CalMac ferry services

[CWH]

CalMac has lost yet another ferry to breakdown, this time the largest vessel in the fleet, MV Loch Seaforth, which usually runs Ullapool to Stornaway. This will mean changes to timetables throughout the service, eg Mallaig/ Armadale will only have one ferry running instead of two. Run alongside this is the broken down Corran ferry AND its replacement, meaning there will be no service for several weeks.
CalMac's senior engineer has finally disclosed details of the latest attempt to fix the ailing fleet's vessels:

good bit of kit this, might be useful for some mohos

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[Kelsae2]

It was fixed and tested this afternoon. Supposed to be sailing again at 17.30

 

[Googlebot]

We considered moving to Arran, the ferry fiasco really put us off. If you can’t get people on and off reliably, you can’t run a business relying on that.

 

[Accordian]

We have just had a ferry nightmare or two with Calmac. We were booked on and off Mull via Oban. We received an email from Calmac advising that our outward booking was cancelled and to claim any consequent costs. We went to the Calmac office in Oban and this was confirmed. Did the extra 100 miles or so to Lochaline/Fishnish ferry taking about 2.5 hrs.

Come the return trip we went to the ferry port for Oban to be told that our return trip was also cancelled but we had not been informed. The man at the port was very embarrassed but suggested that we went in the stand by row and he said that 'we will get you on somehow'. He did and we are very grateful to him.

Our plan was to come back via Arran but then discovered that the Brodig Ardrossen ferry was not taking campervans and had to reroute.

Our current policy is go where we like as long as the use of any Calmac is not involved. They are dreadful.

 

[Googlebot]

Bit difficult to avoid CalMac as they are a government monopoly with the ferry services.

You can see why the islanders go nuts.

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[WillH]

CalMac are an embarrassment to Scotland.

 

[Grianan]

We have a holiday home in Torridon. The alternative was Mull but we were reluctant to be restricted by ferry timetable. I’m so glad now we didn’t - it would be a constant worry.

 

[Googlebot]

I have mentioned before we looked at moving to Arran.

The ferries have been so unreliable I won’t even visit now. You can’t go in standby and need a booking, the capacity is such that at busy times they are fully booked. The ferry breaks down again or weather occurs and you get cancelled, next available slot is a week away.

We got the last ferry off last time and would have been there a week if we missed it. Not all that helpful on holiday, even worse living there.

 

[Pablo19]

Hmm, we are going Oban to Craignure this Saturday! I will watch closely what happens! And Mallaig a few days later