Ferry prices for 2021

C9C9C9
C9C9C9 Forum Participant Posts: 80

I've just booked my 2021 summer ferry trip, and was met by a like for like price hike of £160 for the same travelling period for a return trip to France (same outfit).  I was wondering if anybody has had the same experience. I book direct through P & O not caravan club because I can select standard flexible and include the lounge tickets should I require.

Comments

  • SeasideBill
    SeasideBill Forum Participant Posts: 2,112
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    edited January 2021 #2

    I’ve changed my Brittany Ferries booking (originally booked early 2020 for Oct 2020) three times now and the price on a like-for-like basis is around the same for April & October 2021, so no big price hike with them it seems. Always book direct, never use an intermediary.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited January 2021 #3

    I've got a credit note carried over from last year. I'm wondering how much I will have to add to it when and if I rebook.

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,829 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2021 #4

    I'm sorry to hear of the price rise on a ferry from Dover,  although others are reporting that the tunnel is cheaper than those short sea crossings to Calais at the moment , but I remain puzzled  why anyone feels it necessary to book either of them so far ahead. 

  • allanandjean
    allanandjean Forum Participant Posts: 2,401
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    edited January 2021 #5

    "Today I attempted to re-book my 2020 Covid cancelled trip for August 2021, all requirements were the same Dover - Calais, van, car, people etc etc.. The cost of the 2020 trip was £274.00 the 2021 cost I was given was £534.00!!!. The booking lady said there had been an increase in prices!!"

    The above was quoted on another forum so seems that the level of your increase, as to reasonable or otherwise, will depend on what it was for as the above poster then went on to say it was in August.

    For many the choice of ferry crossing and timing is limited due to many possible factors but, where it is not I think there are still lots who do not do a full comparison.

    In the distant past, pre internet so much harder to do, I would always assume that Dover -Calais was cheapest, which it invariably was on a direct price comparison however, throw in other factors, port location, timings etc, and alternatives became more viable.

    Have not used Dover-Calais for so long I cannot remember when it was with out last short crossings being to Dunkirk which now appears to be even more expensive than Calais.

    The club show the discounted routes on the website and the travel site is now much better to use than it was so worth anyone making a crossing  checking out the alternatives.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,302 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2021 #6

    We have booked with Brittany Ferries direct for September. The price was very similar to the same time in 2019. We didn't book anything last year.

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited January 2021 #7
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • Rufs
    Rufs Club Member Posts: 4,072 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited January 2021 #8

    Not so much as booking early Eurot, for us it is carrying over 2 flexi tickets Portsmouth - Cherbourg and return from last year, currently due to go early April return June, and i actually got a couple of pounds refund, i think because last year we were booked out during the Easter period, this year Easter is begining of April, if we make it fine, if not we have an apartment we can use in Spain so we could fly later, pooch would be ok at daughters for a few weeks if necessary.laughing 

  • allanandjean
    allanandjean Forum Participant Posts: 2,401
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    edited January 2021 #9

    Hi, Whilst we did not book I have the price quotes from the club for this year-ooops,last year 2020, BF Pymouth to Roscoff crossing, and our quote for this year is £65 more for a near identical booking.

    Whilst an increase it seems that the increases on some routes are higher and,for me, yet another reason to consider the longer BF routes.

    I know that some are carrying over bookings form last year but some posters, on other forums, have commented about getting refunds, when faced with large price increases, and going elsewhere.

     

  • TravellingPeacocks
    TravellingPeacocks Forum Participant Posts: 39
    edited January 2021 #10

    We had 2 return ferries booked in 2020, June and September, with P&O  Dover-Calais, booked through the club, these were held as a credit due to not being able to travel. We had paid £200 for each return crossing. Rebooked for June 2021 through the club and it cost £320. They lumped the 2 credits together so didn’t have to pay anything and still have £80 in credit. Had looked at the P&O site before ferries where showing on the club site and it was over £500 for the same crossing. Just see if we get to travel now!

  • C9C9C9
    C9C9C9 Forum Participant Posts: 80
    edited January 2021 #11

    I'd be tempted with the tunnel but I like the +- 4 hours flexibility of P&O ferries in case something goes wrong during a long journey from the South of France.  Further, I don't want to arrive and have nowhere to park (is this a problem with Eurotunnel), I'm curious of your experience with Eurotunnel?  Without semi-flexible booking there would be cheaper options for me.  

