There are a couple of overnight ferries which can be
useful (or essential) on some routes between CIVIS universities. A private
cabin on an overnight ferry can be as restful as staying overnight in a hotel,
with the same benefit of a night train, i.e., while you sleep, you are
continuing your journey. On the other hand, the carbon footprint of ferries is
similar to (or more than) the carbon footprint of flying the same distance.
Nevertheless, I recommend using ferries on some routes for the following
reasons:
The overnight ferry from Hoek van Holland (The
Netherlands) to Harwich International (Great Britain) can be a good (or
necessary) alternative to Eurostar. This is because Eurostar only have a small
number of seats for Interrail passholders. What this means in practise is that
you might not be able to get a seat on a suitable Eurostar and if you are
heavily delayed in Germany (which can happen) and miss your Eurostar, you risk
finding that there are no passholder seats on the next one …
The overnight ferry from Bari (Italy) to Patras
(Greece) is the only option for getting to Greece (otherwise) by train.
Overnight ferries between Hoek van Holland and Harwich
International
Stena Line operate ferries between Hoek van Holland
(The Netherlands) and Harwich International (Great Britain). This is an
alternative to the Eurostar for reaching the UK.
The ferry to the UK sails from Hoek van Holland at
22:00 (with boarding from 19:30 to 21:15) and disembarkation at Harwich
International begins at 06:30. The ferry from the UK sails from Harwich
International at 23:00 (with boarding from 20:45 to 22:15) and disembarkation
at Hoek van Holland begins at 08:00.
The nearest railway station to the ferry terminal at
Hoek van Holland is Schiedam Centrum (which can be reached by metro). The ferry
terminal at Harwich International is at a railway station with the same
name.
Onboard, there are a variety of cabins to choose from,
a restaurant, a bar, and an open deck.
Select “Hoek van Holland to Harwich”, enter your
travel dates, return or one way, and click on “Search trip”.
Enter the number of passengers, check “On foot” and
click on “Continue”.
Select your sailing and choose “Premium”, “Flexi” or
“Economy”.
(Tip: “Premium” is excellent value for money. It is more flexible and includes
lounge access, with complementary food and beverages.)
Click on “Continue” and select a cabin.
(Tip: It’s a beautiful crossing, so I recommend a cabin with a window.)
Click on “Continue” (Don’t add any meals. If you have
lounge access, meals are nicer in the lounge. If not, you can decide about
meals when you are onboard.).
Click on “To checkout”, enter your passenger details,
click on “Continue” and pay for your tickets.
I will explain about rail connections for travel
to/from the ferry terminals where relevant in the section on “Suggested itineraries”.
Overnight ferries between Bari and Patras
Superfast Ferries operate ferries between Bari (Italy)
and Patras (Greece). You need to take this ferry to get to/from Greece
(otherwise) by train.
The ferry to Greece sails from Bari at 19:30 (13:30 on
Sundays, boarding starts 2–2½ hours before the ferry sails) and disembarkation
in Patras begins at 13:00. The ferry from Greece sails from Patras at 17:30
(boarding starts 2–2½ hours before the ferry sails) and disembarkation in Bari
begins at 09:00.
The nearest railway station to the ferry terminal in
Bari can be reached from Bari Centrale on foot (30 minutes). The ferry terminal
in Patras can also be reach from the railway station (which is effectively a
bus station) on foot (1 hour).
Onboard, there are a variety of shared and private
cabins to choose from, a restaurant, and an open deck.
Select Bari from the list of departure ports and
Patras from the list of arrival ports, enter your departure date, enter your
return date (or check “one way”, enter number of passengers and click on
“Search”.
Select your preferred crossing for the outward journey
and click on “Proceed”.
Select a cabin.
(I recommend a one bed cabin with a window, but you need to book early: “1 bed
cabin A1” are the nicest ones.)
Select passenger type.
(If you are in a shared cabin, enter “Interrail
Global” for a cheaper fare.)
Add contact information, click on “Proceed” and pay
for your tickets.
