Harwich Esbjerg ferry

[Balticwheeler]

Hi all, just been looking at some old posts about the high costs and hassle of the Harwich Esbjerg ferry, causing people to fly or take a shorter ferry and cycle up from Calais or Hook. Actually, the Danish ferry is quite cheap if travelling as a group of four, sharing a cabin. I am thinking of taking my campervan in early June and total costs if shared with three other cyclists make it cheaper than Easyjet, and much nicer. I can also pick people up if not too far out of my way from Manchester to Harwich.

I have one possible, so are there two more? One way only I'm afraid, as I plan to carry on round the Baltic via Finland to Poland over the whole summer. On the other hand, maybe someone wants to team up for the whole trip?

 

[steveindenmark]

Just so you all know the Harwich / Esjberg ferry is closing for good this September.

That means unless you can beg a place on the DFDS freight ferry from Immingham, you cannot get to Northern Europe by ferry. You have to sail to Holland.

Steve

 

[Crackle]

Just so you all know the Harwich / Esjberg ferry is closing for good this September.

That means unless you can beg a place on the DFDS freight ferry from Immingham, you cannot get to Northern Europe by ferry. You have to sail to Holland.

Steve

Really. It was an old ship but it was full when I used it and it's the only ship I've been on the bridge of under the pretences of the kids Pirate Club. I'm sorry to hear this, I had vague plans to use it for a Denmark tour in the future.

 

[4F]

Really. It was an old ship but it was full when I used it and it's the only ship I've been on the bridge of under the pretences of the kids Pirate Club. I'm sorry to hear this, I had vague plans to use it for a Denmark tour in the future.

Yep its true, announced this week

 

[JPLL]

Oh that's pants - will need to rethink plans for 2015. This year I'm cycling from Hook of Holland to Esjberg in September - better book my place on the ferry to make sure that it is still running

 

[4F]

Dear Customer,

We regret to advise you that the passenger/freight service between Esbjerg and Harwich, operated by DFDS, will cease to operate as of September 29th, 2014. The route has, according to the press release from DFDS, for a long period of time been struggling with high costs and low utilization and is unable to sustain the substantial additional costs that the new environmental law will entail as from January, 2015.

We will unfortunately, as a result of this, no longer be able to offer our freight customers this option in the Esbjerg/UK corridor. Instead all focus will be given to optimize the Esbjerg/Immingham route that is serviced with 2 large modern RoRo vessels.

The last sailing on the Esbjerg/Harwich route will be from Esbjerg on Saturday September 27th and then returning from Harwich on Sunday September 28th (arriving in Esbjerg Monday September 29th) where after the RoPax vessel “Sirena Seaways” will be deployed elsewhere.

We regret that it was found necessary to take this decision and hope we will be able to cover your shipping requirements to the UK/Ireland through the Esbjerg/Immingham service or alternatively through one of the other routes we offer to the UK via Dutch Ports.

If you have any questions to the above you are more than welcome to contact the undersigned.

 

[uphillstruggler]

Just so you all know the Harwich / Esjberg ferry is closing for good this September.

That means unless you can beg a place on the DFDS freight ferry from Immingham, you cannot get to Northern Europe by ferry. You have to sail to Holland.

Steve

that is a shame - myself and 15 mates had one of our best new year trips (piss ups) on that ship. unbelievably good food all three days for an additional £20 IIRC.

bon voyage

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Just so you all know the Harwich / Esjberg ferry is closing for good this September.

That means unless you can beg a place on the DFDS freight ferry from Immingham, you cannot get to Northern Europe by ferry. You have to sail to Holland.

Steve

Whilst it is a real shame, it does not surprise me given the cost to use it!

 

[steveindenmark]

Just a word about the Immingham - Esjberg freight route.

There is very little accomodation on board and large trucks and their drivers take priority, even if you have a crossing booked.

I bought a small Van over from Denmark. When I turned up at the docks for my pre booked return trip I was told I would not be allowed on because a larger truck had been booked to take my place. They would not let me share accomodation with the driver.

I had to wait 2 days to get back to Denmark.

The Immingham freight ferry is not a realistic alternative.


Steve

 

[Domestique]

Surprising, we used the ferry last June and it was full. Getting to Scandinavia now looks a very distant dream unless it involves taking a flight or loads of time.

 

[steveindenmark]

The ferry was always packed during the summer and it was also very expensive. How they didnt make money is a mystery.

Ryanair fly from Stansted to Billund and that is an easy flight with a bike. I have a brand new Koga World traveller in my shed so if anyone wants to come and ride in Denmark, I am sure we can come to some arrangement if you contact me.

Steve

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

The ferry was always packed during the summer and it was also very expensive. How they didnt make money is a mystery.

Ryanair fly from Stansted to Billund and that is an easy flight with a bike. I have a brand new Koga World traveller in my shed so if anyone wants to come and ride in Denmark, I am sure we can come to some arrangement if you contact me.

Steve

we are torn between 1 last visit by ferry to Dk and then using the free tent sites for another 2 week tour of DK which would be the 3rd tour of DK or simply riding out from home cycling up to Whitehaven or thereabouts and doing the coast to coast, then down to pick up the trans Pennine route back to Southport and home again... There was a 3rd possibility of cycling to Fishguard, ferry to Eire, cycling around for a while, ferry to either Holyhead or Troon and cycling home again as well... but somehow DK seems to appeal more to me knowing that the ferry is ending. But prices wise - cheapest I can get is £400 return and that is before we have taken feul to Harwich and car parking prices in to account!

 

[snorri]

The ferry was always packed during the summer and it was also very expensive. How they didnt make money is a mystery.

Only packed for a few weeks in summer? The company blame dwindling passenger numbers, with the costs of meeting tighter environmental restrictions on exhaust gases as the tipping point.

 

[steveindenmark]

SatNav,

Have you thought about Easyjet from Manchester to Hamburg and then you could train to Flensburg on the Danish border or ride to Puttgarten and sail to the Danish Island of Falster and ride the Southern Islands. That would be a nice ride.

It sounds complex but you are dealing with German trains not UKtrains. The train station is at the airport and Flensburg is a nice town to start a trip.

Steve

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

SatNav,

Have you thought about Easyjet from Manchester to Hamburg and then you could train to Flensburg on the Danish border or ride to Puttgarten and sail to the Danish Island of Falster and ride the Southern Islands. That would be a nice ride.

It sounds complex but you are dealing with German trains not UKtrains. The train station is at the airport and Flensburg is a nice town to start a trip.

Steve

Already done the southern islands and Flensburg on our world tour! We had considered flying but our Thorn Nomads are heavy and with the bike boxes are right on the edge of most airline weight limits regretfully! Also I'm not that keen of flying, I catch anything and everything going around and a confined space full of bugs just does me in sadly!

I think we are heading towards the C2C route and the TransPennine route or possibly cycling out to Ireland again - we have only toured there the once and never done the middle of Ireland or the East Coast. We are a touch stuck on booking things because I am waiting on a couple of operations and only have the date for one of them so far.