Cruise from Southampton to Amsterdam
Mini cruise Amsterdam
There are quicker ways to get to Amsterdam, but a cruise from Southampton to Amsterdam must be one of the most comfortable and relaxing.
Southampton is one of the UK’s main cruise ports, serving European destinations and further afield. Southampton is a short distance from London, easily reachable on both public transport and private transfers. You can be in Southampton from London in under 90 minutes. If you are arriving into Heathrow, then the journey time is even shorter.
This makes a two city centre holiday a very attractive proposition, especially when you can include a cruise as part of your visit.
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A mini cruise from Southampton to Amsterdam is extremely popular. Cruises range in length from 3-days up to 7-days including visits to other cities.
Round-trip cruise from Southampton to Amsterdam
Getting from Southampton to Amsterdam on a cruise ship typically takes around one day. This is why some cruise companies will define a cruise to Amsterdam from Southampton as a mini-cruise. You travel on the luxury ship for 2-days out of the 3 overall, having a full day to explore Amsterdam in-between the two travel days.
Amsterdam is a compact city and you can certainly see a lot of the sights in one day, though we love Amsterdam so much, we would expect you to want to return for a lot longer once you have been. But for a taster of all Amsterdam can offer, a mini-cruise is an excellent option.
You get luxury accommodation, facilities and travel and easy access to the city upon arrival. A cruise to Amsterdam is often overlooked as an option when compared to flights, ferry or train, but it is a hidden gem worth exploring. If you have never taken a cruise before then a mini cruise to Amsterdam from Southampton would be an excellent way to experience everything cruises offer.
Cruise companies also offer longer breaks that include Amsterdam in the itiniary. So, typically a mini-cruise to Amsterdam lasts 3-4 days and a longer cruise will last between 5 & 7 days. These longer cruises may include additional stops at other European cities or ports. Most likely you’ll find the beautiful city of Bruges in Belgium or Le Havre in France (so you can visit Paris) included in the longer cruises, though it is worth exploring various options that include Amsterdam.
There are of course longer cruises that just feature Amsterdam and you can even explore cruising to Amsterdam and then transferring to an Amsterdam River Cruise to explore the waterways throughout the Netherlands and beyond.
Cruise Lines featuring Amsterdam
Southampton port is a major hub for cruise lines and you’ll find the most well-known cruise lines offering Amsterdam within their itiniaries. Sometimes, the cruise line will stop at Rotterdam and offer day tours to Amsterdam (which is around one hour away).
Anyone who has cruised before will know the value of booking early, not only to get the best deals, but also to get the pick of the cabins on board. Trips to Amsterdam between the end of March and mid May will be particularly popular due to the Tulip season in Amsterdam, plus summer will always be busier.
One day in Amsterdam for cruise passengers
Help I only have one day in Amsterdam
Can you do Amsterdam in a day? Well, not really, but you can have a good go.
Amsterdam has a huge amount of must-see attractions. Just by exploring our website you’ll soon realise that experiencing all Amsterdam has to offer will take a long enjoyable time.
But, you have one day, so let’s look at what to do.
Firstly make your way from the International cruise Passenger Terminal Amsterdam to Centraal Station. From here the whole of Amsterdam fans out in front of you. Check out our map of amsterdam page to see how the city is set out.
Getting around Amsterdam
Your first consideration will be how to get around the city. You have two options here. You can buy yourself a one day GVB travel pass which gives you access to ride the trams, buses and metro in the city. Couple this with a bit of walking and you are covered for how to get from attraction to attraction.
The other option is to consider the I Amsterdam City Card for one day. This card includes entry to some of the biggest attractions and a host of other perhaps less well-known attractions too. It also includes the public transport pass, so you can use one card for your days needs.
One major attraction it does not include is the Van Gogh Museum, so you will need to consider this before purchasing. Anne Frank Museum is also not included on any Amsterdam tourist passes.
If there is one thing to see in Amsterdam
We believe everyone is different and that one thing to see might be different for everyone. but without doubt the most popular thing to do in Amsterdam, is to take a canal boat cruise.
Yes, you’ve just got off a cruise ship and now you are going to take another one! Don’t worry though, these canal boats take you along the stunning Amsterdam canals and give you beautiful views of the buildings, bridges, cobbled streets and are just a magical way to see the city.
There are day canal boat cruises and evening cruises – the canals lit up at night are really beautiful and you can pick a cruise that features dining and drinks if you have the time available. During the daytime is also a beautiful way to see more of the city sights, so it really is up to you which you think you will prefer.
Once you have your canal boat cruise organised it is time to consider what else you could see.
