Ferry operator Stena Line North Sea says strong demand for premium cabins helped drive a boost to passenger figures over the summer.

Stena Line, whose routes include services between Harwich and the Hook of Holland, said year-on-year growth in premium bookings outstripped the increase in overall passenger bookings for the three-month period to the end of August.

Growth in the premium segment was also recorded on a year-to-date basis between January and August, the company added.

Stena said that between June and August there was a marked 27.4% year-on-year increase in “Captains Class” cabin bookings and 13.6% for “Captains Suites”.

By comparison, overall Harwich-Hook of Holland booking numbers for grew by 13.3% in the same three month summer period.

Lars Olsson, Stena Line’s general manager for travel on the North Sea, said: “Stena Line has reported very solid 2013 growth in bookings on its UK to Holland route but sales of our premium cabins have been outstandingly successful.

“This summer has seen prodigious growth in bookings of our Captains Class cabins and suites, which we’re attributing to returning guests upgrading.

“Stena Line leisure customers increasingly treat the sailing over to Holland as part of their holiday and more business travellers are taking advantage of the facilities and space to work and rest.

“There’s a feeling that our Captains Class cabins and Captains Suites are very affordable compared to the cost of an overnight stay in a four or five star hotel which would offer similar levels of comfort. This helps our customers get the best value for money on their travels. .

“We invested significant time and resource into the design and development of our new North Sea superferries and this is clearly a success with passengers and is paying dividends across all our cabin types.”