Non-existent ferry discounts
Comments
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Geejay, that's what we found with our crossing. CC just couldn't help at all no mater what 'holiday package' we suggested.
I've heard it mentioned that BF have a monopoly on the Spanish crossings so can charge whatever they like but we were just disappointed that CC couldn't help us in any way (despite their advertised discounts).
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Boff, my thoughts exactly!
Plus, the ferry should be relaxed and with enough space to stretch legs and do/see things other than the back of a headrest I'm hoping the kids will be fine.
Both me and my wife are ex-Merchant Navy so 24 or 30 hours on a ship should be quite a jolly, and I'm sure we'll have both sailed on much worse than BF (even economie class, shock horror!).
We traveled Portsmouth Bilbao out and Caen Portsmouth back The outward ferry was smooth, the return ferry was so calm we moaned! I never book anything but my other half was looking into ferries for next year, I like to get one holiday out of the way before planning another! But on sample dates she was trying the Economie ferry was working out more expensive than the standard one. Have to get her to look again.
Re the kids the boat had quite a good play area and some sort kids club entertainer, as I said the only downside was the cabin was small and we had upgraded.
People will think I don't like driving this not the case I need to put an expenses claim for the 381 miles I drove yesterday, I just don't see it as part of the holiday, I felt that the ferry was. We may go next time in a force 10 and have completely different opinion
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Okay, I'm going to show my complete ignorance here and put my hand up to ask a question, what is an ITX package?
ITX = Independent Tour Excursion. A package of ferry + campsite, or ferry + camping cheques - which on some routes at some times is considerably cheaper than buying each item separately.
Thanks, it all becomes clear now.
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@MattyMayo You said you had a friend who could give you the Friends discount code, so I hope you got that. Maybe he could add you as an Associate and you would get the same 30% discount etc. If you were going to be a frequent user it would help.
Yes, they have a monopoly, but they also take a lot of freight as well. We travel in the winter and a lot of lorries and containers get loaded as well, so I suppose they can't charge too much or they'd lose that business.
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If you do decide to go on a Western Channel crossing again Val the answer is to spend a night in "spitting distance" of Portsmouth. We are much closer than you but wouldnt ever trust UK traffic on deparure day and so we bite the bullet and spend an expensive night on a club site like Morn Hill or Rooksbury Park even though it has to come off our RP total,its just too risky
We come from Scotland and we give ourselve plenty of time to get there, stopping off in Shropshire to visit relatives (cheaper than anexpensive campsite
) and with the ship sailing in the evening we still set off early in the morning in case of one of those horrendous queues after an accident I keep hearing on the travel news. Where I live congestion is 3 cars waiting at a junction. We get to Port Solent Marina early afternoon and wander about for a few hours. Boring, but no stress.0 -
As ValDa says we are lucky to have Plymouth just 37 miles away but have used most other routes and experienced tha issues that she and others have mentioned. On three trips we decided that late evening/overnight was best. Twice the route we used was closed
for repairs, once the M25 with diversions through Reigate at 2am, and the third our ferry was cancelled due to bad weather. Having said that we almost missed the ferry from Plymouth after getting caught up in an accident less that 20 miles from the port but
it seems reasonable to assume that the further you travel the more chances there are of a hold up arising.0 -
But you live in Cornwall, so it makes sense to use the western crossings. Both times we've tried we've had a very 'scary' time trying to get to our booked crossing in time, and the last time we were initially refused a sailing and told we've have to come
back on Tuesday (two days later) for the next sailing with 'free caravans'. Only the intervention of a more sympathetic check-in clerk allowed us through.So, for us, from Yorkshire, it's Dover every time. If you miss one crossing, or are seven hours early, or five hours late (both events have happened) you're put on the next available crossing.
We may (eventually) try a western crossing again but if it goes wrong again this time I'm afraid that will be the very last time. Traffic, motorway problems all the way from Yorkshire, and 'events' such as Silverstone all conspired to make us late - and
it's no joke with children in the back (ok a long time ago) and a deadline to meet!If you do decide to go on a Western Channel crossing again Val the answer is to spend a night in "spitting distance" of Portsmouth. We are much closer than you but wouldnt ever trust UK traffic on deparure day and so we bite the bullet and spend an expensive
night on a club site like Morn Hill or Rooksbury Park even though it has to come off our RP total,its just too riskyWe've never done that David - and it's unlikely we'll be using the western crossings again now, as we have a son who lives in London and stop overnight there, before heading off. This year we took out a Frequent Traveller subscription with Eurotunnel, and
our crossings are costing just £43.00 each way plus a supplement for the cat.I'm just about to book our return from France, once we decide just when this lovely weather might end!
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