p&o excursions in amsterdam

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Excursions & Tours

Candlelight Cruise

Volendam, Marken and Windmills GPS Tour

Amsterdam Canal Cruise

One Hour Canal Cruise

Dutch Countryside and Tulips

Pizza Time Evening Cruise

Grand Holland Tour

UNESCO Scenic Lake District

Amsterdam excursions - netherlands north shore.

With its oceanic climate, profound history, and its increasingly famous and diverse nightlife, the capital city of the Netherlands, Amsterdam, has become a most popular destination to travelers. Amsterdam's main attractions, including its historic canals, museums, and the house of Anne Frank, attract more than four million international visitors a year, and you can be one of them. Shore Excursions Group allows you to make the most of what this special city has to offer. Enjoy the highlights of the city with our hop on hop off bus, where you can explore the city by bus and by foot at your leisure. You can also choose to take a cruise on one of Amsterdam's many canals, or decide to visit a diamond or cheese factory still in operation. Before leaving, be sure to visit the one of the several windmills that call Amsterdam home, and probe your way through charming villages where you will be able to view and purchase wooden shoes.

• P&O Cruises ( UK )

Amsterdam Excursions

By glennbtn , April 15, 2018 in P&O Cruises ( UK )

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So we have our excursion list for Amsterdam but P&O appear not to have an excursion to Muiden Castle. Has anyone used an alternative company when in port at Amsterdam they can recommend for a visit.

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Amsterdam is really easy to do by yourself and here is a link to how to get to Muiden Castle https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g188590-i60-k5308063-Amsterdam_to_Muiden_Castle_best_public_transportation-Amsterdam_North_Holland_Province.html

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How To Cruise | Tips For First-Time Cruisers

Tips For First-Time Cruisers

P&O Mini Cruise – Hull to Amsterdam – An Independent Customer Review

9th April 2019 By David at HowToCruise 1 Comment

In March 2019, we drove across the M62 to Hull to join the P&O mini cruise to Amsterdam.

It was a break my wife and I were looking forward to.

• See Amsterdam
• Get away from it all for a couple of days
• Enjoy the experience

So how did it go? Did the mini-cruise meet expectations? Was it cheap or expensive?

Here’s my independent cruise review of our experience…

Parking at the Hull P&O Terminal

So let’s be practical. What about parking? 

It’s a pay and display car park, right by the P&O terminal – which is very handy. The staff advised us to leave our car in the multi-storey car park. They told us that this particular car park is locked overnight, whereas the outside tarmac car park isn’t.

Time to pay for the parking. It’s £8 per day – so we came prepared with 16 pound-coins. But no worries if you turn up with no change – the machine will take cards too.

Check-in was pretty straight-forward, and soon we were heading up the ramp with the other passengers to embark the “Pride of Hull”.

An Inside Cabin on The Pride of Hull

So what’s the cabin like?

At check-in, they’d given us a paper/card type of e-key, so we went to take a look and drop off our luggage.

Our package included a basic inside cabin with 2 bunk beds. The top bunk swings down.

There’s no need to upgrade. This cabin had all the comforts. And a nice, clean bathroom with a shower.

Time to explore the rest of the ship…

Exploring The Pride of Hull Ship

The Pride of Hull contains all the usual things you’d expect on a cruise ship, such as a shop, restaurants, a wine bar and pub with entertainment.

Even a Starbucks coffee shop.

When we boarded, it was still very early, so we hadn’t set sail and most things were still closed.

On the top deck, the Skylounge Bar has the benefit of a nice view – and smart tables and chairs. This bar could almost be mistaken for a cruise ship.

In the evening, this Skylounge Bar hosts the more laid-back sort of entertainment. We discovered the price of a bottle of wine was rather more expensive than in the wine bar downstairs.

But for now… it was time to buy a cuppa before heading off to book a table in the restaurant.

The Restaurants on the Pride of Hull

For our evening meal, we chose the Brasserie.

The food was delicious and the service great.

But we could have chosen what they call “The Kitchen”, where, for a set price, you can eat as much as you want.

The Wine Bar

In the wine bar, it cost us £14 for a bottle of house wine.

As wine wine-bar prices go, that’s not bad – especially for a captive audience. Upstairs in the Skylounge bar, that would have cost us about £18.

