In IJmuiden you will find not one but two cruise terminals with -unfortunately- almost the same name. This can be rather confusing so please check (and check again!) where exactly you need to go!
Almost all cruise ships will be moored at the Felison Cruise Terminal, which is located in IJmuiden aan Zee (see map), almost on the beach. This specific location makes IJmuiden to an interesting port of call for a growing amount of cruise operators. A lot of the major touristic sites and cities in the low lands are within reach but the ships do not have to pass the shiplocks in IJmuiden and can also skip the journey through the almost 25 kilometer long North Sea Canal, on their way to Amsterdam. Still, a lot of interesting places in the area can be visited easily!
Only a very few cruise ships will be alongside the quay at the much smaller Felison Terminal (see maps), which is closer to the city center of IJmuiden. This terminal is located next to the wellknown ferry terminal, where the daily service (DFDS Seaways) to Newcastle-upon-Tyne/North Shields in the United Kingdom leaves.
Both the terminals can easily be reached by public transport but always keep in mind that there is no train station in IJmuiden anymore so you always need to take a bus from Amsterdam (Sloterdijk station), Haarlem (Central station) or nearby Beverwijk (station).
In the past, there also was a very nice, comfortable and affordable connection between IJmuiden and Amsterdam with fast hydrofoils (known as the “Fast Flying Ferries”) but this service has been terminated on the 1st of January, 2014. This connection is still mentioned on several websites but it is not operational anymore! The alternative way of getting to and from IJmuiden is using the frequent driving and comfortable public busses; you can easily check on all connections by using the website www.9292ov.nl.
Please be very aware of the fact that a lot of taxi drivers (especially the ones not coming from places nearby) are not really familiar with the locations of the two different cruise terminals and they may drop you off at the wrong place unintentionally. Keep in mind that it may take up to 45 minutes to walk from one terminal to the other! So, the general rule is, if you can’t see (the funnel of) the ship that you’re supposed to be on, you are most likely at the wrong place!
In case you need a taxi to go from terminal to the other (or somewhere else) you can call the reliable local taxi companies Taxi van der Valk +31 255 538 000 or Taxi Marcus +31 255 516 000