Flight Out of Amsterdam

[jhannah]

For those who have had a cruise end in Amsterdam, what time was your flight out ... and how long did it take to get off the ship and to the airport? For our August cruise, we can get a flight out at 11:00 or at 2:30. Normally I'd go for the afternoon flight to avoid the possibility of delays making us late for the flight. However, the 11:00 flight gets us home almost 6 hours before the afternoon flight does. What do you think? Is the 11:00 flight pushing it?

[localady]

Jim-
When I did the cruise on Celebrity in 2000 we had a noon time flight. Getting to Schipol and on to the plane was a cinch. I am not sure how the time frame might be affected by any post 9/11 security delays though. We booked a 4:30pm flight for our July trip and hope we can do a half day tour around Amsterdam to bide our time until our flight. I did find Schipol to be one of the most efficient airports I have ever been in for what it's worth.:cool:

[ekerr19]

Oh, that's a tough one... I think I'd play it safe and go with 2:30, even though being home 6 hours earlier is a huge advantage.

Are you going directly from the ship to the airport? We have experienced disembarkation delays in both Copenhagen and Portugal. We waited over an hour for our final piece of luggage in Lisbon, by the time we left the port it was almost noon.

[jhannah]

That's what concerns me most ... a lengthy delay. Yes, we're going right to the airport since we will have spent two days pre-cruise in Amsterdam.

[henri]

Jim,
Speaking as Dutchmen, when we want to fly from Amsterdam to U.S., we have to be there 3 hours ahead, to check-in and to be sure that our luggage is on our plane!!
Greetings from the Netherlands,
Henri.

[Ine]

Like Henry says, please take your time. Depending on the airline you will need at least 2 to 3 hours because of all security.

I donot know if you have been to Amsterdam Schiphol airport before, but there you can spend some time there too.
There is a mini-version of the Rijksmuseum wich nice pictures, even a casino, and lots of tax-free shops and some nice restaurants.

I would think that the 11.00 am is a very (too?) short connection

[localady]

Ine and Henri-

Thank you so much for the information! It sounds like my experience of getting through Schipol quickly was not the norm. I feel better now about my 4:30pm flight after our cruise in July. Thanks for the information!

P.S. Any 'insider" information on restaurants in Amsterdam would also be greatly appreciated. The last time I visited Amsterdam I fell in love with the city but more so it's people! I found the Dutch to be the very polite and pleasant hosts and am so excited to return!:cool:

[jhannah]

I donot know if you have been to Amsterdam Schiphol airport before, but there you can spend some time there too.
There is a mini-version of the Rijksmuseum wich nice pictures, even a casino, and lots of tax-free shops and some nice restaurants.Yes, I've been there. And it is truly a wonderful place to stroll and shop. I've just never tried to get through quickly before, so wanted some insights. I believe I'll go with the later flight. Thanks to you all!

[jhannah]

I'm all set! Further searching found a flight from Amsterdam through Memphis with just two hours of ground time. Leave AMS at 2:30 and get home at a more decent hour. The best of both worlds! Thanks for your help.

[Ine]

Localady.

I hope you like Indonesian food (rijsttafel), then you should go to Sama Sebo, close to the Rijksmuseum. It is one of the best, your table will be full with all kind of dishes. Some spicey, some not. Closed on sundaynight, reservations often necessary. Also open for lunch.

Many choices in the city, because you will find restaurants from all countries there.You can find some of them on this site:http://www.kies.com/netwijzer/resnhams.htm.
By choosing one, often you find the menu also in english.

[localady]

Ine-

Thanks for the recommendation! One of our "to do's" in Amsterdam is to have Indonesian Rifsstaffel (sp?), as I know this is a Dutch delicacy. Thanks for the recommendation, I will have our hotel concierge make a reservation for us!:cool:

[louiskam]

Our 06/16 Prinsendam sailing will end in Amsterdam on 06/30. Since we've been there before, this time we're thinking of taking a morning train from the central station to Brussel for 2 days/1 night quick city tour there. And if we ride back to a Schipol's hotel on July 1 evening before catching the July 2 noon direct flight back home, we should be OK. Are we?

[Ine]

It sounds fine to me.There are a few airporthotels at and around Schiphol.

The trainstation on Schiphol airport is on the direct track to Brussels. I think it is 1 train every hour.

If Brussels would somehow not work out I can also recommend the old city of Delft to you.

