How do you make a short break to Amsterdam even better?
How about the knowledge that you can take your partner or friend with you free of charge? In this deal from North Sea ferry operator DFDS you can do just that. Buy two tickets for the price of one, jump aboard the modern cruise ferry and head across to the vibrant city of Amsterdam.
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Sail overnight and enjoy a day exploring Amsterdam on your own. It's up to you what you do. Just remember to catch the bus back to the port in time for your return overnight sailing back to the UK.
2 for 1 Mini Cruise to Amsterdam
Sail from North Shields near Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, early in the evening.
Enjoy your evening however you wish. Enjoy the free live entertainment on-board, purchase some drinks from the bar, or feast on a tasty meal in one of several restaurants.
Get some rest in your choice of cabin. Economy and Standard Inside cabins offer the best value. Sea View cabins afford a view out to sea while Premium Commodore cabins offer a view and the most space together with creature comforts such as an in-room TV and complimentary mini bar.
In the morning enjoy breakfast if you wish before you arrive at Ijmuiden port, located west of Amsterdam.
Once docked, disembark, pass through an immigration checkpoint and head out to your awaiting coach. This will whisk you to Amsterdam city centre.
Enjoy the day however you wish. Visit museums, bars, cafés, restaurants, attractions, parks, or browse the shops. For a different perspective of the city hop aboard a canal boat and sail along the network of canals that criss-cross the city.
Catch your awaiting bus back to the port in time for the return overnight sailing.
Arrive back in the UK early in the morning. Spend the day exploring the local area or head back home at your own leisure.
The good and not so good
The good
- Enjoy a great value short break holiday to Amsterdam at a price that rivals that of some cheap UK hotels.
- Sail overnight while you sleep and take as much luggage as you can carry.
- A wide choice of cabins are available: Economy and standard Inside cabins, Sea View cabins, and Premium Commodore cabins for extra space and luxury.
The not so good
- You'll only have up to five hours in Amsterdam so you'll need to carefully plan your trip to make the most of your time in the city. Alternatively, check out the three night option below.
- Food and drink cost extra although you can pre-book meals online to save money compared to the on-board prices.
- Bus transfers from Ijmuiden port to Amsterdam city are an optional extra in this offer. They're the cheapest way to get to and from the city so it's worth bundling them in, but they do incur a cost of £7 per person for a round trip.
DFDS reckons that instead of paying from £70 per person, you'll be paying from £35 per person, based on two sharing, in this 2 for 1 deal. Expect that cheap rate to get snapped up quickly, and you may need to try a few dates to find the best deals. You need to book by 29th February 2020, but you can choose travel dates between January and April or October to December 2020.
Top tip: Add a night in the city
You can easily add a night in Amsterdam and still take advantage of the 2 for 1 pricing. Just opt for the three-night cruise and stay option when booking to spend much more time in the city - and you'll get to experience Amsterdam's legendary nightlife.
The caveat is that you'll need to book your own accommodation separately, but personally I think that's a good trade-off, especially as it means you can choose to book yourself into a budget hostel, a mid-range hotel, a luxury pad, or even somewhere quirky like a house boat.
The dull-but-necessary small print
All deals are subject to availability and can be withdrawn by the operator without prior notice. The lead-in prices (otherwise known as the 'from' prices) are, unless otherwise stated above, based on two adults sharing the cheapest available cabin on the cheapest available date. In this promotion the lead-in price will be based on the cheapest ticket available during the offer period of between Thursday 2nd January 2020 and Saturday 29th February 2020 booked at the start of the promotion. Typically the best prices are available at the start of any promotion period so the earlier you book the better choice of sailing dates and cabin availability you should have. Mid-week sail dates are likely to be cheaper than weekend sail dates. Additional terms and conditions imposed by the operator will apply to this offer in addition to their standard terms and conditions, both of which can be found on their website°.
Routes from Hull
P&O Ferries Rotterdam Mini Cruise From £55pp
Sail from Hull to Rotterdam from as little as £55 per person with P&O Ferries.
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