Hull to Zeebrugge

[AndyXXV]

We're off on a bike trip in June through France, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany and anywhere else we end up but, living in North Yorkshire, the most convenient crossing is Hull-Zeebrugge. The chunnel means a whole days ride to the south coast and/or an overnight stay in Dover ...... however, it looks like the overnight crossing from Hull will be around ?250 return !!! which seems a lot.
Has anybody discovered a more reasonable deal?

 

[Oldbull]

What we do Andy is go the chunnel route, as SWAMBO dont do boats, with a ticket from Bikers Oracle.. overnight on the other side, not Dover, as its a lot nicer .. St Omer or Arras or the likes are luverly towns not to far from Calais ..


BO tickets are about ?67 and they give you a 24 hour window to travel just in case your late...

have a good one mate, wish we were cummin along :-0)

 

[Jono]

Hull to Rotterdam in September for Germany, 'cause I can't stand the drag south down the M/Way amongst the traffic . The crossing may be cheaper but on top you've paid for the extra fuel, accommodation and the loss of a day, plus the extra travel. And you have to go thru it all at the end of your trip!!! Hull to Rotterdam / Zeebrugge, onto ferry, relax, meal, few beers, entertainment, heads down. Next day straight off 8am into europe and a whole day to get where your going. :lick:

 

[Elwood]

We've done Hull Zeebrugge / Rotterdam for last 2 years and again this year.
Germany in 2007, South of France in 2008 and the Pyrenees this year (May, cant wait :-0))

Not sure what we paid as one of the other's did the ferry booking, although we get two 4 berth cabins (8 riders, so works out well)

Much better, decent meal, few beers, good nights kip and then off and away.
I did look at the tunnel but not only would we do 250+ miles on UK roads we felt that once over on the tunnel we would need some accommodation etc.

With fuel and accommodation and pain in ass factor the ferry is the best option for us.

Price wise, like I said I don't know what we paid be we did book it last year so may have worked out cheaper. I can find out how much we paid and where he got the deal from.

For what it's worth the Zeebrugge ferry is a much bigger boat and with better food etc

 

[Jono]

Price wise, like I said I don't know what we paid be we did book it last year so may have worked out cheaper. I can find out how much we paid and where he got the deal from.


I'd be interested for this Septembers trip, not booked the ferry yet. :bow:

For what it's worth the Zeebrugge ferry is a much bigger boat and with better food etc

Have they got a new boat on that route then?

 

[Red Mick]

I just looked at the price of a solo trip on the two North Sea routes and got the same ?250 figure. I thought that was the price for a solo using the two berth cabin. Check if two people sharing a cabin is cheaper, I'm sure it should be, :dunno: even if they've two bikes on board.

 

[Oldbull]

I hear what your saying about the slog down fella's but the last time I checked for that crossing in July it was showing nearly ?400 spose it does work out cheap for a group of you but not if your travelling alone..

Also what I bare in mind when booking is the last time I used the ferry... the floor was covered in diesel, my bike got marked where it was tied down and the crossing was rough as f***k and EVERYONE was throwing up

the open ticket from BO for the chunnel swings it for me, you can travel in comfort and arrive/depart when you like on the day.. If you miss the ferry you have to pay extra to get on the next one man8um I fuggin hate the London, Dartford bit still tho,:bang::bang: but not quite as much as boats lol

 

[Elwood]

Have they got a new boat on that route then?

Jono, have texted the lad that booked the ferry, will get back to you. As far as I know it's not a "new" ferry but could be wrong

 

[AndyXXV]

Thanks for the replies everybody, I've done the BO chunnel trip a couple of times and if it wasn't for the trek down from Yorkshire it would be a no brainer. However, as the world's worst sailor, a rough crossing doesn't appeal either 3ck04.
I'm thinking a late afternoon chunnel and an overnight in northern France is the best of bad options now.
Next bit of advice needed ..... recommended accommodation a couple of hours ride from Calais.
Many thanks

 

[Jono]

Jono, have texted the lad that booked the ferry, will get back to you. As far as I know it's not a "new" ferry but could be wrong

Cheers M8.:bow:

 

[Jono]

Thanks for the replies everybody, I've done the BO chunnel trip a couple of times and if it wasn't for the trek down from Yorkshire it would be a no brainer. However, as the world's worst sailor, a rough crossing doesn't appeal either 3ck04.
I'm thinking a late afternoon chunnel and an overnight in northern France is the best of bad options now.
Next bit of advice needed ..... recommended accommodation a couple of hours ride from Calais.
Many thanks

Had a quote from a company called Nut travel for the Hull crossing, ?232 rtn for two + bike. :dunno:You can book a 4 berth cabin at no extra cost, to spread out in :-0).

