Speedferries to France
Discussion
Dunno about ground clearance - I drive a Saab!
I thought the service was fab - I have to say I was worried about it for Le Mans once I found out that they only actually had one boat - isn't that something for Trade Descriptions - shouldn't they be called Speed Ferry??
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We went out on the Saturday before the race (lost track of the date) - we turned up with no booking ref and a roof box that I hadn't booked for. They girl at check in didn't bat an eyelid. The boat loaded promptly and left on time. I was slightly disappointed that there wasn't "proper food" on board but that was only as a greasy breakfast is part of my cross channel tradition. We now have a new tradition of coffee and pain au chocolat!
We docked promptly and followed the signs out of Bolougne - it's more like the old days of getting out of Calais rather than getting out straight onto the Autoroute - I have heard people say it's taken them a while to get out of town but we didn't have any problems at all.
I was particuarly worried about coming back on the Monday, I'd deliberately booked the 9pm ferry as I was concerned that we'd not make the 5.30pm as it always takes forever to get back from LM. I had trouble on P&O a couple of years ago when we turned up with forty minutes to spare for our ferry but the queue was huge as the French were extracting money from Brits who had missed their earlier ferries. By the time we got to check in it was 15 minutes to go and they told us that we were too late - the "closed" sign had actually been up when we arrived with forty minutes to go. It seemed that they had loaded the boat with all of the passengers who had missed earlier boats and hadn't allowed for those who were actually booked on that boat. The next one was full so we had to wait over 3 hours in total which we weren't impressed about having turned up on time in the first place.
So TBH I was expecting a repeat of that - there were clearly going to be loads of people who missed the 5.30 ferry as the 3 hour trip down always turns into 6 or so hours back and I thought it was going to be mayhem. We got to the port with 45 minutes to spare, there was a queue but it wasn't enormous. Got to check in and were given a free upgrade to first class (for reasons I still don't understand!) they loaded us immediately and were the first car off the boat at the end!!
I know there were people who had difficulty getting on when they had missed their earlier ferries, I think TBH - you get what you pay for - if you want some flexibility on a busy weekend you need to book P&O or SeaFrance - if you want to book a £50 return ticket you need to make sure you book realistically and do what you can to get there although clearly there will always be things that cock things up.
Sorry for war and peace on this - definately a big thumbs up for Speed Ferries!
(don't try ringing them though - I made three attempts to ring them the week before we left to tell them about the roof box - gave up after holding for 40 minutes and getting from number 12 in the queue to number 8!!)
I thought the service was fab - I have to say I was worried about it for Le Mans once I found out that they only actually had one boat - isn't that something for Trade Descriptions - shouldn't they be called Speed Ferry??
. We went out on the Saturday before the race (lost track of the date) - we turned up with no booking ref and a roof box that I hadn't booked for. They girl at check in didn't bat an eyelid. The boat loaded promptly and left on time. I was slightly disappointed that there wasn't "proper food" on board but that was only as a greasy breakfast is part of my cross channel tradition. We now have a new tradition of coffee and pain au chocolat!
We docked promptly and followed the signs out of Bolougne - it's more like the old days of getting out of Calais rather than getting out straight onto the Autoroute - I have heard people say it's taken them a while to get out of town but we didn't have any problems at all.
I was particuarly worried about coming back on the Monday, I'd deliberately booked the 9pm ferry as I was concerned that we'd not make the 5.30pm as it always takes forever to get back from LM. I had trouble on P&O a couple of years ago when we turned up with forty minutes to spare for our ferry but the queue was huge as the French were extracting money from Brits who had missed their earlier ferries. By the time we got to check in it was 15 minutes to go and they told us that we were too late - the "closed" sign had actually been up when we arrived with forty minutes to go. It seemed that they had loaded the boat with all of the passengers who had missed earlier boats and hadn't allowed for those who were actually booked on that boat. The next one was full so we had to wait over 3 hours in total which we weren't impressed about having turned up on time in the first place.
So TBH I was expecting a repeat of that - there were clearly going to be loads of people who missed the 5.30 ferry as the 3 hour trip down always turns into 6 or so hours back and I thought it was going to be mayhem. We got to the port with 45 minutes to spare, there was a queue but it wasn't enormous. Got to check in and were given a free upgrade to first class (for reasons I still don't understand!) they loaded us immediately and were the first car off the boat at the end!!
I know there were people who had difficulty getting on when they had missed their earlier ferries, I think TBH - you get what you pay for - if you want some flexibility on a busy weekend you need to book P&O or SeaFrance - if you want to book a £50 return ticket you need to make sure you book realistically and do what you can to get there although clearly there will always be things that cock things up.
Sorry for war and peace on this - definately a big thumbs up for Speed Ferries!
(don't try ringing them though - I made three attempts to ring them the week before we left to tell them about the roof box - gave up after holding for 40 minutes and getting from number 12 in the queue to number 8!!)
We used them and have no complaints at all, on the return leg we were on very early so went to the rear lounge and chatted to a lovely girl (staff) who was watching the cars come on board, she told us the second boat is due in July.
I can only second the sentiments about patience and care in loading the cars, the loaders were happy to let low cars have 2 or 3 attempts at different angles to find clearance and if that failed they have a woven rope thing that they were moving under the wheels to give extra clearance on the ramps.
