Anyone done a day trip, by ferry, to Amsterdam?

[Hulababy]

Just looking at it for a couple of weekend's time.

3yo DD is keen to go on a boat and sleep.

Well for £72 the 3 of us can sail to Amsterdam by ferry on Saturday night, staying in a cabin. We then have a coach transfer to Amsterdam, spend the Sunday wandering and maybe have a boat trip, spot of lunch, before sailing home that night.

Seems really good cost and a bit of fun. Only concerns are:

• Sunday in Amsterdam - will the cafes be open to eat? Will the boats on the canal be running? Will everything be lcosed?

• February on a boat - I know it is a big boat so not a small crossing, but do you notice the weather rocking the boat. My only experience of a boat is Calais - Dover type crossings!

Thing that is it!

Or, for same price we can do the crossing to Rotterdam and have coach transfer to Bruge. Been to Bruges before, but pre DD (infact bought her pram there as was pg at time) and it was lovely. Same issues I guess.

My mum and dad did this a couple of years ago (from Hull, yes?).

They had a good weekend but they said the ferry trip across was pretty grim - full of young lads booze-cruising, getting p*ssed, throwing up etc. They even saw one peeing into a glass presumably because he was too drunk to get to a loo.

Now I know this may be unusual but I think the cheap offers and Saturday nights may attract them.
Then again we've done the crossing quite a few times in Summer as part of our holiday, and it's been fine for us.

Having said that you may just want to take a couple of bottles of wine to your cabin and have a nice time in there! Your DD will find it very exciting in your cosy little cabin.

Have a good time if you decide to go!

Was thinking of taking some wine and plastic glasses, and some snacks

Also looking at an overnight stay in Amsterdam - including the accomodation would be about £70 more, but means Dh taking a day off work.
Just spoken to my parents and they went last year and enjoyed it - but had an overnight stay. They said the ferry was good.

We wouldn't be going in the bar areas anyway.

No one else?

There's a good science/exploratorium museum called Nemo in Amsterdam. Not sure if it's open on Sundays though.

My mum and Dad did it from Hull.
They did what your looking at with the coach etc. They loved it and have done it again since.

I don't think you'll have a problem with the cafes and restaurants.

The crossing might be bad and if it is you will feel the rocking but I always find if your busy you don't really notice.

With the rowdy lads and things, that will only be a problem if your using the bars. I have done a crossing and slept in the seats. Never again!
If you have a cabin it will be fine but just remember they are small.

HTH

My friend is going to Rotterdam on Thursday for one of those trips so I can update you on Monday about that!

I know two people who have been to Amsterdam and both had a good time. Never heard anything bad about the trips and loads of people go on them round here (I live in Hull).

I'd do Amsterdam myself. I found it very child friendly (was alone with 4 kids while dh was working). Yes Bruges is pretty but Amsterdam is great. Incidentally, did a similar trip from Stockholm to Tallinn last year - beware of drinking types.