Cheap Ferries - gone

[icepop]

Looks like the cheapo Dover-Dunkirk trip, has bitten the dust. Used this route, via Norfolk Line, for the last 4 years, and booking really early, it usually cost about £14 each way. But looking on-line, it appears the recent change of ownership has put the costs up to nearer £80 return.

Hey-ho, good while it lasted.

[lost in espace]

I had the misfortune to take this route this year. We should have booked the eurotunnel crossing which was £50 return, but were too late. The ferries are good but boy its a long crossing and a dreadful drive up to the terminal past Calais.

And when we missed the ferry by half an hour we had to wait about 3 hours for the next one. At least the Calais ferryies come in every half an hour.

Having said that I think it was £35 return.

[redstu]

When did you see eurotunnel at £50 return? I've never seen it anywhere near that, the dover Calais crossing has always been cheaper when I look.

[thebullettrain]

£97 is the cheapest I can find!

[lost in espace]

It was on the main eurotunnel website there was an offer which ran for about 6 weeks until about mid April.

Just found a screen cap and it was £42 each way, £84 return.

Edited by lost in espace on Wednesday 17th August 10:59

[redstu]

lost in espace said:

It was on the main eurotunnel website there was an offer which ran for about 6 weeks until about mid April.

Just found a screen cap and it was £42 each way, £84 return.

Edited by lost in espace on Wednesday 17th August 10:59

Thats not much more than Seafrance to Calais, and far quicker, although very dull!

[Printertosh]

Just a note people. Do yourself a favour and don't go by seafrance. Everytime I fall for their cheap offers I forget what crap service they offer. Bunch of miserable f*ckers! A couple of weeks ago the woman in the shop onboard rolled her eyes and muttered something in french when I produced a crumpled up tenner to pay for a crate of beer. Does she not realise that it had been stuffed away in a pocket of a bag as YOU CAN'T USE POUNDS IN FRANCE! Anyway P&O rule in my opinion even if they're generally a bit more!

[lowdrag]

Not great departure and return times, but you can still do the return at £70 with P&O it saeems.

[Rude-boy]

Oh heck, better look at booking up nowish then as it was £70 in January last year. Problem is not sure that we will be going this year as it looks like I will have to chose between going one place and spending money and going to another where I will make money...

Oh-hum - nice dilemma to have i suppose!

Anyway - If you think that P&O are any better than Seafrance I'm sorry but the only difference we have found is that with SF you have to understand French to understand what they are muttering under their breath.

We went over a few weeks back by P&O. 1 hour queue to get to check in after the customs hut at Dover - No stopping of people who were pushing in via the lorry lane, blocking that eventually. Finally got to book in and as soon as we pulled up the girl looked at us, turned her chair back to us and disappeared for 5 minutes without a word. When she returned she said nothing about that, when asked if there was a computer or other problem causing the queue (very politely) she gave us an earful about how it was just as inconvenient for them as us and no explanation as to the issue at hand.

Yet as soon as we got on the ferry they were their usual happy selves.

When it comes to travel across the channel it isn't so much a question of picking the best way to do it, but the one that meets your requirements closest and is the least st.

[SKID LID]

One way to reduce the cost of a eurotunnel crossing is to use tesco clubcard vouchers. You currently get 3x face value. I just made a crossing that cost £35 in vouchers plus £3 cash (£38 for a £108 crossing).

[gt6]

it was better in passed years when the tesco vouchers were worth 4 times face value, still will use them again this year, tunnel saves hours over the ferries and although boring would rather get down to Le mans 2 hours earlier.

[SKID LID]

I also remember my brother using airmiles for a P&O crossing but I don't know
how many.

[struttob]

Just booked my ferry for the Classic next July LD Lines Portsmouth - Le Havre return £139 which I thought was very reasonable considering Brittany wanted £322 Portsmouth - Caen.

[5potTurbo]

DFDS have increased the fares and made the restaurant food poorer.
I was disappointed when I used that route over the last 2 weekends.

[lowdrag]

I've said it before on other threads, but check the price both sides of the channel, on the .co.uk and the .fr site. I've sometimes saved up to £100 by doing that. Admittedly, the UK is usually cheaper but it has been the other way around sometimes.