Harwich to Amsterdam
 

We are arriving after a long cruise in Harwich, and need to proceed to Amsterdam. Stena line ferry seems booked for foot passengers on 8/15, when we arrive.

I know we can transfer to LHR or Gatwick and fly, but would love a somewhat more adventurous way of getting there....ferry, chunnel, etc.

Any and all suggestions welcome. We will have large suitcases,but not ridiculously so (unless we to on a shopping binge beforehand!)

thanks
Steve

Sadly, there are no longer many interesting ways of getting from the south of England to the Netherlands. By train, you can get a Eurostar train from London Waterloo to Brussels, then change for a train to Amsterdam. Otherwise, you can get a train to Hull (www.nationalrail.co.uk), then take an overnight ferry (www.poferries.com) to Rotterdam Europoort then a connecting bus to Amsterdam.

If the ferry to the Hook of Holland's booked, your options are pretty limited. BTW are you sure all ferries on the day are booked? Stena's web site is really unhelpful, and a phone call might help.
An hour and a half by train to London Liverpool St, half an hour to Waterloo for Eurostar and at least six hours by train to Amsterdam (plus however long you have to hang round Brussels waiting for the connection)is few people's idea of fun. Other ferry terminals are a serious slog.

Two other options are a bus via Colchester (oldest town in England, and some Roman remains) to Stansted for a cheapo flight to AMS (www.harwich.net/planes.htm). Or try a brief stop in Cambridge, then Stansted.

It does seem like all "foot passengers only" tix Harwich-Holland are full...even was willing to pay for (nonexistent) motorcycle. Any further thoughts?

Steve

Stena Line runs a large catamaran from Harwich twice a day. It can carry 1500 passengers so it seems surprising that it's fully booked. It is fully enclosed with no open deck space, so doesn't appeal to anyone like me who enjoys travelling on proper ships. Stena's two ships offer day and overnight services but cater mainly for commercial vehicles and do not, I believe, take foot passengers.

I am afraid I cannot find on net any Easyjet flights from Stansted to Schipol. But I can find this: Harwich International 1050, Cambridge 1223 to 1225, Stansted airport 1254 to 1530, Schipol 1730, by
Basiqair, http://www.basiqair.com

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THANK YOU ALL.

You inspired me to check further, and the ferry at 10:40 not only had space, but leaves 200M. from where the ship docks!

All set!!!!!