rules when it comes to these coffeeshops, and the sale of marijuana is heavily regulated in the city. For us though, it was fascinating walking around an area that is so different to anything we would see at home. Coffeeshops are not our thing so instead we indulged in a pint of Dutch beer at a bar before heading back to the ship.

Explore the Red Light District

Admittedly the Red Light District in Amsterdam isn’t going to be for everyone. But walking through is certainly an eye opening experience to say the least. It’s not as graphic or dangerous as you might think. You will see red-lit windows, sex shops, and strip clubs in the area, which might be out there for some but it’s a testament to the open attitude towards sex the Dutch hold. Also it is the oldest part of the city, and one of the oldest trades, so it is worth a visit.

And whilst we are discussing the openness towards sex, you can also visit the Amsterdam sexmuseum , if you dare.

If you are getting the ferry from Amsterdam to Newcastle, then realistically with your day in Amsterdam you probably won’t really need to rely on public transport. The best thing to do is walk around and explore the city on foot.

If you do happen to use public transport though the main options are using the bus, tram, or metro. You are probably best off buying a day ticket for about €8.50. The best thing to do is download the GVB travel app onto your phone and purchase your tickets on here.

When we got back on the boat it gave us time to reflect upon our time in Amsterdam. The cruise was fantastic and definitely worth doing. Tickets can be quite cheap and it is a great idea for a mini break. That being said, we definitely want to go back to Amsterdam and spend a lot more time there. There are a lot of museums we want to see, as well as the Anne Frank house. And it would be awesome having a night out in the city. Fingers crossed we will be back soon and we will have to add it to our never ending list of places we want to go back to!

• Book your dining in advance if you want to save some money 
• Alternatively eat before you get on the boat and have breakfast once you get to Amsterdam to save money on food
• Try to avoid the ferry on weekends, it sort of becomes a bit of a booze cruise on Friday and Saturday night
• Don’t fill up on Space Cakes and get on the boat!

Like we mentioned previously, 5 hours in Amsterdam will not be enough time to see everything the city has to offer. You do have the option to stay longer in Amsterdam. You can either book a one way cruise from Newcastle to Amsterdam, and then a separate return from Amsterdam to Newcastle. Or you can select a longer amount of time in Amsterdam when booking your trip.

Just be mindful that it will be more expensive than the usual mini cruise, but despite this it is something we recommend. You can take all the usual stress out of travelling through the airport out of the equation, and sail to Amsterdam in style. You also don’t have to worry about getting back to the boat within the 5 hours, and can really soak up the Dutch culture.

Where to stay when travelling from Amsterdam to Newcastle by ferry

If you decide to stay a little bit longer in Amsterdam here is a bit of a guide to the best areas to stay in the city.

For first time visitors, we recommend staying in the Old Centre. This will mean you are close to the tourist attractions, and all the hustle and bustle. Admittedly accommodation can be a bit expensive here, due to the prime location, so make sure you book well in advance to secure the best deal.

If you are looking for budget accommodation we recommend stying in Oud-Zuid. It’s also very close to the museums, and the Heineken Experience.

Our favourite part of Amsterdam has to be the Canal Belt. It’s probably the most romantic part of the city, with all those charming cafes, and gorgeous canals. It’s centrally located, and great for those on a short trip to the city.

You might be wondering how much it costs to get from Newcastle to Amsterdam by ferry. Truth be told this will be dependent on a number of things such as the time of year you book, if you are staying longer in Amsterdam, and whether you plan to eat on the boat. As a rough idea here are some numbers:

Return trip from Newcastle to Amsterdam: £220 for 2 (unless you can get a 2 for 1 deal which do pop up sometimes).

Food on board: £60 for 2

Spending money in Amsterdam: €30 -€100 depending on what attractions you want to see.

Amsterdam is a pretty expensive city to visit. Maybe not in the same realms as  London  or  Oslo , but it’s definitely not super cheap.

We recommend budgeting about €80 per person for you day in Amsterdam. This will include things like attractions, food, drink, and transport.

If you aren’t planning on eating at expensive restaurants, or spending the day sipping cocktails you can definitely do things a lot cheaper. Plus with the limited time you will probably not be able to spend that much money on attractions and the like.

Here are some of the things we recommend packing for your Newcastle to Amsterdam ferry trip.

• Comfortable walking shoes – especially for walking around Amsterdam
• A warm jacket – especially useful for the boat as it can get windy and cold if you are standing outside
• Passport and travel documents
• Layered clothes for a variety of weather as this can be unpredictable in Amsterdam (and Newcastle for that matter)
• Rain/ waterproof items.

Here are some final tips for getting the ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam.

• Pack a few snacks as again these will be cheaper than buying them onboard.
• Check Groupon and other booking sites for any 2 for 1 deals on your ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam.
• Try and get to the front of the queue and be one of the first off the boat to give yourself more time in Amsterdam.
• Be careful when booking tours in advance especially if these include timed starts as it is hard to predict when you will be in Amsterdam.
• Don’t bring drugs onto the boat!
• Carry your ID with you at all times in Amsterdam, as you will need to show it to police if you are stopped.
• Watch out for bikes in Amsterdam!

For us the Newcastle to Amsterdam mini cruise was absolutely worth it. The cruise itself was really enjoyable and relaxing. A big part of the holiday was enjoying our time on the boat and watching the sunset. Despite the tickets being cheap the food and drink onboard does get a bit pricey so keep that in mind when weighing up your costs. That being said if you are wanting to travel a little differently than we recommend going from Newcastle to Amsterdam by ferry. 

If you are trying to decide between London or Amsterdam here is a helpful guide.

For more European inspiration have a look at these articles:

Visiting Prague, Vienna and Budapest

Guide to visiting Copenhagen

Dubrovnik Guide

Day trip to Mostar

Wanderlust and Life is a blog for those that love to travel.

