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New Ferry to France (Launch Offer)

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Comments

  • #962
    mcgarrett
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 375 ✭✭mcgarrett


    July 4
    Beautiful weather here at the moment and forecast for the vendee for the next 3 days is late 20's.
    Big day here today and heading to the feu d'artifice (haven't decided where yet) this evening to celebrate 14th July. Saint Nazaire on Wednesday night for trip home.


  • #963
    dockleaf
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 158 ✭✭dockleaf


    August 1
    Can anyone recommend a nice restaurant in St.Nazaire, we arrive at 7pm french time, so am thinking will head for restaurant as quickly as possible off the boat. Family friendly, maybe seafood?


  • #964
    MidlandsM
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,734 ✭✭✭MidlandsM


    dockleaf wrote: »
    Can anyone recommend a nice restaurant in St.Nazaire, we arrive at 7pm french time, so am thinking will head for restaurant as quickly as possible off the boat. Family friendly, maybe seafood?


    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=91165821&postcount=883


  • #965
    ScouseMouse
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,070 ✭✭✭ScouseMouse


    July 4
    dockleaf wrote: »
    Can anyone recommend a nice restaurant in St.Nazaire, we arrive at 7pm french time, so am thinking will head for restaurant as quickly as possible off the boat. Family friendly, maybe seafood?
    superscouse wrote: »

    Then we went looking for somewhere to eat. Next to auchen, we found a cluster of eateries. McDonalds, steakhouse and a cracking little restaurant called POIVRE ROUGE, or red pepper. They did us a 3 course meal for the adults, of unlimited salad bar, red meat (steak maybe, but it was good), and dessert, for about 15 euro. Kids was another menu but plenty of it.

    Three adults, two kids, one bottle of wine, 3 or 4 soft drinks, €77. It really was an excellent find. Food was good, it was reasonable, and they were good when we explained gluten free.

    Would highly recommend it. POIVRE ROUGE
    Stone Deaf 4evr wrote: »
    Its gas, Im going with brittany ferries in august, but I still check in here regularly as its feeding my excitement for my own trip!
    Oooooh, POSH, Supposed to be a classy boat but you will pay for it :pac::pac:


  • #966
    joe250
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 358 ✭✭joe250


    HI

    I have lebara mobile sim card with 621mb left and 6euro credit.
    Date expires 31/07/14.
    Any interested in it pm me.


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  • #967
    vienne86
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,079 ✭✭✭✭vienne86


    roundymac wrote: »
    With Brittany Ferries you get a cardboard swipe card card when you are checking in at the terminal, you get to keep it as a soueviner when you disembark.;)

    Same as Irish Ferries Oscar Wilde. They make grand bookmarks!


  • #968
    Stone Deaf 4evr
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,000 ✭✭✭Stone Deaf 4evr


    superscouse wrote: »
    Oooooh, POSH, Supposed to be a classy boat but you will pay for it :pac::pac:

    its my 3rd time taking it, my main reasons for justifying the extra expense is that my house is 30 minutes from where the ferry departs, and the arrival & departure times suit me nicely.I treat the boat as part of the holidays, once you're on its like being in a hotel. There's no denying that ye've gotten a bargain though.


  • #969
    CJhaughey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,670 ✭✭✭✭CJhaughey


    Same as above, in fact if LD hadn't cancelled the early sailings I would have travelled with them.
    As it was I stood to lose a good chunk of the holiday and have to travel to Rosslare which is 2+hrs more than from Ringaskiddy, to arrive at the same port.
    Unfortunately as the BF sailing was 2.5x the price of the offer but just suited better.
    Bon voyage to all the happy campers, we had a brilliant time in France.


  • #970
    ScouseMouse
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,070 ✭✭✭ScouseMouse


    July 4
    I agree completely with the last few comments. It is down to money. With what I saved I was able to take my kids for four days in Disney after a week in Sequoia Park.

    I would love to go on BF, but from Dublin, its a good drive down, plus I only paid 346 return for 5 of us all in.

    Whatever suits I guess.

    HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!


  • #971
    Stone Deaf 4evr
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,000 ✭✭✭Stone Deaf 4evr


    CJhaughey wrote: »
    Same as above, in fact if LD hadn't cancelled the early sailings I would have travelled with them.
    As it was I stood to lose a good chunk of the holiday and have to travel to Rosslare which is 2+hrs more than from Ringaskiddy, to arrive at the same port.
    Unfortunately as the BF sailing was 2.5x the price of the offer but just suited better.
    Bon voyage to all the happy campers, we had a brilliant time in France.

