Rail & Sail on the Stena Line: London to Amsterdam

An excellent way to get from London to Amsterdam is by the Rail & Sail deals of the Stena Line. My 77 Pound ticket for the trip was a real bargain. Twenty-two Pounds of that fare covered a cabin on the ship which is required for the overnight crossing. A cabin is not required for the daytime crossing which would make the trip even more of a bargain but I don't think it would be possible to find a hotel in England or the Netherlands for 22 Pounds- certainly not one as nice as those rooms on the ship.

Cabin space was well-designed for maximum comfort and efficiency. My carpeted room had two bunk beds, a closet, small desk with padded stool, another small table, and lots of shelving. The bathroom had a modern sink, shower, and toilet. Outside cabins cost a bit more and include a window but there is not really much to see on the English Channel in the middle of the night.

The ship itself was like a floating town. Deck 7 housed the main lobby, currency exchange, restaurant, buffet-style café, bar, theater, gaming area for teens, a small casino, smoking lounge, gift shop, a small convenience store, and more. A large open patio on Deck 10 overlooked the aft end of the ship and down onto the vehicle decks far below, and offered spectacular views approaching the Hook of Holland in the morning hours.

Both rail tickets (London - Harwich and Rotterdam - Amsterdam) were open for any trains so could allow time for exploring those cities enroute. The Stena Line has passenger ferry routes throughout Europe from the North Sea to the Mediterranean and beyond. Compared to air and rail tickets, travel by ship is certainly something to consider throughout Europe. My only complaint is that the journey onboard the Stena Hollandica was too short to fully enjoy all that it had to offer. Check out www.stenaline.co.uk for pricing, routes, special offers, and more. I'll definitely travel with them again.