|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
          |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Latest Ferry NewsThe latest ferry news for September 2008 is below:
Ferry Travel Alerts serviceDate: 25 Sep 2008Source: Directferries.co.uk We are always adding new features to directferries.co.uk to improve your experience. We have now added a Ferry travel alerts page covering all uk ferry operators and Eurotunnel which shows if there are any delays or cancelled services. For more information, or to get information on curerntly delayed or cancelled services, please visit our Ferry Travel Alerts page. Norfolkline to revive the Rosyth Zeebrugge FerryDate: 18 Sep 2008Source: BBC News Dutch ferry company Norfolk Line is to revive the Rosyth to Zeebrugge route with the service starting up again in the spring, it has been confirmed. Part of the Danish Maersk group, it will operate a passenger and freight service using a new vessel. First Minister Alex Salmond visited the Fife port on Thursday, less than a week after the Greek operator Superfast finally ceased operations. Superfast Ferries announced in May it was pulling out of Rosyth. The Greece-based company, which had run the service for six years, said it would end in mid-September and blamed fuel costs and passenger numbers for the decision. The service saved passengers and truckers having to drive via Hull or the English Channel ports. The Scottish Government said it was "very disappointed" to lose the service and pledged to seek an alternative operator. More information to follow. SeaFrance deploys reserve ferry as demand surgesDate: 17 Sep 2008Source: Lloyds List Ferry operator SeaFrance has brought into service its reserve vessel, the SeaFrance Renoir, to cope with the heavy demand for ferry capacity created by the partial shutdown of the Channel tunnel. The 1981-built vessel, which normally provides cover when other SeaFrance vessels are undergoing maintenance, was brought into service yesterday and will make three round trips daily. The company had already increased the number of round trips it is making daily between Dover and Calais from 23 to 25, and the arrival of the SeaFrance Renoir has lifted the total to 28. According to SeaFrance, tourist traffic has risen 50% since the partial closure of the Channel tunnel following last week’s fire, and freight traffic has risen 20%. “It is increasing a little more each day,” said SeaFrance spokeswoman Muriel Mironneau. She said that the company still had additional capacity if it was needed, but that it is being careful to match capacity to demand. “We will increase capacity if the demand is there,” she said. The arrival in service of the SeaFrance Renoir has lifted the number of SeaFrance vessels currently in service between Dover and Calais to six. Three are working as car ferries and three as freight vessels. The SeaFrance Renoir is a car ferry but has been assigned to freight duties for the time being, as is the case with the company’s newest vessel, the SeaFrance Molière, which is awaiting administrative approval for the recent enlargement of its passenger accommodation. To book a crossing, please visit our Seafrance ferry page. Eurotunnel update Tuesday 16th to Sunday 21stDate: 16 Sep 2008Source: Directferries.co.uk Travel information for Tuesday 16 to Sunday 21 September Eurotunnel are currently operating a limited Passenger Service with one departure expected every two hours. Please find below an outline of the Revised Shuttle Service. 06:00 to 20:00 (local time) from Folkestone to Calais 08:00 to 22:00 (local time) from Calais to Folkestone Note: There will be no overnight service during this period. Customers are requested to respect their booked departure time, within the times of the Revised Shuttle Service Timetable. However, please be aware extended waiting times are to be expected. Customers with a booked departure time outside of the Revised Shuttle Service Timetable above, should arrive between 06:00 and 20:00 from Folkestone to Calais and between 08:00 and 22:00 from Calais to Folkestone (local time), to avoid an over-extended waiting period. To rebook your travel for an alternative date or to cancel your booking and request a refund, please email us at sales@directferries.com or call 0871 222 3313 stating your Direct Ferries booking reference number Eurotunnel update Monday 15thDate: 15 Sep 2008Source: Directferries.co.uk Travel information for Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 September Passenger Service will be severely disrupted on Monday 15th and Tuesday 16th September. There will be a limited service available with only one departure expected every two hours between 6am and 8pm. To avoid severe disruptions to your journey, we therefore strongly recommend that you make alternative travel arrangements. Should you decide to maintain your booking please expect a disruptive service and