UK to Amsterdam by Ferry Travel Guide

Getting to Amsterdam by sea is really easy. This guide shows you your travel options.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is so easy to travel to by sea from the UK that it ought to be a must-see destination for every Brit.

This vibrant multicultural city in North Holland, The Netherlands has so much to offer from museums to art galleries, fantastic shopping to bustling flower markets on the canal sides, cosy coffee shops to lively bars and pubs, and so much more.

Besides, there are plenty of canals to walk alongside as they meander across the city you will soon realise why Amsterdam is known as the Venice of the North. There's something for everyone which is why Amsterdam is so popular with couples looking for a romantic short break and families looking for a cheap getaway.

Overview

Ferry Routes

OperatorRouteServicesTravel TimePrice
Newcastle Amsterdam (via Ijmuiden) 1 daily 15½ hoursSee prices
Hull Amsterdam (via Rotterdam) 1 daily 10¾ hoursSee prices

This information is for reference purposes only. Journey times are approximate. Frequency is based on typical schedules. Schedules are subject to availability and weather conditions. Information correct at the time of writing.

Taster Cruise Ship Itineraries

Cruise lineTypical itineraryPrices
Southampton Ports such as AmsterdamSee prices
Southampton; Dover; Portsmouth Ports such as AmsterdamSee prices
Southampton; Newcastle Ports such as AmsterdamSee prices
Southampton Ports such as AmsterdamSee prices

This information is for reference purposes only. Information correct at the time of writing.

Top 3 Cruise & Ferry Deals

  1. P&O Ferries Amsterdam Mini Cruise From £55pp
  2. P&O Ferries Rotterdam Mini Cruise From £55pp
  3. DFDS Amsterdam Mini Cruise From £65pp FLASH SALE

Newcastle to Amsterdam by Ferry (via Ijmuiden)

Sailing to Amsterdam from Newcastle is a breeze. Your holiday begins the moment you step on-board. The crossing takes an average of 16 hours so whilst that might sound like a long time, most of that happens overnight - when you'll be tucked up in bed in your own private en-suite cabin. Unlike a tight and cramped plane you can take as much luggage as you can carry and you are free to relax on-board however you wish. Take a walk around, dine in a choice of restaurants or have a drink or two in the bars and nightclubs. You'll wake up refreshed as you dock into Ijmuiden ready to explore the vibrant city of Amsterdam.

This North Shields to Ijmuiden route is operated by DFDS Seaways, a Danish shipping company with a heritage running back as far as 1866. Their modern cruise ferries are able to carry both cargo and passengers. As such you can either choose to travel as a foot passenger as part of a mini-cruise or mini-cruise-and-stay break, or you can book your car, camper van or car-and-caravan onto the ferry. Travelling as a foot passenger on a ferry is the cheapest means of travel but taking your car, caravan or campervan with you the The Netherlands offers you more flexibility, freedom and control.

Getting to the International Passenger Terminal at the Port of Tyne

Getting to the Port of Tyne is very easy, especially if you live in the North East. It's located in North Shields about 8 miles (about 13 kilometres) to the east of Newcastle.

It has excellent road links if you are travelling by car, though the rail links are some distance away so you'd need a taxi transfer. There's also a DFDS Seaways transfer bus that runs to a limited schedule which may work out cheaper than a taxi transfer.

Checking-In And Boarding Your Ferry as a Foot Passenger

Check-in opens at 1430hrs and closes at 1615hrs at the Port of Tyne. Sailings depart from Newcastle at 1700hrs and arrive in Ijmuiden at 0930hrs local time. This daily service runs like clockwork although the departure and arrival times can very occasionally differ as the result of unpredictable weather.

Check-in is very simple. If you booked online through the DFDS Seaways website° then you just need to take along your printed booking confirmation page. If you booked over the telephone (albeit at a supplement) then you will be sent a booking confirmation letter that you need to take along with you.

You will also need to take along passports for everyone travelling in your party. You can find more information on who needs passports and to apply for them on Gov.UK.

Once your passports and your booking confirmation have been checked you'll be issued with your boarding tickets. These double-up as key cards for your cabin. You'll be told your cabin number and can then take a seat in the departure lounge that is across the way from the Check-in desk.

