Stocky Posted November 8, 2004 Share Posted November 8, 2004 Just received an email from Brittany Ferries re their 2005 schedule. No mention of Le Havre so be interested where those Ferries go.Highlights for 2005 include:Two new high-speed services - Portsmouth to Caen and Portsmouth to Cherbourg, providing up to two return sailings a day from mid-March New Portsmouth to Cherbourg classic ferry service from Jan to March Bretagne to operate on the Plymouth to Roscoff route, providing even more comfort and capacity All we need to see is how they price it. Brochure available end November. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David584 Posted November 8, 2004 Share Posted November 8, 2004 I have just checked the BF websiteRoutes show are:Portsmouth to CaenPortsmouth to St MaloPortsmouth to Cherbourg NEW! for Spring 2004Poole to CherbourgPlymouth to RoscoffPlymouth to SantanderCork to Roscoff I then did a test booking for mid week travel to St Malo with an outside cabin to check the cost. This is what I got backPrice Breakdown Outbound FerryNumber PriceVehicle and Passengers 135.00 GBPOutside 2 berth cabin with shower and WC1 49.00 GBP Inbound FerryNumber PriceVehicle and Passengers 111.00 GBPOutside 2 berth cabin with shower and WC1 25.00 GBP Total 320.00 GBPOnline Saving -5.00 GBPOnline Total 315.00 GBP Can someone enlighten me as to why a cabin on the outbound leg is £24.00 dearer than on the return leg?Oh and aren't they generous with their HUGE discount for booking online? Somehow I think not.When I next return to the Brittany/Normandy area, I will be using Speedferries and will enjoy the four drive from Boulogne. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miki Posted November 8, 2004 Share Posted November 8, 2004 When I next return to the Brittany/Normandy area, I will be using Speedferries and will enjoy the four drive from Boulogne.Thanks for the info David but are you sure it takes only 4 hours ? Friends of ours thought they would come that way from Boulogne and took closer to six hours, than 4 hours to the Saint Malo region?For what dates was that BF journey priced, other friends going next week to the UK for just a week are paying just over 500€ for the same type of travel. November and over 500€ what will that make next summers peak fares cost? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted November 8, 2004 Share Posted November 8, 2004 I think you are right Miki, a friend tried to book for family to visit them and said it was over £300 and could only be cut by travelling on Tuesday. We are talking about November, not peak season Boulogne is useless for meA) I'm seasick B)We go for long weekends, too much travelling time, out of the time available.C) We are heading for Quimper, probably an 8 - 10 hour journey D)Surely the chances of Speedferries craft actually running are not so good in the winter months - its a bit like having a £50 bet ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miki Posted November 8, 2004 Share Posted November 8, 2004 Surely the chances of Speedferries craft actually running are not so good in the winter months - its a bit like having a £50 bet ! -------------------------------------Oh I don't know Gay, at least it's only a one horse race although hang on............ I guess it is the craft versus la mer and yep I guess my bullseye would be on the wrongun, so yes, it is like having a bet then !!All I know about fastcraft's is, we have several British guests who arrive here, on the late arrival in to Saint Malo on the Condor "vomit comet" who say never again !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted November 8, 2004 Share Posted November 8, 2004 In the example above I can't see any dates. Some days, e.g. Fridays and Saturdays are more popular, so cabins etc are dearer. It's a simple matter of supply and demand.I'm sure Speedferries suits a lot of people. If I was to use it there would be another six hours on the French side, either way, with road tolls to pay, plus another 200 miles (at English diesel prices) each way on the British side. I have worked it out that I would save just under £20 over Brittany Ferries for most of the days I normally travel. That doesn't account for my time and stress levels, and vehicle wear and tear, or the lottery of whether or not Speedferries is actually running.As I say, the Speedferries service seems to suit a lot of people but it's not for me. I like Brittany Ferries. Because most of my travel is for work, and hence tax-deductible, I don't need to be quite as economical as most other forum users. I also like the chance of shopping at Gun Wharf in Portsmouth before getting the boat, plus having a good rest on the ferry and an excellent meal, rather than extra driving. So no contest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted November 8, 2004 Share Posted November 8, 2004 I wonder if