Off to Amsterdam

The next day, at 0900 we disembarked, went through the customs checks and hopped onto one of the coaches waiting outside the terminal.

Our coach was clearly labelled “Amsterdam”.

With the heavy traffic, the ride into Amsterdam took around 90 minutes. And as we left the bus, the driver told us the times of the various buses going back.

It was easy to spot the buses with the “P&O” label on the front.

So what’s Amsterdam like?

What to do in Amsterdam

The rain put a bit of a dampener on it for us. But we couldn’t let that spoil our day.

So first things first, we sought out the herring seller and bought a rollmop. That was the first thing ticked off the to-do list.

Bikes and boats are everywhere. Not surprising as it’s flat and full of canals.

Want a museum?

Well, the cheese museum is great. Lots of samples of delicious Dutch cheeses to savour, too.

And then there’s the tulip museum.

And… a cow museum.

And a museum celebrating the cause of the strange smell you’ll discover as you walk Amsterdam’s streets. Yes, a cannabis museum.

If you want to visit Anne Frank’s house, you’d better book your ticket online, months in advance. We didn’t, so all we got was a picture at the front door – as did lots of other people.

There are many other things to see, such as the Westerkirk.

And quaint places to shop.

You can see all these on the video we made .

And finally, we took a last look at the canals, bikes and boats, before heading back to the coach for the journey back to the ship.

Going Back from Amsterdam

Back at the port, we got off the coach, through customs again, up the escalators, along the ramp, and got ready for another evening’s entertainment.

The wine bar was popular.

Near to the source of the entertainment, the volume of the music was quite loud. But there are a few corners where you can hold a conversation yet still hear the music.

There’s also a “quiet room” on board if music isn’t your thing.

Upstairs in the Skylounge Bar, there was more laid-back entertainment with a singer with an acoustic guitar. However, that was amplified loud, too, and there were no corners to sit and chat.

Eventually, we hit the sack and awoke in time for breakfast, before docking, disembarking, queuing through customs, and being reunited with our car.

Now, all we had to do was try to remember which storey we’d parked on.

Our Video Review of the P&O Mini Cruise to Amsterdam

We made a video of the whole of the mini-cruise – from beginning to end. 

A movie-star at last!

How Much is the Amsterdam Mini-Cruise?

Our P&O Hull to Amsterdam Mini-Cruise was great value for money.

It cost £80 for the two of us. Yes, you read that right – £40 each.

But in peak season, you can expect to pay much more.

Unlike a normal cruise, this is actually a ferry – albeit a very smart-looking ferry.

And, unlike a normal cruise, food isn’t included. So you need to budget for your food and drink.

Accommodation and entertainment were included in our £80 price tag.

So we thought it was excellent value.

If you want a day in Amsterdam and two nights of entertainment at sea, this could be the perfect bargain break.

How to Get The Bargain Price

• I’d recommend you aim to go early in the season (you know, the unpopular times when no one else wants to go and it’s cheaper). 
• Play around with various days – because prices can differ.  And then book it before the price changes. 
• Make sure to go through a Cashback website to get some cash back. Here’s how to do that .
• Remember to get yourselves some travel insurance.
• And then look forward to enjoying your mini-cruise.

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14th January 2023 at 1:28 pm

Sounds great. I must enquire further.

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Cruises from Southampton, UK

The Port of Southampton – Cruise Capital of the UK

P&O Cruises Amsterdam

Southampton to amsterdam with p&o cruises.

Get on board P&O Cruises’ sailing from Southampton to Amsterdam. If you want to spend a beautiful day in the city, Amsterdam provides everything you could possibly need. Begin your day with a delicious meal at one of the many charming cafés or brunch venues that Amsterdam has to offer. After that, visit a renowned museum, take a stroll along the canals, and stop for lunch along the way. Discover and evaluate all of the itineraries offered by P&O Cruises from Southampton to Amsterdam with ease.

Canal cruising

Seeing Amsterdam from the ocean is a very breathtaking experience. One of the most common ways to observe the city is from a boat, and canal cruises are very common. Having your own private audio guide makes this the most relaxed way to explore Amsterdam. A trip along Amsterdam’s canals is a great way to learn about the city’s history and see some of its most famous landmarks, such as the Westerkerk and the Anne Frank House (Skinny Bridge). A trip along the canals of Amsterdam is the best way to see the city.

