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Ferry deals to France - Summer 2015

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Comments

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


    jay0109 wrote: »
    Stena are making me book 2 x 4 berth cabins for the dates I'm looking at (late June out, mid July back) but there's just the 5 of us and 2 of them will be just 2yo and 9 mths.
    Is it not possible to book just the 1 x 4 berth cabin and use our own cot for the baby?

    When booking online, book one of the seats as well as the cabin you need (theyre free), that will allow you to get thru to the end of the booking process.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,671 ✭✭✭jay0109


    Anyone who has travelled with IF please advise:

    There's a big price difference between a 2 star and 3 star (both no window) 4 bed cabins....€89 one way.
    And it says the 2 star cannot accommodate a cot.

    Has anyone gone the 2 star route with a family of 5 (youngest is less than 1 by time of travel)...or will Irish Ferries block this at some stage of the booking process or when going on board?

    thanks


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 21,730 ✭✭✭✭Fred Swanson


    This post has been deleted.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,303 ✭✭✭webpal


    jay0109 wrote: »
    Anyone who has travelled with IF please advise:

    There's a big price difference between a 2 star and 3 star (both no window) 4 bed cabins....€89 one way.
    And it says the 2 star cannot accommodate a cot.

    Has anyone gone the 2 star route with a family of 5 (youngest is less than 1 by time of travel)...or will Irish Ferries block this at some stage of the booking process or when going on board?

    thanks
    Did it this summer and it was fine. 6 month old slept in one bed and the other 2 slept in another. The cabins definately won't fit a cot but then again we had a cot one year and it took up the whole floor in a four star cabin. There is plenty entertainment in high season to keep everyone out of them anyway


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,907 ✭✭✭munchkin_utd


    This post has been deleted.
    the only way to work it is to flip up one of the bottom bunks flush to the wall and "replace" it with a cot.
    It then means though you only have 3 bunks - but the 2 year old could maybe sleep along with the mother or one of the kids maybe ?
    (with us, our 2 and 4 year old end up far too often in the bed anyhow - but they do fit at least)


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


    Just booked siblu there for next year, its the last day for the €420 loyalty discount - I only had to pay down €50 so if I change my mind its no big deal (up until november).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,539 ✭✭✭BenEadir


    Just booked siblu there for next year, its the last day for the €420 loyalty discount - I only had to pay down €50 so if I change my mind its no big deal (up until november).

    The loyalty discount and 25% off Stena basically pay for a third weeks holiday for use and makes the whole trip so much more worth while. We're with Siblu also (Le Bois Masson) and for three weeks in an Excellence 3 bed in July + ferry with outside cabins on Stena works out at €2,785 for the three weeks for 2 adults and 2 kids. Not mega cheap but great value for money in my view Vs flying to a destination and hiring a car etc.


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


    BenEadir wrote: »
    The loyalty discount and 25% off Stena basically pay for a third weeks holiday for use and makes the whole trip so much more worth while. We're with Siblu also (Le Bois Masson) and for three weeks in an Excellence 3 bed in July + ferry with outside cabins on Stena works out at €2,785 for the three weeks for 2 adults and 2 kids. Not mega cheap but great value for money in my view Vs flying to a destination and hiring a car etc.

    you did well there, I'll be going by Brittany Ferries and only for 2 weeks in july and its coming in around 2500 for an excellence. Compared to last year, the ferry price was dearer by 170 euros. To someone who hasnt done this type of holiday before, that seems expensive, but realistically you'd spend the guts of that on any holiday if you have to fly / hire car / pay for entertainment. Our kids are young, so they wouldn't notice if we never left the park. I'd theoretically save money by going with stena, but the 3 hour drive each way from my house to rosslare outweighs the savings.

    we're in the Bois Dormant across the road from you - hopefully the weather will be better than what we got this year!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,696 ✭✭✭Pretzill


    jay0109 wrote: »
    Anyone who has travelled with IF please advise:

    There's a big price difference between a 2 star and 3 star (both no window) 4 bed cabins....€89 one way.
    And it says the 2 star cannot accommodate a cot.

