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We are doing Plymouth to Santander on the way out.Never been on this crossing before, so don,t know what to expect.We will be travelling overnight, so will be able to sleep hopefully.

Coming home is Plymouth to Roscoff. We do this crossing every year, with very mixed results! Its the new boat,so we,ll have to wait and see!

Quote: Originally posted by alan29 on 04/8/2009

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Love the ferry, but tend to avoid Dover-Calais as it gets a bit rammed.

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Quote: Originally posted by jeepster on 05/8/2009

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Quote: Originally posted by alan29 on 04/8/2009

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Love the ferry, but tend to avoid Dover-Calais as it gets a bit rammed.

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Luckily most people think that! Been over twice this year and the ferry was half full, great!

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Naaa it was quiet, plenty of room!

Mr UM

I agree the Ferry is part of the holiday we almost always go from Portsmouth as live near and go often as have friends in Caen. Travelling with trailer tent next week for 1st time with LD Lines Portsmouth to Le Havre night crossing (usually go Brittany Ferries) saving such a lot of money so prepared to rough it a bit !!

I have known the sea to be so rough that ferries have to stay by the Isle of Wight until it calms down so they can come into Portsmouth Harbour ! Luckily almost all our crossings have been quite smooth but I have found that Fast Cats are always more 'bumpy' than conventional ferries. 

Quote: Originally posted by muddler on 05/8/2009

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We are doing Plymouth to Santander on the way out.Never been on this crossing before, so don,t know what to expect.We will be travelling overnight, so will be able to sleep hopefully.

Coming home is Plymouth to Roscoff. We do this crossing every year, with very mixed results! Its the new boat,so we,ll have to wait and see!

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Mixed feelings about the Pont Aven. On the plus side, it is a lovely boat, no engine noise, and boy is it fast. The cabins were really comfortable, and lack of noise helped the sleep process, plus a glass or two of Guiness.

Negatives, the car deck is ridiculous. We have a Senator "wide" van, and were cms from a wall, and the next van to us. I watched the loading process because I was scared I would loose a high level light cover at least OK the loaders are good at their job and if you follow the instructions you have a chance of being OK, but how do you protect against the idiot who drives at 15mph on a car deck with a caravan bouncing every which way over the truck anchors. I could only exit my car via the passenger door, and others had to reverse, because they could n't get out at all. Bit of a stress up being used to Hull /Zeebrugge, and they can comfortably get 8 vans accross.

On board, the restaurants are right at the front. Lovelly view, and if you can get a table, not occupied by sightseers, you are in the most uncomfortable part of the ship due to the pitching motion in the Bay of Biscay. Whoever designed that layout for a vessel intended to run on multimeal crossings of choppy seas wants shooting.

20hrs is a long time for kids, and they do end up going up and down in the lifts etc. which can get a bit annoying if they are not your kids, But to end on a good note, there is a clown /kids entertainer who does an act in the afternoon, and do not miss this show, it is the best and funniest entertainment I have seen in a long time. the guy is a real professional with kids, and deserves special mention.

ON balance, you get home (or there) quick, Was it a genuine pleasure and an enhancement to the holiday?-----  Fraid not for me.and I think none sailors would find it a bit of a bind.

FM

Thanks for some interesting insights there Frogman14 on the Pont Aven. We are due to go on Tuesday down to Santander, looking forward to the holiday apart from the crossing as I even get bored on the Hollyhead-Dublin crossing.

Does anyone know how packed the boat gets at this time of year on the way out?

Also, do you get your cabin from the moment you board and keep it til you leave the boat. Thinking a good long lie in would kill some time on the Wednesday?

Hi Chris

Looking at the queue waiting to board when we landed, there was not a mass of outfits, but the boat is big, and on board, I doubt if it would ever be "crowded". I don't know what time you sail , but my impression is that sea conditions are generally better in the channel, and it is only when you get off Finistere that you hit the swell, so get a meal early

There is a cabaret at night, and there is a pool, which was full when we boarded,  although when we came back it was drained, so when you can use it I am not sure. It was choppy, and it would have been interesting or maybe dangerous if the pool had been open. Like i say above, the clown guy has the best act by far, and if as an adult you listen carefully  you get some hidden jokes, not for the kids.

You get your cabin key at check in, and are asked to vacate cabins about an hour before docking,----- but that should n't be a problem, in that you will be too excited when you see land.

Have a good trip. and enjoy the experience.

FM

Quote: Originally posted by CaddyClan on 03/8/2009

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We went with Norfolkline from Dover to Dunkerque and it was great. They don't take buses so no hoards of kids. Plenty of room for people to sit. HUGE full English breakfast for just over a fiver. We'll definately be using them again.

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No buses, that sounds perfect. Our Calais to Dover crossing was rammed with bus loads of the over 80s who moved round the ferry in packs of about 60 making it impossible to get anywhere!

Susie

We did Newhaven- Dieppe to get to the Vendee.

There are a couple of quiet lounges away from the noisy bar lounges and the kids play areas which was good if you dont have sealegs like me. The cafe is OK but expensive and not a great deal of choice.

My main bugbear was the shop which is  really only a kiosk. They dont sell newspapers- which was annoying- and had limited stock. Seems crazy that it is a quarter of the size of the Dover Calais ferries and yet the journey is 4 times as long.

My other bugbear is when people start queuing at the top of the stairs before the announcements- they then delay the whole disembarkation process if the people in the cars at the front of the ferry cant get down to their cars!.

The food on Norfolk Line is very reasonable and not bad quality but we always use the top deck restaurant rather than the self service. The breakfast is only a pound more, I think it was £5.95 last year and you get to sit at a nicely laid table and waited on.

We have only used P&O once and I remember the shop was very big. NL's shop isnt that size but it isnt the kiosk it was on the old boats. I think you get your newspapers at reception though, rather than in the shop.

Carol

I've not travelled on a ferry in years, off from Poole - St Malo on Monday with Condor Ferries - has anyone travelled with them/ this route before?

Quote: My other bugbear is when people start queuing at the top of the stairs before the announcements- they then delay the whole disembarkation process if the people in the cars at the front of the ferry cant get down to their cars!.

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