Within Walking Distance
Carnival cruises to Amsterdam ferry you to the wave-shaped Passenger Terminal in the heart of the city. The docks buzz with entertainment venues, chic bars, and some of Amsterdam's top restaurants. Explore the city with the Amsterdam Walking Tour & Canal Cruise excursion.
Beyond the Port Area
Enjoy a nice walk around the picture-book Canal Belt then take a relaxing Canal Cruise excursion along canals crisscrossed by humpbacked bridges and fringed by step-gabled merchants' houses recalling Amsterdam's 17th-century Golden Age.
Sneak a peek at De Wallen, the Red Light district of this famously liberal city, on the Red Light District Walk excursion. The Gothic Oude Kerk, Amsterdam's oldest church, rises above a tangle of peep shows, narrow canals, and smoky coffee shops. The neoclassical Royal Palace stands proud on the bustling Dam Square nearby.
It's a joy to simply wander the Jordaan neighborhood, its warren of lanes crammed with hole-in-the-wall boutiques, galleries, and canal-side cafes. Be moved by the Anne Frank House & Amsterdam excursion as you tour the secret hideaway of Jewish girl Anne Frank in the house where she penned her well-known diary. For the best views on Carnival cruises to Amsterdam, visit the neighboring Westerkerk church, where Rembrandt lies buried in an unmarked grave. Amsterdam's canals and gabled houses seem toytown tiny from the 280 ft.-high tower.
While on the Sightseeing, Canal Cruise & Shopping excursion, you’ll enjoy a panoramic drive past the Baroque-style Royal Palace and the Queen’s residence. Continue past the Mint Tower and the New Church. Finally, pass the Central Railway Station and the 15th century Weeper’s Tower before boarding your glass domed canal boat for a one-hour canal cruise through the waterways of Amsterdam.
Looking for unique gifts? Stroll the charming Negen Straatjes (Nine Streets) nearby. In its boutiques and specialty shops you'll find everything from Gouda cheese and designer house wares to handmade jewelry and vintage fashion.
Combine four centuries of diamond craftsmanship with a fabulous city tour on the Diamonds & Amsterdam excursion.
Arts and Culture in Amsterdam
Art fans are in for a real treat while on the Van Gogh Museum & Sightseeing excursion. Visit the city's cultural centerpiece, the Museumplein (Museum Quarter), where the Van Gogh Museum showcases the world's largest collection of the artist's landscapes, still-lifes, and self-portraits. Old Dutch masters hang out in the turreted Rijksmuseum. Seek out star pieces like Rembrandt's The Night Watch and Vermeer's The Milkmaid. If 20th- and 21st-century art is more your scene, pop over to the Stedelijk, which houses a first-rate collection of works by Picasso, Rodin, Warhol, and Man Ray. The world-famous Concertgebouw, celebrated for its orchestra and acoustics, is just a few steps away. You can also explore the life of a genius at the central Rembrandt House, where the Dutch Golden Age artist lived and painted for 20 years.
Dining in Amsterdam
Dining in Amsterdam, Holland, is a laid-back affair—whether you're picnicking in Vondelpark or snacking at a sidewalk food vending machine. Choose from French cuisine, Thai curries, and Indonesian Rijsttafel (rice table) on Utrechtsestraat, or hit Nieuwmarkt for good-value Chinese. Hapjes (appetizers) like meatballs and kroketten (deep-fried dough balls) go well with Dutch beer in one of Jordaan's snug, wood-paneled brown cafes. Sit by the canal-side in summer.
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