there is an actual way of working out just what the savings(or not) are related to actual jouney miles?For us Portmouth is around 1hour 20mins, via M3. Folkestone probably 2+ hr (hugely variable) plus the stress of the M25.Missing the M25 is worth a few pounds to me too ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stocky Posted November 8, 2004 Author Share Posted November 8, 2004 "I like Brittany Ferries. Because most of my travel is for work, and hence tax-deductible, I don't need to be quite as economical as most other forum users. I also like the chance of shopping at Gun Wharf in Portsmouth before getting the boat, plus having a good rest on the ferry and an excellent meal, rather than extra driving. So no contest."Its allright for you Bill, as I have seen the prices offered by Brittany Ferries to those who live in France. Offers are certainly better than UK. Unfortunately, although I have a daughter living 15 minutes from the Pompey terminal and hate the long run from Calais, I have to take the black lab into consideration. A long haul in the car with regular stops is better than her being on her own in rough weather. Either way we have to contend with the M25.Summer when the Vomit Comets are running is our preference, but for our Xmas visit I'm afraid its the extra cost of Travel Lodge at Dover and Road tolls. Not the cheapest way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 [quote]Just received an email from Brittany Ferries re their 2005 schedule. No mention of Le Havre so be interested where those Ferries go. Highlights for 2005 include: Two new high-speed services - Port...[/quote]Sorry, but I cannot find anywhere that states that there will be a high speed service Portsmouth to Caen. Could you post a link please.Many thanks,Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 If you look at the timetables (e.g. by trying to book) for next April onwards you will see an extra service, Fri Sat Sun only, 0700 from Portsmouth 1230 from Caen. This is the high speed service (though nothing on the site seems to indicate this). By the way, I often check BF's French offers but invariably book via the UK site - the offers from France don't generally suit me. It seems to me to be a myth that you get better offers for journeys starting in France, I reckon it's the other way round. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gillian Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 What is the general view on the Brittany Ferries Property Owners Club? Is it worth belonging to – and, if so, is it better to join the UK branch or the French branch? (We live permanently in France). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hagar Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 Don't know about the French branch but have been a member of the UK branch for 3 years now. We generally cross overnight Porstmouth - St Malo and the membership fee pays for itself in a single crossing.Hagar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 The French equivalent is Cercle Voyageur, offering virtually the same range of benefits for similar fees. I find the Owners Club invaluable, we belonged to it when we had a holiday home and have kept up the membership now we live in France. As to whether it is worthwhile for you, I can't say - you have to do your own sums according to how often and when you travel. I agree though that you can easily recoup the fees on one peak-season return crossing alone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina Posted November 15, 2004 Share Posted November 15, 2004 I phoned B.F. to book some crossings for next year and when I received the confirmations, saw that they were charging £30 for a day cabin (that had been free this year or £5 if you wanted a window!). Also there was a £10 cabin discount (?) for the Whit crossing (always the dearest). When I went online when they finally put the timetable on and checked the same crossings, several were different AND the day cabins were free! Can anyone explain - I haven't rung them to ask them why yet but sometimes there seems to be no rhyme nor reason to their pricing structure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Smith Posted November 16, 2004 Share Posted November 16, 2004 Although they will deny it, BF work a flexible pricing structure like the airlines. We are Property Owners Club members, and although BF crossings are expensive they are pretty civilised if you get a cabin (none of the booze cruisers and smugglers you get on the shorter crossings) and the staff are good. If you choose the crossings (Bill knows the best value ones, I believe) you can travel a lot more cheaply, but like most people we tend to go out on Saturday, back on Sunday a week later - not the cheapest way to do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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