In short
Rotterdam is the easiest all-rounder: trains from anywhere in the Netherlands, sailings all year, week-long fjord cruises. Amsterdam is a beautiful start in the city centre, but only from May to September, with few sailings. Hamburg is about five hours away by ICE but sails all year: long northern voyages in summer, week-long and Christmas cruises in winter.
Sailings by month
- Busiest months
- Apr, May, Aug, Oct
- Where ships go
- Norwegian fjords · British Isles and Western Europe
- Usual length
- 6–9 / 10–14 nights
- Round trips
- most
Sailings by month
- Busiest months
- May, Jul, Sep
- Where ships go
- Norwegian fjords · Iceland and Greenland · British Isles and Western Europe
- Usual length
- 6–9 / 10–14 nights
- Round trips
- most
Which port to choose
You want a week in the fjords and flexible dates
There are sailings every month, plenty of week-long fjord cruises in summer, and the trip is a train to Rotterdam Centraal and a few metro stops.
Rotterdam port guide →You sail between May and September and your date is there
The terminal is 15 minutes on foot from the station, with the city right outside. The cap on cruise calls means few sailings, so look early.
Amsterdam port guide →You want the North Cape, a winter cruise or Christmas
In summer the North Cape, Svalbard and Iceland; in winter a week of Northern European cities and Christmas sailings. The trip takes about five hours by ICE, so arrive the day before.
Hamburg port guide →Start with the month
One table shows which ports you can sail from without flying in your month — Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Hamburg and three more.
Cruises without flying →Side by side
| Rotterdam | Amsterdam | Hamburg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Getting there from the Netherlands and Belgium | By train from anywhere in the Netherlands; about an hour from Antwerp, an hour and a half from Brussels | Direct trains from most Dutch cities, about 40 minutes from Rotterdam; direct trains from Antwerp and Brussels too | Since October 2026 (planned until at least the end of 2027) a direct ICE from Amsterdam to Hamburg-Harburg, about five hours to the centre in all; from Belgium with a change |
| Terminal and city centre | By the Erasmus Bridge, across the river from the centre: metro D or E from Rotterdam Centraal to Wilhelminaplein, then about 10 minutes on foot | About 15 minutes on foot from Amsterdam Centraal, or one stop on tram 26 | Three terminals: HafenCity is two stops on the U4 from the Hauptbahnhof, Altona is reached by S-Bahn and ferry 62, Steinwerder is easiest by taxi |
| Airport and train | A direct train from Schiphol to Rotterdam Centraal takes about half an hour | About 15 minutes by train from Schiphol to Amsterdam Centraal | S-Bahn S1 from Hamburg Airport to the Hauptbahnhof in about 25 minutes |
| Season | All year: fjords and the North from April to October, short cruises from November to March | May to September; almost nothing in winter | All year: long northern voyages in summer, week-long city cruises from October to April, Christmas sailings in December |
| Typical routes | Fjords, usually 7 nights; Iceland and the Baltic in summer; southbound in April and October; 6–9 nights around Northern Europe in winter | Fjords, usually 7 nights; Iceland, the Baltic and the British Isles in around 12–14 nights; a few one-way sailings in late summer | In summer the fjords with the North Cape or Svalbard, and Iceland, usually 10–14 nights; 7-night city cruises from autumn to spring; Queen Mary 2 to New York a few times a year |
| The city before or after | Modern architecture, the Markthal and the Cube Houses, the Fenix museum; calmer than Amsterdam | Canals and museums 15–20 minutes’ walk from the terminal; busy in summer | The Elbphilharmonie, the Speicherstadt and Miniatur Wunderland; Christmas markets in December |
| Where to stay | Wilhelminapier and Katendrecht, within walking distance of the terminal; or the ss Rotterdam hotel ship | Along the IJ waterfront and the Eastern Docklands, or near the station; hotels are pricey in summer, so book early | The area around your terminal, or near the Hauptbahnhof; after five hours on a train, a night in town is a sensible buffer |
Based on cruise line schedules for 2026–2027. Ships, ports and dates change — always check the specific sailing.
How the routes differ
Ships sail to the Norwegian fjords from all three ports, but the seasons work quite differently.
- A week in the fjords in summer. The classic from Rotterdam and Amsterdam is 7 nights there and back. From Hamburg, summer sailings are mostly 10–14 nights, often adding the North Cape, Svalbard or Iceland: more of the far North, but a longer holiday too.
- Winter. Almost nothing leaves Amsterdam from October to April. Rotterdam and Hamburg both have short winter cruises around Northern Europe, and they are often the same ship: MSC’s week-long sailing from Hamburg calls at Zeebrugge, Rotterdam, Le Havre and Southampton, so you can also board in Rotterdam. Where you can board is shown when you book the specific sailing.
- Fewer sailings from Amsterdam. Since 2026 the city has allowed around 100 ocean cruise calls a year, with one ship at the quay per day, and it is discussing whether to end ocean cruises by 2035. If your week isn’t available, the same routes often sail from Rotterdam — about 40 minutes by train from Amsterdam Centraal. And check your terminal: some “Amsterdam” ships actually berth in IJmuiden, about 30 km from the city.
- One-way sailings. From Rotterdam, ships head south to the Canaries or the Mediterranean in April and October; from Amsterdam, in August and early September, across the Atlantic or down to Barcelona; from Hamburg, in September and from November to December, and a few times a year Queen Mary 2 sails to New York. You fly home on these, so buy the return as soon as you book the cruise.
- Language on board. Some lines sailing from Hamburg — AIDA and TUI Cruises — are aimed at German-speaking guests and are not available through the club. MSC, based in Hamburg all year, is an international line with English and other languages on board.
Common questions
Which port is best for a week-long fjord cruise?
Rotterdam or Amsterdam: both have classic 7-night round trips in summer. Rotterdam offers more dates, while Amsterdam only has sailings from May to September. From Hamburg, summer cruises are mostly longer, at 10–14 nights.
Where can I sail from in winter?
Rotterdam and Hamburg: from autumn to spring both have short cruises around Northern Europe, plus Christmas and New Year sailings in December. Almost nothing leaves Amsterdam in winter.
Is Amsterdam banning cruise ships?
Not at the moment. Since 2026 the city has allowed around 100 ocean cruise calls a year, with one ship per day. In January 2026 the city executive proposed studying an end to ocean cruises by 2035, but the decision was left to the new city council. Cruises still start in Amsterdam; there are just fewer of them.
Can I board a Hamburg cruise in Rotterdam?
Often, yes: MSC’s week-long winter cruises from Hamburg call at Rotterdam, and you can board there. You see where you can board when you book the specific sailing, which can save you the trip to Germany.
How the club fits in
Cruises from Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Hamburg that are available in the club work on the same terms as any other route. You choose one way to pay per booking: the member price (INsider Pricing), roughly 17% below the listed price, or your Reward Points, which can cover up to half of the cruise price. They do not add up. To pay up to 100% with points, you need to have accumulated enough points and book 270 days or more before departure.
Not every cruise line can be booked through the club: check the specific sailing in the club’s search, or ask us and we will tell you which dates from Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Hamburg fall in the month you have in mind.
How booking with points works →
Seasons and routes are summarised from cruise line schedules for 2026–2027, and the rules on cruise calls from announcements by the City of Amsterdam; both may change. Check the current itinerary and terminal information before you travel. Percentages describe the club’s rules and are indicative. Reislite is an independent information site run by partners, not a website of inCruises.