We've not used this crossing before either, but as we are going to Deux Sevres it's really a no-brainer. We've booked overnight crossings outward for both June and September, with a return on the early evening boat. We will see how we go.
A friend who lives in Kent and has a house in Normandy has also started to use this route now that the tunnel no longer offers the 10 crossings deals. He says that it's OK, but it can take ages to get off on the French side.
------------- Freedom is a light caravan and an open road.
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Such a shame about the frequent traveller deal on Eurotunnel. Only managed this once but had planned this was our way forward in retirement! Not to be. The trouble we have is our storage facility closes at 8pm and 6pm in winter. Doesn’t open till 8am so can be a pain with timings.
Quote: Originally posted by JoannaLesley on 25/4/2024
We've not used this crossing before either, but as we are going to Deux Sevres it's really a no-brainer. We've booked overnight crossings outward for both June and September, with a return on the early evening boat. We will see how we go.
A friend who lives in Kent and has a house in Normandy has also started to use this route now that the tunnel no longer offers the 10 crossings deals. He says that it's OK, but it can take ages to get off on the French side.
Just being nosy, as I know you have a van in storage down in that area, but are you heading for the site at Airvault? We'll be there towards the end of May to meet up with Caravan Help Abroad so Kris can service our van while he's on site. We keep our van about an hour from Cherbourg now, so pick a site to meet up for the van service depending on their schedule and where we fancy going.
They are so very helpful when you phone them, of course it's a French phone number, thankfully I get 100 mins free with my £5 per month Lebara (Vodaphone) contract, as already mentioned a lovely French lady whose English was more perfect than mine! took my call and really did a good job, anyway all booked now, not quite the dates I wanted, but still in the last three weeks of June, prices seem to jump as you get towards the last few days of June, then go of the scale as you go in to July.
So car + trailer came to £175 with the wrinkly 20% discount, the £150 deal I could only get if it had been the 7 day return offer, no good to me as I am over there for over a fortnight.
Comparable crossing with Dover-Dunkirk was £50 more, will be nice not to have to do the Dartford crossing and all that entails.
Have I made the right decision not to go Dover ?, my brother some years back turned up late for his Newhaven crossing, something that you definitely don't want to do, and to be fair I am the opposite, as I have been known to turn up almost a day early for my crossing !
As a kid my parents would always use Newhaven - Dieppe, back then 1962 the car would go on a separate ship to the passengers, the car would be waiting on the dockside when we got there, keys in the ignition !
So for me Newhaven - Dieppe will always be nostalgic.
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Quote: Originally posted by JoannaLesley on 25/4/2024
We've not used this crossing before either, but as we are going to Deux Sevres it's really a no-brainer. We've booked overnight crossings outward for both June and September, with a return on the early evening boat. We will see how we go.
A friend who lives in Kent and has a house in Normandy has also started to use this route now that the tunnel no longer offers the 10 crossings deals. He says that it's OK, but it can take ages to get off on the French side.
Just being nosy, as I know you have a van in storage down in that area, but are you heading for the site at Airvault? We'll be there towards the end of May to meet up with Caravan Help Abroad so Kris can service our van while he's on site. We keep our van about an hour from Cherbourg now, so pick a site to meet up for the van service depending on their schedule and where we fancy going.
Yes, we are at Airvault. It's a fairly new venture for us, so this year we are going to stop there and explore locally. In the future the plan is to move on elsewhere and then return our van for storage before going home. It's not particularly cheap, but ours is barn stored which, for us, makes it worth while. Kris did some work for us there last year.
------------- Freedom is a light caravan and an open road.
We’re arriving on May 20th (unless Kris gets delayed) for a week so we’ll be gone by the time you get there, though if we’re settled and the weather is good (and there’s space) we may just stay longer - who knows?
Just to complete the loop, all went well with the crossing. Spent in the queue with a load of motorhomes; woken with an alarm call at 4.45 (ie banging on the van!) a quick pee at the facility then drove to the checkin. Didn’t need the pass, as the van number was on the screen; just needed to show passport. Then a border force check complete with pat-down. “Any guns? Any large knives?” Yes, it’s a camper! Two kitchen knives, two steak knives! “Are they secure sir?” After which, was loaded on, and boat left 15mins early.
Compared to the Tunnel, it seemed a bit faffy, although efficient; the 4 hour crossing was ok, and I got to meet some lovely fellow campers. Worth the £80 discount? Probably, but not a deal breaker.
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Just out of interest I checked what Eurotunnel were asking for my dates and times, I chose the exact same arrival times and dates, £519 it came up with, which really makes the £174 for the ferry seem like a total no brainer.
Quote: Originally posted by Francais on 04/5/2024
Good result morepints, this is definitely the low season, how busy was the ferry.
Busier than I expected - but then, it’s cheap/less expensive! Still some space, and I gather some motorhomes were turning up and buying tickets at the port. Obviously the younger clientele.
Quote: Originally posted by Francais on 06/5/2024
Just out of interest I checked what Eurotunnel were asking for my dates and times, I chose the exact same arrival times and dates, £519 it came up with, which really makes the £174 for the ferry seem like a total no brainer.
Will you be towing?
I've just checked this crossing on the dfds website and cheapest crossings for car with roofbox ('high car') is £180 return (about £120 cheaper than the tunnel, same crossing times).
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Quote: Originally posted by JoannaLesley on 22/4/2024
They do seem to be cost effective, especially when considered against other long crossings, such as Portsmouth-Caen. If you are over 60 you can get a 20% discount on all sailings, but you have to make the booking by phone. Incidentally, only one of the party needs to be over 60. I also believe (although we haven't investigated) that caravans go free on Saturday night crossings.
The lead member of the party needs to be over 60 which meant the driver when I asked. I did consider trying that but there is no way my mother would be prepared to sit in the drivers seat in my car even just to move it past the check in so I haven't risked it.
------------- pork
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Topic: Cheap crossing Newhaven to Dieppe
via mobile 25/4/2024 at 10:24am
