What I like about your videos is they show possible travel ideas that are for anyone. You don’t have to be able to drive, or be part of a couple - and even if you aren’t a seasoned traveller, there’s always enough information to encourage anyone to give it a go if they fancy it!
David I really appreciate the comment. This is why I want to do this because anyone should be able to feel confident enough to organise and go on a trip, somewhere. And it doesn’t matter whether it’s a long haul flight in biz or a bus trip along the coast, it’s all travel and should be enjoyable to someone. Thanks mate 😊👍
Mate the fact I've just stepped off a pretty agonising ferry crossing and am now watching a 30 minute ferry video on RUclips is testament to the quality of your work. You are the Captain of these Mark! Really impressed with Stena and their soft drinks which must be lined with gold. Impressed with the chart/camera view on the cabin TV, and sorry to have to say it, but nice to see a ship without kids running about absolutely wild all night! Cheers Cap'n. Already planning my holiday in Mistley.
I do this route about 3 or 4 times a year, I advise avoiding it during the school holidays I did a day sailing at Easter the rest of the year absolute bliss.
Haha, no you are mate! Honestly 👍 That Coke was unbelievable, well I dunno, someone will accuse me of moaning if I go on about it too much 😂 Overall, I liked the ship, I liked the deck space BUT in the scheme of things, it didn’t have the character or charm of some of the classics I’ve been on (like MV Bretagne for example). Mistley well, I think even your good self would struggle to make a video about that place! PS, I haven’t gotten around to booking the Smyril ferry yet but I will do! Cheers, Steve
I did this for 2.5 years (2017-2019)every 3 weeks, but from the Netherlands working for Banks and Brexit. Also used the waiting area in the Harwich terminal to get work done. Much better than flying. On overnight crossings get yourself lounge access. It is free if you collect enough points. Might be cheaper than buying several 4 pounds drinks. Had several interesting conversations there with interesting people. Booking a dinner in the posh restaurant used to be a good deal at €32. Not sure if it still is with the current price and what I read from recent reviews. I think I know the friendly guy at the station. Met him several times. I have a very detailed review on this crossing if you are interested.
If you want more entertainment, expect ticket prices to go up. As regards the gambling machines - I think they are turned while still in UK territorial water (12mile limit), I think tax has to be paid to the government. Once outside UK waters, no tax is paid.
I always went "rail and sail" to Hoek van Holland, the only civilised way to travel to the Netherlands. Board , shower, have a drink, have dinner in the Metro Restaurant followed by another beer , sleep , wake up to the most annoying song ever , shower, breakfast, disembark and jump on a train to Amsterdam via Rotterdam or Schiedam Centraal. Worth every penny.
Hi Mark I'm sorry to say I have watched your videos and not one to comment usually, but I'd like to say the information you provide is first class and as I'm not a traveller abroad just UK (due to health) I do enjoy watching you explore about all different places and seeing new places I can't go to. Thank you for all the videos look forward to the next one!
Hi Helen, well many thanks for commenting on this one but please, don't be shy! Great to here from everyone (apart from the trolls!) and I really do appreciate it when people say they watch me vicariously because it somehow feels more valuable to me that I'm doing it. Difficult to explain really but it's massively motivating and I do hope you can continue to enjoy the comment. Much love :-)
3:22 it was covering the forerunner which if I remember correctly was either having a refit at the time or was covering the transporter and transit who sail Hoek van Holland to immingham.
Thanks a lot for an informative video! Do you happen to know if there's a gate to declare items when boarding or departing the ship? I'm looking to buy a few whisky bottles, which as far as I know are allowed on Stena ferries, but I'm unsure when I may be asked to pay the duties (I think only 1 liter is free duty, when coming to EU). You mentioned screening bags in UK, may that be happening then? Thanks a lot!
@2:39 did you know that the number 720 on the yellow wheelchair ramp in the background is the class of trains that the ramp will secure to. Most station will have several wheelchair ramps for all classes of trains that frequently service that station.
The worst thing about it, is that it actually isn't open when you want it to be. Just when you miss a connection and it's you are waiting on the windy cold platform for forty five minutes late at night.
I had a crazy notion of you and 'Techmoan' 'trading places' for a larf, i.e you doing a video reviewing an old c.1971 Panasonic musiccentre, and him reviewing the legroom on a Bus Éireann coach or something.
I hadn’t heard of this guy before tonight so hanks for the recommendation. I would probably go for an old amstrad 4 track recorder (with turntable of course!).
The Dutch Flyer used to include Dutch rail to any Dutch station. However they replaced part of the route with what they call the Metro. Even though it runs the exact same route it doesn't count as a railway.
@@LetsMakeaTrip For a short while it did include the Metro but I found the ticket usually didn't work. Then During COVID they didn't want to have special offers to encourage people to travel. It was also far safer to use the flexible fare and pay a bit more in case tighter rules prevented travel. Then after COVID I guess they had issues with RET or something.
You can say Hoek of Holland because it is the real corner of the Netherlands ! Until 2017 it was a trainststation and now it is a metrostation and the last stop is the beach ! I have a fact for you and that is as follows : until the late 90's Hoek van Holland beach was a international trainstation, trains to Germany, Denmark and even Russia depart from here.......this is all gone now ! Now only thing that is left is a boring metrostation, so now you learned some more about Hook of Holland😅
Living up North I have not used this route since 1994 AND 1996 when the older ferries ran, on route to family holidays in The Black Forest. I remember the food not being great then and I think we had bought our own sandwiches probably M&S. We stayed in a loverly family run B&B in Wrabnes, before taking the day ferry. which you would have passed through on the train close to Harwich. Great review of the Ferry which looked very nice and the first time I have seen a tv in a basic cabin. Such a shame the ferries to Denmark and Germany no longer operate from here as they would be very useful.
Three ferries I miss, the Esjberg one, the Smyril Line calling in at Lerwick on its way to Iceland and the Swansea - Cork ferry. All great routes and I would’ve done them all. Only ever managed the Swansea - Cork one though sadly. I will do the Smyril Line I just need to get all the way to Hirtshals now! Cheers mate 😊👍
Nice video Mark. I use this crossing a lot (other half lives in NL). I always take a car but didn’t know about Rail-Sail so may look into that in the future. As others have said, pre-buying a food/drink voucher makes the restaurant costs a fair bit more bearable. Also, if you join their loyalty scheme the points actually add up quite quickly and you soon get free lounge access whereupon drinks and light snacks are free.
Cheers Lee, I am in the loyalty scheme but tbh, I just don’t travel with Stena often enough (and they wiped the few points I did have at the end of last year). I’ve done another rail/sail recently with Stena and that seemed a little different wrt food and drink. Watch this space! 😊👍
Hi Peter, I am aware of that and I did try and pronounce it in the video that way. With a mainly UK audience though, the English name works better in the search box and gets me more views. That’s why I used it to be brutally honest.
