Poole/St Malo - Conder Ferries

[_monkey_]

I am considering taking this route in September to get as far south in France as reasonably possible.

Crossing time is apparently around five hours including a visit to the Channel Islands for foot passengers.

Has anyone experience of this route on the Seacat? I am concerned about the reliability of the crossing on a cat.

TIA

 

[2 wheel humvee]

I've used the Cat to the Channel Islands many times-though not for a couple of years now,if there is a "heavy swell" it will not sail and you will be crossing via a conventional "slow" ferry,which will take considerably longer
I think the conditions for the Cat were no more than a Force 4 gale Warning or a swell of no more than 1.6metres-I could be wrong so you'd best check with Condor.
Apart from that the Fast Cat is a great way to travel,it's very quick and a trip to the stern to have a look at the "rooster tails" from the twin jet drives when they are giving it the berries is a must

 

[Mike Werner]

Been hearing bad things about Condor. They were thrown out of an ad campaign program I was working with, for dishonesty.....

Also, there's a brits in Normandy discussion forum, and they don't come off that well there either...

 

[Monsieur]

I travelled on a pool-cherbourg fastcat with condor ferries (AKA brittany ferries) last week and came away very impressed - good fast sailing (calm conditions), my bike was secured very well and the staff were were very helpful and polite

 

[Bateman]

It is also known as the Vomit Comet... even in calm seas it has a real sickness inducing ride. I think a better option would be Portsmouth St Malo on Brittany Ferries going overnight. You get a full nights sleep and arrive at a reasonable hour in the morning - about 8amish I think.

 

[cookie]

been on it to Guernsey. calm sailing, very fast & efficient. i've heard the same stories as bateman re the sea sickness though.

seems a certain kind of sea & those cats will set some folks off. does not have to be rough.

 

[_monkey_]

Thanks for the advice guys

The cost of the Condor option is only £51/bike in early September, Brittany Poole/ST Malo is £250 on Ferry Savers. Are ther any cheaper sites?

 

[_monkey_]

Thanks for the advice guys

The cost of the Condor option is only £51/bike in early September, Brittany Poole/ST Malo is £250 on Ferry Savers. Are ther any cheaper sites?

Oh dear - having made an online booking I got a call back today to say the price had increased to £170 because ferry operators had increased their prices due to the airport security threats

What a load of b****x. Looks like the Tunnel for me then...

 

[John Stenhouse]

Try LD lines from Portsmouth to Le Harve. Very reasonable.

 

[Garry H]

I used to use Condor ferries for my trips to Andorra...But in the last couple of years their prices have got ridiculas ..I now use Norfolkline ...Even though it puts 200 miles on my trip.. The price for a tranny van in september was £290 (condor )...£78 ( nolfolkline ) ....Also Nolfolkline have never charged me a fee when i have turned up and changed my return date

 

[cookie]

Oh dear - having made an online booking I got a call back today to say the price had increased to £170 because ferry operators had increased their prices due to the airport security threats

can't they just make up their money in stolen laptops, mp3 players etc. like the airlines?

 

[normanallen]

I have used the Condor ferries a couple of time and will be usingf them again on the 2nd September to St-Malo as has been said if you dont have your sea legs it can be as bit uncomfy but apart from that its great. I think St-Malo is the best place to enter France if you are going down south, however they are not the cheapest that was LT ferries but it went to cherbourg.


Norman

 

[Nate]

Me and some mates have just booked...


Looked and Condor - but at £180 for a return trip was taking the piss...

Looked at LD lines (Portsmouth - Le Havre) - £85 much more reasonable. + LD is an overnight, so its a free night of accomadation.

Were off the the south of France, so it may be a little further to ride (but not £80 quids worth) and Le Havre feeds straight into a main road, so your on the motorways quicker anyway.

Nate

 

[(RIP) Perryhill]

I am considering taking this route in September to get as far south in France as reasonably possible.

Crossing time is apparently around five hours including a visit to the Channel Islands for foot passengers.

Has anyone experience of this route on the Seacat? I am concerned about the reliability of the crossing on a cat.

TIA

As a person who gets sea sick watching the Cruel Sea I was pleasently surprised on the way to France by SeaCat. The return journey was the worst 5 hours of my life - to make matters worse because we were experiencing 'swell' we took a longer route up the middle of the channel. I was still leaning over the edge when we pulled up at the dock!

I don't care how much slower it is on other means of transport - nothing will make me go on one again!