[louiskam]

Ine, thanks for the insight.
If there are hourly trains run between Brussels central station and Schipol Airport, then we may stay overnight in Brussels on July 1 (total 2 nights) and catch the July 2, 7:00am train instead.
Do you know how long is the ride?
(Louis)

[pollux]

The time to travel from Brussel Centraal train station to Schiphol Airport is: 2 hours 22 minuts.

[Bill S]

Ine: can we catch a train from Schiphol to Antwerp that connects to Bruges or do we have to go to the Central Station in Amsterdam to do that? We will be arriving on July 22 at Schiphol and want to visit Bruges before coming back to Amsterdam on the 24th for the same cruise as localady and her DH.

We are very much excited about our first visit to Amsterdam and have been reading about all the interesting places to see there!

[Ine]

Bill S.
Yes you can take the direct train from Schiphol airport (it is the same one that goes on to Brussels) to Antwerp en change there to Bruges.
Have fun.

Pollux" how are you? How were your last cruises?

[localady]

Ine: can we catch a train from Schiphol to Antwerp that connects to Bruges or do we have to go to the Central Station in Amsterdam to do that? We will be arriving on July 22 at Schiphol and want to visit Bruges before coming back to Amsterdam on the 24th for the same cruise as localady and her DH.

We are very much excited about our first visit to Amsterdam and have been reading about all the interesting places to see there!
BillS-

Maybe we all could try Sama Sebo, the Indonesian restaurant that Ine recommended the night before the cruise! Sounds like Riffstaffel would be a "not to miss" Amsterdam experience! Thanks again for the recommendation Ine!:cool:

[pollux]

Ine, my Nov. cruise was great went to Mexico on the Carnival Spirit. What can I say Carnival is Carnival same party crowd. Going on the 29th to Mexico on the Oosterdam. Hope the weather is good. Been raining a lot here the last month.

Coming to Holland in May taking RRL Brilliance out of Miami to Barcelona 13 days . My sister is flying to Miami and bought us a Air ticket from Barcelona to Amsterdam.

Staying there a while, no ticket yet to fly back. But thinking off coming back on the QM2.

[Bill S]

Ine: THANK YOU for that information on the Brussels/Antwerp train! That will save a bunch of time for us! This is going to be a real adventure for us!

Localady: sounds like a fun idea! I will follow up on email!

Our end-of-cruise flight leaves Schiphol at 14:05 hours so we should not have any problems making it from the Prinsendam that morning.

[jan7487]

Hi

Have found very little info re hotels pre and post-cruise. Any suggestions for a nice, well-located hotel would be appreciated. Our Prinsendam cruise is not til September 6, but already are looking for ideas. Thanks so much for any help.

Janet

[jhannah]

Over on the Europe Ports of Call board there's a good thread on Amsterdam hotels. Here's the link (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=113864). Lots of good info.

[Bill S]

Janet: in addition to the Ports of Call forum, you might want to try www.tripadvisor.com (http://www.tripadvisor.com)

Very good feedback there on a bunch of Amsterdam hotels.

[jan7487]

Thanks so much for the link---that's a HUGE help!

Janet

[Ine]

Something went wrong with this thread, I couldnot signin anymore. But it is working again.

I see JHannah gave the Amsterdamhotel link already.

Pollux: I think you will be fine (again) in Mexico. I talked to someone in P.Vallarta yesterdaynight and the weather there was great. Nice and sunny.
If you come to NL in May, you will be in time for nieuwe haringen at the end of May.

For the others that want to go for a good Rijsttafel. (Rijst=rice tafel=table)here is more info:
Sama Sebo
PC Hooftstraat 27 (662 81 46). http://www.amsterdamhotspots.nl/images/map.gif (http://www.amsterdamhotspots.nl/mapb4.html)
http://www.amsterdamhotspots.nl/images/spots/samaseboinside.jpgConsidered by many as the best Indonesian restaurant in town. The specialty here is of course the 'Rijsttafel' , a 20-dish festive menu. Indonesian interior with rush mats and batiks. Located on the most upmarket shopping street of Amsterdam, so the sidewalk tables make for good people watching during summer.
http://www.amsterdamhotspots.nl/images/sss.gif /images/sss.gif Open noon-2pm and 6pm-10pm. Closed Sun.


PC Hooftstraat ia also a very nice upscale shoppingstreet with very nice sotres.
In the vicinity of Rijksmuseum.

[Ine]

Mistake-- sotres should of course br great shops.