london to amsterdam ferry
 

hello all,
making a brief visit in london and then thought I'd take a ferry over to dam for the next leg of the journey. Seems like a cool experience rather than just flying. Does anyone know of the cost and duration of such a ferry ride (economy class). Also, where would be a good place to book a ticket? thanks,
wb

Stena operate both a regular ferry service and a high speed ferry (HSS) from Harwich to Hoek van Holland (about a 1:30 - 2:00 drive from Amsterdam).

http://www7.stenaline.se/servlet/se.ementor.econgero.servle t.presentation.Main?data.node.id=4303&data.languag e.id=2

An even cooler option IMHO is the Eurostar which leaves from London's Waterloo station. It goes to Brussels via Paris. From Brussels you can take either a special Thalys train (a bit faster and a lot prettier) or a regular international trein up to Amsterdam.

Or maybe stop off in Paris and Brussels on the way up?

http://www.eurostar.com/dctm/jsp/index.jsp

Anyway, have fun no matter which you choose!

-- Dambus


[This message has been edited by Dambus (edited 05-15-2003).]

I have used both the regular ferry and the HSS within the last year.

The HSS is quite an experience - they claim it's the largest catamaran in the world, and going so fast in something so big is quite a strange sensation. The facilities on board are quite good - several restaurants (both a la carte and fast food), shops, a cinema and plenty of comfortable seats. We paid about 5 pounds (8 dollars) extra for seats in the panorama lounge, a quiet little oasis on the upper deck - definitely a worth while investment on busy sailings.

The regular ferry carries about 75% trucks and only 25% cars, and its facilities seem to be more geared to to truck drivers than to private travellers.

One thing we found quite irritating on the regular ferry (as non-smokers) was that most of the restaurant was a designated smoking area, with only a small corner being set aside for non-smokers. On our outbound journey the queue for the buffet stretched back into the main restaurant area, and we spent quite some time having to inhale smoke while waiting to get our food. Also, food service seemed to be somewhat chaotic and disorganised. (Food is included in the price of the crossing on the regular ferry - there is just one large room where everybody queues up, all very cheap and cheerful!)

However, despite those shortcomings the service on the regular ferry is quite adequate, and if you travel overnight you have the advantage of saving a night in a hotel.

I have heard that one of the two regular ferries is due to be replaced by a new much larger one later this year, and that the facilities on the new ferry will be much better than those on the existing one.



[This message has been edited by Aviatrix (edited 05-15-2003).]

The usual ferry route is London Liverpool Street to Harwich then a boat packed with White Trash smoking in every coner of the ship and no outside decks to go out to for fresh air. Then it's a wait aroung in Rotterdam for your train to Amsterdam. Times are roughly London-Harwich 1hr30min, boat 4hr, Rotterdam-Amsterdam 1hr. Including waiting you are looking at pretty much the entire day. It would cost about 70 or 80 USD.

I'd tend to agree with Dambus. The eurostar would be a much more pleasant experience and would allow a few hours to explore Brussels and/or Antwerp.

You may have to buy your Brussells to Amsterdam ticket separately so you'd need to visit www.thalys.com in that case.

Both of these options seem great when planning them, but I've done both and they suck after the first hour or two. I'd just get a cheap one way with easyjet and cut out the hassles. Or even better get a cheap one way on BMI, KLM or BA and get some status miles for which ever program you are in.

[This message has been edited by parra (edited 05-16-2003).]

I disagree on the Eurostar. While train travel is easier and more comfortable than flying, its much less interesting especially the channel crossing (if you've seen the inside of one tunnel, you've seen them all). I think a ferry crossing would be interesting although a bit more challenging in that you have to get to the coast, etc. Another alternative is to fly a budget carrier like EasyJet--I few them to AMS for 25 pounds.

Hi,

I went on the regular ferry from Hook Van Holland to Harwich on a night crossing a couple years ago. I am really glad I paid a little extra for a cabin. As previously posted it was very smokey. Most of the passengers were from U.K. and spent the night drinking, gambling and smoking. My wife smokes, I don't. She loved it.

If you are a non-smoker and don't go high speed, spring for a private cabin.

Steve