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If you’re embarking on an Amsterdam cruise in the Netherlands, likely a Baltic cruise, chances are good that you will sail from Cruise Port Ijmuiden. While many river and canal cruises originate from ports in Amsterdam proper, along with some ocean cruises, some of the major cruise lines that advertise “Amsterdam cruises” actually depart from Ijmuiden, which is a port town along the dynamic Dutch coast, a 15-mile drive from the bustling center of Amsterdam and about 19 miles from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport.
Related: Here’s my video overview of what to expect when sailing from IJumuiden.
Cruise ships often opt for Ijmuiden rather than Amsterdam because it allows them to bypass the ship locks and lengthy North Sea Canal route to Amsterdam, saving approximately six hours of sailing time.
Which Cruise Lines Sail from Ijmuiden?
Holland America Line, Norwegian, and Princess are just some of the major cruise lines that sail from Ijmuiden for what they promote as Amsterdam cruises. Pronounced “eye-mow-dun”, this cruise port is the starting point of voyages to Northern Europe, the Baltic Sea, Scandinavia, the Norwegian Fjords, British Isles, and some transatlantic crossings. I sailed from Ijmuiden aboard Holland’s Zuiderdam.
Related: Check out my video review of Zuiderdam.
Ijmuiden Cruise Terminals
It’s very important for cruisers to note that there are two terminals in Ijmuiden, and to add to the confusion, they’re named the Felison Cruise Terminal and the Felison Terminal. Yes, they’re both called “Felison”! Unfortunately, it’s a lengthy 45-minute walk between the two, so you’ll want to be absolutely certain you’re dropped off at the correct terminal. Before getting out of your taxi or Uber, make sure you see your cruise ship’s funnel.
If you’re an American traveler familiar with sailing from domestic US cruise ports like Port Miami and Port Canaveral, this is a very different experience. Sailings from Imjuiden will generally be smaller, and embarkation will be faster and easier, but the cruise terminal is very small and limited.
Language and Currency in Amsterdam
Ijmuiden and Amsterdam are easy locations for Americans to navigate. While the primary language spoken in the Netherlands is Dutch, English is widely spoken and understood, making it easy for visitors to communicate and navigate the city. The official currency is the Euro (€), and I’ve found that acceptance of US currency here is hit-and-miss.
Credit cards are widely accepted, and in most European locations, tap-to-pay or contactless payment is becoming very common and quite convenient. A tap-to-pay credit card, also known as a contactless card, allows users to make payments quickly and securely by simply tapping the card against a contactless-enabled payment terminal, eliminating the need to swipe or insert the card and enter a PIN.
How to Get to the Ijmuiden Cruise Port
Most Americans sailing from Ijmuiden will likely fly into Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, or AMS (Note: it’s pronounced “Skip-hol Airport.” The “Schip” part sounds like “skip,” and the “hol” part rhymes with “dole.”). Schiphol Airport is about 30 minutes from the Ijmuiden cruise port, and it’s very unlikely to find any hotels in the area that provide a shuttle to the cruise port, so here are the best options:
- Cruise Line Transfer: Most cruise lines offer transfer service, which can be booked directly through your cruise line. The cost can vary and is always on a per-person basis.
- Rideshare: When it comes to getting to port, I typically recommend using Uber, and the cost, in this case, can run $50-75, depending on the time of day and other factors, but that is for up to four passengers. So, unless you’re a solo traveler, this may be a better option than the cruise line transfer option, and it’s much more convenient. For return options, I found Uber the be the most affordable option for my party of two people, although it was a bit of a wait (about 25 minutes), due to the more remote location of the cruise port.
- Taxis: There is a taxi stand right outside the terminal buildings at Schiphol Airport, and taxis here are regulated and licensed, with set metered rates. In my experience here, taxi pricing was comparable to ride-share. After an Ijmuiden cruise, taxis are available at the terminal, with a taxi coordinator present to help keep things organized. The taxi return price quoted to me, however, was significantly more expensive than an Uber, but this option provides immediate service compared to waiting for ride-share.
- Private Transfer: Cruisers can book their own private transfer service, which is much more convenient than cruise line transfer service or hotel transfer services, which is typically on a bus or shuttle with other cruisers. Get Transfer is a reputable service and is typically more affordable than the cruise line, especially for groups.