Once boarding commences a long but fast moving queue normally forms. Passports and boarding tickets are checked before you head through a security check area. A random spot check system is usually in place meaning security staff will pick a random selection of bags to check.

Once you are through this area you then proceed onwards through a walkway that takes you directly onto your ship, either the King Seaways or Princess Seaways.

Checking-In And Boarding Your Ferry with your Car, Caravan, Camper Van or Motorbike

When you take your vehicle with you on the ferry the check-in procedure differs slightly. Follow the signs to the Port entrance where you will find a vehicle check-in point. At the check-in booths you will be checked-in whilst you remain in their vehicle. Once your passports, your booking confirmation and your vehicle details have been checked you will proceed to an allocated lane. Here you'll wait until staff at the port direct you to board. You'll drive onto the vessel following the directions by the ship staff. There's lots of them to guide you into place. They will direct you to the next available parking space and will make sure you have parked in the correct position.

The cruise ferries transport trucks, coaches, camper vans, cars, caravans and motorcycles amongst other objects. The arrangement of all of these is carefully calculated to ensure a balanced load. As such, it's impossible to know before the day where exactly your vehicle will be parked. Rest assured the passenger decks are well signposted from the vehicle decks and it is easy enough to find your vehicle at the other end of the journey.

Remember: The vehicle bay is closed off the passengers during the voyage so make sure you take out everything you need for the journey and move it to your cabin for storage. Also, remember to lock your vehicle but DO NOT activate the alarm.

Despite the numerous public-address announcements that are made before departure you can always guarantee someone won't have listened. The motion of the vessel moving off the port (a gentle shudder) is enough to set off many car alarms. The result is further public-address announcements calling the owners of the vehicles to deactivate the alarm. The morale of the story is DO NOT activate the alarm to avoid unnecessary disruption to your sailing.

Amenities On-Board

King Seaways and Princess Seaways run in tandem serving this route. Each is slightly different in terms of the amenities on offer and layout of the vessel. Both of these vessels very similar offerings in terms of restaurants, bars and entertainment options. The main noticeable differences between the two vessels are the accommodation options and configuration of these.

You can choose what to do on-board as unlike an aeroplane you aren't restricted to when you can have a walk about or when you dine. There's plenty on-board a DFDS Seaways cruise ferry to keep you busy from browsing the shops on-board to dining in a choice of restaurants. There's a choice of bars and nightclubs on-board too so if whether you fancy a quiet drink with friends or family or you want to dance the night away with your mates you'll have a great time. What is more there is often live entertainment available in venues on the ship, with high calibre acts on display.

Personally I prefer King Seaways for the premium class cabins (formerly the Commodore De Luxe cabins) and Commodore De Luxe Lounge as this adds a touch of luxury to the journey. I wouldn't be disappointed sailing on Princess Seaways again though.

Felison Terminal, Ijmuiden

Arrival into Ijmuiden is at 0930hrs daily. Disembarkation is normally very swift but remember that queues are likely to form as lots of people want to get off at the same time. The port is around 18 miles (about 29 kilometres) from Amsterdam city centre so you'll need some means of getting there, be that by the DFDS Seaways coach services or privately.

If you are catching a transfer coach remember to disembark the ferry as quickly as you can so-as (a) not to miss the coach transfer; and (b) to maximise the time you can spend in Amsterdam city.

Transfers Between Ijmuiden and Amsterdam for Foot Passengers

DFDS Seaways run coaches to transfer passengers from Ijmuiden port to Amsterdam city centre. These are operated by OAD Reizen and in 2014 cost £6 per person each way. The coaches run to coincide with the ferry timetable. They take between 30 and 40 minutes each way depending on the traffic in and around Amsterdam.

Coaches pick-up directly outside the terminal building in Ijmuiden and drop-off outside the Victoria Hotel in Amsterdam, directly opposite the plaza outside the Amsterdam Centraal railway station.

Coaches depart from the pick-off outside the Victoria Hotel in Amsterdam, directly opposite the plaza outside the Amsterdam Centraal railway station. They leave every 10 minutes between 1500hrs and 1600hrs local time bound for Ijmuiden.

Tip: Pre-book your bus transfer when you book your ferry. This way you can be guaranteed a space on the coach and it remove any of the hassle on the day. Some mini cruises have free coach transfers included.

