 DFDS Newcastle-Amsterdam ferry.
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Scotland & the North to Amsterdam
It's a short cut from Scotland and the North of England to Amsterdam, for onward trains to Germany & beyond. DFDS' overnight ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam is a floating hotel that makes the journey as enjoyable as the destination. You sleep in a comfortable private cabin with shower & toilet after dinner in one of the restaurants on board or an evening in the nightclub. DFDS Commodore cabins are a treat!
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hotels in Amsterdam
Newcastle ► Amsterdam
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Day 1, take a train from your local station to Newcastle central station.
Aim to arrive in Newcastle before 14:00. You can leave Glasgow around 11:15, Edinburgh around 12:30 or Carlisle around 12:50.
Check train times as shown on the UK page or at www.nationalrail.co.uk.
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Day 1, transfer from Newcastle Central to the DFDS Ferry Terminal at North Shields.
A DFDS transfer bus leaves Newcastle central station for the DFDS ferry terminal at 14:30 & 15:30.
The bus stop is in Bewick Street, a 2-minute 150m walk from Newcastle Central's main exit, marked Bus 327 DFDS ferry terminal only.
You may find the bus waiting there 15-20 minutes before departure. The bus ride takes 30 minutes, it's a double-decker bus, wheelchair accessible and has extra luggage space. You should add the transfer bus to your ferry booking.
Alternatively, a taxi from Newcastle station to the DFDS ferry terminal costs about £20, journey time 30 minutes.
Or take the Tyne & Wear Metro to Percy Main station, from where it's a 24 minute 1.2 mile walk to the ferry terminal.
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Day 1, sail overnight from Newcastle to Amsterdam with DFDS.
The ferry sails from North Shields Ferry Terminal at 17:00 every day, arriving IJmuiden, 20 km from Amsterdam, at 09:45 next morning.
The luxurious DFDS ferries Princess Seaways & King Seaways have bars, a cafe, a buffet restaurant, waiter-service restaurant, cinema & cosy cabins all with toilet & shower. Check sailing times at www.dfds.com.
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Day 2, transfer from IJmuiden ferry terminal to Amsterdam Centraal.
A DFDS transfer coach will be waiting outside the terminal at IJmuiden to take you to Amsterdam Centraal station. Add this transfer coach to your booking. The coach takes 40 minutes, expect to arrive around 11:00 at the bus parking spot on the quayside a 6-minute 500m walk from Amsterdam Centraal station.
A taxi to Amsterdam will cost around €60, and if you want one you may have to pre-book as there aren't many in IJmuiden. Try calling ATC Taxis on 00 31 251314422 or Taxi Tervoort on 00 31 255 513838.
Alternatively, the nearest station to IJmuiden ferry terminal is Driehius, 5.9 km away, with trains to Amsterdam every 30 minutes, taking 32 minutes, see www.ns.nl. Pre-book a taxi from the ferry terminal to Driehius station with www.taxiservice-ijmuiden.nl on 00 31 6 27470219.
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Day 2, take an onward train to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland & so on, see the Trains from Amsterdam page.
Amsterdam ► Newcastle
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Day 1, transfer from Amsterdam Centraal to IJmuiden ferry terminal
A DFDS transfer coach leaves at 15:30 from a bus parking bay on the quayside north & east of Amsterdam Centraal station to connect with the ferry to Newcastle. Add the transfer bus to your ferry booking and check bus details when you book.
The bus pick up point is a 7-minute 500m walk from the northern exit from Amsterdam Centraal.
Alternatively, catch a train from Amsterdam Centraal to Driehius, the nearest station to IJmuiden ferry terminal, 5.9 km away. Local trains run every 30 minutes, taking 32 minutes, check times at www.ns.nl. Pre-book a taxi from Driehius station the ferry terminal (5.9 km) with www.taxiservice-ijmuiden.nl on 00 31 6 27470219.
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Day 1, sail from IJmuiden to Newcastle by DFDS overnight ferry.
The ferry sails from IJmuiden at 17:30 and arrives at Newcastle International Ferry Terminal at North Shields at 09:15 next morning.
The luxurious DFDS ferries Princess Seaways & King Seaways have bars, a cafe, a buffet restaurant, a waiter-service restaurant, cinema & cosy cabins all with toilet & shower. Check sailing times at www.dfds.com.
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Day 2, transfer from Newcastle ferry terminal to Newcastle central station.
DFDS transfer buses will be waiting outside the ferry terminal to take foot passengers to Newcastle central station, the bus takes about 30 minutes. The buses are wheelchair accessible with extra luggage space. Add this transfer bus to your ferry booking.
