You've convinced me that the private car to and from the airport in Amsterdam is the best way for me to go. The train is probably the best way to go if you're young and travel light. However, as we get older it seems like we have more luggage and it's no longer easy to navigate the trains with a couple of suitcases. Sure I'm looking to save wherever I can, but this may not be the place. Given the cost of the cruise and the airline ticket to fly to Europe, a few extra dollars for the private car isn't significant in the total cost of the trip. It's also nice to exit baggage claim and see someone holding a sign that says "Pee".