I've seen many positive references to the ferry crossing from Harwich to the Netherlands. We are contemplating taking the overnight ferry, but it would be in early January. Has anyone had experience with the journey at that time? Is it rough?
Thank you!
Toss a coin.
Look at Google Images for North Sea Storms.
Last year, Xaver (December?) made them shut the Netherlands flood gates for the first time in a bunch of evers.
In an earlier life, dorking around with the Brits, I've seen forty-footers further north off East Anglia. The only place I've seen higher was in the Southern Ocean.
Anything is anecdotal. If you're worried, you need to look at what the worst case could be.
I have not taken that ferry in winter. On any overnight ferry, I've felt more comfortable if I was safely lying down in a reserved bunk. Flights to Amsterdam and more of the continent can be quite cheap; see www.skyscanner.com.
Hi,
No, I've not done that crossing to Harwich in the winter either, but the crossing then (in Aug. 1987) was longer going from Hamburg to Harwich. Obviously, it involved also an overnight crossing, arriving in Harwich in the early afternoon. .No problems, I liked it, esp getting out of the Elbe as it was leaving Hamburg.
Why don't you just take the Eurostar over to Brussels and switch over to a conventional train for the remainder of the trip into Amsterdam? It's a quick and efficient way to travel.
Back in the Dark Ages I did a ferry crossing from Oostende to either Ramsgate or Dover the day after Christmas. It was horrible. Ed can probably explain why but people were fine to start with as we headed out but after we made a left turn the boat started rocking the other way and people started tossing their cookies in major way. Yuck.
I have never done that run in mid winter now would I ever choose to.
I have been on many ships and ferries in winter because I had to and they were often "interesting". Especially fun when the seas get lumpy are the Irish Sea, worst, and the North Sea, a very close second, especially north of the Thames estuary.