I have Max and I've also done it coming back on a very interesting route from Belfast (via Glasgow pretty-much) back down to the Midlands. Less than £54 too. That video will be out in a month-or-so. Cheersee mate.
I have used this route every month this summer! I used to cross on Eurostar but post-BREXIT extra border controls make it a slower journey so I either have to get an expensive early train (from North Yorks) or stay overnight in Paris on my way to the Basque Country on the Spanish border in far SW France. Instead I now get a cheap afternoon ticket to Kings X, go 4 stops on the Metropolitain Line to Liverpool Street and catch the 18:45 to Harwich International. This arrives at 20:23 and boarding seems to be synchronised with the arrival of this train - I have never waited more than about 10 minutes. Yes, facilities on board are limited and catering basic, compared to Brittany Ferries, but this is not a "cruise ferry" - just look at the size of the Lorry Drivers' lounge to see the target market. But you are asleep most of the time and from arrival in the morning it is an easy metro ride to Rotterdam Centraal for the 09:58 Thalys to Paris then a transfer to Montparnasse for the TGV to Hendaye arriving late afternoon. Ideal timings and cheaper than Eurostar, though I still do the reverse trip via St Pancras in view of the extra hour gained.
Cheers Tim, interesting route you’re taking there but I can see why. I had one pint plus dinner and that coke and tbh, if I wasn’t doing things for the purposes of this video, I’d have eaten before boarding and gone straight to the cabin for a decent nights sleep. Still prefer Brittany Ferries personally but yep, you pays your money and all that…..
The duty free shop will have opened and the gaming machines switched on once the boat had left the port. Something to do with licensing laws and tax free shopping. Great video, that looks like a fun trip.
Hi thanks for the info. I was tucked up in bed by that point unfortunately but yes I agree, seems to be something to do with international waters too. Cheers 😊👍
I went to Germany July 26th on a Stena line ferry, I LOVED IT!!!! I was very scared though because it was my first time on a ferry, it took way too long though (7 hours!), but it was worth it and I had a lovely time in Nordhorn where I was staying (my dad was stationed in Nordhorn)
Great trip Mark , I'm feeling nostalgic as I done this journey many times (BC) before COVID , I have a soft spot for the Netherlands. Many thanks and I look forward to your next adventure.
Hi Gary, cheers mate. I think it's quite a well-trodden route this one (so to speak). I'd done it myself a couple of times with an old T4 Westfalia which tbh was a total money pit! It is great to reach continental Europe wherever I end up. Plenty more adventures to come.
My husband and brother-in-law made this very trip last week, on route to Denmark (doing the return crossing tomorrow). I’ve been begging him to share some insights of the voyage with me but he’s refused, so this video is very timely! I also love the way you put these together!
I also noticed that they didn’t provide tea and coffee making facilities in your cabin-unlike most inland Hotel Rooms-perhaps that’s because they want you to buy your tea and coffee,at the various onboard cafes and bars,at their inflated prices ??
In about 1972 I went on a ferry from Immingham to Amsterdam just before Christmas. (The ferry went on to Sweden from there.) If you didn't have a cabin, there were dormitories with one prickly prison blanket for each bed. No sheets or pillow cases. Coming back, the North sea was very rough. You could not have included that journey in a video, albeit this was long before RUclips. Everywhere you could hear people throwing up. As the ship lurched about, the corridors ran with vomit. I went in the gents' toilets and found all the basins full of you know what. A woman was trying to unblock one with a fork. She said the women's toilets were worse. I wasn't sea sick, but it was the worst trip I have ever been on.
I did this trip back in '91, I remember getting quite pissed and watching a film, may have been Flatliners, and then going to bed in a cabin which had three other people sleeping in it.
Great video Mark. It has been a few years since I slept overnight on a ferry (last time I did I ended up sleeping on a deckchair. Its always good and pleasant to get value for money for a travel experience. Tonight I am returning to Malta via Sicily (thank goodness the whole fire emergency over there has been solved) and will take the Virtù Ferries catamaran. I hope this time they'll have a better food choice (last time I travelled with them they ordered some pizzas from a local restaurant in Pozzallo and even charged you to get them warmed up).
Cheers Enrico. I hope you had a good trip and I bet it’s warmer over there than here (not too much though of course). I need to do more ferries around that part of the world tbh - maybe next year there will be more opportunities 😊👍
Thanks for the video we should have travelled to Holland last week but we had to cancel due to flu, never been on this route so this is very helpful to us. Joan and Bob Skinner
Used that ferry many many times. Always with a car. Perfect for what it is. I never had a eat on the ship, the food in the cafeteria is OK but I felt it was never worth the money. Same with breakfast. I always made sure I had eaten before I went on board. On the night ferry, couple of beers and get your head down. On the Dutch side there is a great little fish shop that serves excellent fish and chips. Early lunch there on the way back and a sandwich in the bag all you need. The pub on the roundabout in Harwich does a decent meal, always tried to get dinner there before boarding for the night crossing. Perfect way to get from A to B but don't expect to party.
Pretty sure I’ve been to that pub in Harwich before when I had an old VW camper we took this route and ate there. I don’t remember eating on the ship either so yep, if I wasn’t filming everything I think I’d have done the same. Cheers Derek 😊👍
@@LetsMakeaTrip I transported cars and had a camper on the back of my pick up truck wher I slept. They were good in that pub. I liked the day ferry. When I got to Harwich I would have my evening meal there and they let me stay overnight in the car park. I travelled from Sweden. The beat route was the Göteborg to Kiel ferry and the Hook to Harwich. The Gbg to kiel ferry is great. Far better than the slog down to Helsingborg and then putgarten. Altogether the spaghetti on the putgarten ferry is good. Very rarely used the bridge. Cpg to Helsingborg time wise is about the same but it is shorter and you get time for a coffee on the ferry. A couple of ideas for you. If you study the map carefully there is a ferry crossing the river well east of hamburg avoiding getting through hamburg. Very nice drive and a very interesting ferry ride It is slow compared to the autobahn but a nice drive.
I took day sailings on these ships several times a few years ago. I was able to book the restaurant at a discount when buying the ticket and found it good value compared with paying on the day. Also I found the quiet lounge area was the best place to sit for the rest of the crossing. You could read or work without too much disturbance but without paying an upgrade.
Cheers Nigel. I’m sure this is a lovely trip in the day - might try it myself actually. I would like to try the restaurant but on this occasion, it was eating into my budget too much! If I’m doing ok on this RUclips thing, I promise I’ll try it next time 😊👍
Another great video Mark. I did the day crossing many years ago with the fast cat only 5 hours. I do enjoy a ferry crossing myself my favourite was 2022 Aberdeen to Shetland islands. Great restaurant on the North link ferry. Haddock and chips with a pint of tennets. 13.98. And the portion was huge.
Hi.. just a bit of a post Brexit question. Do you know if you can take sandwiches onto the ferry to eat whilst in board at all? Travelling to Netherlands in a month by car on the Monday morning crossing . Thanks...