Your Return Ferry From Ijmuiden to Newcastle

Check-in opens at 1430hrs and closes at 1700hrs in Ijmuiden. The ship departs at 1730hrs and docks in North Shields at 0900hrs local time.

Distances from the ports

From Ijmuiden (for tourists from the UK):

  • The Felison Terminal at Ijmuiden is around 18 miles (about 29 kilometres) from the centre of Amsterdam which is a 35 to 45 minute car journey depending upon the traffic.
  • Haarlem is a 9 miles (about 14 kilometres) road journey from the port taking 20 to 25 minutes to travel depending upon the traffic.
  • The centre of Rotterdam is 52 miles (about 84 kilometres) away which would take around 1 hour to 1 hour and 20 minutes to reach depending upon the traffic.

From Newcastle (for tourists from The Netherlands):

  • The Port of Tyne is located in North Shields (not to be confused with South Shields). It is 8 miles (about 13 kilometres) from Newcastle Upon Tyne which takes 15 to 20 minutes to travel by road depending upon the traffic.
  • The historic city of York is 83 miles (about 134 kilometres) from the port and would take 1¾ hours to get to by car.
  • Edinburgh is around 125 miles (about 201 kilometres) away from the port which is a 2½ hour car journey away.
  • Windermere in the Lake District is a 113 miles (about 182 kilometres) away and would take 2½ hours to reach by car.

Newcastle to Amsterdam Ferry - Useful Information

CategoryDetails
OperatorDFDS Seaways - Book online° - Customer services°
Journey Length15½ hours (outbound) / 16½ hours (inbound) / Approximately 265 Nautical Miles (or 305 land miles)
OutboundCheck-in at Newcastle at 1430hrs to 1615hrs. Depart Newcastle at 1700hrs. Arrive in Ijmuiden at 0930hrs
TransfersArrival coaches depart shortly after ferry arrival. Departure coaches leave Amsterdam every 10 minutes between 1500hrs and 1600hrs. The bus stop is outside the Victoria Hotel in Amsterdam, directly opposite the plaza outside the Amsterdam Centraal railway station. Transfers cost £6 per person each way and normally take 30-40 minutes
InboundCheck-in at Ijmuiden at 1430hrs to 1700hrs. Depart Ijmuiden at 1730hrs. Arrive in North Shields at 0900hrs
Time in AmsterdamAssuming everything is on-time and you are efficient, you could have up to 5½ hours to spend in Amsterdam. Spend an extra day (or longer) with a cruise-and-stay break°.
Estimated CostsPricing is based on supply and demand so the only way to get an accurate quote is to click here and generate one for your itinerary°. As a very rough guide, a car with 2 passengers may cost from £140 one way, a car with 4 passengers may cost from £144 one way, a motorcycle with 2 passengers may cost from £104 one way, a car towing a caravan with 2 passengers may cost from £200 one way, 2 passengers with 2 bicycles may cost from £76 one way, and 4 foot passengers sharing a cabin may cost from £76 one-way.

Hull to Amsterdam by Ferry (via Rotterdam)

This route is operated by P&O Ferries, a British shipping company (now a subsidiary of Dubai World, an investment company) with a rich heritage of sailing which started passenger services in the 1960s. The ferry service from Hull to Rotterdam is able to carry both cargo and passengers. As such you can either choose to travel as a foot passenger as part of a mini-cruise or mini-cruise-and-stay break, or you can book your car, camper van or car-and-caravan onto the ferry. Travelling as a foot passenger on a ferry is the cheapest means of travel but taking your car, caravan or campervan with you the The Netherlands offers you more flexibility, freedom and control.

Getting to the Port of Hull

The ABP Port of Hull is perhaps a more convenient option for those living south of Newcastle as it sits around 145 road miles south of the city.

Checking-In And Boarding Your Ferry as a Foot Passenger

Checking-in at Terminal 1 is a breeze. It's a nice modern terminal that has a light and airy feel about it. Check-in opens at 1500hrs and closes at 11900hrs. Sailings depart from Hull at 2030hrs and arrive in Europoort at 0815hrs (Monday to Friday) or 0900hrs (Saturday and Sunday) local time. This daily service runs like clockwork although the departure and arrival times can very occasionally differ as the result of unpredictable weather.

