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  #1  
Old 28 May 2008
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Newcastle ferry closing
Next year I'm planning a 3 week trip to either the Nordkapp or Morocco (work will only let me take 3 weeks off once a year),and yesterday I heard on the radio that the Newcastle - Bergen ferry service is closing in September, so I searched the net this morning to try and find some information, I found this; DFDS to close Newcastle/Bergen on 1st September - bfenthusiasts.com
What's the best option now for UK -Norway?
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  #2  
Old 28 May 2008
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On the two times I used it, that boat was an absolute mess. Extended loading times, no proper tie down, no decent cheap food and bars at 90% of Norwegian prices full of drunks and bingo playing OAP's. I'm sorry for the crew of course but I can see it was a weak product for the company.

On a more positive note, the route I'd suggest regardless of if this ferry is running:

Hull-Rotterdam: Better service by far & cheaper, runs every night.
Rotterdam -> Hamburg : Always good for a decent/cheap overnight
Hamburg -> Copenhagen -> Norway: the Bridge is an engineering marvel well worth a look.
North Cape
Norway -> Rodby -> Puttgarten & South : A great little ferry that cuts the corner and is perfect length to grab a cuppa and spend any remaining Scandanavian dosh.

The alternative is ferry/tunnel to Calais and north from there. In 2004 I did Southern Norway to Leeds via the Bridge and Channel Tunnel in three days on an XT600E, actually faster and cheaper than hanging about for DFDS and boy was there some decent sights, even from the motorway.

Andy
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  #3  
Old 28 May 2008
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I've used the route several times. It's just got more and more expensive. I priced a trip for July. £591 Newcastle/Bergen return. Last year I had to go Dover-Calais, Puttgarden-Rodbyhavn and over the bridge because of the crazy prices. The Harwich-Esbjerg, Fredricshavn-Goteburg route is ok too.

As has been said, I'm sorry for the crew and land based who will loose their jobs. We have lost a useful, if expensive link with Scandinavia.
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  #4  
Old 28 May 2008
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Hello guy's,

I feel I must stand up here and be counted.

Just 3 weeks ago, I left Newcastle, and did the overnight trip to Stavangar.

Me, the wife, and the Land Cruiser.
£231

You say it is overpriced, but remember where your heading for.

When the Japanese arrive from Tokyo, and complain Oslo is expensive, , , , , , , ,Get my drift ?

So, when you say, Newcastle to Bergen is ending, that don't mean, that newcastle to Stavangar is ending.

From what I saw when I got off at Stavangar, is that 90% got off there,

So the other 10 % must have gone to Bergen and Housemund (sp)
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  #5  
Old 28 May 2008
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Bridge ?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flyingdoctor View Post
I've used the route several times. It's just got more and more expensive. I priced a trip for July. £591 Newcastle/Bergen return. Last year I had to go Dover-Calais, Puttgarden-Rodbyhavn and over the bridge because of the crazy prices. The Harwich-Esbjerg, Fredricshavn-Goteburg route is ok too.

As has been said, I'm sorry for the crew and land based who will loose their jobs. We have lost a useful, if expensive link with Scandinavia.
Sorry to ask, but what bridge? can you give full details.

Thanks

Tourman
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  #6  
Old 29 May 2008
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A good long round route to Nordcapp from the UK would be ferry to Dunkirk drive in my case to Rosstock ferry to Helsinki , drive up though Finland to the cape then return down though Norway via Oslo then head for the bridge to Denmark and ferry home or drive round , lots of miles but fun .

Im off to the cape end of July four weeks Stavanger in then Trondhiem , head for Sweden, Finland up to Kirkenes , return down Norways coast to Bergan for allmost the last ferry ,
feel a bit of a wendy doing it in the Hymermobil but haho
Twodogs
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  #7  
Old 29 May 2008
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There is a bridge from Copenhagen across the Ore Sund to Malmo. You can drive from Holyhead or Lands End to the North Cape without ever going on a boat if you want to. Cutting corners via the Esbjerg, Rotterdam or Puttgarten Ferries is useful, but you can miss them out now without needing to go all the way into Russia.

The bridge is one fantastic bit of engineering. You start with a tunnel next to Copenhagen airport then shoot out of an island to go over a bridge hundreds of feet above the sea before dropping down into Malmo. Only things to watch for is the wind if it's gusty and the length of the run between fuel stops. Neither is any hassle if you take care.

Andy
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  #8  
Old 29 May 2008
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I got stuffed £400 return for newcastle-bergen this january, but living in the north of england, and being on a tight timescale it is the only realistic option for winter scandanavian trips.
Yes they are badly organised, expensive etc. but still better than no ferry.
The Newcastle-bergen boat goes via stavanger.

That's my winter 2009 plans buggered.
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  #9  
Old 29 May 2008
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It's just a long way when folk have to make the trip, I am in the Manchester area, and it makes sense for me to drive over to Newcastle, drive the LC onto the ferry.

If I lived closer to the south, then for sure I would do a channel crossing and drive to Oslo.

It is very cheap on Ryan air, from Liverpool to Oslo. cost about £18.00 ~£50.00 depending on when you book. only takes 55 minutes !
But I suppose it would cost a small fortune to get a Land Cruiser in the cargo hold! So that aint gona' work.


This is how I got to Oslo this time, I left Manchester area at noon, and arrived in Oslo, 37 hours later, by way of Newcastle / Stavangar ferry. drive from Stavangar to Kristiansand, then Oslo.
What a nightmare of a road, I have never seen so much traffic, just my luck !
Driving miles was about 520.

I think I could do Manchester to Oslo, via the channel crossing in about 30 hours. but driving miles will be about 1350. which would also mean no sleep, bit of a bummer is that one.

So all in all, the extra cost in the ferry, would even out in the additional fuel.
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  #10  
Old 30 May 2008
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Hull Rotterdam
Finish work at 5.00 and do the M-62 to be in Hull by 7.30. Have a nice 5 course meal, a few pints and a good nights sleep. Be on the Road in Holland before the men in Orange jackets at Newcastle have even got their dart board out to decide which lanes they will leave standing with overheating engines in what order!

Andy
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  #11  
Old 30 May 2008
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i have a booking for the ferry on june 29th returning july 12th it cost me £408 return for me a passenger and bike using the mcn offer thought it was a good deal i intend to take a picnic onboard to save on buying their food which looks exspensive snd im on a tight budget most of which well be spent on fuel gettig to the north cape
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  #12  
Old 31 May 2008
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Born2bemild,

Remember that for some strange reason, fuel in Norway is cheaper on Saturdays and Sundays,
Up to, and normally, 1 Kroner a liter cheaper.

Don't know why, but it's origins are many years past, and work colleagues don't know why either.

So, will up on Saturdays or Sundays !

The "Statoil" garages are normally the cheapest. At the moment, weekdays petrol is about 13.40NOK in the Oslo area, and Weekends 12.60NOK.

Another great thing here is, when you go to the first Statoil garage, buy you and your partner a "Statoil coffee mug", nice insulated, stainless steel, with lid.
Cost 19.99NOK for 2 of them.
This gives you unlimited free coffee at any Statoil garage.
They all have these coffee machines, and you just go in and fill up your mugs.
Great Idea I think.

Here in Oslo, we have a Statoil, just 200meters away, so whenever we are on our way home, we always, (most of the time) stop off for a fill up.
Don't need to buy petrol.
G.
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