- Public Transportation: There aren’t any easily accessible public transportation options to get to Ijmuiden.
Things to do in Ijmuiden
In my blog posts, I always try to feature things to do in popular port cities, highlighting free activities in particular. In full disclosure with this one, however, there just isn’t much to do in Ijmuiden. It’s located in Seaport Marina, which is home to primarily commercial marine activity, and isn’t the most scenic location, nor is there much to do. That’s the downside of sailing from this port.
The upside is that the port is located just a 30—to 40-minute drive from Amsterdam, where there is more to do than I could adequately cover in one post. I will, however, give you some of the highlights of Amsterdam, geared toward cruisers who have a short time to visit the city.
Before diving into that, though, I want to take a moment to remind cruisers that conventional wisdom says to fly into your cruise departure port at least one day before your sailing. While I sometimes risk flying same-day for domestic sailings, this is absolutely something I would not do for a cruise that requires international travel to get to the embarkation point. Many cruisers advise flying in two days before an international sailing.
Things to Do in Amsterdam in One Day
Cruisers who have just a day (or less) to explore Amsterdam will find an array of options, which can feel overwhelming. Narrowing down things to do in Amsterdam can prove difficult, as can choosing the right hotel, but below are my recommendations of things to do if you have limited time in the city and want to get a taste of what Amsterdam has to offer.
Before exploring Amsterdam, though, I want to make two very important notes. One is that tourists need to be very mindful of their surroundings regarding the bicycles. People talk about the prevalence of biking in Amsterdam, but this is one thing you must see firsthand to fully “get.” Walking around the bustling parts of the city can be hazardous if you aren’t paying attention, with thousands of tourists on foot, cars, and bicyclists whizzing by. If you’re brave, you can even rent one and explore this way, but regardless of how you choose to wander, do it mindfully to avoid any unpleasant collisions.
The other note is to wear comfortable shoes and clothes and prepare for cool or rainy weather. Part of Amsterdam’s charm is its cobblestone streets, and if you wear a shoe with any sort of heel, you will have regrets.
Museums
History buffs like me love Amsterdam because of its vibrant arts and museum scene. Two of Amsterdam’s most famous museums are the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum, although both are huge and difficult to fully experience within just a short time. The benefit, however, is that these two popular attractions are located right by each other, so tourists can visit one and simply walk right over to the other.
The best and cheapest way to get tickets for the Van Gogh museum is to just buy them directly on their website, unless you want a reserved time private experience or combo ticket. The same goes for Rijksmuseum — just buy direct online unless you want a private/combo ticket. With both, you can also buy tickets on-site in person, but there may be limited availability or long lines to purchase them during peak tourist seasons.
Another nearby museum is the MOCO Museum. While it’s not as commonly known, I preferred it since it’s much smaller and easier to experience within a compressed time, and I found it much more interesting than the Van Gogh Museum.
The Anne Frank House is another one of Amsterdam’s most famous sites, and it was a highlight for me on a prior visit to the city. Note, however, that due to its popularity, this one requires some diligence and advance planning. This isn’t a museum where you can just roll up same-day, buy tickets, and walk right in. You’ll need to purchase advance tickets, sometimes even weeks or months in advance of your visit, depending upon the season.
The Heineken Experience
The Heineken Experience in Amsterdam offers visitors an interactive tour of the historic Heineken brewery, detailing the beer-making process and providing tastings. The benefit of this experience is that it can be done for tourists with limited time in Amsterdam, in under two hours. It’s also located just about a 5-minute walk from the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum. In my experience, this attraction was just okay. I’m glad I did it, but it was quite touristy and not all that interesting, so it’s not an attraction I would ever repeat.
Canals and Scenery
The great thing about Amsterdam is that tourists don’t need to spend a lot of money or do a ton of advance planning to get an “Amsterdam experience” because the city is so vibrant and unique. Walking around and enjoying the history and architecture is a vibe in and of itself.
