Stena Lines offers two daily routes with boats the Britannica and Hollandica sailing from Harwich to the Hoek Van Holland. In March, I was supposed to be going on Stena Line to go to Ukraine to help deliver aid, but other changes meant we went via the Euro tunnel. So, to go in August to review the ferry post-refurbishments, post-pandemic and in peak-season was an incredible opportunity that I did not want to miss.
After a very busy few months, especially with the earlier than expected , I was both excited to be whisked away to Europe and rather tired. So I was glad that driving to was the only real effort required on a balmy Friday in August, as even boarding just involved a small queue, with the dozen or so people like me cutting it close to getting on board easily. The simple and effortless process of boarding the Stena Line Ferry, as well as the signs and food inside the ferry, reminded me of the efficient and pleasant European retailers Lidl and Aldi – straight forward businesses.
Making the trip even more stress free was the immediately helpful and smiling customer service desk, situated on the main middle floor. As the ferry set sail, I settled in having some breakfast, a fresh tomato and avocado sandwich from the semi-casual canteen style diner. At €9.
50, the tomato and avocado bread was very well seasoned, with a kick, and it felt healthy, a tasty strong start to both your day and your holiday. Remembering childhood ferries through the choppy Irish Sea in January,.