extended delays. To request a refund, please either send us an email to sales@directferries.com or call 0871 222 3313 stating your Direct Ferries booking reference number. To rebook your travel for an alternative date or if you would like to travel with a differenet cross channel carrier, please call us on 0871 222 3312. Travel information for Wednesday 17 to Friday 19 September: There will be a limited service available. Please check back here for futher updates. For latest Eurotunnel passenger travel information (Folkestone to Calais only), please call the 24 hour pre-recorded message (English language): From the United Kingdom: 08000 969 992 From France: 0800 800 474 Irish Ferries pledges to hold faresDate: 15 Sep 2008Source: Irish Ferries Irish Ferries has stated that it will continue to offer an unchanged fare for ferry crossings between Rosslare and Pembroke for the forthcoming season. The operator said that autumn-winter services will not charge higher fares, despite the rising fuel costs that it is facing in the current market. Passengers can find the best fares on Irish Ferries' Rosslare-Pembroke route by booking online at least 28 days prior to travel. Pembroke is one of two destinations in Wales to which Irish Ferries operates ferry crossings from Ireland, with a service also available from Dublin to Holyhead in the county of Anglesey. The company also sails from Rosslare, on the southern coast of Ireland, to Roscoff in the French province of Brittany and Cherbourg in Normandy. For more information or to make a booking, please visit our Irish Ferries Eurotunnel update Friday 12th to Sunday 14thDate: 12 Sep 2008Source: Directferries.co.uk Information regarding travel Friday 12th September: Customers travelling on a day trip ticket will not be able to travel. Full refunds are available or ticket may be moved to another date. For customers who would like a refund - please email sales@directferries.com or call 0871 222 3313 with reference numbers ready. For customers travelling on non day trip tickets today - customers should go directly to the Travel Centre at Eastern Docks, Dover and they will be granted travel by one of the other cross-Channel operators. As you can appreciate, all operators will be busy today, however, members of Eurotunnel staff are available at the docks to assist. Customers should quote their Eurotunnel booking reference number at the Travel Centre, which will be exchanged for a travel ticket. Information outward travel Folkestone / Calais - Saturday 13th - Monday 15th September: All crossings will be cancelled and you are advised to email sales@directferries.com or call 0871 222 3313 to make alternative travel arrangements. All cancelled reservations will be refunded or if you wish to re-book for a future date, please contact us to arrange your new booking. For returning customers this weekend Calais / Folkestone - who have travelled with Eurotunnel for their outward journey only: Customers due to complete their return travel this weekend are advised to arrive at the port of Calais, present their Eurotunnel booking reference, and Eurotunnel staff will arrange for customers return travel with an alternative cross Channel operator. Travel on Monday 15th September: Eurotunnel envisage a severely restricted service being available. Where possible we suggest that our customers do not travel this weekend and to change their travel plans by either moving their crossing to a future date or changing to a cross channel ferry operator if possible. In the event customers wish to cancel their travel up until 21 September, a full refund is available. Eurotunnel will not be taking any new bookings for next week, until Sunday 21 September, 2008. For further information, please contact us on 0871 222 3312. A Eurotunnel information line is also available on 08000 969 992. Directferries.co.uk and Eurotunnel wish to thank you for your understanding and we apologise for the inconvenience this may cause, and appreciate your support and co-operation during this difficult time. Eurotunnel services suspendedDate: 11 Sep 2008Source: Eurotunnel The Channel Tunnel has been closed after a fire broke out on a freight train about seven miles from Calais. The blaze broke out at 1400 GMT about 11km (7 miles) from the French entrance. The blaze has been contained but all trains are temporarily suspended. If you require further information regarding travel please call Eurotunnel customer information line on 08000 969 992. 