Club Ferry booking
HI over year ago the club redesigned there ferry booking website, and for me it caused much confusion. I will keep to my particular regular route to the continent as a example but I would imagine the flaw in the booking system is probably running right through the system. I booked just after Christmas in 2020 so no probs with Covid at that time.My route is the overnight crossings both ways Harwich to The Hook of Holland which requires you to book a cabin. The problem was that the price quoted for the return trip with cabins that first comes on your screen was over £500.00 and at that point you panic and look for alternatives, so foolishly I booked A Ferries at £298.00 I say foolishly because they have really bad reviews when you come to look into why you can not get hold of them etc. I later found out that the clubs price included a very spacious cabin with two seperate beds, drinks, and all the luxury of a top end Captains Class luxury abode. After the shock on, if you get to the next page you are then asked if you wanted to upgrade your cabin, I think it should read downgrade. What I am trying to get at is that the silly pricing still appears this year and only because I have encounted this problem before have a I got a good price through the club this year. Why would anybody put a highly inflated price in front of a customer who is almost always looking for the best price, and how many customers just turn away thinking they are being ripped off. As a rule of thumb anybody in the travel industury always puts their best from price, and then you update, as anyone else come across these flaws in the booking site when they have booked on other routes, I did inform the club of this problem and even had a representative telephone me and promise to sort it. My advice is always try to speak on the phone to one of the friendly team.
Comments
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I too never found overnight ferry booking though the Club very clear - often cheap but not saying exactly what you are getting , so I would always start with the ferry company website itself .
The Stena booking page for that route from Harwich shows you prices for three grades of ticket (premium, standard and economy) whereas the Club doesn't point out which of those three tickets they are offering. The ferry company then shows separate prices for eight different types of cabins - with pictures of each and details of bed sizes - and again the Club does not show that.
Once you have decided what you want then you can make the phone call to the Club and ask for a price comparison.
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A few interesting replies here. It would seem that it only affects this route maybe, and the other reply that states that the club does not point out which ticket is on offer. The old web site stated that you were offered the middle option ticket not the basic and they were actualy pushing this as a selling point at the time. The fact that you might need to check the Stena official website to see the proper picture says it all really, that the relatively new club website is inferior to the old, but thats progress.
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We too have also booked many overnight crossings, with BF, and the price always includes an inside 2 berth.
When pricing this years now abandoned trip the price quoted included a cabin both ways.
As Euror advises we usually do the research then call to book.
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It would be good if a person from the club would answer the original concerns on here I suppose they have bigger things to worry about but I am not the only one to have voiced concerns about the website booking system and yes when a new system comes on stream they are teething probs and folk that have got used to the old system may complain but my complaint about stating your cheapest price first is very valid why cant they tweak the system, it is their interest to do so. I wont hold my breath, because I dont think this club takes a great deal of notice I am very disapointed, as when I first joined they were very helpfull and we are in a pandemic, but with possible light at the end of the tunnel, shouldnt they be looking to get out of the traps first.
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SP, I suggest you contact the club direct with your concerns as this forum is not monitored regularly by staff and is predominantly for discussion purposes.
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Just did a quick price check, as the site seems to be running OK at the moment, and as most have said the price that comes up quotes the cheapest cabin and gives the option to upgrade later.
Upgrading to a Captains class cabin add £55 to the price.
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Hi david, no idea what the starting price is just that the upgrade cost £55.
When on BF we have often had little choice, with the 2 berth outside appearing to go early on, ending up with the usual 2 berth inside.
A few years back we were late booking and had to pay out for a larger outside cabin as we took two of the grandchildren.
They still laugh at my reaction on waking as, looking out of the window, I realised that we were actually alongside in Roscoff and not, as I had presumed, an hour off as that was what I had set my alarm for..............or so I thought.
I have on three occasions now set my alarm for an hour before arrival, to allow time to shower dress etc, but forgotten that French time is an hour ahead!
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We’ve booked them this September. Last time the extra perks were quite good. Decent beds, continental breakfast in your cabin, fruit bowl, non alcoholic mini bar, a box of my favourite macaroons and a booked table in the restaurant. That was on the Bretagne St Malo run. Hope it hasn’t changed.
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Hi David, just had a look at prices for my now sadly ditched May crossing from Plymouth.
Inside 2 berth is £55, an outside is £65 which is what we would book.
To get the perks that you and SteveL mention you are looking at £121 or, if you want to add a balcony, £169.
My spend would be on a £65 cabin and £104 in the restaurant!!
Oh, and maybe an alarm clock to make sure I do wake up on time!
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Hi David, and if doing a day crossing, where the price is less, or a Spain trip I might do the same.
But, the timings of our usual crossing, 2030, means that after boarding, chucking bag in cabin, getting to restaurant and having a meal its time for bed and then up and off with breakfast stop 2 hours later.
Only real variation to this is if the restaurant is full and then we reserve a table, have a walk around and then and head for the bar!
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Like A&J, I've been caught out on time zones. Did a little jolly on the old QE2 but upon return altered my watch in the wrong direction. Got up on deck to a beautiful sunrise entering the Eastern Solent, wondering why no-one was about until I looked at one of the ship's clocks to discover it was only about 04:30.
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Reassuring to know I'm not alone.
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