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This sounds like a fun trip, Lizzie! I’m keen to visit the floating flower market when I travel to Amsterdam next spring.

It really was. The floating flower market is beautiful and I bet it will be even more amazing in Spring.

I found this so interesting! Going by boat to Amsterdam is never something I’ve considered but the ship actually sounds really nice, and the views from it are stunning! Glad you had a good time 🙂 I also have the same blog layout as you, hahaha.

We had never thought about it either until we found the deal. It was a lot of fun but next time I definitely want to stay longer. As for the blog layout I guess great blogs think alike!

This is so cool!! I looked at doing this YEARS ago when those deals kept coming up, but Newcastle wasn’t ideal for us to get to – now if we move to Edinburgh, it’ll be easy! Hope they still do the deals. 🙂 You got loads done in Amsterdam too! Fab itinerary.

I do keep seeing the deals so hopefully something will come up soon!

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Reviews 4.1.

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We have travelled with dfds dover to dunkirk and dover calais several times since 2018 and everything is slways great except for breakfast. £12.95 but u get a free drink. Everything for this price is cold obvs the lights dont work properly and this morning i actually asked for an egg that was cooked that went down like a lead balloon and the one i got wasnt much better wow standby salmonella. If i wasnt so hungry on the early ferry i really wouldnt bother. A lot of staff to help but can u pls get a chef that can cook a basic full english

Date of experience : 28 April 2024

DFDS Service

DFDS Service, food, drink and the lounge were all fabulous. Unfortunately our trip to Calais was slightly marred by a group of men who were quite noisy, not quite understanding the etiquette of the Premier lounge.

Highy recommended

Everything was excellent from start to finish. I caught the DFDS bus from Newcastle city centre (a few minutes walk from the train station), which was convenient. It takes about 25 minutes to the port. Check-in at the port was quick and easy and well-organised. My cabin was very good, clean and comfortable, and the food in the Explorers' Kitchen restaurant was excellent. All freshly prepared, and loads of choice, including vegan. They prepared a variety of dishes from other countries for dinner, not just the UK and Netherlands. Staff were all excellent too, pleasant and helpful. I felt the whole journey was very relaxing.

Date of experience : 25 April 2024

FUN on Oslo-Copenhagen Cruise

Our son had had great time and fun on Cruise especially at Bubble Bath and Columbus Club. We also enjoyed various fun activities and live music arranged by you guys. Shopping experience was good and good customer service at shopping desk and your on board staff.

Date of experience : 21 April 2024

Reply from DFDS

Dear Kranti, Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your rating. We trust you had a great experience with DFDS onboard to Oslo - Copenhagen. We look forward to welcoming you again in the future. Kind regards, Nicola Customer Experience Specialist

I was having trouble booking a group of…

I was having trouble booking a group of motorbikes. I spoke with Connor and Leanne who were both very helpful and made my booking easy. I always travel with DFDS and recommend them.

Date of experience : 20 March 2024

Good service in the premium lounge and…

Good service in the premium lounge and boarding was easy because the personel was very friendly and helpfull. Because of the illnes of my grandchild i had to rebook my return for 1 day earlier. It felt very bad that i had to pay an extra amount of £92,- just for the officework. Thats a pitty and therefore not 5 but 4 stars. But thnks anyway. Willem van den Heuvel, the Netherlands

Ijmuiden - Newcastle 18/04/24 Great time on board bringing my daughter over to England for a project. The service of the staff in general from the friendly welcoming and guiding to the cabin nrs., till the staff of the Explorers buffet was all excellent ! As well goes for all other services (food/drinks, etc.). However, must admit that our cocktail "Sex on the beach" tasted more rather like a mixed juice/mocktail. On the other hand, I did notice on the return voyage that mv King Seaways (originally the sister ship of the Princess Seaways), looked much "fresher" and "updone/upgraded" more. This is the reason I give a 4.

Date of experience : 18 April 2024

Dear Jesse, Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your rating. We trust you had a great experience with DFDS onboard to Newcastle. We look forward to welcoming you again in the future. Kind regards, Nicola Customer Experience Specialist

Boat was clean and pleasant

Boat was clean and pleasant, return evening food however was cold especially the chips. Loading and offloading was very easy and efficient and your staff were very helpful to meet my disability needs. Would definitely travel with DFDS again

Great welcome on board

Great welcome on board. Young man took our luggage to the door of our cabin, which we were pleased to find had a window, though we’d gone for the more affordable inside cabin.

Love travelling by DFDS

Love travelling by DFDS, the staff are so friendly and the journey's so nice from Newcastle to Amsterdam and back. The live entertainment could be improved though, the live band although good, go through the usual songs with variable enthusiasm. A bit more variety for the evening would be great with other acts. Other than the live band in the main room, it's just bingo, so before 9pm you've usually had enough, but with such great drinks and hospitality it's a shame people aren't encouraged to stick around a bit longer as it's a holiday for most people after all (and it begins as soon as you get on the boat, with such a lovely welcome) :) The cinemas are unfortunately pretty basic (like a home cinema) without proper seating, and the doors are locked once the film starts so you can't nip out within a film which I like to do. So entertainment could overall be improved, but at it is, it's ok :)

Great experience on the ship

Great experience on the ship. Room 10216, was amazing on Pearl Seaways. However, I bought the tickets through a partner, where one could earn some points. After weeks of trying, DFDS are denying, that the tickets were bought from the partner, which leaves no points. Unfortunate, with the small problem, to an elsewise great experience.

Date of experience : 16 April 2024

Dear Frederik, Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your rating. We trust you had a great experience with DFDS onboard to Oslo - Copenhagen. We appreciate and value your feedback and will ensure your comments are passed on to the relevant department. We look forward to welcoming you again in the future. Kind regards, Nicola Customer Experience Specialist

Dover to Calais and back - worry free

The booking and subsequent alteration was simple and pain free. The price was competitive. Check in staff were friendly and helpful, offering us earlier sailings both at Dover and Calais. The ferries were clean, well organised and had plenty of facilities. The cream tea with prosecco was excellent value!

Dear Simon, Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your rating. We trust you had a great experience with DFDS onboard to Calais - Dover. We look forward to welcoming you again in the future. Kind regards, Nicola Customer Experience Specialist

We made a return trip from Dover to…

We made a return trip from Dover to Dunkirk. On both crossings we arrived in time to be put on an earlier crossing which was processed quickly and without fuss. Very helpful. The ferry was clean and comfortable and made for a relaxing crossing. Much appreciated after a long drive. I used the Duty free shop at the Dunkirk terminal and got a great deal on my favourite Scotch. I've got another trip booked for summer!

Dear William, Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your rating. We trust you had a great experience with DFDS onboard to Dunkirk - Dover. We look forward to welcoming you again in the future. Kind regards, Nicola Customer Experience Specialist

Windfource 8 and terrible seesick

I understand that you cannot control the wheather. I went on the minicruise last friday and it went out to be such a stormy wheater during the trip. Windfource 8. My friend and I where so terribly seesick, which we both did not forsee. I would have been nice that we where handed seesich motionsickness pills in any form or shape by the ship/ crew. We had a terrible night and almost 2 hours delay also. So we where so sad because of that.

Date of experience : 19 April 2024

Dear Mevr. Beer Baart, Thank you for taking the time to review your recent experience with DFDS onboard to Newcastle - Amsterdam. We are sorry to hear you were sick during your recent trip and not offer any sickness tablets from guest services. We appreciate and value your feedback and will ensure your comments are passed on to the relevant department. We hope this will not deter you from traveling with us again in the future. Kind regards Nicola Customer Experience Specialist

review and suggestion good upgrade for little money

we got a good upgrade for little money. the service was good on this trip. Suggestion: why not have a loyalty scheme. We have been using DFDS for close on 25 years and have never gotten something extra or an upgrade or anything to motivate us to use it again.

Date of experience : 22 April 2024

Dear Darrell, Thank you for taking the time to review your recent experience with DFDS onboard to Newcastle- Amsterdam. We appreciate and value your feedback and will ensure your comments are passed on to the relevant department who will use this to continually improve our customer’s overall experience. We look forward to welcoming you back on board again for another great experience! Kind regards, Nicola Customer Experience Specialist

Delays on both journeys, but better crews

Delays on both journeys - although on the return journey I actually got onto the previous scheduled sailing which was running an hour behind (a fault with the loading ramp). Smooth journeys despite a swell. The crews must have recently received customer service training refreshers because they were actually greeting and bidding farewell to passengers - almost an airline-style level of service. Well done.

Dear M. Thomas, Thank you for taking the time to review your recent experience with DFDS onboard to Dunkirk - Dover. We are sorry to hear you were delayed on both journeys. We appreciate and value your feedback and will ensure your comments are passed on to the relevant department who will use this to continually improve our customer’s overall experience. We hope this will not deter you from traveling with us again in the future. Kind regards, Nicola Customer Experience Specialist

A great fuss free trip both ways

A great fuss free trip both ways staff were helpful, polite and efficient With the distance from East Yorkshire to Dover amounting to a 5 hour trip without hold ups as well as unpredictable queuing times it is difficult to predict the arrival time so we were very pleased to have been placed on the earliest ferry for both crossings.

Date of experience : 14 April 2024

Dear Richard, Thank you for taking the time to leave your review we are pleased to hear that your trip on both directions from Dover to France was fuss free, and we are happy to hear that you were able to gain a head start on an earlier ferry, We look forward to having you sail with us again soon, -Martin Customer Interactions Shift Leader

Very nice Ferry under control…

Very nice Ferry under control everything stuff good only I'm not happy when I change the time and date I get charged before was it free of charge

We had a delay

We had a delay. I know this can happen but it took a lot of time from our visit in newcastle also because we had to wait in the transfer busses till it wass full. The row to border controle wass nor organised wirh people for the minicruise or just one wat people. That also gace delay

Dear Nancy, Thank you for taking the time to review your recent experience with DFDS onboard to Newcastle- Amsterdam. We appreciate and value your feedback and will ensure your comments are passed on to the relevant department who will use this to continually improve our customer’s overall experience. We hope this will not deter you from traveling with us again in the future. Kind regards, Nicola Customer Experience Specialist

Double charging!…

I purchased frequent traveller tickets for £414 plus £80 on March 28 and was alarmed to see both amounts had been taken twice from my bank account! I phoned you immediately and you admitted you had a ‘glitch’ in your system. However, despite two further calls I have still not had a refund!! This is an appalling and totally unacceptable treatment of a longstanding and loyal customer! I await an immediate refund and a substantial explanation and apology! Peter Bullock

Date of experience : 28 March 2024

Dear Peter, Thank you for taking the time to review your recent experience with DFDS. We appreciate and value your feedback and will ensure your comments are passed on to the relevant department. We would like to discuss your rating and comments further. Please could you contact us at [email protected]. Kind regards, Nicola Customer Experience Specialist

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Second mini cruise to Amsterdam - DFDS Newcastle

• Europe    
• United Kingdom (UK)    
• England    
• Tyne and Wear    
• North Shields    
• North Shields - Things to Do    
• DFDS Newcastle

DFDS operate a daily ferry service between North Shields and IJmuiden, on which they offer the... read more

We recently did a return trip to Amsterdam (IJmuiden) with DFDS with a group of friends to... read more

Second mini cruise to Amsterdam

This is a great way to spend a day in Amsterdam if you like a relatively short sea journey. We had booked a cabin with a view but were disappointed when we found we looked out onto the lifeboats (even if this was reassuring). The customer service guy was so helpful and we were shown other rooms to move to. Settled into cabin to discover heater set to cold draught. Back to customer service. Plumber there fixing the problem before I got back! The service was Very impressive, staff insisting that we have the best experience. We were given vouchers for coffees. A small token which was appreciated but not expected. If you plan one thing to do when you arrive this is a great way to get to Amsterdam. At least if you have good sea legs! We enjoyed a fair crossing and slept well with the gentle motion of the ship. The beds were extremely comfortable. Amsterdam a bit sleazy around central station. Head off to the Herrengracht area for beautiful sites. We will go again

Hi Jane thank you for your review, we're so pleased you enjoyed your trip. We'll look forward to welcoming you on-board again on your next trip. Kind Regards Nancy DFDS Customer care

This is a great experience for people looking for a cheap cheerful break to Amsterdam. The ship has several restaurants and bars with entertainment and a cinema. We ate breakfast and dinner in the buffet restaurant which had lots of choice and the food was great - book restaurants in advance as paying on the ship is much more expensive. Drinks are, of course, very expensive as on any cruise and rooms are teeny but we really enjoyed the trip and would definitely do it again.

Hi Nicci, thanks for your review. We’re happy to read that you had enjoyed your trip and had such a fantastic experience. We can’t wait to welcome you onboard again in the future. Kind Regards Vikki DFDS Customer Care

I booked this trip 3 weeks prior to going. We arrived to check in and all of which was pretty uneventual, staff at desk were quite helpful at explaining our tours and tickets and how to redeem them. Once boarded we were shown to you room which was small. We then decided to upgrade our cabin at extra cost, we were unsure but a member of staff should us a variety of different cabins. This staff member learnt our names and was friendly. Our new cabin was clean and spacious, couldn't fault it really. Staff that looked after these cabins were attentive and couldn't do enough for you. In the morning after very little sleep due to rough seas we boarded the coach to Amsterdam were we stayed from 10:30 til approx 16:30. Plenty of time to see the sites and do the activities that we planned. Weather and locals were lovely too. On the return journey the sea was more settled and we managed to get some sleep. In the morning we had the buffet breakfast which was surprising as they're was plenty of choice and it was all fresh, staff were attentive too. This is something that everyone should try, you might love it or hate it but it's definitely an adventure.

Hi Amanda, thanks for your review. We’re pleased to read you had such a pleasant trip to Amsterdam. Thanks for the great feedback for our staff, I’ll make sure your comments are passed onto the relevant teams. Kind Regards Vikki DFDS Customer Care

We arrived at the ferry early and check in was quick and easy. We found our rooms and explored the boat. The buffet wasn’t too bad plenty of choice and we all found something to our tastes. After our evening meal we listened to the entertainment in the Compass Lounge and this was fantastic we all played Bingo at 5 euros each and the prize was 125 euros to spend on the ferry. Drinks were around 5.50 for a pint of larger and up to 10.30 euros for a cocktail. We all retired to our rooms but as the walls are paper thin no one in our party of 5 could sleep due to the noise of other passengers and the boat creaking boat. We woke to find that “ due to engine issues “ the ferry would be late into port. We eventually docked at 12 and was told that the last coach from Amsterdam to return us back to the ferry left at 4 pm. You would think that they would get everyone off the ferry quickly and to the coaches !! Oh no we had to wait over an hour so we arrived in Amsterdam at 1:30pm we had just 2 hours in Amsterdam. 2 hours in Amsterdam plus 2 nights not sleeping = to very unhappy passengers my advice is don’t bother with the ferry fly instead.

Hi Kerrie, thanks for your review. It’s great to hear that our new buffet concept had something for everyone in your party. We’re glad to hear that you enjoyed the onboard entertainment. As you’re aware there was a problem with one of the engines which led to a delay in berthing in Amsterdam, if we could have avoided this delay we would have. We’re sorry that the delay impacted the amount of time you got in Amsterdam. Kind Regards Vikki DFDS Customer Care

We enjoyed a trip to Amsterdam this weekend, nice cabin,which was clean, bed was ok but duvet was more a childs duvet instead of a double. Food was over priced we eat in buffet which was ok but dried up, but this isn't 5 star its a ferry. Entertainment was great deck 8 with an Irish vocalist he was brilliant. We did look at nightclub bit to noisy for us. Enjoyed Amsterdam lots to see and do but not much time but we will go back for overnight stay. We had breakfast in Amsterdam full English /coffee *Euro..Everything was good my only disappointment was cost of food drinks, duty free was expensive. I would recommend trip.

Hi Pamela, thanks for your review. We’re glad to read you had a pleasant trip to Amsterdam and really appreciate your recommendation. Kind Regards Vikki DFDS Customer Care

10th december 2017 dover docks: we booked a crossing from dover to calais: because of an incident in the harbour of calais it was "closed": we where already in the ship: they changed us from ship: so we made finally the crossing from dover to dunkirk.all passengers became a voucher £ 4.--: and the whole staff did there work with a big SMILE: very professional; thanks!

Hello, thanks for your review. It’s great to hear we were able to reroute you to Dunkirk and get you on your way. Great feedback for the team in Dover, I’ve passed this onto the team. Kind Regards Vikki DFDS Customer Care

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Mini Cruise to Amsterdam - DFDS Newcastle

• Europe    
• United Kingdom (UK)    
• England    
• Tyne and Wear    
• North Shields    
• North Shields - Things to Do    
• DFDS Newcastle

DFDS operate a daily ferry service between North Shields and IJmuiden, on which they offer the... read more

We recently did a return trip to Amsterdam (IJmuiden) with DFDS with a group of friends to... read more

Mini Cruise to Amsterdam

Set sail sharp on the Wednesday for mini cruise to Amsterdam. Good atmosphere on ship but the entrance is now like entering a hotel. Where have all the naval officers gone!! Meals booked in advance was a good idea with a discount. However, disappointing to see that the choices for the evening meal were identical on both nights. If you like meat then there were different types you could have but the same type of fish served with the curried vegetables was not exactly pushing the boat out for the two nights running. Choppy going over so had operational difficulties in landing but excitement when the helicopter brought the guy who was going to take the ferry into the harbour. Cabins are good value for money and lots of hot water. Drinks on board good value and the shop was very good too. Take a bottle of water with you, that was expensive. More cheese on the menu would have been good too. Breakfast was nice with plenty of choice.

i've bought a groupon deal to go 2 for 1 from newcastle to amsterdam, so i try to book it online just now, i've follow the website on groupon to go through booking on their dfds website, which i've click to redeem the voucher, as it said u will see to redeem tour voucher code at the last page, and then the price will automatically change, but unfortunately i cannot see any box to let me fill in my code to redeem my voucher, so i've try to go back to try again, but it went through and gave me a booking ref no. which is with the full price, i've tried to cancel this booking and try to make a new one, and it said i have to pay a full price if i cancel this booking, why i feel like i've already feeling so struggle on this website before i even board on the ship, ?

Thank you for your feedback. It is important to us. If you are having issue with a voucher partner offer, I would advise call the Customer Service number issued on the voucher. We hope that you have a good time onboard with us when you travel.

I cross via this route all of the time and I have to say I certainly don't experience some of the problems listed below. I have to agree that the coffee is one of the best for this type of operation and the trip is quite comfortable. That said, if time is against you the the tunnel is acceptable but I find sitting in my car (or trying to sleep) is pretty dull and... comes of course at a premium price sometimes as much as twice that of the boat. I have often managed to get a ticket for under £40, I'd pay twice that for the train, thats £40 an hour! also, I appreciate boarding and disembarkation is (sometimes) quicker but for what, so you can race to the tail end of a traffic jam on the M20?? I've had the tunnel let me down, granted not very often, however when it does stop, it STOPS! I've found the ferries I have moved backwards and forwards on both in the car and by motorbike both comfortable and reliable, I’d advise saving £40 and also the 15mins further down the road to Calais! If they maintain their current prices, they’ll remain the option of choice!!

Thank you for your feedback, and we are pleased to hear that you enjoyed your experience when travelling with us. We hope to see you onboard with us again in the future.

My wife and myself travelled to France via Dunkirk having booked with DFDS. Everything was fine until our money ran low and we decided to return earlier than expected. Quite happy to pay the additional admin. fee of £10.00 which we were advised, we were told that it would cost an additional £55.00. instead We could of course leave at 2am on the following day for £10.00. We complained to DFDS after the event and were advised that fares were subject to 'change without notice'. Needless to say the fares stay constant until you are the wrong side of the channel. Several emails later we did not receive a satisfactory response and our emails were blocked. We had changed our dates on two occasions prior to embarkation and were charged £10.00 ea. way. We feel that we have been treated unfairly and will take the matter further.

Thank you for your feedback, and if you would like to follow up on your existing communication with our Customer Service team, please either email [email protected], use our live chat function on site or you can call us: 0871 574 7235

4 adults arrived at the secure carpark to embark on a weekend in amsterdam. From start to finish DFDS was exceptional value for money. the quality and quantity of food and service togreat. We did the Hop an Hop off trips with canal cruise and overnight in a hotel neat dam square. Amsterdam was reasonably priced. I would recomend staying a night as 3 hours to see the incredible city is too short or take at least 2 mini cruises to see it proplerly

I used to prefer this route, as it was a lot less crowded than going into Calais! Used this route back in March, and ferry was delayed with a Tech problem. Which meant we were late departing Dunkirk. Tried to get a meal on board, but it was trying to look for a needle in a haystack trying to find someone in the dining area! Even though some items in shop were cheaper than Uk, noticed some products twice the price than in Belgium! Ferry was delayed even farther due to heavy fog, and had to wait even longer for a tug to get us into port! Crew sort of kept us informed, but would of least expected either a complimentary drink or even reduced rates for the delay? Will try a different operator next time!

Thank you for your feedback, & we are sorry to hear that you were delayed when travelling with us. We do hope that we will see you onboard with us again in the future.

DFDS Mini Cruise Newcastle to Amsterdam Review

Dfds mini cruise, newcastle to amsterdam.

www.dfds.co.uk

Reviewed by Ella Richardon

When I first found out I was going on a cruise I was so excited, I have never been on a cruise before and always imagined it as being very expensive and only for those who felt at home in a tuxedo or ball gown. I am neither rich or own a ball gown but I couldn’t believe the prices when I saw them on the website from £79 per person, which for a two night trip I thought was pretty cheap and completely doable on our small budget and I managed to solve the wardrobe issue with a couple of black dresses from the back of the cupboard.

So the day came to set off, we had a 3 hour drive to Newcastle, which was pretty straightforward and signposted really well and once we got to the car park there was plenty of spaces to choose from. We also got there a bit early so sampled the food in the ports café, which was limited with only a selection of two sandwiches but lucky for us there were the two we liked and would have picked any way. The staff were really friendly and chatty which made for a nice wait for checking in to begin.

So to start the journey we had to check in, as you do with any trip but usually this is the bit I dread the most as it’s always so stressful with big queues but for the DFDS mini cruise, it took no longer than two minutes and we were asked to sit down to wait to board, then a quick go through the security checks by out of ordinary friendly staff. We were met on the ship at each stair case to help guide us to our cabin, which was good because the ship was bigger than anything I have ever seen and I was very worried I would spend the first day wandering around the ship not being able to find my way, I had no need to worry there was always a friendly face to ask if we got, which actually we never did and the lay out was pretty simple to work out.

We arrived to our room and it was pretty much as I imagined as I had looked on the website. We were in a two bed room with sea view and we were right at the front of the ship, I felt like Kate Winslet in Titanic, we had such a lovely view. The room was basic it had two single beds, a table, a mirror and a shower over the toilet which my husband was most impressed at. If you are looking for somewhere to just sleep like us the room is perfect, though if you are planning on spending day time in the room I would probably invest in one of the bigger Commodore rooms but if I am totally honest with the schedule there isn’t much time for spending time in the room, there is constantly something going on. The beds were unbelievably comfortable I could of slept forever, though did make it hard to get up, my only note about the rooms is if you are planning a romantic trip away it might be worth booking a Commodore room as I said we had single beds but for the price the room was perfectly adequate and did everything that we needed it before. We had towels and bedding provided, though a slight tip you might want to take your own toilet roll as it wasn’t the softest. We also made great use of the radio in the room and there were a few stations to pick from.

We had pre-booked dinner for later that evening so we could get settled in, so headed up about 8.30 to the 7 Seas restaurant. We didn’t really know what we were to expect as all we had seen was it was an all you can eat buffet. But was pleasantly surprised by the array of different foods, from Chinese, meat and two veg, breads & cheeses, the list goes on. I decided to start with a plate of salad which I actually have to say was the best plate of salad I have had in a long time, it was so simple but dressed beautifully and so delicate and this was accompanied by their very own freshly made bread that was so lovely. I then went for a main course of the Chinese buffet and there was a lovely beef dish, the beef was cooked to perfection and went really well with the vegetable noodles. I also sampled some of the cheeses which some I had never heard of and really enjoyed the new tastes and textures. The variety was vast and slightly overwhelming but it was all absolutely delicious. For dessert I ended up with a coffee mousse, which was beautiful and really delicate, it melted in the mouth and if I had room I would of eaten another but I decided the last bit of space was saved for a kids ice cream cone with sprinkles, I just couldn’t help myself as I piled the cone up high and I noticed every adult around me had done the same, for a moment I felt like a child again, sometimes the simplest of ideas just work really well. The night was topped off really well with half a bottle of wine, though this wasn’t pre-ordered and if we were to go next time we would certainly pre-order the dinner wine. I thought the price of the food was really reasonable, the dinner buffet if bought on board was €34.50 but if you booked in advance which we did you get 24% off and kids eat half price. The restaurant was brilliant and the staff were amazing jumping to your every need, I even got to taste the wine before they served it very professionally and I felt like I was in a very swanky restaurant, but the meal prices in no way felt that way.

After dinner we headed to the Compass bar, where there was a fabulous singer who was strumming a long with the aid of a guitar, we actually weren’t going to go and watch the entertainment as we were really tired but he sounded so good we decided just to pop in for one drink and have a listen. He played all the classics and had everyone singing along. The room was absolutely packed and within that room was a bunch of men on a stag party, which by this point had, had far too much to drink and were interfering with his set, the men started to make me feel a bit anxious but I do have to say they were dealt with very quickly and without fuss and everyone was left to enjoy their evening. We went to our cabin shortly after ready for an early start seeing Amsterdam and even more exciting our all you can eat buffet breakfast.

We woke nice and early and headed back to the 7 Seas restaurant ready for breakfast. We were met by the fresh faced waiter from the night before (I’m not sure they sleep!) with the choice of a jug of tea and/or coffee and all different kinds of juices. Even though I was still really full from the night before, I couldn’t resist the array of beautiful breakfast food, going from continental, full English, fruit and pastries. It was delicious, I ended up devouring a Full English, which is fabulous for setting you up for a day’s sightseeing, even chips were on the menu. Then I finished with a custard pastry which I really shouldn’t of had but they looked so amazing I couldn’t say no. Which leads me to the point, there is no way you can diet on this trip as it’s all too fabulous and worth every mouthful. We were able to sit and eat breakfast while we were waiting for the ship to dock, which was good as everything was slightly delayed and there wasn’t lots of hanging around, we could sip coffee and wait for the announcement and at a really good price of €14.90 and again if you book in advance you get 20% off the price, well worth it when it’s eat all you like and you have a husband that can eat all he likes.

Customs was quick and easy as before and waiting when we got off were two coaches ready for taking us to Amsterdam. The coaches were pretty small and space limiting so if you have long legs like my husband you might want to think about other options but for him the short 45 min trip was fine and was free with the package so well worth just trying to bear with the lack of space for the small trip. We arrived in Amsterdam at about 11am and as we had already been given a map with our boarding cards we had mapped out exactly what we wanted to do with our 5 hours. I would definitely recommend doing this as we found the 5 hours went really quickly. We decided we would within our trip to Amsterdam visit Madame Tussauds and I highly recommend this as something to do as it only takes a couple of hours and is so much fun, the wax figures are so realistic and the staff very friendly. Though my only point I would make is if you plan to go to Madame Tussauds try and book online before you go as it is considerably cheaper, we paid €44 for the both of us on the day, on the door. We spent the rest of the time enjoying the beautiful sights of Amsterdam and taking in the busy and bustling atmosphere, as a city it is very characteristic and well worth a visit. We even stopped to watch some street entertainment.

