Travelling by Ferry

[Debs]

I thought I would have a little rant and make my views felt over travelling to France by ferry.

I have been going by P&O from Dover to Calais as it has always been the cheaper option for me...  I have now decided NOT to go by ferry any longer. I have a lovely Corbin Seat that cost £500 and strapping the bike down over the seat has stretched the leather sightly and I feel further trips would ruin the seat completely.. .. I will travel by Eurotunnel from now on and put up with the extra cost... Sure will be cheaper than having to replace or repair the seat.

Its something to consider if you have never been abroad on the bike before..

Am I over reacting or just realising something that most bikers already know? 

[coman37]

I always put my gloves between the strap and the seat, having also marked one in the past

Coman

[BigAlan]

Likewise I always take a clean cloth to put on the saddle, comes in handy to clean it as well.

Alan

[2kwacks]

euro tunnel is the best thing since sliced bread.. me thinks used it a few times now, 30 minute crossing time and approx £60.00 return for midday crossing

[viper]

dont take this too harshly debs , but i just cant see what the attraction the ferry has over the tunnel, ive used both, well the ferry the first time and the tunnel the last nine times.

the tunnel,
its faster , you stay with the bike, you can use the next shuttle if you are late, use an earlier one if you are early, no strapping down , no wacky races scramble to disembark ,, it runs every 40 mins, you dont have to arrive an hour or so early, no rough crossings,

but the best thing is that once you arrive in calais and they open the door, you are gone, no customs to clear, within 5 mins you are on the autoroute !!


how can anything compete with that, the price, well typically i pay about £35 each way, even if the ferry was £10 each way it still would not be a match.

[Debs]

Viper I agree with you... Ive been on the tunnel once but it was the price that swayed it for me... Return ferry crossing for only £30. Not anymore tho... The tunnel is awesome and I will just accept the extra cost.

Conman & Bigalan... As you know there are thick pads on the straps that supposed to protect the seat but like  they do... Waste of time.

When I went via Portsmouth to Le Havre with LD Lines. The staff on the ship strap down the bikes.. One over the seat and one on the handle bars... Thought they was going to snap the bars when I saw how tight they did them up... Guess its the tunnel and ride to Brittany as well...     

Thought bikes would have some sort of strapping down points on the frame to avoid this.. Maybe in the future they will..

[BigAlan]

I generally travel with a ratchet strap in my top box, I wonder what they would say if I used this and strapped down my bike through the rear but by the shock absorber, I wonder if they would moan regarding insurance etc?

Might give it a go next time just to see.

Alan

[mecki]

I generally travel with a ratchet strap in my top box, I wonder what they would say if I used this and strapped down my bike through the rear but by the shock absorber, I wonder if they would moan regarding insurance etc?

That's why most ferry operators make you tie down the bike yourself these days. No liability on their side. 
If it falls over or gets damaged it's your own fault. 

[viper]

Viper I agree with you... Ive been on the tunnel once but it was the price that swayed it for me... Return ferry crossing for only £30. Not anymore tho... The tunnel is awesome and I will just accept the extra cost.

Conman & Bigalan... As you know there are thick pads on the straps that supposed to protect the seat but like  they do... Waste of time.

When I went via Portsmouth to Le Havre with LD Lines. The staff on the ship strap down the bikes.. One over the seat and one on the handle bars... Thought they was going to snap the bars when I saw how tight they did them up... Guess its the tunnel and ride to Brittany as well...     

Thought bikes would have some sort of strapping down points on the frame to avoid this.. Maybe in the future they will..

last tunnel trip was crossing at 10am on a saturday in july and returned on a sunday evening , it was £50 return, the other saving is that you dont have to buy a grossly overpriced drink or sandwich which you are often tempted to, in reality it probably costs me £10 more . Pillion goes for free also like the ferry

[Cartman]

Tunnel is good in theory, IF you get on the right train,IF it runs on time and IF You don't get bumped in the queue. Used it plenty of times and for day trips it's great assuming all the aforementioned caveats. Sometimes the tunnel just feels like a long queue.

But

If you're going to do a big day in France, for instance Geneva or Spanish border, then the ferry is better. On first, brekkie and coffee and a rest before setting off in to France. Same coming home if youve had a long day, sit down, some food and relax before the final push home.

I take a piece of foam that lives in my top box to protect the seat and secure the bike myself.

[viper]

could the seat be unclipped and the strap run around the grab rails or similair

[tommytool]

I agree. I've done tunnel for all my northern trips and short day trips to Ypres, Bruges etc. its quick and not bad pricewise. I find it too far north though for the Normandy, Le Mans, trips. It adds on hours to a days riding.

Horses for courses though - I'm doing Santander again next year for a return to the Pyrenees and tunnel for a quick week in Austria.

I strop the bike myself on most trips, I use the pads and chocks provided. GTR not been ferried yet but no obvious hard point on bike except the rack rails but they're high and not central. What does everyone else use?

[viper]

i did the hull to zeebrugge ferry last year and i dont have any criticisms per say. I did all the bike strapping and thankfully it was a millpond crossing. we left port at 9pm on the friday and sailed in early next morning. Its a great crossing for the northern monkeys amongst us for northern europe destinations. I did miss the quick disembark, after getting off the ferry we had 30 mins of customs, on the return journey getting back into the uk , it took us over an hour to clear customs and actually get off the ship.

[O.C.]

I've used the Hull Zeebrugge ferry loads of times whilst on the Bike, and never had any problem, as I always strap my own bike down with my own ratchets

I've used the Tunnel only once which was this year for the Somme trip. It was brilliant, we turned up early having pre-booked, which meant we could board very quickly, there was a very, very short queue, no strapping down on the train and we rode straight off at the other end...... BRILLIANT

I've also travelled to Northern Ireland dozens times over the years, the service from both  Stranraer and Cairnryan used to be dreadful but they too have improved greatly (out of interest). 

[viper]

I've used the Hull Zeebrugge ferry loads of times whilst on the Bike, and never had any problem, as I always strap my own bike down with my own ratchets

I've used the Tunnel only once which was this year for the Somme trip. It was brilliant, we turned up early having pre-booked, which meant we could board very quickly, there was a very, very short queue, no strapping down on the train and we rode straight off at the other end...... BRILLIANT

I've also travelled to Northern Ireland dozens times over the years, the service from both  Stranraer and Cairnryan used to be dreadful but they too have improved greatly (out of interest). 

TT ? , i so need to cross that off my list