Costs of Crossing the Channel

peedee
peedee Club Member Posts: 9,382 ✭
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edited February 10 in Overseas Campsites & Touring #1

For a long time now I have always used Le Shuttle, back in 2018 the return journey cost £220. The same journey this year will cost £320, £40 more than last year and £100 more or 17 percent above the inflation rate since 2018. Have the ferry cost risen by similar amounts?

peedee

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  • Hja
    Hja Club Member Posts: 846 ✭✭
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    edited February 10 #2

    I think the general view is that the ferries are cheaper. I did read somewhere that eurotunnel was keeping domestic vehicle costs high to encourage more freight. No idea if true.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,382 ✭
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    edited February 10 #3

    I did read somewhere that eurotunnel was keeping domestic vehicle costs high to encourage more freight.

    I find that difficult to believe, they are different trains for a start and at the times I use they have rarely been full.

    peedee

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,299 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 10 #4

    Our St Malo BF return sailing has increased by 3.5% like for like on 2023 prices.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,382 ✭
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    edited February 10 #5

    That is good compared to the 15 percent increase of Le Shuttle price. I have been looking at some other cost (it is another wet miserable day here) and I might start a thread on those later. Some are not what you would expect!

    peedee

  • eribaMotters
    eribaMotters Club Member Posts: 1,193 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 10 #6

    Peedee,

    costs have gone up across the board and the later you book the greater the price rise. To give you an idea, last year we booked early as usual and travelled on Newhaven-Dieppe for what would have been about £220 return with the over 60's discount. I met somebody on the campsite who had paid £700 return on the same crossing.

    As a comparison on prices, I posted this a couple of weeks ago:-

    Looking at late August out, late Sept back we are 2 adults with car and caravan.


    Brittany Ferries Plymouth to Roscoff crossing - night out with cabin, midday back = £520 inc friends and family disc’


    Brittany Ferries - Poole to Cherbourg crossing - 08:30 out and 18:15 back = £423 inc friends and family disc’


    DFDS - Newhaven to Dieppe crossing - 09:30 out and 12:00 back = £263 - 20% over 60’s disc = £210


    Eurotunnel - Folkstone to Calais - Typically £520 return

    Colin

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,828 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 10 #7

    By comparison flights are so cheap.

    The single fare with WizzAir from London to the Mediterranean at Nice is only £18 p.p in May. It’s the reason why younger people like my own children always fly and rent rather than outlay something like £50,000 for a big car/ caravan or a motorhome.

    And if I were starting again that’s exactly what I would do.

  • Dave Nicholson
    Dave Nicholson Forum Participant Posts: 408
    edited February 10 #8

    I always book the tunnel as early as possible, typically 9 months ahead for more or less the same crossing dates and times each year.  I’ve just looked at the costs over the last few years:

    The percentage cost increase between 2019 and 2020 was +33% (this significant increase was probably because I was unable to book early due to uncertainty over Covid19 travel restrictions)

    Between 2020 and 2021 the increase was +5.6%

    Between 2021 and 2022 the decrease was -16%

    Between 2022 and 2023 the increase was +13%

    Between 2023 and 2024 then crease was +6%

    In simple terms the % increase in tunnel costs for us between now and pre-Covid19 is just under 42%.

  • Kasspa
    Kasspa Forum Participant Posts: 359
    edited February 10 #9

    Last May, I paid £275, Newhaven - Dieppe for 2 adults, this August I have paid £253 for 3 adults + 1 child.....

    Happy with that.....

  • AGOG
    AGOG Forum Participant Posts: 58
    edited February 11 #10

    I booked van+car on Newhaven/Dieppe about a month ago which cost around60%  of any Dover/Folkestone crossings available then. I see Irish Ferries have now joined the fray and are costing about what I have paid. I wonder how they would fare now?

  • lesandang
    lesandang Forum Participant Posts: 243
    edited February 16 #11

    if anyone is looking to book P&O Dover /Calais it is much cheaper to book direct just now than via the club.

  • easyonthegas
    easyonthegas Forum Participant Posts: 53
    edited February 16 #12

    As a regular traveler across the waterway that separates the UK from our holiday destinations, I know that all ferry costs have risen by 20-30% over 5 years, especially when booking close to the holiday date. All transport costs have risen as the fuel prices have gone up (which you will all recognise from pump prices) but the ferries must now burn only gas oil (what motorists call diesel) rather than the cheaper grade fuels they did before 2020. These emission controls are EU wide, and on coastal USA, and other protected areas.

    The prices are not going to fall - so no point waiting - go now!!

  • allanandjean
    allanandjean Forum Participant Posts: 2,401
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    edited February 17 #13

    Hi PD, saw this and thought "if only"!!

    BC-before covid-booking an ITX fare, via the club, with site vouchers and a BF ferry from Plymouth was near enough half the price of booking direct with BF.

    My 2019 June out July back Plymouth to Roscoff with 4 site vouchers was £355.20.

    My 2023 May out June back, same route with 4 vouchers was £585.20.

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,958 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 17 #14

    Had a look at that but I found CAMC cheaper.

    Just done a booking for April out, June back, Dover to Calais return 7m MH £195 with P&O through the club.

    Which is only £30 more that going the tunnel 1 way. 

    In the past I've just Tesco vouchers for the tunnel but I don't have enough at the moment. 

    I could have saved £33 if I had bought 4 site night vouchers but we wouldn't use them so not a saving as they cost £87.

    Thought about coming back Rotterdam Hull but at £350 one way I'll  pass on that, it does cost £250 + in fuel and OH doesn't mind driving.

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,958 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 17 #15

    Booked the ferry on Friday, paid in full and got a booking ref. So far no email confirmation and nothing in bookings. Do they still send a confirmation and if so how long should it take please.

  • lesandang
    lesandang Forum Participant Posts: 243
    edited February 18 #16

    I'd check it out tomorrow Tammygirl, we have made a booking today,have received email confirmation and it's showing in "My Bookings". Hope you get it sorted.

  • TobyLeeds
    TobyLeeds Forum Participant Posts: 146
    edited February 18 #17

    Looking back Dover Calais out and back booked early (November) with P & O.

    2013 booking mid week mid August sensible times (10.30) back 1st Saturday in October  15.00  £166.75p

     

    2024 P & 0 (booked early Dec 2023) 

    same days, same sailing times same length car, same caravan, same O H !!! Price £408  

    I make this 146% inflation. 

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,958 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 18 #18

    Thanks, just checked 'My Bookings' again and it now in there, very strange.  Goodie can now book my sites for the journey down ☺️

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,958 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 18 #19

    That seems a heck of a price, I booked ours the other day to go out April back June, MH, times of crossing is 13.45 and  15.50  £195 return.

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