Amsterdam Bike Tour

The streets of Amsterdam are flat and wide enough to accommodate cyclists. Biking is a great way to see the city’s historic canals and the peaceful sanctuary of Vondelpark at your own pace. Visit the Red Light District, the oldest part of Amsterdam, and stroll past famous landmarks like the Anne Frank House and the Rijksmuseum.

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P&O Ferries Amsterdam Mini Cruise From £55pp

Sail from Hull to Amsterdam from as little as £55 per person with P&O Ferries.

The renowned value of a bargain P&O Ferries Hull to Amsterdam mini cruise has returned!

It looks like the 'Mini Cruises Mini Prices' promotion has returned again this year with P&O Ferries. Amsterdam mini cruises start from £55 per person . Eagle-eyed readers will have spotted that this is up from last year's lead-in rate of from £50 per person (and from £40pp pre-COVID), but given the state of the economy and the impact the pandemic had on the travel industry, this relatively small rise is less than I had expected.

👍 Hear about the deals first - click here and follow my Mini Cruise Addict page on Facebook (opens in new window).

Sail dates are available from October 2023 to March 2024.

Prices start from £55 per person based on Sunday to Wednesday sailings. Thursday sailings start from £76 per person. Friday sailings start from £100 per person. Saturday sailings start from £78 per person. This is for an entry-level cabin. If you want to travel in a larger cabin or a suite, those come with small supplements, depending on availability.

The sailing itself is the same as a regular mini cruise. You'll set sail from Hull in the evening bound for Europoort near Rotterdam. Enjoy the great entertainment on-board your crossing and enjoy a comfortable night's sleep in an en-suite inside cabin.

The following morning you'll dock at Europoort and board a coach for a transfer into Amsterdam city centre. You'll have around 7 hours of free time in Amsterdam (depending on when you dock, and when you choose to catch the return coach back to the port).

Explore the vibrant city, take in the sights and sounds and immerse yourself in the local culture. Check out my Amsterdam guide too !

Your return sailing departs in the early evening and sails overnight back to Hull, giving you another chance to enjoy yourself on-board.

Sailings leave Hull daily so you should be able to get the dates of your choice, though the offer is subject to availability. Book early to avoid disappointment.

You can also conveniently pre-book your meals (dinner and breakfast) for the outbound and return sailing at the time you book your mini cruise, so you don't have to worry about paying for it onboard. I do this as it's more convenient for me, but it's completely optional.

Want to spend more time in Amsterdam? For a supplement from as little as £12 per person (depending on dates) you can extend your holiday to a three night break. You'll need to book a hotel separately but that gives you the freedom to choose one to suite your budget and preferences. To book this, select the '3 night' mini cruise option which secures your outbound and return ferry accommodation. You'll then need to book land-based accommodation for the one night in-between these dates. It's up to you what you book, from a cheap and cheerful hostel right up to a luxury suite. I've done this for the last few times I've sailed as it allows me to spend a night on land in the city, and it makes the whole mini cruise experience more relaxing.

Fancy Rotterdam instead? The same great rates are available on Hull to Rotterdam mini cruises too.

How to book

If you'd prefer to book directly with P&O Ferries, you can check their website here ° to see the latest availability.

Direct Ferries built this handy price search tool for my readers, which you might find easier to use. Pop in your dates and destination, and it'll show you the options, along with some alternative dates to consider. Here's a screenshot of my search.

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. 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.

34 comments on “ P&O Ferries Amsterdam Mini Cruise From £55pp ”

Why can you not book on line for one passenger . On the Amsterdam mini cruise from Hull ?

The offer was changed a few years ago to allow odd-sized groups (1, 3, 5) rather than even numbered groups (2, 4) to take advantage of the same pricing. I can book a solo trip from Hull to Amsterdam online. Just choose one adult and it should show you available options.

How do you book the transfers to and from Amsterdam because there does not seem to an option when going through the booking process

The booking system should show them as included as part of the fare.

Where do I get a quote and find out available dates in July please?

Dates are normally released three months in advance, so July availability should be live in May.

Im wanting to book this for November 2020 time but the dates ive put in have said not available. Will this be because its sold out, or because the mini cruises dont run around those dates?