One last detail was on disembarking, the loader in our area was picking out makes and colours - it doesn't take much to read a badge on a car but when someone says "Black Lotus if you'd like to reverse now" it cuts down on confusion and speeds unload times.
I can only second the sentiments about patience and care in loading the cars, the loaders were happy to let low cars have 2 or 3 attempts at different angles to find clearance and if that failed they have a woven rope thing that they were moving under the wheels to give extra clearance on the ramps.
One last detail was on disembarking, the loader in our area was picking out makes and colours - it doesn't take much to read a badge on a car but when someone says "Black Lotus if you'd like to reverse now" it cuts down on confusion and speeds unload times.
A quick word of warning, give them a call to check your booking well before you go. Luckily someone from our group phoned a couple of days before LM only to find Speedferries had made an error on the bookings and it was on their system for the week before. They tried to blame us but we produced confirmation emails with the correct info. After quite a bit of debate, we eventually got sorted but had to fit in with the sailing times they offered us. Didn't spoil the weekend though and once we were on, the crossing was all fine.
Enjoy the trip.
Enjoy the trip.
couldn't really have been any better
we got to the port at just after 11 for the 11:15 ferry (supposed to be there no later than 10:45) and they fitted us on - last on, one of the first off!
there was alot of nice cars on the way there (Lambos, Ferraris, Caterhams, Lotii etc...) and they were checking them off the boats and up the ramps for groundage...
as it has been pointed out disapointed there was no real food but offset by the short crossing time
boulougne isn't difficult to navigate out of/in to
only problem i saw was a Elise lost his numberplate on return crossing but looked like they were sorting it out for him...
we got to the port at just after 11 for the 11:15 ferry (supposed to be there no later than 10:45) and they fitted us on - last on, one of the first off!
there was alot of nice cars on the way there (Lambos, Ferraris, Caterhams, Lotii etc...) and they were checking them off the boats and up the ramps for groundage...
as it has been pointed out disapointed there was no real food but offset by the short crossing time
boulougne isn't difficult to navigate out of/in to
only problem i saw was a Elise lost his numberplate on return crossing but looked like they were sorting it out for him...
With a Tuscan you should have no problems. I took my Sagaris which is quite low and they were very careful getting it on and off. On the way over they stopped me and brought out some planks of wood to help me drive onto the ferry entrance ramp. On the way back they stopped me again and adjusted the height of the exit ramp to make it as level as possible. I think the grounding problem will be affected by the time of travel because the height/angle of the ramps depends on the tide
WE were on the 9pm ferry back on Monday as well - arrived in Boulogne before 7 so it wasn't a fun stay, but the ferry service was first class. Lots of low sports cars on our boat - we were surrounded by Caterhams when we got back to the car and all seemed to go without a hitch!
Highly recommended and very good value - except the food in that crappy restaurant in Boulogne, that was expensive!
Highly recommended and very good value - except the food in that crappy restaurant in Boulogne, that was expensive!
remal said:
I was going to ask about ground clearence soon. I am going over the ferry next year to Le Mans for the first time but My Tiger only got about 2-4" of ground clearence
SO I was a bit worried I would not be able to get onto the fast ferrys?
The Tuscan has about 4in and it was ok but with care. The worst bit is getting off and then back on in Boulogne where the ramp is a little steeper. I would ask their advice.
We've been over to France a couple of times recently on speed ferries and confirm that if you advise them when you're in the queue that your car has low ground clearance they'll guide you on and off, and make sure that you're parked on the lower level so you can get off the boat as easily as possible.
We did unfortunately have a long delay getting home the last time we went as one of the engines wasn't working and each crossing took longer than it should have. We were due to cross at 9pm, and eventually left at c01.30. That said it did only cost £50 return. Hopefully this shouldn't be too much of a problem when they get Speed Ferry 2.......
We did unfortunately have a long delay getting home the last time we went as one of the engines wasn't working and each crossing took longer than it should have. We were due to cross at 9pm, and eventually left at c01.30. That said it did only cost £50 return. Hopefully this shouldn't be too much of a problem when they get Speed Ferry 2.......
I've had good service from them. When I took the Chim across, on their own initiative they put me and an Elise in a seperate queue so they could check us for ground clearance as we loaded.
A mate had a five hour delay a couple of weeks ago when the boat was having engine trouble. Dunno how much quicker a bigger ferry company would have been able to cope with that.
A mate had a five hour delay a couple of weeks ago when the boat was having engine trouble. Dunno how much quicker a bigger ferry company would have been able to cope with that.
Our boat had engine trouble on the way out to Le Mans too, blown turbo apparently. Had to make the trip on 3 engines, which made us a little late but we were on the first boat in the morning. Can imagine they'd have been well behind by the later ones...
Very impressed by the service though and care the staff took loading the cars though, a nuch of Caterhams seem to get onboard on our return trip without any major drama (straight onto the bottom floor for them) and I saw a group of Tigers in Boulogne that afternoon which I guess must have been on an earlier crossing. I'd think most Seven types would be ok.
Very impressed by the service though and care the staff took loading the cars though, a nuch of Caterhams seem to get onboard on our return trip without any major drama (straight onto the bottom floor for them) and I saw a group of Tigers in Boulogne that afternoon which I guess must have been on an earlier crossing. I'd think most Seven types would be ok.
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