Newcastle to Amsterdam ferry

You board in the late afternoon, spend the night in your cabin and arrive on the Dutch coast near Amsterdam the next morning, well rested and with the day ahead of you: by car straight onto the Dutch motorways, on foot with the transfer bus into the city. The exact departures for your date are in the timetable.

Getting to the terminal

The ferry does not leave from Newcastle city centre but from the DFDS terminal in North Shields at Royal Quays, at the mouth of the Tyne east of the city. Without your own vehicle, take the DFDS transfer bus, which leaves from Bewick Street opposite Newcastle Central station at 14:30 and 15:30. Your booking confirmation is your ticket, so book the bus in advance. Alternatively, the Metro, a local bus or a taxi will get you there. Newcastle Central itself has trains from the rest of Great Britain.

In the Netherlands the ferry docks in IJmuiden on the North Sea coast, west of Amsterdam at the mouth of the North Sea Canal, and not in Amsterdam itself. A DFDS transfer bus takes you from the terminal into the city. Both terminals are described on the Newcastle ferry terminal and IJmuiden ferry terminal pages.

Check-in and departure

Check-in closes 45 minutes before departure, at 16:15 in North Shields. If you are travelling by car, allow more time, as there are security checks at every port before boarding. Every traveller needs a valid passport, which you show at check-in together with your booking confirmation and, where they apply, your vehicle papers and pet documents. With a British or Irish passport, or permission to live, work or study in the UK, you do not need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). Everyone else in your party, including every child, needs one to enter the UK on the way home; you apply online to the UK government before you travel, so allow a few days. If a child is travelling with an adult who has a different surname, DFDS may ask for proof that the child is allowed to travel. The Check-in page explains deadlines, documents and the process by car or on foot.

On board the King Seaways and Princess Seaways

DFDS runs two cruise ferries of the same size on the route, the King Seaways and the Princess Seaways, which take turns. Both are 163 metres long, were last fully refurbished in 2024 and have several hundred cabins. The crossing is a night on board, so a cabin is part of your booking: from Economy cabins with up to four beds to double-bed and sea-view cabins and the Commodore cabins with lounge access. Every cabin has its own bathroom. The Cabins page explains which category suits whom.

You can eat at the Explorer's Kitchen buffet restaurant or à la carte at the North Sea Bistro, and Coffee Crew is there for a coffee in between. There are also bars, two cinemas, a duty-free shop and activities for children. There is no limit on luggage. In the morning the breakfast buffet opens at 07:00 and runs until the ship docks. There is more about the ships on the DFDS page.

DFDS also sells the route as a mini cruise from IJmuiden: two nights on board with a day in Newcastle in between. The Mini cruise page explains how it works.

Vehicles, bikes and pets

Cars, motorhomes, vehicles towing a caravan or trailer, and motorcycles travel on the vehicle decks. Give the exact dimensions of your vehicle when you book, including roof box, bike rack and trailer, as these determine your space and your price. The vehicle deck is closed overnight, so take everything you need for the crossing with you to your cabin. Vehicles with low ground clearance check in earlier. Tips for motorhome drivers are on the Motorhomes & caravans page, and for cyclists and foot passengers on the On foot & by bike page.

Dogs, cats and ferrets can travel if their paperwork is in order. Dogs do not stay in the car: they travel with you in one of the few pet cabins or in a kennel on board, with access to a dedicated dog deck. Pet cabins are limited, so add your dog to the booking early. For the trip into the EU your pet needs an animal health certificate (AHC), and before you arrive back in North Shields at 09:15 the UK requires a tapeworm treatment. The Dogs & pets page explains both.

Arrival and onward travel

In the morning the vehicle deck usually opens shortly before the ship docks, and announcements call the decks one after another. All passengers leave the ship at the port. You arrive in IJmuiden at 09:45, and the Dutch motorway network gets you quickly on your way. Foot passengers take the DFDS transfer bus into central Amsterdam, which takes around 30 to 40 minutes.

On the way home you arrive in North Shields at 09:15 and go through UK border control at the port. The transfer bus takes foot passengers back to Bewick Street opposite Newcastle Central, where trains continue to the rest of Great Britain. The Getting there & onward travel page covers the journey before and after the ferry.

Tickets and fares

DFDS sells the crossing at dynamic prices: the travel date, vehicle, number of passengers and cabin category determine the fare. Outside school holidays and midweek, the overnight ferry is usually cheaper than on summer weekends, and booking early gives you a better chance of the cabin you want. The only fair comparison is the total price for the same departure with the same cabin. The starting prices for each vehicle type are on the Prices & fares page, and you can book directly with the booking button at the top.