Are You Ready To Sail To Amsterdam Pride?

The countdown is on! It’s time to start planning and fine tuning all those little details that will make our OUTbound cruise along the Rhine River from Basel to Amsterdam even more exciting! Below are a few things to help you make the most of your vacation with us. As always, if you have any questions that we haven’t covered, or have a special request, hit us up… either by phone at 916.683.1000 or email us at info@iamOUTbound.com.

Let’s get started!

Flights

Flight Ideas

Since our Amsterdam Pride cruise sails from Basel and we end in Amsterdam, many OUTbounders are booking a ‘Multi-City’ ticket when looking for flights. The ‘Multi-City’ option can be found on most airline’s websites where you would choose between a one-way or round trip flight or under the ‘Advanced Search’ link. With the ‘Multi-City’ option, you’ll be able to enter your departure airport, arrival in either Zürich (ZRH) or Basel (BSL), and then a departure from Amsterdam (AMS) back to your original airport. The multi-city option will often be cheaper than purchasing two one-way tickets separately.

The largest airport servicing Basel is Zürich (ZRH). Another option is to fly directly into Basel (BSL), just keep in mind Basel’s airport is small and flight options might be limited.

Another option is to book a round trip ticket to Amsterdam, and then a one-way ticket from Amsterdam to either Zürich or Basel. Both KLM and Swiss Air have several daily non-stop flights from Amsterdam to Zürich.

The airline you choose is completely up to you. While flights are not included, we’re always happy to help narrow down the best flight options for you. Simply give us a call or send us an email, letting us know where you’ll be flying from, if you have a preferred airline (based on frequent flyer miles or credit card points), and what class of service you typically like to book.

And of course the standard disclaimer, you are always welcome to book any flight or airline you wish and OUTbound does not guarantee or endorse any airline or flight.

Since our ship will depart Basel at 6:00pm, we do not recommend any flights arriving in Zürich after 1:00pm on Sunday, August 1st.

Boarding Our Ship

Getting to the Ship

Getting to our ship at the Basel River Cruise Dock on the Rhine River from Zürich International Airport (ZHR) normally takes about an hour and a half by car, depending on traffic.

Basel River Cruise Dock Address: St. Johanns-Rheinweg 109, 4056 Basel

By Rideshare: Uber is available all over France and Switzerland. Uber fares from the Zürich airport to our ship docked at the Basel River Cruise Port will often run anywhere from €300 to €350, depending on the time of day and traffic.

By Train: Trains in France and Switzerland are always a great option. The travel time from the Zürich airport to the Basel River Cruise Dock will take anywhere from an hour and a half to two hours, and tickets will often run anywhere from €70 to €130, depending on the time of day and class of service you reserve.

Remember, if you are staying with us in Zürich at our host hotel before the cruise, your transfers from the hotel to our ship in Basel are included in your hotel package.

Boarding

Boarding officially begins at 1:00pm local time on Sunday, August 1st, but you are free to arrive at our ship at any time after 11:00am. In the event your stateroom is not ready when you arrive, feel free to drop your bags at the reception desk, grab a drink from the bar and relax in the Panoramic Lounge or head up top to the Sun Deck to recover from your long travel day.

You can also head back out into Regensburg and do a little exploring of this incredible city on your own.

Pre-Cruise Zürich Hotel

Zürich Hotel

Who wouldn’t want to get their vacation started early by joining us for a few days in Zürich before our cruise starts?

We have partnered with one of our favorite hotels, the 25 Hours Langstrasse Zürich, to offer our OUTbounders the chance to arrive early and explore the amazing city of Zürich. Our pre-cruise packages include the price of your room, your daily buffet breakfast, all the city taxes and your transfer from our hotel in Zürich to our ship in Basel on Friday.

Getting To Our Host Hotel in Zürich

The 25 Hours Langstrasse Zürich is located at Langstrasse 150, 8004 Zürich, Switzerland

Getting to our host hotel from the Zürich airport is easy! Just grab a taxi or Uber once you have collected your bags and exited the customs area. Taxis can be found on the ground level, just outside the Arrivals Hall. The Uber meeting spot is nearby.

To add one of our pre-cruise Zürich packages, and to see all of the hotel accommodation choices, simply click HERE, log into your profile and then click on ‘Your Reservations’… or just give us a call and we can take care of that for you!

Post-Cruise Amsterdam Hotel

Amsterdam Hotel

Want to spend a few extra days in Amsterdam after our cruise has ended? We have you covered there too! We’ve partnered with another of our favorite hotels, the Swissotel Amsterdam, to arrange accommodations for those of you looking to spend a few extra days in this incredible city once all the Pride festivities have ended. Our post-cruise packages include the price of your room, your daily buffet breakfast, and all the city taxes.

