Channel Crossing

[longdog]

Just came back from the Continent and I used Speed Ferries for the first time and I can thoroughly recommend them. Dover - Boulogne, 50 min crossing time, but they are not as frequent as the Dover - Calais crossings.

 

[PW Cymru]

Used them in May, couldn't agree more.

However due to limited frequency make sure you don't miss your booking.

Because your not guaranteed to get on the next one.

£25 one way for a bike.

 

[DavidHolmes]

£25 one way for a bike.

A bargain, until you realise that it costs £50 return for a car.....

Also be aware that if the weather is rough you turn up at Boulogne to be told you are booked on a Sea France ferry leaving Calais about 4 hours later. (And if you ring to ask them if the ferry is cancelled 'cause the weather is bad - as you drive past Calais, they say no, make you go to Boulogne to be told that you have to go back to Calais and when you grumble they argue that the ferry isnt cancelled 'cause you are going via Sea France...in fairness they did offer us a free trip in compensation, but that was last August, I havent taken them up on it, and used the Chunnel last week instead.)

 

[Heston Service]

You can't beat the tunnel (imho)

straight on, straight off, no sea sickness, no weather, minimal screaming kids, usually some bikers to chat to. about an hour from check in to autoroute on the other side (if you get it right)

and £27 each way last month

 

[Deleted account 240901001]

You can't beat the tunnel (imho)

straight on, straight off, no sea sickness, no weather, minimal screaming kids, usually some bikers to chat to. about an hour from check in to autoroute on the other side (if you get it right)

and £27 each way last month

£12 each way last week.....

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

£12 each way last week.....

Wow!

Was that on a 'just turn up' basis or did you book?

Cheers
Andres

 

[Deleted account 240901001]

..booked the day before....



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Going out | Day/Overnight | Folkestone - Calais | 31/08/2005
(local time) | Check-in time 08:36 - Departure time 09:06 - Arrival time 10:41
| GBP 12.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coming back | Day/Overnight | Calais - Folkestone | 01/09/2005
(local time) | Check-in time 12:03 - Departure time 12:33 - Arrival time 12:08
| GBP 12.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vehicle details | Motorcycle
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Travel cost | You paid by AMERICAN EXPRESS
| Card number: ***********
| on 30/08/2005 | GBP 24.00

 

[Paul Narramore]

I've already commented on SpeedFerries on here before and I wouldn't go back. The channel was hardly rough, just a few white tops, but the ride was dreadful. People were staggering around, glasses in the bar area were falling off the shelves, and so on. A lot of people felt very queezy because of the way the catarmaran crashes from side to side. Unlike P&O when bikes always go to the front and are first on, it seemed like a free for all. For the return trip I arrived early but wasn't allowed on, something that has never happened to me with the ferry.

So last month I paid £65 and returned to the professionalism and comfort of P&O. Turned up twenty minutes before departure, straight on. Returned two hours early, straight on. No comparison IMO.

 

[PW Cymru]

Thats great if you can get them. Eurotrash wanted £80 each 1 way.

They make it up as they go along.

 

[Paul Narramore]

Now if only P&O could sort out their haphazard pricing structure, they'd be perfect IMO.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Thanks Ugleebugga - have never even considered the tunnel as always assumed it was expensive.

FWIW I find Seafrance pretty consistant with their pricing, going at the end of the month for £40 return - see my other post in this section re. MCN discounts.

Andres

 

[Deleted account 240901001]

Thats great if you can get them. Eurotrash wanted £80 each 1 way.

They make it up as they go along.

Just looked at nipping over tomorrow morning and back saturday night.... £22

 

[The Planner]

Try NorfolkLines

Try NorfolkLines - Dover-Dunkirk (Dunkerque)
Earlier this year - peak season - £39 return. Ideal for Northern France/Holland/Belgium etc. Currently £59 7 day return
http://travel.norfolkline.com/

 

[Cookson]

Bus or Train

Guy's 'n' Gals,

Sorry wrong thread, how did I manage that.

 

[Paul Narramore]

My wife and I returned last Sunday from a weekend break at the Groenedijk Motorcycle Loft Hotel in Belgium. As usual we arrived at Calais much earlier than our 1415 sailing and got on the very next sailing with no hassle whatsoever. In fact during the many years we've been with P&O, I don't ever recall arriving for the actual sailing. Never a problem.

At the hotel, we met Dave and Diane who returned to Calais on Monday and caught the same time sailing as we did. In fact they also were two hours early for their sailing as we were.....however they were required to pay A FURTHER £18! Now whther they were unlucky with a member of staff who didn't know the ropes, or perhaps P&O have changed the rules, but this is very odd and something I'd not heard of in forty years of sailing with them.

Has anyone else experienced this, before I drop P&O a line?

 

[Paul Narramore]

Ah, I think I've got it. I put this same post on another message board and was told that probably what happened to my friends is that their two-hour earlier sailing occurred in a more expensive pricing band and arriving early had made them cross the boundary between the cheaper and the more expensive bands. Funny as that's never ever happened to me in 49yrs of sailing with them.