Zeebrugge cruise port

Canals, chocolate, the Belfry and a Michelangelo: Bruges is 30 minutes from the pier.

Zeebrugge is a big working seaport on the Belgian coast, and nobody comes for Zeebrugge: the prize is Bruges, the best-preserved medieval city in Europe, about 12 miles inland and 30 to 40 minutes by coach or train. Ships dock at the Zweedse Kaai in the industrial harbor, a free port shuttle takes you to the cruise terminal and the ABC Tower, and from there cruise line coaches, a shuttle to the Blankenberge or Zeebrugge rail stations, or a taxi get you to the canals. Most cruisers give Bruges the whole day; Ghent and Brussels are the alternatives on long calls. SmartCruiser lists every cruise that calls at Zeebrugge from every line, priced with taxes and fees included, with the sailings that carry SmartCruiser bonus onboard credit or instant savings at the top.

See the SmartCruiser picks Open the full search

Dockedindustrial quay, free shuttle to the terminal

EuroBruges is 12 miles, about 30 to 40 minutes

May to Sepmild 60s and 70s, rain any month

All inevery price includes taxes and fees

Start here

Three ways to do Zeebrugge

Bruges on the coach or train, Ghent or Brussels for a change, or the Belgian coast at Blankenberge: pick the day you want and the button filters the list of sailings below.

Bruges on your own

The Markt, a canal boat, the Belfry and chocolate at your own pace

Cruise line coaches run about 30 to 40 minutes to the Bargeplein coach park for about $35 to $50 round trip, then a 10 to 15 minute walk to the Markt; independent shuttles sell seats at the terminal for about 30 to 35 euros
Or the coastal tram from Zeebrugge Kerk to Blankenberge (about 15 minutes) and the train to Bruges (11 to 15 minutes, about 3 to 6 euros), roughly an hour door to door
Canal boat about 12 to 15 euros, the Belfry about 15 euros, Michelangelo’s Madonna in the Church of Our Lady about 8 euros, and waffles and chocolate everywhere

Best for: first-timers, walkers, photographers, couples

Bruges with a guide

The ship’s walking tour with the transfer and the return guaranteed

Half-day tours run about $80 to $120: the Markt, the Burg, the Rozenhoedkaai and a canal cruise, with free time for lunch
Full-day versions add the Groeninge Museum, a brewery visit at De Halve Maan or a chocolate workshop
The guide earns the price on a 7 hour call: no transfer guesswork, and the ship waits for its own coaches

Best for: short calls, families, anyone who wants the stories

Beyond Bruges

Ghent, Brussels or the coast at Blankenberge

Ghent is an hour away: a bigger, livelier medieval city with the Ghent Altarpiece in St. Bavo’s and three towers in a row, best as a ship tour or by train via Bruges
Brussels is about 90 minutes each way, so the Grand Place and the Atomium need a 10 hour call; Flanders Fields and the Menin Gate at Ypres are about 75 minutes
Blankenberge, 10 minutes by shuttle or tram, is a classic Belgian beach town with a pier and a seafront promenade

Best for: repeat visitors, long port calls, history buffs

Live from the cruise lines

Zeebrugge cruises: SmartCruiser picks first

Every cruise that calls at Zeebrugge (Bruges) from every line, priced live with taxes, fees and port expenses included. The picks at the top are sailings where booking with SmartCruiser gets you something extra: instant savings or bonus onboard credit. Below them, every other sailing that stops here, with full sorting by home port, line, month, length and price.

SmartCruiser picks

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Every cruise that calls at Zeebrugge

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Prices are per person, double occupancy, in US dollars, and include cruise fare, taxes, fees and port expenses as published by the cruise line at the moment you load this page. Fares are capacity controlled and change daily; the fare is confirmed when you book. Flights, hotels and transfers are extra unless the line’s offer says otherwise. SmartCruiser instant savings and bonus onboard credit are provided by SmartCruiser on top of the cruise line’s price and are not available when booking direct; amounts are per stateroom, vary by stateroom category and are shown for the lowest category offered. Special SmartCruiser rates are pricing SmartCruiser holds on that sailing for its clients, with extra onboard credit; you book your own stateroom and travel on your own. Senior fares apply to guests 55 and over; resident fares need proof of residency in a listed state or province at check-in; police and fire fares apply to active or retired police, fire and EMT personnel with ID. Qualifier-fare savings are measured against the best fare the cruise line offers the general public for the same stateroom category on the day the list was pulled, updated weekly.

