Ready for the season

Thursday 7 May 2026

Cruise Port Amsterdam sets her course

Cruise Port Amsterdam (CPA) enters the new season with confidence. The course has been set, agreements are in place, and the organisation is fully prepared to deliver what it has planned for: facilitating sea and river cruise ships as well as events at Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA). The first port calls and events have already taken place. CPA does so with a strong focus on quality and consideration for its surroundings.

Cruise Port Amsterdam focuses on quality

Cruise Port Amsterdam (CPA) is located at Passenger Terminal Amsterdam, on the banks of the IJ. The terminal’s unique architecture – defined by the building’s transparent wave – symbolises the connection between water, the IJ, and land, the city of Amsterdam. This transparency also reflects CPA’s course.

The year 2026 will see extensive testing of shore power for sea cruise ships. From 2027 onwards, CPA will mandate the use of shore power for sea-going cruise ships. Globally, this requirement will apply from 2030. For river cruise ships, the mandatory use of shore power at Amsterdam berths has been in place since 2020. Enforcing shore power significantly reduces noise and emissions, thereby improving the overall quality of port calls.

Dick de Graaff, Managing Director of CPA, comments:
“We continuously invest in innovative and sustainable developments that support both the economy and the liveability of the surrounding area. Our focus extends beyond ships alone to include suppliers and service providers. This year, for example, we are constructing charging infrastructure for electric coaches and buses at PTA – a clean facility that benefits both the business and the local environment.”

PTA can be regarded as a frontrunner in innovation and sustainability compared to other terminals. Dick continues: “We are indeed leading the way in innovation and sustainability, but this is also the result of how we have designed our operational set-up. Every square metre of the terminal is utilised. The quay is used for both sea and river cruise ships – something that remains unique today – and the location regularly hosts tailor-made events. We are a truly multifunctional terminal, and one we can be proud of.”

Ocean cruise: course requiring clear communication

The first sea cruise ships have already berthed, marking not only the start of the season but also underlining CPA’s approach to sea cruising: future-oriented, with a strong focus on environmental impact. However, stricter framework conditions mean that not all ships can be accommodated anymore. This requires timely and clear communication with the market.

Dick explains: “We started this process years ago, because cruise lines plan their itineraries two years in advance. Vessels with Tier 0 engines, for example, are no longer eligible to call, and the shore power developments coming into force in 2027 also have an impact. You must not surprise the market; you need to involve stakeholders early on. For our partners, it is essential that we clearly communicate our strategy and remain a reliable partner.”

Every year in April, key industry players gather at the Seatrade Cruise Global Conference in Miami – the premier platform for industry dialogue. One of the key themes of the 2026 conference was identifying opportunities within the sea cruise sector to stimulate innovation. CPA is, of course, represented and traditionally hosts the annual Dutch kick-off breakfast for stakeholders and clients together with Cruise Port IJmuiden. Later in the year, Seatrade Cruise Med is also on the agenda.

For local residents and suppliers, the annual ‘Amsterdam Port Days’ take place each June, during which the public is warmly welcomed at PTA. CPA traditionally concludes the season with its annual Captain’s Cocktail at PTA for suppliers and partners.

River cruise: familiar with the rhythm of the city Amsterdam

River cruising is once again clearly visible on the waterways. Cruise ships arrive and depart in sync with the daily rhythm of the city of Amsterdam. This visibility calls for careful coordination and oversight. Through capacity spreading and clear agreements, sufficient space is maintained along the quays and in the surrounding area. All operations are meticulously prepared.

The result is a controlled and well-managed start to the season, where river cruise oships form part of urban life without dominating it. The start of 2026 demonstrates that this approach is effective and establishes a familiar rhythm within the city.

River cruise ships may qualify for the Green Award, an international certification recognising excellence in quality and environmental performance. CPA already began exclusively admitting Green Award–certified ships in 2021.

Monic van der Heyden, Commercial Director of CPA and President of River Cruise Europe, states:
“We are in a unique position here to facilitate the most sustainable vessels in the market. We occupy a leading role, one from which other cities wish to learn. River cruising is continuously innovating and often leads developments within the wider maritime and inland shipping sectors. Most ships already operate with onboard battery systems, and it is expected that the first fully electric river cruise ship will be launched in 2027.”

Monic takes pride in anticipating changing conditions, maintaining flexibility, and actively involving both clients and the local environment. Local stakeholder meetings are held regularly, while internationally the annual River Cruise Europe Conference takes place. This year’s conference will be held from 8–10 June in Breisach am Rhein. Monic adds:
“One of the key themes at the conference is the small-scale nature of river cruising and the opportunities this creates for targeted, small-group excursions. This is far more enjoyable for guests and much better aligned with the rhythm of a city.”

Passenger Terminal Amsterdam: tailor-made events

Since its opening in 2000, Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA) has also operated as an event venue and is similarly entering the new season. For PTA, this does not necessarily mean more events, but events with impact—events that match the character of the location and attract clients who consciously choose a venue with identity. What was once an empty space once again becomes a bespoke setting for meaningful encounters and storytelling.

Rosanne Beekman, Head of Events at PTA, explains:
“All events we host are fully customised. The venue is a blank canvas and requires bold clients who are innovative and creative. Organisers often tell me that their creative mind is immediately tickled when entering our venue. The space challenges you to be sharp, and that is precisely what strengthens the final result.”

Well-known highlights include hosting the tall ships of SAIL Amsterdam every five years. PTA also served as a reception venue and security hub during the inauguration of King Willem‑Alexander and Queen Máxima. This occasion marked the launch of the ‘ijVENUES’ collaboration, comprising PTA, Mövenpick Amsterdam City Centre, Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ and BIMHUIS.

In April, an event was held in collaboration with Mövenpick Amsterdam City Centre. Rosanne elaborates: “The International Hotel Technology Forum Europe event is an excellent example of this cooperation. The plenary sessions took place at Mövenpick Amsterdam City Centre, while the break-out sessions were hosted at PTA. Normally this is arranged the other way around, but this flexibility is possible thanks to the strong collaboration with both partners and the client.”

Many clients return on a recurring basis. In 2020, a partnership was established with the University of Amsterdam to host examinations, making PTA an official exam location for the city since then.

Moving forward with confidence

Now that the season has truly begun, the benefits of thorough preparation are clearly visible. Not only in logistics and planning, but above all in the way people perform their work. Employees, partners and stakeholders work together to bring everything together: attention to detail, craftsmanship and flexibility when it matters most. The first weeks of the season are therefore not a peak, but rather a confirmation—proof that strategic choices deliver results when consistently implemented.

Cruise Port Amsterdam moves in step with the rhythm of the city and the water, guided by the same principles that shaped its preparation.
Not bigger.
Not faster.
Simply underway—and ready for what lies ahead.

HAL