Cruises to Amsterdam | City and Short Break Cruises | P&O Cruises
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from just £369 per person.

About Amsterdam

The beatiful city of Amsterdam, with its fine gabled houses, leafy canal walks, unusual boutiques and offbeat pavement cafés, is the last word in laid-back relaxation. Capture its true spirit by exploring the narrow winding streets, bustling bars and eclectic shops of Joordan, its fascinating old district.

 

Other must-sees include the house of determined World War II diarist Anne Frank and the multi-level Vincent van Gogh Museum - where you progress, floor by floor, from the artist's initial sketches to view the full glory of his completed works.

 

Art lovers will also love the Stedelijk Museum - home to major works by Picasso, Cézanne, Matisse and Monet. And, if gardening is your interest, stroll around the daily Bloemenmarkt. This is the city's only remaining floating market and its riotously colourful plant and flower-laden boats are a fragrant delight.

 

Shore excursions in Amsterdam

Please note: The shore excursions listed are typical for this port. The full programme of shore excursions available for your cruise will be displayed on Cruise Personaliser at least 12 weeks prior to departure.

Aalsmeer Flower Auction

Activity medium

Duration: 3 hours

Calling all flower lovers. Experience the thrill of the auction at the world’s largest flower trading centre.

The early bird catches the worm, or in this case witnesses first-hand the ‘buzz of the blooms’, as beautiful plants and flowers are bought and sold.

Sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery as you head out of Amsterdam to Aalsmeer and the 518000 metre squared auction house. Join the hustle and bustle as 19 million flowers and 2 million plants are bought and sold every day through 13 time zones clocks. Enjoy a birds-eye view from your gallery vantage point where you can watch the online auction screens. Thousands of flowers are displayed and then dispatched to more than 10 countries. For those of you who aren’t such flora followers, the sheer logistics and size of the operation is an education and work of art in itself. As forklift trucks pivot and perform, ferrying flowers in and redistributing them out and onwards by land, sea and air.

Make sure you bring your camera to capture the colours and creative blooms, whilst you soak up the amazing aromatic scents that fill the air.

Essential information

This tour will operate by coach and on foot. Please be advised that this tour requires an early start to ensure passengers have the opportunity to experience all the auction activities. Early booking of this tour is recommended as space is limited to 40 passengers.

Anne Frank and Amsterdam

Activity high

Duration: 4¼ hours

Take a scenic canal cruise to visit the house of Anne Frank, and enjoy a guided walk passing some of the city highlights.

Step aboard a glass-topped motor launch for a scenic cruise that will take you past picturesque house boats and a myriad of fine old houses of the city’s enterprising merchants.

You’ll disembark your canal boat at the Westerkerk (Western Church) and the small statue of Anne Frank. Just a short walk from here is the Anne Frank House, where you’ll be able to see where Anne Frank spent the last two years of her life, and where she wrote her renowned diary while hiding away with her family from the Nazis. Guiding inside the house is not permitted, however your guide will provide general information prior to entry, after which you can explore independently.

To round off your tour, enjoy a guided walk back to the port, passing such highlights as the Baroque Royal Palace at the Dam square (the King’s residence when he visits the city). You’ll also pass by Nieuwe Kerk or New Church, a 550-year old church which is the site of numerous inaugurations and the resting place of many important Dutchmen.

This tour has very limited places. It is important to note that due to the strict booking conditions in place at Anne Frank House, the operation of this tour is subject to cancellation at any time.

Essential information

This tour will operate by canal boat and on foot. This tour is non-refundable, unless cancellation occurs due to the booking conditions of Anne Frank House. The order of highlights may be reversed. Limited toilet facilities are available on the canal cruise. There are approximately 10 steps to the landing platform and a further 3 steep steps into the boat. The Anne Frank House is an old mansion with a number of steep steps to negotiate. Photography is not permitted inside. Flat, comfortable shoes are recommended.

Canal Cruise

Activity low

Duration: 1½ hours

Experience the sights of Amsterdam from the comfort of a canal boat.

Amsterdam has always had strong ties to the water. Spread out over 70 islands, this cosmopolitan city boasts 60 miles of canals and 1000 bridges. From the 13th century, tiny ships sailed from this port into the challenging Zuider Sea.

Board a glass-topped canal boat and journey through the Amsterdam canals passing major monuments such as the Maritime Museum, Town Hall, and the Anne Frank House. Sit back and relax onboard, as you glide past the narrow, gabled houses that line the canals that Amsterdam is famous for.

Essential information

This excursion will operate by canal boat and on foot. This tour requires minimal walking; however depending on the ships berth there is a walk of between 5 to 7 minutes to reach the canal boat. Passengers are also required to negotiate 3 to 4 steep steps to embark and disembark the canal boat.

City Walk and Canal Cruise

Activity mediumShopping

Duration: 4 hours

Gain an insight into the wonderful city of Amsterdam during a city walk combined with a canal cruise.

Enjoy a guided walk through the city centre, passing by the famous floating Flower Market and the Mint Tower before continuing to the pittoresk beguinage. You’ll also pass the inner city's central landmark, Dam Square, and the classical-style Royal Palace. Afterwards, you’ll have around 1 hour of free time to explore the streets, stalls and shops in the city.

With more than 60 miles of waterways, Amsterdam has more canals and bridges than Venice, and this is one of the best ways to become acquainted with the waterside scenery. You’ll step aboard a glass-topped motor-launch to experience a canal cruise and absorb the myriad of sights. Admire the fine old houses of the city's rich Dutch traders, the picturesque house boats and Anne Frank's house.

Essential information

This excursion will operate by coach, canal boat and on foot. The order of highlights may be reversed. Limited toilet facilities are available on the canal cruise. There are approximately 10 steps to the landing platform and a further 3 steep steps into the boat. There is around 90 minutes of guided walking, and the level of walking during the free time is at passengers’ own discretion. Flat, comfortable shoes are recommended.

Evening Scenic Cruise

Activity lowRefreshments included

Duration: 1½ hours

Cruise through Amsterdam in style on this magical evening excursion, sampling local cheese and wine as you go.

Sit back and relax as you experience Amsterdam and its sights from a whole new perspective. This tour presents an opportunity to see the canals and bridges whilst you sip wine, tasting a variety of Dutch cheese and biscuits from the comfort of your canal boat. Glide past medieval corners that regular transport cannot reach.

Seeing the sights from this different angle, you’ll take in the famous crescent-shaped Herengracht, Keizergracht and Prinsengracht canals, lined by numerous trees and monumental buildings; a wonderful sight by night.

Cruise past the famous Anne Frank House along the Prinsengracht canal, where she wrote her renowned diary and spent the last 2 years of her life before being transported to Germany.

Essential information

This excursion will operate by canal boat. This tour requires minimal walking; however passengers are required to negotiate 3 to 4 steep steps to embark and disembark the canal boat.

View all shore excursions
 

A selection of cruises to Amsterdam

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