    Exactly, and I'm a bit of an oddball in that I'd rather spend 4 hours on the autoroutes of france over 2 hours going to rosslare!


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  • #972
    Stone Deaf 4evr
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,000 ✭✭✭Stone Deaf 4evr


    superscouse wrote: »
    I agree completely with the last few comments. It is down to money. With what I saved I was able to take my kids for four days in Disney after a week in Sequoia Park.

    I would love to go on BF, but from Dublin, its a good drive down, plus I only paid 346 return for 5 of us all in.

    Whatever suits I guess.

    HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!


    Exactly this, when picking a ferry route / operator there are a lot of variables to add up, Id recommend people realistically break down every aspect of the trip, starting from the front door of their house right to the destination and back before picking. Theres not much point in saving 200 euros if you have to fill the diesel tank 2 extra times!


  • #973
    CJhaughey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,670 ✭✭✭✭CJhaughey


    Stone Deaf 4evr wrote: »
    Exactly this, when picking a ferry route / operator there are a lot of variables to add up, Id recommend people realistically break down every aspect of the trip, starting from the front door of their house right to the destination and back before picking. Theres not much point in saving 200 euros if you have to fill the diesel tank 2 extra times!
    I am smashed this month no matter what way I look at it!
    I don't think the diesel in France cost me that much considering how far we travelled, (2500km +)
    I had my fun and thats all that matters.
    s_37_597_0.jpg


  • #974
    highly1111
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 961 ✭✭✭highly1111


    We're off with IF on Wednesday week but just a quick question - apparently the food on the boat is horrifically expensive - unsurprisingly - and myself and my husband were thinking of eating in Rosslare before boarding.

    We've a 5 year old, 2 year old and 1 year old so we're looking for a good family friendly pub with good food and bigger portions to keep us going - somewhere that might do baby bowls too.

    does anyone have any recommendations for some pre-ferry grub down that neck of the woods?


  • #975
    alastair
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,311 ✭✭✭✭alastair


    July 4
    highly1111 wrote: »
    does anyone have any recommendations for some pre-ferry grub down that neck of the woods?

    Eat in Wexford. Cistin Eile or The Yard. Or The Silver Fox in Kilmore Quay


  • #976
    First Up
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,823 ✭✭✭✭First Up


    highly1111 wrote: »
    We're off with IF on Wednesday week but just a quick question - apparently the food on the boat is horrifically expensive - unsurprisingly - and myself and my husband were thinking of eating in Rosslare before boarding.

    We've a 5 year old, 2 year old and 1 year old so we're looking for a good family friendly pub with good food and bigger portions to keep us going - somewhere that might do baby bowls too.

    does anyone have any recommendations for some pre-ferry grub down that neck of the woods?

    Not sure what you mean by "horrifically expensive". There is a choice of restaurants on the OW - one with waiter service and a set menu and the other a cafeteria style where items are priced individually. The waiter service one is more plush and more expensive and doesn't tend to be used much by families. The cafeteria ("Left Bank" I think) is more designed for the chicken nuggets etc. scene.


  • #977
    highly1111
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 961 ✭✭✭highly1111


    First Up wrote: »
    Not sure what you mean by "horrifically expensive". There is a choice of restaurants on the OW - one with waiter service and a set menu and the other a cafeteria style where items are priced individually. The waiter service one is more plush and more expensive and doesn't tend to be used much by families. The cafeteria ("Left Bank" I think) is more designed for the chicken nuggets etc. scene.

    I was quoting my sister who was on it at the beginning of June - but you're right - I should make my own call. I had a look at the IF website and unfortunately there's no menu or pricing. From eating up online and anecdotally picnics and eating before you board seems to be the way to go.


  • #978
    ScouseMouse
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,070 ✭✭✭ScouseMouse


    July 4
    highly1111 wrote: »
    We're off with IF on Wednesday week but just a quick question - apparently the food on the boat is horrifically expensive - unsurprisingly - and myself and my husband were thinking of eating in Rosslare before boarding.

    We've a 5 year old, 2 year old and 1 year old so we're looking for a good family friendly pub with good food and bigger portions to keep us going - somewhere that might do baby bowls too.

    does anyone have any recommendations for some pre-ferry grub down that neck of the woods?

    The Bailey, Enniscourthy. Decent grub, big free car park and maybe 30 minutes or so from the port (as far as I can remember)


  • #979
    JohnR1968
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81 ✭✭JohnR1968


    July 25
    There is a pub in Kilrane just before the Ferry on the right, which does good pub grub. We usually stop there on the way, sorry can't remember the name.


