Ferry preferences - Dover / Calais

jeremy

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Feb 24, 2023, 10:40:53 AMFeb 24

to

Just looking at ferry options for the bike end of April and see that you can
travel Dover/Calais using DFDS (I thought they only sold sofas), P&O Ferries
or Irish Ferries.

Prices appear to be broadly similar - anyone experienced any two of these
three and can comment on preferences? It's only a 90 minute crossing so it'd
have to be something quite significant to make any one of them a non-starter.

There's the tunnel of course which is quicker and similar in price - but it's
a pretty miserable 40 minutes really.

--
jeremy

ogden

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Feb 24, 2023, 10:50:25 AMFeb 24

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jeremy wrote:
> Just looking at ferry options for the bike end of April and see that you can
> travel Dover/Calais using DFDS (I thought they only sold sofas), P&O Ferries
> or Irish Ferries.
>
> Prices appear to be broadly similar - anyone experienced any two of these
> three and can comment on preferences? It's only a 90 minute crossing so it'd
> have to be something quite significant to make any one of them a non-starter.

I still won't be touching P&O with someone else's bargepole after what they did last year.

I take the ferry if it's cheap and I don't have somewhere to be by any particular time. Otherwise I take the tunnel. It's no more miserable an experience than the ferry.

Oh, and don't rule out Dover-Dunkirk. The port is far quieter than Calais, and while the crossing takes 30 minutes longer than Calais, it's 20 minutes closer to the top of the A25 towards Givet, so it pretty much cancels out.

YTC#1

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Feb 24, 2023, 11:09:03 AMFeb 24

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On 24/02/2023 15:50, ogden wrote:
> jeremy wrote:
>> Just looking at ferry options for the bike end of April and see that you can
>> travel Dover/Calais using DFDS (I thought they only sold sofas), P&O Ferries
>> or Irish Ferries.
>>
>> Prices appear to be broadly similar - anyone experienced any two of these
>> three and can comment on preferences? It's only a 90 minute crossing so it'd
>> have to be something quite significant to make any one of them a non-starter.
>
> I still won't be touching P&O with someone else's bargepole after what they did last year.
>

Indeed.

--
Bruce Porter
"The internet is a huge and diverse community but mainly friendly"
http://ytc1.blogspot.co.uk/
There *is* an alternative! http://www.openoffice.org/

sweller

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Feb 24, 2023, 11:09:16 AMFeb 24

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ogden wrote:

> I still won't be touching P&O with someone else's bargepole after
> what they did last year.

+1

--
Simon

YTC#1

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Feb 24, 2023, 11:09:31 AMFeb 24

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On 24/02/2023 15:40, jeremy wrote:
>
> Just looking at ferry options for the bike end of April and see that you can
> travel Dover/Calais using DFDS (I thought they only sold sofas), P&O Ferries

Ah, how short memories are

jeremy

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Feb 24, 2023, 11:19:41 AMFeb 24

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On 24 Feb 2023 at 15:50:23 GMT, "ogden" <eld...@gmail.com> wrote:

> jeremy wrote:
>> Just looking at ferry options for the bike end of April and see that you can
>> travel Dover/Calais using DFDS (I thought they only sold sofas), P&O Ferries
>> or Irish Ferries.
>>
>> Prices appear to be broadly similar - anyone experienced any two of these
>> three and can comment on preferences? It's only a 90 minute crossing so it'd
>> have to be something quite significant to make any one of them a non-starter.
>
> I still won't be touching P&O with someone else's bargepole after what they
> did last year.
>
> I take the ferry if it's cheap and I don't have somewhere to be by any
> particular time. Otherwise I take the tunnel. It's no more miserable an
> experience than the ferry.

Depends who you're cooped-up with I suppose in the carriage - there's no
relief / variety whereas on the ferry you can at least have a stroll, have
food / whatever - albeit with twice the time commitment.

>
> Oh, and don't rule out Dover-Dunkirk. The port is far quieter than Calais, and
> while the crossing takes 30 minutes longer than Calais, it's 20 minutes closer
> to the top of the A25 towards Givet, so it pretty much cancels out.

I had meant to add that dover / dunkirk was a possible too.

