The Intentional Travelers

Cruise Port Amsterdam

Amsterdam, Heart of The Netherlands

Approaching The Netherlands from the North Sea cruise ships navigate the North Sea Canal. The canal runs from the IJmuiden locks to the Coenhaven. East of the Coenhaven, the waterway is called the River IJ (both letters are capitalized) and continues up to the Oranjesluizen locks located in the eastern part of Amsterdam. Than from the Oranjesluizen up to the Passenger Terminal in Amsterdam. Unfortunately ships that are transiting into Amsterdam often come in before dawn so as to be tied up early in the day. Passengers that are sailing out of Amsterdam late in the day get a much better appreciation of the systems that protect Holland from the North Sea.

Amsterdam is the largest city in the Netherlands and it’s famous for tulips, cheese, marijuana, red light districts and canals. Many people call the country Holland but the true name is the Netherlands with Holland being the name of two of its states. The people are Dutch as is the name of their language.

The most important thing to know about Amsterdam is when walking in the city, pay attention and stay out of the bike lanes and always watch out for bikes! Everyone rides bikes to get around in this city and in most areas there is a designated bike lane between the sidewalks and the street. The biggest mistake visitors make is seeing the light change, traffic stop and step off the sidewalk without looking for bicycles. Keep you eyes open for bikes – a bicyclist moving at ten miles an hour can do a lot of damage to a pedestrian.

Where Your Ship Docks

Your ship will dock at the Cruise Terminal on the river IJ. The cruise facilities are modern with good access to public facilities. From the terminal it is just a 10-minute walk to the central train station. With the cruise ship at your back walk off to your right along the waterfront to reach the station and central Amsterdam.

The cruise terminal is only a 20 minute ride from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport and just a ten minute walk to Amsterdam Central Train station. There is also frequent train service from the station to Schiphol Airport. Amsterdam also has an excellent and inexpensive bus system.

Wheelchair Accessibility

Disembarking – This port provides a modern cruise terminal with built-in provisions for passengers using wheelchairs like ramps and elevators.

Port City Characteristics – This port has a well developed wheelchair friendly infrastructure. The port area is flat or has few inclines. Intersection crosswalks have few issues with curbs or other wheelchair obstacles.

Getting Around The City

The city is laid out like a fan with major streets radiating out from the Amsterdam Central Train station. The major canals arc across the fan along with a number of city streets. Most major streets are serviced by trams which run every few minutes.

Traveling within Amsterdam by public transportion is easy to understand and very convenient. The network is operated by GVB throughout the central city and connects its neighborhoods with trains, trams, metro, bus and ferry. The least expensive and most convenient way to see the city is with GVB day passes. Available from 1 to 7 days, with prices starting from €8.50 per person, per day and valid on trams, buses and metros operated throughout Amsterdam. You can buy your tickets in advance from the GVB website HERE.

The Netherlands, like other members of the EU uses the euro as its official currency. You will often discover that to avoid the use of the 1 and 2 cent coins, many cash transactions are rounded to the nearest five cents in the Netherlands. Credit and debit cards a commonly accepted but U.S. Dollars need to be changed into Euros.

This is a beautiful city and great for walking (watch out for the bicycles!). Canals lined with boats are at every turn and like most major cities there are books dedicated to seeing this city. Museums, galleries, gardens and historic places are everywhere but often it’s just the cities neighborhoods that make a visit memorable.

Attractions

Rijksmuseum – One of Amsterdam’s most popular attractions – and certainly its most important art repository – the Rijksmuseum was founded in 1809 to house the country’s huge collection of rare art and antiquities.

Van Gogh Museum – A must-visit for art fans and historians, the spectacular Van Gogh Museum has been one of Amsterdam’s top attractions since it opened in 1972.

Vondelpark – The largest and most visited park in Amsterdam, Vondelpark occupies 116 acres.

The Anne Frank House – On the Prinsengracht, the Anne Frank Museum is dedicated to the all-too-short life of one of the world’s best-known Holocaust victims.

If you are visiting in the Spring (usually from late March through early May) a must see is the Keukenhof Gardens, one of the worlds largest flower festivals featuring acres of tulips. Visit our article on the Keukenhof HERE.

The Port of Barcelona, Spain

One of Europes major cruise ports Barcelona is worth a couple of days spent exploring, sampling the food and visiting the shops. Easy to get around in and very walkable.

