Dover-Calais/Dunkirk sea crossing - Bargains gone!

peachyprice

Just got this by email today:

Whether you’re planning a day trip or short break to France these super low return fares are hard to beat!

Day Trip, £11 each way¹ - offer code E24SB
3-day return, £19 each way² - offer code E72SB
5-day return, £24 each way³ - offer code E120SB

These fares are valid for a car and up to nine passengers on both our Dover - Calais and
Dover - Dunkirk routes. Book now for travel any time until 6 December 2012, and they’re yours!

[Deleted User]

Thanks again to all the people who have taken the trouble to reply to my DFDS thread.

There are offers coming through thick and fast now but I always want much longer than a 5 day stay and that's where it gets more expensive.

Now that aferry are in business there might be a bit more competition again. Here's hoping.

callum9999

JPR wrote: »

First time this has ever happened to me in over 30 years of ferry travel. Arrived late in Calais last night (thanks Paris roadworks) after a 500 mile run only to be told that I would be charged an extra £10 to get the next ferry.

Not 100% sure of their rules & regs but goodwill usually prevails. The ferry had 14 cars on it in total so not exactly busy.

No apologies, sympathy blah blah - just a Ryanair style - "we gothcha!"

What a let down after a knackering journey. Lost my business in future........

Maybe that's why they charged you then. Transporting 14 cars on a huge ferry would be losing them money - maybe they're just trying to recoup some of it?

Kaleb

Really good deal from P&O, particularly for those of us from the North who want to spend a night in France before stocking up with Christmas booze.

1 October - 31 December 2012

Dover-Calais Car Afternoon Day Trip
Car and up to 9 people: Depart after midday, return before midnight the same day £17

Dover-Calais Car Overnight Stay
Car and up to 9 people: Depart any time, return before midnight the next day £22

To book just visit poferries.com/majestic. Or look on the Calais Majestic Wine website for full details

margaretclare

Last Thursday we travelled by MyFerry Dover-Calais, £12.50 there, £12.50 back.

It was completely non-busy. I hope they do more business than that, otherwise they'll go the way of the defunct SeaFrance!

We found our favourite restaurant, Le Detroit in the Avenue de la Resistance, Calais. It has also been discovered by other Brits, and we like to get right away!

Knowing what the French are like about meal-times, we headed straight for Le Detroit on disembarking, but because of lunch being so leisurely we didn't get a lot of time to explore afterwards before it was time to head back. Wissant beach was completely empty except for the wind-surfers, for whom it is a popular venue.

Calais is a place many people seem to drive through on their way to somewhere else, but it's a very interesting place in itself and the coast road has some lovely scenery. The Opal Coast it's called, the area of the two capes, Blanc Nez and Gris Nez. We don't do any shopping while we're there, there's nothing we need to buy.

margaretclare

JPR wrote: »

First time this has ever happened to me in over 30 years of ferry travel. Arrived late in Calais last night (thanks Paris roadworks) after a 500 mile run only to be told that I would be charged an extra £10 to get the next ferry.

Not 100% sure of their rules & regs but goodwill usually prevails. The ferry had 14 cars on it in total so not exactly busy.

No apologies, sympathy blah blah - just a Ryanair style - "we gothcha!"

What a let down after a knackering journey. Lost my business in future........

Just checked with DH, who does all our bookings. He says this is quite clearly set out in the terms and conditions which you agree to on booking. We've sometimes been allowed to get on an earlier ship without penalty 'if there is room', but they do make this clear on booking, that there is a penalty. We've travelled with all the ferry companies at one time or other and AFAIK they all have the same T&Cs.

margaretclare

Kaleb wrote: »

Really good deal from P&O, particularly for those of us from the North who want to spend a night in France before stocking up with Christmas booze.

1 October - 31 December 2012

Dover-Calais Car Afternoon Day Trip
Car and up to 9 people: Depart after midday, return before midnight the same day £17

Dover-Calais Car Overnight Stay
Car and up to 9 people: Depart any time, return before midnight the next day £22

To book just visit poferries.com/majestic. Or look on the Calais Majestic Wine website for full details

Thanks for this, but we don't go for the booze. We'd like to get there in daylight, in time to do a little sightseeing before it gets dark. There's a lot more to Calais, and its surroundings, than just a place to go for booze or as a place to drive through on the way to somewhere else. Next time we go we'll stay overnight to give ourselves more time to see the countryside. Here's where we like to eat in Calais: http://restaurantledetroit.com/home.php

redux

margaretclare wrote: »

Just checked with DH, who does all our bookings. He says this is quite clearly set out in the terms and conditions which you agree to on booking. We've sometimes been allowed to get on an earlier ship without penalty 'if there is room', but they do make this clear on booking, that there is a penalty. We've travelled with all the ferry companies at one time or other and AFAIK they all have the same T&Cs.

It used to be they'd allow within 2 hours if available at no extra charge, sometimes longer, but I think these new schemes started this year.

I think it probably works out slightly cheaper than it used to be for those who can make exactly the one booked.

I haven't travelled on one of these fares yet,so I don't know how strict it is.

margaretclare

Kaleb wrote: »

Really good deal from P&O, particularly for those of us from the North who want to spend a night in France before stocking up with Christmas booze.

1 October - 31 December 2012

Dover-Calais Car Afternoon Day Trip
Car and up to 9 people: Depart after midday, return before midnight the same day £17

Dover-Calais Car Overnight Stay
Car and up to 9 people: Depart any time, return before midnight the next day £22

To book just visit poferries.com/majestic. Or look on the Calais Majestic Wine website for full details

Just talked about this with DH. From the North of England - a round trip to Dover is a heck of a long drive. How much 'cheap booze' do you have to buy to make any kind of saving on the cost of driving that distance, and including a night's stay in Calais? Don't the Customs boys and girls get a bit interested if they think you're carrying more than 'personal use'? Does it really save you any money given the cost of fuel for that distance?

I don't know where in the North of England you live, but we're 250 miles from York and 90 miles from Dover. Wouldn't it be cheaper to get an overnight ferry - there used to be one from Hull?

Coming back last Thursday evening Customs didn't even look at us. But they did pull over a large white van.

Tarry

margaretclare wrote: »

Thanks for this, but we don't go for the booze. We'd like to get there in daylight, in time to do a little sightseeing before it gets dark. There's a lot more to Calais, and its surroundings, than just a place to go for booze or as a place to drive through on the way to somewhere else. Next time we go we'll stay overnight to give ourselves more time to see the countryside. Here's where we like to eat in Calais: http://restaurantledetroit.com/home.php

I agree with you, I day trip to France 3 times or so a year just to explore the area, it's easier for me to pop to France, than say pop to London. I fancy visiting a Christmas market again this year.