Ahhhh what is was like to be younger, 40 bloody years younger m8. Great video, did it in Feb this year in memorie of my dear, now departed brother who used to be my wingman on many of these Harwich to where ever back in the day. On my trip I went on to Amsterdam then jumped on the Eurostar premium (free beer) back to London, was a good day out. It's a shame the NL side for trains is still not part of the deal, it makes it a great week end away.
Cheers mate, yes one of the things with ferries (for me anyway) is as soon as you're on board, out on deck, the trip/holiday has started. Leaving port - nothing quite like it. The experience there on in depends on the ship/company but generally speaking it's a great way to travel. Glad this brought back some good memories. All the best, Mark
Well with a HSS out of Harwich and a Eurostar back, yes a true day trip would have been possible with some sightseeing back in the day 😅 Even an very quick HSS turnaround in the Hook day trip for the less adventurous 😊
Ah yes John, thanks. I wonder if it’s more of a day thing too? I’d be interested to know if it bothers to open on the overnight crossing as I can’t see many staying up all night, especially when cabins are compulsory.
Hi Mark just watched your absolutely wonderful video you got ripped right off with the coke is the menu in English or Dutch you got a bargain 106£ for the cabin plus expensive food on board I didn't know you know my hero steve marsh he does some fantastic trips your on the top 3 of my list of traveler's you explain what people want to know again thanks for the info all the best John 😊😊
Hi John, many thanks for the comment mate. Not a bad trip for the money this but yes, steer we’ll clear of the soft drinks if you’re in the cafe! I know Steve through RUclips that’s all really and really enjoy his stuff. Probably end up doing similar stuff really though I reckon he’s got a bigger budget than me! 😂 All the best, Mark 👍
Hi Mark I did watch your video on jersey did you stay at premier Inn if so which 1 did you get there on condor? I know you had a nightmare going to letaqe if I can get the video I'll watch again all the best John 😊
Hi Mark it was bath road the other is Charing cross thanks for your reply m8 there is 1 thing I cannot find out how did you get to Jersey and return and the price if you have the video which I cannot find let me in Pal you do a great job helping people before they travel 1 day you will catch up with Steve all the best my friend thanks John 😀
You need Hull to Rotterdam!! ferry !!yes there's bad feeling against P &O ferries but it's a good overnight route!! food , entertainment, and back in the day largest cruise ferries in the world!! plus a history going back to 1965!!
I will try that at some point Graham. Did it a few years ago in the car and I seem to remember quite enjoying it. It is a big ship yes and there was lots going on. Watch this space!
Boring ship nothing much on it and expensive to eat and drink , did this trip in the winter of last year , nice cabin tho think it was £130 for a foot passenger and an inside cabin so again not the cheapest and that was winter time . I enjoy your ferry videos tho mate 👍 oh and they use to switch the machines on after it sails and switch them off before it docks something about international waters and the law , I use to go on Brittany ferries a lot and they have taken all slot machines off their ships as the French changed the gambling laws too .
Cheers mate, I do want to get down to Plymouth at some point and sail to Roscoff. I’m not a user of the fruit machines tbh so it doesn’t bother me either way but yes, interesting to note Brittany Ferries have taken them out. I never noticed many on any of their ships in the past though. I think you get a different kind of experience with BF, seems more laid-back somehow.
Excellent- I love this route to Holland... shame it doesn't include the rail in Holland anymore ..cabins are great .. particularly the mattress!! The ramp in Hoek seems to go on for ever
Used to do this trip many times when working in Germany, used to book it through the reisburo in Germany through ticket to Liverpool Street from Dortmund, why this way instead of flying? no connections after 6 pm from Düsseldorf onwards to Ireland by air and by using the ferry I only missed one early flight so saved the price of a London hotel, nice post, brought back happy memories
you change at maningtree only direct trains come from london.frieght drivers do not sit with riffraff got there own area and we get meals free as it costs me £1070 per trip just for a 22 wheeler artic 3 machines are turned on when the ferru sets sail usualy after 12mile so its in international waters/4 its frieght that pays for ferries not cars or foot passengers as you might do 2 trips a year truckers do it every week
I have vague memories of doing a trip from Harwich to Esbjer for a mate's stag do. Thirty five years ago. 22 hours out 4 hours in an Esbjerg bar, 22 hours back. Bars a plenty, nightclub and many au pairs making the trip. Great fun I recall but don't think this route is run nowadays.
Cheers, it’s not run anymore sadly and I never got the chance to do it. Not sure it’ll ever come back now which is a shame as I’d definitely be on that ferry if it did. 😊👍
A Ten years ago I used to commute on a weekly basis on that ferry crossing. 👍 A pity you didn’t record the cheery whistling wake up call. Disembarking at Harwich on the return trip was really very early!
Looked pretty good thanks. Last month I went past the ferry berth on the RET Metro line B going to the "beach" ! (final stop) and the station is exposed to the elements a walk away from the ferry terminal, old NS station is still there looking forlorn hard up against the terminal
Hope to see a Eurolines bus/sailing video soon unless you've already done one. Maybe London Victoria to Dublin or Cork although I think the Cork service has not returned since Covid.
Hi Rachael, thanks. I do occasionally get recognised yes but I’m not a big RUclipsr by any means and it does take me aback a little when it happens. Great to meet people though and I always get nice comments. 😊👍
Great video. My last trip to the UK and back to the Netherlands with Stena line was last December. My next one will be in 2024 and am already looking forward to it.
Thanks Kirsten, yes I’ll definitely do this one again myself - maybe the day crossing next time. Also, the Hull - Rotterdam/Zeebrugge route and Newcastle - Amsterdam. Plenty of choice with these 👍
Great as usual mate. It's been a while since I took this route, even longer overnight! Even before brexit I recall queueing for ages (1h easily) for immigration control in Hoek - loads of people, despite there only being 6 passengers with SailRail tickets (I saw the passenger list at checkin in Harwich). The other ferry may well have been used on a freight only crossing, there are other roro ferries for trucks (Harwich - Zebrugge for example) that the public can't use..
Cheers mate, yes I’m sure you’re right about the other ferry, maybe more capacity is needed atm over on your side of the country. Don’t know if anyone else was on the SailRail, I’m sure there were but I bet I was the only one from Cromer! 😊👍
Brilliant as always - I’m doing this trip (the other way round) next week so was looking for a good video on the trip and what to expect & if by magic yours pops up a few days before I leave. 😊
Honestly Jason, I did it probably about 10 years ago but I was in a vehicle then so not sure but if anything, the disembarkation process must surely take longer (unfortunately). Having said that, I didn't experience any real issues on the day I travelled.
