Ferry Crossing
Discussion
Portsmouth-Le Havre with LD Lines is a good deal cheaper than Brittany to Caen, though still a jump from prices on the Dover routes. You also get what you pay for out of Portsmouth - if you just want basic ferry/beds/service go LD. If you want a boat that's had more than a lick of point since it was launched in the 1950s (and food you can eat) go Brittany.
I go LD - and eat before I board!
I go LD - and eat before I board!
I use LD ferries all the time since I live in Portsmouth, over 20 times this year. Book sleeper seats or go the extra and have a cabin. Just under 2 & half hour easy drive from Le Harve to Le Mans and you get there for 8am. Or take the toil free route which takes about an hour or so longer.
johnhere said:
I use LD ferries all the time since I live in Portsmouth, over 20 times this year. Book sleeper seats or go the extra and have a cabin. Just under 2 & half hour easy drive from Le Harve to Le Mans and you get there for 8am. Or take the toil free route which takes about an hour or so longer.
Agreed, I don't have any problems with the sleeper seats, and sometimes the food is OK too, certainly a lot better than I tried to eat a meal on a P&O boat!We're on Speedferries this year, but then we're only a couple of hours from Dover.
PapaBear said:
Worth doing??
Definitely! I've never used it for Le Mans but I drove to Nantes last year for the rugby and it's a really good crossing. If you get time try and factor in a fly by visit to St Malo. We got there about 9am, had breakfast inside the abbey walls and wandered round before the coach loads of tourists arrived. Makes for some spectacular pictures on the causeway aswell.We do it every year going on Tues night 23.45 and landing at 07.00. We normally get to Houx annex by midday wednesday. Well worth the extra because the total mileage from Bristol to Le Mans and back is 500 miles as opposed to 1000 miles via Dover, a saving of 500 miles in a car that does 13-16 mpg (approx £175), and a good night's sleep.
I've got the prices from LD, the same time as Brittany, Tues 23:00 overnight
£255.50 return! That's less than £65 each!
Brittania Ferries is another £200 extra. The price difference suggests that either BF is a rip off or LD is s
te.
LD is looking very tempting.
Hoping to book it this week.
P
£255.50 return! That's less than £65 each!
Brittania Ferries is another £200 extra. The price difference suggests that either BF is a rip off or LD is s
te.LD is looking very tempting.
Hoping to book it this week.
P
Booked again with LD, pompy to Le Havre for next year. Worked well last year, sleeper seats are fine as long as you remember to put shoes on before walking to the toilet. Its really hard to sleep with wet socks on, when you're wondering what made them wet!
Food was no worse than motorway service stations, but the beers fine!!!
Go for it, there's a good crowd on the boat with plenty of banter and its better than all that driving to and from Dover.
Food was no worse than motorway service stations, but the beers fine!!!
Go for it, there's a good crowd on the boat with plenty of banter and its better than all that driving to and from Dover.
I should have booked mine when you did - the standard Bilbao crossing was £265 today (but £280 cos I fancied a window).
Having used both BF and LD for some time I'd highly recommend LD. They use old P & O ferries, the cabins are fine (if you get one with a shower en suite anyway) and the food good enough. Even in midwinter they are much cheaper than BF who just seem to rip us off. LD are also starting a new line Boulogne Dover too.
I heard rumours of discounts with owners clubs and such on LD Lines. I'm going with a bunch of people next year, probably 8 cars in convoy, but most of them will have two people in them (either because they are 2 seaters, or they'll be full of gear for the two seaters, and because we want a nice big camping plot). This makes the Pompey to Le Havre ferry seem a bit pricey though - £232 return per car for sleeper seats on the way out only, split two ways. Think the Dover-Calais ferry was less than half that, same for the Chunnel. Is it worth paying the extra, or can it be booked cheaper than I've been quoted?
Look at the distance from Calais to Le Mans (300 miles) and from Le Havre (160 miles) the ferry crossing is either 1.5 hours or 5 hours. You pay for the convenience and the distance both travelled and saved. Arriving at Le Havre fresh in the morning or arriving at Le Mans knackered - your choice! That is of course not forgetting the petrol and car wear and tear.
Gassing Station | Le Mans | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff