amsterdam mini cruise

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!

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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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Amsterdam Mini Cruises

Our popular Amsterdam mini cruise includes return crossings to the stunning Dutch capital from Newcastle, plus up to 5 hours to explore Amsterdam’s vibrant city centre.

• Private en suite cabins
• Up to 5 hours in Amsterdam
• Return coach transfers from the port to the city centre
• Delicious onboard cuisine
• Live entertainment onboard
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Our Amsterdam mini cruises always provide a great experience, whether you’re looking to relax, dance the night away, or spend some time with friends and family over a great dinner. With comfortable cabins in a range of prices, an amazing maritime atmosphere, and dedicated staff, our cruise ships mean it is always a great time to take an Amsterdam mini break.

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Amsterdam to restrict new hotels and river cruises to curb number of tourists

The city of Amsterdam is escalating its campaign against overtourism on top of existing efforts to discourage problematic Brits abroad and crack down on tourist etiquette.

In the latest measures, a limit on the number of river cruises that enter the Dutch capital’s waterways and plans to reduce overnight visitors by banning the construction of new hotels intend to discourage tourists from making the trip.

The proposals to restrict the way tourists enter and stay in the city predict 271,000 fewer visitors per year via river cruise and aim to limit overnight stays to just 20 million tourists annually.

For river cruises, this means cutting voyages to Amsterdam by half to just 1,150 a year by 2028. In 2023, 2,300 boats floated into the city’s canals – a sharp increase from the 1,327 boats that visited in 2011.

A  statement  from Amsterdam City Council said: “Amsterdam must be and remain liveable, for residents and visitors. That is why we take measures to combat overtourism. We want to halve the number of river cruise ships in the city within five years to a maximum of 1,150 in 2028. Fewer river cruises means less crowds and more quality of life.”

Ocean-going cruise ships were banned from docking in the city centre last July.

Amsterdam City Council added: “River cruises contribute to the crowds and emissions in the city, with tourists, overnight stays, bus movements and supply traffic.

“River cruises therefore remain part of the Amsterdam visitor economy. We focus on the most sustainable ships that have a connection for green shore power.”

The attempts to curb the environmental and social impact of overtourism by the city’s council will also introduce a limit of 20 million overnight stays.

Excluding holiday rentals, this is 665,000 less than the total hotel nights stayed in 2023.

As for the construction of hotels, a new hotel will only be allowed to open when another closes – a one-in-one-out system that prohibits new openings from offering a higher number of beds than the previous accommodation.

While Amsterdam “ says ‘no’ to new hotels ”, 26 hotels already in development with the necessary permits will be exempt from the new construction rule.

“A new hotel may only be built, under certain conditions, if a hotel closes elsewhere. The number of sleeping places may not increase. The hotel must also be better, for example, more modern and/or more sustainable. We encourage hotel owners to choose a place outside the centre,” said the local authority.

The boat and building bans follow other measures to thin out crowds in the city last year including banning weed in the Red Light District, an increased tourist tax, a “Stay Away” campaign and an “Amsterdam Rules” quiz to  deter rowdy British visitors .

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• Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Best of Moscow by high speed train

By shuguley , February 15, 2014 in Regent Seven Seas Cruises

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Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.

Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?

My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

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If you are considering this on the 2015 June Baltic cruise on Voyager; my suggestion is don't. There is so much to do in St. Petersburg and although a train is one of my favorite ways to travel the time would be far better spent in St. P.

Thanks for the advice. Yes, this would be on the Voyager during the 2015 season but not yet sure exactly which cruise.

We did the Moscow excursion "on a different luxury line", but from your brief description it sounds very much like the same trip, so I will operate on that assumption. It is a VERY long day! We left the ship at 5:30 AM and returned at 12:30 AM. The highspeed train trip is comfortable, and while they call it "Business Class" it does not compare well to the equivalent class on say Rail Europe. When we did it in 2011, we did have highspeed both ways, and the trip back seemed much longer as the adrenaline and excitement had worn off!:D

Moscow itself is not that terribly different from any other big city in the world, but this Cold War kid never thought he would ever stand in Red Square, never mind walk the grounds of The Kremlin, or tour The Kremlin Palace, or see (but not visit) Lenin's Tomb, or visit The Armoury. But he did, and he loved every minute of it! Yes, it is a long day, and you barely scratch a scratch on the surface, but it is worth it. There is a tremendous amount to see in St. Petersburg, but every Baltic cruise goes to St. Petersburg, so you can go back if you choose to. Not every cruiseline offers you the chance to see Moscow.