 

[AndyXXV]

Had a quote from a company called Nut travel for the Hull crossing, ?232 rtn for two + bike. :dunno:You can book a 4 berth cabin at no extra cost, to spread out in :-0).

Is that 2 people + 2 bikes?

 

[IanR]

I have used motorsport-travel.com a couple of times for bargain prices on the Hull Rotterdam / Zeebrugge ferry routes. Might be worth dropping them a line.

 

[Jono]

Is that 2 people + 2 bikes?

no, 2 persons 1 bike.

 

[Oldbull]

Reasurance required

Hull to Rotterdam in September for Germany, 'cause I can't stand the drag south down the M/Way amongst the traffic . The crossing may be cheaper but on top you've paid for the extra fuel, accommodation and the loss of a day, plus the extra travel. And you have to go thru it all at the end of your trip!!! Hull to Rotterdam / Zeebrugge, onto ferry, relax, meal, few beers, entertainment, heads down. Next day straight off 8am into europe and a whole day to get where your going. :lick:

We were chatting about this option last night again Jono mate, Shaz says wouldnt it be nice not to have to do the london trek again this year, so I thought Id ask.. To be fair the last ferry I was on when I was ill was the IOM trip in 1997... Having reread your post about the relax, few beers bit we thought about giving it another chance, I would asume the boats have come on a fair bit since my last trip and these would be of the larger type yes ?? .. How long are you actually on the boat Jono and do you still see people being ill lol... baring in mind that when I got of my last ferry I swore blind NEVER AGAIN.. mite have a bimble over to Hull and check them out in the flesh.. have you ever been ill on a crossing mate or is it worth the risk..
Eric and Loraine always use the boats but as you can probably tell I havent got the nerve after the last time... yet :-0)

NB: the 250 sobs bit plays avoc with my nerves as well lol

Edit: BTW Jono, where abouts in Germany you off to mate, was there last year and loved it

 

[ianrobbo1]

Had a quote from a company called Nut travel for the Hull crossing, ?232 rtn for two + bike. :dunno:You can book a 4 berth cabin at no extra cost, to spread out in :-0).

:bow:the way to go, :bow: got ours booked already, saves pissing about going south to go north again!!:-0)

 

[Oldbull]

where you off to Ian ??

R#?

 

[Jono]

The Hull to Rotterdam ferry is more like a floating hotel. I have used it numerous times now, not only with the family but also on the bike trips to Assen. I am NOTB] the best sailor either!!!
I can honestly say that I have never had a bad trip on it from the point of view of feeling unwell uke:.
Routine is you board by 7pm, sail at 9pm. You ride up a spiral shellgrip coated roadway and into the side of the ship where the parking is located. They provide a large padded strap that goes over the saddle and into pre placed D-rings on the deck. You can add extra if you wish, I never have. Side stand and in gear is enough. Off to the cabin, change and out to one of the numerous bars for a beer. Dinner is a buffet affair and once you've paid, (pre-pay with booking is slightly cheaper) you can go around as many times and try the different things on offer as you can take. Then either a film, more beer, or more beer and watch the cabaret. Retire to bed and wake up the next morning pulling into Europe. disembark around 8am and off into the sunrise.
We are heading for first night in Heidelburg, then down to Lake Konstanz, across to Fussen on the Austrian border then up the romantic road to Rothenburg de tauber, on to siegen and back to Rotterdam. Spending a few nights at each location.
Couple of photos of crossing attached.

 

[Elwood]

Our tickets were 110 each, but that's 4 sharing a 4 birth cabin.

And my mistake, it's the Rotterdam ferry that's the bigger one !!!
Easy mistake to make esp. as last year 3 of us turned up at the terminal at Hull, woman on desk asks our destination and none of us had a clue !!!!

 

[scribbler]

Northern France hotel

Thanks for the replies everybody, I've done the BO chunnel trip a couple of times and if it wasn't for the trek down from Yorkshire it would be a no brainer. However, as the world's worst sailor, a rough crossing doesn't appeal either 3ck04.
I'm thinking a late afternoon chunnel and an overnight in northern France is the best of bad options now.
Next bit of advice needed ..... recommended accommodation a couple of hours ride from Calais.
Many thanks

Hi Andy..I'm chunnelling it in May from East Yorkshire...heading for Provence and Spain....coming back we are staying at Le Prieure.. three star hotel at Rancourt just off the motorway....check it out at www.hotel-le-prieure.fr
not stayed there before but it looks good and the price is right...its about 20 miles past Arras on the A1 E15...really wanted to stay at Arsy but couldn't find a hotel..maybe just as well!!