BJSLIV

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Cheeks are dirt cheap, even pence from the butcher as generally get chucked away. Not any more. They are still a cheaper cut, but since the trendy chefs started using them, they are £8 a kilo in Waitrose!

It's a slight change to the Le Havre departure , making a "normal" afternoon exit rather than the timetabled Friday evening departure. 25/03/16 Le Havre to Portsmouth 22h00 (Baie de Seine) - We are sorry to advise that forecasted heavy seas have disrupted our timetables this weekend. This sailing from LE HAVRE on Friday will now leave at the earlier time of 17h15, with latest check-in 16h30. The ship will arrive in PORTSMOUTH at 21h45.

Re The TV News report mentioned earlier. In effect the report says that wef !st January Brittany Ferries are imposing new work rotas that require the engineering / technical staff to work an extra 4 hours per week, which they say is equivalent to 9/10 days extra work per year, with only a small offset of 4 extra days holiday. The unions are going to court to delay the introduction pending further talks. Negotiations have been going on for 6 months. I hope this doesn't mean a new round of strikes is on the horizon.

Couldn't put it better myself [h=3]What to expect on board a Brittany Ferries économie service[/h] Customers familiar with our cruise ferries will find that both Etretat and the latest addition to our fleet, Baie de Seine, have smaller public areas and generally less space onboard. Both ships have self-service restaurants offering limited but tasty French cuisine. Baie de Seine also has a café. Both ships have shops selling a range of tobacco, spirits (at French prices), confectionery and gifts but these are limited when compared to our cruise ferries. The cabins on both are comfortable yet functional, some have vinyl flooring instead of carpet and there are two wheelchair accessible cabins on each. Pet owners will welcome the pet-friendly cabins on both services and for those looking to travel with a little extra comfort, the new Economie Plus cabins on Baie de Seine will be popular.

Apart from Etretat's dubious reliability record I too cannot understand why so many people prefer the Baie de Seine. We came back from Le Havre on Saturday 17th October on the Baie de Seine and found it to be a thoroughly unpleasant experience. Even though the sea was very calm there was a continuous vibration which was particularly evident in Deck 10 reading lounge. it was so annoying that we rapidly returned to our cabin, where it was still noticeable. It reminded me of our early crossings to St Malo, back in the 80's, when every panel in the cabin seemed to vibrate. Suffice it to say that SWMBO has decreed that for future trips I am never to book a crossing on Baie de Seine! It's a shame because l do agree that the public spaces are far better than on board Etretat. .

The 800 Euros for each mariner is compensation for their legal fees incurred in preparing their defence.

Quote .For Le Havre route's it's necessary to have a larger veseel (like Ouistreham / Portsmouth) with more cabins to night crossing. An equivalent ship P&O Pride of Portsmouth / Pride of Le Havre. Which if I remember correctly weren't a particularly winning formula on that route

Re: ETRETAT: Brittany Ferries Economie They are still showing the Monday afternoon, Portsmouth-Le Havre as running normally!