We just sailed RT from Amsterdam. We flew in the day before the cruise and stayed at a hotel right at the central train station. for 5 Euros each the train was a great option. from our hotel it cost us about 10 Euros to get to the ship. As far as leaving, we carried off our luggage, caught a cab to the airport (80 Euros) and joined the chaos that is AMS. The airport is always a zoo as it is a major hub. We waited 1.5 hours to drop our bags and then about 45-50 minutes to clear security. Passport control took 5 minutes and we were off to our gate. If you can, it might be a good idea to spend a day or so in Amsterdam after the cruise and enjoy the offerings of Amsterdam.