Having done this trip many years ago and thinking about it for the future videos on the routes always interest me. There have been quite a few recently but arguably you get the feeling of the experience somewhat better than the others. It is, by the time you have eaten, a fairly short night and many of the facilities seem closed on the night crossing. It would be interesting to compare a day voyage. I did check cabin availability in the summer a while back and the outer cabins in particular seemed heavily booked across quite a few dates. It is reasonably priced, you do save on a hotel but with the number of flights from UK regional airports to the Netherlands perhaps the value to foot passengers is rather less unless you live near the port?
Thanks a lot for the comment. I always think, if you lived somewhere like Portsmouth, the options are great. I’d be on the ferries all the time! Harwich iirc has a Premierinn by the port so it could make as much sense to overnight there and get the day crossing. I may well try it. I believe the facilities do open up once in international waters but I don’t know about everyone else, I was in bed by that point. Overall though, a decent ship and crossing I would certainly recommend (bring your own coke though 😂). Cheers 😊👍
Loving the chill atmosphere of this trip… feel a bit envious of your past June self, before the current monsoon descended on the British isles! I normally love the videos where you suffer on long overnite buses the most 😅. But I found this one soooo relaxing.. best wishes
That sounds lovely! Though getting them through security - there's probably some clause in there somewhere (see what I did there? claws?). I won't give up the day job!
Hi Mark. Great video to Holland. I've done the dfds about 30 yrs ago from there they seemed better shops, smarter. Did u go on into Holland. Hope u are well. Does your friend come with u any more. Looking forward to seeing your next video. Best wishes David and Beverley Norfolk
Hi both, I went up to Schipol and flew back to Birmingham. Jimmy lives down south so I only meet up with him if I’m down that way really. I haven’t done DFDS yet but it’s definitely on the radar 😊👍
@@LetsMakeaTrip thank you for kind reply. Nice to hear what you do. Your videos are very relaxing and informative. Safe journeys. We just came back from Eastbourne, they run a dotto train on the seafront and a town tour, may be worth a video maybe. Thanks again. Best wishes David and Beverley Norfolk
Great video!! Less expensive to travel across to Holland than it is to travel axross the Irish sea. Hope all is well and hope you have a great weekend, take care
Thanks Mark for a great video which is so different from those of other vloggers. I made several trips on this route many decades ago when the ferries were much smaller ! And of course back then it was one ferry with Sealink and the other with its Dutch counterpart. It's an historic route which has operated for very many years.
Thanks Alex, I’m not sure whether being different is a good thing or not! 😂 Maybe it is, I don’t know tbh, trying my best and all that! And for me the Sealink name just evokes so many great memories, the ferries, the routes, even the trains when you think back to somewhere like a Weymouth and the quayside - probably 33’s if I recall correctly meeting the boat off to Jersey. Good days. Cheers 😊👍
Hi Derisley thanks for commenting mate as always. Unfortunately I'm on my laptop tonight and I haven't figured out how to leave emojis to reciprocate!!
What I like about your videos is they show possible travel ideas that are for anyone. You don’t have to be able to drive, or be part of a couple - and even if you aren’t a seasoned traveller, there’s always enough information to encourage anyone to give it a go if they fancy it!
David I really appreciate the comment. This is why I want to do this because anyone should be able to feel confident enough to organise and go on a trip, somewhere. And it doesn’t matter whether it’s a long haul flight in biz or a bus trip along the coast, it’s all travel and should be enjoyable to someone. Thanks mate 😊👍
Mate the fact I've just stepped off a pretty agonising ferry crossing and am now watching a 30 minute ferry video on RUclips is testament to the quality of your work. You are the Captain of these Mark! Really impressed with Stena and their soft drinks which must be lined with gold. Impressed with the chart/camera view on the cabin TV, and sorry to have to say it, but nice to see a ship without kids running about absolutely wild all night! Cheers Cap'n. Already planning my holiday in Mistley.
I do this route about 3 or 4 times a year, I advise avoiding it during the school holidays I did a day sailing at Easter the rest of the year absolute bliss.
Haha, no you are mate! Honestly 👍 That Coke was unbelievable, well I dunno, someone will accuse me of moaning if I go on about it too much 😂 Overall, I liked the ship, I liked the deck space BUT in the scheme of things, it didn’t have the character or charm of some of the classics I’ve been on (like MV Bretagne for example). Mistley well, I think even your good self would struggle to make a video about that place! PS, I haven’t gotten around to booking the Smyril ferry yet but I will do! Cheers, Steve
I’m avoiding most stuff during the school holidays tbh 😂
I did this for 2.5 years (2017-2019)every 3 weeks, but from the Netherlands working for Banks and Brexit. Also used the waiting area in the Harwich terminal to get work done. Much better than flying. On overnight crossings get yourself lounge access. It is free if you collect enough points. Might be cheaper than buying several 4 pounds drinks. Had several interesting conversations there with interesting people.
Booking a dinner in the posh restaurant used to be a good deal at €32. Not sure if it still is with the current price and what I read from recent reviews.
I think I know the friendly guy at the station. Met him several times.
I have a very detailed review on this crossing if you are interested.
The skimpy on the towels seems an error. did you check the top bunk?
I’m tucked up in bed watching Mark on a ferry 😂 better than television, another great video Mark.
For that added sense of realism! Cheers Mark, appreciate the watch 😊👍
If you want more entertainment, expect ticket prices to go up.
As regards the gambling machines - I think they are turned while still in UK territorial water (12mile limit), I think tax has to be paid to the government. Once outside UK waters, no tax is paid.
I always went "rail and sail" to Hoek van Holland, the only civilised way to travel to the Netherlands. Board , shower, have a drink, have dinner in the Metro Restaurant followed by another beer , sleep , wake up to the most annoying song ever , shower, breakfast, disembark and jump on a train to Amsterdam via Rotterdam or Schiedam Centraal. Worth every penny.
Hi Mark I'm sorry to say I have watched your videos and not one to comment usually, but I'd like to say the information you provide is first class and as I'm not a traveller abroad just UK (due to health) I do enjoy watching you explore about all different places and seeing new places I can't go to. Thank you for all the videos look forward to the next one!
Hi Helen, well many thanks for commenting on this one but please, don't be shy! Great to here from everyone (apart from the trolls!) and I really do appreciate it when people say they watch me vicariously because it somehow feels more valuable to me that I'm doing it. Difficult to explain really but it's massively motivating and I do hope you can continue to enjoy the comment. Much love :-)
are there microwaves available for pssenger us like on DFDS P&O Brittany ferries
3:22 it was covering the forerunner which if I remember correctly was either having a refit at the time or was covering the transporter and transit who sail Hoek van Holland to immingham.
Nothing spoils your thirst like paying 4Quid for a 50p glass of Coke 😢
Somewhat different from my crossing on Nov 1952 en route to Korear via treiste
From Cambridge we have the train to Harwich I wonder if I can bring my dog on the ferry to Holland
The fare I presume single or was it a return fare?
Single adult fare Jean👍
@@LetsMakeaTrip I thought single, too good to be true if return.
also the casino and duty free may not have been open until you leave UK waters
What about since Brexit? Does it require extra visas or other checks besides a passport?
