Cheap Dover-Calais Ferry Deals discussion

Former_MSE_Lawrence

For a rundown of some top deals on Dover-Calais ferry crossings see the

Cheap Ferry Deals note

If you've spotted or heard of others, or you've feedback on those I've listed, please post below.

... just click 'post reply' to report new offers

Thanks for your help

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patrick0

I used a credit card to book this P&O deal and was charged £2.

I'm normally careful to use a debit card where sites make it clear they charge extra for using a credit card but I didn't see any reference to this on their site.

Worth watching out for if you're going to book this deal.

DrPaul

Just booked myself and on the page where you enter your card details there is a pretty clear message that credit cards are charged a £2 fee.

One thing that worried me was that the first booking page had a note on the right of the screen saying that P&O were imposing a fuel surcharge on Dover-Calais of £2 each way, but in the event everything went through for £24 so I assume that the surcharge warning is out of date but hasn't been removed from the site.

maman

Anyone know of ferry offers allowing you to stay in France for a couple of days? I think this one is just 24hr.

harryhound

maman wrote: »

Anyone know of ferry offers allowing you to stay in France for a couple of days? I think this one is just 24hr.

I've just tried
http://www.norfolkline.com/ferry/SelectFare.aspx
using offer code WW1 (going to check out grandfather's grave geddit).

Been offered 9.00 GDP each way for early hours of the morning up to 27 GBP
each way for the peak crossing..

Harry

PS It is looking like the Danish operation to Boulogne on a hydrofoil "Speed Ferries" has financial strains (Thinks can Martin be sued for that comment?) which is sad as we need all the competition we can get to keep the fares under control.

fruggle_2

their offer is for a day return trip, is there anything to stop you booking under this offer for going on one day, forgoing that return and booking another offer daytrip just to use the return a few days later, it still works out cheeper despite paying for the two day trips than booking it conventionally on a 3 day break, plus would you get the wines and meal offers twice ?

harryhound

You will find this discussed at length on the forum if you search hard enough.
Basically. the Channel operators try to trap such "fiddles" by searching on car registration number. They will threaten to sue you and charge the difference to your plastic card.
If you go one way with company "A" and return with company "B", I cannot see the legality in the companies' position, but alarm bells will ring for company "B" as the punter books a French address with a UK car.

ferryenthusiast

[FONT=&quot]They won't threaten to take the payment from your card, they will just do it. You have when making the booking authorised them to take the payment by agreeing to their terms and conditions. See Below:
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot](vi) All bookings of Restricted Duration are only valid where the outward and return journeys are completed within the specified period of time, with the same vehicle and passengers and using the same operator. If you fail to travel on one part of your booking then we may charge you a supplement. That supplement will be the difference between the amount you have paid and the price for the standard single fare appropriate to the sailing used. This payment will be collected using the credit card details provided when paying for the original booking.[/FONT]

harryhound

The reality is that the operators on the ferry terminals have a certain amount of leeway.
They don't want an "altercation" blocking the barrier at 05:00, while senior managers are still tucked up in their nice warm beds.
I have personally mixed and matched cars, their occupants and blamed punctures for lateness.
I've also seen someone blame the "computer system" for not registering the requested ticket, to blag a cheap crossing.
This is a classic case of a marginal cost of the empty places on the car deck being worth zero, so a bucket shop price of anything adds to the revenue.
No wonder they band together into cartels and try to force new entrants out of the club.

bill1944uk

why is it all these ferry deals are for people with cars? Are there no deals for single travellers with no cars?:rolleyes:

harryhound

You see the 1GBP day return passengers struggling off with shopping trolleys and mini "sack" barrows loaded up with goods sold on a VAT free French duty basis, but there is a limit to how much one individual can carry.
Similarly a car load of adults is more likely to splash out in the restaurants and bars.
(If you can gate crash the commercial drivers' dining room there is much cheaper food or even free food on offer, so a hitch hiker might manage to become a "driver's mate").
Ferry companies are past masters at charging what the market will bare.