Port of Call Barcelona Spain

Barcelona is one of the two largest cruise ports in the Mediterranean and is used as an embarkation port as well as a popular port of call. The city is a modern and historic place with a number of iconic neighborhoods and attractions. If you are cruising out of Barcelona do not miss the opportunity to spend a couple of extra days visiting this vibrant city.

Where Your Ship Docks – The entrance to the Barcelona ports and the port shuttle bus stop is at Plaça de les Drassanes just south of the Columbus Monument. The location is very near the foot of La Rambla, a major street which runs through the city centre. For cruise ships there are generally three major port terminal areas. Most cruise ships are docked at Adossat Quay Terminal which is the farthest out and is serviced by a shuttle to the La Rambla area. This includes terminals A, B, C and D.

Barcelona Harbor

There are also 3 terminals at the World Trade Centre pier called North, South and East terminals and are much closer to the Columbus Monument on the waterfront at La Rambla.

The third terminal is Sant Bertrand, and it to is near the World Trade Center (refer to our cruise terminal map). Sant Bertrand is usually used for ferries to the Balearic Islands.

The Shuttle – The T3 PORTBUS (the “Blue Bus”) runs a circuit from all cruise port terminals to near the monument of Christopher Columbus. The tickets for the T3 need to be purchased with cash on the bus itself.

At this writing the tickets cost:

Single ticket: €3.00

With Return ticket: €4.00

Many of the cruise ships also provide a shuttle bus to their passengers for free or a small charge.

Walking – The nearest cruise terminal to La Rambla is about a 15 minute walk away. However the major cruise terminals, which are furthest from La Rambla are about a mile and a quarter (2 Km) from the Columbus Monument. From Christopher Columbus monument to La Rambla is about a 1 minute walk, and the nearest Metro is Drassanes (Green Line, L3), which is another 5 minutes walk.

Barcelona Metro – Barcelona has a good transit system that is excellent for getting around the city. The Barcelona Tourist Travel Pass (also known as the HolaBCN card) is a transport pass specifically designed for tourists. Once purchased it enables you to have unlimited journeys on the Barcelona public transport system which includes the TMB buses from Barcelona Airport to the city centre, the Airport metro from both T1 and T2, the Airport train to the city centre, the entire metro underground system in the whole of the city, the TMB buses that run in the city centre and the suburban tram system. Barcelona Card gives you unlimited transport on the Barcelona transport system (metro, bus, tram). It can be purchased in advance of your trip (save 10%). The Transport Card can be purchased for 2 to 5 days with a 2 day card at €16.40.

There are also a number of tour buses like Hop Off Hop On and you can find more information HERE.

Taxi – A taxi from the port to the city centre is normally less than 10 minutes with a fare of about €20.00. A Taxi to Barcelona airport from the cruise port should take about 25 minutes with a fare: of €30.00 – €35.00.

What To See – Barcelona is a city steeped in culture and history and many think it is the city itself that is the main attraction. From great food to an exciting night life, from the old Gothic quarter to the modern shopping districts this is a truly remarkable city.

Barcelona is famous for the fantastic architecture of Antonio Gaudí, whose buildings can be found scattered around the city. The most famous can be found along Passeig de Gràcia where you will find La Pedrera and Casa Batlló. There is also the Parc Güell which is a incredible park designed by Gaudí himself. The most notable of Gaudí’s works is the Sagrada Familia, the huge, still unfinished Basilica.

The Gothic Cathedral in the heart of the Gothic quarter is a must-see as is a walk up Las Ramblas. Make sure to save time to explore the winding side streets with their shops and restaurants.

There are also a number of great museums in the city. The MACBA (museum of modern art) and the CCCB next door are worth an hour or two. The Picasso and the permanent Dalí exhibition in the Gothic Quarter are always worth a visit. The Caixa Forum is a museum which has different art exhibitions every month. It is just off Plaça Espanya, on Avenida Marques.

If you have more than a few hours be sure and visit the Poble Espanyol, an open-air architectural museum in Barcelona. Located approximately a quarter mile away from the Fountains of Montjuïc. It was built for the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition (Worlds Fair), the museum consists of 117 full-scale buildings replicated from different places in Spain, together making up a small town recreating urban atmospheres. It is full of cafes, restaurants, small shops and exhibits.

The Port of San Diego

The Port of Call of San Diego in Southern California

What’s not to like with a near perfect year-round temperature, 70 miles of coastline and beaches, a major U.S. Naval Base, an interesting historic area and world famous Balboa Park. Balboa features 17 museums, numerous galleries and performing arts venues along with the incredible San Diego Zoo. It isn’t hard to fall in love with San Diego.

