We have found it advisable to travel to our embarkation country if not the city itself a few days before the cruise begins especially when traveling overseas.  So many things can disrupt the best planned travel.  We have had canceled flights, weather, trains shut down etc. Additionally for international flights we use the flight program through the major cruise lines.  The prices are very competitive and at least on Princess and Holland America there is flexibility in rebooking and changing flights until final payment is due.  That has come in very handy over the years.

For this trip we wanted to see some of the Netherlands before we got on the ship.  Frankly, the number of days was dictated by the flights, price points and availability.  Ultimately we elected to spend two nights in Amsterdam, one in Delft and then one the night before the cruise in Rotterdam.

Arrival at Schipol Airport was a mixed bag due to the new EES system for immigration so it took about 75 minutes to get through.  Lots to fix there.  But once through began our first of three train trips.  The train station is in the airport, well marked.  All public transport including trains is tap in tap out with a ticket, a pass or a credit/debit card.  We did not buy a ticket, rather just tapped in BEFORE you go down to the platforms.  The reader is near the ticket machines but the airport does not use entry gates so pay attention. The train service to Amsterdam Centraal is very frequent and took 15 minutes.  Could not be simpler.

We stayed at the INK Hotel about a 10 minute walk from the train station.  It was centrally located. Well designed and converted from a newsprinting factory.  It hosts a bar and a restaurant of which we did not partake.  The decor is fun and the rooms efficient. A solid stay.  After three days, two nights of touring, museums, canals and great food, it was time to move on.

For the train trip from Amsterdam to Delft (and from Delft to Rotterdam) we purchased the tickets in advance on the NS website.  Why?  If purchased in advance there was a sizeable discount.  The train tickets in The Netherlands are for that route, that day, not for a specific time which allowed for flexibility and the discounted tickets provided a window to travel during the day for the discount (e.g. 10am to 3pm) and that fit nicely into our schedule.  It was a straight shot one hour train ride.  Clean comfortable and efficient.

After much reading online we chose Delft for a stopover.  We enjoy the contrast of the bigger cities with the smaller ones.  So much of what we read pointed to Delft as charming, welcoming and thought of as Little Amsterdam. In short, everything we read was correct. We thoroughly enjoyed it. 

City center is a quick 10-15 walk from the train station.  Our hotel was close to the train station on the way to the city center.  We stayed at The Arsenaal.  Converted from the old arsenal that stood on that spot.  It is a stunning renovation keeping elements of the old armory with the modern.  Full amenities including a bar, a restaurant and an included breakfast buffet, which was a bit above average.  Moreover, the rooms were spacious and very well designed.  A beautiful hotel.

The next day was a quick walk back to the train station for the ride to Rotterdam Blaak station (one stop after the Centraal station but closer to our hotel).  Eighteen minute train ride.  Again, quick and efficient. We were using a free Marriott rewards night at the CitizenM hotel in the Old Harbour.  Lesson: Google maps is not always the best or most accurate.  Upon arrival, Google took us up stairs, around the cube houses, looped into Old Harbour, back down again to the hotel that was literally across the street from the train station in the opposite direction. 

The CitizenM is a well designed urban hotel maximizing little space with more communal style lobbies, work spaces and lounge areas.  The room was admittedly small but surprisingly utilitarian.

It was very convenient to shopping, the Markthal and the Harbour area.  Very close to the train, tram and metro as well.  It was such a beautiful morning when we left we walked to the cruise port over the Erasmus Bridge.  Thirty minutes from door to door in an easy walk. 

All of our tours, dining and sightseeing are in the individual posts.  We embarked the Holland America Rotterdam for our first ever cruise with this line after twenty plus years exclusively sailing with Princess.  At the end of the two week cruise a comprehensive post of our experience on Holland America will be forthcoming.

Happy sailing!