The list is endless, but in term of museums, the bucketlist usually includes:
Helpfully, both Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum are located in Museumplein, so are very close to one another. You also have the beautiful Vondel Park right here which would allow you to have a nice picnic lunch between visits.
Although Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum can easily take up hours and hours of your day discovering and experiencing the art, you can visit the major exhibits in a couple of hours like The Night Watch in Rijksmuseum and the Sunflowers in Van Gogh Museum.
No one wants to be rushing from place to place, so giving the morning to explore both museums is a good idea, though start early then have a lunch in a cafe on Museumplein or in Vondelpark as a nice option. If you much prefer modern art then swap in either Moco Museum or Stedelijk Museum which are both located in Museumplein.
Tram 2
Anne Frank House is back towards Centraal Station near Westerkerk and reasonably close to Dam Square. Tram 2 is an iconic tram line that has been recognised as one the most beautiful tram rides in the world. You can pick this up in Museumplein and take it towards Centraal station, which is in the Anne Frank House direction from Museumplein and enjoy the beautiful Amsterdam scenery along the way.
Tram 2 towards Centraal Station stops at Paleisstraat, a very short walk from Dam Square. It goes via Leidesplein, Keizersgracht and Koningsplein. You will find other routes available too on the tram. But, for the purposes of this one day whistle stop visit you’ll get off at Paleisstraat for Dam Square.
Learn all about using trams in Amsterdam.
Dam Square
Dam Square is probably the most well-known square in Amsterdam and is home to the Royal Palace, National Monument, Madame Tussauds and Nieuwe Kerk (New Church). It also has the famous shopping mall De Bijenkorf (The Beehive) which houses designer brands amongst many other boutique shops. You will find souvenier stalls dotted around Dam Square too.
Anne Frank House
From Dam Square it is a short 10-minute walk to Anne Frank House. Walking is definitely something to enjoy in Amsterdam, as you will feel more connected to the cobble streets and not miss those little hidden spots that create their own memories.
Follow the map to the Prinsengracht Canal and Anne Frank is situated along the canal near Westerkerk.
Anne Frank House is an incredibly moving museum set in the actual building Anne and her family were hiding within during the occupation. It is very popular and as it is the original building, entrance is limited during opening hours. This creates demand for tickets well in advance. Do not expect to turn up at Anne Frank House on the day and just queue to get in. Book online, book early.
Early evening
After a long day, exploring, you’ll either be ready for your evening canal cruise with dinner or be wondering where to go to eat.
Picking one of the pleins (squares) is a good option. Leidesplein and Rembrandtplein are two of the most popular, with cafes, restaurants and bars lining the squares. Here you will find a great atmosphere and great food. You could also try Amsterdam’s China Town or the Nine Streets for shopping and food.
Red Lights
On the way back to your cruise ship via Centraal Station you can take a walk on the wild side and wander through Amsterdam’s Red Light District which is only five or so minutes from the station. Just to say you have seen it. You can of course ignore that side of Amsterdam and enjoy some time by the River IJ (if time allows you can take a free ferry across the IJ to Amsterdam Noord and see ADAM Lookout and the iconic Eye Film Museum. You’ll have a great view back to Amsterdam from here and at five minutes crossing time you can easily hop across and back again.
One day is not enough
As you’ll experience, one day is not enough for Amsterdam. But Amsterdam is compact and easy to get around, so you can see a surprising amount of the city in a day. By using the canal or tram whilst travelling through the city you also get a free sightseeing tour which will really give you an idea of how beautiful and diverse the city is.
In this small section we have focussed on the most well-known headline acts, but there are so many more museums and attractions that Amsterdam offers, so you can pick and choose as to your own interests. We have reviewed these for you throughout our site, other notable attractions include:
Straat Museum – street art/graffiti
Fabrique des Lumières – immersive digital experience of art.
Rembrandt House Museum -artists home
Hortus Botanicus – botanical gardens
Heineken Experience – original brewery tour
Keukenhof Gardens (this is outside the city, opens only in Spring and would require separate transport and a different plan)
Zaanse Schans Windmills (half-day visit is possible here).
London to Southampton Transfers
Getting from London to Southampton is pretty easy. You can use public transport, specifically the London train to Southampton or use National Express coaches from Victoria Station to Southampton.
Often when taking a cruise, you have a lot of luggage with you and taking public transport may not be high on your wishlist of ways to get from place to place. There are plenty of services available for private transfers and shared shuttles that will also take you from London (often picking up at your hotel) to your cruise ship.