Alternatively, a taxi from the DFDS ferry terminal to Newcastle station costs about £20, journey time 30 minutes.
Or it's a 24-minute, 1.2 mile walk from the ferry terminal to Percy Main Tyne & Wear Metro station.
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Day 2, take a train from Newcastle central station to any station in Britain.
You can check train times as shown on the UK page or at www.nationalrail.co.uk.
How much does it cost?
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Newcastle to Amsterdam by ferry varies greatly by season & type of cabin, so see www.dfds.com to check prices for your date.
For two people, Newcastle to Amsterdam one-way sharing a 2-bed cabin with shower & toilet costs starts at as little as £43 per person.
For a solo traveller, Newcastle-Amsterdam one-way with sole occupancy of a 2-berth cabin with shower & toilet starts at around £85.
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The transfer bus from Newcastle station to North Shields ferry terminal costs £7, added to your ferry booking.
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The transfer bus from IJmuiden to Amsterdam Centraal costs £9, added to your ferry booking.
How to buy tickets
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Step 1, book the ferry at www.dfds.com.
Remember to add the Newcastle station transfer bus and the Amsterdam Centraal transfer bus to your booking.
These transfers are shown on the Extras page, look for outbound transfer and return transfer.
You can also add dinner and/or breakfast to your booking if you like, with dinner in either the buffet or the à la carte restaurant.
It's ticketless, you simply bring your booking printout to the ferry terminal.
You can't add a pet if you're a foot passenger, to book with a pet call DFDS on 0871 522 9955. More about travel with pets.
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Step 2, book train tickets to Newcastle, online as shown on the UK page or at www.nationalrail.co.uk. Allow plenty of time for connections!
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Step 3, book onward trains from Amsterdam to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland & so on as shown on the Trains from Amsterdam page.
Route map
What's the journey like?
Transfer from station to ferry terminal
Newcastle central station, opened in 1850.
Above right, the DFDS transfer bus at the bus stop in Bewick Street, a 2-minute 150m walk from Newcastle station.
Boarding the ferry
Above left: The bus arrives outside the ferry terminal entrance. Walk in and you'll see the DFDS check-in desk to your right.
Above right: Show your passport & booking reference at the check-in desk to get your boarding pass which is also your cabin key. Walk through security, an X-ray bag check & metal detector, simpler than an airport with no need to remove shoes or belt. Then walk along the passenger gangway onto the ferry.
Cabins
There's a wide choice of cabin, all with shower & toilet. Bedding, soap & towels are provided. There's a power socket, European 2-pin type.
Standard: 2 or 4 berths, no window. Standard economy cabins are below the car deck, only choose these if you're on a tight budget.
Sea View: 2-5 beds, window. A few even feature a small double bed.
Commodore Class: Double bed plus one extra berth, window, flat-screen TV, hairdryer, seating area, complimentary minibar, WiFi included, breakfast included.
Commodore Deluxe: Double bed, window, flat-screen TV, hairdryer, seating area, complimentary minibar, WiFi included, access to exclusive commodore deluxe lounge, breakfast.
Commodore class cabin with en suite toilet & shower.
Commodore & Commodore Deluxe cabins have a complimentary minibar and room service.
Above left, the cheapest option, a standard 1 or 2-berth cabin with shower & toilet. Above right, Commodore Deluxe. Courtesy of An Wa and Jo Anne.
The m/v King Seaways heads out to sea.
Restaurants & bars
Above left, the main lobby has several ship models. Above right, the cafe.
Dinner in the waiter-service North Sea Bistro. About as far from Ryanair as you can get.
One of the bars on the m/v King Seaways.
Good morning!
Approaching the Dutch coast - time for breakfast!
Breakfast buffet in the Blue Ribband restaurant, in Commodore & Commodore Deluxe this is included. You can also have breakfast in the main buffet restaurant.
Disembarkation
At IJmuiden, the passenger gangway is open soon after arrival. You walk off the ship, into the terminal building and down an escalator to Dutch passport control.
The m/v King Seaways at IJmuiden ferry terminal.
Transfer from IJmuiden to Amsterdam
Above right: The DFDS transfer coach to Amsterdam will be waiting just outside the ferry terminal.
The coach ride from IJmuiden to Amsterdam takes 40 minutes. The coach arrives at a bus parking spot on the quayside a 6-minute 500m walk from Amsterdam Centraal station. In the photo above left, the arrow indicates the arched roofs of Amsterdam Centraal.