To add one of our post-cruise Amsterdam packages, and to see all of the hotel accommodation choices, simply click HERE, log into your profile and then click on ‘Your Reservations’… or just give us a call and we can take care of that for you!

Optional LGBTQ+ Amsterdam Tours

Amsterdam Tours

Welcome to Amsterdam & World Pride! Since everyone has their own idea on how they want to celebrate World Pride, we keep it simple once we arrive Friday morning. Our ship will dock close to Centraal Station. You are free to come & go as you please. Meals will be served at all the normal times, & housekeeping will still be making up our rooms, same as they have been for the week leading up to our arrival.

We’ll have our canal tour Friday morning after breakfast, before they shut the canals down in preparation for the Canal Parade on Saturday. Our canal tour will end around noon, at which point everyone tends to go their own way. Some people will return to our ship for lunch, others will head out to hit some of the street parties & start their Pride celebration!

If you’d like to see a little more of Amsterdam with a guided group, we have three optional tour we invite you to join…

Hidden Gems
This tour explores Amsterdam’s contradictions and quirks. We start in the bustle of Amsterdam’s old Jewish Quarter and proceed through the graceful (and quiet!) Plantage neighborhood. Along the way, we get a unique insight into Amsterdam’s history and character. We also explore how some of its stories are written, rewritten, and adapted through every age and by different tellers. See a hidden side of Amsterdam’s history while exploring two wildly contrasting neighborhoods.

Queer Heros

Get inspired by stories of people in our community throughout history who stood in their identity. This tour goes through the Canal Belt (a UNESCO World Heritage site), which is the epicenter of Amsterdam’s famous canal parade and street parties. Along the way, we explore some wild history, including how lavender wreaths brought about the Homomonument’s pink triangle.

Rijksmuseum Tour

Amsterdam’s world-famous Rijksmuseum has it all… Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Vermeer & Frans Hals. It also has some incredible female, LGBTQ+, Jewish, and BIPOC artists & activists hiding in plain sight. This tour encompasses both. As you dig into the stories behind both famous paintings and often-overlooked objects, you’ll learn what these artifacts tell us about their time and our own.

To add one of our optional Amsterdam tours, simply click HERE, log into your profile and then click on ‘Your Reservations‘… or just give us a call and we can take care of that for you!

Theme Nights

Theme Nights & Parties

Nothing makes an OUTbound event more fun than our THEME NIGHTS! This is your chance to express yourself with a fun t-shirt, wild wig or full blown costume. Feel free to show us what you’ve got! As always with OUTbound, you are welcome to participate as much or as little as you like, it’s up to you.

Be sure to check back as we get a little closer to our sail date to see the full list of our Theme Nights! We’ll announce these about three months before we sail… plenty of time to plan and get creative!

Enhanced Beverage Package

Upgrade Your Drink Package

As with every OUTbound trip, all of the standard beers, wines, mixed drinks, specialty coffees, sodas and bottled waters are included in the price of your trip. However, Emerald does offer an Enhanced Beverage Package for those of you looking for something special.

To download the full drink list, including what is included with your cruise and what the Enhanced Package offers, click… HERE.

Enhanced Beverage Package

The Enhanced Beverage Package can be added to your reservation for $135 per person, either before we sail or once you are onboard.

Travel Tips

Take A Picture!

Before heading out on a big trip, most travelers focus on packing the right clothes, confirming reservations, and making sure your passports are in hand. But seasoned OUTbounders know there’s another small step that can make a big difference in a pinch… snapping a few key photos before you leave home.

These quick snapshots take less than two minutes to capture but can save hours of stress if luggage gets lost, travel apps glitch, or important documents go missing.

Passport
A clear photo of the main passport page can make it faster to get a replacement at an embassy or consulate if your passport is lost. It’s best to keep this image in a secure, password-protected file or cloud app.

Prescription Medications & Labels
OUTbounders who take medication should take a picture of both your pills and the prescription labels. If your medications get lost or you run out, having the generic drug name on hand can make it much easier to refill while traveling.

Boarding Pass & Travel Documents
Travel apps sometimes glitch, and wifi isn’t always reliable at the airport. A screenshot of your boarding pass ensures it’s available offline when needed. The same goes for any hotel confirmations, train tickets, or tour reservations booked outside of your OUTbound trip.

Luggage Contents
Snapping a photo of everything packed in your suitcase before zipping it shut can be invaluable if your bags are delayed or lost. Airlines and insurance companies often ask for detailed lists of contents when processing a claim. A quick image can serve as proof of what was inside your bags and speed up any claims you might need to make.

As we all know, travel can be unpredictable, but your smartphone camera (something that’s already in your pocket and doesn’t require any extra cost) offers one of the easiest safeguards. Taking a few extra photos before you depart is a small habit that can prevent big headaches… and help you stay calm when plans don’t go exactly as expected.