Check-in is very simple. If you booked online through the P&O Ferries website° then you just need to take along your printed booking confirmation page. If you booked over the telephone (albeit at a supplement) then you will be sent a booking confirmation letter that you need to take along with you.

You will also need to take along passports for everyone travelling in your party. You can find more information on who needs passports and to apply for them on Gov.UK.

Once your passports and your booking confirmation have been checked you'll be issued with your boarding tickets and separate cabin tickets. You'll be told your cabin number and can then proceed through the security checkpoint to take a seat in the departure lounge.

Once boarding commences it is a long way up several escalators to the sky bridge that connects to the ferry. It feels like there's a never ending maze of escalators but eventually you'll reach the top! At the top you will board the Pride of Hull or the Pride of Rotterdam.

Checking-In And Boarding Your Ferry with your Car, Caravan, Camper Van or Motorbike

Head for Terminal 1 when you enter the port area. You can't miss the big blue building. Follow the signs and you'll drive around the rear of the building to kiosks. Here you will check-in where your passports, your booking confirmation and your vehicle details will be checked. From here you'll drive around a looping roadway that leads to the top of the blue building. You will be allocated a lane to park in. Here you will wait until called forward by staff. You will drive along a sky-bridge that leads through the side of the vessel. The ships' staff will direct you to the next available parking space and will make sure you have parked in the correct position.

Larger cargo vehicles, motorhomes, and cars towing trailers or caravans (plus occasionally cars if there are too many to fit on the dedicated car deck) will be redirected after the check-in booth. Instead of going up the ramp to the roof you will be directed to the left and into the main cargo hold alongside the articulated trucks and trailers.

As the cruise ferries transport trucks, coaches, camper vans, cars, caravans and motorcycles amongst other objects, the loading pattern will change with each sailing. The arrangement of all vehicles is carefully calculated to ensure a balanced load. As such, it's impossible to know before the day where exactly your vehicle will be parked. Rest assured the passenger decks are well signposted from the vehicle decks and it is easy enough to find your vehicle at the other end of the journey.

Remember: The vehicle bay is closed off the passengers during the voyage so make sure you take out everything you need for the journey and move it to your cabin for storage. Also, remember to lock your vehicle but DO NOT activate the alarm.

Despite the numerous public-address announcements that are made before departure you can always guarantee someone won't have listened. The motion of the vessel moving off the port (a gentle shudder) is enough to set off many car alarms. The result is further public-address announcements calling the owners of the vehicles to deactivate the alarm. The morale of the story is DO NOT activate the alarm to avoid unnecessary disruption to your sailing.

Amenities On-Board

The Pride of Hull and the Pride of Rotterdam run in tandem to offer a daily service to Rotterdam from Hull. Each is a modern cruise ferry with plenty on-board to keep you entertained during your voyage.

Europoort, Rotterdam

Arrival into Europoort is at 0815hrs during Monday to Friday or 0900hrs on Saturday and Sunday. Disembarkation is normally very swift but remember that queues are likely to form as lots of people want to get off at the same time.

If you are catching a transfer coach remember to disembark the ferry as quickly as you can so-as (a) not to miss the coach transfer; and (b) to maximise the time you can spend in Amsterdam city.

Transfers Between Rotterdam and Amsterdam for Foot Passengers

Transfers are normally automatically included in mini cruise bookings. At the time of booking you will be able to choose the Amsterdam mini cruise or the Rotterdam mini cruise. For either option a coach transfer is normally included in the price of the ticket.

The coach services to Amsterdam depart soon after the ferry arrives so be sure to be swift when disembarking. The bus stop is marked as bus stop H3 on Prins Hendrikkade which is a short walk down from Amsterdam Central Railway Station. Transfers normally take 60 minutes depending on traffic.

The return coach service picks up from the same point. The last departure is at 1700hrs and they normally start running the return service at 1600hrs. Departures tend to be every 15 minutes depending on how early the buses turn up and how many people are waiting to get back to Rotterdam.

Your Return Ferry From Rotterdam to Hull

Check-in opens at 1500hrs and closes at 1930hrs (Monday to Friday) or 1900hrs (Saturday and Sunday) in Rotterdam. The ship departs at 2100hrs (Monday to Friday) or 2030hrs (Saturday and Sunday) and docks in Hull at 0800hrs local time.

