Day 3 - Rotterdam, Netherlands
Day 3 brought us to Rotterdam - the ship arrived bright and early at 8am and we had the full day to explore one of the Netherlands' most striking cities. The weather was on our side too: warm, sunny, and perfect for a day on foot.
We started with breakfast on board, then headed straight into the city. Rotterdam is like no other Dutch city - rebuilt after the war into a showcase of modern architecture, bold design, and creative energy.
Markthal Rotterdam
Our first stop was the Markthal - a stunning arched indoor food market hall with colourful artwork on the ceiling. It's enormous and buzzing with energy, full of fresh food stalls, restaurants, and artisan shops. We had a wander, took in the scale of the place, and it set the tone for the day perfectly.
Cube Houses (Kijkkubus)
Just a short walk from the Markthal we reached the famous Cube Houses - a striking row of bright yellow cube-shaped houses tilted at 45 degrees, designed by architect Piet Blom in the 1980s. They're attached to a bridge-like structure and the cantilevered cubes really do look like they could topple at any moment. We got some great photos here - and a short video too.
Erasmus Bridge
Next we walked toward the waterfront to find the Erasmus Bridge - Rotterdam's most famous landmark, a sleek white cable-stayed bridge that sweeps across the Nieuwe Maas river. The contrast of the delicate bridge against the bold modern buildings behind it makes for a proper cityscape photo.
Kop van Zuid Waterfront
We followed the waterfront walk along Kop van Zuid, taking in the views back across the river to the ship and the city skyline. It's a lovely stretch - modern, spacious, with sculptures and public art along the way. We paused at one of the outdoor seating areas and just soaked it all in.
The Water Taxi
One of the highlights of the day was the water taxi ride - one of Rotterdam's iconic yellow speedboats that ferry people across the river and through the harbour channels. It's a quick, fun ride and you get a completely different perspective of the city from the water. We grabbed a short video of the ride too.
Sculpture and Street Scenes
Rotterdam is a city that treats public art seriously - sculptures are everywhere, in squares, on corners, along the waterfront. We wandered through a few plazas and streets, spotting different pieces and taking in the everyday life of the city around us.
Back on Board
After a full day walking and sightseeing we made it back to the ship, washed up, and headed to dinner in one of the restaurants. The views from the dining room through those floor-to-ceiling windows were a fitting end to the day - Rotterdam's skyline all lit up across the water.
Another brilliant port day. Rotterdam surprised us with how much there is to see and do - the architecture, the waterfront, the food, the water taxis. The ship departed at 8:30pm and we were already talking about coming back.