emerald cruise port in amsterdam

Amsterdam Cruise Port

Guide to passenger terminal amsterdam (pta).

Amsterdam has developed into a major northern European cruise port hub. Cruise Port Amsterdam is the company which handles both large ocean cruise ships and long river cruise boats.

Cruises arrive and depart from the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam which is close to Amsterdam Central station and has easy access to the city centre.

Passenger Terminal Amsterdam

The main building at the Amsterdam Cruise Port is called the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA) and opened in the year 2000. It was designed by global architecture firm HOK with lead designers Hal Hayes and Larry Malcic. Its wave-like glass structure is a striking example of the modern architecture to be seen on the Amsterdam IJ waterfront.

As well as having handled around 4 million cruise passengers since opening, the multi-purpose building is also used for events and functions for up to 3,000 people.

Located on the Piet Heinkade road, the PTA is sandwiched between the Mövenpick hotel and the Piet Hein office building .

The Amsterdam cruise terminal has a 600m long dock (depth 10m) on the northern side and has the size to host large cruise ships of up to 340m in length.

This modern facility has meant Amsterdam has become a popular stop-off on North Sea, Baltic and polar cruises and is served by many of the major cruise lines.

Amsterdam’s cruise terminal is located only 25km (13.5 nautical miles) from the North Sea. You can check out the sea cruise calendar here .

In and around the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam you will find a huge reception hall (3,000m² area), promenade and panorama decks, a Thinking of Holland souvenir shop, a coffee bar, a Subway sandwich outlet and a tourist information desk. There is free WiFi internet available.

Luggage lockers at PTA cost €4 (small, 35 x 45 x 85cm) or €6 (large, 35 x 62 x 85cm) for 24 hours use – payment by coins only.

A bike rental shop (Amsterbike) is outside at Piet Heinkade 25.

A large underground car parking facility (Piet Heingarage) has 400 spaces and has a maximum day rate of €50.

If you are looking for a nearby supermarket in Amsterdam to stock up on supplies, there are Albert Heijn branches either by walking east from PTA to Oostelijke Handelskade 1065 or by heading west past Amsterdam Central Station to Prins Hendrikkade 20.

Hotels near Amsterdam Cruise Port

Without doubt, the most convenient hotel for cruise passengers as mentioned is the high-rise Mövenpick Hotel , which is literally nextdoor to the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam building.

It offers 408 stylish, well-appointed rooms (ranging in size from 26m² to 38m²). Those on the higher floors have great views of the IJ river, especially looking west back towards the city. Executive rooms on the 19th and 20th floors get lounge access included.

It is well rated by travellers and has a restaurant on-site. You can book the Mövenpick hotel here via Booking.com .

Another good hotel in the area is the well-rated Jakarta Amsterdam hotel which is located across the bridge on Java Island. It offers modern, stylish rooms and a light, airy interior decorated with tropical plants.

Other nearby hotels to consider are the art-deco Grand Amrath (former Shipping House) and the modern DoubleTree by Hilton .

Passenger Terminal Amsterdam to Amsterdam Central Station

Amsterdam Central Station, the city’s main transport hub is only a short distance away from Amsterdam’s cruise port terminal. There are a number of options for getting to and from the station.

Walk: It’s an easy 10-15 minute walk along the Piet Heinkade road. As you come out of the PTA building you need to head right in a westerly direction.

Tram: GVB tram 26 runs to Amsterdam Central Station where you can change onto other Amsterdam trams and public transport. A standard 1 hour single costs €3.40, a 1 day ticket costs €9.00 – buy on board, payment by card only. You can also book GVB multi-day tickets online here and immediately use them on a smartphone.

Amsterdam City Passes

Passenger terminal amsterdam to amsterdam schiphol airport.

Train: From Amsterdam Central Station there are regular trains running to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. This journey takes around 15-20 minutes. Tickets cost €5.90 (2nd class) and €9.33 (1st class) including the €1 surcharge for buying a disposable ticket.

Taxi: A taxi to the airport will take 30-45 minutes and costs around €45-60. Amsterdam taxis can be pre-booked online with Sneleentaxi which uses reliable local firms.

Alternatively, taxi app Uber is present in Amsterdam with similar fares.

River Cruises from Amsterdam

It is possible to do various European river cruises from Amsterdam which travel through the Rhine and Danube and visit cities such as Cologne, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest. The longest continue through Romania and Bulgaria and reach the Black Sea at Rousse.

