Review: Stena Line ferry from Harwich to Hook of Holland

But that is what I did one early Friday morning in August as I hopped onto the MV Stena Britannica from Harwich International Port.

It was a roughly seven-hour journey over to the small coastal village of Hook of Holland (nicknamed 'the Hook'), a great starting point for travellers to explore the rest of the Netherlands.

The ferry itself was a calm journey and allowed me to witness the Port of Felixstowe from a new perspective, as well as quieter locations such as Shotley and the self-declared country of Sealand (albeit having to use binoculars).

A cabin on board the ferry to Hook of Holland (Image: Matthew Earth)

What really struck me was the grand scale of both the Felixstowe and Shotley peninsulas, which are so close as the crow flies yet are 20 miles apart by road as they are intersected by the River Orwell.

Anyway, back to the crossing. Stena Line has made an effort to ensure its vessels can cater for all sorts of passengers - young families, friends and HGV drivers - as there is plenty to keep you occupied on board.

The first thing I did after dumping my bag in my cabin (they are an optional extra but mandatory on night crossings) was get a fried breakfast from the restaurant, named Taste. Expect to pay between £10 and £15 for this, which is cheaper than most airports these days.

A glimpse of the Port of Felixstowe (Image: Matthew Earth)

Being very nosey - I am a journalist, after all - I made an effort to snoop around and see what else I could find on board.

There is a large seating area with plenty of TVs and even a PlayStation, with this section mostly occupied by those travelling with younger children. 

There's a bar close by and a fairly spacious viewing deck, allowing you to gaze out at the North Sea as you make your way across.

The restaurant seems to be the largest space on deck, and tucked away in the corner is the exclusive Stena Plus lounge - this is an optional extra with some fancy dishes on the menu and a more peaceful setting.

A look at the restaurant on the vessel (Image: Matthew Earth)

But if you just want to get away from it all catch up on sleep, you can retreat back to your cabin and get away from it all, if you have taken up that option.

Wi-Fi is available on board but you have to pay a little bit extra for streaming and the like - probably worth it given the length of the journey.

Disembarking in the Hook was fairly straightforward and you're only a few minutes' walk away from the centre, where you can find some bars and restaurants, and the railway station.

The sun setting on the beach in Hook of Holland (Image: Matthew Earth)

The Netherlands isn't a very big country and public transport is fairly frequent, so I'd suggest going to check out some of the other cities. Rotterdam is half an hour away, The Hague a little bit further and the capital of Amsterdam is a 90-minute journey.

Saying that, the Hook has a gorgeous beach and is worth seeing for yourself if you plan on spending a night in the resort.

A magical sunrise looking towards the Port of Felixstowe (Image: Matthew Earth)

I returned to Harwich on a night crossing so had the luxury of sleeping through it, which I'd probably recommend to be honest - trying to kill seven hours on a ferry twice in a matter of days is a bit much if you can't nap!

This also meant I had the fortune of seeing the sun rise over Felixstowe as I waited to disembark in the morning - it was quite a spectacular view.

Matthew Earth on the ferry back to Harwich (Image: Matthew Earth)

Stena Line says crossings start from £51 for single foot passenger and £80 for a single car and driver. If you plan on visiting the country I'd say it's definitely an option to consider.