They become available around 3 months before the sail date. November will fall into the winter promotional period so should be available to book around August/September.

How much for 2 people 4th dec please

If you follow the link above, you'll be able to generate a live quote with accurate pricing.

Hello, We are planning to take mini cruise to Amsterdam on the 22nd September for 2nights. We will be driving from Gloucestershire and would like to park the car safe within the terminal - Is there any secured parking? Once you confirm, we can make the booking. Many Thanks, G

There's a multi-storey pay-and-display car park right next door to the terminal. I drive up from South Wales and use this whenever I go. Right now, it costs £8 per 24 hours.

Should you decide to travel to Bruges in the future, there's an open air pay-and-display car park right next door to that terminal too.

Hello are you able to recommend any hotels in Amsterdam as we are thinking about the 3 night mini cruise which gives us one night to book .

I don't have any recommendations other than somewhere central - or at least near a tram stop. The coach drops you off not far from the train station so if you can find somewhere close by, you won't need to drag your luggage around all over town. A site like Booking.com or Expedia will give you an idea of price for the night, from budget through to luxury. I highly recommend the 3-night version of the mini cruise having just done it that way on a trip to Bruges. It's way more relaxing as you aren't clock watching all day, and you get to see the city by night, which is the best bit really.

Tried to book for a Thursday for 2 adults and 2 kids. Price is £404. Thought it was £40 pp?

Prices start from £40pp depending on date and availability. Booking well in advance is the best bet. Now that P&O is promoting the offer, the best dates will fill up fast, forcing the starting price northwards on those sailings. That said, I've booked a £40pp rate and know plenty of others who have, so they definitely are out there.

Which date are you looking at? If you have scope to be flexible with your dates, it might be worthwhile searching a few days before and after your original date to see if you can make a significant saving.

Hi, I am checking out the P&O site, and the 2-4-1 offer no longer seems to be applicable, it is quoting £91 per person for the 3 day break to Amsterdam. Can you please advise

It's definitely still available. I just checked a random date for October and that comes up with the offer. Are you searching for a mini cruise date between October and December? You might want to try this search here to compare prices .

If you can travel on a Monday or Tuesday, that'll likely attract a cheaper starting rate. Make sure your sailing date doesn't clash with a themed mini cruise (unless you want it to, of course) as that'll add to the price. There's also a small premium for booking the three night mini cruise (with one night in a hotel booked separately) versus the two-night mini cruise which starts from £10 per person.

why cant i take my car like we used to be able to. Ive been to holland and belguim 3 times 2 for 1.and took my car for 70 pound.

This is a mini cruise offer (i.e. foot passenger only). You'll need to quote for a regular ferry crossing to take your car with you. You can do that here .

Hi when I’ve tried getting a two for one ticket to Amsterdam from Hull they have been sold out? When are they available?

That's strange. It's showing for me. Pop your details into the form here and you should get a quote. Make sure you choose dates between October and December as those are the one's currently on offer via Direct Ferries.

I'm looking at Thurs 30th Jan 2020. Staying over 1 night in Amsterdam.for 2 it's showing as £154 which I find much more expensive than previous years. In your experience, will the prices drop ?

The dates for January to March have only just come online, but they seem to start from £56.50 per person instead of from £40 per person, sailing on a cheap day. Thursday cruise and stay sail dates appear to start from £66.50 per person. I'll do some digging but it looks like this might be the new starting price for 2020 onwards. I'll be back shortly with an update...

Brilliant, thank you very much for your reply! Massive thumbs up the the review, big help !!

Hi David, I have just booked hull to Amsterdam. My confirmation isn't very detailed and it's my first time on the ferry, I wondered if you could answering a few questions for me. If we depart at 20.30, what time do we need to be at the port? (Earliest & latest check in) What documentation do we need? Luggage allowance? We have transfers included, are they easy to find at the other side? And will they tell us our pick up time & place? I haven't prebooked any meals, is there an option to do so on the ship if we change our mind? I'm really sorry to bombard you! Thank you for your help in advance

If you depart at 20.30, the latest check in at the terminal is usually 19.00. They usually start boarding at around 16.00 should you plan to get there a bit earlier.

You'll need to take your printed ticket and passport.

