DFDS Seaways (www.dfdsseaways.com)operates a daily ferry service between Newcastle and the port of Ijmuiden (just west of Amsterdam). Ferries depart their respective ports in the evening and arrive the following morning; the total journey time varies between 15-16 hours.
DFDS Seaways are big on comfort their ferries have much more in common with cruise ships than the other cross-channel ferries. This means that you can expect a choice of cabins (depending on how much you want to pay) as well as plenty of shops, restaurants and bars to keep you busy. If you book a mini 'CruiseBreak' there will be a coach waiting for you to make the last leg of the journey into Amsterdam. Otherwise you can hop on the train to Amsterdam Centraal Station (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amsterdam_Centraal_railway_station). Another alternative is to continue on the water Fast Flying Ferries' jetfoil service (www.fff.nl).
Stena Line (www.stenaline.co.uk/ferry/) has daily sailings between Harwich and the Hook of Holland. Stena's twice-daily High Speed Service (HSS) reaches speeds of 75 km per hour and makes the crossing in 3hours 40minutes, while their overnight service takes a leisurely, but respectable, 6hours 15minutes (note that foot passengers are not permitted to travel on the overnight service).
P&O Ferries (www.poferries.com) sail every day between Hull and Rotterdam Europoort in Holland . If you aren't continuing onwards by car you'll be taken to Rotterdam Centraal Station by bus, where you can catch the train to Amsterdam. Besides well-appointed cabins P&O ferries boast a good selection of places to eat and drink, live evening shows, a cinema and even a casino. Fares vary depending on the season and the day of travel (It's generally cheaper mid-week), but keep an eye open for their special 'mini cruise' offers.
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