Where you start

Home ports that sail to Zeebrugge

Pick a home port and the list above filters to cruises leaving from there.

Southamptonthe busiest gateway: 3 to 7 night Western Europe breaks and longer Northern Europe cruises from Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Cunard and MSC with a Bruges day Amsterdam7 night Western Europe and British Isles loops that call at Zeebrugge on day 2 HamburgMSC and Cunard Northern Europe sailings that pair Belgium with Holland and France Copenhagen10 to 14 night Northern Europe and Western Europe one-ways that finish in Southampton or Amsterdam DoverNorway, Baltic and Western Europe cruises from the Dover terminal with Bruges as the first stop New York (Manhattan)transatlantic crossings on Queen Mary 2 and Norwegian ships that continue to Hamburg or Amsterdam via Zeebrugge

In port

Things to do in Zeebrugge and Bruges

Bruges is compact and flat, so once you reach the Markt everything below is within a 15 minute walk; budget 4 to 6 hours in the city and 2 hours for the transfers.

The Markt and the BelfryThe main square of guild houses and the 272 foot medieval bell tower: 366 steps to the top for the view over the rooftops and the 47-bell carillon. About 15 euros, timed entry, allow an hour; book online the day before on busy ship days.

Canal boat rideThe 30 minute loop under the bridges and past the Rozenhoedkaai, the Begijnhof and the Church of Our Lady is the one thing to do if you do only one. About 12 to 15 euros from five landings around the center, no booking, March through November with queues at midday.

Church of Our Lady and Michelangelo’s MadonnaThe tallest brick tower in Belgium and the only Michelangelo sculpture to leave Italy in his lifetime, the Madonna and Child of Bruges, plus the gilded tombs of Mary of Burgundy and Charles the Bold. About 8 euros for the museum section; 30 minutes.

The Burg and the Basilica of the Holy BloodThe second square, with the Gothic Town Hall and the tiny basilica that holds a relic of Christ’s blood venerated every afternoon. Free (small donation for the relic chapel); 30 minutes, 2 minutes from the Markt.

Groeninge MuseumFlemish Primitives in a small, superb museum: Van Eyck’s Madonna with Canon van der Paele, Memling and Bosch. About 15 euros, under an hour, on the Dijver by the canal landings.

Chocolate and beerBruges has more than 50 chocolate shops (Dumon, The Chocolate Line and Choco-Story, the chocolate museum at about 14 euros) and the De Halve Maan brewery in the Walplein, where the 45 minute tour ends with a Brugse Zot on the rooftop, about 17 euros. Lunch of moules-frites or carbonnade with a Trappist beer runs about 25 to 35 euros.

Minnewater and the BegijnhofThe Lake of Love with its swans and the 13th century beguinage of white houses around a quiet garden, the prettiest 20 minute walk in Bruges and free. It is on the way in from the Bargeplein coach park.

Blankenberge beach and pierThe Belgian coast version of Brighton, 10 minutes from the terminal by shuttle or tram: a wide sand beach, the Belle Epoque pier, a sea-life center and seafront cafes. The easy choice if you have been to Bruges before or the weather is good.

Pick your style

Which lines call at Zeebrugge?

Zeebrugge is on nearly every Western Europe and Northern Europe itinerary and many transatlantic crossings; these are the lines whose 2026 schedules we confirmed.

      Royal Caribbeansummer Western Europe and Northern Europe sailings from Southampton with a full day for BrugesSmartCruiser bonus onboard credit
      Celebrity CruisesCelebrity Apex and fleetmates on 7 to 12 night Western Europe and Iceland itineraries from Southampton and AmsterdamSmartCruiser bonus onboard credit
      Norwegian Cruise LineNorthern Europe and transatlantic sailings that stop at Zeebrugge between Southampton and AmsterdamSmartCruiser bonus onboard credit
      Holland America LineRotterdam on Western Europe and Baltic voyages from Rotterdam and AmsterdamSmartCruiser bonus onboard credit
      MSC CruisesMSC Preziosa and MSC Virtuosa on 7 night Northern Europe loops from Hamburg, Kiel and Southampton, the most frequent callersSmartCruiser bonus onboard credit
      CunardQueen Anne and Queen Mary 2 on short breaks and Western Europe voyages from SouthamptonSmartCruiser bonus onboard credit
      Disney Cruise Linesummer Northern Europe sailings from Southampton with Bruges as a family daySmartCruiser bonus onboard credit
      VikingViking Vela and fleetmates on Viking Homelands and Western Europe voyagesLive prices
      Oceania Cruisessmall-ship Western Europe and British Isles itineraries with Zeebrugge for BrugesSmartCruiser bonus onboard credit
    

Timing

When to go

Belgium has a mild, damp maritime climate: never hot, rarely freezing, with rain possible in any month and the cruise season running April to November; summer is the busiest time in Bruges.

