Why are P&O no longer docking in Amsterdam

[AlisonB1978]

Really frustrated to receive itinerary change - no longer docking at Amsterdam but  at IJmuiden - a 40 minute bus ride away. We’re overnight in Amsterdam but what would have been really handy to pop back to the ship for a quick shower and change before heading into the city for dinner seems like an ordeal. Overnight in Amsterdam was the reason we booked the cruise and now it’s had the shine taken off it. No offer of any goodwill gesture from P&O but they’ve certainly had lots of complaints. Couldn’t tell me why, only that it was for operational reasons. Anyone know what’s happened?

[DS_Dean]

Thats quite poor - the original itinerary was very much about the overnight in Amsterdam and being able to walk off into the city. Surprised there is no goodwill!

 

 

[Pennbank]

Since 1st January 2019 Amsterdam have created a Tourist tax of 8 Euro for Transit Cruise passengers. So they are not using Amsterdam Cruise terminal.  MSC  doing same with Cunard  possibly  berthing overnight in Rotterdam

Edited February 12, 2019 by Pennbank

[Cruising Nomads]

The change might be due to the tourist tax that Amsterdam is implementing on overnight cruise stays.

[AlisonB1978]

Surely they knew this before today though.  Feels like we’ve been cheated by them. We only booked a couple of weeks ago and Amsterdam port was the only reason we booked. Can’t cancel either without significant financial penalty. 

[rosebuds]

This link has information on Ijmuiden https://www.whatsinport.com/Amsterdam.htm .  According to this, we'll avoid hours in the lock system, and I'm hoping this means we'll be more likely to dock in Amsterdam for our Christmas cruise. I've read on previous threads that high winds often prevent docking in Amsterdam. 

 

It would have been nice to pop back to the ship during our overnight stay, but maybe we'll have more time in port?  I'm hoping we can work around this without too much disruption. 

[Haza]

First time cruise with p&o and they change itinerary not happy as the reason I booked this cruise was the over night in Amsterdam. Not happy have put in a complaint. But won't hold my breath,

 

[Haza]

Just so happens notice was given at less than 60 days before cruise so you can't book a alternative with them without a large penalty ££££

[terrierjohn]

10 minutes ago, Haza said:

First time cruise with p&o and they change itinerary not happy as the reason I booked this cruise was the over night in Amsterdam. Not happy have put in a complaint. But won't hold my breath,

 

I suspect that stopping calling at Amsterdam will be a Carnival wide decision because of the cruise ship passenger tax, and probably a lot of other cruise lines will be following suit, at least initially to see what the reaction is from the city authority.

[Rubynic]

We are also on a cruise with an overnight in Amsterdam in Feb 2020 - have not had any notification of the change yet. If this change is due to the €8 tourist tax I would rather be given the option pay this myself than spend hours queuing for & transferring to & from the ship on buses. Like others I am not happy to have lost the convenience of just walking off the ship to the city centre.

[janny444]

Hi....interesting discussion on this subject....I booked 2 cruises for 2019 ...both included an overnight stay in Amsterdam but 2 different cruise lines and the main reason being the overnight stay in Amsterdam...one of our favourite POC.

Last month found out that cruise number one had changed POC....so very disappointed BUT that cruise line offered a couple of minor " sweeteners" OR a full refund AND money for any additional transport costs related to the cruise which we had because we had booked coach transfer down to Southampton at a separate cost.....decided to cancel. All monies including transport costs have been refunded to us.

According to this thread our 2nd cruise has changed where the ships dock but absolutely no " sweeteners offered...bit of a take it or leave it attitude.

We would gladly have paid the 8 euros for the convenience of being in the centre.

Would have thought that  cruises companies already booked for Amsterdam would have been in contract with Amsterdam authorities so that T&Cs ...including payment... would have been agreed.

 

Two different companies ...two different approaches

Edited February 13, 2019 by janny444

[Redding43]

We also received the eMail yesterday for our cruise at the end of March

 

Does anyone have any idea how long the courtesy coaches to and from Amsterdam will run to. If we go out at night I would hate there to be a early last coach time?

[eddie11]

The P&O response to my complaint (regarding a cruise later in the year but with an Amsterdam overnight) says shuttle buses will run through the night.  It does not say the drop off/pick up point.  I wonder if anyone knows?

Edited February 13, 2019 by eddie11

[daiB]

14 minutes ago, eddie11 said:

The P&O response to my complaint (regarding a cruise later in the year but with an Amsterdam overnight) says shuttle buses will run through the night.  It does not say the drop off/pick up point.  I wonder if anyone knows?

The ferry passengers are taken to a point opposite the Centraal Station.

[Haza]

6 hours ago, janny444 said:

Hi....interesting discussion on this subject....I booked 2 cruises for 2019 ...both included an overnight stay in Amsterdam but 2 different cruise lines and the main reason being the overnight stay in Amsterdam...one of our favourite POC.

Last month found out that cruise number one had changed POC....so very disappointed BUT that cruise line offered a couple of minor " sweeteners" OR a full refund AND money for any additional transport costs related to the cruise which we had because we had booked coach transfer down to Southampton at a separate cost.....decided to cancel. All monies including transport costs have been refunded to us.

According to this thread our 2nd cruise has changed where the ships dock but absolutely no " sweeteners offered...bit of a take it or leave it attitude.

We would gladly have paid the 8 euros for the convenience of being in the centre.

