Is This Better Than Eurostar? Cruising to Europe on the World's Largest Ferry
The Harwich to Hook of Holland ferry: is the Stena Line day crossing the best way to travel from the UK to the Netherlands without flying? We took the eight hour daytime sailing in a Captain's Class cabin and found we paid roughly the same for it, with a sea view and a free minibar, as a standard cabin costs on the overnight crossing. This is the full honest review: the cabin, the food, the decks, the duty free, the pricing, and the onward train from Hoek van Holland into Rotterdam and the rest of Europe. Most people reach the Netherlands by plane or Eurostar. We wanted the slower way, so we booked a day at sea on one of the largest ferries in the world, a working freight ship that carries up to 300 lorries and only a handful of foot passengers, and spent eight hours finding out whether it really lives up to its mini cruise reputation. Episode Facts: The ship: Stena Britannica, one of the world's largest combined freight and passenger ferries Built: 2010, at a combined cost of £375 million with her sister ship Stena Hollandica Size: 240 metres long, with cargo decks spanning the area of three football pitches Crossing time: eight hours, Harwich to the Hook of Holland Our cabin: Captain's Class, two berth, with porthole and free minibar What we paid: 280 euros for the day crossing, roughly the same as a standard cabin on the overnight sailing Foot passengers on board: About six What the ship is built for: up to 300 articulated lorries Breakfast and lunch, prepaid: 14 pounds per meal each Onward from Hoek van Holland: half an hour to Rotterdam, then Paris, Brussels, Copenhagenn, Berlin, Prague and beyond. 🎵 Original soundtrack composed and produced by Adam Who are The Floating Nomads? We are Rick and Adam, The Floating Nomads. We sold the house and now split our time between our UK narrowboat Serenissima and months of slow travel abroad by train, ferry and water. Whether spending 200 days in Malta and Venice or travelling from Buxton to Brazil without flying (as seen on CNN), we share the honest reality of life on the move. Our films combine Rick's marketing background with Adam's music PhD to capture the authentic atmosphere of every place we visit. Support the Journey New Films: Every Friday evening (UK time). Channel Members: Early access every Thursday, starting at just £2.99 per month. Members also unlock exclusive B-Side videos. Click Join under any video to help support our work. #StenaLine #HookOfHolland #SlowTravel #FloatingNomads #Netherlands #NoFly #Harwich