I was a bit concerned to read recently that P & O Ferries are pulling out of Portsmouth and Plymouth completely and drastically cutting back their services out of Dover.
It suggests that whoever is left to provide x-channel ferries are going to be free to charge just exactly what they like. Goodness knows, it's expensive enough already so with the shackles of competition removed it will be open house on costly crossings. How much clout will the Caravan Club and companies like Select Sites Reservations have to hold prices down?
Are P & O mothballing the ships or getting rid of them? I reckon that the operators on the Newhaven/Dieppe and Ramsgate/Dunkirk routes might just be rubbing their hands. And perhaps now the Channel Tunnel might decide to join the real world..........? Could also be the opportunity for Poole to step up the frequency of sailings out of there and for Weymouth to get in on the act.
Just a line of thought........
Vic
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I've just got back from a quick trip to Paris on P&O Ferries Dover-Calais route. I can fully understand why they need to cut back. For what they charged me for a car, 4 passengers and a trailer, they can't be making a profit. There was hardly anything on the 10pm sailing from Calais, and not alot on the 7pm from Dover either. I don't think they're charging the earth either. I paid £172.30 including a surcharge for booking using a credit card. that was 2 days before the sailing time too.
If you book early enough, then a car, up to 9 passengers and a caravan in August next year is still only £120 if you book it now! That's cheap!
Eurostar are now doing trips including a return to London and 2 nights in a hotel for £94. I don't believe there isn't a spirit of competition, Vic. I do however believe that the day of the cross-channel ferry is numbered in the amount of services we see now. Every 45 minutes, 24 hours per day, P&O run a ferry to Calais from Dover. The market appears to be saturated at this time of year!
P&O are in busness to make money--& I think you will find crossing the channel is going the same way as flying-buget airlines-no frills--the day trip market is going down due to French fag taxes going up & uk customs clampin down on fag/beer running--youve got speedferries just started & bein run like a buget air line--p&o etc will have to go this route to compete---crossin the channel will get cheaper not dearer-imho--
------------- Every day should be a holiday!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
I paid £68 return through the CC for the motorhome Easter week. It's well worth calling them for a quote. The savings more than cover the membership fee.
£123 with SeaFrance and even less with Speedferries
The ferry companies have been doing us up like kippers for years and as for the Tunnel...
Don't waste any tears on them. I've found the pathetic strip of water called the Dover Straits to be the most expensive ferry crossing that I have ever used
Quote: Originally posted by happybonzo on 12/10/2004
£123 with SeaFrance and even less with Speedferries
The ferry companies have been doing us up like kippers for years and as for the Tunnel...
Don't waste any tears on them. I've found the pathetic strip of water called the Dover Straits to be the most expensive ferry crossing that I have ever used
So remember - Fight the Channel Pirates!
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Second only to that even narrower strip from Portsmouth/Southampton to the IoW. Pound for pound and mile for mile that's more expensive than crossing the Atlantic on the QE2 so I've heard.
Vic
If you ever wondered where the old cross channel ferries go, take a trip to Athens and you'll find them doing splendid service for the greeks at above a quarter of the price we were charged when they were on the dover calais run.
I just priced it - a whopping £250 - am I missing something. The Speedferries seems so unbelievably cheap! - £88 for our car and trailer - only problem is we are soon to move to Scotland from Lancashire so an extra 3 hr drive there - however when I get the high sides for my trailer and ABS box, we will get some serious quantities of wine etc on board so it will be worth it!
LOL Dave! I know exactly what you mean. S'why I have a big car!
For anyone trying to get prices from websites like P&O, Jet2go etc, and each time you try, the price increases, just clear your internet cache memory of 'cookies'. The reason the price increases is to encourage you to book.
I just priced it - a whopping £250 - am I missing something. The Speedferries seems so unbelievably cheap! - £88 for our car and trailer - only problem is we are soon to move to Scotland from Lancashire so an extra 3 hr drive there - however when I get the high sides for my trailer and ABS box, we will get some serious quantities of wine etc on board so it will be worth it!
bought my wine to bring home at the local Champion in Hesdin on the 25th Sept which was their annual wine launch day and it was a lot cheaper than Calais prices. I also managed to find my favorite whiskey "Tullamore" at 4 Euro cheaper there. we had been warned by friends in France when we were househunting there not to buy in Calais but to stay local and be pleasantly surprised. and we were. going back next week for some more house hunting. ANyone know of an inexpensive rent with two bedroms in Picardy for six months while we look for somewhere more permanent please ket us know.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Withdrawal of Ferry Services
