Rotterdam Cruise Port Information - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

PagodaSwan · 11-23-2005, 11:26 AM

The Port

The port of Rotterdam, the largest in the world, is a very safe and cost efficient port with top quality marine services. You will sail directly from the North Sea to the Cruise Terminal Rotterdam at Holland Amerika quay in the city centre. It will take about 2 hours to reach the terminal, where a 698 metre quay is available. The depth at the quayside is 12 metres. Ships can turn around in front of the terminal at Rijnhaven (turning circle about 260 metres) or at Waalhaven (turning circle about 360 metres).um number of passengers that can be accommodated at one time:

3000

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PagodaSwan · 11-23-2005, 11:27 AM

Rotterdam Cruise Port is a one-stop office for anything you require in Rotterdam. We can assist with maritime and tourist requests and any other service item one might wish for. For every call, Rotterdam Cruise Port invites all parties concerned (agent, travel agent, harbour master of the Port of Rotterdam, Customs, River Police, Police and Fire Brigade) for a meeting to discuss all wishes and requests. All items discussed will be put in a script to ensure that everything goes according to the wishes of your company and your passengers.

In addition to the general calls and turn-around visits of cruise ships we can assist with local matters such as organising special events, including press assistance.

PagodaSwan · 11-23-2005, 11:32 AM

The Terminal

The cruise terminal is situated in the heart of the Rotterdam city, just a ten minute walk away from the city centre with all it has to offer.

The terminal is designed to welcome up to 3000 passengers. A luggage handling scheme can be put together in close co-operation with the customer(s), in order to meet the specific requirements. Together with Customs, the service can be extended – in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations – by including a luggage service from ship side directly to Rotterdam Airport or vice versa. A fully automatic, covered boarding bridge leads passengers directly from the cruise ship to the terminal.

In the historic terminal a tourist information desk is available as well as handicrafts and other Dutch items. In front of the terminal shuttle busses are available to take passengers to the centre of Rotterdam.

As safety issues become more and more important, the Port of Rotterdam is proud to be able to say that effective measures have been taken in this respect. They have been in place for some time, yet safety issues are constantly reviewed and improved. We have received positive reactions from the US Coast Guard for our endeavours in this field.

The terminal as such is a landmark for those, who left Europe for the United States of America with the Holland America Line.

The terminal on Holland America Quay, in the centre of Rotterdam, has been completely renovated and a new 698 metres quay has been constructed, providing safe mooring at the 'new' cruise terminal.

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PagodaSwan · 11-23-2005, 11:35 AM

The terminal and transportation

The cruise terminal is situated within the hour to Schiphol Airport Amsterdam and within 20 minutes to Rotterdam Airport (direct HUB connections). Antwerp (Belgium) is only one hour away by bus. The neighbouring countries of Belgium, Germany and even France are also easily reached by high-speed trains.

Rotterdam Airport is a modern regional airport in The Netherlands with a standard that can best be compared to a five star hotel. The airport can accommodate the ever-increasing hub bypass trend. Rotterdam Airport is among the most successful regional airports of its kind in Europe.

Rotterdam Airport in close co-operation with Rotterdam Cruise Port can offer cruise passengers special service packages in order to increase the service and speed of handling even more than usual (30 minutes in and out).

Click to see a larger image:

PagodaSwan · 11-23-2005, 11:41 AM

Some four million visitors find their way to the wide variety of top attractions in Rotterdam each year. The city offers something for everyone: those who love the hectic bustle of the city or who want to rise up into the air or who want to look into the eyes of sharks, but also for people who are searching for the peace and beauty of nature. One of Rotterdam's main attractions is Diergaarde Blijdorp, the extensive zoo that includes the impressive Oceanium, where visitors can walk through the huge shark tunnel surrounded by sharks and giant tortoises. A visit to Rotterdam would not be complete without a tour of the harbour on the Spido or a visit to the 185m-high Euromast. Fun for the whole family can be had at the Plaswijckpark with its extensive playground, road safety training park and zoo. For an oasis of peace in the middle of the hectic city, visit the lovely gardens of Arboretum Trompenburg.

Spido Rondvaarten & Events

At the foot of the Erasmus Bridge, Spido welcome you willingly to come to enjoy the surprising tour along the imposing architecture of Rotterdam.During the tour you’re be able to make beautiful pictures of de famous hotel New York en you pass by the Euromast and the picturesque Veerhaven. Meanwhile you can enjoy the busy water traffic, sea-going an inland ships pass by. From the water, the DVD sound and image system informs you about the places we sail through. In short: during the discovery tour on one of the modern Spido-ships, you experience Rotterdam in an unique, unforgettable way.For this 75 minutes during tour Spido is at your service almost the whole year round.
Besides this one, Spido offers also an extended harbour tour to the bustling Botlek area in the harbour of Rotterdam.In July an August we provide complete day tours to the Delta Works and the Europoort.

Euromast & Euroscoop

The Euromast in Rotterdam, the highest lookout tower in the Netherlands.
The new high-speed automatic elevators take you up to the platforms, which are an experience all on their own. Then take the Space Cabin to experience the sensation of a rocket launch, slowly spinning in orbit up to a height of 185 meters. The cabin returns to the platform by means of retro thrusters.

