Farewell, Newcastle to Stavanger, Haugsund and Bergen
Archive - Originally posted on "The Horse's Mouth" - 2008-05-29 20:32:01 - Graham Ellis
I was very sad to hear on the radio this morning that DFDS are withdrawing their ferry from Newcastle to Norway - a short item and I have no detail,s but it brough back memories of a 24 hour crossing one winter a few years ago, on the "Venus" run - in those days - by Color line. Rising fuel costs are blamed - the service is no longer economic - and that's going to be a huge disappointment to all the Norwegians who have been coming across to see Newcastle United and to shop in the Metro Centre.
Picture a large, windswept keyside with a great loading area and a handful of cars and some "heavies" loading - quite quiet and even 15 years ago, before I ran my own business, I wondered at the financial model. And yet I was missing something; I knew that our berth was "the only one we have left" and was situated under the car deck. Then I saw what was missing. The first of a convoy of double decker busses appeared, and rolled down to stop by the boat, where the hordes of Norwegians on them rolled out and on board. "Booze Cruise"
Crossing - rough. So rough that passengers for Haugsund were advised the boat couldn't get in, and they should get off at Stavanger. But I'm used to rough crossings - am I allowed to say I enjoyed it. And I have a further big memory - of an 8 hour drive on through a blizzard to Oslo, an arrival there after midnight at a locked hotel, and (as you will have guessed!) a Perl course the next day.
If you need a course in Norway ... we'll still have other means of getting over to you. I would love to come. Please. ;-) ...