DFDS 20% over 60's discount Newhave/Dieppe
I phoned the CAMC booking line this morning, as t'Interweb doesn't offer useful advice like a real person, and it was well worth it. We're heading down through France in late Spring, using Newhaven/Dieppe in order to visit friends en route. The friendly helpful adviser told me that since we're over 60, DFDS were doing a better offer than CAMC, who can only offer 10% discount, so recommended I phone them direct.
So, for a phone booking on 0800 9171201 (NB not online bookings) we were given 20% discount on this crossing, £220 return for car, van, & 2 of us.
I don't know how long it lasts, it might finish with the end of May, but it seemed worth sharing here in case anyone else can make use of the information.
The line takes you to the Dieppe office, and the very helpful lady there has good English but still needs things spelling carefully - she happily wrote that we lived in ".... Plus" rather than "... Close" for our address, for example.
Bon voyage 
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Thanks for sharing this HH. There are some advantages to getting older. I'm retireing at the end of March.
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Agreed, and I asked about this, but she explained that their price match policy is limited to standard deals. DFDS are doing a special offer for over 60's just now. C&MC can only match the standard prices, it seems, not specific deals. The best they could offer was 10%.
Since it was the C&MC adviser telling me this I didn't quibble too much, just hopped over to claim my discount!
PS I see I can't spell NewhaveN in my heading! Oops.
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she explained that their price match policy is limited to standard deals. DFDS are doing a special offer for over 60's just now.
It's not for 'just now'. It has been an ongoing discount for about 20 years.
I live half an hour from Newhaven and worked there for many years. I've been enjoying the 20% over 60's Newhaven - Dieppe discount for more than 10 years. When the service was taken over from British Rail (and the French bought Newhaven port maybe 30 years ago) the ferry was set up by the Dieppe Chamber of Commerce and Transmanche. Part of the deal was that discount would be given to over 60's, disabled people and students.
If the 'lead' person is over 60, the whole ticket is discounted regardless of the age of other travellers.
I've mentioned this discount many times on here and on other sites.
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Thanks for the explanation.
Maybe I picked up the wrong impression from the C&MC lady then. She had just started discussing options when this occurred to her, so perhaps that was a different tack. She also commented that not many people seem to know about the DFDS scheme.
As for the price match bit - I've only looked at a handful of C&MC special offer discounts since we joined, and each time it's been cheaper going to the source, who have some special promotion on which overrides and undercuts the C&MC conditions. But that's an aside, really - I just posted this to share with others who like me, but unlike Spriddler, weren't aware of it, and I was grateful that she was honest enough not to make a sale herself, but send me where the price was cheaper. That's the sort of "price match" advice I like
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She also commented that not many people seem to know about the DFDS scheme.
It's not surprising, Headfirst, as it has never been shown on their website. I think it's an imposition from the original agreement around 25 years ago (could be 30 or more) between the local authority (Lewes CC) and Dieppe Ch of Commerce, and one which carried forward to when the service was taken on by some firm whose name escapes me, then LD lines, then Transmanche, and currently DFDS.
I was told by locals that it was demanded by Newhaven in order to give the British passengers some benefit since no one ever stops at Newhaven (if you've ever been there you'll understand why) as opposed to Dieppe which is a delightful port with a bustling town, superb shopping, great Saturday market, restos lining the quay and a superb Aire on the prom, plus a somewhat 'funtional' one 400m from the ferry.
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I take it Newhaven hasn't changed much since last we visited then! Will look forward to seeing Dieppe, though.
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I tried to “price match” an item at Go Outdoors recently. They wouldn’t match the price of the item on Amazon as they are not a UK company. Ordered the item from Amazon for £113. Go Outdoors price £195.
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It's not surprising, Headfirst, as it has never been shown on their website
Hi, friends are considering this route for next month so had a quick look at the site
https://www.dfdsseaways.co.uk/ferry-routes/ferry-to-france/newhaven-dieppe/
and found the following text so have passed on the informaation;
20% off Newhaven-Dieppe crossings for students under 27, young people under 25, people over 60 & those with a disability card.
You will need to present proof of age, your student card or your disability card and the discount is for the crossing only. Booking to be made by phone or at the ferry terminal.
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Not changed very much at all since the 50's when I accompanied my commercial traveller Dad in school holidays and we'd park on the quay to eat our packed lunch and watch the few tourists' cars being craned onto the deck of the British Rail (later renamed 'Sealink') ferry.
The East Quay where the ferry docks is always one huge mountain of scrap metal for export by ship. The West Quay has been redeveloped with blocks of 'marine-style' flats but that's about it. Shame really as it could be as attractive as Dieppe.
The viability of the port itself has always been an issue and the future of the ferry service continues to hang by a thread. It is a very laid back and relaxed port with only one ferry docked at a time (not 50? loading lanes like Dover!) and one might say charming and quaint, even if a bit Mickey Mouse. It's popular with lorry drivers as the 4 hrs of the crossing count as 'rest' hours.
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You're most welcome, glad to have helped.
Just out of interest, I'd suggest you look at the dimensions they quote for your caravan. Ours is tiny, at just over 2m wide, 5m long overall, and the pop-up roof pops down to make it only 2m high. So I queried when they stated on the form that it was 5m x 4m. Came the reply that this was the correct dimension for the caravan. So be it, officialdom has spoken!0 -
and found the following text so have passed on the informaation;
20% off Newhaven-Dieppe crossings for students under 27, young people under 25, people over 60 & those with a disability card.
Well I'm blowed; you're quite right. I must admit I haven't looked on their website for that info for a while except to direct friends to the discount but in the end I've just told them to book by phone and ask for it. I think it must be a fairly recent thing and I've noted that their website which always was a bit clunky and basic has been revamped this year. On Monday when I phoned to make a booking I was surprised when the young lady actually asked me (for the first time ever) if I qualified for the discount so it's no longer such a 'secret' !!
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The discount still applies as my sister booked last week for travel in 3 weeks time.
The prospect of a discount would be nice but unfortunately living in Ireland our route is Dublin - Cherbourg with Irish Ferries at a cost of over €700 !! Still we won't need to worry about passport control and customs like some people will in a few months time
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20% discount for over 60s passengers still applies [traveled 0530 crossing from Dieppe on Monday 24th Feb] and, if you time the crossing properly, you can stop in Newhaven Town Centre Car Park and nip through the passageway to Horace's Fish Bar [operated by Dave ...] for a Pensioner's Special Fish and Chips ... And, even better, Dave will fill your flask with hot water so you can make fresh coffee en route for those of us traveling back to the frozen north ...
Steve
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