channel crossing

[cakeboy]

have you seen the prices there charging for dover to calais ferries this year. the big two companies [ p&o and dfds ] waited till they got rid of "my ferrylink" ferries last year and there prices this year have gone through the roof, [ not that i,m saying they have got together to keep prices high ...ha ha ] its by far the most expensive 22ml ferry crossing in europe , and all this while fuel is the lowest its been in years ...

 

[Dogdaze]

I only ever use the tunnel, and if by car then I end up doing 2 x 24 hour return journeys, saves money, but makes no sense at all as I only ever use one leg, but until the operators start seeing that I'll keep doing it.

 

[Don in Lodi]

I read somebody's ride report once. I couldn't believe it wasn't a typo of some sort. Hundreds of dollars.

 

[stutrump]

Welcome to rip off UK where my water bill alone is 6 times more expensive than when I lived in Hong Kong. Aaaarrrgghhhh

 

[Daviedevs]

Unless on an organised tour i use the tunnel every time.

 

[2112]

I've given up on the 'channel' crossings altogether, it's the North Shields to Ijmuden (Amsterdam) ferry for me from now on. No more 360 mile slogs through England's 'scenic' motorway system, just a gentle 12 mile trundle to the ferry on quiet roads. Mind you I'm in Northumberland, it'll not work if you live in Kent...

 

[r1d1]

The Newcastle - Amsterdam ferry service isn't cheap either. £78 for the bike, minimum £210 for a single cabin ( there is no seating option) = min return fare £288. Then there's the usual ferry "captive audience" food prices, so you're looking in the region of a £350 spend before your holiday even starts if you are travelling alone.

Mind you, after the 23rd June, if the polls are to be believed, the £1.00 will probably be worth less than €1.00, so Europe will be a massively expensive holiday anyway, so what's another £350

 

[Checkswrecks]

For as short as that is - OUCH!

 

[r1d1]

The Newcastle - Amsterdam route is a 15 hour North Sea crossing, rather than a cross-channel route., but it's not a cheap option. It's a single operator route, so it's a case of take it or leave it.

 

[Mikeybikey57]

Perhaps one of these might be a useful addition to our garages. https://youtu.be/xzx08w67Q88

 

[Grumpy]

I live in SW London, so it's only 78 miles (90minuts) to the tunnel. I gave up on the ferry some years ago. The tunnel is more flexible, at least for bikes, if you are early or late they can usually get you on the next crossing at little or no extra charge. Last November I rode down to Fuengerola in the south of Spain. I looked at the cost of the Santander ferry and decided it cost no more to do 2 nights b&b and fuel each way and have a good ride through west France.

 

[Z750jay]

I am lucky as I live in Portsmouth so the ferry for me is only 0.6 miles away. We tend to get an over night ferry so we arrive nice and early and can have a decent amount of riding time when we arrive in France.

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[itlives]

Only ferry I've been on in forty years was across the Red River (Louisiana) ...free.

I can feel your pain though, an extra $350 would ruin my cheap a$$ vacations.

 

[Z750jay]

Worse one is from Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight - 1.3 mile crossing £41 or $60.


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[trainman]

Stena Harwich to the Hook is a reasonable route, around £70 each way for one bike, but some cheaper avaiable, cabins not too bad but you dont have to have one,

ok its Essex and a bit of a drive for some but also less likely to be affected by french strikes and immigration issues that seem to occur every holiday period at the Kent/Calais ports

used the tunnel a few weeks ago and its fine, coming back their were 'extra security checks' which backed up cars for 5 hours but bikes got straight through onto their booked trips, whilst the ferries were all parked up, no brainer to me.