This article was originally published in 2010 and has continuously been updated. Last update 9 February 2024 .

Links on AmsterdamTips.com may pay us an affiliate commission.

Related Articles

Eurostar London-Amsterdam Review

How To Travel Amsterdam to Brussels (2024)

How To Travel Amsterdam to Berlin

How To Travel Amsterdam to Paris

Berths and facilities

Are you looking for a berth and the available facilities for the river cruise? Then take a look at the map and the tables.

View berths and facilities for the river cruise

If you click on an icon in the map you will get information about the berth. For example, you will see the address details and the available facilities. You will also see the maximum allowed size of the ship (=<110m or 135m).

Would you like to reserve a berth directly? Then click on the icon and then on the 'hyperlink Easydock'.

Ruyterkade Oost

Ruyterkade west, city centre - other, small ships - city centre.

* Partyboat

* Only in April.

Always up to date with the latest developments?

Subscribe to the newsletter!

Amsterdam cruise port

Baltic - norwegian fjords - russia.

• Coordinates 52.377, 4.930
• LOCODE NLAMS
• Local Time 2024-09-10 15:27

Amsterdam cruise ship schedule

• Temperature

• River Cruising

Just back, Emerald Waterways Splendours of Europe Amsterdam to Budapest. Review

By Andona , June 1, 2017 in River Cruising

Recommended Posts

We've just returned from our first River Cruise and knowing there was not a lot of information about Emerald Waterways I thought I'd give some information back about our experience.

We cruised from Amsterdam to Budapest on the Emerald Sun, embarkation was 4th May.

I have copied all the daily program sheets to a PDF and will include the link here

The daily sheet was left on our bed every evening during dinner as part of the evening turndown service. There was also a short Port talk every evening in the lounge before dinner where our cruise director went through the details for the following day and also discussed any upcoming Extra excursions. In the document I've also included the sheet of information we were given about the extra excursions. Finally on the last page you can see the cover of the 450 page guidebook that we received that covered all the sights from Amsterdam to Bucharest.

Arrivals: We had planned some of our own ( car) touring before the cruise and so did not use the free transfers from the airport. We were travelling with friends, some of whom were staying at the Emerald hotel in Amsterdam and they were provided with free transfers to the boat from the hotel.

Demographic: Our group of friends are all in their mid to late 50s. There were a few other groups/couples on the boat our age or younger, the average age of the majority of passengers seemed to be late 60s. Our cruise had a large proportion of Australians and Canadians, with a handful of people from the United Kingdom and America.

Cabin: We had a Panorama Balcony Suite on the top deck. These have a small strip of timber flooring near the window and a small coffee table and two chairs on it. They have the drop down window that gives you the effect of an "indoor Balcony" . We dropped this a few times and enjoyed the fresh air.I have nothing to compare the size to as I've never done any previous cruising, River or Ocean. The bed was very comfortable and the storage was plentiful and well designed. I found room for all our clothes and bits and pieces. We had heaps of coat hangers and were invited to ask for more if we needed them. We had bathrobes and really good slippers, I'm not sure if you get robes in all cabin classes though. The lighting in the cabin was good, and there were blockout and sheer blinds so you could still see out and retain your privacy ( useful when in dock or rafted with another boat)

Some people are happy with cabins on the lowest deck but personally we were glad we were on the top deck. Its on the same level as the lounge which was nice when getting to and fro within the boat.

Bathroom: The bathrooms are cosy but there was a large drawer under the sink and a wall cupboard for extra storage. The showers were a reasonable size, good water pressure and plenty of hot water, although the temperature of the water fluctuated a bit. Nice toiletries and plenty of them.

Cabin service: The cabins were serviced daily, the times varied a bit but were always finished by early afternoon. Every evening during dinner they would come to the room for turndown service, chocolates on the pillow, Next days activity sheet on the bed, fresh towels, blinds down and lights turned to low with the "fireplace" playing on the TV.

Lounge: The Horizon lounge was large, and had a really good mix of comfortable lounge seating as well as tables and chairs near the bar and towards the back. There was an excellent coffee machine which was available all day and night, we saw plenty of people going down in the pyjamas in the morning to grab and early morning coffee.

Pool Lounge: The pool and its lounge area ( Riverview Lounge) provided a nice alternative place to sit and relax. We swam a couple of times, the pool is small but it was a bit of fun swimming and watching the river go past. In fine weather they opened the roof top over the pool, but it was a bit cool for that on several days so the rooftop was closed most days. There is a coffee machine, and biscuits in this lounge. There was a phone from which you could call the main bar and have drinks brought down to the pool area if you wanted them.

