P&O North Sea ferries are an expensive "luxury" (term used advisedly).
Hull - Rotterdam just about makes sense from the North if you're heading to Northern Europe/Scandinavia, but Hull - Zeebrugge is really in "no man's land" for most journeys.
Even then, Harwich - Hook can be cheaper than Hull - Rotterdam (largely because going out overnight and returning during the day, something not possible from Hull, is a very practical solution, both on cost and timetable convenience). I also find the Stena line boats rather better quality (and with less "entertainment" (term again used advisedly)).
About the only advantage of the overnight crossing is a "refreshed" early start sur le Continent, and the ability subsequently to get a full day's mileage under your belt.
The traverse of Hull, bad at the best of times, is full-on gridlock on P&O's timetables, as both arrival and departure times coincide with rush-hour - a restful drive it ain't. Rotterdam is usually a pita on returning with major gridlocks on the Dutch motorways just when you want to use them. The Hook is better, and Zeebrugge is admittedly rather less congested.
For France and South (e.g. Spain), it's either the crossings to Northern Spain (of which I have no experience) or Dover-Calais or the Tunnel every time. Ferry is generally cheaper, the Tunnel can be more convenient. Choice for me is determined by where any stopover is going to be. If I want a mid-journey break on Day 1, then 90 minutes on the boat and a leg-stretch gets the vote. If I drive down to the channel and stay UK-side or just France-side, then the Tunnel works better and saves some overall journey-time.
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