In short
From the Netherlands and Belgium the easiest ports without flying are Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Hamburg. For winter sun people fly to Barcelona, the Canaries or Florida, and from November to April the season is in Brazil and Argentina. The bar under each port shows the months with the most sailings.
Port guides
Terminal, getting there, where to stay and seasons, in detail.
From the Netherlands and nearby
Mediterranean
South America
Bars show sailings by month, January to December.
More ports in the cruise finder
No guide yet for these ports, but the finder shows where and when cruises leave from them.
From the Netherlands and nearby
Mediterranean
- Athens (Piraeus, Lavrion)
- Bari
- Genoa
- Istanbul
- Kuşadası
- Marseille
- Málaga
- Naples
- Palermo
- Ravenna
- Savona
- Trieste
- Valencia
Atlantic
USA and Canada
- Anchorage (Whittier, Seward)
- Boston
- Fort Lauderdale
- Galveston (Houston)
- Honolulu
- Los Angeles (Long Beach)
- Miami
- New Orleans
- New York
- Port Canaveral (Orlando)
- San Diego
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Vancouver
Caribbean
South America
Asia and Australia
Africa
How to choose a port
Month first, then port
The season matters more than the city: in February no port has fjord cruises, and the Caribbean sails almost only from the Americas.
The journey is part of the trip
A train to Rotterdam or Hamburg means no flights and no luggage limits. A flight to Barcelona means warm sea in spring and autumn.
Round trip or one way
In spring and autumn many sailings go one way; buy the return ticket as soon as you book the cruise.
A night before boarding
If the port is more than 3–4 hours away, arrive the day before so a delayed train or flight can't spoil the start.
Frequently asked questions
Which cruise port is closest to the Netherlands?
Rotterdam and Amsterdam: you can reach them by train from most of the country. From Belgium, Rotterdam is usually the easiest too. Hamburg is further, but has sailings all year round.
Where can I sail from in winter without a long flight?
Short Northern Europe cruises leave Rotterdam and Hamburg in winter. For sun, Barcelona and the Canaries are closest, about 2.5 to 4.5 hours by air.
Can I board a cruise somewhere other than the first port?
Often yes: on many Mediterranean and Northern Europe itineraries you can board at several ports. You see the options when booking the specific sailing.
Based on the departures available in the club's cruise search on 8 October 2026. Sailings, ports and itineraries can change. No prices are shown. Reislite is an independent information site run by partners, not a website of inCruises.