Spa: I booked in for a massage one day and thoroughly enjoyed it in the small massage room.

Sun deck: We liked the artificial grass on the sundeck as well as the abundant tables chairs and sun lounges. There's a three hole put-put golf area and a tic-tac-toe area, both of which provide about 10 minutes worth of novelty. There is a walking track around the outside of the deck which was popular with those trying to keep their step count up! The one thing we found disappointing was that we had been unaware how many days the sundeck would be unavailable, at least 6 days it was blocked off. We understand the necessity of doing it but it was still disappointing on nice sunny days.

Restaurant: The Reflections Restaurant is on the middle deck. It was a large airey space with the 10 seat Captains table near the entry. Along the windows were a series of 2 seater tables, each one in close proximity to a table of 4. These could be pushed together to make tables of 6. There were also several round tables of 6 near the windows and, in at least one family group, this was able to seat 7 . IN the middle of the room were a number of round tables of 6 and about 6 rectangular tables of 4. We were a group of 8 and asked if it was OK to have two tables of 4 pushed together for us, the waiters were very happy to do this for us and after a few nights they just left the tables pushed together for us. The Captains table was used by the Captain and Owner Suite guests at the two special dinners but otherwise was available for anyone on other nights. The service was very good, the waiters came around frequently to refill wine glasses etc and we were welcome to take a full glass away with us to the lounge at the end of dinner. We became very friendly with the two young men who served our table each night.

Breakfast & lunch: You have two options for breakfast , the expansive buffet breakfast in the restaurant or a light breakfast in the lounge. We enjoyed both but preferred the light breakfast as the lounge was much more peaceful and it also prevented us from overeating! There is a bar table across the front of the boat, and this was set for breakfast each morning, we liked sitting here and watching the mornings on the river. You have the same two options for lunch. Again we mainly ate the light lunch because I'm not a fan of big restaurant buffets, too much noise and too much queuing!

Dinner: On the first night and the night of the Optional concert excursion in Vienna, dinner was a buffet. On the Welcome Dinner night and the Farewell Dinner there was a special 5 course menu. Every other night dinner was a 4 course meal served to the table. There was usually 2 choices for appetizer, soup, 3 choices for Main course ( always one meat, one fish and one vegetarian) and 4 choices for dessert ( generally a cake/torte/strudel etc, fresh fruit salad, a special ice cream dish and a cheese platter) It sounds like a lot but the actual serves were very small, so I had no difficulty eating 4 courses most nights. We noticed one table ordered an extra plate of chips every night. The food was always presented beautifully and was generally well cooked and tasty, however I would have to say that it was a little on the unexciting side when it comes to stronger flavours. The soups in particular had a tendency to be a bit bland.

Evenings: On 5 evenings they converted the pool area to a cinema and showed a movie. On these nights there was no entertainment in the lounge other than music by the resident musician ( who was very good). On 3 nights there was a trivia or game activity in the lounge, these were well organised and lots of fun. On one night the Crew put on a show and there was also a Disco Night which was very popular.

Daily activities: Every day there was a walking tour or , in Vienna and Budapest a bus tour with stops. They always had a "gentle walkers" group and on a couple of occasions an "active walkers" group. The guides varied but were generally interesting and informative. We found sometimes the walking tours were a bit slow and so we tended to break off and do our own thing.

Extra Excursions: My husband did the Brahaus tour which he thoroughly enjoyed. We also did the Schonnbrun Palace tour and the Evening concert in Vienna, the concert was one of the highlights of the trip for us. A couple of our friends did the Cesky Krumlov day trip and enjoyed it, we visited Cesky Krumlov after the cruise on our driving tour and also loved it. Three of our group did the Bike Ride in the Wachau Valley and enjoyed it, they are all fit and regular riders and had no problems but there were others that found it a bit too challenging.

Boat Bikes: The Bikes for the Organised bike tour were NOT the boat bikes, they were brought in specially for that tour. The boat bikes don't have gears and would not really be suitable for anything other than a gentle ride along flat ground.

Laundry: When you board there is a laundry bag and price list provided. Wait a few days and they will have a special offer that is worth using. As many clothes as you can cram in the bag, washed, ironed and folded for 24 Euro, or Washed and folded for 19 Euro.