Distances from the ports

From Rotterdam (for tourists from the UK):

  • Europoort is around 69 miles from the centre of Amsterdam which is a 1¼ hour to 1½ hour car journey depending upon the traffic.
  • Rotterdam is a 24 mile road journey from the port taking 30 to 40 minutes to travel depending upon the traffic.
  • The centre of Utrecht is 56 miles away which would take around 1 hour to 1¼ hours to reach depending upon the traffic.

From Hull (for tourists from The Netherlands):

  • The Port of Hull is located 3½ miles from Hull which takes about 10 minutes to travel by road depending upon the traffic.
  • The historic city of York is 45 miles from the port and would take up to 1½ hours to get to by car.
  • Leeds is around 63 miles away from the port which is a 1¼ hour car journey away.
  • Sheffield is also 69 miles away and would take up to 1½ hours to reach by car.

Hull to Rotterdam Ferry - Useful Information

CategoryDetails
OperatorP&O Ferries - Book online° - Customer services°
Journey Time10¾ hours - 11½ hours (outbound) / 10 hours - 10½ hours (inbound) / Approximately 195 Nautical Miles (or 224 land miles)
OutboundCheck-in at Hull at 1500hrs to 1900hrs. Depart Hull at 2030hrs. Arrive in Rotterdam at 0815hrs (Monday to Friday) or 0900hrs (Saturday and Sunday)
TransfersArrival coaches depart shortly after ferry arrival. Departure coaches leave Amsterdam every 15 minutes or so between 1600hrs and 1700hrs. The bus stop is bus stop H3, Prins Hendrikkade which is a short walk down from Amsterdam Central Railway Station. Transfers normally take 60 minutes and are normally automatically included in mini cruise bookings
InboundCheck-in at Rotterdam at 1500hrs to 1930hrs (Monday to Friday) or 1900hrs (Saturday and Sunday). Depart Rotterdam at 2100hrs (Monday to Friday) or 2030hrs (Saturday and Sunday). Arrive in Hull at 0800hrs
Time in AmsterdamAssuming everything is on-time and you are efficient, you could have between around 5½ and 7 hours to spend in Amsterdam. Extend your stay for a small supplement (£10 per person in 2014) - you will need to book your own hotel for the night separately though.
Estimated CostsPricing is based on supply and demand so the only way to get an accurate quote is to click here and generate one for your itinerary°. As a very rough guide, a car with 2 passengers may cost from £149 one way, and 2 foot passengers sharing a cabin on a mini cruise may cost from £150 return.

Harwich to Amsterdam by Ferry (via Hook of Holland)

This route is operated by Stena Line, a Swedish shipping company established in 1962. Ideal for those living in the south of England, the Stena Line service between Harwich and Hook van Holland offers a convenient scheduled service. Unlike the two services above from Newcastle and Hull, Stena Line don't offer a mini cruise option. The closest ticket they offer is a Rail and Sail ticket° which is aimed at foot passengers. The other type of ticket is for self-drive passengers.

Getting to Harwich International Port

Getting to Harwich International Port is very easy, as it is located on the Essex coast with great road and rail connections.

Checking-In And Boarding Your Ferry as a Foot Passenger

I cannot find an early check-in time but know that the latest check-in is 45 minutes before scheduled departure. Stena Line run a day service and a night service from Harwich so the latest check-in times are 1345hrs for day sailings and 2145hrs for night sailings (Monday to Friday) or 2045hrs for night sailings (Saturday and Sunday).

Check-in is very simple. If you booked online through the Stena Line website° then you just need to take along your printed booking confirmation page. If you booked over the telephone (albeit at a supplement) then you will be sent a booking confirmation letter that you need to take along with you.

You will also need to take along passports for everyone travelling in your party. You can find more information on who needs passports and to apply for them on Gov.UK.

Once your passports and your booking confirmation have been checked you'll be issued with your boarding tickets. You'll be told your cabin number and can then take a seat in the departure lounge that is across the way from the Check-in desk. The terminal has a small café for light refreshments.

Once boarding commences a queue normally forms. Passports and boarding tickets are checked before you head through a security check area. A random spot check system is usually in place meaning security staff will pick a random selection of bags to check.

