Brittany ferries to Spain,

Brittany ferries to Spain,

Author
Discussion

JONAHHELE

Original Poster:

85 posts

142 months

Friday 18th April 2014
quotequote all
Used them last year and enjoyed the service. Return loading at Bilbao was difficult, especially for low slung sports cars like mine. I fact even quite standard cars had a problem with ground clearance. Was this just unlucky or is it a known risk? Several other passenger muttered never again, must try Santander.
Would be interested in thoughts.
Like the channel tunnel is it better to book as a high vehicle to avoid being put on the upper decks where the pitch on the way down catches front spoilers ?
TIA.

chilistrucker

4,541 posts

150 months

Friday 18th April 2014
quotequote all
Don't know if this helps, but......
I use a fair few ferries in my line of work. All our trucks and trailers are low ride, (running on small wheels and tyres for maximum cube in europe) so in affect, the same as a low slung sports car. Most of the ferries we use, cross channel, Scandinavian, Italy-Greece etc have the problems you describe with the angles of the ramps for loading/offloading. Often I'll have to adjust the air suspension when driving on and off the ferries to save grounding out and damaging the truck and trailer chassis.

AMArchie

269 posts

169 months

Friday 18th April 2014
quotequote all
I'm interested in this topic, as I'm booked to go to and from Santander in July. OP, you imply that the Santander vessel loading / unloading ramps were okay. Was there a specific location where your car was loaded, and I should also aim for?

HumbleJim

26,957 posts

182 months

Friday 18th April 2014
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Interesting. In previous yrs I've always taken a std saloon on the Chunnel. How will I fare with a Merc SL (R129 model)?

blueg33

35,586 posts

223 months

Friday 18th April 2014
quotequote all
No issues on the Santander crossing when we used it for LeMans. My G33 only had 2 and a bit inches under the sump. The Cayman and 993 were also fine.

Wozy68

5,387 posts

169 months

Friday 18th April 2014
quotequote all



Edited by Wozy68 on Friday 18th April 20:54

Wozy68

5,387 posts

169 months

Friday 18th April 2014
quotequote all
Got off and back on many times at.santandar in anything from a motorbike to a porsche Cs and a 993 and had absolutely no.problems.
Only ever got.off a ferry at bilbao and had no.probs there either.
I prefer santander though
Hth

JONAHHELE

Original Poster:

85 posts

142 months

Saturday 19th April 2014
quotequote all
Last time I boarded at Bilbao the crew ended up using ropes and anything else to hand to ease the transition from loading bay to ferry. Looked like the ferry loading platform was very low compared to the ramp. Anyone towing and any sports car had to approach at an angle to avoid grounding. Loading started on time and ended an hour after scheduled departure.
One off maybe?

nick francis

858 posts

260 months

Saturday 19th April 2014
quotequote all
Im sailing Portsmouth Bilbao week next Wednesday with Brittany ferries. Ill be in my 997 GTS, hopefully will embark and disembark without issues. If theres any problem I will try to remember to post back here on my return.

Kneetrembler

2,069 posts

201 months

Saturday 19th April 2014
quotequote all
I regularly use Portsmouth to either Bilbao & Santander, living in Spain & U.K. driving a Corvette C5 and have never encountered a problem, I have mentioned to them on occasion and they have always been more than helpful with loading across the ramps so as to load easily.

The Corvette is very low .

I hope that you get loaded without any problems.

nightflight

812 posts

216 months

Saturday 19th April 2014
quotequote all
I've just booked a return through Santander, and the price seems to have gone up significantly this year (£650). Has anyone else noticed the rise in prices recently. It is a good service though.

Wozy68

5,387 posts

169 months

Sunday 20th April 2014
quotequote all
I'd say it's cheaper.than it.was. I mainly go Plymouth Santander
There is now.another ferry company.running to Spain so I'm assuming Brittany are having to tighten their very fat belt.for a.change.

Kneetrembler

2,069 posts

201 months

Sunday 20th April 2014
quotequote all
Wozy68 said:
I'd say it's cheaper.than it.was. I mainly go Plymouth Santander
There is now.another ferry company.running to Spain so I'm assuming Brittany are having to tighten their very fat belt.for a.change.
Remember they now have their cheaper service without any so called frills, or why not join the "Club Voyage" and get your 30% discount through Brittany Ferries Travel Club

nick francis

858 posts

260 months

Thursday 1st May 2014
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Did the trip as planned, very very quick, left port Wednesday 16:30 and off ship today at 15:30 !

Absolutely no problems with boarding, the ramps were set so well it seemed to be virtually flat as we got on and off.

Cap Finistere was fine but it seemed much less on it than Pride of Bilbao, only one decent restaurant, three smallish bars, no nightclub, no casino,

Now dogs can travel they have kennels and dog runs, only trouble is it freaking well stinks up there on deck 10!


rsv gone!

11,288 posts

240 months

Thursday 1st May 2014
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nick francis said:
Cap Finistere was fine but it seemed much less on it than Pride of Bilbao, only one decent restaurant, three smallish bars, no nightclub, no casino
I found it pitched about more than Pride. I felt seasick most of the return journey.

nick francis

858 posts

260 months

Saturday 3rd May 2014
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rsv gone! said:
found it pitched about more than Pride. I felt seasick most of the return journey.
We were lucky, absolutely flat calm the whole way. Didn't feel like we were at sa at all.

Zed 44

1,242 posts

155 months

Saturday 12th July 2014
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Thinking about going back in September but Brittany Ferries wants circa £800.yikes

Can't get any sense out of LD lines' website. Will have to ring on Monday.

Any (polite) suggestions?