Norway. Which ferry?

suneye

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Hi we hope 🤞to go to Norway in the summer. We live in the south but I was thinking that it might be worth getting the ferry from Harwich to Holland. Anyone got experience and can advise on this. Is it worth it for cost and travel. Thanks
 
We went Dover Calais to Putgarten Germany to Denmark drove up through Denmark and took a ferry to Sweden, drove through Sweden to Grong in Norway, plenty of free overnight stop overs no problems what so ever so easy. Came back via the Oresund bridge again very easy, we pre booked nothing, just winged it all had a fantastic trip of about 6 months in total.
 
Thanks it's good to know what others have done. We are limited to a month (work) and our main aim is to see our son who we haven't seen for two years but we want to travel a bit too. At the moment the plan is to get the fast ferry from Denmark to Kristiansund (spelling?).
 
suneye said:
Thanks it's good to know what others have done. We are limited to a month (work) and our main aim is to see our son who we haven't seen for two years but we want to travel a bit too. At the moment the plan is to get the fast ferry from Denmark to Kristiansund (spelling?).
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Yes the Hirtsals Kristiansand Ferry is good.
Just be aware a longish drive through Denmark and indeed getting to Denmark !
WE are considering a 2nd visit (2022) and we plan to use both the Bridge although have not ruled ot the Puttgarden Rodby Ferry
Overall cost and time are much the same and we choose to avois ferries where possible !
PS we plan the coastal route in Norway (Fv17) which involves several ferries..Happy with that ! !!!
 
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Getting there the aim was to drive through as few borders as possible and just get to Norway. Norway isn't really vaccinating as they have banned most of the jabs so we have to be super careful on the way not to take anything to our pregnant DIL. After visiting my son and DIL we wanted to go a bit further north as OH hasn't been further than Bergen but obviously time and distances are against us. One option we are looking at is the Bergen to Trondhiem hirtigerten as we don't have time to drive that far north but then its a long drive back. there is no point booking anything yet so we are just looking at what is available and achievable it's easy to forget how far everything is and the main aim is to have some much missed family time.
 
We used to do Harwich several times a year to Hook, arrive early in the morning. Sleep on the boat and be fresh to drive when you enter the Netherlands
 
The old Harwich-Esbjerg ferry was good route and did cut out a lot driving, but I don't see much point in doing the Harwich-Hook of Holland ferry. Unless you live in Harwich I suppose. Only saves what 4 hours driving.
As for going through as fewer borders as possible, you may well be better off and come into less contact with people doing train crossing and driving than being on ferry for a long time.
 
We live in Yorkshire, so Harwich is the most cost/time efficient for us. Unless we are traveling west. Customs seems more civilised too, unless it's the fact they remember us. Wasn't keen on the Harwich-Esbjerg, but never used it much so never got used to it.
 
mark61 said:
The old Harwich-Esbjerg ferry was good route and did cut out a lot driving, but I don't see much point in doing the Harwich-Hook of Holland ferry. Unless you live in Harwich I suppose. Only saves what 4 hours driving.
As for going through as fewer borders as possible, you may well be better off and come into less contact with people doing train crossing and driving than being on ferry for a long time.
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The train is still an option, avoiding borders is more about trying to avoid as many of the changes to individual countries and rules. There is talk of a Schengen vaccine passport but I doubt that will be sorted by August. The Harwich crossing looked very cheap too!
 
Norway is on the list, but if you’re set on the Holland route I can highly recommend the Stena Harwich route, much cheaper than the P&O Hull - Rotterdam, we have used both a fair bit (P&O usually on return for the convenience of a short 2.5 hr dash over to Liverpool for the ferry home. Stena’s Hollandica & Britannica are much newer ships with nicer accommodation but they also offer a day crossing (6h 45m) which is cheaper again with no cabin. There are plenty of Aires close to the Hook for a first night stop. Highly recommend Schiedam. It’s a great place with loads of industrial sized windmills all around the meandering canal that winds around the town. The Aire next to the canal in the town is very safe and was about €7 (ticket machine) a couple of years ago. We’ve stayed there on ‘Kings Day’ when it was ‘Queens Day’ and it was just fabulous, we’ve done that celebration in Amsterdam, but it can be a little overpowering, Schiedam isn’t as touristy but they are just so friendly.

Pity there isn’t a direct ferry from the U.K. to Norway any more, but I hope this helps.
 
**** said:
Norway is on the list, but if you’re set on the Holland route I can highly recommend the Stena Harwich route, much cheaper than the P&O Hull - Rotterdam, we have used both a fair bit (P&O usually on return for the convenience of a short 2.5 hr dash over to Liverpool for the ferry home. Stena’s Hollandica & Britannica are much newer ships with nicer accommodation but they also offer a day crossing (6h 45m) which is cheaper again with no cabin. There are plenty of Aires close to the Hook for a first night stop. Highly recommend Schiedam. It’s a great place with loads of industrial sized windmills all around the meandering canal that winds around the town. The Aire next to the canal in the town is very safe and was about €7 (ticket machine) a couple of years ago. We’ve stayed there on ‘Kings Day’ when it was ‘Queens Day’ and it was just fabulous, we’ve done that celebration in Amsterdam, but it can be a little overpowering, Schiedam isn’t as touristy but they are just so friendly.

Pity there isn’t a direct ferry from the U.K. to Norway any more, but I hope this helps.
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Thanks, great information. Just really hope Norway opens up to visitors before August, latest news isn't good :cry:
 
Where are you based ?
Where is your son in Norway ?
If he is Telemark Bergen then Kristiansand makes sense.
If he is near Oslo then K sand Ok but other ferries may be better !
There was talk of direct ferries to Stavanger or Bergen being reintroduced...but I guess covid will have delayed or cancelled that !
 
There are no ferries to Scandinavia nowadays. I suggest: Harwich - Hock of Holland, Travemynde - Malmö (Finnlines), or alternatively drive through Denmark and then the bridges Storabelt and Öresund (fees), E6 north towards Oslo. Good places to stay overnight are Gouda and Reinfeldt. Have plenty of time, no one knows how long it will take through Hamburg! Do not rest at rest areas near the E6, drive a short distance from the motorway for overnight stays. In Sweden and Norway there are many alternative motorhom places. Contact me directly and you will have suggestions.

Screenshot 2021-05-20 14.35.27-01.jpeg

Gouda Klien Amerika


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Reinfeld
 
we got away last year when the uk was on norway/denmark's green list.We went the denmark/norway route as we weren't sure if we could get into norway from sweden at that time as sweden was on their red list.The quickest most expensive is the oresund bridge and we used that on our return route last year.Plenty of water and waste disposal that route.We aren't intending anywhere but scandinavia this year should we be allowed in so fingers crossed for august september for a couple months or so.I've been checking up on the likelihood of travelling to norway withought having to isolate but not looking good.
Here is where I've been looking,scroll down to the map and you'll see we are stripy red.
Entry into norway quarantine facts
Definately worth the cost and once is enough to make you want to go back again and again.
2020 escape to norway.
 
Vaccinations are in full swing, I think the borders will be open in Europe in July. Optimist?
 
jagmanx said:
Where are you based ?
Where is your son in Norway ?
If he is Telemark Bergen then Kristiansand makes sense.
If he is near Oslo then K sand Ok but other ferries may be better !
There was talk of direct ferries to Stavanger or Bergen being reintroduced...but I guess covid will have delayed or cancelled that !
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We are on the south coast, New forest area and my son lives on an island not too far from Stavanger so we could go directly to Stavanger but we would like to do the drive from Kristiansand to Stavanger which we are told is stunning.
 
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