Is That Why It's Called Économie?

[Dorwyn]

We had a very choppy crossing from Le Havre. Walking was like you'd had too much to drink. I'd not had a crossing like it since the 70's. Then the thought occurred to me, what about the stabilisers? Are there any, or is it the economy version of them? Is that what they mean by economy? We'd been bumped off the previous outward sailing because the ferry was in dry dock to have stabiliser repairs. Perhaps there were none at all on this ship.

Our van was the last of the line, and on the outside deck. It was filthy, encrusted in white shiny salt. I've a good mind to send them the cleaning bill. Mind you, the crossing was very cheap.

Ahh well, it is the sea I suppose. Now, where's those Tesco vouchers?

 

[Funnymunny]

Did that crossing way back in 1972, we should have docked at 10pm but were hove too until 8am next morning. Three lorries broke the chains holding them down and tipped over on their sides and a brand new car was crushed. There was flotsam of all sorts up around the funnel in the morning.

 

[JJ]

One word to both of you brave people...

TUNNEL.


JJ

 

[SandT]

One word for all you Tunnel people...

"FIRE"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Channel_Tunnel_fire

Terry

 

[JJ]

I don't think anyone has died using the Channel Tunnel...

JJ

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[trophychap]

We did a much shorter crossing the other year from Calais or Dunquerke to Dover, we were right out at the front of the boat and when we docked we could not see out of any of the windows at all.

I cleaned all the windows and mirrors before we got off the boat. But when we were on the motorway home it started to rain and the side windows and mirrors were as bad as before I cleaned them.

I think you need copious amounts of water to get rid of the salt.

 

[Dorwyn]

I think you need copious amounts of water to get rid of the salt.

The next day I took it around to the Polish hand wash boys, and copious describes the amount of water they used. It only took them a few minutes, and it is now gleaming. All for only £12 (it's a campervan, not a full size MH).

As regards the tunnel, we shop at Tesco much less nowadays, so don't get enough vouchers to tip the balance to persuade us to use it. We live in the south west, and usually travel to the south west of France, so Portsmouth works better for us, saves a good few hours of driving and consequent diesel, cheaper though it now is.

 

[magicsurfbus]

You only get stabilisers in Club Class.

 

[Dorwyn]

You only get stabilisers in Club Class.

Deeper cushions?

 

[magicsurfbus]

Deeper cushions?

Bags full of banknotes.

"Jeeves, another bag of tenners if you will - the swell is making madam feel quite bilious."

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[bhs]

Used the Économie crossing last week, was great for me, parked on the same deck as the cabin was situated, 30 feet from door to door, never even ventured further in to the ship! £75 for the crossing and £75 for outside 3 berth cabin, all clean and tidy, was still sat in cabin 10 minutes before leaving ferry, smooth crossing but that may have been due to the weather.
This is a new route for Brittany ferries, LD lines have previously offered a cheap crossing from Portsmouth to Le Havre but now they only run from New Haven or Dover under the guise of DFDS.

Return crossing from Caen cost me double the outbound

 

[Theonlysue]

Did cherbourg to Poole, with van, super fast and £160.

 

[Dorwyn]

Used the Économie crossing last week, was great for me, parked on the same deck as the cabin was situated, 30 feet from door to door, never even ventured further in to the ship! £75 for the crossing and £75 for outside 3 berth cabin, all clean and tidy, was still sat in cabin 10 minutes before leaving ferry, smooth crossing but that may have been due to the weather.
This is a new route for Brittany ferries, LD lines have previously offered a cheap crossing from Portsmouth to Le Havre but now they only run from New Haven or Dover under the guise of DFDS.

Return crossing from Caen cost me double the outbound

Wow, when did you book, and who through? And yes, it was the weather!

 

[bhs]

Was a last minute thing, booked direct with BF online, have members discount so it was less than the £75 what I didn't say is that I was in my car!! Sorry.

Taking MH over in july but using tunnel, going in wee small hours, cost is £95

 

[Dorwyn]

Was a last minute thing, booked direct with BF online, have members discount so it was less than the £75 what I didn't say is that I was in my car!! Sorry.

Taking MH over in july but using tunnel, going in wee small hours, cost is £95

With some ferry operators (e.g. DFDS), booking last thing is the worst thing you can do, they really escalate the charges on the day, presumably thinking that you must really need it. I therefore often book at least 3 days before. I'm surprised and pleased to hear that BF do not do this. It seems odd to me that DFDS do escalate charges so on the day, since assuming they have availability it's an additional vehicle onboard that would otherwise not be there, leaving more space on the ferry you would have been on. I was once charged 3 times the amount to go a day early on a nearly empty ferry. It still rankles, so I won't use ever DFDS.

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[bhs]

One very windy night a couple of years ago when Dieppe/Newhaven ferry was cancelled I drove on to Caais and the tunnel, 3 am crossing on very empty train cost me €600, I still have to sit down when I remember that Night!

 

[Yorick]

Come on. It's only 21 miles to France. I've found a cure for seasickness

 

[Dorwyn]

Come on. It's only 21 miles to France. I've found a cure for seasickness

And you know what happened to him... and even my van wouldn't fit in there.