Cork to Santander Ferry starting April 2018

beer enigma · 16-01-2018 2:59pm #1

26hrs is long haul, but a great for holidays

http://www.eveningecho.ie/corknews/New-ferry-route-from-Cork-to-Spain-revealed-24014e91-a6bb-48fa-bdc3-926f0c62a52c-ds

Rhys Essien · 16-01-2018 4:02pm

Brilliant news.Sailings are Wednesday and Friday.You could walk on as a foot passenger on Wednesday and have a mini cruise/holiday and return Saturday.

CZ 453 · 16-01-2018 6:53pm

If you've a property in Spain this is great for transporting furniture etc. Or those insisting on taking the hound. A long haul alright. Is the Bay of Biscay choppy?

bogman · 16-01-2018 7:14pm

The Bay Of Biscay can be a right nightmare, knew an elderly gent who was an marine engineer back in the day, even before I was around and that's saying something, they were transporting half a dozen locomotives to south America, wheels were welded to the deck of the ship, have to hove to during a major storm that lasted over two weeks, they eventually cut the welds and dumped the locomotives over the side of the vessel, it was either that or, well you can only imagine....look up Ushant lighthouse and associated shipwrecks !!!

Saying that I took a return journey from Plymouth to Santander and it was flat calm.

jelutong · 16-01-2018 7:34pm

Cantabria is a beautiful part of Spain. Well worth a visit.

dory · 16-01-2018 8:07pm

This will be great. Can't see anything on their website. Thought if it was starting in April one could book online already.

Rhys Essien · 16-01-2018 8:25pm

Will be available to book the end of this month they’re saying on Twitter.

butrasgali · 16-01-2018 8:33pm

What price.

malinheader · 16-01-2018 8:56pm

What's the public transport like over there. Buses trains etc or would you need to hire a car to do a bit of sight seeing

Rhys Essien · 16-01-2018 9:16pm

Bilbao is only 100kms to the east along the motorway.Id imagine connected by bus or rail.Great to check out the Guggenheim etc.

CZ 453 · 16-01-2018 11:28pm

Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon visited in The Trip to Spain(On Sky 1). Looked lovely.

thomil · 16-01-2018 11:51pm

Rhys Essien wrote: »

Bilbao is only 100kms to the east along the motorway.Id imagine connected by bus or rail.Great to check out the Guggenheim etc.

I don’t have any information about buses, but the train connection is sketchy, to say the least. The only direct rail link between Santander and Bilbao is a FEVE narrow gauge line, with three non-stop services per day. Travel time is about two hours and thirty minutes. On the plus side, the train stations are pretty close to the city centre, and the Santander terminus is literally a stone’s throw away from the ferry terminal.

whisky_galore · 17-01-2018 12:16pm

26 hours? I'd be in Australia on a plane in that time.

Fcuk that!

Tabnabs · 17-01-2018 12:20pm

And how long would it take your car to follow you out to Aus?

whisky_galore · 17-01-2018 12:28pm

Tabnabs wrote: »

And how long would it take your car to follow you out to Aus?

Not my bag, old bean.

Time-off poor and impatient.

Unless there's a full on cruise ship floor show, which I very much doubt...no way José.

GavRedKing · 17-01-2018 12:35pm

Ya, the biggest issue here is the travel time, I remember doing the Cork to Wales ferry before when I was 10 or 11 and it was I think, open to correction, about 10 hours and it was torture.

Nearly tripling that would be unbearable to me, I'd prefer, even if it was vastly more expenisve, to fly and hire a car at the other end and save my self some 20 hours but I've no doubt it will appeal to others.

LLewellen Farquarson · 17-01-2018 12:39pm

It is a great option, and I’ll be very interested in the ship details. So far, from the independent article.
120 cabins, 500 passengers, and they estimate 50/50 split freight/holiday makers.
Pont Aven (Cork -Roscoff) comparison.
652 cabins, 2416 passengers.

“We may need a bigger boat “
If there is demand they may do so.

I’d guess it is great for freight as it both gets around Brexit and a haul through France.

