2022 Ferry Pricing
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One possibility with ferry pricing/capacity is that UK ports could be starting to lose out as new routes direct from the Republic of Ireland to the Continent are opening up reducing the number of trucks using the channel routes from the UK? Just a thought!
David
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Just noticed that Irish Ferries operate a Dover/Calais service and that they take Tesco points. So that is two companies on that route (Irish and Eurotunnel) where you can use £5 of Tesco points against £15 of the fare; so £100 of Tesco points gets you a £300 fare.
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David
That seems a strange thing for the CEO to say as my understanding was that, long ago, Brittany Ferries came into existence in order for French farmers to get their produce to the UK market? The popularity as holiday routes seems to have been a lucky accident!!!
David
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commeyras,
check the small print on the Tesco vouchers. Different operators have different maximum limits on what you can cash in per leg of your trip. £35 in vouchers for £105 of travel is fairly common, whilst for Irish Ferries it is £25 in vouchers for £75 of travel per leg.
Another odd one is you cannot start a Eurotunnel crossing from France on the voucher scheme.
On a side note. If you travel via DFDS then an over 60's discount of 20% is available if you phone your order through. I think the 0330 587 8787 number is subject to a 13p per minute charge though, unless somebody knows different, With the 20% it undercuts the C&MC prices.
Colin
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I used to work overlooking Millbay Docks and the early traffic consisted mainly of lorries full of cauliflowers. I think the rosy glow was a pongy whiff😀
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Slightly OT but-Tinster whilst I see you are you booking for up near Scandinavia next year on a big tour?🤔
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Undecided as yet, Rocky. All sorts of things are under consideration but thanks for asking.
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Hi David, As AD says the BF CEO made the point that as 85% of their business, as I recall it, was holiday traffic they would struggle to continue with the travel restrictions in place at the time he made the statement.
Also, agree with AD that the loss if the van goes free has influenced the cost comparisons for routes to France versus Spain or a mix of the two and certainly for us if we head East to Italy it likely won’t start with a crossing to Roscoff as on my last online quite it’s £300 more than we paid in 2019.
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The 'caravan goes free' offers always seemed to be really good, for caravaners, often making a 12m car/caravan combo cheaper than a 6.5m MH...most unfair
you can see how much a 8,9,10m MH has to pay for taking up the same deck space....a lot.
however, our January crossing to St Malo (Poole not running till April) at £250 compares against last time's £150 to Cherbourg...however, we get to be 150+ km closer to our destination and the ferry time gets us there after breakfast rather than after lunch, so several hours extra daylight to make use of that head start.
prices were always going to move following Covid/Brexit, we just have to be as canny as we can to get the best deals for each of us....not long now...👍
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Of course, you're right about the ungodly hour and how the incentive was probably needed....
it didn't worry us too much as the cost from Poole always seemed reasonable.
a bit further for us to travel to Portsmouth (+40 mins) but I can now have the damp check done on our departure day (evening sailing) so that saves a separate journey...4hrs, 200 ml there and back.
all in all, this might turn out to be beneficial alternative.
..downside is I won't get to have breakfast on the seafront with CY👎
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Hi AD&BB, The latest time of arrival for us from Plymouth was 1900 and we always stayed at Trologot.
After BF changed the Pont Aven crossing to a Thursday evening it went to the top of our crossing choices as it leaves at 2030, meaning a meal can be taken and a half decent sleep had before a perfect 0800 arrival for a full day in the road…………think I am talking myself back into it!!
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Allan, the site at Trologot looks great...just nudged me into reminding myself that we need to 'do a stint' in Brittany...perhaps on the way home next April..
The Pont Aven timings look very similar to ours from Portsmouth to St Malo, time for dinner, a good kip, breakfast and then a full day travelling...
amazing as it seems, I reckon we will get a bit south of Bordeaux on day 1...
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BB wrote "..downside is I won't get to have breakfast on the seafront with CY"
Probably just as well. I'd be a bit ill-humoured as you'd be sneaking off to the sun and I wasn't.
AD wrote "I still have the discount membership with P&O dating back to shareholder deals"
Me too but I haven't found that I get any benefit as the price seems the same for 'Joe Public'
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Same feelings re Caen. Made even worse going out by the hour change, worked out very expensive per hour for the cabin and I didn’t feel particularly rested for a days drive. We preferred St Malo out and Caen back, as at least then the hour worked for you. Plus, when tenting we used to park in the car park, go for a meal in a local restaurant and then join the queue when they started check in. St Malo was never that good for back when tenting, as so few night sailings. Although now we have a MH that’s just what we are going to do, straight off the boat and to Rookesbury Park.