Train from London to Southampton cruise terminal
If you are in London, then trains leave Waterloo Station to Southampton very regularly.
The journey time to Southampton Central varies depending on the train you catch. The fastest train can take just 1hr 13 minutes and has much fewer stops, these trains run less frequently than the other stopping services. The average journey time is around 2hrs 10 minutes, so it definitely pays to pick your train in advance.
You can book in advance online to find the best route and best prices. Prices will be much cheaper online in advance.
Explore London to Southampton trains.
The London trains will terminate at Southampton Central which unfortunately is not that close to where the cruise ship terminal resides.
Southampton Central to Cruise Terminal
Upon arrival at Southampton Central Station you will find yourself around one to two miles away from Southampton Cruise Terminal and your cruise ship (depending which cruise ship you are on).
There are a few options like a bus that drops you reasonably close by, but still a decent walk with cases. So, in the vast majority of cases you should plan to get a taxi from the station directly to your cruise ship terminal. This is much easier, less stressful and will only cost around £6-8.
Coach to Southampton Cruise Terminal
The cheapest way to get to Southampton from London is by coach. National Express runs this route from Victoria Coach Station and the journey can take 1hr 55 minutes. Be aware, this time length is taken from the earliest coach in the morning and latest at night, when there is the least amount of traffic. Should you be travelling during the day then you may be caught up in more traffic and the journey will take longer by at least 35 minutes (so 2hrs 30 min), potentially more.
Tickets start from as little as £10, so if you can handle the time length, you will make considerable savings.
Once at Southampton, again you are not dropped at the port itself. So, you have the choice of the walk or getting a taxi.
Check coach tickets and times.
It is also worth noting that the coaches will be direct, though you will be able to pick up a different National Express Coach from either Gatwick or Heathrow that will take you to the Southampton Cruise Terminal too.
Private transfers from London to Southampton
If you have lots of luggage or just prefer travelling in more luxury and being taken from door to door then a private transfer from London to Southampton would suit you perfectly.
There’s no denying it will cost you more, but everything will be taken care of – from pick up to drop off. There are lots of transfer options including tour transfers where you can stop off along the way and visit some of the South of England’s best attractions. Windsor, Winchester and Stonehenge are along the route (though it’s unlikley you would visit all on one drive).
Booking a private transfer will also allow you to be picked up from either Gatwick or Heathrow, or if you live in the UK from your home.
Southampton Cruise Terminal
Southampton Cruise Terminal is a major hub for sea transport in the UK. Alongside the cruise terminal is a container terminal making this area one of the busiest ports in the UK.
Southampton Cruise Terminal is broken up into individual cruise terminals. There are five of these, each serving large amounts of passengers annually and home to some of the most well-known cruise companies globally including P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Cunard.
The cruise terminals at Southampton are City Cruise, Horizon, Mayflower, Ocean and QEII.
Make a note of where your cruise ship departs from as there can be varied distances between each terminal.
Facilities
As you would expect for a major travel hub there will be a multitude of passenger services available. Cafes, shops, seating, parking and travel links to the rest of the UK, but specifically London, Heathrow and Gatwick.
Amsterdam Cruise Terminal
As mentioned earlier, some of the cruises may stop at Rotterdam in the Netherlands and then offer day tours into Amsterdam. For the ones that arrive in Amsterdam directly they will arrive at one of two cruise terminals.
You can check out our dedicated Amsterdam Cruise page for full details or read below for an overview.
Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA)
The PTA is situated in the Eastern Docklands area and is just a 10-minute walk or short tram trip from Centraal Station. This is an ideal place for your ship to berth as you can be exploring Amsterdam minutes after disembarking.
Heading to Centraal Station opens up the whole city and you are in the cities biggest transport hub, so it’s easy to find trams, canal cruises, ferries, buses and the metro. It’s no exageration that you’ll be in the city enjoying yourself after just a few minutes upon arrival.
Slightly different to a cruise from Amsterdam to London that would stop in Southampton and passengers would then have the 90+ minute transfer to the city.
Ijmuiden Felison Cruise Terminal
The other terminal your cruise ship may dock in is Ijmuiden Felison Cruise Terminal. This is much further out from Amsterdam centre (33km) and creates a longer transfer into the city. At least 30-minutes. This terminal is cheaper for cruise companies to dock in than PTA, so it is definitely worth checking which terminal is on your itiniary so you know whereabouts in Amsterdam you will arrive – right in the heart or on the outskirts.
From Ijmuiden Felison, you can take a bus into the city (no82) or get one to Haarlem or Sloterdijk and then take the train into the city centre.
