19 replies to this topic

[slartybartfarst]

So having decided this years big trip would be Germany took a look at P&O Hull -Zeebrugge. It's only just over two hours from here to Hull and I've used them before a couple of times. Other choices were Newcastle - Hamsterjam with DFDS or down to Dover, which is a no no. Went online a couple of weeks ago and got a price of £224 each. A bit pricey. Thing is their web booking form won't let you do two adults on two bikes so you can't be sure you end up in the same cabin or if two booking a cabin is cheaper.

Of course the catch is it's more expensive if you don't book online (even if it's the fault of the cr*p website) oh and phoning them costs 10p per minute - so you pay them to pay them...nice. And P&O clearly don't offer much discount to agents as there's nothing out there on the saver websites.

But what has prompted this post is P&Os new quote. Went back online to do two bookings and them call them to ensure we got the same cabin. Only to find even though our departure date is still nearly three months away they now want £267 each. P&O, you can.... (insert long blast on ship's horn around here).... off!!!!

Newcastle here we come.

Chris

Edited by slartybartfarst, 08 March 2011 - 09:53 am.

[Studley Ramrod]

Kin' 'ell eh ! that's a lorra wonga. Think I'll be heading down to Portsmouth.

I were considering the Hull ferry as it's not far from me.

[Favs]

If you decide to use Newcastle....

Is cheaper from the Toon inc. 3 course oily fart dinner than Hell to Zee for crossing alone - 2 passengers & 2 bikes in Sept.
I used the H ferry (an Dover too) a lot many years ago but they is way too dear now - Dover fuel & derrier.

If convenient you could call in to my place for a T n Cake stop on your way (is 30 mins easy ride from ferry terminal at N Shields and only 3 mins from J61 A1M Motorway). You too Studley.
Cheers,
Favs.

[TDMTAM]

I had the same when booking the ferry for my wee trip to Belgium. In the space of 2 weeks the price jumped £60, I tried the newcastle ijmurden (think thats spelt right) with DFDS & their price had gone up as well but not £60. I then tried http://www.cheapferrytickets.com/ as posted by someone on here & ended up getting the DFDS crossing for the original price I seen it for.
TAM

[paddy900]

Here's a wee link you could try for a cheaper deal!!

http://www.anyferry.co.uk/

[catsbum]

When Tony and me were booking IOM Ferry tickets, He paid first and then I followed. Gone up £10 in seconds!!

[drumwrecker]

Cheapeer to ride down to dover and use Norfolk Line even if you have to use a motel.

Ive used them for the car and bike and were pretty good. I say were as they have been taken over and the food on board is not nearly as good aas it used to be so just hope the rest of the service for bikes is still as good. Came back from France in February so food report is current.

[Studley Ramrod]

Just had a look at my options and I reckon I'm best going from Harwich.

Harwich-Hook of Holland £88 return.

Hull -Rotterdam £257

Newcastle- Ijmuiden £287

I'm 170 miles from Harwich so would have an extra 100 miles e/w to get to/from ferry, compared with Hull.

So basically, it'd cost me about £110 from my desres to Holland and back snot bad eh ! It's a lot quickerer too !

Apparently, theres lots of nice green grass in Holland, perfect fer a campin' stop-over

[TKH]

You said about the phone call cost. I never call the 0845 or 0870/1 numbers. I use www.saynoto0870.co.uk - t'has P&O reservations as 01304 864008. That might be a bit out of date (I can't comment) but the site saves a lot on those rip off non geo calls. Too many sneaky companies use 0871 which I don't think BT cover. I might be wrong but they always advertise 0870 and 0845 free calls on their packages and not 0871.

[slartybartfarst]

That Harwich deal is a bloody good one. But Harwich is a long drag from Manchester so it would mean using the overnight service - I'm too old for riding through the night unless Uma Thurman was doing breakfast for two on arrival. It worked out a little cheaper that the Newcastle route but it another 100 miles each way. Despite the cheapness of the ferry fares the thought of sitting on a motorway to Dover just isn't worth contemplating and would need an overnight in Kent or the Pas de Calais and so two extra days etc etc.

