IJmuiden is quietly going about its business and the results are plain to see. With 34 reservations received for 2019, it brings the total of call to 400 since 2012. Noticeable for the upcoming season are the “first timers” like Costa and NCL. While NCL’s Norwegian Spirit will visit IJmuiden four times in 2019,Costa has reserved a berth for her Costa Mediteranea in 2019 for four turn around calls. Last year Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Seabourn both made inaugural calls to the Dutch port with Seven Seas Explorer and Seabourn Ovation respectively. For 2020 Regent will follow up with a call of the Regent Seven Seas Navigator. As the port of IJmuiden is located a mere 500m sailing from the open sea and just 45 minutes away from Amsterdam by coach, some operators welcome the availability of these berths at “Amsterdam by the Sea”. It makes a visit to Amsterdam possible even when the itinerary is too tight to sail into the city center. It is furthermore expected that the port owner Zeehaven IJmuiden together with the ministry of infrastructure and the local port authority, will come to an agreement to lift the current length restriction of 295 mtrs LOA. Said restriction was put into place to avoid any possible interference from the superstructure of larger vessels with the existing navigational lights. A positive outcome would make it possible to ultimately receive vessels up to 318 meters LOA. Looking to the future, stronger bollards and removal of the slope at one end of the basin is on the cards. But this is not preventing bookings going forward. Costa Pacifica was already booked for 2021, in early 2018. A very positive development, according to Ron Maes, advisor to the board KVSA (Felison Terminal IJmuiden), “Receiving reservations three years in advance strengthens our conviction, that IJmuiden has found its place amongst the Dutch cruise ports. We are very pleased with it.”