Val Cenis - General Info plus Tunnel v Ferry.

bandit wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:

bandit wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:Tunnel for winter and ferry for summer... 8)

Which could be fine, unless of course the Tunnel has a problem and gets closed/restricted and repairs fall behind.

There is more chance of making your journey by using a ferry service, because there are more operators and routes IMHO.

It has been restricted for the last year or so since the fire and has only just returned to 3 trips per hour...... keep up Bandit

Point two: The ferries, apart from Norfolk line who are very good value are all priced within £30 of the tunnel price, so again the ferry companies apart from Norfolk line who are incredibly good value have missed a trick, if Norfolk line can supply a return ticket for £57 why can't the others

Yes Wickers, I know about the tunnel restrictions, as I had a tunnel booking which was affected. As eurotunnel changed the terms of my contract significantly, I successfully argued for a refund.

Generally, I've found that an early booking tunnel ticket is now about £130 return for when I want to travel, vs a very competitive Norfolkline at around £50 return and around £65 for the shorter Dover/Calais routes. Not sure when you priced up your crossings?

Priced it up this summer the tunnel was £123, Sea france £87 and the other lot was I think £93 and of course Norfolk line £57 but still in my very humble opinion Tunnel Winter, Ferry Summer 8)

Ian,
I'm very sorry, but - I forgot to say that my vomit-making journey in Force 10 across the Irish Sea was at the end of June.

Before that, I had been thinking of going on a cruise. Now, however, I can't even think of going on a ship without feeling distincly queasy. The only good thing about it was that the kids were fine. I made everyone take sea-sick pills (including me), and the kids had a great time amusing themselves with trying to walk across the deck as it lurched up and down like an out of control roller-coaster. It was like trying to climb Everest on the 'uphill' side of the waves, and then like flying as she plunged downwards, and there was a nasty sort of corkscrew twist in the middle.

Bandit, we travelled on the Eurostar just as they finally started running almost normally again, and they omitted to tell us that the train would be leaving 10 minutes early and arriving 15 minutes late. Luckily though, I am always anticipating the worst, and I phoned a few days ahead to check on things, heard about the new schedule, and we caught the train okay.

Ally

AllyG wrote:Ian,
I'm very sorry, but - I forgot to say that my vomit-making journey in Force 10 across the Irish Sea was at the end of June.

Before that, I had been thinking of going on a cruise. Now, however, I can't even think of going on a ship without feeling distincly queasy. The only good thing about it was that the kids were fine. I made everyone take sea-sick pills (including me), and the kids had a great time amusing themselves with trying to walk across the deck as it lurched up and down like an out of control roller-coaster. It was like trying to climb Everest on the 'uphill' side of the waves, and then like flying as she plunged downwards, and there was a nasty sort of corkscrew twist in the middle.

Bandit, we travelled on the Eurostar just as they finally started running almost normally again, and they omitted to tell us that the train would be leaving 10 minutes early and arriving 15 minutes late. Luckily though, I am always anticipating the worst, and I phoned a few days ahead to check on things, heard about the new schedule, and we caught the train okay.

Ally

The Irish crossing is notorious for rough seas, I have had the same experience on a Dover Calais crossing, now for me I was not sick but I did have to leave a beer as it was not the boat lurching and the roar of the propellors coming out of the water but the sight of other people with their heads in sick bags. :cry: :cry:

I didn't actually vomit myself, although plenty of other people did. But I felt like I was dying. In fact, when I was hanging over the rail at the stern I thought how great it would be to fall overboard and bring an end to my misery.

I should think the English channel crossing is quicker than the Irish one - four hours if the fast cat isn't running.

Ally

In February this year, we travelled from Newcastle to Amsterdam, then drove to Niederau and the ferry crossing was fine. Not choppy at all. I had been worried. None of us were sick at all. It took 12 long hours to drive to Niederau and that was with the roads clear too!

You can get rough and calm seas any time of year, so I would personally always go with the lowest price crossing, which is usually Norfolk Line. If its rough, its only 90 minutes across so not a big deal. If the difference in price was only £30 or so, I'd use the tunnel just because its quicker.

Tony_H wrote:You can get rough and calm seas any time of year, so I would personally always go with the lowest price crossing, which is usually Norfolk Line. If its rough, its only 90 minutes across so not a big deal. If the difference in price was only £30 or so, I'd use the tunnel just because its quicker.

Norfolk line, Dover Dunkirk is 120 minutes 8)

For me the choice between Ferry and Tunnel depends on A) How far you can book in advance and B) How flexible you need to be on times.
If you can book in advance then the ferry is comparable on costs if your not fussy what time you go snd return but you need to stick to the booked times.

If its more last min and quite often i book only a week before then the tunnel is out of the question.

I tend to use P&O because they have more crossings and at short notice are as cheap as Norfolk lines. I can often find a voucher code online as well which can get you money off. 50% is my record so far.

I also find you can book the cheapest ferry but if you turn up early they get you on the next ferry at no extra cost even if it was a more expensive crossing.
This is especially good for the return journey as you can book for 3.00 am but can turn up at 11.00 pm and still get on the next ferry. No pressure to get there.
I also quite enjoy the boat as i can relax for a bit after or before the worst part of the drive which is the English side to and from Dover. :)