When journeying into mainland Europe I often opt to take my car with me; mainly for the overall freedom it provides me whilst I’m over there – and so I tend to take the DFDS Ferry from Britain onto the contintent. Travelling with the car means I don’t have to figure out the logistics of getting from A to B – which may be part of the fun, but is certainly time consuming. Getting my car over the water generally leaves me with one of two options. I either drive the length of Britain and hop on the car ferry from Dover to Calais, or I decide to pay extra for the convenience of departing from Newcastle on the DFDS Ferry and enjoy the slow chug across the North Sea en route to Amsterdam.
On this particular occasion I’ve decided to let my wallet take the hit and I’m currently sat on a perfectly satisfactory ship surrounded by ‘half-cut’ German’s, Dutchies and fellow Brits – in what feels like a bittersweet nod in the direction of an unwanted Brexit (personally speaking, of course) – but that’s another topic for another discussion (and also an outdated one by the time you’re reading this). I guess we don’t need to worry about the American I’m currently sat watching as he plays the guitar in one of this ferries many different bars. Cecilia may be breaking his heart but at least he was never part of the Eurozone to begin with.
I have a love/hate relationship with this Ferry and on each of the 20+ times that I’ve been aboard I’ve struggled to work out if I enjoy the experience or not. Sure, being able to sleep in a bed and arrive in The Netherlands refreshed and raring to go is definitely a luxury I’m all too happy to enjoy – but then there’s also the boredom to contend with, especially when travelling alone. It seems like the whole experience would be a lot more enjoyable if you’re travelling in a group.
What Can You Expect Onboard A DFDS Ferry?
On board the boat, you’ll find a small cinema in the underbelly of the ship, a duty-free shop, a (very) small casino on the 8th deck, several bars, a nightclub and a couple of restaurants. Sounds like a lot, but when you’ve taken this trip as often as I have the novelty soon wears off.
One definite positive relating to my experiences on board the overnight ferry is that DFDS offer accessible cabins for disabled customers. Larger rooms with level access shower facilities is a real bonus, and something which I’m pleased to say DFDS provide.
Oh – and don’t even get me started on what it’s like when there’s bad weather. I can tell you about two times at least where I’ve genuinely thought the ship was sinking and I was about to drown in the rough, cold North Sea. Complete with kneeling on the cabin-room floor praying to God.
I wish I was joking.
On this journey however, things are calm. I’m with my best friend Emilija, which gives me the added bonus of having good company. We’re on our way to Lithuania, where we will be staying with Emilija’s Aunt for a few nights. We’re also planning to head across the border into Latvia and maybe even Belarus – so stay tuned for blog posts about the trip!
Yes please do post lots of pictures and descriptions from your adventures! These are places I’m unlikely ever to visit. A big hello to you both from Lochside!