20% off with SpeedFerries!Date: 10 Sep 2008Source: Directferries.co.uk SpeedFerries is renowned for offering the best value all year round fares, and although global fuel prices have forced ticket prices to increase, they still remain among the best on the market. And furthermore for the next 14 days book any standard BASIC, FLEX or PREMIER ticket for both cars & motorcycles, as well as DayTrip & Foot Passenger crossings and you'll receive a 20% reduction off the listed fare. Whether you're looking to escape for a few days, or planning a trip for later in the year; you won't find a better time to book - but hurry as time is short, and space is limited. This offer is valid for bookings of any BASIC, FLEX, PREMIER, DayTrip & Foot Passenger tickets, excluding all FLEX & Off-Peak Vouchers, for travel up to 31st March 2009 (excluding dry dock dates). For prices or to make a booking, please visit our SpeedFerries page, enter your details into the fare search and hit the 'search' button. HD Ferries ends Summer 2008 serviceDate: 3 Sep 2008Source: Lloyds List HD Ferries today announces that it will end services for 2008 between the Channel Islands and France on Sunday 7th September. The move comes in response to the general economic slowdown coupled with high fuel costs that make the continued operation of services through the Autumn and Winter seasons economically unsustainable. The last service will depart St. Malo on September 7th 2008 at 21:30, arriving Jersey 21:30. Customers scheduled to travel on any services after this date are being contacted and will be refunded. Commenting on this announcement, James Howe-Davies, CEO of HD Ferries, said: "In normal circumstances we would expect demand in the Summer to allow us to sustain services through the Autumn and Winter. However, this year has been far from normal - the general economic slowdown has limited demand and, at the same time, high fuel costs have substantially increased our operating costs. The net impact is that there would be no realistic prospect of resuming services in 2009 unless we bring services for 2008 to an end early. We very much regret the inconvenience this will cause our valued customers and also the impact on our staff who have worked so hard this year to deliver a reliable service. We hope everyone will understand that this move offers the best prospect for HD Ferries to continue to offer choice and low fares between the Channel Islands and France in 2009." Ferry ports less stressful than airportsDate: 1 Sep 2008Source: Lloyds List A recent survey of passengers using the Port of Dover indicates that ferry travel is getting a positive reaction in comparison to airports where passengers are experiencing queues, delays and surcharges, writes Sandra Speares. The recent survey, conducted among travellers taking cars abroad found that luggage handling, security checks and check-in procedures were just some of the areas where ferries won out over the airlines. Nine out of 10 respondents said luggage handling and security checks were easier, with nearly eight out of 10 saying ferry ports were more flexible than airports and seven out of 10 saying costs were better for ferries. As shipping companies struggle with rising fuel costs and surcharges, ferries are rated less likely to incur surcharges and experience delays and cancellations. Stress levels for ferry travel were rated as lower than air travel, particularly as far as passengers in the over-65 age bracket were concerned. According to the Port of Dover, the only areas where airports scored higher than ferry ports were for shopping and catering. According to Dover chief executive Bob Goldfield, anecdotal evidence suggests people are becoming less satisfied with air travel and it is “encouraging to know travellers value the ferry port experience so highly”. The survey will add to the positive message that ferry operators are conveying to passengers, although concern has been expressed about the possible impact of the UK’s e-Borders project, which will require carriers, including ferries and cruiseships, to provide more information about passengers and crew members. Information technology company Raytheon was awarded the contract to develop the e-Borders project by the Home Office and information gathering from carriers is set to begin in October. After July 2009, the e-Borders operations centre will start up, enabling the UK Border Agency to build up travel histories for passengers. The next deadline will be in December 2009, by which time 60% of all international passengers and crew will be checked against lists of those of interest to the authorities. Details of 95% of passengers and crews will be collated by December 2010, if the project runs to schedule, after which time modernised entry methods will be activated at ports of entry. The system is supposed to be fully operational — covering all international travellers using UK ports, including matching arrivals to departures — by March 2014. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
 |
Français | |||||
 |
Deutsch | |||||
 |
Español | |||||
 |
Irish | |||||
 |
Nederlands | |||||
 |
Italiano | |||||
 |
Schweiz | |||||
 |
Svenska | |||||
 |
Dansk | |||||
 |
Belge | |||||
 |
Österreich | |||||
 |
Norge | |||||
 |
Polski | |||||
 |
Português | |||||
 |
Suomi | |||||
| Opening Times | |||||