LLewellen Farquarson · 17-01-2018 12:44pm

Forgot to say, I’ve done Plymouth Santander twice , and it was like a mini cruise, with entertainment, bars, restaurants etc. this ship appears to be a bit more basic.

mik_da_man · 17-01-2018 12:47pm

The ship would need to be bigger IMO.
A ship that size would likely be limited in the entertainment options on board.
Imagine having a few kids and trying to entertain them for 18 Hours.

The idea of packing the car and going camping in Spain does appeal to me, but while it sounds good in theory the reality of using up over 2 full days on the ferry would be a big trade off.

Last year we went to the south of Spain, less than 6 hours door to door including renting a car.

beer enigma · 17-01-2018 12:54pm

LLewellen Farquarson wrote: »

Forgot to say, I’ve done Plymouth Santander twice , and it was like a mini cruise, with entertainment, bars, restaurants etc. this ship appears to be a bit more basic.

This is going to be based on their 'économie' model, so basic enough:

Overview of Brittany Ferries économie
Brittany Ferries économie
No-frills Brittany Ferries économie offers simple yet comfortable service
Self-service restaurant with limited choice
Small bar, movie lounge and seating area
No play area or entertainment for children
En-suite cabins but without carpets
Small boutique
On board services and facilities are limited compared with our cruise ferries but the service is ideal for those who wish to travel to France at a very reasonable fare and will appeal to those on a tight budget.

Etretat departs from Portsmouth to Le Havre at 23:15hrs 6 days a week (except Thursdays), returning at 17:15hrs every Saturday to Wednesday and overnight on Thursdays. View timetable. Please note some cars may be parked on deck 5 which is an open deck, however, this provides quick and easy access to the passenger lounges.

roundymac · 17-01-2018 3:02pm

It'll be the same as the one Irish Ferries are using at the moment, Epsillon.

LLewellen Farquarson · 17-01-2018 3:23pm

roundymac wrote: »

It'll be the same as the one Irish Ferries are using at the moment, Epsillon.

Thanks for that Roundymac. I gleaned a lot more info. Looks like probably no foot passengers.

In my case, I will still use Overlanders to transport my motorbike, and fly to meet it. It works out cheaper, and I don’t spend around three to four days on the ferry/motorways. ( on a precious two week holiday )

But for car/families it could be a good service, especially for longer summer holidays.

beer enigma · 17-01-2018 3:40pm

LLewellen Farquarson wrote: »

Looks like probably no foot passengers.

It will take foot passengers providing they book a cabin - Santander is good for train links as its a national terminus for RENFE trains which go right to the south. If you're driving then about 6 hrs to Barcalona, 5 to madrid & also 5 to Porto in Portugal.

Rhys Essien · 17-01-2018 7:08pm

This gives an idea of the time of this crossing with other routes.Id say the best idea is drink for the 10 hours and sleep for the last 16 and be fresh as a daisy in Santander.:D

Zeebrugge (Belgium) - Hull (UK) 11 hours
Argentia (Canada) - North Sydney (Canada) 15 hours
Zeebrugge (Belgium) - Rosyth (UK) 18 hours
Port Hardy - Prince Rupert 20 hours (including stop)
Plymouth (UK) - Santander (Spain) 20 hours.
Portsmouth (UK) - Santander (Spain) 24 hours.
Edberg (Denmark) - Tórshavn (Denmark) 38 hours
Ancona (Italy) - Cesme (Turkey) 57 hours
Edberg (Denmark) - Seyðisfjörður (Iceland) 66 hours (including stop)
Bellingham (USA) - Skagway (USA) 70 hours 15 minutes (including stops)

Frostybrew · 17-01-2018 7:24pm

Rhys Essien wrote: »

That gives an idea of the time of this crossing with other routes.Id say the best idea is drink for the 10 hours and sleep for the last 16 and be fresh as a daisy in Santander.:D

Zeebrugge (Belgium) - Hull (UK) 11 hours
Argentia (Canada) - North Sydney (Canada) 15 hours
Zeebrugge (Belgium) - Rosyth (UK) 18 hours
Port Hardy - Prince Rupert 20 hours (including stop)
Plymouth (UK) - Santander (Spain) 20 hours.
Portsmouth (UK) - Santander (Spain) 24 hours.
Edberg (Denmark) - Tórshavn (Denmark) 38 hours
Ancona (Italy) - Cesme (Turkey) 57 hours
Edberg (Denmark) - Seyðisfjörður (Iceland) 66 hours (including stop)
Bellingham (USA) - Skagway (USA) 70 hours 15 minutes (including stops)

There's a Denmark to Iceland car ferry? Wow!

