Day 2 in Rotterdam — under the Maas, the park, and a two o'clock sail-out

Day two in Rotterdam and we decided to keep it simple. No list of sights, no food halls, no museums — just a long walk along the waterfront and see where we ended up.

We headed for the far promenade and kept walking. Eventually we found the walkway that goes under the Maas itself. Walking beneath a major river is one of those things you do not expect to do on a city break. It is a long tiled tunnel, well-lit, with that constant low background hum of the water above your head. Completely different feel from the modern glass city up top. You emerge on the other side slightly disoriented, like you have travelled further than the distance actually is.

On the far side we walked through the park that runs alongside the waterway. Quiet, green, and a nice change from the concrete and architecture of yesterday. Just trees, paths, benches, and the river beside you. We took it slow, sat on a bench for a bit, and just watched the water. Rotterdam does not shout for your attention in places like this — it just lets you be there.

We wandered the far promenade for a while longer before turning back. No rush. The ship was not sailing until 2pm, which is the kind of leisurely departure that almost never happens on a cruise. Usually you are back by noon at the latest. Today we had time to just stroll.

Back on board for 1:30pm. Straight to the cabin, changed, and then up on deck for the sail-out. Cast off at 2pm exactly and the ship turned down the Maas with the full skyline behind us — the Erasmus Bridge, the Cube Houses, the glass towers, all of it slowly shrinking into the distance. The light was perfect. Two full days in this city and I feel like we barely scratched the surface. That is the sign of a good port.

Tomorrow we are in Cherbourg. It is a smaller port but I have heard the town has a decent walkable waterfront and some good seafood spots. After two full days in Rotterdam, the bar has been set very high indeed.