I have not personally done this tour, but our last time in St Petersburg, the private guide that we hired for a day was leading the regent tour to Moscow on the high speed train the next day. He said it was way better than the previous alternative, which was flying to Moscow and back. He said that you actually got to Moscow faster because you didn't have to deal with airline checkin etc. it did seem like a very long day to me, and there is so much to see and do in st. Petersburg that I didn't consider doing it.

countflorida

We toured to Moscow from St. Petersburg via the hi-speed SAPSAN train last September, from a Baltic cruise on the Oceania Marina. You need to have a two-night, three day port call in St. Petersburg to take this tour because the tour typically leaves the ship around 5:00 - 5:30 AM and doesn't return until after midnight the next day. We didn't take the ship's tour; we made private arrangements with TravelAllRussia for three days of touring, the first and third days in St. Petersburg and the second day the tour to Moscow by train. Our cost for the private tour for three days was about the same as what the ship charged for the excursion to Moscow alone. There are a number of private tour agencies that operate in St. Petersburg and offer the Moscow train tours; we would strongly recommend them over the ship's tours.

All three days had private guides with car and driver. The second day, the driver picked us up at the ship and took us to the train, but we were alone on the train, and met in Moscow by the guide on the station platform. After our tour and dinner, we were brought back to the train and after the return train trip met by the driver and taken back to the ship. Because you are alone on the train you must have your own Russian visas.

If this is your first visit to St. Petersburg, I would agree there is much more to see there. We found Moscow somewhat a disappointment, particularly Red Square. The Kremlin and the cathedral in Red Square were also worth seeing. But the best thing we saw was the Moscow subway! I worked for the Washington Metro system back in the 1980s as it grew from 40 to 80 miles and although I was in the computer area, I learned a lot about the challenges of running a subway system. We used the Moscow system to get across the city from where we had dinner to the train station, and I was amazed at the cleanliness', speed of operation, the short headways maintained, and the courtesy of everyone involved. A very impressive experience!

We had been to St. Petersburg before, and so had the time to take a day and go to Moscow. Also, I really like trains, and the SAPSAN is a German train set running on Russian rails. Seats are like first class domestic air, spacious but not too plush or comfortable, but with enough room. Not too much recline, and almost 8 hours on the train in two shots is a lot for an old man. They come through and sell drinks, candy, etc. but the sellers don't speak English and no one around us helped, so we had just poor coffee once coming, and brought stuff with us for the trip back. Not too much to see from the train either, particularly on the return when it is night the whole way.

If you decide to go, take a private tour and avoid the overly expensive ship's tour. I'm glad we did it, but wouldn't bother to repeat the tour; we've seen Moscow.

Thanks so much to all of you for the thorough and thought insight. Yhe information you have provided is most helpful.

countflorida: Your detailed post is very helpful. We are not quite ready for a Baltic cruise but should do so within a year. Time enough to do our pre travel research, bookings and visa gathering.:) Thank you!

Emperor Norton

Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.   Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?   My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

I did this on Seabourn. IMO DONT. Take Aeroflop (er Aeroflot). The train has non folding seats where you are literally knee to knee with your fellow passenger (facing each other). Further they don't believe in air conditioning. It's also the worlds slowed bullet train. I think I would have found more enjoyment wandering around the St. Petersburg and Moscow airports.

Countflorida,

This is a little off topic,, however we had planned a river cruise in Russia but decided we would rather stay on land and have booked about two weeks with Travel-All-Russia using the private guide and driver. I'm curious as to how you found them as a tour company.

The guides they provided were fine. We had a different guide each of the days in St. Petersburg, but both were flexible, pleasant, knowledgeable and spoke English very well, as did the guide in Moscow, incidentally. She was a bit aloof, distant, not too friendly, but otherwise fine. In fact, she was the one who suggested taking the Metro, which unexpectedly became one of the highlights of the Moscow excursion. If I have a complaint with AllTravelRussia, it is with their plan and its execution (more later).

