Stena: - Harwich to Hoek

[Mallard]

I've not used this route for a few years now as I find P&O Hull more convenient, but cost has now force my hand. For those of us that have used Stena previously, could you please let me know: what time does check-in open - what time do they start loading, and is the restaurant open as soon as you board. I'm on a 23:00 hour sailing. I've looked for this information on-line, and on the Stena website, but I seem to get conflicting responses.

 

[wessie]

look at the timetable, incoming boat seems to arrive at 1945. allow an hour for the traffic to come off the boat so they are not going to start loading until around 2100, or later.

Get food on shore. There's a Morrisions and retail park near the port with a pub.

 

[EVskiy]

In May 2024, wife and I have arrived to the terminal just before 9pm.



Check in was a doddle, loading from memory started at around 9:00pm. All very civilised too.

We were in our cabin just after 9:30pm.



The in room mini fridge had complimentary drinks for us to consume. A first for me, having never had such convenience in any other ferry.



The restaurant was open too, where we indulged in some grub.



After Dinner, we ventured out onto open deck for a some fresh air and spent a few moments watching professionals loading lorry trailers into very tight parking positions.



The boat had its tether ropes released at 10:45pm according to my photographs.



There is a convenient Morrisons fuel station just around the corner from the port. We have refuelled there, having been informed that fuel in Holland is one of the most expensive in Europe.



Decent breakfast on board, from memory my only complaint was the not so pleasant coffee, so I’d opt for tea instead.



Would happily use it again, if we want to be traveling to Germany, especially northern parts or onto Scandinavia, northern Eastern Europe. etc.
We live circa 100 miles away from Harwich and sailing time suits me/us fine, Less so I guess for the wife as she’s an early bird. In bed at sunset and up at sunrise and does need solid 8-9 hour sleep or else she’s a right cranky …… We can leave home at 6:30pm having finished work, use the night crossing to gain more exploring time the following morning when we arrive in Hoek Von Holland without having to get up at 3am to catch and early Chunnel train and loose an hour in a space of 35 minutes. Chunnel works for us if we are headed for France, Italy and beyond. A bit more pita if trying to get to say central Germany, but certainly doable.

 

[EVskiy]

look at the timetable, incoming boat seems to arrive at 1945. allow an hour for the traffic to come off the boat so they are not going to start loading until around 2100, or later.

Get food on shore. There's a Morrisions and retail park near the port with a pub.

Morrisons from memory was already shut when we had arrived. it was missus and I and a transit full of pikeys at the PFS. Otherwise not a soul around. Then again, my focus was to get fuel, and get onto the boat asap not linger in a shopping park.

 

[Mallard]

In May 2024, wife and I have arrived to the terminal just before 9pm.

View attachment 516133

Check in was a doddle, loading from memory started at around 9:00pm. All very civilised too.

We were in our cabin just after 9:30pm.

View attachment 516135

The in room mini fridge had complimentary drinks for us to consume. A first for me, having never had such convenience in any other ferry.

View attachment 516136

The restaurant was open too, where we indulged in some grub.



After Dinner, we ventured out onto open deck for a some fresh air and spent a few moments watching professionals loading lorry trailers into very tight parking positions.

View attachment 516134

The boat had its tether ropes released at 10:45pm according to my photographs.

View attachment 516138

There is a convenient Morrisons fuel station just around the corner from the port. We have refuelled there, having been informed that fuel in Holland is one of the most expensive in Europe.

View attachment 516140

Decent breakfast on board, from memory my only complaint was the not so pleasant coffee, so I’d opt for tea instead.

View attachment 516141

Would happily use it again, if we want to be traveling to Germany, especially northern parts or onto Scandinavia, northern Eastern Europe. etc.
We live circa 100 miles away from Harwich and sailing time suits me/us fine, Less so I guess for the wife as she’s an early bird. In bed at sunset and up at sunrise and does need solid 8-9 hour sleep or else she’s a right cranky …… We can leave home at 6:30pm having finished work, use the night crossing to gain more exploring time the following morning when we arrive in Hoek Von Holland without having to get up at 3am to catch and early Chunnel train and loose an hour in a space of 35 minutes. Chunnel works for us if we are headed for France, Italy and beyond. A bit more pita if trying to get to say central Germany, but certainly doable.

