Stena Hollandica

 

HARWICH TO HOEK VAN HOLLAND

We arrived at the port of Harwich at about 21:00 for our 23:45 overnight sailing to the Hook of Holland on Stena Lines Ropax Seamaster Hollandica. Check in had already started at about 20:30 and there were only a couple of vehicles in front of us at the check in. It only took a couple of minutes to be checked in, having shown our passports and internet booking reference, we were then handed a map of the ship and our boarding cards which would also act as the keys to our cabin.

We drove through customs without being stopped and was then waved on by the port staff, to the car lanes, to wait, prior to boarding. Because the Stena Hollandica is predominately a freight ship, the cars are loaded on board in batches, a few at a time in-between the lorry’s being loaded. We were soon waved on by the staff and were on board by 21:30, we were guided into our parking spot and took the advise of the notices to: “put on hand-brake, leave in gear and turn off alarm”. On a recent trip to Scotland whilst on a car ferry from the Isle of Skye we had forgotten to switch our alarm off and within a few minutes of setting sail we could clearly hear our car alarm sounding as the ferry was rocked with the movement of the waves. I don’t intend making that mistake again (very embarrassing).

On leaving the car deck it is worthwhile taking one of the tickets from the pad which is situated by the lift/stairs which tells you which car deck you are on and which colour steps you need to take to return to your vehicle the next day, it is all too easy to forget, especially after a nights sleep. We were on car deck 3 and took the brown stairs to our cabin on deck 9, everywhere was well sign posted and it was easy locating our cabin .

We had chosen an inside two berth cabin which was the cheapest option at £37 for the cabin, add to this the £120 for the flexi ticket for the car and two passengers and our total fare, one way, was £ 157. Our cabin was clean and bright,  with a WC and a shower, it had everything we needed for the seven hour crossing, there was also a dressing table and mirror as well as hooks for coats and a small rail for hanging clothes. We had bunk beds, and as I lost the toss of the coin, I got to sleep on  the top bunk.

As prior to boarding we had eaten a most enjoyable meal at the Pier Hotel in Harwich (a birthday celebration for my wife) we did not eat on board, however, we did explore the ship and check out the various eateries etc.

There is the Metropolitan Restaurant on deck 7 which serves hot and cold food from its buffet and grill, a set price for the three course (eat as much as you can) buffet is 25 euro and represents good food at a reasonable price. Also on deck 7 is the Food City restaurant and bar where you can purchase fast food items, both restaurants serve breakfast as well as dinner.

Other amenities on board include a 24 hour reception, a bureau de change, a kids corner, teenage area, a cinema, a casino (blackjack and roulette) and a shop as well as the Stena Plus Lounge where for a small extra payment you have a comfortable lounge with free Wifi, newspapers and teas and coffees. The Stena Hollandica will hold 900 passengers in 398 cabins and can carry 300 cars, she is 240 metres in length and 28.7 metres wide and is capable of a speed of 22 knots.

Having explored the ship and decided against any purchases in the shop, ( with the pound as weak as it is against the euro there are very few bargains to be had) we retired to our cabin at around 22:30, still over an hour before we would set sail. Disembarkation the next morning would be at 07:00 central European time with a wake up call at 06:00 so we had just enough time to get seven hours in bed.

The beds were surprisingly comfortable, and the crossing very calm. Aside from waking up on a few occasions throughout the night, we managed a reasonable nights sleep and were up and getting dressed long before the ships announcement that breakfast was being served. We grabbed ourselves a cup of tea from Food City ( no breakfast for us as it was our intention to get a few road miles under our belts and then stop on route). Another walk around the ship, including outside on deck, and we were being called, along with all the other vehicle drivers, to return to the car decks (I’m glad I took that ticket to remind me where I parked).

We were off the ship and through customs by 07:00, feeling refreshed after our good nights sleep, and ready for the long drive ahead, we had 335 miles to drive through Holland and Germany to get us to our destination of Hamburg, but we felt ready for it.

We had chosen to drive to Germany as we were visiting our son who lives in Hamburg and there were things that he wanted us to take over for him (the excess baggage costs with flights would have been astronomical). As it happened we were sailing just one day after the Icelandic Volcano erupted and all European flights were grounded, this was indeed fortunate as had we been booked to fly we would not have made it. DFDS use to have a sailing from Harwich to Hamburg but as the route proved unprofitable they discontinued it some years ago, however anyone heading for Holland, North Germany, Denmark or many of the Baltic states who need or would like to drive rather than fly, the Harwich to Hook of Holland is a very good choice, there are two sailings a day, one daytime and one overnight and once in Holland you have access to very good motorways, there is also excellent train connections for those travelling by foot.