My Rhine Christmas market cruise starts in Amsterdam. How do I get from Schiphol to the ship?
Arrive a day early if you can. AmaWaterways, for one, also sells its Christmas Markets on the Rhine starting in Amsterdam, with a sailing on the AmaViola listed from December 19, 2026. A night in Amsterdam takes the stress out of a delayed flight, and from November 26 the Amsterdam Light Festival is on every evening; river ships board at different quays, from De Ruijterkade behind Centraal to Coenhaven in the port area, so give your driver the berth from your documents.
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Fixed prices per vehicle
| Option | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Business Class, Schiphol → any Amsterdam address | €90 | E-Class, EQE, EQE SUV, BMW i5, BMW 5 Series · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
| Van Class, Schiphol → any Amsterdam address | €125 | V-Class, EQV · up to 7 passengers, 7 bags |
| First Class, Schiphol → any Amsterdam address | €140 | S-Class, EQS, EQS SUV, BMW i7 · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
| Business Class, ride inside Amsterdam up to 10 km from your hotel to the ship | €50 | fixed at booking, detours included · E-Class, EQE, EQE SUV, BMW i5, BMW 5 Series · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
| Van Class, ride inside Amsterdam up to 10 km from your hotel to the ship | €70 | fixed at booking, detours included · V-Class, EQV · up to 7 passengers, 7 bags |
| First Class, ride inside Amsterdam up to 10 km from your hotel to the ship | €90 | fixed at booking, detours included · S-Class, EQS, EQS SUV, BMW i7 · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
Schiphol to any Amsterdam address is a fixed price per car, with meet and greet inside the arrivals hall. Rides inside Amsterdam up to 10 km have a fixed price per car (€50 in Business Class); a detour around closures does not change it. Longer rides are priced per kilometer and shown before you book. Prices are per car, not per person, with 9% Dutch VAT included, and the same day and night. During ADE week (pickups October 20 to 26, 2026) fixed ADE-week prices apply, shown before you book; promo codes cannot be used that week. Booked less than 12 hours before pickup: +10%. At an airport or an intercity station the first 60 minutes of waiting are free, elsewhere 15 minutes; after that waiting is charged per minute at the class's hourly rate (Business €65 an hour). Free cancellation up to 1 hour before pickup.
What is included in the price
- A fixed price confirmed at booking, with VAT included: no meter and no surge
- The chauffeur’s name, car and phone number before pickup, plus e-mail reminders 24 hours and 2 hours ahead
- Water and phone chargers (iOS and Android) in the car
- Status updates to the person who booked, if that is not the passenger: confirmed, chauffeur en route, guest in the car, arrived
Two ways to do it
| Plan | Day 1 | Day 2 |
|---|---|---|
| The night before | Schiphol to your hotel; a Light Festival cruise at dusk | Hotel to the ship with your luggage |
| The same day | Schiphol to the ship; bags in the car until boarding |
Schiphol to any Amsterdam quay or hotel is a fixed €90 in Business Class, and a hotel to the ship inside Amsterdam €50.
Related questions
Can we drop our bags at the ship before boarding?
That depends on the cruise line; ask it before you travel.
Is the Light Festival on before the cruise?
From November 26 to January 17, every evening from 16:30.
Which quay is my ship at?
Sources
- Cruiseweb: AmaWaterways Christmas Markets on the Rhine from Amsterdam (checked October 20, 2026)
- Amsterdam Light Festival: dates and hours (checked October 20, 2026)
- Cruise Port Amsterdam, river cruise berths: Passenger Terminal (Piet Heinkade 27), Ruijterkade Oost (De Ruijterkade 153), Ruijterkade West (De Ruijterkade 5), Westerdoksdijk 40, Coenhaven (Westerhoofd 1) and others; berth questions +31 20 509 1009, weekdays 09:00 to 17:00 (checked September 29, 2026)
- Port of Amsterdam, river cruise berths and facilities, incl. Javakade, Westerdoksdijk and the turnaround berths at Coenhaven (Westerhoofd), Kwadrantweg, Zaandam and Koog aan de Zaan (checked September 29, 2026)
Book it, or ask dispatch first
Book online in a few minutes (no account, no app), or send your flight number and address on WhatsApp and dispatch replies in English, 24 hours a day.