  • #980
    Wally Runs
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 590 ✭✭✭Wally Runs


    August 1
    highly1111 wrote: »
    We're off with IF on Wednesday week but just a quick question.

    We've a 5 year old, 2 year old and 1 year old so we're looking for a good family friendly pub with good food and bigger portions to keep us going - somewhere that might do baby bowls too.

    does anyone have any recommendations for some pre-ferry grub down that neck of the woods?

    If coming down the N11 I can recommend the Heritage Park just after you cross the Slaney river. Plenty of parking, very good restaurant, you do not need to go into the park itself to eat and I think you have access to one of the playgrounds. If you do want to make a day of it (maybe you have someone in your group who likes to be early) it is very worth while.

    The food on the ferry is fine and there is plenty of room in the dining areas, you are also free to bring some of your own, get a cup of tea and have it there. High chairs, there are plenty BUT if there are a lot of babies they can be hard to get (parents are reluctant to give them up once they have them).

    I would recommend, getting on board, find a seat in the bar/show area and let the kids enjoy Sammy Sausages and his gang. Leave himself to sort out the cabin, tour of the decks etc. Stay up as late as you dare, bring a multi-pack of cereals for breakfast (or buy the gut buster and get extra toast and share) and let the kids sleep off any exhaustion in the car the next day on your way your destination.


    Enjoy.


  • #981
    First Up
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,823 ✭✭✭✭First Up


    Wally Runs wrote: »
    If coming down the N11 I can recommend the Heritage Park just after you cross the Slaney river. Plenty of parking, very good restaurant, you do not need to go into the park itself to eat and I think you have access to one of the playgrounds. If you do want to make a day of it (maybe you have someone in your group who likes to be early) it is very worth while.

    The food on the ferry is fine and there is plenty of room in the dining areas, you are also free to bring some of your own, get a cup of tea and have it there. High chairs, there are plenty BUT if there are a lot of babies they can be hard to get (parents are reluctant to give them up once they have them).

    I would recommend, getting on board, find a seat in the bar/show area and let the kids enjoy Sammy Sausages and his gang. Leave himself to sort out the cabin, tour of the decks etc. Stay up as late as you dare, bring a multi-pack of cereals for breakfast (or buy the gut buster and get extra toast and share) and let the kids sleep off any exhaustion in the car the next day on your way your destination.


    Enjoy.

    No cabin sorting needed on the OW - same as Brittany Ferries. You get your cabin keys when you check-in on the quayside so you go straight there as soon as you park the car.


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  • #982
    Wally Runs
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 590 ✭✭✭Wally Runs


    August 1
    First Up wrote: »
    No cabin sorting needed on the OW - same as Brittany Ferries. You get your cabin keys when you check-in on the quayside so you go straight there as soon as you park the car.

    True, but you still have to drag all the bags up and throw them on the beds, set up a cot, lock yourself out of your cabin etc.


  • #983
    Pretzill
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 4,832 ✭✭✭Pretzill


    highly1111 wrote: »
    I was quoting my sister who was on it at the beginning of June - but you're right - I should make my own call. I had a look at the IF website and unfortunately there's no menu or pricing. From eating up online and anecdotally picnics and eating before you board seems to be the way to go.

    I wouldn't say the food is overly pricey (there are 4 areas - poshish restaurant, steakhouse, large family cafe and a small cafe) but in my opinion it's pretty awful stuff! I learned my lesson only once, and now when I do travel with IF I bring my own food. It's a long voyage and often times eating a big meal before the boat sets sail doesn't suit me. I even bring me own kettle and teabags! (and a supply of goodies and treats to sustain the journey.) I pack a cool box and then settle down in the seats that run alongside the window for a picnic!

    I'm living vicariously through you all here - hope to be going over in late September and probably will take the OW as it's what I'm used to and the prices are lower then. But keen to check out LD for next summer.


  • #984
    mcgarrett
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 375 ✭✭mcgarrett


    July 4
    Just filled up at InterMarche in La Roche Sur Yon and diesel was 120.9c. At filling station on auto route it was 138.9c.

    I don't think they have the dodgy washed diesel over here! #@!

    Fill up with fuel at the supermarkets and avoid the main filling stations.


  • #985
    ScouseMouse
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,070 ✭✭✭ScouseMouse


    July 4
    I once had a meal on Irish Ferries for my family and I. It cost over 40 euro and was awful, swimming in grease and absolutely manky.

    Stena are much better and even offer a family meal deal of 25 pound for two adults and upto 3 kids. When asked about gluten free, the chef was called and offered my wife a specially cooked fresh fish fillet in sauce. Very impressed.


