CalMac booking

[Durham's dad]

Hi all
Just booked return ferry from mainland to Islay for April next year. 2 adults, 1 x 6.4 metre PVC £212!!
I'd read that prices had risen but this seems very steep! I rang to query it and was told the price was correct. It didn't help to be told that if the van was only a 6 metre one it'd only be £76!!
That's pretty discriminatory I'd say ☹

 

[TinaLes]

Did you not read the previous link announced a couple of das ago?, it explains the reasons why ((if the link works), at 7.5mts I think this prices us and many others from visiting the western isles, such a shame, as we had no idea of previous subsides that have now by the look of it been taken away.
LES

CalMac motorhome drivers face 70 per cent ferry fare hike as loophole closed

FARES for motorhomes are set to soar on CalMac ferries after demands from angry locals to end the loophole that saw the vehicles get heavily…

www.heraldscotland.com

 

[Ivory55]

Like most things in life, you can only have what you can afford. Quite fancy a V8 Range Rover but it ain’t gonna happen

 

[LesW]

Hi all
Just booked return ferry from mainland to Islay for April next year. 2 adults, 1 x 6.4 metre PVC £212!!
I'd read that prices had risen but this seems very steep! I rang to query it and was told the price was correct. It didn't help to be told that if the van was only a 6 metre one it'd only be £76!!
That's pretty discriminatory I'd say ☹

As long as people pay these prices, the prices will rise.

I hope you declined.

 

[dunnah01]

Like most things in life, you can only have what you can afford. Quite fancy a V8 Range Rover but it ain’t gonna happen

The point is that they could afford it a few days ago but not so easy now

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[Ivory55]

The point is that they could afford it a few days ago but not so easy now

Do the price on everything else never go up then ? It’s life

 

[Ivory55]

Was not long ago petrol was under a pound a litre, it’s now £1.50

 

[dunnah01]

Do the price on everything else never go up then ? It’s life

Hopefully inflation won't be quite so dramatic

 

[TinaLes]

Yes we all know prices have risen in recent times, and the reason why, most of which we have no choice in paying if you need to heat your home, eat, or drive, or even use public transport.
But £212 for a trip to one island is not good value IMHO, its cheaper to cross the channel (when allowed) opening the entire continent, luckily there are many lovely spots in The Highlands that dont involve using Cal Mac.
I wonder if the ferries to The Orkneys/Shetland have also been affected with this subsidy removal?
LES

 

[Grianan]

Durham's dad I think that will price many people off the islands.
And I also think that is a deliberate move.

The perception is that islanders see more benefit and less ‘bad behaviour’ from B&B and self catering visitors.

To be honest with the restrictions of pre booking and the higher cost we’ll probably not be visiting any time soon.

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[poppycamper]

I wonder if the ferries to The Orkneys/Shetland have also been affected with this subsidy removal?

Please don't quote me but I dont think the Orkney/Shetland had same subsidy. Differant operators.. Used to be locals could get subsidies on return tickets from Islands to mainland but I don't think other way round.

 

[tomm]

Yes we all know prices have risen in recent times, and the reason why, most of which we have no choice in paying if you need to heat your home, eat, or drive, or even use public transport.
But £212 for a trip to one island is not good value IMHO, its cheaper to cross the channel (when allowed) opening the entire continent, luckily there are many lovely spots in The Highlands that dont involve using Cal Mac.
I wonder if the ferries to The Orkneys/Shetland have also been affected with this subsidy removal?
LES

I don't think the Orkney and Shetland ferry companies ever did receive the RET subsidy that the Western Isles etc received.? Delays on that subsidy being agreed and granted for the Orkney and Shetland routes now around 2 to 3 years? Given these recent developments I can't see it being agreed now , unfortunately .

 

[Ivory55]

Yes we all know prices have risen in recent times, and the reason why, most of which we have no choice in paying if you need to heat your home, eat, or drive, or even use public transport.
But £212 for a trip to one island is not good value IMHO, its cheaper to cross the channel (when allowed) opening the entire continent, luckily there are many lovely spots in The Highlands that dont involve using Cal Mac.
I wonder if the ferries to The Orkneys/Shetland have also been affected with this subsidy removal?
LES

Yes we are lucky it’s not law that we have to go to the Scottish island on holiday we have a choice if we think it’s to expensive.

 

[PaulC70]

Did you not read the previous link announced a couple of das ago?, it explains the reasons why ((if the link works), at 7.5mts I think this prices us and many others from visiting the western isles, such a shame, as we had no idea of previous subsides that have now by the look of it been taken away.
LES

CalMac motorhome drivers face 70 per cent ferry fare hike as loophole closed

FARES for motorhomes are set to soar on CalMac ferries after demands from angry locals to end the loophole that saw the vehicles get heavily…

www.heraldscotland.com

Yep just checked mine for 2 weeks in april Ullapool / Stornaway Return 7.5m and 2 adults £319.80!
They can shove that up their arse frankly.

Checked the exact same dates for Cairnryan / Belfast and its only £377, less than £60 more so I'll go and do some of the Wild Atlantic way and see my parents while there

On saying that, just checked the chunnel for the same dates which is only £276!!! Even better!

 

[bigtwin]

we had no idea of previous subsides that have now by the look of it been taken away.

