Where Do Cruise Ships Dock in Amsterdam?
If you’ve taken a decision to embark on a cruise to Amsterdam, it would be very helpful for you to enquire about the docking site of these cruise ships. There are several ports of call for cruise ships in Amsterdam and each has certain advantages and distance from the most popular sights of the city. That is why, in this article, I want to tell you more about the different dock locations in Amsterdam so that you could use it for your advantage when visiting the city.
1. Port of Amsterdam
The exploration of the tourism sector in the Netherlands revealed that the port of Amsterdam is one of the common destinations for cruise ships’ stopover. It is approximately 15 kilometers west of the city center and it has good amenities for ships of a larger size. Of access and general transportation there are taxis, buses and even train services are found around the port hence making it easier to move around the city.
Among benefits of choosing the Port of Amsterdam, it is possible to list its proximity to the main sights, for instance, the Anne Frank House, the Rijksmuseum, and the Van Gogh Museum. Moreover, for your leisure interests, there are a lot of shopping complexes, restaurants and cafes at the port where you will have a good number of foods and other entertaining activities to enjoy.
2. Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA)
Another popular berth is The Passenger Terminal Amsterdam usually abbreviated as PTA, which is also located near the central area of the city. Situated on the IJ River, this walkway accommodating cruise ships has separate terminal designed for this type of vessels is large and equipped with contemporary amenities.
When arriving to the PTA facility, you are located in close proximity to Amsterdam Central Station which is excellent for city navigation on foot as well as public transport. On this location, there are many tourist attractions such as the Red Light District, Dam Square and the canal belt.
3. Felison Cruise Terminal
The Felison Cruise Terminal is in IJmuiden which is 25 kilometre west of Amsterdam. However, even if Felison Cruise Terminal is not as dominant as the Port of Amsterdam or PTA, it has its own advantages.
However, one of the perks of using the Felison Cruise Terminal is that when getting into Amsterdam, the ships sail through North Sea Canal. The terminal itself is rather friendly towards the passengers, providing various services and amenities for the convenience of the clients.
The Felison Cruise Terminal would reasonable be accessed by a bus or taxi ride from the main Amsterdam city however, the place is calm from the civil grind. It is about 10 minutes into the town on foot which also provides a calm environment if you’d like to avoid the hub of Amsterdam while still within a short distance.
4. Other Docking Locations
Besides the aforementioned three port facilities for large scale cruise vessels, there are other locations in Amsterdam where small and river cruise vessels may dock. Some of the facilities within it are the Passenger Terminal Felison, marina in Amsterdam and the Coenhaven.
The anchoring place of the small ships, is determined by the size of the ship as well as any agreements between the different cruise lines.
Final Thoughts
Understanding where cruises arrive in Amsterdam is crucial if you intend to travel to this magnificent city in a vessel and wish to have a good guide on where to go and what to do. No matter whether you embark at the Port of Amsterdam or at the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA), or Felison Cruise Terminal or other minor jetties, there is so much enthusiasm, history and tradition that awaits here.
Please kindly contact the relevant cruise line or travel agent to find out the docking point that they provide depending on the destination.
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