Once you are through this area you then proceed onwards through a walkway that takes you directly onto your ship, either the Stena Hollandica or Stena Brittanica.

Checking-In And Boarding Your Ferry with your Car, Caravan, Camper Van or Motorbike

Once you've reached the port follow the signs for taking your car (or vehicle) on the ferry. This detours you to a separate part of the port to foot passengers who will use the main terminal building next to the train station.

You will find several kiosks. Here you will check-in where your passports, your booking confirmation and your vehicle details will be checked. From here you'll drive around to your allocated lane to park in. Here you will wait until called forward by staff. You will drive along a gradually elevating ramp before descending around a loop that then leads to a ramp to board the vessel. The ships' staff will direct you to the next available parking space on-board and will make sure you have parked in the correct position.

Remember: The vehicle bay is closed off the passengers during the voyage so make sure you take out everything you need for the journey and move it to your cabin for storage. Also, remember to lock your vehicle but DO NOT activate the alarm.

Despite the numerous public-address announcements that are made before departure you can always guarantee someone won't have listened. The motion of the vessel moving off the port (a gentle shudder) is enough to set off many car alarms. The result is further public-address announcements calling the owners of the vehicles to deactivate the alarm. The morale of the story is DO NOT activate the alarm to avoid unnecessary disruption to your sailing.[/su_note]

Amenities On-Board

The Stena Hollandica or Stena Brittanica are the world's largest roll-on roll-off (RoRo) ferries and both run in tandem serving this route. Each is a modern luxury cruise ferry with plenty on-board to keep you busy during your voyage.

A cabin is required on the night service but is optional on the daytime service. Amenities and entertainment options will differ on the day and overnight services.

Hook of Holland (Also Known as Hoek van Holland or Corner of Holland)

Arrival into Hoek van Holland is at 1645hrs (Monday to Saturday) or 1800hrs (Sunday) for the day crossings and 0745hrs for the overnight crossings.

The port is well placed for easy onward road travel to Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht and Eindhoven. It's not too far from the Belgian border too - just 55 road miles to the border - making it a great port choice if you are travelling to destinations such as Antwerp or Ghent. In fact, the German border is around 90 road miles away from the port making it ideal for visiting Münster, Duisburg or Dusseldorf.

Transfers Between Hook van Holland and Amsterdam for Foot Passengers

As Stena Line do not offer a traditional mini cruise option they don't offer any coach transfers for foot passengers. Instead they encourage passengers to book a Rail and Sail ticket°. This covers your train from any Abellio Greater Anglia network train station to Harwich railway station (attached to Harwich International Port). It also covers your ferry travel and then a ticket to anywhere on the Dutch NS Rail network. The Hoek van Holland Haven railway station is located just outside the port with trains running around The Netherlands to destinations including Amsterdam. A train journey from the Hook van Holland to Amsterdam is likely going to take you 1½ hours.

Your Return Ferry From Hook of Holland to Harwich

Check-in closes at 1345hrs for day sailings and closes at 2145hrs (Monday to Saturday) or 2045hrs (Sunday) for overnight sailings. The day crossing departs Hook of Holland at 1430hrs whilst the overnight sailings depart at either 2230hrs (Monday to Saturday) or 2130hrs (Sunday) local time.

Distances from the ports

From Hook of Holland (for tourists from the UK):

  • Hook of Holland is around 53 miles from the centre of Amsterdam which is a 1¼ hour to 1½ hour car journey depending upon the traffic.
  • Rotterdam is a 20 mile road journey from the port taking around 35 minutes to travel depending upon the traffic.
  • The centre of Delft is 13 miles away which would take around 35 minutes to reach depending upon the traffic.

From Harwich (for tourists from The Netherlands):

  • Harwich International Port is located 2½ miles from Harwich town which takes about 5 minutes to travel by road depending upon the traffic.
  • Colchester is around 19 miles away from the port which is a 30 minute car journey away.
  • Ipswich is around 24 miles away from the port which is a 45 minute car journey away.
  • London is about 86 miles away and would take up to 2 hours to reach by car or train from the railway station next to the port.

