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Ferry deals to France - Summer 2015

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  • Registered Users Posts: 277 ✭✭redmissb


    MorganIRL wrote: »
    I agree with that statement, I went to book last yr with the tesco vouchers. I could save nothing with booking with the vouchers. Even €20 I would have used them but nothing. I booked this yr through eurocamp early June cost us €864 10 days, 2 adults 2kids (3&1) Irish ferries. I thought it was great value.


    The difference is €20 each way when using vouchers, not that outrageous? Last year I paid for the ferry in full using tesco tokens so would have to disagree that it's a scam. Unless you're using less than €40 vouchers you'd have to make a saving?


  • Registered Users Posts: 277 ✭✭redmissb


    Also if you book by phone you can send in vouchers up to 6 weeks before you travel. Was also able to avail of the low deposit and 10% discount when using tesco vouchers. I have the tesco credit card so pick up a lot of points with it.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,668 ✭✭✭jay0109


    redmissb wrote: »
    Also if you book by phone you can send in vouchers up to 6 weeks before you travel. Was also able to avail of the low deposit and 10% discount when using tesco vouchers. I have the tesco credit card so pick up a lot of points with it.

    same as that...have 3 years worth of clubcard vouchers which will cover the ferry and holiday camp next summer. So free holiday essentially, and I don't even shop in Tesco's anymore!


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,083 ✭✭✭juneg


    jay0109 wrote: »
    same as that...have 3 years worth of clubcard vouchers which will cover the ferry and holiday camp next summer. So free holiday essentially, and I don't even shop in Tesco's anymore!

    So basically you put everything you spend on the tesco credit card to boost the points value in clubcard vouchers?


  • Registered Users Posts: 277 ✭✭redmissb


    That's mostly what I do Juneg, then transfer the money straight away from my current account. I had €1600 worth of tesco vouchers last year, was even able to avail of the luxury cabins on IF, they were amazing! It's a great way to get a cheaper holiday. I also shop mainly in Tesco, if you use your tesco card to pay you get extra points.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 2,668 ✭✭✭jay0109


    juneg wrote: »
    So basically you put everything you spend on the tesco credit card to boost the points value in clubcard vouchers?

    Exactly, practically every cent we spend goes on the credit card. Get about €40-€60 in vouchers every Qtr and multiply that by 4 when availing of the deals.
    But always pay the credit card in full each month to avoid charges,interest etc


  • Registered Users Posts: 589 ✭✭✭MorganIRL


    jay0109 wrote: »
    Exactly, practically every cent we spend goes on the credit card. Get about €40-€60 in vouchers every Qtr and multiply that by 4 when availing of the deals.
    But always pay the credit card in full each month to avoid charges,interest etc

    @jay0109 how do you mean multiply by 4? how do we do that. We get about the same as you per 1/4 (€40-€60) we only get a mixture of money off coupons (€20-€30) and (€20-€30) in money off coupons. Is that what you mean?


  • Registered Users Posts: 277 ✭✭redmissb


    For some deals such as Irish Ferries and Stena you get 4 times the value in vouchers. So €100 in Tesco vouchers can be exchanged for €400 Irish Ferries vouchers.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,261 ✭✭✭webpal


    MorganIRL wrote: »
    @jay0109 how do you mean multiply by 4? how do we do that. We get about the same as you per 1/4 (€40-€60) we only get a mixture of money off coupons (€20-€30) and (€20-€30) in money off coupons. Is that what you mean?


    all details here:
    http://www.tesco.ie/clubcard/deals/irish-ferries.aspx

    Lets say your return trip on IF to France costs €1000, including cabins and any extras etc. If you want use your Tesco vouchers, you need to enter tesco or something in the discount code box. Follow the same procedure as normal and your trip should now costs €1040 (admin fees of 20 each way). Lets say you have €200 worth of Tesco vouchers that you got in the post. You need to post these off to redeem your €800 worth of Irish Ferries vouchers. Now your trip only costs €240


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,683 ✭✭✭Pretzill


    Just another idea (if noones discovered it) We often took the landbridge option but the drive down through Wales and then England to Dover can be a bit exhausting. We did it in one go overnight once - we were like zombies boarding the ferry to France! And after going via Rosslare direct it's so much more relaxing. However we also tried Holyhead to Hull by car about 4 hours drive and then Hull to Zeebrugge a 12 hour ferry ride with P&O - at the time it was peak season and worked out cheaper but not any shorter and realistically it's better suited for northern France, Belgium or more northern destinations.

    The plus point for me was it was a nice drive to Hull from Holyhead with no need to book a hotel and the ferry did an all in food deal for breakfast, dinner and although the cabins were small an upgrade onboard to a much larger cabin only cost 20 pound. Just another idea.
    Although I've noticed now that Dub/Holyhead prices are getting stupidly pricey!


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  • Registered Users Posts: 72 ✭✭MelachiT


    We were looking at going to France for the October mid-term. Not too happy with the price travelling on the Oscar Wilde, I think it was around 547 for 2+1 in a 2* cabin. Was even more expensive on their economy ship Epsilon.

    But what I was wondering if anyone knows if Irish ferries are in the habit of closing off cabins in low season. We were looking at getting a 3* but they were quoted as all fully booked on the Oscar Wilde. I can't believe cabins are already fully booked in low season.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,737 ✭✭✭MidlandsM


    MelachiT wrote: »
    We were looking at going to France for the October mid-term. Not too happy with the price travelling on the Oscar Wilde, I think it was around 547 for 2+1 in a 2* cabin. Was even more expensive on their economy ship Epsilon.

    But what I was wondering if anyone knows if Irish ferries are in the habit of closing off cabins in low season. We were looking at getting a 3* but they were quoted as all fully booked on the Oscar Wilde. I can't believe cabins are already fully booked in low season.

    Its just price gouging...irish ferries are famous for it.


  • Registered Users Posts: 239 ✭✭aquarius10


    Newbie to the Ferries looking for June 2015 ferry deals from rosslare to Cherbourg.

    We will be travelling from Limerick to the irish port and will be heading to Disneyland paris for a week and then a week in Cote de Nacre, Saint Aubin sur Mer, Normandy so Cherbourg makes sense for this part of France.

    I've priced Brittany ferries for the weekend 20 June 2015 and it's approx €998 for a car, 2 adults & 2 kids for 2 weeks inside 4 berth Cabin, Stena is €768 for similar dates Rosslare - Cherbourg.

    If we leave a few days earlier around the 15 June we could save another €200 with stena & Brittany ferries so will probably travel earlier ?

    Irish Ferries still have no prices for 2015. I need to book Disney before October to get free days & nights but just don't know if I should wait for irish ferry prices, or just take the chance they will sail & Monday and it won't be too expensive - they have better sailing times and would prefer to arrive as early in the week as possible before Disney gets busy at the weekends.

    Unfortunately don't have tesco vouchers saved but know for the future to keep them.

    Think we will travel rosslare - Cherbourg but with Stena or Irish Ferries ? Will just have to wait a few more weeks for Irish Ferries to release their 2015 schedule & prices.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,074 ✭✭✭paddydriver


    FWIW.. think Disneyland Paris are always offering free kids, free nights etc. I am waiting on Irish Ferries prices too but no experience if they release any cheaper prices for the peak periods or do they just look at their competitors prices at the time and drop a fiver off them..:o


  • Registered Users Posts: 239 ✭✭aquarius10


    Thanks for that Paddydriver, have spoken to a few travel agents bout Disney offers, have been told the offers change from time to time, sometimes free half board, kids eat free etc but the best deal for money is days & nights free when booked early ? So I'm told ?

    we are also doing a week in the campsites with al fresco which also must be booked early for discounts & to get the caravan we want so we'll give it another week or so & then book something. The travel agents & campsite said they can be flexible within a day or so if we need to change when IF release their schedule as long as we have already booked something.

    Just wish IF would release schedule & prices now


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,074 ✭✭✭paddydriver


    We went to Disneyland a good few years back now and the best price we got was booking via the UK - simply going to the .co.uk instead of .ie and paying in STG. Only problem now is that STG has strengthened a good bit over last few years and may not work out as well now.

    I am caught in decision now about whether to bite the bullet and book ferry for next year or wait on IF too. Can get Stena from Rosslare to Cherbourg for circa €1100 on weekend kids finish school. BF is far more expensive out of Cork but many say its a nicer boat.

    Not sure what to do at this stage. I have a 15% discount for Stena but only good for trips booked before 31st Dec. I expect that deal will be roll over into next year but probably too late for me at that stage as prices will likely be far more expensive.


  • Registered Users Posts: 239 ✭✭aquarius10


    Paddydriver would you not consider taking the kids out of school a few days early?.. They don't do much the last few days ?? And if their attendance is good the rest of the year they won't miss out ?

    I have checked all the sites, .co.uk and .fr for price reductions but none really any cheaper than .ie website with Exchange rate, plus Abbey Travel will make booking for same price as Disney site but only have to pay €150 now whereas Disney you need to pay in full now :(

    Think we will book Disney & campsite holiday without waiting for IF schedule and take the chance it won't be much more than Stena and that they sail on same days as this year.

    BF are just too expensive and sail on Fridays :( sure it might be nicer ship but would rather just get there safely & save money to spend on holiday.

    IF normally sail Monday & Stena Tuesday, would prefer to arrive on a Tuesday for Disney as it's a bit quieter before the w'end :)

    With the sailing schedules the way they are and hopefully IF use same sailing schedule as last year we hope to sail out on Monday with IF and return on the Friday week with Stena - the return price is the same as one way so it suits us better to do this.

    Was told today IF schedules won't be out till mid October if that helps ?


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,074 ✭✭✭paddydriver


    I'd take them out a few days early (3 in primary now) but other consideration is that we saw that many of the campsite activities didn't start until 1st of July this year so they'd be peeved if going back only to find they are not getting on same activities as this year.

    All in all we'd save a lot more going in June, both on ferry and campsite, but we have to weigh all up.

    Will think more on it over coming weeks and decide what to do. Thanks for some of the tips.


  • Registered Users Posts: 239 ✭✭aquarius10


    Paddydriver - Irish ferries just put up prices for 2015 today !

    anyone got a discount code for France 2015 with IF ?


  • Registered Users Posts: 93 ✭✭barryf42


    just did a quick check versus this years booking where i go out on first week of august and back on 3rd week. e170 more today. will hold fire as they will send the free sailing to uk offer and early booking discount mail over next few weeks.
    this year was e815 - next year coming in at e982 - that is a lot of lunches in brittany!


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  • Registered Users Posts: 28,704 ✭✭✭✭Quazzie


    Do IF demand full payment on booking?


  • Registered Users Posts: 93 ✭✭barryf42


    Quazzie wrote: »
    Do IF demand full payment on booking?

    no - you pay e100 deposit and the balance 42 days prior to the sailing


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,539 ✭✭✭BenEadir


    aquarius10 wrote: »
    anyone got a discount code for France 2015 with IF ?

    Taken from this post on the old BA thread - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=92163734&postcount=1409

    "Irish Ferries 2015 timetable is now live on there website httphttp://www.irishferries.com/ie-en/to-france-from-ireland/

    There is a 10% discount Customer Offer has been set up under Promo Code: FRANCEC15 for bookings made up to 31/10/14."

    I see IF are only departing Rosslare Thursday and Saturdays which is a bummer as the site we've booked has a Saturday to Saturday arrival/departure schedule. We could travel on the Saturday but it means losing a day on site and arriving Sunday afternoon is a bit of a pain as the supermarkets are closed which is easily enough dealt with by just getting the essentials next morning for breakfast and then hitting the supermarket to stock up but I'd much prefer to arrive Saturday afternoon, drop everything, hit the supermarket and once the mobile is set up stroll down for dinner onsite with everything sorted.

    I'll have to see if we can get a Friday ferry with Stena or Brittany.


  • Registered Users Posts: 119 ✭✭MICHAELO_4921


    BenThere wrote: »
    Taken from this post on the old BA thread - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=92163734&postcount=1409

    "Irish Ferries 2015 timetable is now live on there website httphttp://www.irishferries.com/ie-en/to-france-from-ireland/

    There is a 10% discount Customer Offer has been set up under Promo Code: FRANCEC15 for bookings made up to 31/10/14."


    I'll have to see if we can get a Friday ferry with Stena or Brittany.

    Irish Ferries have sailing on a Friday Rosslare - Roscoff & retuning on a Saturday from May on selected dates, that i can see.

    Stena: Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday

    Brittany: Saturday


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,539 ✭✭✭BenEadir


    Thanks MichaelO,

    It looks like the schedule changes as the high season kicks off and I have no choice but to sail on Sat the 11th July. No sailings with IF. Stena or Brittany on Fri the 10th. C'est la vie.


  • Registered Users Posts: 119 ✭✭MICHAELO_4921


    There one on the 3rd & 17th just not the 11th


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,539 ✭✭✭BenEadir


    There one on the 3rd & 17th just not the 11th

    I know :mad:


  • Registered Users Posts: 119 ✭✭MICHAELO_4921


    I have changed the site twice now for 2015. when I got the school timetable & just yesterday with the ferry timetable. But I had no problems doing a Thursday - Tuesday on site in July.


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,539 ✭✭✭BenEadir


    I have changed the site twice now for 2015. when I got the school timetable & just yesterday with the ferry timetable. But I had no problems doing a Thursday - Tuesday on site in July.

    The site we go to only do Sat to Sat from July 12th onwards unfortunately - http://www.siblu.ie/france/vendee/le_bois_masson.php

    As we're going for three weeks it won't be the end of the world if we lose a day at the start. alternatively we might even sail on the Thursday and spend a night in Nantes on the way down. It would break up the journey and we'd be on site Saturday lunchtime nice and fresh and raring to go.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 119 ✭✭MICHAELO_4921


    Tesco voucher with Siblu :)


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