Amsterdam travel and hotel question

[Taxman2001]

My family will be traveling on a cruise departing from Amsterdam this upcoming June. We are wondering how much time people usually spend in the city. We were either going to arrive in Amsterdam one or two days prior to the cruise.

 

Also, we are looking for a hotel recommendation that is close to the port and also close to the main sights (if possible).

 

There are two adults and 3.5 year old in our party.

 

Thank you for any insights!

[Sauer-kraut]

You can spend a few days in Amsterdam, don't forget you'll have jet lag so the first day will kind of be a washout. There is a tour through the Heineken factory which is a lot of fun, canal cruises, the flower market, Anne Frank House, as well as wonderful world class museums. One can spend ALL DAY in the Reijksmuseum.

 

Have a wonderful trip

[LHT28]

You have some answers in the Baltic forum for the same question you asked

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=40596787#post40596787

[Syrreal]

We will be back in AMS next year (with our then 7 and 3.5 year old). We will be staying at the Hotel Estherea for 1 night before and 2 nights after our cruise. We like smaller "different" hotels and this one seemed really good with extra beds and family rooms and got great reviews.

[SixOneTwo]

The Movenpick hotel is attached to the cruise terminal. The Doubletree is around the corner and walkable. Both of these are within walking distance of the train terminal.

 

We stayed at the Doubletree, which was perfect in every way.

[Ine]

Any hotel around Centraal Station is close to the cruise terminal.

Since Amsterdam is rather compact, very walkable but also has good public transport, you are never far away from any attraction.