Hull - Zeebrugge ferry ending

Wiltshire

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That's a blow for us and quite a few Brits living in Europe with family in Northern England. We use that route about 3 times a year and it always seemed reasonably busy but I guess Christmas and Easter crossings are popular. The ships are quite old and doubtless there is no business case to replace them. A few more lorries to join the que in Kent next year.
 

westhinder

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Zeebrugge-Hull was the last remaining passenger line between Belgium and the U.K. It is a shame to see it go. Hard to imagine too that there is no need for a direct route across the North Sea between the two countries. I know, Calais is very close, and there still is a freight ferry between Zeebrugge and Tilbury, but one would hope for more. And when at the same time the Calais-Dover service is reduced too, it does not augur well for the post-brexit era.
 

westhinder

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Passenger ferry lines between Belgium and England have a long and checkered history. There have been ferries from Oostende to Dover and Ramsgate, from Zeebrugge to Dover, Harwich, Hull and even Scotland. There have been steamers, pure passenger ferries, passenger/freight ferries, freight only ferries, jetfoils, high speed hovercraft. And of course we had the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster.
The Zeebrugge-Hull line was used by many groups and individuals from the North and Scotland to visit the WW I battlefields and war graves in West Flanders. That trip has now been made a lot more difficult if they have to travel via Dover or Hull-Hoek van Holland
 

Kurrawong_Kid

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That's a blow for us and quite a few Brits living in Europe with family in Northern England. We use that route about 3 times a year and it always seemed reasonably busy but I guess Christmas and Easter crossings are popular. The ships are quite old and doubtless there is no business case to replace them. A few more lorries to join the que in Kent next year.
And for Midlanders too. Much easier to reach than Dover or Harwich. Still the Europort one appears to be still running.
 

Beneteau381

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Zeebrugge-Hull was the last remaining passenger line between Belgium and the U.K. It is a shame to see it go. Hard to imagine too that there is no need for a direct route across the North Sea between the two countries. I know, Calais is very close, and there still is a freight ferry between Zeebrugge and Tilbury, but one would hope for more. And when at the same time the Calais-Dover service is reduced too, it does not augur well for the post-brexit era.
Yawn yawn! Go to the lounge with this sort of stuff?
 

PilotWolf

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Different reasons but for me it was a sad day when they stopped the Portsmouth to Bilbao service.

We enjoyed a good few of the mini cruises. With the meal deal it was a great cheap few days away with entertainment included.

Also the shore trips were fun and we had some great tapas times!

Did upset the GF once though as spent probably an additional 2/3 hours on the bridge after the official tour ended!

W.
 

emandvee44

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Different reasons but for me it was a sad day when they stopped the Portsmouth to Bilbao service.

We enjoyed a good few of the mini cruises. With the meal deal it was a great cheap few days away with entertainment included.

Also the shore trips were fun and we had some great tapas times!

Did upset the GF once though as spent probably an additional 2/3 hours on the bridge after the official tour ended!

W.
We sailed on one the last trips on "Pride of Bilbao" from Portsmouth to Bilbao in April 2010. P&O withdrew from the route claiming it was uneconomical. Along came the French and have been operating it ever since, and also to Santander. All French crew on 1:1 rotation - not a cheap option like some ferries?
M.
 

PilotWolf

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We sailed on one the last trips on "Pride of Bilbao" from Portsmouth to Bilbao in April 2010. P&O withdrew from the route claiming it was uneconomical. Along came the French and have been operating it ever since, and also to Santander. All French crew on 1:1 rotation - not a cheap option like some ferries? M.

I don’t think I ever saw below or even close to below capacity- either trippers like us, holiday makers or lorry drivers.

Think more likely political after the alleged Ouzo incident but that’s just my IMHO, a bit like Concorde...

W.
 
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