Alcohol: We found the wine served at dinner was mostly fine. We didn't purchase any additional alcohol packages, just paid out of pocket for a pre dinner drink in the bar or in the lounge in the evenings if we wanted one. For us this was better value than any of the packages.

Hope that helps anyone looking for information. I'm happy to answer specific questions too.

Link to comment

Share on other sites.

Host Jazzbeau

Thanks for posting your review! As you noted, we don't have many for Emerald [yet], so this is most welcome.

Thank you for that detailed review. Grouping it into major points of interest gave me a clear perspective on what can8 be expected from Emerald. Very encouraging!

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Forums mobile app

FuelScience

Great review with lots of good information on Emerald. I really appreciate having the daily newsletters available to see how Emerald arranged the day.

This was very helpful and informative, thank you! I'm going on my first ever river cruise in August so your review is very timely for me.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks for the great review!

The for the detail review and pdf file. I really helps when planning our first river cruise.

SuiteTraveler

Did I miss this? What ship were you on? I know Emerald Waterways...

Back at the top it says Emerald Sun.

Happy to help! Yes we were on the Emerald Sun. I've realized a slight error in my review, there were 4 trivia/game nights not 3.

Also just to add a couple of points, the location for our Vienna concert was the KunstHistorisches Museum, just amazing arriving and walking up the grand staircases having the entire place to ourselves. The performance was excellent, a chamber orchestra with a tenor and soprano. We were told that the cruise line don't always get that venue however.

After the performance when we returned to the boat the chef had prepared a light supper of goulash soup and cheeses which was served in the Horizon lounge.

On the two special dinner nights , dinner was preceded by a small cocktail event in the lounge.

One other point was that , particularly in the first half of the cruise, between Amsterdam and Nuremberg we were docked in locations which required us to be bussed to the town for the walking tour. Although a couple of times the boat would then "catch up" with us and we could walk back to the boat afterwards. Eg this was the case in Rudesheim, Miltenberg-Wertheim, , Wurzburg

The places where the boat was docked right in the middle of the action So we could walk from and back to the ship were Amsterdam, Cologne, Regensburg, Passau, Linz , Durnstein and Bratislava.

In Bamberg, Nuremberg, Vienna and Budapest we needed to get shuttle buses to and from the boat. In Budapest the shuttle drop was at the Marriott Hotel on the riverfront.

In Budapest, we had time in the afternoon to take the first shuttle (2.30 pm) to the Marriott, walk to the Metro and catch it up to Szechenyi baths and then get back to the last shuttle (5.30) to get back to the boat . That was a lot of fun and I'd highly recommend it on a sunny day.

The evening sail along the river past the lit buildings in Budapest was another highlight.

Thank you for a glimpse into life aboard an Emerald ship! I'll be on the Liberte in a month. Regarding the toiletries...do you remember if a body wash/shower gel was provided?

Yes, there was shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion and soap provided. Topped up regularly when used. Hope that helps :)

thank you :) One less little liquid bottle going in my bag.

We'll be on EW the first time too from Bucharest to Budapest this mid-October. Like to know a bit more of:

- its WIFI connection

- wake-up call placement

- number of dining room server

- dance venue

1stimecruiser

Great information and review. Thanks for sharing.

We'll be on EW the first time too from Bucharest to Budapest this mid-October. Like to know a bit more of: - its WIFI connection - wake-up call placement - number of dining room server - dance venue

I can't speak specifically for Bucharest to Budapest but between Amsterdam and Budapest the WiFi was generally ok but did vary depending on your location. It tended to drop off in the locks and also in some remote areas along the river. It was its best when docked in towns and cities. My husband and I both managed to update our travel blogs every day and my husband was able to get some work done as well.

Sorry can't help with wake up calls as we didn't use it.

In the dining room the service was good. We had three waiters serving our table of 8 and they also served about four other tables of 6. We never felt like we had to wait too long, the wine was topped up regularLy. With Four courses and conversation our dinner usually took about two hours. However if you were a smaller table and didn't linger over dessert we noticed people leaving after say an hour and a half, probably less if you didn't have dessert.

Re dancing, there was a small dance floor in the lounge near the bar. It was used quite often by a few couples later in the evening on the nights when the evening's activities were finished. It was well used on the disco nights. The resident musician on our cruise was excellent, we enjoyed the music but didn't find it too loud or overpowering when you wanted to have a conversation or play card games etc.

