LD ferry to Santander (1 Viewer)

[Viennese]

Anyone using this ferry - shall be interested to see how it goes. About £100 cheaper than Brittany ferries??

Catherine

 

[Gooney]

Anyone using this ferry - shall be interested to see how it goes. About £100 cheaper than Brittany ferries??

Catherine

People I know have been on it and complained of blisters on their hands off the oars

 

[sciac2001]

Just booked a one-way for december 3rd. Paid £310 or so with cabin.

Nervous about the longish overhang on my Camper, with scooter rack but that is a general ferry ramp concern and not specific to this route.

Have seen a photo of the ship in use. Seems smallish for the big Bay but what the heck, it'll be interesting!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Viennese]

Good luck - let me know how you get on!:thumb:

Catherine

 

[sciac2001]

Good luck - let me know how you get on!:thumb:

Catherine

You men IF I get on!

 

[rolandrat]

It's not the old P&O boat is it?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Viennese]

No, P&O's the Pride of Bilbao was much bigger - hope this can cope with the Bay of Biscay!

Catherine

 

[sue & dave]

Santander

We would be interested in seeing how it goes.

We are on the Pont Aven docking in just under an hour, not a bad crossing at all, although I can never sleep on these things, I even think I would be the same on any ship.

A lorry driver was saying he did the same crossing two weeks ago and it took over 40 hours :helptitanic: because it was so rough. :helpsos:

Might do Calais - Dover on the way back :Confused:

Sue :Tongue1: & Dave :Cool:

 

[Hotelman]

It appears that the ship is slightly bigger than the Hull to Zeebrugge ships.....so I wouldn't worry......and ...I think one of the Zeebrugge ships took troops and supplies to the Falklands during the war.... I think...

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Viennese]

LD's Norman Asturias' capacity is 518 passengers, 120 freight vehicles and 195 cars.
The Pont Aven takes 2,400 passengers and 650 cars. There is somewhat of a difference!
Anyway will await with interest fun passenger comments. :thumb::thumb:

Catherine

 

[Geejay]

No pets allowed though.

 

[2657]

The Norman Asturias was previously used on the St. Nazaire-Gijon route across the very same Bay of Biscay, 14hour crossing.

We have used that route a few times and the crossings have varied, when its rough get in your bunk and go to sleep, works for me whatever size boat. The facilities,catering etc are not up to BF standards but were acceptable to us.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[2657]

LD's Norman Asturias' capacity is 518 passengers, 120 freight vehicles and 195 cars.
The Pont Aven takes 2,400 passengers and 650 cars. There is somewhat of a difference!
Anyway will await with interest fun passenger comments. :thumb::thumb:

Catherine

Not such a huge difference as you might think:

Pont Aven.....184.6mx30.9m. Gr. Tonnage 41,700

Cap Finistere..204mx25m. Gr. Ton. 32,728

Normn Asturias...186.6x25.6. Gr. Ton. 27414

A lot of the Pont Aven is taken up with cabins and catering,entertainment etc. Not as much on the Norman Asturias.

 

[callumwa]

LD's Norman Asturias' capacity is 518 passengers, 120 freight vehicles and 195 cars.
The Pont Aven takes 2,400 passengers and 650 cars. There is somewhat of a difference!
Anyway will await with interest fun passenger comments. :thumb::thumb:

Catherine

We were on the Norman Asturias in August from Gijon to StNazaire. It is actually quite a large ship, but was built originally mainly for freight and freight drivers only. The ship is also stabilised.

However it has very little in the way of passenger spaces and things to for passengers to especially if you have young children. It was adequate for the 16 hours overnight Gijon to St Nazaire trip but not a lot to do for the 26 hrs crossing from Poole to Santander, but it will get you to Spain......:thumb:



It only has a small cafeteria with a limited menu, a small Bar and a miniscule shop.

Compared to say The Pride of Bilbao, which had a cinema, small pool and sauna, observation deck and "quiet" lounge, a coffee shop, piano bar, casino area, large cabaret bar with live entertainment in the evening, an A la carte restaurant as well as a pizza and snack bar etc, the Norman Asturias has very limited passenger facilities.

 

[SoapyTutti]

LD Ferry Santander back to Poole April 14

Hi,

We intend using this ferry when we return to the UK in April next year we have used them going across from Portsmouth Le Havre like many others and a ferry is a ferry and found it had similar comforts to Brittany Ferries which we used twice this year to both Santander and Bilbao.

Nice to see that Brittany Ferries now have some competition and the prices may soon reflect that.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[sciac2001]

Not such a huge difference as you might think:

Pont Aven.....184.6mx30.9m. Gr. Tonnage 41,700

Cap Finistere..204mx25m. Gr. Ton. 32,728

Normn Asturias...186.6x25.6. Gr. Ton. 27414

A lot of the Pont Aven is taken up with cabins and catering,entertainment etc. Not as much on the Norman Asturias.

Just got off the Norman Asturias at Santander yesterday. Very calm crossing.
Definitely more of a freight carrier but does have comfortable sitting areas. However, on my trip, the vessel was almost empty and therefore we could lounge about easily. I would not want to travel in her with a full complement of passengers. Children will be bored almost immediately.
Food was actually quite good in the bistro, staffed by efficient and courteous Portuguese. Cabin was very good.

 

[hilldweller]

About £100 cheaper than Brittany ferries??
Catherine

But you do have to help row it.

 

[callumwa]

But you do have to help row it.

TheLD ferry on the Santander service is quite sophisticated now and even has facilities to keep the kids entertained....

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}