Harwich to Hoek without cabin

[JennyfromtheBlok]

Hi,
We are travel on the 9am sailing from Harwich.

2 adults plus 3 kids (not demanding kids at all aged 4-15)

Are we ok with no cabin ? I’ve not been on a ferry In years! Are there places you can just sit about and read or colour in etc. i know what facilities there (the stuff listed) are but doesn’t mention general sitting/hanging about areas. (Unless you pay for a lounge)

Or are the restaurants/cafe big enough and casual enough you can have a meal and stay sat there for some time before/after.

It's a while since I have been on that ferry but I found it not that easy to just sit around.

My parents booked the lounge and were quite happy with it. I think it's cheaper than staying in the restaurant and being obliged to order more.

We did that crossing a couple of years ago and although we had a cabin, we just used it as somewhere to leave our stuff. We mostly hung out in restaurant playing card games etc.
plenty of people doing the same.

Thanks guys- I think I’ll take a punt on it being ok for the outbound journey. A ‘lounge’ pass for us would cost a lot. Plus under 8’s can’t use it anyway.

There’s currently availability for cabins outbound and return. So if it was hard work I’ll book a cabin for the return journey.