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We haven't don't answer overnight crossing since we did Bilbao and Santander a fair few years back...having abandoned the Dover crossings as 'too far to drive' (although we did return via Tunnel once 'to try it'...still too far to drive home)...but those long crossings were pretty expensive..
this led us to Poole-Cherbourg which was handy from home and not too long a crossing...
now with this not running till April I looked again at heading directly to Spain but they are still 'not cheap'...the St Malo crossing, for us, seemed to have a lot going for it..
the convenience of doing the damp check in Portsmouth on the same journey, the reasonable leaving time (fits well with dinner etc..) and the useful arrival time giving us an extra half day head start on a long journey that been shortened by 150+ km over Cherbourg...lots of wins there...
suits us and may become the go to crossing....we will see...
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BB said
however, our January crossing to St Malo (Poole not running till April) at £250 compares against last time's £150 to Cherbourg...however, we get to be 150+ km closer to our destination and the ferry time gets us there after breakfast rather than after lunch, so several hours extra daylight to make use of that head start.
The advantage St Malo has, is you get a nice cabin and a good sleep, so the £100 extra isn't bad £65 of that for the cabin. That means you pay £35 more to get an extra 150 + km nearer your destination
win win.1 -
We usually sleep in the van on the dock when using Poole...wake up, drive straight on to ferry...but the main advantage will be the 5-6 hrs 'head start' we get on our journey south, giving us three whole days (rather than 2.5) to get to Benicassim...
usually, it would be getting dark by Nantes, so that would be the first stop..from St Malo we will be beyond Bordeaux by tea time...thats a huge difference.
relatively easy drive from there to Irun, for coffee (rather than the 2nd overnight), Olite for lunch and then on to La Almunia de la Donna Godina and the new aire there for the second night.
the drive then to Bonterra is just over 3 hrs...
shame the new tyre rules have prevented us from trying the Somport....
BTW, I must let my pal know as he uses that route...
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I think I've mentioned it before
but coming from Scotland it doesn't really matter where we get a ferry its always going to be a bit of a drive.Newcastle to Amsterdam is the nearest 4hrs but if going to the South of France or Spain a bit of a drive on the other side.
Hull to Rotterdam (Zeebrugge no more) 7-8 hrs great for northern Europe but again a bit of a drive if going South.
Harwich to Hook we don't like as its not where we want to be and getting to Harwich is a pain, the timings of crossing don't suit either.
Dover requires either 1 or 2 night stopovers depending on time of crossing. Again great for northern Europe. We've recently just used the tunnel both ways and been to Spain. It suited us fine in that when we set off we didn't have a destination in mind. It just evolved as we toured. In winter though it might be a bit of a drag.
Haven't done Newhaven but it would require 1 or 2 nights stopover and timings aren't great.
Portsmouth to St Malo, we like, timings are good going out if a bit pricey, not so great for coming back. Requires at least 1 night stopover.
Portsmouth to Caen, not done going but have used it many times coming back. if its the morning coming back we can get home with just 1 stopover.
Portsmouth to Santander/Bilbao, depending on timings its at least 1 night stopover usually 2. Expensive but if weather good enjoyable. The benefit is it gets us where we want to be (Spain) with a break from driving in between.
Plymouth to Roscoff, used it a couple of times and like it. Its a 2 night stopover when towing but could manage it with 1 night if using the MH and leaving home a bit earlier. We have taken the Pont Aven crossing as the timings are a bit better. Not used it coming home just going.
When we take in cost of fuel and campsites coming and going, there really isn't an awful lot of difference in any of the crossings for us. Time isn't usually a factor as we are not in a hurry. OH hates being idle so for him the tunnel crossing was great. Doesn't make much difference to me as he does all the driving.
I think its the initial shock when you see the price of the long crossings. Especially for us as we have that 2 day drive and stopover getting to/from the port.
Personal choice but I don't like the mad dash, I prefer the take your time and tour. We haven't done a winter trip to the sun yet maybe that would change my mind
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After several years of the caravans go free and the resultant late night pitching and early morning leaving at/from les Pommiers we've gone soft and now have overnights - usually still Portsmouth - Caen - with an overnight cabin as said. Absolute luxury, and for us living in the (English) midlands we can leave home late afternoon / early evening and are back by mid-day so saving a lot of wasted time in the UK. Pluse the eraly morning start into France is great and allows for a substantial first day.
Expensive yes but worth it to us.
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Its the hanging around on a day ferry that OH doesn't like
for him its about maximising the time idle. So night crossing, day driving we've tried day cabins when using Caen to Portsmouth but usually just to get away from all the 'students' running around the ship.In an ideal world it would be St Malo or Plymouth crossings going out to France or Spain.
Coming back Portsmouth, short drive up to Old Sarum to see the kids & Gkids on the way up. Then overnight again in the Pennines to see the other lot.
It has to be Hull - Rotterdam when going east though.
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Yes, I can see the hanging around thing...you might as well be moving while you sleep, I guess.
the change to the St Malo route will certainly do this for us...add in the other pluses ive mentioned earlier and what's not to like...👍
certainly looks like we've given anyone new to 'European ferries' the complete overview between us,!
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