Crossing guide
What the Amsterdam to Newcastle crossing is like
DFDS’s daily departure from IJmuiden is at 17:30, with arrival on the Tyne at about 09:15 UK time. DFDS gives the crossing as around 16 hours 45 minutes, an hour longer than the outbound run because the clocks go back as you cross. That extra hour helps with a relaxed dinner and a full night’s sleep, and the morning landing gives a whole day for the drive home.
Leaving Amsterdam
The “Amsterdam” sailing leaves from the Felison Terminal at IJmuiden, on the North Sea coast west of the city. DFDS opens check-in at 13:00 and closes it at 16:45 for the 17:30 departure. There is no direct train to the terminal — DFDS suggests the train to Beverwijk and then a bus — and its own coach from behind Amsterdam Central Station takes 30 to 40 minutes depending on traffic.
Arriving in Newcastle
The ship berths at Royal Quays in North Shields rather than in Newcastle itself. Percy Main Metro station is about a 20-minute walk according to the Port of Tyne, which also suggests a taxi from the city takes around half an hour. Leave time for disembarkation and UK border checks before you commit to the onward drive.
Vessels
Ships commonly used on this route
King Seaways
Typical route vessel; assignment is not guaranteed. Check your booking for the ship actually operating.
Princess Seaways
Typical route vessel; assignment is not guaranteed. Check your booking for the ship actually operating.
DFDS names King Seaways and Princess Seaways for this route. They differ for dog owners: DFDS lists small and medium kennels only on King Seaways.
Dogs aboard
Travelling with a dog on DFDS
Coming back, the same DFDS rules apply — pet-friendly cabin or kennel, never the car — but the paperwork changes. A vet in the Netherlands, or wherever you stay, must treat the dog for tapeworm within the window before your North Shields arrival, so book that appointment around the sailing date.
- Documents
- Dogs entering Great Britain need a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and a pet travel document such as an EU pet passport. GOV.UK explains which document applies to where you are travelling from.
- Tapeworm window
- A vet must treat the dog for tapeworm no less than 24 hours and no more than 5 days before you arrive in Great Britain. Count back from the Newcastle arrival time, not the departure.
- Booking
- Reserve a pet-friendly cabin or kennel for the return when you book and add every pet to the booking. If the pet cabins have gone, DFDS asks that you do not book another cabin type for the dog.
- On board
- Pets stay out of public areas except assistance dogs. Walk the dog on a lead to and from the vehicle deck and use the dog exercise deck; there is seating there for owners too.
Carrier and border rules change. Confirm every item with DFDS, the official sources below and your vet before you travel.
Cabin alerts
What SailSoon watches on this route
DFDS monitoring currently covers the next 180 days. Dates further ahead are checked on a rotating schedule. Checks are made for two adults travelling with a car, so other party sizes or foot passengers may see different results. Prices we show are for the cabin or option only, not the full fare, and nothing is reserved for you: book and confirm the total price and pet terms with DFDS.
- Pet-friendly cabins
- Cabins DFDS marks as pet-friendly, when it offers them on the sailing. Check the pet rules and any pet charge on the booking page.
- Premium cabins
- The operator’s premium or deluxe cabin categories, including pet-friendly premium cabins where they exist.
- Standard cabins
- Ordinary private cabins for at least two people, inside or with a window.
- Not monitored
- Kennels, seats, shared berths, deck options and the full fare. Check those directly with DFDS.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How long is the ferry from Amsterdam to Newcastle?
DFDS puts the Amsterdam to Newcastle crossing at around 16 hours 45 minutes: a 17:30 departure from IJmuiden and an arrival at about 09:15 UK time. Confirm the times for your date.
Which ships sail from Amsterdam to Newcastle?
King Seaways and Princess Seaways are the usual ships for this crossing. DFDS names King Seaways and Princess Seaways for this route. They differ for dog owners: DFDS lists small and medium kennels only on King Seaways. The ship on your booking is the one whose cabins and pet facilities apply.
Can I take my dog on the Amsterdam to Newcastle ferry?
Yes, in a pet-friendly cabin or an onboard kennel booked in advance; dogs cannot stay in the car on this DFDS route. Remember Great Britain’s tapeworm treatment, which must be given 24 hours to 5 days before you land.
What paperwork does my dog need for Newcastle?
A microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and an accepted pet travel document such as an EU pet passport, plus tapeworm treatment by a vet between 24 hours and 5 days before you arrive in Great Britain. Check the official guidance before you travel, as rules change.
Does SailSoon alert me to kennels on this route?
No. On DFDS we watch pet-friendly, premium and standard cabins only. Kennel space is not monitored, so check and book kennels directly with DFDS.
Sources
Where these facts come from
- DFDS: Newcastle to Amsterdam (reviewed 2026-09-11)
- DFDS: Amsterdam to Newcastle (reviewed 2026-09-11)
- DFDS: pet-friendly cabins, Newcastle–Amsterdam (reviewed 2026-09-11)
- DFDS: Newcastle terminal (reviewed 2026-09-11)
- DFDS: Amsterdam (IJmuiden) terminal (reviewed 2026-09-11)
- Port of Tyne: terminal directions (reviewed 2026-09-11)
- DFDS: travelling with pets (reviewed 2026-09-11)
- GOV.UK: tapeworm treatment for dogs entering Great Britain (reviewed 2026-09-11)
Member alerts
Get told when a Amsterdam to Newcastle cabin appears
Create a free account, then set the dates and cabin types you need on this route. We email you when a matching cabin shows up in DFDS’s booking system.
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