Hull to Rotterdam Ferry

It’s mid April and we’re on our way to begin our epic Norway road trip by taking the Hull to Rotterdam Ferry. Luckily it’s a perfect spring day, with bright sunshine and clear blue skies. Hopefully, this will mean calm seas and a smooth sailing.

It’s a relatively easy drive up to the port at Hull with no hold ups, making good time for the ferry, which leaves at 20.00 hours.

Just before 3pm we arrive at the port and join a small queue in preparation for check in, which isn’t yet open. It’s a good opportunity to make a coffee and chill for a bit. Lucikly the drive here has only taken a few hours, so nothing too tiring.

Why we chose the Hull to Rotterdam Ferry

Usually we drive the long 7 hours to the south coast of England, taking the cheapest crossing available. In recent years, it tends to be Dover-Calais. However, prices have increased rather a lot in recent years, so the days of a £60 or £70 return crossing are over. Instead, prices are around £270-£300 return.

Another regular route was on the Shuttle, but these prices are of course higher still. We used to pay about £120 return but now it’s now more like £400 return. So, in recent years we search alternative routes altogether, as sometimes there’s not too much difference.

We began searching for this Norway trip back in January. After comparing various days, times and companies, it made more sense to look further north.

Because we’re in North Wales, we also factor in mileage, fuel and drive time to actual crossing costs.

After all, we may save money on the booking, but there may be other costs elsewhere to consider. Then there’s a risk of traffic jams and a stressful journey south. Why travel south to then have to drive back up north through The Netherlands and vice-versa?

In the end, after checking crossings, prices and comparing, we thought Hull to Rotterdam made sense both financially and practically. We also sort of didn’t want to bother driving all the way south! Another alternative and really good value was Harwich to Hook of Holland, but this isn’t the easiest port for us to reach from home.

Our booking was direct with P&O Ferries using our Camping and Caravanning Club membership (gives 5% discount). The cost was approx £490 return including the cabin. £44 of this was ETS tax – the charge on consumer bookings for emissions.

Boarding the ferry and the new EES system

At around 4pm, the check in begins for the ferry. It’s not long before we’re moving forwards in the queue for passport checks.

We have an Irish and British passport and the new EES (European entry/exit system) began a couple of weeks before. An orange ‘Non EU” boarding card is given to place in the windscreen, which is in preparation for arrival in Rotterdam apparently.

Another short wait follows until boarding begins. We’re then shown onto the ferry into a parking lane with lorries and motorhomes in an orderly manner.

After a quick check of the camper, we grab the overnight bags and make our way up to the passenger decks.

All aboard the ferry

Our cabin number has already been given at check in. But, we fancy an upgrade as we just have a basic 2 bunk cabin. Although there are upgrades available, they come at a cost between around £25 and £60 so we decide to just stay with the original booking.

As it happens, the cabin is really rather small and unappealing! Maybe it was a poor choice not upgrading, but we stick with it regardless.

Our 2-berth bunk cabin is on deck 9, it’s clean and comes with an en-suite shower but it’s not the kind of room where we’ll be hanging around.

Instead, we head for the open deck of level 12 and embrace the sun-filled sky and fresh air over Hull. We’re fortunate with the weather, this is better than many summer days, making a perfect start to the trip.

Restaurant meal

The food on board P&O ferries turns out to be really quite good. The staff area also super friendly, with nothing seeming too much trouble.

For our evening meal, we have a choice of self-service buffet restaurant, which has everything under the sun on offer. You can pay at the entrance, which gives an unlimited supply of food, but we feel it’s a little overwhelming. Perhaps too much food on offer and we’d just be eating it for the sake of it being there!

There’s also a Costa Coffee selling snacks and Pizza and an Irish bar on board. However, we feel like a treat, so try out the a la Carte style restaurant in relative peace and quiet along with a sea view.

Our meal choice of butternut squash quinoa and a chicken dish is washed down with a bottle of red wine as we sail down the Humber.

Overall, the restaurant ambience, food choices and attentiveness of the staff was pretty good.

Restless night and day trippers

I’m unsure if it’s the bottle of red or the heat in the cabin, either way it’s a restless night sleep on the small bunk beds! Next time, we’ll dig a bit deeper for a cabin upgrade.

Nonetheless, it’s done the job and at 7am Dutch time, after a quick hot shower, we’re up the Costa Coffee having a crossiant and green tea to start the day.

The ferry docks in Rotterdam port at 8.45am. It’s time to grab our things from the cabin and make our way back to the camper.

Many of the other guests on board are day trippers. They come on a sort of mini-cruise and instructions over the tannoy advise of leaving their belongings in their cabin for the return later in the day.

It’s always strange on travels, wondering what other passengers are here for, whilst we’re awaiting a very big drive to the top of Europe.

We must be mad!

Immigration at Rotterdam and the new EES

After disembarking the ferry in the camper, we join a large queue of vehicles for immigration. Staff direct those driving off into lanes and there we sit and wait.

After about 20 minutes it’s our turn at the immigration kiosk, edging closer as each vehicle has their turn.

Our passports are shown to the immigration officer, both the EU Irish passport and British one. Nigel is able to stay in the camper (Irish passport) while I walk into the booth. Here the office gives instructions to have a facial and fingerprint scan, which is over in a jiffy. There’s no passport stamp, we’re unsure if that’s because it’s the new system or due to travelling with hubby on his EU passport. Either way, the office does ask how long we’re staying in the EU.

With this, I’m able to step back into the camper and we’re on our way.

Would we do this crossing again – Hull to Rotterdam Ferry

The Hull to Rotterdam Ferry was really good and we’d definitely consider it again if we were touring north. It was so nice having only a few hours drive from home to the port. Then having a relaxing evening on board gave a chance for a break from the drive on arrival.

Our return journey was just as good, except this time we did pay the extra for a cabin upgrade. We were able to do this as soon as we got onboard at reception, choosing a double bed cabin with a window.

This was so much better, partly because it came with tea, coffee making facilities, a mini bar with red and white wines, beer, juice and water too! There were also biscuits, crisps and nice toiletries in the en-suite. Although it cost £60 for the upgrade, we felt it was worth the extra and made the crossing more comfortable.

The other advantage, was arriving in The Netherlands for the beginning of our road trip up to Norway, giving a sort of head start feel. Of course, returning on the same route, meant we didn’t have to drive the extra bit to northern France too!

Overall this Hull to Rotterdam Ferry crossing was an ideal start for our spring Norway adventure.

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