Hope that helps

Thanks again for your insights, Andona.

One repeated comments is its very limited washroom sink & countertop space. Is it adequate for you two to share such?

And how effective is your cabin' black-out curtain when fully down in the morning?

Thanks again for your insights, Andona. One repeated comments is its very limited washroom sink & countertop space. Is it adequate for you two to share such? And how effective is your cabin' black-out curtain when fully down in the morning?

Yes, there isnt a lot of space on the sink itself, really only room for a couple of small items. However at the right immediately above the sink there was a set of about 4 shelves . On this there was a built in cup for toothbrushes. On these shelves I had plenty of room for my makeup and face creams etc, our deodorants, toothpaste and mouthwash and a few other items. Under the sink is a deep drawer in which I kept my hair care items, hair tongs, brushes etc as well as our two toiletries bags.

These items are all accessible as you stand at the sink.

On the opposite wall of the bathroom above the toilet is a mirrored cabinet with shelves. We kept additional items in there such as medications etc.

so, the bathroom is small but I thought they'd done a good job of maximizing the storage space on the Emerald Sun, I'm not sure if the bathrooms on all the boats are the same though?

I forgot to mention previously that built in to the main storage space in the room ( where the TV sits ) at the right hand side is a section of the bench top which opens up to reveal a mirrored back and storage that could be used for dressing table or desk items. There is a stool under the bench top and I sat on it to use the hairdryer, my husband used it when working on his laptop. The cabin's powerpoints are all at the right above this desk area, 4 of them. There was also a power point In the bathroom.

On the wall above the TV there was also a long shelf which came in handy for storing things like hats, cameras, scarves, etc.

There was a small nightstand on each side of the bed, with good reading lights . On one was a digital clock.

There were two hooks on the back of the cabin door on which we hung our raincoats and bathrobes.

In the wardrobe, as well as the bathrobes and slippers We found a large umbrella, two walking sticks , earplugs , shoe shine sponge and laundry bag.

The block out blinds were pretty good, there was probably a little light creeping in at the edges but not excessively. The sun was rising around 5 to 5.30 am when we were on the boat and we did not wake from too much light coming in.

sunshine nana

Thanks for the review. We are hoping to do a similar cruise on Emerald a year from Aug. One question: why was the sun deck closed on some days? Thanks

This isn't unique to Emerald. There are low bridges, so the wheelhouse needs to be lowered and the side railings on the sundeck brought down to deck level. When this happens they close the sundeck. I don't know how they decide whether to leave them down between bridges or bring them up and put them down again at the next bridge, but it takes time and effort, so they likely leave them down.

Andona, your devoted Q&A on Emerald experiences here earned you the Ambassador title, at least from me. Many thanks.

SO glad you posted this review with so much helpful information, Adonna! We'll be on a different Emerald Waterways ship very soon and I found the details you posted about many different aspects of your cabin, the activities, etc. most interesting. I assume some things are done the same way on other Emerald ships. (Hope so, anyway!)

One question I have is regarding the dress on board. Particularly with regard to how "dressy" most people dressed on whichever night is considered the Capt's. Dinner or or some such title. I have seen posts where past passengers mention all nights were quite informal, with most tending towards the same type of dress one usually sees called "casual chic" on non-formal nights on ocean cruises. A couple of people even stated they wore the same clothing to dinner that they wore on their daytime excursion. Having dressed up for way too many formal nights for years on ocean cruises, and not wanting to drag along special shoes and accessories (or even a suit or jacket for my husband for a formal night), I hope attire for most wasn't really all that "dressy". I have a feeling dress actually may differ just a bit from line to line so would really like to get your take on this.

Thanks again for posting!

  One question I have is regarding the dress on board. Particularly with regard to how "dressy" most people dressed on whichever night is considered the Capt's. Dinner or or some such title. I have seen posts where past passengers mention all nights were quite informal, with most tending towards the same type of dress one usually sees called "casual chic" on non-formal nights on ocean cruises. A couple of people even stated they wore the same clothing to dinner that they wore on their daytime excursion. Having dressed up for way too many formal nights for years on ocean cruises, and not wanting to drag along special shoes and accessories (or even a suit or jacket for my husband for a formal night), I hope attire for most wasn't really all that "dressy". I have a feeling dress actually may differ just a bit from line to line so would really like to get your take on this.   Thanks again for posting!

Happy to help! We also wrestled prior to the cruise with the "dress code" question.