--
jeremy

ogden

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Feb 24, 2023, 11:54:53 AMFeb 24

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jeremy wrote:

> "ogden" <eld...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > I take the ferry if it's cheap and I don't have somewhere to be by any
> > particular time. Otherwise I take the tunnel. It's no more miserable an
> > experience than the ferry.
>
> Depends who you're cooped-up with I suppose in the carriage

I'm that rude fucker who sits there in silence on his own for the duration of the crossing, rather than chatting to other people who happen to be using the same mode of transport with me.

> - there's no
> relief / variety whereas on the ferry you can at least have a stroll, have
> food / whatever - albeit with twice the time commitment.

You can take a stroll to the other end of the train if you have really itchy feet. And I prefer to take the hour I save on the crossing to get some food once I'm in France, where the choice and quality is infinitely better than what's available on the ferry.

My satnav is full of waypoints for places I've had decent lunches before, e.g.
https://goo.gl/maps/bfMVYEKwzrC25n529
https://goo.gl/maps/5hiZ8PvyjmLJMDU48
https://goo.gl/maps/qGbMTFxHy4DF8cfU7
and, of course, https://goo.gl/maps/pkrgD1e3L7FbEv949

wessie

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Feb 24, 2023, 1:31:28 PMFeb 24

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jeremy <jerem...@gmail.com> wrote in
news:k5s442...@mid.individual.net:

I have not used a ferry from Dover for years. I was not impressed last
time, which was a P&O ferry about 8 years ago. Took ages getting on and off
and the deckhands just milled aorund rather than strapping the bikes like
DFDS at Newhaven or Brittany Ferries on the longer routes.

Tunnel every time even if it costs a bit more. The 2 hour window either
side of the scheduled time is handy and you are not waiting 2 hours, even
longer at Dieppe, if you missed a ferry. Get there before your 2 hour
window and you can get on a different train for a small premium, or Ł0 if
lucky. On the way out, I usually stop at Tesco on M20J10 for fuel as pretty
empty by then. Buy a drink and snack if travelling far on the other side.
Like Ogden, minimal interaction with others and by the time I have eaten
the food and taken a piss we are arriving.

Pip Luscher

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Feb 24, 2023, 7:26:26 PMFeb 24

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jeremy <jerem...@gmail.com> Wrote in message:
> Just looking at ferry options for the bike end of April and see that you cantravel Dover/Calais using DFDS (I thought they only sold sofas), P&O Ferriesor Irish Ferries.Prices appear to be broadly similar - anyone experienced any two of thesethree and can comment on preferences? It's only a 90 minute crossing so it'dhave to be something quite significant to make any one of them a non-starter.There's the tunnel of course which is quicker and similar in price - but it'sa pretty miserable 40 minutes really.-- jeremy

I use ferries for some ski trips, but only by car (second and last
crossing I did on a bike was on an SR-N4). Used to always use P&O
until the stunt they pulled last year. This year, DFDS for the
first time. Outward was a Thursday; very quiet but weird hold-up
getting on board due to skip lorries coming and going. Turned out
they were refurbishing the commercial driver's lounge. Ferry
generally a bit run down with salt stains on carpets by big
windows. Return on a different ferry in rather better shape.
P&O's "Pride of..<insert place here>" were much newer and nicer a
few years ago. Crew seemed OK.

Oh, got stopped by security on outward trip, too. Happens
occasionally, though this time had to take main rucksack out of
car and pass it and jacket, keys etc. through an airport-style
X-ray machine, plus got scanned myself. In the past they just had
a quick poke in the boot and asked where I ws going.

It may be slow but just like using ferries.
--

PipL mobile

YTC#1

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Feb 25, 2023, 5:23:33 AMFeb 25

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On 24/02/2023 18:31, wessie wrote:
> jeremy <jerem...@gmail.com> wrote in
> news:k5s442...@mid.individual.net:
>
>>
>> Just looking at ferry options for the bike end of April and see that
>> you can travel Dover/Calais using DFDS (I thought they only sold
>> sofas), P&O Ferries or Irish Ferries.
>>
>> Prices appear to be broadly similar - anyone experienced any two of
>> these three and can comment on preferences? It's only a 90 minute
>> crossing so it'd have to be something quite significant to make any
>> one of them a non-starter.
>>
>> There's the tunnel of course which is quicker and similar in price -
>> but it's a pretty miserable 40 minutes really.
>>
>
> I have not used a ferry from Dover for years. I was not impressed last
> time, which was a P&O ferry about 8 years ago. Took ages getting on and off
> and the deckhands just milled aorund rather than strapping the bikes like
> DFDS at Newhaven or Brittany Ferries on the longer routes.

