For a mini cruise to Amsterdam you have a choice between P & O Cruises or DFDS Seaways, and your decision may rest in the port of departure. P & O cruises sail out of Southampton, while DFDS Seaways sail out of Newcastle. With DFDS you may find prices running significantly cheaper than P & O cruises but the P & O is a four day/ three night, whereas DFDS is a three day/ two night trip. Both cruise lines offer the usual fare of fine dining, bars, swimming pools and onboard entertainment, but expect a higher class of service aboard the Artemis.

Whichever line you choose for your mini cruise to Amsterdam, once you get there the possibilities of what to see and do are endless. P & O cruises offer a variety of different shore excursions from city tours, candlelight canal rides or riding on a restored steam train. DFDS offers a free tour of the city after its coach ride into the city.

Sites worth mentioning in Amsterdam, which can be easily visited in the time you are at port, are the Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House. The museum offers a rare look into the life and art of the famous Dutch artist and there is a chance it houses a few pieces you might not have seen before. The Anne Frank House is famous because of its history being the place where Anne Frank wrote her infamous diary and spent the last two years of her life.

Whether or not you decide to see them with one of the many cruise excursions offered, a trip through the Amsterdam canals is not to be missed. Many of the canals pass by Amsterdam’s infamous architecture and monuments, giving a unique way to get a glimpse and a feel for the city. There are also options to have a romantic evening on the canals with dinner or wine and cheese options available.

For some a trip to The Hague is a necessity, for it is here that the famous Peace Palace housing the International Court of Justice rests.  For a perhaps more peaceful city trip, travel to the 17th century city of Delft, which has been made famous for its blue pottery and as the birthplace of the painter, Vermeer. Amsterdam also offers numerous peaceful beaches and seaside resorts for the perfect relaxing getaway.

No matter what you choose to do in Amsterdam, the fact remains that it cannot all be seen in one day. But by taking a mini cruise to Amsterdam you can not only get a feel for cruising but of Amsterdam and find out if both are something you would like to return to.