I had requested emphasis on World War II (in Russia, the Great Patriotic War) sites and info. In scheduling us, they weren't careful about dates and a couple of the sites we wanted to see were scheduled on the third day, after we'd been to Moscow. But both sites were closed that day of the week, and that info was readily available, right on web sites describing them. Also, the included meals (lunches in St. Pete, dinner in Moscow) were not what we asked for: light meals with some choices, so we could avoid things we didn't like and choose things we did like. My request was ignored; we were given full Russian meals with a fixed menu, no choice. On the first day, a fish dish was the entre, but I am allergic to fish. Fortunately, I had the e-mail I'd sent with me and showed it to the guide, and she was able to change my entre to chicken, which was very good actually. But we didn't want a 3-4 course lunches or dinner (in Moscow). We had the guide drop the lunch the third day, although we never got any credit or refund. But, particularly in contrast to the ship's tours, the prices were so reasonable we didn't worry too much about it.

The people who were on the ship's tour to Moscow saw us boarding the same train for which they were forced to queue up and wait on the way back, and asked us what we had done. I was candid and open so they were not happy when I explained what we had arranged and particularly what it had cost. Also, when we returned to the ship, we found they had laid on a late supper for those who had gone to Moscow, so up we went and had something. Well, it turns out the late supper was supposed to be just for those on the ship's tour, but we and others on 'independent' tours, there were a dozen or more of us, crashed the party, actually got there first, and they didn't realize it until the larger group arrived and there weren't enough tables/places set. By that time, the 'independents' had all gotten served and were eating; what could they do?

A couple from the larger group sat down with us and asked us about our tour, and they were the ones I told about our arrangement and its cost. They turned to others who’d been with them and announced the details, loudly enough so the whole room heard, which started a lot of bitching and complaining. I gathered they weren't very happy with the ship's tour to begin with, and this was the straw that broke the camel's back. We finished up and beat it out of there, but overheard later that one of the excursion staff came to check on something and ran into a real mess. I caught a cold on the trip, which forced me to bed the second day following in Tallinn, so by the time we reappeared we heard about the contretemps' but apparently no one recalled who started it, thankfully.

Because of what happened to us, I would probably not use AllTravelRussia if I were to go again, or if I did, I would be sure to get confirmation of every detail of the tour. They do have good reviews generally, and we were certainly helped by their visa department and liked the guides and drivers. Their weakness, I say now with full 20:20 hindsight, is that once the sales person who plans the tour, sells it to you and collects your money, he (or she) transfers the plan to their Russia office for implementation; there is no follow-up to make sure it gets done right. And that is where our problems arose; we paid for a custom tour but got a standard package with a few destinations switched, and no one checked them out, even to see when they were open the day we were scheduled to go. If you check every detail that’s important to you, it should be OK, but that’s a hell of a way to have to do business, in my opinion.

Thank you for the 20/20 hindsight observation on your Russian tour operator, and better priced than the ship's excursion cost.

Thanks very much for the feedback.

We had the same experience as you so far as price. We originally booked a Viking Cruise but, hearing some things about the river cruises that made us unhappy, looked into other options. T-A-R cost the same or less than a cruise and had us in hotels for 11 days. We opted for the private tour. They have three tour levels, based on hotels. We originally opted for the four star as it did not cost much more than the three star hotels. Finally we decided to throw it all in and upgraded to five star. In Moscow we will be at the newly opened Kempinsky which is two blocks from Red Square. In St. Petersburg it is the Grand Hotel Europe, one of the most vaunted luxury hotels in Russia. Location is important for us as the tours use up only part of the day so being in the center of everything for our independent touring is important. As with many other cities, the less you pay, the farther out of the center of town you are.

We have been working with our salesman in D.C. and he seems to get back to us with the changes we want. He recently returned from Russia so is up on everything. When I asked they said they paid the full TA commission if I wanted so I got my usual TA on board so he is watching our back and giving us that extra level of comfort. He also set up our air, which I know pays him little or nothing, and got us business class for much less than T-A-R wanted for economy, though it took working for a while with a consolidator. He's happy to get his 10 percent on this trip without having booked it. He also took care of the trip insurance. We've been doing a lot of research on the CC sister site Trip Advisor and will write a report there. We will, I guess, become a source of info for CC members after having spent 5 days in Moscow and 6 in SP.