    Has anyone gone the 2 star route with a family of 5 (youngest is less than 1 by time of travel)...or will Irish Ferries block this at some stage of the booking process or when going on board?

    thanks

    As most have said the 2 stars are tiny - and no floor space for a cot - although we are only 2 people (haven't the expeience of travelling with children ) we always book the 3* 2 bed - there's lots more floor space and if the children are small and yourself and partner are slender you could have two in each bed and enough floor space for baby in the cot - it's a real rip off price difference tbh for the 4 bunk beds - however the other advantage of the 3* either way is having the tv if the sailing gets boring. Edit to add they probably won't allow you book a cabin with less beds and someone suggested lifting the bottom bunk on 2* 4 bed that might work.

    I'm off on IF soon and this time of the year the 3* (2 bed no window) is €54 - so I don't feel quite so ripped off!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,303 ✭✭✭webpal


    Plus there's the additional problem of having to bring the travel cot from your car to the cabin and back amongst other luggage as you can't rent one if it won't fit.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 656 ✭✭✭christy02


    When we went 2 years ago we got a 2 bed cabin with three of us. 2 yo slept on bottom bunk, I slept on top bunk and oh slept on a small camp mattress on the floor. No problems.

    Going again next year and with new addition I got a 4 bed cabin. Got it all in for 400euro with stena in june. Flexi as well. Was working out at 765 with Brittany ferries. Worth the 2.5 hours to rosslare from cork to save 365. Extra diesel I will still save over 300.

    Went to uk this year with baby being small. Drive to rosslare is fine. Don't think stena boat is a patch on pont aven but we will get over that.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,539 ✭✭✭BenEadir


    we're in the Bois Dormant across the road from you - hopefully the weather will be better than what we got this year!
    That's gas. We were debating switching to Dormant but decided to stay in Masson. I like the more relaxed feel of Dormant and I prefer the whole clubhouse/snack bar/pool set up to Masson but we use the restaurant in Masson every 2 or 3 days and the kids (9 and 13) spend all their evenings in the entertainment and playground areas there plus that's where the kids club is in the morning so if we stayed in Dormant they'd be crossing the road several times a day and late in the evening and we just didn't want that.

    Some better weather would be a bonus all right but we had a great time this year despite the poor weather. Loads of board and card games with the kids whilst it rained and ton's of cycling and exploring which is actually easier to do in worm overcast weather rather than splitting the rocks 28C sunshine.

    Maybe we can have a Boards.ie beers meet up one of the evenings!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,671 ✭✭✭jay0109


    Missed that 25% off on Stena unfortunately and current prices for the end of June (out), back mid July look like this:

    Stena (Ross-Cher)
    €955

    IF (Ross-Cher)
    €1,407

    BF (Cork-Ros)
    €1,168

    Fekn expensive.

    Looks like Stena will be getting the call tomorrow. Or does anyone know if any more discounts are likely soon based on previous experience?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 656 ✭✭✭christy02


    jay0109 wrote: »
    Missed that 25% off on Stena unfortunately and current prices for the end of June (out), back mid July look like this:

    Stena (Ross-Cher)
    €955

    IF (Ross-Cher)
    €1,407

    BF (Cork-Ros)
    €1,168

    Fekn expensive.

    Looks like Stena will be getting the call tomorrow. Or does anyone know if any more discounts are likely soon based on previous experience?

    I said it earlier on in the thread but try aferry.co.uk and directferry.co.uk.

    Used them before and can be substantial savings on direct websites.


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


    jay0109 wrote: »
    Missed that 25% off on Stena unfortunately and current prices for the end of June (out), back mid July look like this:

    Stena (Ross-Cher)
    €955

    IF (Ross-Cher)
    €1,407


    BF (Cork-Ros)
    €1,168

    Fekn expensive.

    Looks like Stena will be getting the call tomorrow. Or does anyone know if any more discounts are likely soon based on previous experience?

    there's 10 percent off if you're staying with siblu. valid until the end of October. I'll see if I can post up the link when I get my hands on my laptop


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,671 ✭✭✭jay0109


    christy02 wrote: »
    I said it earlier on in the thread but try aferry.co.uk and directferry.co.uk.

    Used them before and can be substantial savings on direct websites.

