No ship spreads itself across the Netherlands like Ambition. In 2026 the Ambassador Cruise Line vessel calls at all three Dutch cruise ports: IJmuiden most often, plus Amsterdam and Rotterdam, fourteen calls in total.
At 1,200 guests she is one of the smaller ships on this coast, which shows in the experience: quick gangways, no queues at the Felison Cruise Terminal, and a December programme of Christmas market cruises from the UK that makes her the busiest ship of the Dutch winter.
Ship Facts
| Cruise line | Ambassador Cruise Line |
| Length | 216 metres |
| Decks | 13 |
| Guests | 1,200 |
| Flag | Bahamas |
| Dutch terminals | Felison Cruise Terminal IJmuiden; Passenger Terminal Amsterdam; Cruise Terminal Rotterdam |
Upcoming Calls in the Netherlands
All confirmed Ambition calls in the Netherlands, from the official port calendars. Full schedules: IJmuiden ship schedule, Amsterdam ship schedule and Rotterdam ship schedule.
| Date | Port | Arrival | Departure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 11 Jan 2026 | Amsterdam PTA | 08:00 | 17:00 |
| Mon 29 Jun 2026 | IJmuiden | — | — |
| Tue 7 Jul 2026 | IJmuiden | — | — |
| Sun 23 Aug 2026 | Amsterdam PTA | 21:00 | 24 Aug 20:00 |
| Sun 13 Sep 2026 | IJmuiden | — | — |
| Wed 23 Sep 2026 | IJmuiden | — | — |
| Sun 29 Nov 2026 | IJmuiden | — | — |
| Mon 30 Nov 2026 | Rotterdam | 08:00 | 18:00 |
| Sat 5 Dec 2026 | IJmuiden | — | — |
| Tue 8 Dec 2026 | IJmuiden | — | — |
| Thu 10 Dec 2026 | IJmuiden | — | — |
| Tue 15 Dec 2026 | IJmuiden | — | — |
| Sat 19 Dec 2026 | IJmuiden | — | — |
| Sun 20 Dec 2026 | Rotterdam | 08:00 | 18:00 |
| Sat 10 Jul 2027 | IJmuiden | — | — |
| Sun 29 Aug 2027 | IJmuiden | — | — |
| Sat 4 Dec 2027 | Rotterdam | 08:00 | 18:00 |
| Fri 10 Dec 2027 | Rotterdam | 08:00 | 18:00 |
Your Time Ashore
IJmuiden calls need a transport plan: the Felison Cruise Terminal sits by the North Sea locks, 30 kilometres from Amsterdam. The bus to Haarlem plus the train gets you to Amsterdam Centraal in about an hour; Haarlem alone, closer and quieter, is the smarter choice on shorter calls.
The December calls are Christmas market season. Haarlem’s Grote Markt hosts one of the country’s best in mid-December, and Amsterdam adds the Light Festival after dark. Dress for wind at the terminal; it stands directly on the coast.
- Transport first: our IJmuiden to Amsterdam transfer guide compares bus, shuttle and taxi.
- Shorter window: Haarlem from IJmuiden is 25 minutes away and needs no advance tickets.
- Amsterdam days: pre-book with skip-the-line tickets on Tiqets so bus time does not cost you queue time.
- Rotterdam calls (30 Nov, 20 Dec): the terminal is city-centre; the Rotterdam guide covers a compact winter day.
FAQ
Which Dutch ports does Ambition use
All three: most calls are at the Felison Cruise Terminal in IJmuiden, with additional calls at the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam and Cruise Terminal Rotterdam. Check your itinerary carefully, as the logistics differ per port.
How do I get from IJmuiden to Amsterdam
the bus to Haarlem plus the Intercity train reaches Amsterdam Centraal in about an hour, for a few euros. Cruise line shuttles and taxis are faster but cost considerably more.
Are arrival times published for IJmuiden
Cruise Port IJmuiden does not publish exact times for most calls. As a rule of thumb ships arrive between 07:00 and 09:00 and leave in the evening; your daily programme has the exact all-aboard time.
Call data: official port calendars of Rotterdam, Amsterdam and IJmuiden. Last updated 25 September 2026. Times are indicative; always verify with the cruise line.