    As for why I book so far ahead.  I guess mostly because of the prejoy of it.  I plan long before hand and take a similar route each year so it is easy to book in advance.  The latest I have booked is about March for a July crossing, it didn't affect the prices too much.  I also slowly pay-off the journey by credit card prior to travelling and use the card to further back me should I run into disputes.  

  • C9C9C9
    C9C9C9 Forum Participant Posts: 80
    edited January 2021 #12

    Glad it is not just me!  Mine went from about £330 to £530 but for slightly different dates.  Comparing the exact same booking to last year was the example I give in the initial posting.  I'd expect changes, but this year it is exorbitant.  You can find cheaper for fixed departure times.  

     

     

  • C9C9C9
    C9C9C9 Forum Participant Posts: 80
    edited January 2021 #13

    I did manage to travel last year, but it was challenging. Fingers crossed that this year will be better and that you don't get stung with the price changes!  

  • Kasspa
    Kasspa Club Member Posts: 359 ✭✭✭
    edited January 2021 #14

    I have a booking for 1st - 27th July, P&O, Dover-Calais return £174.30 that was booked through the club in November.....

    Was £30+ cheaper than booking direct but turns out it's not 'flexible'.

    Has a £15 fee for changes.

    However, I've always found that if you turn up early they accommodate you if they have space.....

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited January 2021 #15
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • commeyras
    commeyras Forum Participant Posts: 1,853
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    edited January 2021 #16

    Had an 'interesting' discussion with Eurotunnel yesterday.  I had a return crossing booked for May/Jun last year but because of Covid rearranged for Sep/Oct but again had to cancel because of the situation  and rearranged for Feb, the latest I could.  I had used Tesco points for the cost plus a small top up.  Yesterday called them to rearrange the crossing for the summer.  The cost of the return crossing on the dates I wanted was less than I had paid so I hoped that I would get a small refund but was prepared to accept no refund.  I was surprised that Eurotunnel treated this new  trip as 2 x single bookings and that the cost would therefore increase by £45.  I told them that my original booking had been a return trip and the subsequent changes were also for return trips.  I insisted on speaking to a manager.  I told them him that I whilst I was quite prepared  to pay for any increase in the price of a return trip to treat my booking as 2 x single trips was wrong. He  reluctantly agreed that my new boking could be at the price of the cancelled Feb booking. If I have to rearrange my summer crossing I look forward to another interesting discussion with Eurotunnel.

    My story just for a heads up for anyone with Tesco points booking with Eurotunnel.

  • dawlishpete
    dawlishpete Forum Participant Posts: 16
    edited January 2021 #17

    Same crossing, same cabins same outfit same people...

    ~Sept 2021

    Brittany Ferries £552.15

    caravan club.    £460.80

    Camping and caravanning club. £330.80. 

    search and ye shall find!

  • kevin51
    kevin51 Forum Participant Posts: 7
    edited January 2021 #18

    Interesting comparison dawlishpete, do you have to be a member of the Camping and caravan club to get this quote?

  • allanandjean
    allanandjean Forum Participant Posts: 2,401
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    edited January 2021 #19

    Hi DP, I was surprised by your post as I had seen comments that c&cc travel service was not operating.

    However, using my dates and details c&cc is £355+£20 non member fee making it £375...............exactly same price as club for ferry plus 4 site vouchers which makes ferry cost £295.

  • The Jolly Northerner
    The Jolly Northerner Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited December 2021 #20

    We booked direct with BF as we had a discount code of 10% and sailed 02.01.20 to Bilbao and returned on 03.03.20 at a cost of around £850. I have tried to book the same this year for 2022. 

    They now have a new hybrid ferry covering this route, The Galacia. 

    2 berth cabins are no longer available only 4 berth, but they do include a complimentary continental breakfast and a dinner. Egon Ronay must be preparing it on board as the price has increased by 54% to almost £1,300 😱. 

    Needless to say we will not be using this sailing, its cheaper to drive from France into southern Spain.