Thanks a lot for an informative video! Do you happen to know if there's a gate to declare items when boarding or departing the ship? I'm looking to buy a few whisky bottles, which as far as I know are allowed on Stena ferries, but I'm unsure when I may be asked to pay the duties (I think only 1 liter is free duty, when coming to EU). You mentioned screening bags in UK, may that be happening then?
Thanks a lot!
Yes there are plenty of staff available at Harwich so you’re probably best asking them. Cheers
@2:39 did you know that the number 720 on the yellow wheelchair ramp in the background is the class of trains that the ramp will secure to. Most station will have several wheelchair ramps for all classes of trains that frequently service that station.
I didn’t, but I do now! I’ll look out for that next time I’m at a station. Cheers 😊👍
Good video thanks and I will have to remember to take a can of Coca-Cola with me at them prices !
The Manningtree Station Buffet and pub is a great place to break the journey
I'll have to remember that for next time Stuart. Cheers.
That place is legendary. It's considered rude to not extend one's journey for a swift pint and a bacon sandwich in the station buffet.
Long live the Manningtree Station Buffet!
Best part of the trip is a bacon roll and a pint at Manningtree.
The worst thing about it, is that it actually isn't open when you want it to be. Just when you miss a connection and it's you are waiting on the windy cold platform for forty five minutes late at night.
6:35 I’ve stayed in 11111 on the Hollandica!
I had a crazy notion of you and 'Techmoan' 'trading places' for a larf, i.e you doing a video reviewing an old c.1971 Panasonic musiccentre, and him reviewing the legroom on a Bus Éireann coach or something.
I hadn’t heard of this guy before tonight so hanks for the recommendation. I would probably go for an old amstrad 4 track recorder (with turntable of course!).
Interesting, explained ship areas ,
The Dutch Flyer used to include Dutch rail to any Dutch station. However they replaced part of the route with what they call the Metro. Even though it runs the exact same route it doesn't count as a railway.
Yep, and I don’t think it came back after covid (something like that anyway).
@@LetsMakeaTrip For a short while it did include the Metro but I found the ticket usually didn't work. Then During COVID they didn't want to have special offers to encourage people to travel. It was also far safer to use the flexible fare and pay a bit more in case tighter rules prevented travel. Then after COVID I guess they had issues with RET or something.
first time I did that route in the late 80s it was £28 walk on fee. 😁
You can say Hoek of Holland because it is the real corner of the Netherlands ! Until 2017 it was a trainststation and now it is a metrostation and the last stop is the beach ! I have a fact for you and that is as follows : until the late 90's Hoek van Holland beach was a international trainstation, trains to Germany, Denmark and even Russia depart from here.......this is all gone now ! Now only thing that is left is a boring metrostation, so now you learned some more about Hook of Holland😅
I have! Thank you sir for the information. 😊👍
Living up North I have not used this route since 1994 AND 1996 when the older ferries ran, on route to family holidays in The Black Forest. I remember the food not being great then and I think we had bought our own sandwiches probably M&S. We stayed in a loverly family run B&B in Wrabnes, before taking the day ferry. which you would have passed through on the train close to Harwich. Great review of the Ferry which looked very nice and the first time I have seen a tv in a basic cabin. Such a shame the ferries to Denmark and Germany no longer operate from here as they would be very useful.
Three ferries I miss, the Esjberg one, the Smyril Line calling in at Lerwick on its way to Iceland and the Swansea - Cork ferry. All great routes and I would’ve done them all. Only ever managed the Swansea - Cork one though sadly. I will do the Smyril Line I just need to get all the way to Hirtshals now! Cheers mate 😊👍
@@LetsMakeaTrip yep I would love to do Denmark Iceland.
£106 is a bargain in my eyes mate!
Back in the day, half the British army used that route.
Interesting, quite a few on it when I sailed.
I’m sure that I’ve been In that cabin
Nice video Mark. I use this crossing a lot (other half lives in NL). I always take a car but didn’t know about Rail-Sail so may look into that in the future. As others have said, pre-buying a food/drink voucher makes the restaurant costs a fair bit more bearable. Also, if you join their loyalty scheme the points actually add up quite quickly and you soon get free lounge access whereupon drinks and light snacks are free.
Cheers Lee, I am in the loyalty scheme but tbh, I just don’t travel with Stena often enough (and they wiped the few points I did have at the end of last year). I’ve done another rail/sail recently with Stena and that seemed a little different wrt food and drink. Watch this space! 😊👍
Hello it’s not Hook of Holland, but Hoek van Holland, free translated Corner of Holland
Hi Peter, I am aware of that and I did try and pronounce it in the video that way. With a mainly UK audience though, the English name works better in the search box and gets me more views. That’s why I used it to be brutally honest.
Have you ever done the ticket from any UK station to Ireland via Holyhead, usually retails about £54 on the day fare or something?
I have Max and I've also done it coming back on a very interesting route from Belfast (via Glasgow pretty-much) back down to the Midlands. Less than £54 too. That video will be out in a month-or-so. Cheersee mate.
These overnight European ferries are heads and tails above what is on offer in North America.
I haven’t tried any in North America tbh but would love to give them a go. Any recommendations?
Funny that NS have pulled out of the agreement given that they own Greater Anglia.
Any gaming on board?
I have used this route every month this summer! I used to cross on Eurostar but post-BREXIT extra border controls make it a slower journey so I either have to get an expensive early train (from North Yorks) or stay overnight in Paris on my way to the Basque Country on the Spanish border in far SW France. Instead I now get a cheap afternoon ticket to Kings X, go 4 stops on the Metropolitain Line to Liverpool Street and catch the 18:45 to Harwich International. This arrives at 20:23 and boarding seems to be synchronised with the arrival of this train - I have never waited more than about 10 minutes.
Yes, facilities on board are limited and catering basic, compared to Brittany Ferries, but this is not a "cruise ferry" - just look at the size of the Lorry Drivers' lounge to see the target market. But you are asleep most of the time and from arrival in the morning it is an easy metro ride to Rotterdam Centraal for the 09:58 Thalys to Paris then a transfer to Montparnasse for the TGV to Hendaye arriving late afternoon. Ideal timings and cheaper than Eurostar, though I still do the reverse trip via St Pancras in view of the extra hour gained.
Cheers Tim, interesting route you’re taking there but I can see why. I had one pint plus dinner and that coke and tbh, if I wasn’t doing things for the purposes of this video, I’d have eaten before boarding and gone straight to the cabin for a decent nights sleep. Still prefer Brittany Ferries personally but yep, you pays your money and all that…..
The duty free shop will have opened and the gaming machines switched on once the boat had left the port. Something to do with licensing laws and tax free shopping.
Great video, that looks like a fun trip.
