The Amsterdam Cruise Port is among the major cargo ports located within the Baltic Sea region and is also an important access point to the city of Amsterdam. There is today still something astonishing about how, even in the thirteenth century, Amsterdam was a quaint fishing community. Since its inception, the place has developed into an unparalleled business and tourism hub across the globe. The city started to attract even more immigrants as it blossomed in the 15th Century. Most of the cruise ships dock at the Passenger Terminal, located in the East Docklands area, and have good transport connections for visitors who wish to visit the highlights of Amsterdam, such as its canals, coffeeshops, vessels, and beautiful countryside. There is provision for everything that one may want in Amsterdam: canals, museums, and even historical buildings. Most people think that this city is also one of the most romantic and lovely cities in Europe.
Amsterdam is one of those cities rich in history and culture and still has a number of Dutch traditions, making it a good place for holidays. The multicultural aspect of the city takes care of the needs of every visitor, whether they are an art fanatic, a history student, or a person who enjoys physical activity and is looking for adventures. Some of the best activities to engage in in Amsterdam are listed below.
Amsterdam boasts an eating culture that is hypertensive. Consider participating in a Dutch food-tasting excursion to sample a variety of local cuisines, including fried meatballs known as bitterballen, Gouda cheese, Dutch apple pie famous as appeltaart, and many others. There are even some tours that highlight other influences in the city, and for example, go on a tour that has Indonesian food, which was due to colonial settlers. Food tours are fun since one can walk around the city eating traditional dishes whilst learning about it. In addition, one gets to appreciate the history of the city and the people through the various foods available.
The medieval city of Haarlem is about 15 minutes by train. Begin your itinerary from the central square of Haarlem, which is called Grote Markt and is flanked by St Bavo’s Cathedral and the Frans Hals Museum. Continue to the picturesque streets, which are filled with cafes, shops, and art galleries along the banks of the Spaarne River. There are square-shaped colonial buildings scattered throughout the city called hofjes, which are tranquil in contrast to the urban scenery of Haarlem. Besides, there are a number of galleries in Haarlem, including the first formed in this country, which is the Museum of Teylers.
The Anne Frank House ranks among the top houses that draw visitors in Amsterdam. This was the place where Anne Frank and her family went underground during the next World War. This exhibit delves into the life of the girl who kept the diary and the diary and events that set out the Holocaust. Because of the popularity of this attraction, tickets for this site are usually sold out beforehand. Or try to avoid peak crowds by going either really early in the morning or later in the evening. The duration of the tour is approximately a quarter of an hour short of an hour and a half, and it finishes off at the memorial garden of the museum. Handle a great deal of pain in the course of returning and thinking about the injustices that the Holocaust inflicted.
You can pop over to Zaanse Schans in less than 15 minutes by either a train or a bus from Amsterdam. You can see how the wooden shoes are produced and taste the Dutch cheese on the premises of the open-air museum that has a number of functioning windmills, old buildings, and craft studios. You’ll be able to feel the Dutch ambiance and live it. Picture Also Enjoy this activity while you can rent a boat or a bicycle and tour the area. Zaanse Schans is ideal for individuals as well as families and friends since there is something for everyone. One can also plan for a visit to these places on day return excursions from Amsterdam.
Bicycles are also part and parcel of the culture. It is possible to hire a cycle and seamlessly integrate into a sea of riders in the city. The Amstel River path and Vondel Park, which happens to be the forest of leisure in Amsterdam, are perfect nature rides as well. If you’d like to do some biking while enjoying the sights and history, there is a guided bike tour as well. Of course, the fastest way around Amsterdam would be by bike, and this is quite handy considering the need for fitness. That is not all, you will also be contributing to the conservation of the environment.
The Grachtengordel or The Canal Ring in Amsterdam is not just any site listed in the UNESCO World Heritage site. The Grachtengordel remains an essential aspect of Amsterdam's loveliness. One can decide to take a cruise either during the day or at night in order to enjoy views of the iconic 17th-century canal houses. The experience can be made all the more extra by opting for special cruises like a wine and cheese evening or a dinner cruise. Cruising allows one to enjoy and immerse oneself in Amsterdam during the breathtaking sights and sounds of the day. After accomplishing so much in one day, such as sightseeing, most people prefer to wind down this way.