    Getting about 10% cheaper using aferry.co.uk (tried the Irish version a few days ago and saw no difference).
    Thanks but would work out better going direct through Stena myself as I have Tesco vouchers which will be greater than a 10% discount


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


    http://www.siblu.ie/travel/?CMP=EMC-vie140919one-days-left


    link as mentioned. might be useful to someone.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,671 ✭✭✭jay0109


    webpal wrote: »
    Did it this summer and it was fine. 6 month old slept in one bed and the other 2 slept in another. The cabins definately won't fit a cot but then again we had a cot one year and it took up the whole floor in a four star cabin. There is plenty entertainment in high season to keep everyone out of them anyway

    No issue from IF staff onboard at checkin when they see 5 people and just a 4 bed cabin booked?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 21,730 ✭✭✭✭Fred Swanson


    This post has been deleted.


  • Registered Users Posts: 42 dominoe39


    any more stena offers out there - missed the 25% off unfortunately. phoned them and they said there'd be more offers during the next few months but could not confirm. any body know when they are likely to run offers again.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,539 ✭✭✭BenEadir


    dominoe39 wrote: »
    any more stena offers out there - missed the 25% off unfortunately. phoned them and they said there'd be more offers during the next few months but could not confirm. any body know when they are likely to run offers again.

    IIRC November and January are popular months for offers.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,907 ✭✭✭munchkin_utd


    BenEadir wrote: »
    IIRC November and January are popular months for offers.
    indeed, when folks are either saving up for christmas or recovering financially from it!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,539 ✭✭✭BenEadir


    indeed, when folks are either saving up for christmas or recovering financially from it!

    Exactly so people tend not to pay for summer ferry trips at that time, hence the timing of the discounts. They'll never offer discounts at popular times of the year for booking trips, they don't need to.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,184 ✭✭✭k123456


    Hi Folks, is it still the case that LD lines not sailing Ie to Fra for 2015, or has anyone heard different


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,539 ✭✭✭BenEadir


    k123456 wrote: »
    Hi Folks, is it still the case that LD lines not sailing Ie to Fra for 2015, or has anyone heard different

    No sign at all that LD lines will re-appear for next year unfortunately.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,184 ✭✭✭k123456


    BenEadir wrote: »
    No sign at all that LD lines will re-appear for next year unfortunately.


    A pity , didnt travel with them in 2013, but excellent value

    The prices of their competitors are huge

    I wonder given the high prices of their competitors , toll charges , fuel etc (assuming you are driving from Northern France to the South), is it worth it using a ferry ;
    the alternative ;
    flying Ryanair to Rodez, Carcasonne, etc and hiring a car. Of course the RY option really only works if travelling light


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


    k123456 wrote: »
    A pity , didnt travel with them in 2013, but excellent value

    The prices of their competitors are huge

    I wonder given the high prices of their competitors , toll charges , fuel etc (assuming you are driving from Northern France to the South), is it worth it using a ferry ;
    the alternative ;
    flying Ryanair to Rodez, Carcasonne, etc and hiring a car. Of course the RY option really only works if travelling light


    I would never fly over to france.....shure how would i bring home the copious amounts of wine and cheese on a ryanair flight .... lol


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,184 ✭✭✭k123456


    MidlandsM wrote: »
    I would never fly over to france.....shure how would i bring home the copious amounts of wine and cheese on a ryanair flight .... lol


    True

    Was intending to use the ferry for the first time, and stock on on the wine

    In General terms :

    Where's the best place to buy wine ?

    Lidl / Aldi France
    Carrefour/ Super U , Intermarche etc
    Vineyards (I find these expensive) personally
    Local Co - op wine shop
    Wine Producing areas languedoc etc, or are the the prices the same nearer the
    ports Cherbourg etc


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


    I find your local supermarche is as good as any.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,539 ✭✭✭BenEadir


    MidlandsM wrote: »
    I find your local supermarche is as good as any.

    Same here. Try different wines from various supermarkets whilst on holiday and buy a few cases of your favorite(s) a day before heading home.

    I also top up a little in one the warehouses in the port, maybe one two more cases squeezed under the rear passenger footwell!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,458 ✭✭✭✭gandalf


    k123456 wrote: »
    True

    Was intending to use the ferry for the first time, and stock on on the wine

    In General terms :

    Where's the best place to buy wine ?

    Lidl / Aldi France
    Carrefour/ Super U , Intermarche etc
    Vineyards (I find these expensive) personally
    Local Co - op wine shop
    Wine Producing areas languedoc etc, or are the the prices the same nearer the
    ports Cherbourg etc

    Depends where you are heading too in France. We were in Bordeaux a couple of years ago and the best value was definitely in the Local Wine Co-Op.

