Cheap / new ferry company

[pikey]

Just came across www.speedferries.com - a company that says it intends to be an "easyJet" of channel crossings. Return prices for a car and 2 people is £65 - fair bit less than the tunnel.

We shall see how long it stays around!

[Terminator]

Just checked on the prices for the Zolder trip. £50 return on Speedferries vs £99 with P&O. Might give them a try this year.

[Balmoral Green]

MY GOD, I DONT BELIEVE IT !!!

I was feeling cynical, so put in an outward journey with a return the next day, £65.

Then I put the return in for a fortnight later, and was expecting it to come out at several million pounds just like all the other 'rip em off and double the cost for every day they're away', but it was the same, £65.

It doesnt matter when you go, or come back, its £65.

FANBLOODYTASTIC !!!

[pikey]

The article in the times says that it's a similar pricing model to easyJet in that the later you book / the fuller it gets, the higher the price.

The article claims that the big boys have a cartel going on to keep the prices high.

Apparently the boat (there is only 1!) is a catamerang bought from the Australian military! Unusual to say the least!

[Bodo]

About time that there is more competition.
The cheapest fare cost more than twice as much after P&O (?) bought Stena (?) some years ago.

[andy4200]

If you are booking for later in the year, like July, it's only 50 quid.

Next cheapest I had found was 160 quid. I'm glad I never booked anything last week.

Andy

[muley]

Well, me sideways.

Thought my long weekend was a bit pricey with eurotunnel at GBP173 and P&O GBP175 (strange how the prices were so close!!!)

These jokers can do it for 50 quid.

Balmoralgreen - take a bow!!

>> Edited by muley on Monday 10th May 09:48

[puggit]

According to the Times it's an old Australian naval catamaran. Takes 200 cars

Run by a Dane who's fed up with the cross-channel cartel. Allegedly (according to the story in the Sunday Times) the new company are receiving daily threats/problems. They've been threatened that the first time the Cat goes in to Dover harbour it will be rammed Also dirty tricks campaign to dissuade employees and also telling creditors that all payments will be late.

Not nice

[size13]

They only have one ferry - so what happens when that breaks down?

[Terminator]

I've booked my crossing for next month - if it does break down, I'll let you know the outcome.

[racegirl]

I suggest that anyone wanting a cheap ferry BOOK NOW. Got a quote yesterday, £80, went to book it today £95 They must be cottoning on they are cheap!

[igg]

3 of us booked on it for the Le Mans weekend - £40 going out, and £25 coming back - figured that they may go bust, but surely not within a month of the service starting!
Anyway fingers crossed!

[.Mark]

Is it This Lot?

[littlegearl]

put a quote in for a ferry tommorrow at 07:45am and return at 10:00am on friday... £80!!!

must be some mistake! annoyed that it will cost £125 for le mans weekend though!

[raceboy]

.Mark said:

Is it This Lot?

[Balmoral Green]

littlegearl said:

put a quote in for a ferry tommorrow at 07:45am and return at 10:00am on friday... £80!!! must be some mistake! annoyed that it will cost £125 for le mans weekend though!

I think that displays exactly which part of the market they want, same day returns for a tenner? Thats a loss leader and they will leave the day trippers to the 'rip em off' ferry companys who will find that increasingly thats all they cater for, they will lose even more money, may even go under. But for the regular week or fortnight in France customer they can charge a much lower price but still make money, these customers will be their life blood, as these customers are being ripped off hugely at the moment. One customer paying a fair rate for a weeks holiday is worth seven day trippers. I hope they shake up the industry and those who go away for a week or two will no longer subsidise the day tripper. It is so unfair the Mr Family man has to pay several hundred hard earned pounds for their annual holiday whilst Mr Boozecruiser gets the same run for almost free.

[Jarcy]

But I can't take my Caravan over

[tvrmark]

Another new and cheap ferry company are www.transmancheferries.com/

[thegamekeeper]

Has anyone used this company yet and if so was it ok

[WRINKLY]

thegamekeeper said:

Has anyone used this company yet and if so was it ok

Came back from Bologne to Dover on Monday, and must say I was very pleased with the service. I also 'upgraded' to premier class for an extra tenner per person - were the only premier class passengers on the trip - had complimentary drinks, snacks and newspapers - plus we were first on the ferry and first off too! Well worth the extra (IMHO). Will definitely be using them again (travel over to the house four or five times a year, so have tried all of the ferry companies, and this is as good as any other, probably better)