Anyone know anything about ferry to Cherbour from Rosslare?

Ell69

Hi all we're getting the ferry from Rosslare to cherbourg in July. We'll have our four kids with us, the youngest is 8. others are 13,12 and 18.
I'm wondering is anyone familiar with Irish ferries and how expensive does it work out keeping the kids entertained on board?
Also we're going self-catering and will need to shop any advise on somewhere reasonable.

Wantobe

To get self-catering I would recommend two websites that I have used-

www.abritel.fr and www.homelidays.co.uk

Also if you speak french you could look at www.leboncoin.fr Click on the region you want and then select locations vacances. You could also refine by putting the name of a town or city in the search box.

Assuming you are going with Irish Ferries, there will be free entertainment on board in July- usually when you get on you will be given an itinerary of the various events. Childrens entertainers, a caberet show, piano player etc. There is a cinema but you have to pay in. It's also quite small. There is internet access but it is expensive also.

There is a hairdressers, small shop duty free, newspapers, basic needs etc, numerous cafes, a large pub, two restaurants, gaming area ( with coin machines), soft play area for toddlers.

When you get to the ferry you leave the car and once the ferry sails you cannot go back to the car to get anything you have forgotten. So pack separate bags with everything you need for the night- ready to take out when you get out of the ferry.

I travel on the ferry about twice a year, usually try to pay for a better cabin with tv and bring my own dvd player in case the crossing is rough ( but in July the chances are low enough). Or you could bring your laptop and have some movies downloaded or games etc. I usually bring my own dinner for the family for the night before on the ferry- bring various salads, bread, cooked meats, water, bottle of beer/wine, sweets, desserts, plenty of colouring books for the kids and a few toys. We would normally eat in the cabin but you can eat in the large restaurant if you buy say some water/wine or whatever. There is a microwave to heat up food if you want. The food on the ferry is only okay and is quite expensive. You can get the usual canteen type fare.

I would usually have breakfast then on the ferry next morning which is fine- there are cereals, fruit, yoghurts, croissants, pain au chocolat, and cooked breakfasts etc. Again, not cheap but you can only bring so much on with you. There is a posher restaurant with waiter service both for dinner and breakfast, can't tell you what its like as Ive never been in there. I usually try to keep my money for France where I know the food is great.

If you haven't already booked a cabin, remember the higher up the cabin the better and the further away from engine fumes. Also having a window is really great.

Hope this helps.

olaola

All of the cabins on the Oscar Wilde are above the water level. The 2 star are perfectly adaquate, being better than most on their last ship. There is a cinema etc on board, if you wanted to send the kids there. Could you put a few films on the laptop and watch them in the cabin? During the height of summer, there will be entertainment in the bars. So you can decide to spend nothing except a few cokes/packets of crisps.

In France every town will have a hypermarket/supermarche, they're all very well signposted and will also be in your GPS.

In France, Mobile homes are a VERY reasonable option for accommodation. The homes themselves are usually of an excellent standard and the parks have great facilities.

http://www.campingfrance.com/UK/
http://www.campingqualite.com/
http://www.camping-castels.co.uk/