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Harwich-Esbjerg ferry to close

Posted: 2 May 2014, 8:21am
by pal

Re: Harwich-Esbjerg ferry to close

Posted: 2 May 2014, 10:34am
by slowpeddler
This is sad generally and I have many happy memories of this journey.

BUT they never were cycle friendly.

John

Re: Harwich-Esbjerg ferry to close

Posted: 2 May 2014, 11:37am
by foxyrider
bum - i was planning on using that for my North Sea coast trip next year - looks like thats put the kybosh on the whole trip

Re: Harwich-Esbjerg ferry to close

Posted: 2 May 2014, 11:37am
by TonyR
For me too but I agree. We always took the bikes to Esbjerg on the back of the car, which we left parked there because they wanted to charge so much more to take just the bikes. Good memories though including having their fabulous buffet all to myself on one particularly stormy crossing.

Re: Harwich-Esbjerg ferry to close

Posted: 2 May 2014, 12:28pm
by Richard Fairhurst
There's still the Immingham-Esbjerg freight ferry, which will take bikes and foot passengers by arrangement.

Re: Harwich-Esbjerg ferry to close

Posted: 2 May 2014, 1:05pm
by foxyrider
Richard Fairhurst wrote:There's still the Immingham-Esbjerg freight ferry, which will take bikes and foot passengers by arrangement.

That would work better for me to be honest - any idea where to book etc?

answered my own question look here http://freight.dfdsseaways.com/dfds_fer ... m_ferries/

Re: Harwich-Esbjerg ferry to close

Posted: 2 May 2014, 7:07pm
by afp401
foxyrider wrote:
Richard Fairhurst wrote:There's still the Immingham-Esbjerg freight ferry, which will take bikes and foot passengers by arrangement.

That would work better for me to be honest - any idea where to book etc?

answered my own question look here http://freight.dfdsseaways.com/dfds_fer ... m_ferries/


That is very very interesting. esp. if it is available on other routes.

Re: Harwich-Esbjerg ferry to close

Posted: 2 May 2014, 8:31pm
by Sweep
Interesting.

How much does it cost on that route for one person and a bike?

Re: Harwich-Esbjerg ferry to close

Posted: 5 May 2014, 7:33am
by PJ520
Never taken this ferry, always sad to hear of a valuable service disappearing (like the late lamented Bergen Orkney ferry). Esbjerg is a nice place with an excellent hostel. I rode through there going down the Danish coast.

Re: Harwich-Esbjerg ferry to close

Posted: 8 May 2014, 9:17pm
by peterbee
I have used the freight ferries from Immingham. My wife and I went Immingham to Gothenberg with a motorcycle + sidecar for £800 in 2010. So not cheap. That route also calls in at a port whose name escapes me on the south coast of Norway. The ships are wonderful: there isn't a single commercial activity on them apart from a shop which opens for an hour a day. On the boat we went on there was a sign in the shop which said: "Prices may vary according to customer's attitude." Meals are timed for the crew's convenience. Evening meal is 5.30pm so it is a long evening. But they will take you on a tour of the bridge if you get bored.
There is one big drawback. This is that their business is freight and so freight bookings take priority. You pay your money in advance and you get a provisional reservation. If they fill up then you are bumped off and have to wait for the next boat. So you only get confirmation of your booking the day of sailing. If you can live with that I would recommend it as a truly unique travel experience. And of course it now the only way to get to Scandinavia by boat.
I did try to book the Esbjerg route last year but they told me that we would be unlikely to get a reliable booking because we were wanting to go at a busy freight time.
That reminds me that the response you get to your initial inquiry can depend a bit on the member of staff you speak to. Some seem to be keener on the idea of passengers than others do - so if you get a negative response the first time it is worth calling back and trying to speak to someone else. Bizarre but somehow refreshing in these corporate times.

Re: Harwich-Esbjerg ferry to close

Posted: 8 May 2014, 11:01pm
by TonyR
peterbee wrote:And of course it now the only way to get to Scandinavia by boat.


You can still get to Scandinavia by ferry from Newcastle.

Re: Harwich-Esbjerg ferry to close

Posted: 8 May 2014, 11:23pm
by rualexander
TonyR wrote:
peterbee wrote:And of course it now the only way to get to Scandinavia by boat.


You can still get to Scandinavia by ferry from Newcastle.


How?

Re: Harwich-Esbjerg ferry to close

Posted: 9 May 2014, 6:40am
by TonyR
Ah! Looks like the plans to restart the route last month hit the rocks :sad:

http://www.newsinenglish.no/2014/04/24/ ... scuppered/

Re: Harwich-Esbjerg ferry to close

Posted: 9 May 2014, 9:11am
by steady eddy
This is disappointing news as we had hoped to go at the end of the summer - looks like we won't get back if we do. Is there now an opening for the Bike Bus folk to do northern Europe as well as the routes they have through France to the med? For those of us who don't want to fly the Baltic area will now be almost inaccessible by bike unless you want to slog up through Holland from Harwich. I quite simply don't have enough time to do that.

Re: Harwich-Esbjerg ferry to close

Posted: 22 Jul 2014, 2:41pm
by brendography
Hi all,

I'm looking to use it in August, around 15th-20th August, one way and I'm looking to split the cabin fare (ooh err) as it's all a bit pricey pricey.

4 people sharing gets it down to around £65PP.

Any interest?