Euro-Rail tickets purchase for European cruises

[L. A. McDaniel]

Does anyone have information that they can share regarding purchase of rail tickets from Belgium to Rotterdam to board the ship there. We plan to go two days early and will need to get to the ship via rail. We have had conflicting info regarding whether it is best to purchase the tickets from the U. S. or wait until we get there. If anyone knows the answer to this "riddle", I would appreciate your advice. Thanks, Lindy

[ab0si]

Buy them when you are there.

 

Assuming you are going from Brussels:

You can catch the IC train (mostly every hour leaving Midi (Brussels South) at 18 after the hour. No reservations.

You could catch a Thalys train which makes the trip FIVE or SIX minutes faster for more money and required reservations.

 

If leaving from Antwerp, the same train choices.

If leaving from Brugge, connection is needed in Brussels or Antwerp or sometimes Gent and then Antwerp depending upon exact timing. No reservations on the train from Brugge in any case.

 

You can buy your tickets a day or two in advance if you wish.

 

RailEurope charges heavy commissions (hidden within the ticket price) and gives you nothing useful in return. Buying a ticket in Belgium is easy.

 

http://www.b-rail.be/main/E/ is the Belgian rail site in English.