    We also found a vineyard whose wine we really liked. Over there it's around €6 per bottle but it is equivalent to a wine of at least €20 over here.

    We also visited a few of the prestige vineyards and picked a bottle or two up from them as well again at a price a lot cheaper than we would have paid here. If you are going down that route it helps if you suss out their prices before you go to France. I noticed that a few of the shops in the more touristy places like Saint Emilion did have rip off prices on some bottles.

    The supermarkets will also have good value on cases of wine as well. Also if like me you are a Whiskey drinker the prices are far better in France and the Supermarkets normally have a good selection of Scotch Whisky.

    Most important tip is to make sure your cars suspension and brakes are in tip top order because it's going to be laden down with goodies.


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


    You might finds some useful information in this thread:

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057256017


  • Registered Users Posts: 58 ✭✭rowr


    On the ferry side of things, has anybody travelled with stena to France. I have done Brittany ferries (excellent) and irish ferries (poor) before but stena have good prices.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,539 ✭✭✭BenEadir


    rowr wrote: »
    On the ferry side of things, has anybody travelled with stena to France. I have done Brittany ferries (excellent) and irish ferries (poor) before but stena have good prices.

    Not yet although I'm booked.

    I expect something similar to the Celtic Horizon or LD Lines ferry this year. Clean, comfortable and functional but no frills. Bring your own entertainment (books, movies, cards etc), try and get as much sleep as possible and look at the food side of things as necessary re-fuelling rather than a culinary experience and it will be fine.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,907 ✭✭✭munchkin_utd


    BenEadir wrote: »
    Not yet although I'm booked.

    I expect something similar to the Celtic Horizon or LD Lines ferry this year. Clean, comfortable and functional but no frills. Bring your own entertainment (books, movies, cards etc), try and get as much sleep as possible and look at the food side of things as necessary re-fuelling rather than a culinary experience and it will be fine.
    great summary

    There was a lot of grumbles over the years about the stena vessel in its previous guise as a Celtic Link ship.
    Some said the ship was small (even though its the same length as the Irish ferries one IIRC).
    Others gave out that the ship was dated, even though its only 5 or so years old and in comparison a couple of decades younger than the irish ferries ship.

    It is "basic" in that you dont have 3 or 4 separate bars to choose from to buy a coffee or beer off, but I dont actually know why you'd need a choice seeing as the coffee or beer is normally the exactly the same regardless of which outlet sells it.

    (edit: ok, a choice of food places is "nice", but for me and others in my situation its irrelevant as I'd prefer to bring something for the 2 young kids that I know they'll eat rather than pay for restaurant food that 90% of the time the kids won't touch - meaning I can't eat my grub either as the kids then start being bored + hungry + grumpy and start running about the place cauying a nuisence - meaning you'd be blowing 60euro+ on a family feed that mostly ends up in the bin)


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


    BenEadir wrote: »
    Not yet although I'm booked.

    I expect something similar to the Celtic Horizon or LD Lines ferry this year. Clean, comfortable and functional but no frills. Bring your own entertainment (books, movies, cards etc), try and get as much sleep as possible and look at the food side of things as necessary re-fuelling rather than a culinary experience and it will be fine.

    I have used the Stena crossing and the above is pretty accurate. I think the Irish Ferries "economy" service from Dublin is much the same.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,458 ✭✭✭✭gandalf


    rowr wrote: »
    On the ferry side of things, has anybody travelled with stena to France. I have done Brittany ferries (excellent) and irish ferries (poor) before but stena have good prices.

    Never traveled with Brittany so can't vouch for them. I would rate Irish Ferries above Celtic/Stena based on my past experience. I've traveled on the Oscar Wilde and found it to be reasonable value but a much superior traveling experience to Celticlink.

    I'll be traveling with Stena for Christmas (Irish Ferries don't seem to be sailing over the Christmas period) so I will find out what they are like then.

    The missus is just back from using the economy Irish Ferries service from Dublin and said it was very like Celtic Link, ie basic but not having to drive to and from Wexford was brilliant.