• 4 months later...

scubacruiserx2

Anybody considering a day trip to Moscow from St. Petersburg on the Sapsan may want to look at our travelogue filled with pictures.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1927687

Very informative. Thanks dor sharing. Jeff

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Wildlife Mini Cruise

Orca mini cruise to amsterdam.

ORCA is making a splash in 2024! Get ready for an exciting wildlife adventure on our mini cruise to Amsterdam , and discover the captivating marine life along the journey.

From April to October, ORCA wildlife charity offers guided programmes led by ocean conservationists - where you have the chance to spot playful dolphins, elegant whales, and adorable porpoises. This year, both our magnificent ships, King Seaways and Princess Seaways, offer an exclusive ORCA experience!

As you embark on this journey, consider making a difference by donating £5-£10 to ORCA when booking – supporting ORCA’s invaluable conservation work.

Wildlife watch times on the outside deck are weather dependent and exact times will be announced via loudspeaker.

Wildlife watch experience with ORCA

Discover vibrant Amsterdam

Activities for both children and adults

Return coach transfers to Amsterdam

Restaurants, Bars and Duty-Free-Shop onboard, where you can save up to 50% vs the high street

Educational morning and evening deck watches – important, weather and resource dependent!

Wildlife presentation on North Sea wildlife with fun activities for kids

Check-in opens

Check-in closes

Depart North Shields for Amsterdam

ORCA on deck

Wildlife Watching

Coach departs for Amsterdam City Centre

Ship departs IJmuiden

Breakfast available onboard

Arrive in North Shields

Experience a Wildlife Cruise to Amsterdam

During your sailing you will meet our Ocean Conservationists Alex or Eilidh for a chat about marine life, sustainability and conservation, along with a tour of our Wildlife Lounge.

Join dedicated wildlife watches out on the Observation Deck in the mornings and evenings to glimpse some of the exciting species that can be found between Newcastle and Amsterdam. On the Dutch coast, sightings of harbour porpoises are very common, so watch out for these as the ship approaches the port in IJmuiden!

Our coach will also take you to the centre of Amsterdam and back to the port, so you can enjoy an unforgettable day in the Dutch capital.

ORCA will be expecting you on your return journey, and it is possible that a pod of playful bottlenose dolphins will welcome you back when the ship reaches the UK coast again. With luck, a shy minke whale might also make an appearance!

 I-Spy at sea with ORCA

ORCA have now made their data collection app  OceanWatchers  available to everyone! Explore the app's I-Spy at sea function, learn about the wildlife across our DFDS routes, and record your own sightings while onboard. At the end of your sailing, you might find yourself wanting to become a trained OceanWatcher yourself. Find out more about  I-Spy at sea !

Carefree travel with DFDS

Terms & conditions apply. ABTOT provides protection for your booking as set out in section 19 of our booking conditions .

Entertainment onboard

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.

There’s a range of bars on our ferries, each with a different atmosphere.

Live Performances

There’s plenty to keep you entertained on your journey, including live music and DJ sets to keep you dancing all night.

Sit back and enjoy the latest Hollywood blockbusters in our onboard cinemas where you’ll find options for all ages.

Our games area offers hours of fun for kids and adults alike on the crossing from Newcastle to Amsterdam.

Restaurants

North Sea Bistro

North Sea Bistro offers an intimate and luxe dining experience, with a seasonal menu and stylish surroundings.

Explorer's Kitchen

Explorer’s Kitchen is our all-you-can-eat buffet restaurant, boasting international cuisine for every taste.

Coffee Crew Café

Head to our café, Coffee Crew, for Starbucks® coffee, tea, bottled drinks and freshly baked sweet treats.

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.

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!

Your package is protected

DFDS packages are protected by ABTOT so you can book with confidence and plan your holiday with peace of mind .

• ABTOT provides financial protection under The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 for DFDS A/S in the event of the company’s insolvency.
• ABTOT cover provides for a refund in the event you have not yet travelled or repatriation if transportation was included in your package booked directly with DFDS A/S.

Read more about ABTOT in section 19 of our booking conditions .

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.