The choice of ferries is getting thinner and with fuel prices looks to be getting thinner still - NorfolkLine have a £6 fuel surcharge for each trip - it's what did for the Norway ferry and the Rosyth to Zeebrugge service. I have a horrible feeling that the way it's going if you don't want to ride to Dover in a few years you'll not be leaving Blighty on a boat.

Chris

[magneto]

I'm not far from Manchester and have found the best option to be ride down to the Tunnel, get a 3 hour window ticket, and get to Calais mid evening. Hotels in Calais are cheaper and much better than in Dover, plus you can easily get a good start in the morning - Germany by late afternoon without much effort, or at least the 'Ring/Mosel area.
Oh, and I'm only 15 miles from the Cat too!

Edited by magneto, 09 March 2011 - 09:27 pm.

[crispy]

Although I haven't used them myself, over the years I've heard nothing but good stories about using Nutt Travel especially for ferry booking. Can't do any harm to make an enquiry.... http://www.nutttrave...ean-routes.aspx

They specialise in ferry booking and are very biker friendly...

You can just fill in the blanks on there request a quote service http://www.nutttrave...te-request.aspx and they'll get back to you.

Happy traveling...

Crispy

[Seadog]

P & O are the biggest rip off. We have just come back from Europe and turned up at Zeebruge to cross to Hull. We hadnt booked, just turned up off spec, mid week. The ferry was only 25% full at most. 3 bikes, 3 lads in one cabin £420!!!!
Never again

[muddy]

I've used LD lines for the past few years and they've been very reasonable. Portsmouth to Le Havre is my favoured crossing.

[RSRocket]

3 bikes, 3 lads in one cabin £420!!!!

Is this each? Cos if its not then it only works out at £140 each for what I think is a 223 mile trip-it isn't so bad (and with a cabin).

You never been on Steam Racket to the Isle of man?

Thats over £400 for a car anytime after March through to mid September-(We sometimes go in the car to visit Robs family-they all live over there)
TT week on a bike is near on £250, any other time its nearer to £100 and thats for just a 40 mile, four hour crossing and you are sometimes lucky to even find a seat, never mind have the comfort of a cabin! -now that's REAL extortion!


Fazer Angie

[catsbum]

I've used LD lines for the past few years and they've been very reasonable. Portsmouth to Le Havre is my favoured crossing.

They are brilliant

[Seadog]

3 bikes, 3 lads in one cabin £420!!!!

Is this each? Cos if its not then it only works out at £140 each for what I think is a 223 mile trip-it isn't so bad (and with a cabin).

You never been on Steam Racket to the Isle of man?

Thats over £400 for a car anytime after March through to mid September-(We sometimes go in the car to visit Robs family-they all live over there)
TT week on a bike is near on £250, any other time its nearer to £100 and thats for just a 40 mile, four hour crossing and you are sometimes lucky to even find a seat, never mind have the comfort of a cabin! -now that's REAL extortion!
Fazer Angie

Still think its a rip off! Our outbound trip on Brittany Ferries to Spain, 2 nights on board, cabin for 2 and proper tie down straps and cushion for the seat provided, rather than the bits of string P&O give you, only £20 more

[slartybartfarst]

Having always said that anyone who misses a ferry is an idiot (you can see where this is going) we knew we wouldn't make Amsterdam for our ferry home from the Germany trip. We had time enough until the autoroute seized solid and it began to rain hard. So instead of trying to make a do or die charge and being stuck in IJmuiden for the night we cut to Rotterdam to get the Hull ferry with P&O. That sails a lot later and arrives earlier than DFDS. For two bikes and two bods? On a ferry that ain't full? £446 between us! Well it was that or a night in Holland and paying DFDS who knows what - I doubt they'd let us carry the tickets over.

And then there's the restaurant rip-off. All you can eat buffet £18.45 or 24 euros - because they know you're keen to get rid of your euros. Robbing Baasards. That said it was - are you ready for this - £34 for the buffet on the DFDS service. Take a packed lunch!

Chris

[drumwrecker]

I know this isn't quite carrying on the thread proper but general info, I have been booking two cars over the channel from Dover. I did a quick search on one of those do it all sites and it came out Eurotunnel £150, down through the different ferries £100, £70 and £50 for good old Norfolk Line, this was for return tickets.
Norfolk Line always comes up trumps for me.

[Matt101]

Norfolk are now DFDS anyway. But got to agree they are always the cheapest when I look

Matt