They stopped strapping a long time ago, due to cunts blaming them for
any damage.

CT

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Feb 25, 2023, 5:26:54 AMFeb 25

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Like others I'm not giving P&O any of my money. I used DFDS last year
and they were fine. I've never used Irish Ferries but as you say all of
the prices are within a few quid of each other.

I'll probably end up Dover-Calais/Dunkirk as at least the ferry
crossing allows for a bit of a rest, especially after a three-hour
schlep back from Givet on the Sunday.

--
Chris

Stephen Packer

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Feb 25, 2023, 5:43:11 AMFeb 25

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On Saturday, 25 February 2023 at 10:23:33 UTC, YTC#1 wrote:
> They stopped strapping a long time ago, due to cunts blaming them for
> any damage.

Hmm... Some of the strapping was apalling; they broke Mark Robert's
side stand on his XT (or at least some ferry-hand did). I always preferred
to do my own strapping down.

Pipl

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Feb 25, 2023, 2:13:59 PMFeb 25

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On Sat, 25 Feb 2023 10:26:52 -0000 (UTC), "CT" <m...@christrollen.co.uk>
wrote:

>I'll probably end up Dover-Calais/Dunkirk as at least the ferry
>crossing allows for a bit of a rest, especially after a three-hour
>schlep back from Givet on the Sunday.

Yeah, I did *once* drive striaght back from Flaine to Calais in one
shot, then home the same night, using the ferry as a bigger than
average rest stop. I was very tired, but felt more tired the time the
ports closed until gone midnight due to stormy weather a few years
later. So, it is do-able and cheaper than stopping overnight, but
hardly the stuff of a holiday.

--

-Pip

Pipl

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Feb 25, 2023, 2:16:57 PMFeb 25

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On Fri, 24 Feb 2023 08:54:51 -0800 (PST), ogden <eld...@gmail.com>
wrote:

> I save on the crossing to get some food once I'm in France, where the choice and quality is infinitely better than what's available on the ferry.

Whereas for me, fish and chips across the channel is a kind of ritual.
And I've been known to have overnight stop dinner out of a snack
machine or McDonalds.

--

-Pip

sweller

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Feb 26, 2023, 2:15:27 AMFeb 26

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Pipl wrote:

> > I'll probably end up Dover-Calais/Dunkirk as at least the ferry
> > crossing allows for a bit of a rest, especially after a three-hour
> > schlep back from Givet on the Sunday.
>

> Yeah, I did once drive striaght back from Flaine to Calais in one

> shot, then home the same night, using the ferry as a bigger than
> average rest stop. I was very tired, but felt more tired the time the
> ports closed until gone midnight due to stormy weather a few years
> later. So, it is do-able and cheaper than stopping overnight, but
> hardly the stuff of a holiday.

Whilst a different route and different circumstances, so perfectly
comparable...

We tend to go Harwich-Hook on the night boat which allows for plenty of
time to get to Harwich or Hook, a few beers and a kip.

Also, bonus fish and chips at Hook.

--
Simon

Big Tony

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Feb 26, 2023, 6:52:02 AMFeb 26

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On Friday, February 24, 2023 at 3:40:53 PM UTC, jeremy wrote:
> Just looking at ferry options for the bike end of April and see that you can
> travel Dover/Calais using DFDS (I thought they only sold sofas), P&O Ferries
> or Irish Ferries.

i have found DFDS are very good if you're on a bike. On the last year's French run they had dedicated stands that hold the front wheel and the deck crew guided me in and tied the bike down.

I used P&O in 2019 and I'm pretty sure you had to tie the bike down yourself to anchor points on the deck. Knowing how to use a ratchet strap properly when you're a bike owner is a useful skill. Back in the day (20 years ago) P&O used to get you to park your bike up against the side bulkhead and give you a rope to tie it to the bulkhead. Hopefully, those days are gone.

