I haven't been on a ferry for ages and since the channel tunnel was completed have either used the tunnel or have flown to France. My abiding images of ferry trips are of struggling to find a seat away from screaming kids or yobs and disgusting toilets. So why did we decide to go on the ferry? Well after going through Eurotunnel, P & O and Seafrance quotes and deciding that we were in no rush and would appreciate a break in our trip from the Midlands to Le Touquet decided that the ferry would give us time for a quick lunch and a potter around the shop.
The tunnel worked out at £162 for our 2 night Friday to Sunday trip with both crossings early afternoon. Seafrance was £100 and P & O were £89. We went with P & O because of the priority loading and club lounge options which we didn't see on the Seafrance site. These options are of course priced extra, £12 for the priority loading and £24 for the club lounge or £30 for both. We went for both, both ways and boy was it a good decision. The costs were for both of us and the website includes the cost as per group. Not sure how large a group they would allow under one cost as there were only two of us traveling.
We were first on and first off the ferry at Dover and Calais. We checked in very quickly and were given a priority boarding card to hang from the mirror and directed to our priority waiting lane. We had time to get a coffee and danish at the cafe next to the loading area and also popped into W H Smith's for last minute stuff.
Although putting a brave face on it I was a bit apprehensive as loads of cars followed us on to the ferry. I had this nightmare thought that I would go the wrong way, everyone would follow me and then 200 cars would all have to back up! As it turned out there were plenty of marshals guiding us on and so it was no problem at all. First on board meant choice of every seat on the ferry. We headed straight for the club lounge on deck 8 and were greeted by a waiter who offered us complimentary champagne. Hot drinks with mini toblerones and biccies were free throughout and a good selection of papers were provided. The lounge was very comfortable with good food and drinks at decent prices served to our table. It was very much like an airportVIP lounge but with fewer complimentary drinks and snacks. The loos were very clean and obviously well maintained. We took a trip to the shop mid voyage and it was like I remembered! people crammed in, looking queasy and queuing, queuing and queuing a bit more. We decided to use the club lounge personal shopping service instead and headed back to our lounge feeling really bad for them...
The crossing was pretty smooth, the offers in the shop were good and all of the staff were friendly and attentive. All in all a good trip and an excellent alternative to the tunnel if you want a break in your journey. At £149 total as compared to £162 for the tunnel the prices were comparable. All you have to do is weigh up the differences: 30 mins on the tunnel, 90 on the ferry. Sit in your car in the tunnel or spread out on leather sofas drinking champagne on the ferry. I know what we will do next time!
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Advantages: Relaxing travel, good price, If you want a cruising taster a good option Disadvantages: Expensive onboard food, innacurate cabin, transfer bus confusion.
likka75 22.08.2008 (22.08.2008)
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Review of P&O Ferries
Nov 18th, 2008
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