    While I did check out LD lines visually, I didnt eat. It did look ok though.


  • #986
    Stone Deaf 4evr
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,000 ✭✭✭Stone Deaf 4evr


    superscouse wrote: »
    I once had a meal on Irish Ferries for my family and I. It cost over 40 euro and was awful, swimming in grease and absolutely manky.

    Stena are much better and even offer a family meal deal of 25 pound for two adults and upto 3 kids. When asked about gluten free, the chef was called and offered my wife a specially cooked fresh fish fillet in sauce. Very impressed.


    While I did check out LD lines visually, I didnt eat. It did look ok though.

    The food on Brittany Ferries pont aven is pretty expensive as well, the quality was reasonable, but nothing to write home about.

    Edit, thats in the general self service area, I've never been in the more formal dining area.


  • #987
    MammaZita
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 426 ✭✭MammaZita


    I've always found the food on Celtic Link to be fine. Not gourmet cuisine by any stretch, but wholesome enough and good value for money.

    We bring snacks for the children and breakfast (cereals) on board but to be honest I view the ferry as the start and indeed the end of the holiday so for the comfort and convenience for sake of what a meal for the 5 of us and a few drinks costs, it's worth it, as opposed to carrying half the motorhome kitchen onto the ferry.

    Though you do see people who bring their own wine and beer on board (and insist on taking up more seats at the bar area than they require), despite the fact that the drinks on board Celtic Link are very cheap. Guess that's a whole other thread.


  • #988
    First Up
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,823 ✭✭✭✭First Up


    superscouse wrote: »
    I once had a meal on Irish Ferries for my family and I. It cost over 40 euro and was awful, swimming in grease and absolutely manky.

    Stena are much better and even offer a family meal deal of 25 pound for two adults and upto 3 kids. When asked about gluten free, the chef was called and offered my wife a specially cooked fresh fish fillet in sauce. Very impressed.


    While I did check out LD lines visually, I didnt eat. It did look ok though.

    We always eat in the "posh" restaurant on the OW. The food is excellent and the restaurant very nice. We don't have young kids to feed, although they do offer a children's menu. I haven't calculated the difference between their set meal price and buying individual items in the caff style place but whatever it is - its worth it. I suspect it isn't that big a difference either.


  • #989
    vienne86
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,079 ✭✭✭✭vienne86


    Kelly's, as in Kelly's Hotel in Rosslare Strand, have opened a cafe in the Meadows and Byrne shop. It's a bit Avoca style, with superbe pizzas. It's really well located for the ferry - right on the last (i.e. fourth, I think) roundabout as you go around Wexford. I think it is called the Rosslare Road roundabout. Loads of parking, and McDonalds is in there too. I often eat on the boat, but we don't have kids, and always bring my own snacks, water etc.


  • #990
    GeneralSherman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 118 ✭✭GeneralSherman


    Here's me all worried and wondering if it will be dark pitching our tent after getting out of St. Nazaire. And then I discover that the webcam for our campsite is now active and I can see in real time what's happening, if there's a breeze, how's the weather and so on. In fact earlier today I saw the child from The Shining cycle around the campsite three times in a row on his little tricycle. And then I got to reading the French version of the campsite just for the craic and it was on about a Natural campsite and I mistakenly said to my elder mother oh I hope this doesn't mean it's a naturist campsite/area. She starts to freak and says no grandchildren of mine etc... and then we check out the webcam and thankfully everyone is dressed. So now we are going to plan a time and day, position ourselves in the right spot and give granny and grandad a wave from the campsite as we eat choclatey crepes and croissants. Muh ha ha !


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  • #991
    vienne86
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,079 ✭✭✭✭vienne86


    GeneralSherman wrote: »
    Here's me all worried and wondering if it will be dark pitching our tent after getting out of St. Nazaire. And then I discover that the webcam for our campsite is now active and I can see in real time what's happening, if there's a breeze, how's the weather and so on. In fact earlier today I saw the child from The Shining cycle around the campsite three times in a row on his little tricycle. And then I got to reading the French version of the campsite just for the craic and it was on about a Natural campsite and I mistakenly said to my elder mother oh I hope this doesn't mean it's a naturist campsite/area. She starts to freak and says no grandchildren of mine etc... and then we check out the webcam and thankfully everyone is dressed. So now we are going to plan a time and day, position ourselves in the right spot and give granny and grandad a wave from the campsite as we eat choclatey crepes and croissants. Muh ha ha !

    That's brilliant - have a ball!


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