On most nights there was a mix from a few fairly casual people to "casual chic". Generally the majority of people changed for dinner but for most nights that just meant a collared shirt and trousers or jeans for the men and nice trousers/pretty top for the ladies , or on the warmer days there were some sundresses worn. On the two specials nights the majority of women wore some blingy jewelry or dressier top and some of the men wore jackets ( but a minority, I'd say only about a dozen?)

I only took a couple of "dressy" tops and On several evenings I just dressed up a nice t shirt with a pretty silky scarf or a colorful necklace. ( I took a few scarves, they weigh next to nothing and were a great way to change the look from day-to-night with my shirts) I took a couple of pairs of trousers that I rotated for dinners but also wore nice jeans a couple of nights.

I did take heels but only wore them once, mostly I wore a pair of pretty flat shoes, much more comfortable!

Hope that helps :)

Thanks! Very happy to help :)

Thank you so very very much, Adonna! I am in the process of packing and as usual, it is a situation where I look at the pile and figure I need to cut it in half but maybe only cut it by a couple of things. This is going to help a lot for both my husband and myself. I will try to pay it forward!

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in

• Welcome to Cruise Critic
• Hurricane Zone 2024
• Cruise Insurance Q&A w/ Steve Dasseos of Tripinsurancestore.com Summer 2024
• New Cruisers
• Cruise Lines “A – O”
• Cruise Lines “P – Z”
• Cruise Critic News & Features
• Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
• Special Interest Cruising
• Cruise Discussion Topics
• UK Cruising
• Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
• Canadian Cruisers
• North American Homeports
• Ports of Call
• Cruise Conversations

Announcements

• New to Cruise Critic? Join our Community!
• How To: Follow Topics & Forums (Get Notifications)

Write An Amazing Review !

Click this photo by member XFrancophileX to share your review w/ photos too!

Parliament, Budapest

Features & News

LauraS · Started 15 hours ago

LauraS · Started 20 hours ago

LauraS · Started 21 hours ago

LauraS · Started Friday at 09:08 PM

LauraS · Started Thursday at 10:09 PM

Cruise Planning

Find a cruise, popular ports, member reviews.

© 1995— 2024 , The Independent Traveler, Inc.

• Existing user? Sign in OR Create an Account
• Find Your Roll Call
• Meet & Mingle
• Community Help Center
• All Activity
• Member Photo Albums
• Meet & Mingle Photos
• Favorite Cruise Memories
• Cruise Food Photos
• Cruise Ship Photos
• Ports of Call Photos
• Towel Animal Photos
• Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos
• Write a Review
• Live Cruise Reports
• Member Cruise Reviews
• Create New...

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Amsterdam Hotels near River Cruise Port

Stay close to De Ruijterkade, in city centre, with canal view, …

Stay close to the Port Terminal

Amsterdam has something for everybody – history, nightlife, entertainment, restaurants and, of course, the canals. If you are taking a European river cruise with ships of Viking, Uniworld or any other cruiseline, Amsterdam in the Netherlands might be where your cruise starts or ends. Spending a few days here will give you a taste of the city’s cosmopolitan life.

Once your riverboat has docked, you will find hotels right next to the port area or great deals on cheap city center accommodation . Up to the minute hotels with all the latest facilities hide behind beautifully restored facades.

Luxury hotels sit alongside canals , giving wonderful views. Many of these will offer good deals and have Wi-Fi and en-suite facilities. Some city center hotels are small and intimate, with individually styled guest rooms and a warm welcome. From cheap, budget options, to contemporary chic and elegant art-Deco styling, the beautiful city of Amsterdam , in the Netherlands, has a wide choice of accommodation, with plenty of great deals available.

Whether finishing or departing on your river cruise with Viking , Avalon Waterways , AmaWaterways , Uniworld or other company, you will enjoy a few days in this charming city and will discover many cheap deals on hotels to suit your budget.

Where do river cruise ships dock in Amsterdam? The river cruise docks are located in the heart of downtown. Most vessels dock at the Ruijterkade (West and East), located between Central Train Station and Amsterdam’s Passenger Terminal, where larger cruise ships dock. Other locations include Javakade, Veemkade, Westerdoksdijk, Coenhaven and Beverwijk (Short taxi ride from city centre).

Bestsellers

DoubleTree Centraal Station

Located at the central railway station and the river cruise docks.

Radisson Blu Hotel

Central (downtown) accommodation not far from Dam Square.