Our 5 hours went really quickly and soon enough we were heading back to the ship by the free bus and as quickly we were off, we were back on again at about 5.15pm, so time for a lovely snooze before dinner at 8pm (well while you have no kids with you why not?). We woke at 7.30 to a very choppy sea and feeling a bit ill, luckily I had brought some sea sickness tablets with me but unfortunately they take two hours to kick in so although we attempted dinner, we really couldn’t stomach anything other than a piece of bread. While we were there though all the staff continued as normal and were very helpful of people who found it difficult to stand upright whilst carrying their dinners over. The restaurant was very quiet that night but it was totally down to the rockiness of the boat, so I would recommend taking the sea sickness tablets anyway on the off chance as those few hours weren’t very nice and could of been preventable if we had of taken them earlier, I was gutted I missed dinner as it looked amazing again and I can’t  recommend it enough, from the food and the staff there was nothing bad at all I can say about the restaurant or the staff in general, everyone always had a smile and if you needed help or your drink topping up they were there within seconds.

We slept right through from 9pm until breakfast at 8am as the sea was very rough but this didn’t take away from the experience as we still managed the beautiful breakfast in the morning and able to watch us dock at Newcastle whilst scoffing pastries again and remising on the fabulous weekend we had had. The only downside that I can even pick fault at was that the drinks were pretty expensive and even for a can of beer it was €4.50, so this hindered how much we were able to stay out but there was a shop that you could purchase drinks from and the wine was actually pretty reasonable but you aren’t allowed to drink this anywhere other than your room, I was expecting drinks to be slightly cheaper as it was an affordable cruise but if that is my only point to make, it’s a very small down point to what was otherwise a fabulous and exciting weekend and  It was certainly what we needed and a lovely time to spend as a couple, though I might add the ship was very child friendly and even a kid zone, we saw lots of children enjoying the experience as much as the adults. I would highly recommend the DFDS cruise to anyone as the budget is affordable and flexible and you can get everything added on that you need for a cheap price and I certainly will be returning and maybe with the kids in tow.

Rating:  4/5

DFDS Seaways  DFDS Seaways sails up to twice a day between Newcastle and Amsterdam. Prices for mini cruise packages start from as little as £79 per person.

Sailing overnight, the break starts as soon as you board one of DFDS Seaways’ cruise ferries.  With plenty to do onboard, including a children’s play area, casino, cinema and in-room films on demand, as well as a variety of bars and live entertainment, passengers have the space to relax and spend time with their loved ones and plan the details of their short break. Guests can also enjoy a delicious meal in one of the three onboard restaurants and then take a refreshing stroll on deck to admire the great views before heading off to their en suite cabin for a peaceful night’s sleep. Next morning, passengers will wake up refreshed for their time ashore.

To find out more information and to see the latest special offers, visit  www.dfds.co.uk  or telephone 0871 574 8235.

Amsterdam Tourist Information For further information about visiting Amsterdam, log onto  www.iamsterdam.com  for more details.

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DFDS mini cruise Newcastle to Amsterdam - DFDS Newcastle

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DFDS operate a daily ferry service between North Shields and IJmuiden, on which they offer the... read more

We recently did a return trip to Amsterdam (IJmuiden) with DFDS with a group of friends to... read more

DFDS mini cruise Newcastle to Amsterdam

Better than we anticipated. Just back from the New Year trip. In harbour Ijmuiden but Hogmany moved into harbour overlooking Amsterdam, for the fireworks displays. So couple of days in Amsterdam but back on the buses before 4pm each day. Good to take some goodies and your kettle. We only opted for the New years Eve Gala buffet dinner and breakfast New Years Day. (Ate far too much....Free bar pm of 31st Dec(and after midnight) inc tea/coffee/juices/wine/draught lager. Also doughnuts and other snacks with "glass champagne" for midnight. Lovely comfy mattresses "eat your heart out Greece and Tunisia", never slept so well and in a tiny cabin. Bit hot at night but never mind better than too cold. Staff seemed very happy and friendly. Boat seemed rather smart an comfy. Competition for some of the large cruise ships.

Did the 3 night new year cruise over to Amsterdam with friends in the economy cabin and didn't find it too strenuous! The crossing over and meals were fine, Amsterdam was....well, Amsterdam !!! Anyway, saw all the usual sights, then had a rocky trip back. Staff were great and all in all, reasonable value, but next time we would want the bigger cabin for obvious reasons!

Returned from an extended holiday and Christmas visit to relatives sailing in the gap between C/mas and the New Year holidays, so was prepared for a scramble - not a bit of it. We were loaded very efficiently and quickly at Dunkirk the only hold up was at the border agency security check which we did not resent. The Ferry was very clean and tidy and the self-service restaurant spotless good selection of meals at a reasoable price (nice to have Fish&Chips after all the fine dining!). Arrived in Dover on time and unloaded quickly. We make the crossing regularly visiting family and watch the operators for bargain offers, DFDS are not always the cheapest but they do have some good offers and can certainly be recommended.

It's classed as a ferry but it's like a mini cruise liner. Various restaurants from buffet to steak house. Various bars with different forms of entertainment in each one. Prices vary but they offer great deals if you check regular. You can easily get a weekend away in amsterdam for two for under £100. If you want to eat In the restaurants is cheaper to book this at the time of making your booking. They offer various room quality and even the badic is ok. On board casino, slots and duty free shop. Have been a number of times and always been a good trip.

Did the "minicruise" IJmuiden-NewCastle v.v. mid December, and yes, the sea was a bit choppy, but the operator can't help that. The staff on board is friendly and helpful, a normal cabin small but neat and adequate as you do not spend a lot of time there anyway. The transfer on the bus is very well arranged. Bit of a shame that HM Customs decided to work very thoroughly (and therefore very slowly) which stole nearly an hour from our time ashore, but again that's nothing to do with the operator. What has to do with them however is the prices on board, which are close to ridiculous, for food that can be ranked just above average. And the duty free shop only made us laugh. In short, an OK experience, but not to be repeated in the near (or distant) future

Dover to Dunkirk. Nice and cheap 48 quid for two and car return. Quick to load, quick to off load. food avilable. Uncomfortable seating and food options not as good as other operators but all in all, I would travel again. Thanks DFDS

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Mini cruise to Amsterdam

Book your newcastle-amsterdam mini cruise now & enjoy 50% off.