Rhys Essien · 17-01-2018 7:36pm

Frostybrew wrote: »

There's a Denmark to Iceland car ferry? Wow!

Might be an opportunity for someone in Donegal to startup an Iceland service :pac:

Flesh Gorden · 17-01-2018 7:47pm

Frostybrew wrote: »

There's a Denmark to Iceland car ferry? Wow!

Via the Faroes, which is where you have to stay for a while.

I was looking into it before, as myself and a few buddies were thinking of doing the ring of Iceland on motorbikes.

Ages since I looked it up as the trip never took place, but I think you could get a part of the trip for free, if you stayed in the Faroes for a few extra days.

Frostybrew · 17-01-2018 8:00pm

Flesh Gorden wrote: »

Via the Faroes, which is where you have to stay for a while.

I was looking into it before, as myself and a few buddies were thinking of doing the ring of Iceland on motorbikes.

Ages since I looked it up as the trip never took place, but I think you could get a part of the trip for free, if you stayed in the Faroes for a few extra days.

Just checked out the price. It's €2800 return for a car and driver. Would be great to stop in the Faroes for a few days too. Add in a break in Scotland or the Orkneys and you'd have a mini cruise.

Herb Powell · 17-01-2018 9:42pm

Lads it's not that bad, you just bring cans, some good books, a pack of cards, and sit outside and enjoy.

kooga · 17-01-2018 9:47pm

Herb Powell wrote: »

Lads it's not that bad, you just bring cans, some good books, a pack of cards, and sit outside and enjoy.

And cans

Herb Powell · 17-01-2018 10:19pm

Especially cans

cc · 17-01-2018 10:40pm

A day away from civilisation with nothing to do sounds like the best start to a holiday for me.

embraer170 · 17-01-2018 11:01pm

And opportunities for dolphin spotting, and even whales if really really lucky.

gustafo · 19-01-2018 10:33pm

it will last about 6 months before it will be pulled, there won't be the demand with a small population for a ferry like this,

don't know what the price is but portsmouth to santader return with a cabin and car is close on 500 quid return give or take, can't see to many people paying that money.

With the uk the population is big so the demand will always be there.

Optimus Prime · 20-01-2018 2:02am

I hate flying. I’d pay it no bothers to get to Spain. I hope you’re wrong but I suspect you’re right regarding demand.

Jentle Grenade · 20-01-2018 2:04am

My wife and I plan to do this in the late summer with our newborn to visit the in laws in Salamanca. Couldn't have worked out better tbh

ted1 · 20-01-2018 2:05am

whisky_galore wrote: »

26 hours? I'd be in Australia on a plane in that time.

Fcuk that!

Could you bring home a great tasting wine for a euro a bottle ?

ted1 · 20-01-2018 2:08am

gustafo wrote: »

it will last about 6 months before it will be pulled, there won't be the demand with a small population for a ferry like this,

don't know what the price is but portsmouth to santader return with a cabin and car is close on 500 quid return give or take, can't see to many people paying that money.

With the uk the population is big so the demand will always be there.

I priced it for 1200gbp return with a cabin

The way I see it is flights for 5 cost 1300 to Bilbao in June , car hire for three weeks is about 700.

The ferry will be about 1200 and I can bring back about 200 bottles of wine for about 200 Euro so it’ll pay for itself.

ted1 · 20-01-2018 2:10am

This is Aldi in San Sebasti if you go to the wine region you get better stuff for similar prices

sdanseo · 20-01-2018 2:13am

gustafo wrote: »

it will last about 6 months before it will be pulled, there won't be the demand with a small population for a ferry like this,

don't know what the price is but portsmouth to santader return with a cabin and car is close on 500 quid return give or take, can't see to many people paying that money.

