Have used DFDS ferry North Shields to Ijmuiden since 2001. I live only 6 miles away so it is very convenient to get away onto mainland Europe without a 600 mile round trip to Dover. Over the past 5 or so years the cost has been around £580 return for two adults in an outside cabin with a 7.5m motorhome. This year it is over £1200! I've tried every option with 'offer codes' etc but to no success. I even phoned their enquiry line but was basically told that's the price take it or leave it.
I did leave it, and I'm going return from Hull to Rotterdam - for £485 including breakfast! It's 100 mile down the road to Hull, but we get off 50 mile down from Ijmuiden heading south anyway - four gallon of diesel is a lot less than the six hundred quid increase!
Anyone else noticed this enormous hike in the cost?
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All the ferry routes seem much more expensive this year. At one time you could get a car/caravan crossing on the short Dover/Calais or Dunkerque routes for around £60 each way. Now it's more than twice that.
Although we live near(ish) to Hull we much prefer the drive down south - and we now have a frequent traveller account with Eurotunnel, and each way costs us just £43. Now I can put up with a lot of traffic hold-ups and hassle for the saving! Having said that, on only one occasion have we ever had serious hold-ups. If you do decide to do a Dover crossing then I can recommend setting off early Sunday and getting an afternoon crossing, a campsite 'in Europe' and an early start the following day!
Thanks for your advice - it certainly is cheaper via Dover than North Shields!
The best thing about coming back via Ijmuiden (Amsterdam) to North Shields was that after a kip on the ferry and breakfast, I could be having a cuppa in me own kitchen 30 mins after getting off the ferry, rather than a 7 hour drive up crowded motorways home!
Not £600 more convenient though - I'll give Hull a go this year.
We used Hull for the first time last year. Worked great, for our ultimate destination in the north of Italy.
We're booked again this year for eastern France. 3 adults in August, outside 4 berth, full service dinner and breakfast both ways, £760. Just the two of us last year in June, £548. So per person, this year is actually cheaper than last year.
It is what it is. 90 minutes and on is worth a lot to us.
For west and SW France Pompey>St Malo works best for us. From here the southern ports are much of a muchness but avoiding the M1/M25/M20 and Calais, or a tube, and an extra overnight, is priceless.
------------- Mike
My advice is worth no more than the price paid for it
Prague May/Jun 2017
Lake Annecy Aug 2017
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We just came back from Holland last week. We had a day sailing from Harwich to HOH return crossing with caravan 7.48mtrs was £129 with caravan club. We sailed on a Wednesday but went down the previous afternoon and stayed on a CL site about 10 mins from terminal. It took us 5 hours plus a stop at Cambridge services. The boats are very good with decent food, comfy seats and cinema if you want it.
We usually go the Dover route because of cost but finding it expensive so doing the frequent traveller from 2018. Like Val says, weekends travelling both here and in France are easier than during week. We usually go down Saturday and stay just over in France then have a whole day travelling on a Sunday in France when there are no lorries about. Mainly do non toll rooutes.
We used DFDS to Ijmuiden last year and I thought that the price was pretty reasonable. We were thinking about it again this year, and checked the prices - just short of £650 for two adults, the camper and an 'outside' cabin.
Same dates etc.. on the Hull - Rotterdam route - just over £400. Trouble is that from Scotland, it's another 150 miles each way, but that still means a saving of almost £200. That would pay for quite a few nights site fees.
The port in Holland doesn't matter as we were thinking about a round trip.
------------- Two drifters off to see the world.
I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.
Likewise have used dfds to Ijmuiden on many occasions and was pretty shocked to see price hikes to over £1000 return - this does not include any meals or 'fancy' cabin - needless to say will be driving to Calais instead. And like you tried contacting them but we didn't even get an answer. For sure other ferry company prices have not risen to that extent, so no idea what the game is.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Dfds to Ijmuiden a couple of days before Xmas 2017 is costing us £300 one way for a 7.5m motorhome, 3 adults & 1 child in a 4-berth outside cabin, inc breakfast.
Looking to come back P&O Zeebrugge to Hull early 2018 for the same combination as above. Website is pricing that up at £242 for the same outfit, people, cabin, breakfast etc but apparently we can't book it until they release next years prices in September. Annoyingly it lets you price the whole thing, enter all the details of passengers, address etc before saying that it can't complete the booking with no real explanation of why. The only way we found out you couldn't book for 2018 yet was by phoning them.
Just booked Harwich to HOH return in August for £348 return and that includes a return night sailing with a cabin. Dover Calais was going to be £240 and as we're actually spending the 2 weeks in Holland it was a no-brainer.
Some midweek crossings in August were actually only £87 e/w. They've got a sale on at the moment with 25% off if you use the code SHINE.
Brittany ferries have also increased their prices. Quote last year for a return crossing to Santander was £1076. the exact same crossing this year has gone up by about £250!
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Double cost of DFDS ferry to Holland