The port is popular with cruise lines as a departure port for cruises up the coast, over to Hawaii and south through the Panama Canal. If you are cruising from San Diego this is an amazing world class port so be sure and schedule time to see the city.

Where Your Ship Docks

Most cruise ships will dock right downtown at the B Street Cruise Pier featuring a cruise terminal with good public facilities. Across the street from the pier are a number of excellent hotels and just another block up is a rapid rail stop for the Green Line trolly. A little over a half mile south of the terminal is Seaport Village, a collection of shops and restaurants on the water in an attractive setting. The aircraft carrier Midway Museum is also nearby along with a number of additional historic ship exhibits.

Transportation

San Diego has an economical public transportation system featuring a light rail system that includes over fifty area stops. Just two blocks from the pier is a light rail stop where you can catch a trolly down to Old Town for a fare of $2.50. You can purchase one to 30-day passes for the transit system right from your smartphone and use them immediately using the Compass-Cloud app.

Currency

The U.S. Dollar is the accepted currency with credit and debit cards welcome almost everywhere. Changing foreign currency can be a challenge with facilities available mostly at the airport.

Attractions

OLD TOWN was the original historic heart of San Diego. Created in 1769, Old Town San Diego was California’s first settlement with only a mission and a fort. Stroll the lush gardens or browse at one of the many specialty shops for treasures from around the world. To get to Old Town by Trolley take the Green Line that runs right along the waterfront.

San Diego Beach

First and foremost is The San Diego Zoo, one of the best zoos in the United States. It is a non-profit zoo and wildlife sanctuary featuring over 3,500 rare and endangered animals representing more than 650 species and subspecies, and a prominent botanical garden with more than 700,000 exotic plants.

San Diego is also home to one of the SeaWorld parks along with the Birch Aquarium at Scripps. Birch Aquarium is a public exploration center of the world-renowned Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. Sitting on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the aquarium features more than 60 habitats of fishes and invertebrates from the cold waters of the Pacific Northwest to the tropical waters of Mexico and beyond.

In addition to the zoo and aquariums San Diego has a lot more to offer. There is a good hop-on hop-off bus that travels all around the city and out to Coronado.

Coronado sits right in the middle of the harbor and often is referred to as an island but actually is attached at the southern end to the mainland. It is also features a Naval Air Station, a Naval Amphibious Base and is home to the Navy SEALS. If you want to rub shoulders with a SEAL stop in at Mc P’s Pub, a local hangout founded by an ex-SEAL more than a couple of decades ago. It’s not far from the “The Del” (Del Coronado Hotel) a famous hotel on Coronado beach.

If you are catching a cruise from San Diego we recommend allowing a couple of days extra to see this beautiful city. Balboa Park is worth a whole day by itself with the museums and zoo. Also try and fit in a visit to Seaport Village, with its waterfront shops and restaurants, located just south of the cruise pier. For good Italian food try the Little Italy neighborhood or for great seafood check out the restaurants along the waterfront.

Todays Featured Poster • French Polynesia

They are called the Society Islands and are an archipelago located in the South Pacific Ocean. Politically, they are part of French Polynesia, an overseas part of the French Republic. Geographically, they include Tahiti, Bora Bora, Moorea and over a dozen smaller islands. The island is also spelled Moʻorea from the Tahitian word meaning “yellow lizard”. The official language is French and this small group of volcanic island boasting fantastic beaches, coral reefs and incredible beach resorts.

Join us as we visit historic treasures, natural wonders and vibrant cities set against backdrops that are endlessly changing and visually magnificent. Celebrate a world of travel experiences with these decorating accessories that are perfect for framing.

The Port Of Call Nassau, Bahamas

A favorite port for three and four day cruises out of Florida as well as returning longer cruises, Nassau has a lot to offer.

Where You’re Ship Docks

Cruise ships dock at Prince George Wharf, sometimes as many as five are there at once. The wharf is located right in downtown Nassau with a large number of good restaurants and plenty of “duty free” shopping. The island is also famous for it numerous great beaches as well as coral reefs, sport fishing and boating.

Crossing a bridge in downtown Nassau gets you to Paradise Island, home of Atlantis and other resorts. It is a two mile walk from the cruise piers over to Paradise Island across a connecting bridge.