The Euromast in Rotterdam, the highest lookout tower in the Netherlands, is not easily surpassed. When it was built in 1960 in honour of the international garden festival, the Floriade, it rose 104 meters above the city and its industrious port. During the ten years after its construction, other buildings were built in the Netherlands, rising toward the heavens with the aim of achieving a certain status. By 1970, the Euromast still rose higher than all the other structures. A Space Tower was set atop its mighty shoulders, bringing the Euromast to its current impressive height of 185 meters.

Diergaarde Blijdorp

Diergaarde Blijdorp is one of the most popular daytime attractions in the Netherlands. Walk through different parts of the world, seeing interesting animals that feel right at home in an approximation of their natural habitats. An interesting feature at Diergaarde Blijdorp is the Oceanium. Feast your eyes on your journey through this enchanting world of water, filled with ocean and coastal dwellers, including exotic fish, puffins, playful sea otters, snakes, sharks and jellyfish. One of the highlights is the cold domain of the imposing Emperor Penguins: the Falkland Islands! In this area, you can walk across moving ice floes while the penguins swim by below your feet!

Pannenkoekenboot

Take a pleasant sail along the imposing Rotterdam skyline while enjoying delicious pancakes. In a relaxed setting, eat as many pancakes as you want. Plain, apple and bacon pancakes are ready for you, and there are all sorts of foods available for garnishing your pancakes, including cheese, ham, fruit, jam and chocolate sprinkles. Of course every table also comes equipped with syrup and powdered sugar. Reservations are recommended to prevent disappointment.

PagodaSwan · 11-23-2005, 11:42 AM

Cultural live is vibrant in Rotterdam. There is a broad selection of museums in Rotterdam. From modern art to historical treasures, from architecture to photography, from historical ships to exotic animals - just about anything you can imagine is displayed in a museum in the city. Prominent museums include the Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, the Netherlands Architecture Institute, the Kunsthal, the Wereldmuseum (World Arts Museum), the Maritime Museum, the Netherlands Photomuseum and the Historical Museum of Rotterdam. In addition, there are many interesting galleries and provocative expositions at locations such as the Las Palmas warehouse.

Wereldmuseum Rotterdam

The World Arts Museum centres around encounters and cross-cultural inspiration. The museum stimulates and surprises its visitors with contemporary and historical cultures from both far and near, through unusual exhibitions and events. People from all over the world come to stay in Hotel ‘Het Reispaleis’, the Travel Palace. From Brazil to Uzbekistan, from the Netherlands to Singapore. But why? What are they doing here? What do they bring with them? What kind of work do they do? What things are precious to them? In Hotel ‘Het Reispaleis’, visitors aged 7-13 years can find the answers to those questions and more.

Kunsthal Rotterdam

An exhibition hall that houses some 25 expositions annually. The Kunsthal displays culture in the broadest sense of the word: traditional art, new art, design, photography, from elitist to popular. The Kunsthal often experiments with themes that have never been used for an exhibition before. This approach produces a fascinating and widely varied repertoire. In total, the Kunsthal has 3300 m2 of exhibition space in a striking building, designed by Rem Koolhaas and a true work of art all on its own.

Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen

The museum, founded in 1849, houses a rich, broad collection that can be generally grouped into four wings: Old Art, with masterpieces such as Breughel’s Tower of Babel. The collection of Prints and Drawings and the collection of Applied Arts and Design with their international allure. And the Modern Art wing has an important collection of Surrealism, prominently featuring Margritte and Dali. The programme of exhibits changes periodically.

PagodaSwan · 11-23-2005, 11:44 AM

Rotterdam can be reached in a variety of ways: by car, boat, train, bus and by air. At Rotterdam Airport, flights are continually landing from the major cities of neighbouring countries. Rotterdam Airport is developing rapidly. The number of international flights is increasing; the departure and arrival facilities have been modified to meet today’s needs.
In Hook of Holland, the Stena Line from Harwich docks; travellers from the UK can be at Rotterdam Central Station within half an hour. P&O Northsea Ferries from Hull arrives on the Maasvlakte, where a direct bus to Rotterdam is ready and waiting for foot passengers. Inside the city, a network of buses, trams, water taxis and metro maintains excellent connections. Parking places for coaches can be found, for example, by the Spido, around the Euromast and on Coolsingel.

Parking and paying
For anyone visiting Rotterdam by car should know that payment is by 'chipcard'. Every ticket machine on the streets accepts this form of payment. A separate chipcard is also available. This has a balance in Euros and can be purchased at various points in the city, such as tobacconists and multi-storey car parks. For people who are unable to ‘chip’, there are always the many multi-storey car parks in the centre of Rotterdam which do accept coins and notes and, in some cases a credit card with the VISA/Mastercard icon. Furthermore, at several places in the centre and at major attractions, the ticket machines also accept credit cards. For more information, contact the City Inspectorate (‘Stadstoezicht’).

Parking for coaches
In the centre of Rotterdam special parking places have been arranged for coaches. These parking places are to be found at the following locations:

Blaak (1 parking place at the ‘Maritiem Museum’)
Mariniershof (1 parking place at the ‘Savoy hotel’)
Museumpark ( 1 parking place at museum Boijmans van Beuningen)
Nieuwemarkt ( 1 parking place at the ‘Nationaal Onderwijsmuseum’)
Parkhaven (5 parking places at the ‘Euromast’)
Schiedamsedijk (1 parking place at hotel Inntel)
Willemsplein (17 parking places at the ‘Spido’)