April to MayHighs in the mid 50s to low 60s, tulips and blossom along the canals, showers on about half the days. Bruges is at its quietest before the summer crowds.

June to AugustHighs in the upper 60s to low 70s, long evenings and the busiest days on the Markt, with 2 or 3 ships at Zeebrugge some days. Pack a light rain jacket even in July.

September to OctoberHighs in the low 60s falling to the mid 50s, golden light on the canals, fewer visitors and more rain from October; a lovely time for the museums and a brewery lunch.

November to MarchHighs in the 40s, grey and wet, with the Christmas market and ice rink on the Markt from late November; a few winter short breaks from Southampton and Hamburg call.

Good to know

Zeebrugge and Bruges questions we answer every day

Where do cruise ships dock in Zeebrugge, and how do I get out of the port?

Ships dock alongside at the Zweedse Kaai (Swedish Quay) in the working harbor, with some smaller ships at the Maritime Station; there is no tendering. You cannot walk through the port, so a free shuttle bus takes you from the gangway to the Zeebrugge cruise terminal beside the ABC Tower, which has tourist information, Wi-Fi, restrooms, a taxi rank and the coach departures. Everything to Bruges leaves from there.

How do I get to Bruges, and what does it cost?

Bruges is about 12 miles (19 km) inland. The simplest way is the cruise line coach, about 30 to 40 minutes to the Bargeplein coach park on the edge of the center, usually about $35 to $50 per person round trip, then a 10 to 15 minute walk to the Markt; independent shuttle operators sell seats at the terminal for about 30 to 35 euros. The cheapest way is the coastal tram from the Zeebrugge Kerk stop near the terminal to Blankenberge station (about 15 minutes), then the train to Bruges (11 to 15 minutes, about 3 to 6 euros, ticket by app or card; Belgian rail is cashless), about an hour door to door. A taxi is about 50 to 60 euros each way. Whichever you pick, be on your way back from Bruges two hours before all-aboard.

What currency, language and time zone will I find?

Belgium uses the euro and cards work everywhere, including the trams and trains; keep a few coins for public restrooms. Bruges is in Flanders, so the language is Dutch (Flemish), but English is spoken by everyone in tourism. Belgium is on Central European Time, 6 hours ahead of US Eastern, and US phones work on EU roaming plans or a carrier day pass.

Is Bruges safe?

Yes. The U.S. State Department lists Belgium at Level 2, exercise increased caution, for a general terrorism risk in the big cities, not for crime, and Bruges is a small, calm city. The practical hazards are pickpockets in the Markt crowds, cobblestones and bicycles, and losing track of time on a waffle break. Keep phones zipped away and watch the clock.

What is the best excursion, and should I book it through the ship?

Bruges itself. On a call of 8 hours or more it is easy to do on your own with the coach or the tram-and-train route and a canal boat ticket, and the ship cannot improve on a day of wandering. Book the ship’s tour if your call is short, if you want a guide for the history, or for Ghent, Brussels or Flanders Fields, where the distance makes a guaranteed return worth having.

Do I need a passport?

Yes. Every Northern Europe cruise requires a valid passport, and we recommend six months of validity past your return date. Belgium is in the Schengen zone, where the EU’s new biometric entry and exit checks are being phased in from 2026 and the ETIAS travel authorization is expected to follow, so check the current requirement before you fly.

Are taxes and fees included in the prices here?

Yes. Every price on SmartCruiser includes the cruise fare, taxes, fees and port expenses. Flights, hotels, shore excursions and gratuities are extra.

Talk to a Zeebrugge and Bruges cruise specialist

Tell us the month and how many nights you want and we will pull every sailing that calls at Zeebrugge for Bruges, with the SmartCruiser bonus onboard credit sailings first. Monday to Thursday 9 to 6, Friday 9 to 5, Saturday 10 to 6 ET.

1-800-444-1560