Hotel Jakarta Amsterdam

Luxury 5 star property located at the IJ river close to the port

Amsterdam (RV)

Riverboats dock at the Ruijterkade, between the main central train station and APT Passenger Terminal for large cruise ships

Docking Location – De Ruijterkade

Ships usually dock along a street called De Ruijterkade , located at the back of the Central Railway Station in Amsterdam. Docking places include Ruijterkade Oost and Ruijterkade West. . Some vessels tie up at the Amsterdam Passenger Terminal which is used by larger cruise liners . Other locations include Javakade, Veemkade, Westerdoksdijk, Coenhaven and Beverwijk . These locations require a taxi ride to/from your hotel or the train station.

Take a journey along the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers to other fascinating European cities such as Basel , Bucharest in Romania, Budapest in Hungary or Vienna, the capital of Austria .

Amsterdam, Netherlands – a great river cruise destination

As you sail along the river into or out of Amsterdam port you will see banks dotted with windmills and the start of the city’s iconic canals.

Your Viking, AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways or Uniworld river cruise port is behind Central Station on the River Ij, putting you right in the heart of Amsterdam. The port terminals are well-equipped. As you cross the harbor to the port, keep an eye out for the striking modern design of Amsterdam’s ocean cruise terminal. It is shaped like a whale and stands in contrast to the old vessels of the Maritime Museum next to it.

Once your riverboat has docked, it will be quick and easy to find your hotel and start exploring.

What to see and do in this vibrant city

Amsterdam has not changed much in appearance since the 17th century, with historic buildings lining the canals banks. Some are still houses and apartments, but many now have cafes, shops and hotels behind their elegant facades.

Amsterdam sits on five canals, linked by bridges and small streets. All of the city’s attractions are within easy walking distance, or the hop-on and hop-off canal boats and trams are a cheap way of getting around. The city has several major art galleries, including The Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum, showcasing work from the Netherlands and around the world.

The beautiful squares of Dam and Rembrantsplein are great stopping off places for coffee or lunch. Don’t forget to visit Anne Frank’s house and look out for the city’s red-light district, as well as the floating flower market on the Singel Canal.

Arriving by plane ?

You will arrive at Schiphol Airport , which is about 30 minutes away from the city centre (downtown).

It’s to call for a taxi and get to your city center hotel.

Pin It on Pinterest

Central Europe river cruises

Discover enchanting landscapes and fairy tale scenery as you sail the beautiful rivers of Central Europe.

• destinations
• central europe
• Previous page

Explore the charms of Central Europe

Cruise the stunning Rhine, Main, Danube, and Moselle rivers, and fall in love with the allure of Central Europe. Uncover a land of character, discovering the cultures and traditions that define the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Czechia, Slovakia, and Hungary.

• Europe river cruises 2025
• Europe river cruises 2024

Your guide to Europe river cruising

A world of experiences

Enlightening experiences await on your Central Europe cruise. Sample Riesling wine along the Rhine River, tour the famed Bavarian countryside, delve into art from the Dutch Golden Age, and discover ruins and relics dating back to the ancient Romans.

Discover Central Europe

Journey through the heart of europe, why cruise with emerald cruises.

At Emerald Cruises, your enjoyment comes first. Sail with the small cruise ship experts and benefit from our attentive service, as we bring you closer to some of Central Europe’s most exciting destinations.

Small ship river cruising expertise

Emerald Cruises specialise in providing a small cruise ship experience . You’ll notice how measured guest numbers, an excellent staff-to-guest ratio, and the purpose-driven design and layout of our award-winning Star-Ships offer you a comfortable and luxurious Europe cruise experience.

Award-winning Star-Ships

Our award-winning Star-Ships are your home away from home, boutique floating hotels that have won several accolades for providing guests with luxurious surrounds, a wealth of amenities, and unique innovations such as our indoor pool that transforms into a cinema space on selected evenings.

Contemporary suites & staterooms

Escape to your private sanctuary of serenity. With our range of suites and staterooms , there’s an option to suit all preferences and budgets, whether you need plenty of space to stretch out, you’re longing for cosier accommodation, or if you’re looking for a single cabin to sail solo. 

EmeraldDISCOVERY

Emerald DISCOVERY is designed to take you far beyond the standard tourist experience, with an array of exciting excursions . You’ll enjoy an included excursion nearly every day and have the option to join our Emerald PLUS , Emerald ACTIVE , and extra-special Discover MORE excursions^ to explore each destination in even greater depth ^Optional and available at an additional cost.