    We're already booked in for Irish Ferries next summer from Rosslare.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 715 ✭✭✭Cianmcliam


    Does anyone know when the French campsites generally begin accepting bookings for next year? Only one or two is showing on Booking.com for Brittany at the moment.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,539 ✭✭✭BenEadir


    Cianmcliam wrote: »
    Does anyone know when the French campsites generally begin accepting bookings for next year? Only one or two is showing on Booking.com for Brittany at the moment.

    http://www.siblu.ie - I'm already booked for next year but I booked next years holiday onsite whilst there this year.


  • Registered Users Posts: 3 trolley


    Any discount code's out there for Stena line .
    Going from Rosslare to Cherbourg around the 27th July for 2 weeks .


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,539 ✭✭✭BenEadir


    trolley wrote: »
    Any discount code's out there for Stena line .
    Going from Rosslare to Cherbourg around the 27th July for 2 weeks .

    I think http://www.aferry.ie build whatever discounts are available into the fares they quote. Might be worth a shot.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,914 ✭✭✭Rigor Mortis


    May already have been posted but Irish Ferries advertising a 10% promo code in today's sunday times

    Promo code FRANCEC15


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,539 ✭✭✭BenEadir


    Cianmcliam wrote: »
    Does anyone know when the French campsites generally begin accepting bookings for next year? Only one or two is showing on Booking.com for Brittany at the moment.

    Try www.siblu.ie/2015 and use discount code FAB15. The discount is "only available to families who have holidayed with Siblu before" but it's worth a try. The flyer I got does say you have to book by phone on 0818 274 097 so you might have to have a good reason to get around the "prior customer" question!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,671 ✭✭✭jay0109


    Siblu also have a code for 1st timers....NEW15


  • Registered Users Posts: 42 dominoe39


    anybody else getting itchy feet about booking Irish Ferries before 31st October. 10% off is a nice bit, but somebody else advised keep it cool til November/Jan when there should be more offers. What is the general opinion? i have never booked Irish Ferries for France before. should i hold off and hope there is a better deal than the 10% one or should i take it. the trip in early to mid july is over a grand for just 3 of us, even with the 10% off, that seems really expensive to me?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 284 ✭✭Munsterbhoy


    dominoe39 wrote: »
    anybody else getting itchy feet about booking Irish Ferries before 31st October. 10% off is a nice bit, but somebody else advised keep it cool til November/Jan when there should be more offers. What is the general opinion? i have never booked Irish Ferries for France before. should i hold off and hope there is a better deal than the 10% one or should i take it. the trip in early to mid july is over a grand for just 3 of us, even with the 10% off, that seems really expensive to me?

    The code francec15 will be good for 10% discount for a while yet, but your dates are for peak times so cant see fares being any cheaper the longer you leave it plus the cheaper cabins will be gone first. A grand for july is about the norm, have you tried stena? Brittany ferries will be dearer id imagine. Remember there's no LD lines next year to increase competition. Having gone to France on all ferries for the last 6 yrs id say book it now.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 93 ✭✭barryf42


    dominoe39 wrote: »
    anybody else getting itchy feet about booking Irish Ferries before 31st October. 10% off is a nice bit, but somebody else advised keep it cool til November/Jan when there should be more offers. What is the general opinion? i have never booked Irish Ferries for France before. should i hold off and hope there is a better deal than the 10% one or should i take it. the trip in early to mid july is over a grand for just 3 of us, even with the 10% off, that seems really expensive to me?


    I have used them the last 2 years from Rosslare and they never go over the 10% discount. However they do offer a free trip to the UK at some stage with your booking. I got this, but typical IF, there are lots of conditions associated with booking this trip


  • Registered Users Posts: 3 trolley


    Is there any discount codes out there for Brittany Ferries ?


  • Registered Users Posts: 1 james28637


    For what its worth this year I booked the le pointe st Gilles campsite through them and was able to get their posh timber mobiles for €100 cheaper than the basic euro camp model. We are sailing to with Irish ferries again roslare-roscoff for the third year in a row and can't fault the ferry or campsite.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 760 ✭✭✭Bif


    Folks,
    I hope to travel by ferry to Normandy from Ireland and stay on a campsite this summer (mobile home, gite etc.). It will be our first time to do this (2 adults and 2 two kids) and I would welcome any advice on what to book, pricing etc. Thanks in advance.


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