Getting to the Boat - Viking Einar

[jules815]

We'll be sailing on Viking Einar mid-July, Amsterdam - Basel.  

 

We're doing a few days in Amsterdam on our own and plan on taking a cab or Uber to the boat. Is this done often with river cruising? Most of the YouTube videos we've watched about river cruising show people arriving by bus (Viking transfers). We've done ocean cruising from European ports several times and never had a problem. This will be our first time in Amsterdam and first river cruise, so we know things are different. 

 

Thanks in advance.

[vada_9]

Short answer - yes. 
Once you know your docking location ( and you may only find out just before), you will be able to work out how to get there. 
Taxi/Uber public transport/ private transfer is fine.

Depending where you stay in Amsterdam, you may even walk, as the main docking area is just next to Central Station, before the cruise ship terminal.

Check Google street view and you will see the river boats lined up.

 

[Host Jazzbeau]

Check with Viking exactly where your ship will be docked.  Many river cruise ships docks right behind the Doubletree Hotel – but there is a docking location much farther out of town that Viking also uses.  Not a big issue, but your driver needs to know where to take you.

[Canal archive]

Does Viking give the boat contact details in the paperwork before you embark (Scenic does) you could then contact their reception before for the exact location. Have a great cruise and enjoy Amsterdam.

[JordanF]

Yep--I agree with the others.  We stayed near the central station, and just walked about 5 minutes along the river to our boat.  Taxis will also work.  It's all very low key (This is how low key:  we had an excursion that morning with our cruise line (to see the place with all the windmills), so we were to meet at a hotel, with the excursion bus to deliver us to the boat later.  As we were walking along the river to the hotel meeting place, we realized we were walking by our boat.  We just went on board and asked if we could leave our bags there.  They said fine, and we even changed into shorts on the boat before leaving our stuff there.  This was before the boat was officially ready for passengers.  The excursion was extra on our trip, but worth it.  Photos attached.)

[Pushka]

In your documents two weeks prior you will be given three sites for Amsterdam. This month we were at the middle site which is next to the Movenpick. The ships number will be on the documents and they will tell you which one they are at. 

[jules815]

Thank you for all the replies.

 

We're staying at the Hotel Amstel (InterContinental). Just booked, it looks lovely.