You can take as much luggage as you can carry, but I'd advise taking no more than a backpack - you might need to take your luggage with you when you get off the ship (you'll find out at check-in) so you don't want to lug around a massive suitcase all day. On the trips I've made before, they've let me leave my luggage in my room (denoted by a key symbol on the boarding pass) which really helps. Ask at check-in to be sure.

The transfer coaches are right outside the terminal and there's people to direct you to the right one. In Amsterdam, you'll get dropped off near to the main train station (great for hopping on a tram) and will be picked up in the same place.

You can buy meals onboard. The pre-book option saves a small amount of cash but it's not a terrific amount. Onboard, you can choose to eat in the buffet restaurant, an a la carte restaurant, or in the cafe, paying onboard.

In case it helps, I put together a detailed Amsterdam mini cruise review after my trip with P&O. If I can help with anything else, please just ask. Otherwise, I hope you haver a great time in Amsterdam. You'll be booking your next mini cruise before you know it!

Is their any themed cruises in may?

Keep an eye on this themed mini cruise page for details.

How much is it if you just want to go on your own?

I've had a quick look and prices for solo travel start from £60 per cabin. There looks to be a 50% single supplement on solo fares.

Hi how much is dinner on the ship

If pre-booked, breakfast currently costs £10.50 per person and dinner is £19 per person. Pre-book both at the time of booking for £26 per person. In this instance, both breakfast and dinner is a buffet option.

A la carte is available in the Brasserie. Based on the latest prices I can see, a Full English breakfast with a Starbucks coffee is £13.50 a head. A lighter continental breakfast of pastries and coffee is around £8 per person (dishes are individually priced). A three-course slap-up dinner is likely to cost in the region of £30 per person (again, dishes are individually priced). A two-course fixed menu costs £16 per person. A two-course dinner with a drink for kids is £8 each.

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Hi, I'm David and I'm a mini cruise addict. I love the ease and simplicity of exploring Europe from the comfort of a cruise ferry or cruise ship almost as much as I love finding great value deals, including the mother of all deals, the famous '2 for 1' deals.

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Why did P&O use a shuttle bus on our cruise to Amsterdam?

A group of us booked a four-day P&O cruise from Southampton on 22 March, docking in Amsterdam early Saturday until late Monday giving us direct access to the city.

Last month, we learned the ship will dock at a location 40 minutes away by shuttle bus. P&O did not contact us about this. Anyone wishing to take three daily meals on board (part of the package) and spend the rest of the day in Amsterdam, would spend at least six hours daily on the bus.

P&O says there was nothing it could do. I suspect it’s because the cost of docking at Amsterdam increased substantially in January.

GM, Mere, Wiltshire

Disgracefully, P&O was still advertising the package as a cruise to Amsterdam this month.

Only in the itinerary, below the sales blurb extolling the attractions of the city, was the port of IJmuiden mentioned. Passengers would have to Google it to discover it’s 30km from Amsterdam.

P&O would not comment on the advert and only after two weeks of pressing did it disclose that agents and passengers had been told of the change on 12 February. It says you were not told directly as you booked via an agent. It refuses to be drawn on why, citing merely “operational reasons”.

Clearly, you are not going to receive the holiday you booked as the original berth was a short walk from the city centre. However, your options are limited.

P&O, in line with other cruise operators, absolves itself from responsibility for itinerary changes in their terms and conditions. Under Package Travel Regulations, you could ask for a refund but only if the change is “significant”.

Given that Amsterdam is the only port of call on this short trip, I would say this is pretty significant.

But P&O is not conceding the fact and says passengers would have to abide by its cancellation policy which withholds 90% of the deposit for those who cancel within 15 days of departure – and 60% if you had backed out the day the company says it informed passengers. A court would have to decide what counts as “significant”.

One doughty reader, Mark Gripton, has decided to go down the legal route after TUI curtailed the time its Cuban Fusion cruise would spend in the Cuban capital by a third making some of the pre-booked excursions impossible. I’ll report back on how his case goes.

In the meantime, beware of booking a cruise specifically to see a particular sight or city because itineraries are unreliable and cruise operators, unlike airlines, aren’t automatically obliged to offer a refund if they change a destination.

If you need help email Anna Tims at [email protected] or write to Your Problems, The Observer, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU. Include an address and phone number. Submission and publication are subject to our terms and conditions

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