All these cruise lines have different styles of going around Amsterdam, whether it is for luxury, family-friendliness, or culturally focused trips. In the following, we present several cruise lines that have cruises to Amsterdam, which have their own peculiarities:
Oceania Cruises targets premium size ships offering finest quality of meals and destination immersion experiences. The cruises they provide in the Northern Europe or the Baltic Regions more often than not comprise of a tour of Amsterdam. The luxury brands of Oceania travel they serve customers in this regard who needs elegant luxury devoid of ennoblement of other luxury cruising lines.
Book Oceania CruisesA brand known for the essence of cruising in style and a contemporary definition of luxury is Celebrity Cruises. In most cases, their vessels have high-class restaurants, fancy interior designs, as well as captivating shows and performances. On the other hand, one may enjoy a wealth of cultural and enticing sights on board amsterdam friendly northern european or baltic ocean cruises.
Book Celebrity CruisesUnderstanding that most of its clients are families, Disney Cruise Line offers several itinerary routes to Northern Europe, which stops at Amsterdam. Despite being family-oriented, most cruise itineraries usually have Northern Europe routes as well. There is something for everyone’s enjoyment aboard a ship owned by the Disney line, from activities for kids to adults-only spaces.
Book Disney CruisesThis line has Dutch roots since it is based in the Netherlands. Most of their itineraries feature Amsterdam not only as a port of call but also as a homeport. A more civilized way of cruising, emphasizing on the culture, the people of the region and the ambiance is the sculpted cruise offered by Holland America Line.
Book Disney CruisesThe NCL cruise line is well known with the guests of the cruise for the “Freestyle Cruising” concept which allows guests more freedom especially withing the dining and activities onboard the vessel Radisson Eight. Radisson Eight typically offers a range of cruises both to Northern Europe and Baltic countries all of which have a stop in Amsterdam. Many Northern Europe programs also have quite a few itineraries and bars, restaurants and entertainment onboard.
Book Norwegian CruisesDiscover the MSC world of cruising where one enjoys a taste of affordable luxury with a conquering Mediterranean influence. The vessels are huge and are well-equipped with several features like pools, theaters, several eating places, among other features. Many trips are provided by MSC that have Amsterdam as part of an amazing northern European river.
Book MSC CruisesEvery globetrotter from the most adventurous ones to the families has something to enjoy with Royal Caribbean. Their sizeable and imaginative vessels feature rock climbing walls, water tubes and top notched shows. Numerous Royal Caribbean cruises connect with Amsterdam for Northern Europe and transatlantic voyages.
Book Royal Caribbean CruisesThe city's temperature ranges from a high of 72° F to a low of 33° F throughout the year. The peak season for travel to Amsterdam is generally accepted to be summer, when the famous Tulip season in the region starts in the spring. However, if one were to visit for the Nelson River tours, the easiest time would be to visit during the autumn from March to May, especially in the northwestern parts of Europe. For this season, such activities as water canal tours or riding a bike around the city are perfect as the temperatures are pleasant and one is not likely to rain.
To make your Amsterdam port of call more memorable, pack these mentioned things.
Travel Accessories: Travel Adapter, collapsible water bottle, neck wallet, portable charger, camera, umbrellas, and Mosquito-Repellent Wristbands.
Essential Clothing: Good walking shoes, layering clothes, a warm packable jacket, a windbreaker or lighter jacket, a stylish raincoat, comfortable flats or walking shoes, day bags, and a scarf or hat.
Formal Dinner Attire: Check with your cruise counselor for specific guidelines on formal wear. Many cruises include a couple of formal dinners, so plan accordingly.
What Not to Pack for Amsterdam: Expensive Jewelry and other valuables, Avoid TSA-prohibited items, Avoid wearing high heels or shoes with heels, and Bulky electronics.