With the uk the population is big so the demand will always be there.

As someone who works in international logistics I guarantee you it will be successful from the freight point of view. Lots of weekly demand for Spain/Ireland/Spain and truck drivers can fit a full weekly 24hr break in on the boat whie using zero fuel.

Rhys Essien · 20-01-2018 2:26am

sdanseo wrote: »

As someone who works in international logistics I guarantee you it will be successful from the freight point of view. Lots of weekly demand for Spain/Ireland/Spain and truck drivers can fit a full weekly 24hr break in on the boat whie using zero fuel.

Is there any need for the drivers to go on the ferry?.The can put the trailers on and get the Spanish lads to collect on the other side.I know they currently do this with some trailers going to France.

ted1 · 20-01-2018 3:24am

gustafo wrote: »

it will last about 6 months before it will be pulled, there won't be the demand with a small population for a ferry like this,

don't know what the price is but portsmouth to santader return with a cabin and car is close on 500 quid return give or take, can't see to many people paying that money.

With the uk the population is big so the demand will always be there.

500 quid ? Sure that's cheaper than hiring s car over there . if you have kidsover two they are full price flights so the ferry and its endless baggage allowance masked perfect sense

mire · 20-01-2018 8:38am

gustafo wrote: »

it will last about 6 months before it will be pulled, there won't be the demand with a small population for a ferry like this,

don't know what the price is but portsmouth to santader return with a cabin and car is close on 500 quid return give or take, can't see to many people paying that money.

With the uk the population is big so the demand will always be there.

That's not expensive at all!

whisky_galore · 20-01-2018 10:58am

ted1 wrote: »

Could you bring home a great tasting wine for a euro a bottle ?

Not really into wine so, meh...

Skedaddle · 20-01-2018 11:06am

Hopefully they upgrade the ship if there's demand. I'm not sure that that economy setup would be too pleasant.

26+ hours on the Pont Aven would be fine, even relaxing. The description of their economy service sounds a bit grim.

sdanseo · 20-01-2018 11:44am

Rhys Essien wrote: »

Is there any need for the drivers to go on the ferry?.The can put the trailers on and get the Spanish lads to collect on the other side.I know they currently do this with some trailers going to France.

Correct, drop trailers will probably account for 80-90% of the freight space. This is mostly the case for the Dublin/Rosslare to France routes at the minute.

Dai John · 20-01-2018 5:28pm

ted1 wrote: »

500 quid ? Sure that's cheaper than hiring s car over there . if you have kidsover two they are full price flights so the ferry and its endless baggage allowance masked perfect sense

Try "doyouspain" I have hired cars for as little as 70 euros per week ( just get your own insurance excess 50 euros per year) I normally go to Alicante.
Cherbourg to Alicante normally costs us 2 days (one night in hotel) 55 euros, fuel 150 euros and tolls 15 euros total 220 euros plus meals etc. I would use it if it was 120 euros dearer than Irish Ferries as Santander to Torreveija is 8 hours. Will replace car with a diesel later on which will alter figures again.

mikeym · 20-01-2018 9:10pm

The Bay of Biscay can be very rough, I wouldnt recommend it to those who get sea sick.

Corca Baiscinn · 20-01-2018 10:01pm

Where did ye see the journey time mentioned? Just looked at BF web page and press release and can't see it. I thought I heard somewhere the other day that it was 36 hours!

loyatemu · 20-01-2018 10:05pm

ted1 wrote: »

This is Aldi in San Sebasti if you go to the wine region you get better stuff for similar prices

that is very cheap plonk - is it drinkable?

embraer170 · 20-01-2018 10:21pm

Corca Baiscinn wrote: »

Where did ye see the journey time mentioned? Just looked at BF web page and press release and can't see it. I thought I heard somewhere the other day that it was 36 hours!

26 hours apparently.

Cork to Santander Ferry starting April 2018

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