I've only used Irish Ferries once through gritted teeth on Dover to Calais last year as the only other option was P&O. However, I was in the cage then. The crossing was nothing special but I don't remember having anything to complain about. On the other hand I had booked with them some years back to cross the Irish sea and had to cancel due to a family illness but trying to get a cancellation invoice for my travel insurance out of their customer services proved impossible. In fact, it cost me 14 quid because they have a premium rate customer services phone line. Needless to say that 14 quid gain has resulted in a loss of thousands to them as I've used Stenaline UK to Ireland ever since.

--
Big Tony

YTC#1

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Feb 26, 2023, 11:37:50 AMFeb 26

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On 26/02/2023 11:52, Big Tony wrote:
> On Friday, February 24, 2023 at 3:40:53 PM UTC, jeremy wrote:
>> Just looking at ferry options for the bike end of April and see that you can
>> travel Dover/Calais using DFDS (I thought they only sold sofas), P&O Ferries
>> or Irish Ferries.
>
> i have found DFDS are very good if you're on a bike. On the last year's French run they had dedicated stands that hold the front wheel and the deck crew guided me in and tied the bike down.
>
> I used P&O in 2019 and I'm pretty sure you had to tie the bike down yourself to anchor points on the deck. Knowing how to use a ratchet strap properly when you're a bike owner is a useful skill. Back in the day (20 years ago) P&O used to get you to park your bike up against the side

Had to do that when we took the ferry from Newcastle to Bergen back in
2002 and 2005.

ogden

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Feb 26, 2023, 12:43:32 PMFeb 26

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Pipl wrote:
> ogden <eld...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > I save on the crossing to get some food once I'm in France, where the choice and quality is infinitely better than what's available on the ferry.
>
> Whereas for me, fish and chips across the channel is a kind of ritual.
> And I've been known to have overnight stop dinner out of a snack
> machine or McDonalds.

I suspect you may not have clicked all of the links.

Alan Lee

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Feb 26, 2023, 1:31:47 PMFeb 26

to

We're getting the tunnel around 11am, heading north from Calais,
stopping off in De Panne for a bite to eat. Probably leave there around
2.30-3pm local time, and get to Givet around 5.30-6pm, perfect timing
for a quick shower then down for drinks and dinner.

--
Remove the '+' and replace with 'plus' to reply by email

Pipl

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Feb 26, 2023, 5:18:49 PMFeb 26

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On Sun, 26 Feb 2023 09:43:30 -0800 (PST), ogden <eld...@gmail.com>
wrote:

You suspect correctly.

Still none the wiser, I'm afraid. These are cheap brasseries, which a
swift Google suggests are not exactly gourmet establishments?

--

-Pip

Cyril Motiti

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Feb 26, 2023, 5:31:45 PMFeb 26

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Champ

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Feb 27, 2023, 10:53:05 AMFeb 27

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On Fri, 24 Feb 2023 08:54:51 -0800 (PST), ogden <eld...@gmail.com>
wrote:

>My satnav is full of waypoints for places I've had decent lunches before, e.g.
>https://goo.gl/maps/bfMVYEKwzrC25n529
>https://goo.gl/maps/5hiZ8PvyjmLJMDU48
>https://goo.gl/maps/qGbMTFxHy4DF8cfU7

>and, of course, https://goo.gl/maps/pkrgD1e3L7FbEv949

Obviously, I knew where this last would take me before I clicked on it
--
Champ
neal at champ dot org dot uk

I don't know, but I been told
You never slow down, you never grow old

Champ

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Feb 27, 2023, 11:02:22 AMFeb 27

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On Sat, 25 Feb 2023 19:14:00 +0000, Pipl <plus...@live.co.uk> wrote:

>Yeah, I did *once* drive striaght back from Flaine to Calais in one
>shot, then home the same night, using the ferry as a bigger than
>average rest stop.

<thread swerve to epic/stupid journeys>

I did Monza to Calais overnight, two-up on a ZX10B, once. And then
Dover to Gloucester

>I was very tired

As was I

Ben Blaney

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Feb 28, 2023, 7:26:58 AMFeb 28

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On Monday, February 27, 2023 at 11:02:22 AM UTC-5, Champ wrote:

> <thread swerve to epic/stupid journeys>
>
> I did Monza to Calais overnight, two-up on a ZX10B, once. And then
> Dover to Gloucester

I once woke up in Castel Bolognese (near Imola) with a raging temperature and the worst sore throat I've ever had. I was 21 and knew I was very ill, but didn't really know how to adult, so all I knew was that I needed to get home. I drove all the way at 56mph, stopping only for vanilla Yop to ease the throat, throwing out tachographs every once in a while. It was the worst drive of my life. When I got home, I slept for three days, and didn't go back to work for another week.

