UKC

So I'm planning the Alps next year and intending to avoid Dover and go Harwich to HVHolland. The cabins are way pricey, and as a lad remember sleeping on the floor in the cinema (mostly dark). Can you still do that? Is it still normal on the overnight ferries to see groups of sleeping bag bedecked corpses under tables and in corners? Thats was what I had planned - my camp bed is well comfy. Also wondered if you could suspend a hammock - out on deck maybe!?

In reply to tallsteve:

Why not just sleep in the reclining chairs that they provide? Normally they are for all passengers without cabins.

In reply to tallsteve:

A few years ago, on that crossing, I watched a film in the cinema. Big mistake! The cinema is right at the bottom of the boat and the wallowing motion made me seasick

In reply to tallsteve:

on all over night ferries you need to either pay for a cabin or seat (for those ferries that have them) you simply cant get a ticket without.

In reply to tallsteve:

We're using that ferry quite soon. I'll try to remember to report back. My limited experience of overnight ferries (c.10 times on c.4 different routes) suggests that there is always dossing room on sofas in the lounge. I've used this option myself more than a few times.

In reply to Removed User:

Cheers for that. I look forward to your feedback.

I hear the reclining chairs are uncomfortable and best avoided.

I think ferries should go "old style" and have hammoc rooms. Pick a hammoc, drop in and snooze. Worked for centuries on ships, why not now? Also, my experience with friends that snore is that they snore less in a hammoc. Maybe because their head is raised slightly.

In reply to tallsteve:


The first time I used the now sadly defunct Rosyth-Zeebruges ferry I tried sleeping in the aircraft seats. They were so awful instead I ended up getting trollied in the nightclub with two Slovenian truck drivers who were good company and medal contenders at drinking. On the way back I kept a hold of my thermarest and dossed in one of the bars. Much better. Used this option several times, lots of others doing it too.

In reply to Removed User:

Funny that....I've had a number of impromptu sessions with lorry drivers on ferries who, presumably drive off early morning!!

In reply to tallsteve:

I have seen someone put up a small tent in the foyer area of the Northlink Aberdeen - Orkney/Shetland ferry.

And agree, the reclining chairs are horribly uncomfortable. Northlink have converted some to "sleeping pods." They are rubbish, chairs which don't recline properly, they tip back but you are still bent in the middle, a hood so you don't look straight at your sleeping neighbour (that bit is good), and a blanket which is so small, it wouldn't even cover me - I'm 5ft tall. At least there is the expectation that people shelling out a little extra for a pod will be quiet and actually sleep rather than yakking all night (or worse).

In reply to tallsteve:

Speak to the crew just after the ship sails and you may well get a cabin for a bit of cash. I did but that was is 1986!

In reply to tallsteve:

I used to get the boat train. Osnabruck - Hook of Holland - London. Me and my Army buddies would get hammered on Hereforder pils and Applecorn on the train. The train rolled into the hook at 2200. We jumped on the ferry heading straight to the bar then the nightclub and crashed on the floor until the boat docked in Harwich.
I remember people saying "you had a good time last night" as we waited to disembark but having no recollection of any of the previous night. The train from Harwich to London was a nightmare!!! There was no finer way to start 3 weeks leave.