Harwich to Hook of Holland Ferry - Useful Information

CategoryDetails
OperatorStena Line - Book online° - Customer services°
Journey Time6¾ hours - 7½ hours (outbound) / 6½ hours - 10 hours (inbound) / Approximately 108 Nautical Miles (or 124 land miles)
Outbound (Day)Check-in at Harwich by 0815hrs (Monday to Saturday) or 0915hrs (Sunday). Depart Harwich at 0900hrs (Monday to Saturday) or 1000hrs (Sunday). Arrive in Hook of Holland at 1645hrs (Monday to Saturday) or 1800hrs (Sunday)
Outbound (Night)Check-in at Harwich by 2230hrs for night sailings. Depart Harwich at 2315hrs. Arrive in Hook van Holland at 0745hrs
TransfersNo coach transfers are available but the Rail and Sail ticket° allows onward travel to any Dutch NS station. Hook of Holland station (just outside the port) to Amsterdam takes around 1½ hours
Inbound (Day)Check-in at Hook of Holland by 1345hrs for day sailings. Depart Hook of Holland at 1430hrs. Arrive in Harwich at 2000hrs
Inbound (Night)Check-in at Hook van Holland by 2145hrs (Monday to Saturday) or 2045hrs (Sunday). Depart Hook van Holland at 2230hrs (Monday to Saturday) or 2130hrs (Sunday). Arrive in Harwich at 0630hrs
Time in AmsterdamAs Stena Line don't offer a fixed mini cruise option you can spend as much or as little time as you like in Amsterdam
Estimated CostsPricing is largely based on supply and demand so the only way to get an accurate quote is to click here and generate one for your itinerary°. As a very rough guide, a car with a driver may cost from £59 one way, a motorhome up to 6 metres in length with a driver may cost from £74 one way, a motorcycle with rider may cost from £35 one way, a passengers with a bicycle may cost from £40 one way, and s foot passenger without a cabin may cost from £36 one-way. Rail & Sail tickets start from £39 one way for an adult and £26 one way for a child

UK to Amsterdam by Coach (and Ferry)

Eurolines run a scheduled service from London to Amsterdam. The service runs from London Victoria Coach Station and stops at Gillingham, Folkestone and Dover before boarding a cross-channel ferry (some services use Le Shuttle service through the Channel Tunnel instead). Once in France the coach drives onwards with stops in Breda, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht before reaching its final destination of Amsterdam, stopping at the Eurolines Coach Station Terminal next to the Amsterdam Amstel railway station. It's a long journey though and typically takes between 11 and 13 hours depending on traffic and the schedule. It does however afford you great view of the UK, France, Belgium and The Netherlands.

A range of morning departures as well as evening departures are available week-around. The morning departures leave between 0700hrs and 1100hrs and arrive in Amsterdam late at night, normally between 2100hrs and 2230hrs. The evening departures leave London between 1800hrs and 2130hrs and arrive in Amsterdam between 0700hrs and 0900hrs. Some people like the idea of travelling by day and sleeping in a comfy hotel bed at night. Others prefer to sleep on the overnight coach service saving on the cost of one nights' accommodation in Amsterdam. Either way you can choose what's best for you. You can book your tickets here.


Book your tickets

Ferry Routes

OperatorRouteServicesTravel TimePrice
Newcastle Amsterdam (via Ijmuiden) 1 daily 15½ hoursSee prices
Hull Amsterdam (via Rotterdam) 1 daily 10¾ hoursSee prices

This information is for reference purposes only. Journey times are approximate. Frequency is based on typical schedules. Schedules are subject to availability and weather conditions. Information correct at the time of writing.

Taster Cruise Ship Itineraries

Cruise lineTypical itineraryPrices
Southampton Ports such as AmsterdamSee prices
Southampton; Dover; Portsmouth Ports such as AmsterdamSee prices
Southampton; Newcastle Ports such as AmsterdamSee prices
Southampton Ports such as AmsterdamSee prices

This information is for reference purposes only. Information correct at the time of writing.

Top 3 Cruise & Ferry Deals

  1. P&O Ferries Amsterdam Mini Cruise From £55pp
  2. P&O Ferries Rotterdam Mini Cruise From £55pp
  3. DFDS Amsterdam Mini Cruise From £65pp FLASH SALE
Confused? Unsure? Got questions? If I can help I will! I've sailed on ferry mini cruises and taster cruise ship holidays so I know what to expect on such holidays. Get in touch and I will try my best to help you out.

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