EU Visa Requirements

Will I need a Visa to enter the EU?

Americans who are planning to visit Europe with us for Amsterdam Pride will need to apply for the European Union’s new travel authorization system prior to arriving in the EU.

US, Canadian and Australian Citizens will need to complete an ETIAS questionnaire and pay a fee to enter the EU.

The European Union requires visitors to register with a visa-like system called the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). To apply for an ETIAS, you must fill out an online application. To be approved for an ETIAS entry, you will need the following…

A passport valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned stay in the EU
An email address
Submit €20 payable with either a credit or debit card

An approved ETIAS travel authorization is valid for 3 years, or until your passport expires, whichever happens first.

To apply for your ETIAS, visit the official European Union Travel website HERE.

EU Entry and Exit System (EES)
As of October 12, 2025, US citizens will need to go through the EU’s new Entry and Exit System when traveling to 29 European countries. This applies to any visits lasting up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

Your fingerprints, facial image, passport details, and entry and exit dates will be collected upon entry to an EES country and stored digitally. You do not need to pay a fee to enter the Schengen Area or the EU. The new system will be introduced gradually, and no advanced action is required.

There is no online application, advanced registration, or fee required for the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES). It is a biometric border control system that replaces traditional passport stamping. You will complete your EES registration in-person at a self-service kiosk or border desk the first time you enter a Schengen Area country.

Travel to Europe Mobile App (EES)
The Travel to Europe mobile application is now available, allowing pre-registration of travel information prior to arrival in Portugal. The app allows non-EU travelers to pre-register their passport data for the Entry/Exit System (EES) before reaching a border crossing point.

Non-EU nationals can use the app to pre-register their data up to 72 hours prior to entering or leaving a European country.

The app is voluntary and does not replace border checks but makes border crossing more efficient. Use of the application is optional and free of charge, and it is available on the App Store and Google Play. You can get more information about the EES Mobile App by clicking HERE.

Tipping

Tipping Our Hosts

Tipping is the ONLY thing not included with your OUTbound vacation. We never want to dictate anyone’s generosity or decide how much you think YOUR experience with a crew member, waitstaff or tour guide was worth. How much to tip depends on the type of service you receive and your personal experience.

During our trip together, you’ll come into contact with many different servers and hosts. At the end of each day’s guided tour, you’ll have the chance to tip our guide and driver whatever you feel your experience was worth.

Onboard our ship, you’ll receive an envelope in your stateroom on the last night of our cruise before disembarking the next morning in Amsterdam. It’s here where you will have the opportunity to leave a tip that will be split among the crew… waitstaff, bartenders, room stewards and the entertainment staff.

A general rule of thumb for tipping the ship’s staff is €10 per day, per person.

However, if your experience warrants something more, then by all means feel free to be as generous as you would like. If you feel that any individual in particular has gone above and beyond in making your experience something extra special, then we encourage you to reach out to them directly and let them know how much you appreciated their service during our time together.

Currency

What Money Should You Bring?

France, Germany & Netherlands

France, Germany and Netherlands are members of the European Union and countries that use the Euro (abbreviated €) as their national currency.

Switzerland

The Swiss Franc (CHF), or simply the Franc, is the currency and legal tender of Switzerland. The Euro is also widely accepted, although you may receive change in the form of Swiss Francs and the exchange rate is not likely to be favorable.

You can also use your credit or debit card as well throughout our trip, as credit cards are widely accepted everywhere in the countries we are visiting. However, remember that there will be additional bank charges upon usage and even a foreign transaction fee in some cases, depending on your bank.

Power Outlets

What Power Converters Will I Need?

For your visit to the European Union, you’ll need a Type C adapter for use on our ship as it has the standard EU power outlets. This will be the same adapter you’ll need for any hotels you’ll be staying in if you are extending your trip to Europe.

The Type C is the plug which has two round pins, like this…

You can find a ton of options on Amazon or other retailers that will include USB ports for charging your phone, tablet and other devices all at the same time.

Keep in mind that the United Kingdom (UK) uses different power outlets than the EU, so the Type C adapter will not work if you are visiting England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland during your trip.

Travel Insurance

If we’ve learned anything over these last couple of years, it’s that the world can be an uncertain place at times. While you’re never required to buy travel insurance, it’s a good idea and we recommend all OUTbounders consider protecting your hard-earned vacation money. The price of your coverage will depend on a few factors, including the cost of the trip, what state you live in, how long before the trip departs, and if you have any pre-existing or underlying health conditions, to name a few.

Some reasons why you might buy travel insurance include:

Cancel for Any Reason
Unexpected Work Requirements
Personal or Family Illness

OUTbound does not provide travel insurance. However, we always recommend using a third-party insurance carrier to provide your coverage.

Get Ready Amsterdam Pride