I flew through AMS last year, August, and can only say it was added to my list of airports best avoided. There is nothing wrong with it per se, it is just that I dislike any airport where I can not check in immediately, get my lounge-access card and relax. It is a major drawback that check-in only opens 3 hrs prior to departure. I think I vented somewhere in FT on the experience. Or maybe I only drafted it and then let it lie once the steam was out

It will not be a problem to check your luggage all the way through, assuming that there is an agreement allowing this between CX and your first carrier. For most airlines, these agreements are in existence so it should not be a problem.