DFDS vs. P&O North Sea

[Neil W]

We went over in September 2021 , one of the first boats after the EU started to lift Covid Restrictions , 2 bikes on the ferry (us and a German going home after being stuck at in laws in the UK for months ).

Two bikes on the boat on the way home two weeks later .... utter bliss

 

[jefformston]

We went over in September 2021 , one of the first boats after the EU started to lift Covid Restrictions , 2 bikes on the ferry (us and a German going home after being stuck at in laws in the UK for months ).

Two bikes on the boat on the way home two weeks later .... utter bliss

I managed a trip to Spain in August 21, Brittany ferries, boat was quite both ways, as were all the campsites we stayed on. Great trip.

 

[JonnyBravo]

Final comment on this - as much as I think we can all agree P&O are a bunch of ***** for what they did with their employees, I am going to have to rate last nights crossing, the food, service and accommodation as a 5 Star ️️️️️

 

[glenn2926]

Final comment on this - as much as I think we can all agree P&O are a bunch of ***** for what they did with their employees, I am going to have to rate last nights crossing, the food, service and accommodation as a 5 Star ️️️️️

Having used this crossing a good few times I noticed you didn’t mention the entertainment .

 

[JoeBiff]

Boat is nearly empty.
Brasserie booked for 19:45.
Sea looks like a mill pond!

You’ll be looking at the “millpond” that’s the Humber Estuary
The North Sea is still 25 miles further east…

The waverider buoy off the coast was showing a three-metre northerly swell.

 

[Doc]

Having used this crossing a good few times I noticed you didn’t mention the entertainment .

Some of the shittest I've seen ever.

 

[JonnyBravo]

Some of the shittest I've seen ever.

Some sort of crap pub quiz was on when we went off to bed - we missed the house band and sloped off before it got messy !!

 

[JonnyBravo]

You’ll be looking at the “millpond” that’s the Humber Estuary
The North Sea is still 25 miles further east…

The waverider buoy off the coast was showing a three-metre northerly swell.

As it was a northerly last night, the ferry barely moved at all on its training run down to the ‘Dam.

 

[JoeBiff]

As it was a northerly last night, the ferry barely moved at all on its training run down to the ‘Dam.

She’s a very big ship (ferry) so she’d hardly move.
Plus, stabilisers, once deployed are very handy.
Enjoy the trip.

 

[JonnyBravo]

Back on for the homeward leg.
£20 paid for a bigger cabin to spread out to finish the week.
Money well spent and we have a view

 

[Hairnet600]

going DE on thursday

dfds 300 quid return
p and o 162 one way

stena from harwich 162 return (for the car)

 

[Red]

Found this thread when checking that it wasn't just me! P&O to Rotterdam with the bike £350 return, DFDS is £830! What!? The cheek of DFDS charging £160 each way just for the bike. Absolutely insane, obviously don't want my business!

 

[Boxerboy55]

I’m avoiding the North Sea this year.

Will be Spain on Brittany Ferries. Via Ireland as I couldn’t face the boring miles to the Channel then down through France.

A small ferry hop to Belfast then more than 24 hours from Rosslare to Bilbao.

Should be interesting on new territory.

 

[Neil W]

We are popping over to Amsterdam for the day in April on the dfds ferry as foot passengers , 2 nights on boat ,decent cabin, bus transfer to Amsterdam city centre and all meals and it is costing under £230.

I know it is not high season but if you add a bike to the mix and a 12 day period on the continent it is well over £800.

Same cabin , same meals just adding a motorcycle and a gap between the journeys

 

[MartinK]

Found this thread when checking that it wasn't just me! P&O to Rotterdam with the bike £350 return, DFDS is £830! What!? The cheek of DFDS charging £160 each way just for the bike. Absolutely insane, obviously don't want my business!

Plus the P&O meal deal is way better. We booked for the Camper van on a Black Friday deal, got fab service with P&O Hull to Rotterdam at a very good price

 

[JonnyBravo]

Booked again for June 2026 (high season?)
two of us on the bike with a window cabin
£498
Not bothering wiht the posh restaurant dining though this time
- just beer and crisps !

 

[grantmac]

Plenty of decent places around the area (Europort side) for a bite to eat. I hear many head over to Brielle and grab some Dutch version of Fish and Chips. I used to like the buffet on board the P&O boats but it just became ridiculous in price....

 

[Robbieben]

I booked PO Ferry Hull to Rotterdam return last night, going out April 2nd & return April 8th, Evening meal both ways £338.00. The same journey via DFDS Ferry Newcastle to Ijmuiden return would have cost £749.00. A ridicoulous difference.

 

[Mike_E]

nuts. I booked Newcastle to Amsterdam back in mid January for this coming September. 5th to 19th so Saturday sailings too...

2 people, 2 bikes, a 2 bed inside bunk cabin and dinner and breakfast for us both on both sailings. £440 return per person.

P&O from Hull was £340ish but its an extra 2.5hrs down the road for us (7.5 vs 5) so seemed a good deal I thought.

 

[Red]

I've been looking again at this and the prices are also affected by P&O's "short break" discount (sailings 5 days apart or less and you'll get about 30% off). If however you want to stay for longer than that you'll be looking at a higher cost - BUT not as high as DFDS. Looking at taking 7+ days P&O want about £588, while DFDS want £1148!