We’re planning Newcastle – Amsterdam for a few days touring at Easter. It’s not cheap, even as foot passengers with a bike.

I’ve just been looking at Newcastle ijmuiden and was pleasantly surprised at how cheap it was. I’m sure it won’t be when I come to book.

I’ve just booked the Cairnryan Belfast ferry for Christmas, £330 for a return flexi fare. Pretty pricey for a 2 and a bit hour crossing.

Just looked at prices for hull-Rotterdam and it’s coming in at about a grand for our velle  in the summer holidays. I reckon between £2-300 more expensive than last year.

Have done Hoek to Harwich (and back again) a few times. It’s pretty painless, and  they’ve not long refurbished the boats. I prefer the overnight crossing, as I can just go to my cabin, go to bed, and wake up in a different country decently refreshed. The daytime one feels more stressful. It’s cheaper, certainly, and also faster, but you end up sort of milling around aimlessly for hours and it feels like a waste of daylight.

Anyone used the Harwich to Hoek of Holland route?

Yes many times going back to childhood a very long time ago.  Done with car and just bikes.

We’ve used it for Netherlands and also as a starting point for a drive down to the Black Forest.

As misteralz said, go overnight for the win.

The road connections out from the port are good, ferries are nice and relatively new.

If it made 3 hours UK drive time difference in the UK I’d go Newcastle/Hull and do those miles in Holland instead.