Amsterdam mini cruise from Newcastle

How the mini cruise works

The mini cruise uses the regular DFDS overnight ferry between North Shields and IJmuiden in both directions. You board in North Shields in the afternoon, spend the night in your cabin and arrive in IJmuiden the next morning. A coach takes you into Amsterdam for the day and back to the ship, and after a second night on board you are back in North Shields the following morning. DFDS sells this as one package: two nights on board and a day in Amsterdam.

The itinerary hour by hour

All times are local: UK time in North Shields, Dutch time in IJmuiden and Amsterdam. Sailing times can change at short notice, for example in bad weather.

The terminal in North Shields, and how to reach it by car, Metro or taxi, is described on the Newcastle ferry terminal page. What happens at check-in is on the Check-in page.

What the package includes

Every mini cruise includes:

• the return crossing between North Shields and IJmuiden
• a private en suite cabin for both nights
• the return coach between IJmuiden and Amsterdam city centre

When you book, the coach transfer is listed as its own item after the cabin price; it is part of the total. Children under three eat free on board.

DFDS bases its starting price on two people sharing a two-bed inside cabin, and other cabins cost a little more. When you book, you can add extras such as a hotel stay in Amsterdam, entry to attractions or a gourmet dining package. DFDS also runs seasonal themed mini cruises, for example at Halloween. Groups of ten or more people can get special group deals.

Cabins

Every cabin on the mini cruise has its own en suite bathroom. The package is based on a standard inside cabin, and you can upgrade when you book. Two ships sail the route, King Seaways and Princess Seaways, and the cabin interiors differ between them.

• Economy cabins have bunks for up to four people.
• Sea view cabins sleep up to five, in bunks.
• Double bed cabins come as inside or sea view cabins.
• Commodore cabins are the premium category. Commodore De Luxe passengers on King Seaways also have a private lounge with complimentary drinks and snacks.

The categories are described in more detail on the Cabins page.

On board

Both evenings are spent on the ship. On board there are restaurants, bars, live entertainment, a cinema, a games room, play areas for children and a duty free shop. There are no luggage restrictions on the ship itself.

Your day in Amsterdam

The coach is marked "DFDS" and leaves the IJmuiden terminal shortly after the ship arrives, usually within about 30 minutes. It drops you at De Ruijterkade 153, behind Amsterdam Central Station, next to the entrance for Viking river cruises. Coaches back to the ship leave from the same stop at 15:30 and 16:00; the itinerary is built around the 15:30 coach. The ride takes 30 to 40 minutes, depending on traffic.

That gives you around four and a half to five hours in the city. How much of it you get also depends on how quickly border control runs when the ship arrives in IJmuiden.

Your booking confirmation is your coach ticket, so have it ready when you board. On the coach you can only take luggage you can carry yourself. Each coach has space for one large wheelchair; if more space is needed, DFDS arranges a taxi. More about the terminal on the Dutch side is on the IJmuiden ferry terminal page.

Passport and entry rules for UK travellers

The Netherlands is in the Schengen area, so the Schengen passport rules apply to British passport holders, even for a single day ashore:

• Your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before the day you arrive. If you renewed it before 1 October 2018, its issue date may be more than 10 years ago, which makes it invalid for entry, so check the issue date as well as the expiry date.
• It must be valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area.
• You can visit without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Earlier visits to Schengen countries count towards this.

The EU is introducing its Entry/Exit System (EES), which replaces passport stamps. The first time you enter, you may be asked to give your fingerprints and have your photo taken at a booth. It costs nothing, and you do not need to do anything before you travel. Children aged 11 or under do not give fingerprints but may be photographed. Registration can also happen when you leave, and queues at border control may be longer than before. Your record stays valid for three years.

ETIAS, the planned EU travel authorisation, is not in operation yet, and no applications are being collected. The EU will announce the start date several months in advance.

If you have dual nationality, you need a valid British passport or a certificate of entitlement to return to the UK. You cannot take meat, milk or products containing them into the EU; there are a few exceptions, such as powdered baby milk and baby food.

Who the mini cruise suits

• Couples and friends who want a short break with two evenings on board and a day in Amsterdam.
• Families: there are play areas, a games room and a cinema on board, and children under three eat free.
• Groups of ten or more, who can get special group deals.

The mini cruise is not suitable if you want to travel with a pet: pets are not allowed. If a day in Amsterdam is too short, you can add a hotel stay when you book.