Any parent will tell you that the number of times you are acknowledged as being right are slim, especially by your offspring. Let me celebrate, then, such a moment courtesy of my younger son Chris after I'd wondered why he'd driven all the way to the deepest south to cross to mainland Europe. As a great champion of our own regional operators, I urged him to use DFDS Seaways next time and he did! He tells the story rather better below.

Ship ship hooray

By Chris Wright

Last summer I took the family for a blissful fortnight in France, taking with us the trusty estate car full of home comforts. I can happily tell you that we enjoyed it, so long as I can blot out the horrendous night-time drive from Teesside to Plymouth, and the fitful attempts to sleep in the car for a few hours while we waited for the Brittany Ferries ship to start boarding. The sea was slight that day, but the unkempt state of the vessel and the poor customer care standards made the journey home a constant thorn in the family's side as we dreaded it throughout an otherwise idyllic holiday.

My recent weekend in the care of DFDS Seaways on one of their breaks to Amsterdam has thankfully reshaped my view of sea crossings entirely.

There was no tortuous journey to some far-off Southern port this time. Instead, a short drive to North Shields, where excellent secure parking offers the confidence to leave the car in Blighty, while jaded British sensibilities acquaint themselves with Amsterdam's clean, safe streets and a public transport system that actually works!

But first, the ship. It seems unfair to refer to The Prince of Scandinavia as a "ferry", summoning up as it does images of the cross-channel nightmare so many of us have endured. Think more along the lines of a more compact model of the cruise ships that sail the Caribbean. Right from the enthusiastic welcome on board from the helpful crew, it is obvious that this vessel is well-run. The fact that each ship has a Hotel Manager as well as a Captain speaks volumes about how seriously the line takes the concept of customer care.

These ships are fully equipped with a variety of bars, restaurants, shops, and even a swimming pool and cinema. Imagine a night out at home beginning with a beautiful dinner and a flutter in a casino before dancing to live music into the small hours. Now imagine all of that without having to set foot outdoors, and you're getting somewhere near to the experience that a short cruise break offers.

The beauty of these vessels is that they offer different styles of entertainment, so that the group of lads setting out for a stag night and the couple enjoying a romantic weekend will not notice one another's presence on board. It really is like a small town. For a special treat, I would recommend splashing out on Commodore Class, with the added bonus of dedicated stewards, and a touch of class in accommodations more like a small hotel room than a ship's cabin.

Amsterdam itself is a vivacious city, and like the ship it lends itself well to whichever day out you are looking for. The seedier side of the city is everything you have heard about, a bit like the back pages of Viz made into a city, and aimed squarely at the foreign tourist. There are, of course, a plethora of artistic and historical attractions in the city, and it is worth buying a tourist map from one of the many gift shops so as not to miss anything during the day.

I cannot see myself making the ridiculous voyage south to sail to Europe again. Ten hours on the motorway behind a caravan and a petrol-tanker, or a holiday that starts as soon as you hit Newcastle? No contest.

Published: 31/01/2003