The subsidy was previously applied to all non-commercial vehicles; commercial vehicles paid the full tariff. They have now introduced a new criteria ‘motorhomes’ as a means of increasing revenue. The previous MH rates were pretty much pro-rata based on length such that both cars and MHs paid a price based on how much space the took up.

I wonder if the ferries to The Orkneys/Shetland have also been affected with this subsidy removal?

They’ve never had the subsidy which rather undermines the cries for parity from those targeting MHs in the west of Scotland.

Please don't quote me but I dont think the Orkney/Shetland had same subsidy.

Agreed.

I don't think the Orkney and Shetland ferry companies ever did receive the RET subsidy that the Western Isles etc received.?

Agreed.

Ian

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[SpeedyDux]

Length matters, eh.

For some ferries anyhow. I might not buy a 6.4m replacement after all.

 

[gerry mcg]

Phew, my Globecar Revolution 600L is 5.99m

 

[Ivory55]

Length matters, eh.

For some ferries anyhow. I might not buy a 6.4m replacement after all.

Isn’t 6m the magic number for the ferry to Greek island as well

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Wow, glad we ticked off all those destinations this year. Hopefully, for those still using the service next year it won't be same lottery as to what would and wouldn't be running as this year was!!
Mike.

 

[SpeedyDux]

Isn’t 6m the magic number for the ferry to Greek island as well

You may be right. Same in parts of Scandinavia I believe. I wonder if bike racks also count or are disregarded.

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[gerry mcg]

Yep just checked mine for 2 weeks in april Ullapool / Stornaway Return 7.5m and 2 adults £319.80!
They can shove that up their arse frankly.

Checked the exact same dates for Cairnryan / Belfast and its only £377, less than £60 more so I'll go and do some of the Wild Atlantic way and see my parents while there

On saying that, just checked the chunnel for the same dates which is only £276!!! Even better!

For a 5.99m van for a week Uig to Harris inc return for 2 people in June 22 - £95.10
>6m, <8m, £196.70
>8m, <10m, £230.50

 

[Ivory55]

You may be right. Same in parts of Scandinavia I believe. I wonder if bike racks also count or are disregarded.

A couple we met on islay had to take the bike rack and bikes off and put in the van to get the under 6m rate

 

[gerry mcg]

Hi all
Just booked return ferry from mainland to Islay for April next year. 2 adults, 1 x 6.4 metre PVC £212!!
I'd read that prices had risen but this seems very steep! I rang to query it and was told the price was correct. It didn't help to be told that if the van was only a 6 metre one it'd only be £76!!
That's pretty discriminatory I'd say ☹

£102 for a 5.99m van and 2 passengers return

 

[violet]

We won't be going back to the Western Isles whatever the price. We obviously didn't see what others rave about. Some things, e.g. Luskentyre Beach, were lovely, but too much seemed quite ordinary compared to other places. The Isles, to us, lacked a sense of wildness and I would think that is even more so with so many more tourists going. Mind we think the same of the North Scottish coast and have done so since our first visit years ago.
We do however love going to other parts of Scotland. Ferry prices, whatever they are, will not stop us going to Orkney and Shetland.

 

[PaulC70]

For a 5.99m van for a week Uig to Harris inc return for 2 people in June 22 - £95.10
>6m, <8m, £196.70
>8m, <10m, £230.50

I'd not checked uig / tarbert I have to admit, so that's cheaper than ullapool / stornoway by £125! Quite a difference and one that MAY make me reconsider but that I'll have to think about.

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[IRHP]

just had a look at the Arran route Ardrossan to Brodick for next year. This year we paid £49 return for the motorhome (7.5M) only, to go next year it's £86 return. Passengers have not had the same increase.
£24.50 each way was pretty good value. To go next year it's up to £86 return Quite a big jump but probably wouldn't stop me going.

I've also just had a look at another route we have previously done. Oban to Barra route for next year Motorhome and 2 adults return. £435.10!!!!!! They can keep that.

 

[gerry mcg]

just had a look at the Arran route Ardrossan to Brodick for next year. This year we paid £49 return for the motorhome (7.5M) only, to go next year it's £86 return. Passengers have not had the same increase.
£24.50 each way was pretty good value. To go next year it's up to £86 return Quite a big jump but probably wouldn't stop me going.

I've also just had a look at another route we have previously done. Oban to Barra route for next year Motorhome and 2 adults. £435.10!!!!!! They can keep that.

Yeah, it looks like £50 for a <6m van and 2 passengers and around £100 for a >6m <8m van ano 2 passengers return ticket from Ardrossan to Brodick in May

for the Oban to Castle Bay route in June, vehicle & 2 passengers
<6m, £212.20
>6m<8m, £435.10
>8m<10m, £509

 

[bilM]

Was not long ago petrol was under a pound a litre, it’s now £1.50

£1.50 I wish.

 

[Ivory55]

£1.50 I wish.

Probably more now it’s going up all the time

 

[busby]

Was not long ago petrol was under a pound a litre, it’s now £1.50

It doesn't seem THAT long ago that I could buy 5 gallons of petrol for a pound,,three shillings and eleven pence halfpenny a gallon.Could only ever afford two gallons back then though,,circa 1961,,Mind you I was only earning a fiver a week..BUSBY.

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