Wow! Many thanks EVskyi.

 

[EVskiy]

Wow! Many thanks EVskyi.

I do believe that @grantmac of this parish is a regular customer on this very service. If anybody was to tell you more about it, it be Grant.

Our sailing was the one and only so far, but first experience was very pleasant indeed. Forgot to mention previously, that our outside cabin* beds were very comfy, I genuinely slept very well as has wife. She does love to sleep in motion, cars, trains, boats etc. it’s the rocking motions that does it for her.

*ours was Comfort Class two berth with a window. Cost just under £200 one way, having booked it on New Year’s Day 2024.

 

[grantmac]

Thanks EV, yes I use this a lot in fact in 2 weeks again. I find it a great service. Check in Harwich is around 1900 but boarding normally starts around 2130
Short crossing and you’re off pretty quick
Great to get into Laaahndun for around 0900

 

[Tinytim]

Used it last year for the first time, tempted by the big price difference with the Hull ferry, even taking into account an extra 100 miles of UK motorway. As has been said, loading was a piece of piss compared to Hull. The ferry was in nicer condition and a shorter sailing with earlier disembarking. Well worth it.

 

[walkingpictures]

Have done quite a few road trips in my car on this route.Last time I was really lucky,pull up at check in booth,passport checked,straight through customs,no queueing to get on the boat,parked car,up in the lift to my cabin,dropped off my ruck sack and was in the bar about 10 minutes after stopping at the check in booth,couldn't believe it.

Living in Cambridge means an easy trip on the A14 - A12 -A120

Kimbo

 

[Mallard]

Have done quite a few road trips in my car on this route.Last time I was really lucky,pull up at check in booth,passport checked,straight through customs,no queueing to get on the boat,parked car,up in the lift to my cabin,dropped off my ruck sack and was in the bar about 10 minutes after stopping at the check in booth,couldn't believe it.

Living in Cambridge means an easy trip on the A14 - A12 -A120

Kimbo

I would gladly settle for that.

 

[Coppertop]

Just look into this now after seeing the £516 quite from Hull to Rotterdam. Trying to work out if it's worth the extended ride from Scotland to save the wedge of cash. Oh how I wish we had better ferry links up here.

 

[Udders]

I’ve used that route literally hundreds of times using the freighter and passenger ferries. I used to go 2 or 3 times a week over to the flower auction at Honselersdijk and back. I did that for 11 1/2 years!
The “ entertainment “ couple used to hate us lorry drivers going up to the passenger bar. We knew their act better than they did!
They stopped singing the song Living Next Door To Alice because of our enthusiastic accompaniment.

We also had some fantastic bread roll fights with the Dutch drivers! The ferry company always gave us second class passengers ( drivers ) the slightly stale rolls and the normal passengers the fresh ones. Every now and again one of the drivers would throw a rock hard roll at the “ opposition “ ( English & Dutch ) drivers. This immediately was retaliated by a big barrage of rolls going the other way!
It was all over in a matter of seconds followed by laughter from both sides. It was all good fun!

We had some great darts tournaments on the ferry too. Try playing darts on a ship rocking and rolling. You missed the board about 50% of the time.

On the freighter there were two bars on different levels. Each had a TV. The Dutch drivers normally used the top bar and the English the bottom one.
I remember England playing Holland at football one crossing. The Dutch scored first and they all came running downstairs shouting and cheering then went back upstairs.
The English then scored twice so we all went upstairs and did the conga round their bar for about 5 minutes.
We had some fun in those days. There were a big regular bunch of drivers that all got on extremely well.

 

[glenn2926]

Just look into this now after seeing the £516 quite from Hull to Rotterdam. Trying to work out if it's worth the extended ride from Scotland to save the wedge of cash. Oh how I wish we had better ferry links up here.

For me it’s definitely worth the extra cost on the Hull-Rotterdam route to save the drive down south. Hull is about 2 hours away so a mid afternoon departure from home. It is more expensive but when everything is considered it isn’t much more expensive.
The extra fuel, tyre wear, time and most of all not sitting in traffic make it for me at least no contest.