LD Lines

[Green Boy]

Hi,

Due to the Brittany Ferry dramas of the last week, I've had to cancel my booking for tonight and rebook tomorrow night with LD Lines for their Portsmouth/ Le Harve crossing.

Having never used them before - any tops tips ie. what's their tying down like/ do you need to bring your own padding to protect the seat etc.

Also as I haven't managed to get a cabin, what's the seating like for getting some sleep.

Cheers,
Ed

 

[Littlelegs]

LD LINES

Just used LD lines for our trip to France and Back Portsmouth /LE Havre route, only problem is bikes are placed in the very bottom on deck one and you have to ride down a steep ramp then climb the stairs to deck five.
When disembarking, bikers have to wait until last. But it was over a £100 cheaper than Brittany ferries when I booked.
Hope you have a good trip
Kev

 

[Trevor Phillips]

LD are great; cheapest, most direct route over if you're heading east. If you're big enough to fit a GS, you won't sleep in their seats. Take a roll-up mattress for the floor instead. If you can get one of their sleeper seats, though, they're very good & much cheaper than a cabin. Don't worry about looking after the bike, leave it on the prop stand & the frogs 'll look after it. I even left luggage & helmet on the bike last time, just took tank bag with valuables. It varies where they direct you on ship- I was on the top car deck a month ago.
And Portsmouth & Le Havre are MUCH nicer than Dover & Calais.
Hope the weather's better than today.

 

[Trevor Phillips]

And I rode off as soon as the ramp was down, first off. I was over an hour faster than a car driver going to Frome

 

[Blackal]

Their cushions for bike seats are shagged, took my seat a week to recover it's shape.

Reclining seats - don't. they are like medievel torture devices.

Their toilets are a disgrace.

As said previouslly - sleep on the floor.

Al

 

[wessie]

LDLines are okay. I never bother with a cabin or posh seat. Sleep in the bar, on the floor or if you can get in early, in the kiddies soft play area. Not as comfy as a motel but one up on camping.

Park bike. Let deck hand sort it. They do it hundreds of times a week and are actually quite competent. Riding on/off the ferry is a doddle and certainly less scary than riding on some of the mountain passes I ride for fun...

 

[markoh]

I went across a few weeks ago and they had bike holders on the boat. Rode into them. We were first off. Sleep on the bench seats in the bar or restraint. Take an Ikea blue bag with you to put stuff in,

 

[Dean]

Their cushions for bike seats are shagged, took my seat a week to recover it's shape.

Reclining seats - don't. they are like medievel torture devices.

Their toilets are a disgrace.

As said previouslly - sleep on the floor.

Al

I had the crushed seat also with them, if I remember they was super cheap so perhaps all the corners have been cut

 

[cookie]

Normally go with brittany, but travelled with LD earlier this year. The seat protectors don't, they distort the bike's seat cover quite badly.

The bar is tiny and rammed full of cheap cnuts sleeping on the seats and floor like a fucking refugee camp. Broken glasses on the floor that the staff never attempted to clean up.
No decent beer, although to be fair, that's an accusation I'd make of all the other companies.

The cabins are utilitarian, but ok.

They were about £100 cheaper than brittany, but It is my intention never to use LD again.

 

[Steptoe]

I've used LD going overnight from St nazaire to Gijon and return last year.

Cabin excellent, restaurant 1st class (spanish truckers like their food ).
Bikes last on, first off, Can't tell you how or what they used to strap the bike down. I parked it and left a crew member strapping it down, and it was all unstrapped when i returned after docking in the morning.

 

[Timolgra]

I used the LD line overnight to le Harve a couple of months ago, hard to get a good kip with all the noise but cabins were expensive, however on the daytime return cabins were only £12........so we made the most of it

 

[cookie]

oh yeah, i forgot...

it was a slightly rough crossing, and during the night the movement of the ship caused the waste outlet to disgorge water and disgusting black pleg into the shower tray in our bathroom. lovely when you go for a piss in the night and don't bother to switch the light on

 

[Green Boy]

Thanks all. I'll let you know how it goes!

 

[Green Boy]

Thanks all. I'll let you know how it goes!

Basically it was the rustic version of Brittany Ferries but fine. I can recommend bringing a sleeping bag if you don't have a cabin.

More importantly the crew provide a front wheel chocks and clean tie downs with good padding.

 

[Monty Stubble]

Travelled with them from Gijon to Ste Nazaire. Booked a cabin which was clean and OK. Food was good. Last on the Ferry and first off. thought it was OK.

 

[Steptoe]

Travelled with them from Gijon to Ste Nazaire. Booked a cabin which was clean and OK. Food was good. Last on the Ferry and first off. thought it was OK.

Same conclusion as i found both times i've used them on that crossing last year.