Hi thanks for the info. I was tucked up in bed by that point unfortunately but yes I agree, seems to be something to do with international waters too. Cheers 😊👍
I went to Germany July 26th on a Stena line ferry, I LOVED IT!!!! I was very scared though because it was my first time on a ferry, it took way too long though (7 hours!), but it was worth it and I had a lovely time in Nordhorn where I was staying (my dad was stationed in Nordhorn)
Great trip Mark , I'm feeling nostalgic as I done this journey many times (BC) before COVID ,
I have a soft spot for the Netherlands.
Many thanks and I look forward to your next adventure.
Hi Gary, cheers mate. I think it's quite a well-trodden route this one (so to speak). I'd done it myself a couple of times with an old T4 Westfalia which tbh was a total money pit! It is great to reach continental Europe wherever I end up. Plenty more adventures to come.
My husband and brother-in-law made this very trip last week, on route to Denmark (doing the return crossing tomorrow). I’ve been begging him to share some insights of the voyage with me but he’s refused, so this video is very timely!
I also love the way you put these together!
Hi thanks Princess Leia, glad I could help with this and I appreciate the support. Cheers 😊
it's not a boat it's a ship
Yep, I know 😂
@@LetsMakeaTrip I was just joking you said you were going to get cross with comments as it was early in the morning. Seems you have more on your mind!
@@melvynbuckton6881 I know mate, just found it funny 😊
I also noticed that they didn’t provide tea and coffee making facilities in your cabin-unlike most inland Hotel Rooms-perhaps that’s because they want you to buy your tea and coffee,at the various onboard cafes and bars,at their inflated prices ??
Probably Tony, though I think the dearer cabins do have tea and coffee making facilities 👍
Went on the Harwich Hamburg and Denmark ships many times they went right into the city centres sadley missed
Yes the Danish one in-particular.
In about 1972 I went on a ferry from Immingham to Amsterdam just before Christmas. (The ferry went on to Sweden from there.) If you didn't have a cabin, there were dormitories with one prickly prison blanket for each bed. No sheets or pillow cases. Coming back, the North sea was very rough. You could not have included that journey in a video, albeit this was long before RUclips. Everywhere you could hear people throwing up. As the ship lurched about, the corridors ran with vomit. I went in the gents' toilets and found all the basins full of you know what. A woman was trying to unblock one with a fork. She said the women's toilets were worse. I wasn't sea sick, but it was the worst trip I have ever been on.
I think the casino/gaming areas fall under the same rule as cruise ships, which can only operate casinos in international waters.
Yes I think you’re right from what I can gather. Cheers 👍
I did this trip back in '91, I remember getting quite pissed and watching a film, may have been Flatliners, and then going to bed in a cabin which had three other people sleeping in it.
15:26 That 'Beaver Bar' doesn't look too bad. Lots of people sitting around and having drinks.
Great video Mark. It has been a few years since I slept overnight on a ferry (last time I did I ended up sleeping on a deckchair.
Its always good and pleasant to get value for money for a travel experience. Tonight I am returning to Malta via Sicily (thank goodness the whole fire emergency over there has been solved) and will take the Virtù Ferries catamaran. I hope this time they'll have a better food choice (last time I travelled with them they ordered some pizzas from a local restaurant in Pozzallo and even charged you to get them warmed up).
Cheers Enrico. I hope you had a good trip and I bet it’s warmer over there than here (not too much though of course). I need to do more ferries around that part of the world tbh - maybe next year there will be more opportunities 😊👍
Great video I’ve done the premium lounge when doing the crossing and it’s pretty poor compared to the Irish crossings sadly
Oh thanks for the heads up. And if you recommend Irish Ferries lounge I might just try it 😊👍
Thanks for the video we should have travelled to Holland last week but we had to cancel due to flu, never been on this route so this is very helpful to us. Joan and Bob Skinner
Used that ferry many many times. Always with a car.
Perfect for what it is.
I never had a eat on the ship, the food in the cafeteria is OK but I felt it was never worth the money.
Same with breakfast.
I always made sure I had eaten before I went on board.
On the night ferry, couple of beers and get your head down.
On the Dutch side there is a great little fish shop that serves excellent fish and chips.
Early lunch there on the way back and a sandwich in the bag all you need.
The pub on the roundabout in Harwich does a decent meal, always tried to get dinner there before boarding for the night crossing.
Perfect way to get from A to B but don't expect to party.
Pretty sure I’ve been to that pub in Harwich before when I had an old VW camper we took this route and ate there. I don’t remember eating on the ship either so yep, if I wasn’t filming everything I think I’d have done the same. Cheers Derek 😊👍
@@LetsMakeaTrip I transported cars and had a camper on the back of my pick up truck wher I slept.
They were good in that pub.
I liked the day ferry.
When I got to Harwich I would have my evening meal there and they let me stay overnight in the car park.
I travelled from Sweden.
The beat route was the Göteborg to Kiel ferry and the Hook to Harwich.
The Gbg to kiel ferry is great.
Far better than the slog down to Helsingborg and then putgarten.
Altogether the spaghetti on the putgarten ferry is good.
Very rarely used the bridge.
Cpg to Helsingborg time wise is about the same but it is shorter and you get time for a coffee on the ferry.
A couple of ideas for you.
If you study the map carefully there is a ferry crossing the river well east of hamburg avoiding getting through hamburg.
Very nice drive and a very interesting ferry ride
It is slow compared to the autobahn but a nice drive.
I took day sailings on these ships several times a few years ago. I was able to book the restaurant at a discount when buying the ticket and found it good value compared with paying on the day. Also I found the quiet lounge area was the best place to sit for the rest of the crossing. You could read or work without too much disturbance but without paying an upgrade.
Cheers Nigel. I’m sure this is a lovely trip in the day - might try it myself actually. I would like to try the restaurant but on this occasion, it was eating into my budget too much! If I’m doing ok on this RUclips thing, I promise I’ll try it next time 😊👍
Very good lovely weather as you have stated restaurant food fairly expensive. I feel it offered good value.
Another great video Mark. I did the day crossing many years ago with the fast cat only 5 hours. I do enjoy a ferry crossing myself my favourite was 2022 Aberdeen to Shetland islands. Great restaurant on the North link ferry. Haddock and chips with a pint of tennets. 13.98. And the portion was huge.
miss the fast Cat
Hi.. just a bit of a post Brexit question. Do you know if you can take sandwiches onto the ferry to eat whilst in board at all?
Travelling to Netherlands in a month by car on the Monday morning crossing . Thanks...
Not sure tbh. Might be worth checking the Stena Line ferry or sending them a message on X 👍
Ahhhh what is was like to be younger, 40 bloody years younger m8. Great video, did it in Feb this year in memorie of my dear, now departed brother who used to be my wingman on many of these Harwich to where ever back in the day. On my trip I went on to Amsterdam then jumped on the Eurostar premium (free beer) back to London, was a good day out. It's a shame the NL side for trains is still not part of the deal, it makes it a great week end away.