Would have thought that  cruises companies already booked for Amsterdam would have been in contract with Amsterdam authorities so that T&Cs ...including payment... would have been agreed.

 

Two different companies ...two different approaches

What are the cruise companies you have booked with.

 

[Sarah1974]

When I cruised with Royal Caribbean a couple of years ago the ship didn't dock in Amsterdam; we had to get a transfer in. 

 

This year I'm sailing on Britannia and have an overnight at Rotterdam; again I will get a transfer in to Amsterdam.

 

In fairness neither cruise was advertised as docking in Amsterdam

[Pennbank]

There are two terminals at Felison, One being being DFDS Passengers embark/debark known as Felison Terminal. Sluisplein 55 1975 AG IJmuiden and the other that usually takes cruise passengers known as Felison Cruise Terminal situated at Cruiseboulevard 10 (for navigation use Volendamkade 1)
1976 EB IJmuiden
 The Terminals are at IJmuiden

 

DFDS who run the ferry from Newcastle have  In cooperation with Brouwer's Tours, DFDS Seaways offers its own busline between Amsterdam and the Felison Terminal. Buses leave daily between 15:00 and 16:00 from the bus stop across from Amsterdam Central Station, directly in front of Hotel Victoria on the corner of the 'Prins Hendrikkade' and 'Damrak'. Busfares can be reserved at the reduced rate of 8 euros per one way trip. If you buy your fare in the bus itself the price is 10 euros. You will be dropped off at 

https://www.amsterdamcruise.nl/getting-here-fctd off at the Felison Terminal, where you can check in. for DFDS.

This is no where near the cruise terminal.

 

The Felison Cruise Terminal is at a different location and is really at point no where.

 

see https://www.amsterdamcruise.nl/getting-here-fct

 

 

 

[DS_Dean]

6 hours ago, janny444 said:

Hi....interesting discussion on this subject....I booked 2 cruises for 2019 ...both included an overnight stay in Amsterdam but 2 different cruise lines and the main reason being the overnight stay in Amsterdam...one of our favourite POC.

Last month found out that cruise number one had changed POC....so very disappointed BUT that cruise line offered a couple of minor " sweeteners" OR a full refund AND money for any additional transport costs related to the cruise which we had because we had booked coach transfer down to Southampton at a separate cost.....decided to cancel. All monies including transport costs have been refunded to us.

According to this thread our 2nd cruise has changed where the ships dock but absolutely no " sweeteners offered...bit of a take it or leave it attitude.

We would gladly have paid the 8 euros for the convenience of being in the centre.

Would have thought that  cruises companies already booked for Amsterdam would have been in contract with Amsterdam authorities so that T&Cs ...including payment... would have been agreed.

 

Two different companies ...two different approaches

 

Interesting indeed. P&O are not a customer service centric company that for sure. Customer care post booking is almost non-existent. Not sure if this is a Carnival brand wide thing, or just P&O.

[janny444]

38 minutes ago, Haza said:

What are the cruise companies you have booked with.

 

MSC...full monies paid refunded & P&O

[eddie11]

Trust me - IJmuiden is not much of a POC.  We were there 5 or more years with MSC (advertised as docking at IJmuiden, not Amsterdam).  We took an MSC excursion to Haarlem, which, iirc, wasn’t far away.  It is lovely - a mini-Amsterdam if you like.  Lots of canals, a lovely square, beautiful houses.  Old wealth on show.

 

https://www.vvvijmuidenaanzee.nl/en

[sogne]

a new sea lock is being built at Ijmuiden which may or may not have a bearing but if P& O automatically billed all ship board accounts for8£ how long might the queue be at the purser's desk? 19 and 20 cruises were probably arranged before the new charge was announced.

[Haza]

33 minutes ago, janny444 said:

MSC...full monies paid refunded & P&O

P&O I should of guessed, this is our first time with them ... not getting of to a good start.

 

[AlisonB1978]

I’ve sent a formal complaint to P&O tonight. Has anyone else?  I guess the more complaints they receive, they may consider some goodwill gesture. Interestingly I received an email from them today asking me to respond to a customer satisfaction survey!! Surely when we booked a cruise advertised as docked at Amsterdam - not somewhere for Amsterdam, there’s a breach of trade descriptions or something (unless the reason for change is completely outside their control)

[Haza]

Found this 

https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/a-change-was-made-to-my-cruise-itinerary-can-i-get-a-refund

 

 

 

[eddie11]

9 minutes ago, AlisonB1978 said:

I’ve sent a formal complaint to P&O tonight. Has anyone else?  I guess the more complaints they receive, they may consider some goodwill gesture. Interestingly I received an email from them today asking me to respond to a customer satisfaction survey!! Surely when we booked a cruise advertised as docked at Amsterdam - not somewhere for Amsterdam, there’s a breach of trade descriptions or something (unless the reason for change is completely outside their control)

Yes, I complained by email to Paul Ludlow yesterday and got a reply yesterday from his office.  No fee-free cancellation or transfer and no OBC.

  It’s their business and it’s up to them to make business decisions.  In this case, I hope it’s such a poor, penny-pinching, decision that they actually lose.

These various cruises stressed o’night IN Amsterdam, not a half-hour shuttle bus ride away.

 

I would happily have paid the blimmin’ €8.  I can’t be the only one?  How much will all those shuttle buses cost?

 

ETA - my reply from P&O referred me to the Ts and Cs and stated that, in their opinion, it was not a significant change.  I would think that, in legal terms, that is correct

Edited February 13, 2019 by eddie11