Rosslare-Cherbourg mini-cruise advice?

muckety

I struggled with where to put this; if wrong pls move!

We thought we would take the car to France for a shopping trip - stock up on wine, xmas presents, children's clothes, etc. With very little holiday left we are limited to doing a mini-cruise. My question is does anyone know if we go to Cherbourg will we get any value? is there a nice town after Cherbourg that is within driving distance given the short time on shore? Or will it be a miserable and wasted journey ? (wasted in value terms!).

P. Breathnach

The mini-cruise package is (I think) limited in your having to return on the day of arrival. That gives you a maximum of seven hours ashore, possibly less. So it's not worth thinking of going farther afield. Besides, I can't think of any fantastically-interesting town within easy range.

If you are into wine, you can do well. Personally, I don't buy wine much cheaper than I might buy it at home, but I get far better wines for the same money. I do most of my buying at the Normandie Wine Warehouse where the wines are generally of fairly good quality and the staff are helpful. If you want cheaper (but still acceptable quality) the hypermarchés can be good. I like Auchan the best. It's on the road out of town towards the south. It is part of a shopping centre with some other good shopping.

Cherbourg itself is not fantastically interesting, mainly because it took a hammering in the war, and shopping possibilities in the town are limited enough.

Whether or not it is worth your while is down to you. I actually enjoy the ferry crossing. It's down-time, enforced relaxation.

If you decide to go, remember to inform your motor insurer. Green cards are no longer mandatory, but notifying your insurer is.

P. Breathnach

Just a thought: if you study the sailing schedule, you can find non-sailing days, when the ferry has a layover. For example, the boat that arrives in Cherbourg on 6 October does not leave until 7 October. If you can get mini-cruise terms on such a sailing, you get an overnight in France -- easier pace. If I were doing that, I'd overnight in Villedieu-des-Poeles.

olaola

P. Breathnach wrote: »

Just a thought: if you study the sailing schedule, you can find non-sailing days, when the ferry has a layover. For example, the boat that arrives in Cherbourg on 6 October does not leave until 7 October. If you can get mini-cruise terms on such a sailing, you get an overnight in France -- easier pace. If I were doing that, I'd overnight in Villedieu-des-Poeles.

I don't know if you can get minicruise rates on lieovers - and sometimes they might not fall in Cherbourg - they might be in Rosslare!
Edited! I just checked and you can go on the 5th Oct (Sun) arrive Monday, stay Mon night and travel home at 21.30 on Tuesday evening for the minicruise rate.

Another tip! The further into the winter you go, the worse the weather is going to be. So the chances of your day in Cherbourg being shortened are greater.

There is an escorted wine mini cruise on the 11th Sept -
http://www.irishferries.com/fares/irl_fra/index.shtml#fm

pauraic1990

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mikedragon32

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