Ferry to Rotterdam
Why take a ferry to Rotterdam? Every year, many Britons travel to mainland Europe to explore the continent’s diverse and eclectic cities. The Netherlands’ close proximity to the UK and the relatively low costs of travel to Western Europe make the cities of Holland a particularly attractive tourist destination for many.
Although Amsterdam may be the most obvious choice of city for those travelling by ferry to Holland, many Britons are now realising that the nearby Dutch city of Rotterdam has a great deal to offer tourists. The city’s diverse and fascinating architecture, buzzing arts scene and frequent music festivals make Rotterdam a worthwhile destination for any tourist hoping to experience the richness of Dutch culture.
Cheap ferry to Rotterdam
Although there are flights available to the Netherlands, taking a ferry to Rotterdam is a far more environmentally friendly and fun way to travel. It’s also a way to take as much luggage as you want, if you bring your car. Luckily, there is a good range of choice of ferries to Rotterdam leaving the UK every week.
If you’re living in Hull or the North of England, you’re especially well placed to catch a luxury ferry liner to Rotterdam from the UK. P&O Ferries run a route between Hull and Rotterdam that leaves daily from each city, taking about 10 hours and 45 minutes to make its crossing.
P&O’s ferries all offer a luxurious travel experience, with en-suite cabins, a cabaret show, several bars and restaurants to choose from, onboard bargain shopping, a cinema and a casino, making for an action-packed and entertaining crossing. The Hull-Rotterdam ferry is also accessible by passengers both on foot or travelling with a vehicle.
Once the ferry to Rotterdam arrives at the Rotterdam Europort, P&O provides a shuttle bus service that will transport you directly into Rotterdam’s city centre.
Also leaving from the North of England is DFDS Seaways’ ferry route between Newcastle and IJmuiden. This ferry operates from the North Shields port and leaves every evening at 5 PM, arriving in IJmuiden the following morning. Just outside Amsterdam, IJmuiden is just a short 50 minute drive from Rotterdam for those travelling with their vehicles onboard.
If you’re arriving in IJmuiden without a car, it’s simple to take DFDS’s bus service to Amsterdam’s Centraal Station, and then take one of the high-speed Frya trains from Amsterdam to Rotterdam. This quick train takes only 41 minutes and is fairly inexpensive.
The final route available between the UK and Rotterdam is Stena Line’s luxury ‘superferry’ service that crosses from Harwich in Essex and Hook of Holland in the Netherlands. This ferry sets off from Harwich twice a day and takes from 6 hour and 45 minutes to arrive in Hook of Holland.
Stena Line’s super ferries are built for comfortable, luxurious travel with plenty of onboard entertainment and high-class cabins to make sure you arrive in Holland well rested.
If you’re travelling on Stena Line’s ferry with your vehicle on board then Rotterdam is only a short half hour drive away from Hook of Holland, with Rotterdam well connected by the E30/E25 motorway network.
For those travelling on foot, there is a frequent train service available that runs from Hook of Holland to Rotterdam.