Ready for an unforgettable adventure this spring? In honour of King's Day 2024, enjoy a special discount on your next mini cruise to Amsterdam!

Celebrate with 50% off your mini cruise in our newly refurbished cabins when you book by 5 May for sailings until 30 June .

Don't miss your chance to explore the Netherlands during one of its most vibrant and beautiful seasons. Your spring getaway awaits!

Discover our renovated cabins

Delicious meals onboard

Duty Free shopping onboard

Spend the day in Amsterdam

Travel period: until the end of June 2024

Excellent choice of restaurants, bars and live entertainment onboard. 

Bus transfers to and from Amsterdam included.   

Check-in opens

Check-in closes

Depart North Shields for Amsterdam

Arrive in IJmuiden, Holland

Coach departs for Amsterdam city centre

Coach departs Amsterdam for IJmuiden terminal

Ship departs IJmuiden

Breakfast available onboard

Arrive in North Shields

Relax in our newly renovated cabins!

All our cabins onboard the King Seaways and Princess Seaways have received a stunning makeover, and you could be among the very first to enjoy it!

So, what's in store? Picture sparkling new paintwork, fresh carpet underfoot, brand-new chairs and desks, along with new mirrors, bedside tables, and more. We've even included extra USB ports for all your devices, not to mention the updated bathrooms!

Why wait? Come aboard and embark on your springtime adventures with a fresh beginning!

Sail into the season of spring!

A mini cruise is more than just a crossing; it’s an experience you don't want to miss! Relax your way to Amsterdam, as you embrace the fresh sea breeze on deck and discover all the excellent facilities onboard.

Indulge your taste buds with a delicious meal at Explorer's Kitchen or North Sea Bistro and treat yourself to something from the Duty Free shop. End your evening with drinks and live entertainment in our bars and clubs onboard.

After a good night's sleep in your private en suite cabin, it's time to explore the romantic Dutch capital. Stroll through the city and lose yourself in the canal lined streets, or visit the lively markets and browse the hand made trinkets. Be enchanted by the energy of this beautiful city and make memories you will cherish forever!

Terms & Conditions

Booking period: 27 April to 4 May 2024. 

Travel period: 28 April to 30 June 2024. 

Starting price is based on 2 people in a 2-bed inside cabin. A small supplement applies for other cabins. 

ETS charge is calculated in price.

Only valid for new bookings and not in combination with other promotions/discounts. 

Offer subject to availability. 

Commodore cabins are excluded from this offer.

Bus transfers to and from Amsterdam are part of the total cost of the mini cruise package. You will get your cabin price first and the bus transfer prices will then be shown separately.

General DFDS terms and conditions apply.

Restaurants Onboard

Double Bed Cabins

Our double bed cabins are designed with couples in mind. Sail between Newcastle and Amsterdam in this comfortable, en suite cabin with inside and sea view rooms available.

Sea View Cabins

Sail from Newcastle to Amsterdam with front row seats to the beautiful North Sea from your en suite, sea view cabin. Cabins can sleep up to 5 people in bunk beds.

Economy Cabins

Ideal for the budget-friendly traveller, our comfortable, en suite, economy cabins from Newcastle and Amsterdam sleep 2 – 4 people in bunk beds.

Pet Friendly Cabins

Travel onboard our DFDS ferry in a pet friendly cabin from Newcastle and Amsterdam, which can accommodate up to 4 people and 2 medium sized dogs.

Onboard Experience

Duty Free Shopping at Sea

Join us on a ferry to Holland and enjoy unrivalled shopping facilities with savings of up to 50% against the high street.

Food & Dining

Our unique dining experiences onboard include an international buffet and a luxurious à la carte restaurant when you sail between Newcastle and Amsterdam.

Our range of en suite cabins provide accommodation to suit every taste and budget on a ferry between the UK and Holland.

Entertainment

Choose from partying the night away on a short break to Amsterdam, or simply relaxing with a drink in hand.

Family Travel

Sea travel is very exciting for children and our ferries provide a range of entertainment for all ages.

Ship Overview

Discover everything there is to know about King Seaways and Princess Seaways.

Amsterdam Highlights

Amsterdam is a city full of life and energy, especially during the summer. With so much to see and do, a day in Amsterdam can be truly inspiring.

Take a stroll through the colourful streets of Jordaan or explore the historical landmarks of the city centre. Rent a bicycle and ride along the scenic canals, stopping at cafes and restaurants for a taste of local cuisine. Immerse yourself in the vibrant art scene by visiting museums such as the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum.

And if you're looking for some relaxation, take a picnic to Vondelpark and soak in the sun. Whatever your interests may be, Amsterdam offers endless possibilities for a memorable day!

Duty Free at DFDS

Shop Duty Free onboard our ferries from the UK and save up to 50% vs UK high street.

With huge savings on premium perfumes, cosmetics and alcohol and generous allowances you can stock up on great deals.

For bulk buys our Calais and Dunkerque Duty Free Shops at our ports are ideal with parking right outside. You can even browse Duty Free from the comfort of your own home with our Reserve & Collect service on all three routes from the UK to France . Simply select your chosen products then collect and pay at our shoreside shops.

Championing the Seas!  

We're elated to announce that DFDS has once again retained its title as Europe’s Leading Ferry Operator at the 2024 World Travel Awards.

This accolade wouldn’t have been possible without you, our loyal passengers. Thank you for recognising the hard work of our exceptional team members who are dedicated to ensuring each voyage is as exceptional as the next.

Your ongoing support is the anchor to our success.