Amsterdam - Newcastle

Getting there and the IJmuiden terminal

The ferry does not depart from Amsterdam itself, but from IJmuiden, around 20 kilometres west on the North Sea coast. Set your sat nav for the terminal at Sluisplein 33, 1975 AG IJmuiden. There is no direct rail link to the terminal; from central Amsterdam, the DFDS transfer bus (also known as the Brouwers bus) takes you to the port. If you are driving, IJmuiden has a guarded, fenced car park with CCTV that you can book in advance; it closes once the ferry has sailed and reopens for your return.

Check-in and departure

The ferry sails daily at 17:30 from IJmuiden. Check-in opens at 13:00 and closes at 16:45, i.e. 45 minutes before departure. In the other direction, the ship leaves North Shields at 17:00, with check-in open from 14:00 to 16:15. Vehicles check in at the signposted vehicle counters, while foot passengers check in at the terminal building and board via a pedestrian bridge. For low-slung or lowered vehicles, DFDS recommends arriving around 45 to 60 minutes after check-in opens. Since this is a crossing between mainland Europe and the UK, you will need a valid passport and a UK ETA; keep your booking confirmation and any vehicle or pet documents to hand as well. What entry into the UK requires is covered in our entry requirements guide.

Cabins compared

As this is an overnight crossing, a cabin is included; every cabin has its own bathroom with shower and toilet. The category decides your location, space and inclusions, and it accounts for a large part of the price.

For a single night, Economy is enough for most travellers; if you see the crossing as part of the holiday, Sea view or Commodore with breakfast is worth the upgrade. Cabin prices rise with demand, and the cheaper categories sell out first over summer. If you just want to experience the ship, book the route as a mini-cruise with two nights on board and a day in Newcastle.

On board

The sister ships King Seaways and Princess Seaways operate the route. For food, there is the Explorer's Kitchen buffet restaurant, the à la carte North Sea Bistro, and the Coffee Crew café serving Starbucks coffee, plus bars, live music, a cinema and a duty-free shop. You can pay on board by card or cash, in either euros or pounds sterling - so there is no need to sort out a separate currency just for the crossing. The car deck stays closed overnight, so take anything you need for the night into the cabin with you.

Fares by vehicle type

The fare is made up of your vehicle, the number of passengers and the cabin. The gap between low and high season is wider on this route than on the Channel crossings, because cabin capacity is the limiting factor: by the summer holidays, only the pricier categories are left. If you want to travel in July or August, book early and use DFDS's early-bird offer of up to 15% off; in the low season from October to March, last-minute bookings are good value too. Entry fares for this route, and how it compares with the Channel routes and Rotterdam-Hull, are on the prices page.

Travelling by motorhome

DFDS carries motorhomes up to 4 metres in height, in length classes up to 7, 10 and 12 metres; a standard car is charged as a normal vehicle up to 1.85 metres in height and 5 metres in length, with anything larger declared at booking with its exact dimensions, including bike racks and roof boxes. Gas cylinders must be turned off and secured for the crossing, and the fridge runs on the battery overnight. For motorhome travellers, this route is the most comfortable way to reach Scotland: you skip the drive through Belgium, France and the length of England, and wake up around 100 kilometres from the Scottish border. After arrival you are on the left-hand side of the road, and Scotland's single-track roads in the Highlands take patience with a motorhome. Details on dimensions, gas and driving in Great Britain are in our motorhome guide.

Travelling with a dog

Pets can travel too and must be registered when booking. In the four-berth pet-friendly cabins, with sea view and vinyl flooring, up to two medium-sized dogs are allowed inside; alternatively you can book a kennel on the same deck, though your dog may not stay in the vehicle on this route. Animals are not allowed in the ship's public areas, but there is a dedicated dog-friendly outside deck next to the pet cabins and kennels, reached only by stairs. Pet-friendly cabins are limited and sell out early over the holidays, so book ahead. For entry, your dog needs a microchip, an EU pet passport, a rabies vaccination at least 21 days old, and tapeworm treatment 24 to 120 hours before arrival. What dogs and cats need for the trip to Great Britain is covered in our guide to travelling with pets.

Arrival in Newcastle and onward travel to Scotland

In England you arrive at the International Ferry Terminal in Royal Quays, North Shields (NE29 6EE), north-east of Newcastle. By car, you are in central Newcastle in around 20 minutes; the DFDS transfer bus (Go North East) takes foot passengers to Newcastle Central station, and the nearby Percy Main and Meadowell Metro stations also connect you to the local transport network.

Newcastle is the ideal starting point for Scotland, with the border only around 100 kilometres to the north:

• By car to Edinburgh: From the terminal via the A19 and the coastal A1, in around 2.5 hours for about 195 kilometres, with detours to Alnwick, Bamburgh Castle and Holy Island possible along the way. The A68 through the Cheviot Hills via Jedburgh takes about as long and is the more scenic option.
• By train to Edinburgh: LNER trains on the East Coast Main Line run from Newcastle Central to Edinburgh Waverley in 1 hour 25 minutes to 1 hour 50 minutes, several times an hour. From Edinburgh, ScotRail gets you to Glasgow in just under an hour and to Inverness in around 3.5 hours.
• Further into the Highlands: By car you can reach Glasgow in around 3 hours, and Fort William or Inverness in about 5 hours. Northumberland, Hadrian's Wall and the Lake District are on the way or make an easy day trip.

Because the run to Edinburgh is so short, the ferry also works well as an extended weekend trip: board in IJmuiden in the evening, arrive in Newcastle by morning, and be on the Royal Mile by lunchtime.

Tickets and fares

Because a cabin is included for the overnight crossing, it is already factored into the ferry price; how much you pay depends on the travel period, cabin category, vehicle and number of passengers. Booking early secures DFDS's early-bird discount of up to 15%. Changes to your booking can be made online via the Manage My Booking area; a rebooking fee and any price difference may apply. The current prices for your travel date are shown in the route's booking window. If you would rather experience the route as a short break, details of the mini-cruise with two nights on board and a day in Newcastle are on its own guide page.