Champ

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Feb 28, 2023, 7:58:52 AMFeb 28

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On Tue, 28 Feb 2023 04:26:56 -0800 (PST), Ben Blaney
<benb...@gmail.com> wrote:

> I was 21 ... but didn't really know how to adult

heh. Nice. But you're doing that american thing of verbing nouns

siwilson

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Feb 28, 2023, 8:20:49 AMFeb 28

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On 27/02/2023 16:02, Champ wrote:
> On Sat, 25 Feb 2023 19:14:00 +0000, Pipl <plus...@live.co.uk> wrote:
>
>> Yeah, I did *once* drive striaght back from Flaine to Calais in one
>> shot, then home the same night, using the ferry as a bigger than
>> average rest stop.
>
> <thread swerve to epic/stupid journeys>
>
> I did Monza to Calais overnight, two-up on a ZX10B, once. And then
> Dover to Gloucester
>
>> I was very tired
>
> As was I

I once did Zarautz to Flitwick non-stop. In a car (a shite old Montego).
<Googles> 851 miles
I was planning to stop somewhere on the way, but as the miles counted
down I realised I could possibly make it to catch the last Hovercraft
of the day. I got to the port about 10 minutes before it departed.

--
/Simon

Ace

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Feb 28, 2023, 8:44:35 AMFeb 28

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On Tue, 28 Feb 2023 12:58:50 +0000, Champ <ne...@champ.org.uk> wrote:

>On Tue, 28 Feb 2023 04:26:56 -0800 (PST), Ben Blaney
><benb...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> I was 21 ... but didn't really know how to adult
>
>heh. Nice. But you're doing that american thing of verbing nouns

Language pedantry? From you of all people?

Actually, I don't mind this one, wouldn't be surprised if it makes it
into the OED one of these years.

--
Ace
http://www.chaletbeauroc.com/

Ben Blaney

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Feb 28, 2023, 9:45:58 AMFeb 28

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On Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at 7:58:52 AM UTC-5, Champ wrote:
> On Tue, 28 Feb 2023 04:26:56 -0800 (PST), Ben Blaney
> <benb...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > I was 21 ... but didn't really know how to adult
>
> heh. Nice. But you're doing that american thing of verbing nouns

I don't know what that means. I'll google it.

Cyril Motiti

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Feb 28, 2023, 10:22:58 AMFeb 28

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ogden

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Feb 28, 2023, 11:04:50 AMFeb 28

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Champ wrote:
> Ben Blaney <benb...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > I was 21 ... but didn't really know how to adult
>
> heh. Nice. But you're doing that american thing of verbing nouns

Keep up, grandad. Adulting is a thing.

It's also only a few rungs up the ladder from 'holibobs', but we'll let it slide this time.

ogden

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Feb 28, 2023, 11:07:21 AMFeb 28

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Ben Blaney wrote:

> Champ wrote:
> > heh. Nice. But you're doing that american thing of verbing nouns
>
> I don't know what that means. I'll google it.

Retrogerundification, innit.

A word which, remarkably, has zero hits on Google.

Champ

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Feb 28, 2023, 12:40:38 PMFeb 28

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On Tue, 28 Feb 2023 06:45:57 -0800 (PST), Ben Blaney
<benb...@gmail.com> wrote:

>On Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at 7:58:52?AM UTC-5, Champ wrote:
>> On Tue, 28 Feb 2023 04:26:56 -0800 (PST), Ben Blaney
>> <benb...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> > I was 21 ... but didn't really know how to adult
>>
>> heh. Nice. But you're doing that american thing of verbing nouns

>I don't know what that means. I'll google it.

heh. I see what you did there

Anyway, just for you
擢irst they came for the verbs, and I said nothing because verbing
weirds language. Then they arrival for the nouns, and I speech nothing
because I no verbs."

Turby

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Feb 28, 2023, 2:18:17 PMFeb 28