P&O ferry fares.

[Brandane]

What planet do these people live on?
Two years ago I did a very pleasant trip on my bike, taking a ferry from Hull to Rotterdam then cycling down to Zeebrugge over 2 days before getting a ferry back to Hull. The fare IIRC was about £90 return, in October.
I just priced the same trip, except doing it in reverse - cycling from Zeebrugge to Rotterdam. The fare quoted is £358, and that was travelling midweek. Needless to say I won't be going. For that sort of money I can get return flights to Majorca and a hotel for a week in the sun.
Do they really want people to travel on their ferries? I have checked fares for several potential trips this year, and each time the fares have been stupidly expensive and resulted in alternative travel arrangements.

 

[classic33]

What planet do these people live on?
Two years ago I did a very pleasant trip on my bike, taking a ferry from Hull to Rotterdam then cycling down to Zeebrugge over 2 days before getting a ferry back to Hull. The fare IIRC was about £90 return, in October.
I just priced the same trip, except doing it in reverse - cycling from Zeebrugge to Rotterdam. The fare quoted is £358, and that was travelling midweek. Needless to say I won't be going. For that sort of money I can get return flights to Majorca and a hotel for a week in the sun.
Do they really want people to travel on their ferries? I have checked fares for several potential trips this year, and each time the fares have been stupidly expensive and resulted in alternative travel arrangements.

You've to pay either for your seat or a cabin, which pushes the price up. Then the single supplement on top.

 

[Brandane]

You've to pay either for your seat or a cabin, which pushes the price up. Then the single supplement on top.

Cabins (no reclining seat lounges on these ferries) are compulsory on the North Sea routes with P&O, and were included in the price I paid for the trip two years ago. They just seem to have become extortionate of late. I know it's supply and demand economics and all that, but in October?

 

[ClichéGuevara]

I've not priced it this year, but last year, I went into their office because the website was playing up, and four in a cabin was as cheap as chips. Have you tried ringing them to see if there's anything else they can do? I know they have single cabins with a shared bathroom for the truckers, so they could maybe do something if it's running light.

 

[classic33]

Cabins (no reclining seat lounges on these ferries) are compulsory on the North Sea routes with P&O, and were included in the price I paid for the trip two years ago. They just seem to have become extortionate of late. I know it's supply and demand economics and all that, but in October?

Recliner was the cheapest option, with blankets extra. Still not cheap though.

 

[TVC]

What are Easyjet's views on bike bags?

 

[Brandane]

I've not priced it this year, but last year, I went into their office because the website was playing up, and four in a cabin was as cheap as chips. Have you tried ringing them to see if there's anything else they can do? I know they have single cabins with a shared bathroom for the truckers, so they could maybe do something if it's running light.

Knowing my luck it will be a shared cabin with some very large trucker who has a fetish for lycra . Even although I don't wear lycra, Majorca is beginning to look more appealing by the minute . I might give them a ring and see what they say.

 

[Brandane]

What are Easyjet's views on bike bags?

Last time I checked, the bike cost more than the passenger , it was about £70 for EACH LEG of the journey!
Anyway .... bike bags are fine if you are starting and finishing at the same airport; AND have somewhere to store the bag while touring.

 

[swee'pea99]

By contrast, I was pleasantly surprised by the very reasonable charges levied by Caledonian MacBrayne on my recent wee trip round some of the Western Isles - 4 hour trips between islands for £7 or so. On the first one I asked if there was a supplement for my bike. 'Och, we don't charge for bicycles,' said the nice young woman cheerfully, 'We like bicycles!'

 

[Brandane]

By contrast, I was pleasantly surprised by the very reasonable charges levied by Caledonian MacBrayne on my recent wee trip round some of the Western Isles - 4 hour trips between islands for £7 or so. On the first one I asked if there was a supplement for my bike. 'Och, we don't charge for bicycles,' said the nice young woman cheerfully, 'We like bicycles!'

CalMac fares are getting better these days since the introduction of "Road Equivalent Tariffs" (subsidised by the Scottish Govt. I do believe) which means they are only allowed to charge a fare similar to what it might cost to travel by road. Clearly on a bike the RET would be SFA, so a bike goes for free on the ferry.

 

[vernon]

Have a look at the Dutch Flyer service. Around £120 return without a cabin but includes trains from London to Harwich and back and from the Hook of Holland to and from any Dutch station.

http://www.stenaline.co.uk/ferry-to-holland/rail-and-sail

 

[TVC]

Last time I checked, the bike cost more than the passenger , it was about £70 for EACH LEG of the journey!
Anyway .... bike bags are fine if you are starting and finishing at the same airport; AND have somewhere to store the bag while touring.

Bloody 'ell, DHL might be cheaper

 

[vernon]

Last time I checked, the bike cost more than the passenger , it was about £70 for EACH LEG of the journey!
Anyway .... bike bags are fine if you are starting and finishing at the same airport; AND have somewhere to store the bag while touring.

My bike cost less than that to cross an ocean and a continent with Icelandaire.

 

[Brandane]

Have a look at the Dutch Flyer service. Around £120 return without a cabin but includes trains from London to Harwich and back and from the Hook of Holland to and from any Dutch station.

http://www.stenaline.co.uk/ferry-to-holland/rail-and-sail

Thanks for that, but I'm afraid Harwich is just a bit too far away from here to justify what is in essence a quick 2 day bike ride. At least with Hull it's "only" a 5 hour drive to the ferry. Hull is about the maximum distance I would go for such a short break. DFDS from Newcastle is every bit as expensive as P&O.

 

[Brandane]

My bike cost less than that to cross an ocean and a continent with Icelandaire.

Mine cost nothing to take to Florida - with British Airways.