Amsterdam is a busy port city and one of the top 10 most important cruise ship harbours in Europe, with around 100 cruise ships visiting the city annually. Amsterdam's business ports are run by Ports of Amsterdam (tel: (020) 523 4500; website: www.amsterdamports.nl), while information on cruise ship services is available from Amsterdamcruise (tel: (020) 551 2557; website: www.amsterdamcruise.com). The main cruise hub, which can handle two cruise ships at one time, is based at the funky passenger terminal at Oostelijke Handelskade, located on the edge of the city centre (tel: (020) 509 1000; website: www.ptamsterdam.com), which is equipped with restaurants, bars and ATMs. The Felison Terminal, on the IJ meer (tel: (0255) 545 440; website: www.felisonterminal.nl), was opened by the same operator in 2003. The main ferry terminal for services around Europe is situated further south, at Hook of Holland (tel: (017) 438 9333), where the terminal has a restaurant but no banking or exchange facilities.

Ferry services: Cross-channel ferries are run by StenaLine (tel: 0870 570 7070; website www.stenaline.co.uk), which operates a rail/fast-ferry service from London (Liverpool Street) to Amsterdam (Centraal Station), via Harwich and the Hook of Holland. There are two services daily, one in the morning and one in the evening (journey time - 8 hours 40 minutes).

Transport to the city: Although within walking distance, trains and buses connect the new cruise terminals with Amsterdam city centre. The Hook of Holland is connected by an express rail link with Centraal Station.