OTHER FERRY OPTIONS ACROSS THE NORTH SEA

If you live in the North or you are headed for northern or central Europe, P&O (from Hull) and DFDS (out of Newcastle) run overnight, with cabins included in the fare, though the cheapest rate has risen from £317 last year to £338. The HarwichHook of Holland service with Stena Line is another rather cheaper option.

NewcastleAmsterdam DFDS (0871 574 7235; dfds.co.uk) Lowest standard return: £316, including two-berth cabin Fastest crossing time: 12hr (overnight)

Max frequency: one per day

HullRotterdam

P&O (0800 130 0030; poferries. com)

Lowest standard return: £338 car plus up to two people, two berth cabin included Crossing time: 12hr (overnight) Max frequency: one per day

HullZeebrugge

P&O (0800 130 0030; poferries. com)

Lowest standard return: £338 car and two people includes two berth cabin. Crossing time: 12hr (overnight) Max frequency: one per day

HarwichHook of Holland Stena Line (08447 707070; stenaline.co.uk/ ferry-to-holland) Lowest standard return: £148 (car plus up to two passengers) Cheapest overnight cabin: £45 (two berth) Fastest crossing time: 8hr

Max frequency: two per day (0330 159 7000; brittanyferries. com), either on “cruise-ferries” or the no-frills “économie” ship. Lowest standard returns to Santander have fallen from £588 to £428 from Portsmouth and £794 to £588 from Plymouth. The Portsmouth to Bilbao service has been reduced from three times a week to once a week.

PortsmouthBilbao

Lowest standard return: £558 (car and two passengers) – including cabin Fastest crossing time: 20hr (cruise-ferry) Max frequency: weekly

PortsmouthSantander Lowest standard return: £428 (car and two passengers) – including cabin (cruise-ferry or no-frills économie service)

Fastest crossing time: 24hr

Max frequency: three per week

PlymouthSantander Lowest standard return: £588 (car and two passengers) – including cabin Fastest crossing time: 20hr (cruise-ferry) Max frequency: weekly