Dutchflyer

[Greenback]

I've got a week off this week and have too much time on my hands, so I've been looking at he Dutchflyer page of the NXEA website. I recall going from Harwich - Hoek many times in the 1980's, the ships I remember are the Koningen Beatrix and the St Christopher.

Has anyone tried the service these days? The fares and timings look OK, especially as it includes rail travel to anywhere in the Netherlands. The ship seems a bit faster than 25 years ago too!

 

[jamesontheroad]

Has anyone tried the service these days? The fares and timings look OK, especially as it includes rail travel to anywhere in the Netherlands. The ship seems a bit faster than 25 years ago too!

Well as long as you compare it to services 25 years ago, you'll be fine. Until last year or the year before, the sea crossing was served by the Stena HSS fast ferry (now only found between Stranraer and Belfast, IIRC). However it's a mighty thirsty beast, and it was losing money due to poor loadings versus its prodigious fuel consumption. You now make the crossing by regular ferry, which is slower than the HSS by an hour or two at least.

Don't forget that the Dutch Flyer isn't the only 'any Dutch station' ticket. Eurostar have one as well, IIRC it's an extra £15 each way on top of the cheapest available ticket London - Brussels, and gives you 24 hours to continue to any station in the Netherlands, although I believe you still need to book by phone: if you do it online you can only chose more expensive high speed Thalys connections to key Dutch cities.

You could do your trip by DutchFlyer one way and Eurostar the other.

 

[Phoenix]

I did it around 4 months ago and found it to be very good as far as the boats were concerned and the trains well they have good connections and the value for money is still second to none I believe but I think both of the boats have changed these days and are quite top notch if i say so myself defiantly worth a re-visit in your case and the nighttime ferry is defiantly a must I recommend it.

 

[Greenback]

Well as long as you compare it to services 25 years ago, you'll be fine. Until last year or the year before, the sea crossing was served by the Stena HSS fast ferry (now only found between Stranraer and Belfast, IIRC). However it's a mighty thirsty beast, and it was losing money due to poor loadings versus its prodigious fuel consumption. You now make the crossing by regular ferry, which is slower than the HSS by an hour or two at least.

Don't forget that the Dutch Flyer isn't the only 'any Dutch station' ticket. Eurostar have one as well, IIRC it's an extra £15 each way on top of the cheapest available ticket London - Brussels, and gives you 24 hours to continue to any station in the Netherlands, although I believe you still need to book by phone: if you do it online you can only chose more expensive high speed Thalys connections to key Dutch cities.

You could do your trip by DutchFlyer one way and Eurostar the other.

That's a good idea, I'd quite like to the overnight sea crossing just for old time's sake! My partner hs agreed 'as long as the ship is nice'! She also wants to go on Eurostar, not having been on it before.

IIRC correctly the HSS was introduced in 1997 at very incovenient times for me at least! I;m glad the traditional ferry has been restored!

 

[O L Leigh]

Until last year or the year before, the sea crossing was served by the Stena HSS fast ferry (now only found between Stranraer and Belfast, IIRC). However it's a mighty thirsty beast, and it was losing money due to poor loadings versus its prodigious fuel consumption.

It also suffered slightly on how and when the performance could be used. They used to give it a bootful almost straight out of Harwich but the resulting wash would sweep the beach huts off the neighbouring beach at Felixstowe, so they had to wait until they were further out before giving it the beans.

O L Leigh

 

[jamesontheroad]

It also suffered slightly on how and when the performance could be used. They used to give it a bootful almost straight out of Harwich but the resulting wash would sweep the beach huts off the neighbouring beach at Felixstowe, so they had to wait until they were further out before giving it the beans.

O L Leigh

Likewise Belfast and Stranraer where boat owners hate the thing

 

[gordonthemoron]

used Dutch Flyer last January, very nice ship, and overnight cabin was just £20 for a single.

 

[Expression357]

Made the mistake in September of thinking I could turn up on a Friday night at Hoek with my FIP Coupon and Passport...

"Sorry sir we have no cabins left"



That turned out to be a very long night in Brussels Midi.