Cheers mate, yes one of the things with ferries (for me anyway) is as soon as you're on board, out on deck, the trip/holiday has started. Leaving port - nothing quite like it. The experience there on in depends on the ship/company but generally speaking it's a great way to travel. Glad this brought back some good memories. All the best, Mark
Well with a HSS out of Harwich and a Eurostar back, yes a true day trip would have been possible with some sightseeing back in the day 😅 Even an very quick HSS turnaround in the Hook day trip for the less adventurous 😊
I imagine that the casino, if it opens, may not do so until the ship is outside territorial waters.
Ah yes John, thanks. I wonder if it’s more of a day thing too? I’d be interested to know if it bothers to open on the overnight crossing as I can’t see many staying up all night, especially when cabins are compulsory.
Could well be. Interested to see if any day passengers can help.
Great video apart fro the Ipswich approach. OTBC.
I did have a great time in Norwich the day before if it helps 😂
Hi Mark just watched your absolutely wonderful video you got ripped right off with the coke is the menu in English or Dutch you got a bargain 106£ for the cabin plus expensive food on board I didn't know you know my hero steve marsh he does some fantastic trips your on the top 3 of my list of traveler's you explain what people want to know again thanks for the info all the best John 😊😊
Hi John, many thanks for the comment mate. Not a bad trip for the money this but yes, steer we’ll clear of the soft drinks if you’re in the cafe! I know Steve through RUclips that’s all really and really enjoy his stuff. Probably end up doing similar stuff really though I reckon he’s got a bigger budget than me! 😂 All the best, Mark 👍
Hi Mark I did watch your video on jersey did you stay at premier Inn if so which 1 did you get there on condor? I know you had a nightmare going to letaqe if I can get the video I'll watch again all the best John 😊
Bath Road I think it was mate 👍
Hi Mark it was bath road the other is Charing cross thanks for your reply m8 there is 1 thing I cannot find out how did you get to Jersey and return and the price if you have the video which I cannot find let me in Pal you do a great job helping people before they travel 1 day you will catch up with Steve all the best my friend thanks John 😀
A bit more skimpy in the cabins and more expensive for food than Northlink Ferries up to Shetland, though the cost of cabin and travel cheaper
Yep, tbh I really want to get back on Northlink. Watching Steve Marsh’s latest video though, there’s no way I’m not getting a cabin!
You need Hull to Rotterdam!! ferry !!yes there's bad feeling against P &O ferries but it's a good overnight route!! food , entertainment, and back in the day largest cruise ferries in the world!! plus a history going back to 1965!!
I will try that at some point Graham. Did it a few years ago in the car and I seem to remember quite enjoying it. It is a big ship yes and there was lots going on. Watch this space!
Boring ship nothing much on it and expensive to eat and drink , did this trip in the winter of last year , nice cabin tho think it was £130 for a foot passenger and an inside cabin so again not the cheapest and that was winter time . I enjoy your ferry videos tho mate 👍 oh and they use to switch the machines on after it sails and switch them off before it docks something about international waters and the law , I use to go on Brittany ferries a lot and they have taken all slot machines off their ships as the French changed the gambling laws too .
Cheers mate, I do want to get down to Plymouth at some point and sail to Roscoff. I’m not a user of the fruit machines tbh so it doesn’t bother me either way but yes, interesting to note Brittany Ferries have taken them out. I never noticed many on any of their ships in the past though. I think you get a different kind of experience with BF, seems more laid-back somehow.
Excellent- I love this route to Holland... shame it doesn't include the rail in Holland anymore ..cabins are great .. particularly the mattress!! The ramp in Hoek seems to go on for ever
Yes Richard it did seem to go n for ever! Maybe NS will sign-up to it again but it’s still decent value in my view without. Cheers for the comment. 😊👍
@LetsMakeaTrip saves the cost of an extra overnight stay !!!
Used to do this trip many times when working in Germany, used to book it through the reisburo in Germany through ticket to Liverpool Street from Dortmund, why this way instead of flying? no connections after 6 pm from Düsseldorf onwards to Ireland by air and by using the ferry I only missed one early flight so saved the price of a London hotel, nice post, brought back happy memories
Cheers John, interesting comment too. Thanks very much for sharing your experience 😊👍
you change at maningtree only direct trains come from london.frieght drivers do not sit with riffraff got there own area and we get meals free as it costs me £1070 per trip just for a 22 wheeler artic 3 machines are turned on when the ferru sets sail usualy after 12mile so its in international waters/4 its frieght that pays for ferries not cars or foot passengers as you might do 2 trips a year truckers do it every week
Yep, I came from Cromer. Cheers mate, an interesting insight into the freight side of things. Nice one 😊👍
I have vague memories of doing a trip from Harwich to Esbjer for a mate's stag do. Thirty five years ago. 22 hours out 4 hours in an Esbjerg bar, 22 hours back. Bars a plenty, nightclub and many au pairs making the trip. Great fun I recall but don't think this route is run nowadays.
Cheers, it’s not run anymore sadly and I never got the chance to do it. Not sure it’ll ever come back now which is a shame as I’d definitely be on that ferry if it did. 😊👍
Seemed value for money. Did you get breakfast? If so how much was breakfast and how did it taste?
Hi Gareth! The fare was pretty decent yes. I didn’t get breakfast but I posted up the price in the video which I seem to remember was €14.
A Ten years ago I used to commute on a weekly basis on that ferry crossing. 👍
A pity you didn’t record the cheery whistling wake up call. Disembarking at Harwich on the return trip was really very early!
I’m not even sure I remember that wake up call tbh - must’ve had a decent nights sleep I guess.
Enjoyed this informative video. Can you upgrade to cabin with window and 2 lower bunks?. Look forward to viewing some more of your videos
Thanks Gillian. My cabin was the cheapest you can get so I’m sure you can upgrade subject to availability. Appreciate the comment 😊👍
It's a Viking ship. Be thankful you're not rowing.
Haha, cheers 😊
Looked pretty good thanks. Last month I went past the ferry berth on the RET Metro line B going to the "beach" ! (final stop) and the station is exposed to the elements a walk away from the ferry terminal, old NS station is still there looking forlorn hard up against the terminal
Yes I noticed the old station looking very dilapidated. Lots of work seemed to be going on in he vicinity 👍
I can see this ferry out my living room window and I work not far off where it docks
I would love to have a view like that David. Cheers
Hope to see a Eurolines bus/sailing video soon unless you've already done one. Maybe London Victoria to Dublin or Cork although I think the Cork service has not returned since Covid.
I've done the Eurolines London to Dublin recently. It's about 18th down the list if you look through my content. Cheers Tony.
when I've travelled from hull , the gaming machine where switched on when so far out at sea , due to gambling regulations
Cheers Sam, I thought that might be the case. Unfortunately, I’d probably gone to bed by the time it happened on my trip 😊
Hi Mark. Love watching your videos. Just wondered, do you ever get recognised by subscribers on any of your trips? 🤔
Hi Rachael, thanks. I do occasionally get recognised yes but I’m not a big RUclipsr by any means and it does take me aback a little when it happens. Great to meet people though and I always get nice comments. 😊👍
Great video. My last trip to the UK and back to the Netherlands with Stena line was last December. My next one will be in 2024 and am already looking forward to it.
