Trains to Amsterdam - a long wait in Brussels?

Savvy_Sue

martindow said:

Savvy_Sue said:

Almost made a decision ... going to ferry out overnight, and Eurostar back ... 

Managed to find some discounts, will book the train to Harwich separately as that way we can use our railcards. 

Savvy_Sue said:

Almost made a decision ... going to ferry out overnight, and Eurostar back ... 

Managed to find some discounts, will book the train to Harwich separately as that way we can use our railcards. 

Are you sure that the Rail Sail fare which includes travel from any Greater Anglia station is not going to be cheaper, even though you can't get a further railcard discount?  I suspect you will be better off just buying tickets to get you to Liverpool Street, Ely or wherever is your nearest GA station and use Rail Sail from there.

Well it definitely looked cheaper, and the price breakdown showed £128.

Plus I couldn't book anything but the standard option on the ferry, and I wanted the top prices which worked out cheaper than adding the Stena lounge later.

So I rang them, and the agent I spoke to said to book it separately. 

Savvy_Sue

Katiehound said:

Not sure the time of day you are crossing but on a day crossing you can get a cabin at half price with Stena line. You can also pre book meals

if you think you are going to travel with Stena any time in the near future get a loyalty card- it's free & gives a small discount.

Not sure we'll do it again but yes, I'll get the discount card if it's available!

Looked at day crossing but felt we'd be later than ideal getting back to Liverpool Street. Still traumatised by the return from Barcelona via Birmingham in October...

Savvy_Sue

lr1277 said:

I don't know if this gives you a viable alternative, but if you are not aware, Greater Anglia offer a Rail and Sail service to Amsterdam. Have never taken it, but I presume you would have to 'start' at a Greater Anglia station. Then you would get the train to the ferry and then the ferry to Amsterdam.

Well, that's proved to be a most civilised suggestion - so far! Elizabeth line to Liverpool Street, excellent customer lounge there, uncrowded train to Harwich International,  and such friendly staff in security and on the ferry!

We've just started moving so I'm off to bed. They keep UK time on board, so we get a wake up call at 5.30am, and have to be off promptly at 7, which of course is only 6am for my body clock after the clocks went forward on Saturday. 

Huge thanks for your suggestion @lr1277!

Grumpy_chap

Have a fantastic trip.
Nice weather for sailing this evening.  I have often found the overnight ferries to Europe to be most civilised (but have never taken the route you are sailing today).

Savvy_Sue

Just to finish off this part of the journey...

Katiehound said:

Not sure the time of day you are crossing but on a day crossing you can get a cabin at half price with Stena line. You can also pre book meals

If I was taking the day sailing, I'd be happy just to use the Stena Plus lounge: comfy, good range of free food and drink - UNLESS for some reason I knew I'd need to catch up on sleep.

Because the one big disadvantage of that sailing was that we did not get enough sleep.

Caught up quite well last night, and now enjoying the sunshine!

Savvy_Sue

It seems I'll be able to report sooner than anticipated on the day sailing. Eurostar have cancelled our train, because the Belgians are on strike!

Savvy_Sue

If I always had a spare day at each end of the trip, I wouldn't travel any other way.

It hasn't sold the idea of a cruise to me, but just sitting in the Stena Plus lounge, free snacks and drinks just for the serving, suitcases stowed out of the way ... and NO QUEUING! Maybe there would be occasionally, but we've timed it perfectly to just walk through. 

And when the Eurostar refund arrives, we'll be about £100 better off.

The big drawback is getting back to Liverpool Street after 10pm tonight, but the change to Elizabeth line should be easy enough, and BIL will pick us up.