A wealth of generous inclusions

Your Central Europe cruise should also provide complete peace of mind. This is why we cover all port charges, provide all meals on board and with accompanying beverages, offer complimentary Wi-Fi, and cover all gratuities on board and onshore. You’ll also benefit from a first-class English-speaking crew, and enjoy tours led by knowledgeable, local guides.

  Our award-winning Star-Ships

Emerald Cruises’ contemporary river-cruising Star-Ships are designed to sail the waterways of Central Europe, guiding you through the twists and turns of each river. Revel in your sanctuary, where every finishing touch and elegant flourish has been chosen with care.

Where we travel

Explore the iconic rivers of central europe.

Featured Itineraries

Jewels of the Rhine

Discover Europe’s most popular river cruises

Stay up to date and be inspired

Yes, please keep me updated with the latest special offers, travel inspiration, product updates, and event invites.

DATA PROTECTION NOTICE

Cookies help us improve your website experience. By using our website, you agree to our use of cookies.

• 020 509 1000
• River cruise

EMERALD STAR

Extend your stay  on our river cruises

We offer a variety of delightful pre- and post-cruise city stays and stopovers to extend your luxury river cruise.

• plan your journey
• trip extensions
• Previous page

Discover our city stays throughout Central Europe

Medieval architecture and snow-capped mountains make for a spectacular setting in Lucerne. And in Copenhagen, an unwavering commitment to eco-friendly innovation has given the Danish capital its own unique ethos. Discover these city stays and more.

Zurich & Lucerne  Preserved medieval architecture and snow-capped mountains make for the most spectacular stay.

Danube Delights & Classic Prague

Discover Europe’s most popular river cruises

Jewels of the Rhine & Copenhagen

Berlin to Zurich & The Majestic Rhine

Discover our city stays throughout france.

France offers culture and art, delicious food, and smooth wines. Experience the lights of the Eiffel Tower at night, walk along Nice’s Promenade des Anglais, or taste the finest Provencal in Aix-en-Provence with our range of cruise extensions.

Paris  Renowned for its spectacular architecture and proud history, Paris is the center for fashion and gastronomy.

Discover our range of city stays throughout Portugal & Spain

Explore Sevilla’s iconic fortress and palace, the Real Alcázar, take in the fascinating architecture of Spain’s capital, Madrid, or visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Jerónimos Monastery, in Portugal’s first city, Lisbon.

Lisbon  Also known as 'The City of Seven Hills', 'Queen of the Sea', and 'The City of Light', this charming city is Portugal's capital.

Lisbon & Secrets of the Douro

Explore the charms of Portugal by river

Discover our tour extensions & stopovers throughout Southeast Asia

In Luang Prabang, explore glistening temples and catch the sunset from Mt. Phousi. In Sapa, gaze in awe at the breathtaking scenery and visit the people of the traditional hill tribes. Or, discover somewhere new with our choice of city stopovers.

Luang Prabang, Laos tour

Sapa, Vietnam tour

Dubai, UAE stopover

Hong Kong, China stopover

Your questions answered

Read on for our quick guide to city stay extensions as we answer your frequently asked questions.

When can I extend my stay?

Our range of city stays encompasses both pre- and post-cruise extensions. The availability of each city stay depends on your itinerary and cruise sailing.

What is the itinerary of my city stay?

Each city stay extension will include a city tour, transfers to or from hotels, Star-Ships and airports as required, as well as any optional Discover MORE experiences^ you wish to join. The rest of the time is yours to enjoy at leisure.

^Additional cost

Where will I stay during my extension?

During your city stay extension, you will stay in a centrally-located hotel chosen by Emerald Cruises. We work with a number of hotel partners in each city to ensure you get the most out of your cruise extension.

How will I travel to my hotel and airport?

If you choose to extend your journey with us on a city stay, Emerald Cruises will organize transfers from the ship to your hotel, and to your airport for onward travel, all included in the price of your journey.

River cruising brochures

• Europe River Cruises
• Southeast Asia River Cruises

Start planning  your Europe river cruise

Start planning  your Southeast Asia river cruise

Stay up to date and be inspired.

Yes, please keep me updated with the latest special offers, travel inspiration, product updates, and event invites.

DATA PROTECTION NOTICE

Cookies help us improve your website experience. By using our website, you agree to our use of cookies.