To get to Amsterdam from England and back, a friend and I tried the overnight ferry.  I enjoyed myself immensely.  I had a good dinner, a glass of wine, and got a comfortable night’s sleep in a cabin, and crossed the North Sea all in one package.  The ferry ticket included train fare from London Liverpool Station to Harwich, ferry passage from Harwich to Hoek van Holland, and train fare from Hoek van Holland to Amsterdam Centraal Station.

The sights while boarding were fascinating to someone who had never before ridden a ferry or crossed the Channel, or seen the North Sea.

The ferry did not depart immediately.  I was able to look out at the activity in the Harwich port while I ate dinner in the ferry restaurant.

There was no running or walking for fitness on the ferry. The space was just a little too confined for that.

But I did leaf through a Dutch version of Runner’s World while eating a wedge of chocolate cake/mousse.

In the morning we disembarked at Hoek van Holland and caught the train to Amsterdam.

Then, after 2 fun days and nights in Amsterdam, we followed the same routine for the return trip to England.

I’m ready to go again.