Cross Channel Ferry Prices

HyFy

I fairly regularly use the Dover to Calais/Dunkirk crossing routes with a motorhome and two dogs. We went to France via DFDS at the beginning of September at a cost of £111.00. I have just come back from France on a last minute booking via P & O at a cost of £132. Nothing surprising in any of that.

But I have just got some quotations for the same crossing times but in January and February 2017 and DFDS have shot up to £163 and the P&O return crossing to £177.00. These are the same times of day and days of the week, the same vehicle and passenger/pet numbers.

I always thought that ferry prices, unlike hotels, increased the closer you booked to the date but either maybe I'm wrong or something else has slipped past me like even more expensive more refined cleaner fuel.

Has anyone any ideas why these prices have shot up?

As an aside I also see that, for example, on 16th February 2017, all DFDS crossings between 08.00 and 20.00 from Calais/Dunkirk to the UK are already SOLD OUT - amazing.

HyFy

missbiggles1

HyFy wrote: »

I fairly regularly use the Dover to Calais/Dunkirk crossing routes with a motorhome and two dogs. We went to France via DFDS at the beginning of September at a cost of £111.00. I have just come back from France on a last minute booking via P & O at a cost of £132. Nothing surprising in any of that.

But I have just got some quotations for the same crossing times but in January and February 2017 and DFDS have shot up to £163 and the P&O return crossing to £177.00. These are the same times of day and days of the week, the same vehicle and passenger/pet numbers.

I always thought that ferry prices, unlike hotels, increased the closer you booked to the date but either maybe I'm wrong or something else has slipped past me like even more expensive more refined cleaner fuel.

Has anyone any ideas why these prices have shot up?

As an aside I also see that, for example, on 16th February 2017, all DFDS crossings between 08.00 and 20.00 from Calais/Dunkirk to the UK are already SOLD OUT - amazing.

HyFy

You must be looking at the wrong thing - there doesn't seem to be any problem with availability on that date.

Moto2

missbiggles1 wrote: »

You must be looking at the wrong thing - there doesn't seem to be any problem with availability on that date.

Did you check for a motorhome?
I can only see the 10:55 - Calais to Dover available on the 16th between those hours.

I suspect they have some scheduled maintenance going on and using a substitute boat

HyFy

I have asked the same question of DFDS. They replied:

"We work with flexible fares so our pricing can change at anytime and a price can only be guaranteed at the time of booking."

...which I take to mean that if you book early you are liable to get "stung".

I will therefore leave it until the last minute and if DFDS can't carry me I will look to P&O!!
Unfortunately I don't have the third option of the tunnel. My dogs don't mind it but my wife would rather fly and as one who had to cross the At;antic the day after "Locherbie" you can see why she now has great difficulty coping with that!!

I await P&O's reply...

HyFy

Moto2

HyFy wrote: »

I have asked the same question of DFDS. They replied:

"We work with flexible fares so our pricing can change at anytime and a price can only be guaranteed at the time of booking."

...which I take to mean that if you book early you are liable to get "stung".

No, what it means is, they aren't going to answer your question. Instead, here's a statement we prepared earlier that covers everything and nothing.
Did you look at the 10:55 sailing? that was available when I posted.
TBH, if you call BF in normal office hours your get the UK call centre, they are usually quite helpful and informative (don't bother out of hours)

HyFy

Thanks for the suggestion, Moto2, but the 10.55 sailing is even more hugely expensive. I'm not so much concerned about not getting a crossing on that day but more asking why the the fares are so much more than a last minute booking, "in-season". I'd book for the previous day or the previous week if the fares were more reasonable. I just don't understand their thinking but I'm sure they have a reason. Maybe they catch the odd well organised pre-planner...

HyFy

Carmen

HiFy,
I have just put in random dates for jan and the prices are coming to your lesser amount.
Have another look
Dfds

christaitfife

There are a few codes around for P&O at the moment:
20% Dover to Calais - AUTUMNLB
10% off - summer16
£90 off travel over 5 days away - CV1

Might be worth a try. Also, check out P&O's offers page. Sometimes it can be worth taking a promo short stay fare (return) and book a seperate return single.

hollydays

You are probably looking too far ahead.
Keep looking regularly and the price will no doubt drop.

Polly_Esther

What is <BF>?

Tarry

I've done that in the past...looked to far ahead and got crazy prices.