Thanks Kirsten, yes I’ll definitely do this one again myself - maybe the day crossing next time. Also, the Hull - Rotterdam/Zeebrugge route and Newcastle - Amsterdam. Plenty of choice with these 👍
Fantastic video. I have a beach hut not far from harwich in Walton on the Naze. Shooting star at 19:02, hope you made a wish!
Lewis, my daughter reckons it’s a seagull 😂 PS, I always wanted a beach hut, I bet it’s great 👍
Great as usual mate. It's been a while since I took this route, even longer overnight! Even before brexit I recall queueing for ages (1h easily) for immigration control in Hoek - loads of people, despite there only being 6 passengers with SailRail tickets (I saw the passenger list at checkin in Harwich). The other ferry may well have been used on a freight only crossing, there are other roro ferries for trucks (Harwich - Zebrugge for example) that the public can't use..
Cheers mate, yes I’m sure you’re right about the other ferry, maybe more capacity is needed atm over on your side of the country. Don’t know if anyone else was on the SailRail, I’m sure there were but I bet I was the only one from Cromer! 😊👍
cheers mark. I know you love your Boats planes trains trams busses trolleys skateboards.
Thanks Mike, yep 40 years ago I was a great skateboarder 😂
I think the casino /fruitmachine areas open after you leave port
Yes Ian I gather that’s the law wrt international waters from what people have said. Cheers mate 😊👍
A good, honest review as always. Expensive Coca-Cola mind.
Cheers Tim, yes, bring your own Coke I would say 😊👍
Nice one mark, i think £106 is a bargain if you are travelling from London thanks again really like your videos
Cheers Sean, yep a decent price especially when you consider it’s 1 nights accommodation too 👍
Brilliant as always - I’m doing this trip (the other way round) next week so was looking for a good video on the trip and what to expect & if by magic yours pops up a few days before I leave. 😊
Excellent Tim, glad I could help (a bit). Cheers for the comment 😊👍
I'm currently camping in the Netherlands and made that ferry crossing on sunday night.
I hope you’re getting better weather than we are!
Has this experience changed much in the post-Brexit world?
Honestly Jason, I did it probably about 10 years ago but I was in a vehicle then so not sure but if anything, the disembarkation process must surely take longer (unfortunately). Having said that, I didn't experience any real issues on the day I travelled.
Hi Mark hope you're well, having a catch up on your videos. Keep up the good work!
Cheers Harry and thanks very much for the support - much appreciated mate 😊👍
Having done this trip many years ago and thinking about it for the future videos on the routes always interest me. There have been quite a few recently but arguably you get the feeling of the experience somewhat better than the others. It is, by the time you have eaten, a fairly short night and many of the facilities seem closed on the night crossing. It would be interesting to compare a day voyage. I did check cabin availability in the summer a while back and the outer cabins in particular seemed heavily booked across quite a few dates. It is reasonably priced, you do save on a hotel but with the number of flights from UK regional airports to the Netherlands perhaps the value to foot passengers is rather less unless you live near the port?
Thanks a lot for the comment. I always think, if you lived somewhere like Portsmouth, the options are great. I’d be on the ferries all the time! Harwich iirc has a Premierinn by the port so it could make as much sense to overnight there and get the day crossing. I may well try it. I believe the facilities do open up once in international waters but I don’t know about everyone else, I was in bed by that point. Overall though, a decent ship and crossing I would certainly recommend (bring your own coke though 😂). Cheers 😊👍
Loving the chill atmosphere of this trip… feel a bit envious of your past June self, before the current monsoon descended on the British isles! I normally love the videos where you suffer on long overnite buses the most 😅. But I found this one soooo relaxing.. best wishes
Haha, cheers yes it’s difficult to believe we had such a nice May/June! I’m sure I can suffer another overnight coach trip at some point too.
Cromer? I would have stocked up on Cromer crab and sat on the deck at sunset haha
That sounds lovely! Though getting them through security - there's probably some clause in there somewhere (see what I did there? claws?). I won't give up the day job!
Hi Mark. Great video to Holland. I've done the dfds about 30 yrs ago from there they seemed better shops, smarter. Did u go on into Holland. Hope u are well. Does your friend come with u any more. Looking forward to seeing your next video. Best wishes David and Beverley Norfolk
Hi both, I went up to Schipol and flew back to Birmingham. Jimmy lives down south so I only meet up with him if I’m down that way really. I haven’t done DFDS yet but it’s definitely on the radar 😊👍
@@LetsMakeaTrip thank you for kind reply. Nice to hear what you do. Your videos are very relaxing and informative. Safe journeys. We just came back from Eastbourne, they run a dotto train on the seafront and a town tour, may be worth a video maybe. Thanks again. Best wishes David and Beverley Norfolk
Great video!! Less expensive to travel across to Holland than it is to travel axross the Irish sea. Hope all is well and hope you have a great weekend, take care
Thanks Peter, glad you enjoyed it 😊👍
Thanks Mark for a great video which is so different from those of other vloggers. I made several trips on this route many decades ago when the ferries were much smaller ! And of course back then it was one ferry with Sealink and the other with its Dutch counterpart. It's an historic route which has operated for very many years.
Thanks Alex, I’m not sure whether being different is a good thing or not! 😂 Maybe it is, I don’t know tbh, trying my best and all that! And for me the Sealink name just evokes so many great memories, the ferries, the routes, even the trains when you think back to somewhere like a Weymouth and the quayside - probably 33’s if I recall correctly meeting the boat off to Jersey. Good days. Cheers 😊👍
I've been watching a lot of your vids this week. Great stuff.
Thanks mate, really appreciate this and cheers for taking the time to comment 😊
That looks rlly cool
Is that a twin cabin? Do Stena do cabins for solo travellers?
Yep, top bunk left in situ.
Very thorough and informative great work as usual,cheers and stay safe.
Cheers Simon, appreciate the watch and comment as usual. 😊👍
If I arrive on the train with a bike, are there separate arrangements for boarding?
Check on the Stena website for bicycle carriage. If it's not detailed on there, I would contact them directly.
12:11 I'd be taking sandwiches and a flask.
Sainsbury’s meal deal next time 😂👍
Thanks for postponing your dinner to show us around. What a trooper!
Haha, cheers 😊
Excellent 🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌷🌷🌷🌷🌹🌹🌹🌹
Hi Derisley thanks for commenting mate as always. Unfortunately I'm on my laptop tonight and I haven't figured out how to leave emojis to reciprocate!!
New subscriber here I must say I like your videos sir 👍
Hi, well many thanks for the sub I hope you enjoy your time over here. Cheers for the comment too - much appreciated.