If you’re looking for a place to just stroll and take it all in, there are two locations I recommend. First is the museum area. As noted above, the most popular Amsterdam museums are all located in the same area, making this one a great one to explore, even if you don’t pay or take the time to visit these museums. Another is the Bloemenmarkt, which is the world’s only floating flower market where visitors can explore a colorful array of fresh flowers, bulbs, and souvenirs while strolling along the picturesque canal-side stalls.
Canal Cruises
Amsterdam is famous for its canals, so a great way to see the city is through a canal cruise to see Amsterdam’s iconic sights from the water. There are many great guided tours, or even dining experiences, that can be purchased in advance or sometimes on-site, space permitting.
The Red Light District
While the famous Red Light District seems unsavory for some, I personally think that no visit to Amsterdam is complete without experiencing this unique area. It’s a scenic and historic section of the city featuring historic buildings, including the Oude Kerk (Old Church), and the picturesque canals that Amsterdam is known for. There are also many interesting and eclectic museums, shops, attractions, bars, and restaurants.
I love quirky museums, and the Red Light District has many of them. I have visited the Red Light Secrets Museum and Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum and found both to be interesting and educational. Given their small size, these eccentric museums are easy to explore fully in just an hour.
A visit during the day will allow hesitant visitors to explore some of the more conventional tourist activities, although the vibe of the area does pivot at night time, as the legalized prostitution business becomes more robust (although this happens in the daytime, too, but is less obvious and prevalent), and rowdy groups of tourists (usually men in bachelor parties) start roaming the streets. As a female traveler, though, I never felt unsafe in this area during the day or night, and I found it to be very well-policed.
Ijmuiden Cruise Port Ship Schedule
The Cruise Port Ijmuiden website is the most direct source for the cruise ship calendar.
Ijmuiden Time Zone
Keeping track of time zones can get complicated when cruising, especially for Americans on European cruises with a substantial time zone difference, and itineraries may result in time changes during the cruise. Your captain will make announcements during the cruise to update you on these changes, but it’s good to be aware of these differences ahead of time when planning your stop at the port, especially for excursions. Ijmuiden and Amsterdam operate in the Central European Time (CET) zone, which is UTC+1 during standard time. They observe Central European Summer Time (CEST) during daylight saving time, making it UTC+2.
Best Hotels in Ijmuiden for Cruisers
I’m normally a pro when it comes to finding hotels near cruise ports, including those with shuttle service, but this is one where I struggled a bit. After quite a bit of advance research, and now having actually traveled there, I’ve realized that Ijmuiden is not the ideal spot for cruisers to stay the night (or two) before their sailing on an Amsterdam cruise. There’s just nothing much to do there, and the hotel options are fairly limited. So unless you’re the kind of cruiser who is super paranoid about missing the ship and you must stay the night as close to port as possible, I recommend finding a hotel in Amsterdam. Oh, and forget trying to find any hotel anywhere here with a shuttle to the cruise port. It’s not happening.
This then creates another problem, which is the overwhelming number of options. Some cruisers choose to stay at an airport hotel, adjacent to Schiphol Airport. This is a fine option if you struggle with jet lag and just want a place to crash after a long flight to Amsterdam from the United States before embarking on your cruise.
This is not, however, my preferred option because it’s boring and doesn’t allow for easy exploration of Amsterdam unless you’re willing to take Amsterdam’s public transportation, which is fantastic and easily accessible from the airport. I’m not the bravest in that regard, though, so I generally try to find a hotel that puts me within walking distance of the things I want to do and see so I can maximize my experience and limited time there and not get eaten alive in rideshare expenses.
That said, I recommend staying in Amsterdam rather than near the airport. The question then becomes, where? Amsterdam is a huge city! Given the limited time that cruisers will likely have to explore, I suggest prioritizing the things you want to experience while there and selecting a hotel in that area. To get the most bang for your tourist buck, although not necessarily the best price, pick a hotel located in the city center.
Hotels in Amsterdam’s City Center
Top Excursions in Amsterdam
Cruising from Amsterdam
Whether your Amsterdam cruise takes you to sea from Amsterdam directly or from Amsterdam-adjacent Ijmuiden, all of the options here are a great starting point for any itinerary. Amsterdam and even its more quaint nearby villages like Haarlem are vibrant and diverse places to explore before or after any cruise.