rileyman

On the Xmas trip there were at least 4 on-board cleaners who I took to be BF people ??. One of whom asked to vacate the cabin just as the call for Deck 3 car drivers was made when we arrived in PIP.

The turn off to the hotel can be a little tightt. As I recall it is best to come over the viaduct leaving Dinan and turn around at the roundabout to reach the turn off. There are several restaurants on the other side of the river for café style lunch/dinner. The breakfast was extensive, everything one could think of and more. The carpark is quite large but spread out.

We have stayed in the one in Dinan which was truly excellent. We will be very interested in how this one turns out. A return visit to Roscoff would be very welcome. Perhaps FW might update us sometime.

Any bits and pieces of rubbish we put in the bins in the cabin and the shower/toilet pod. Some people, it appears, just do not seem to do that. We have done around 30 trips with BF and do not recall having found anything in the cabins except for, one or twice, a little dust on the window cill.

PA was relatively slow, for some, loading for the Xmas trip. I suspect that they loaded some cars and then paused whilst the passengers unloaded luggage and go to their cabins before loading another batch, Also 20-30 cars with flashing lights boarded, are these people with movement problems ? In which case they would need to be aligned with the appropriate deck exit doors etc.

My wife and I missed you on the Xmas trip.

We have just returned home [we stayed in Portsmouth last night] from the Xmas trip. The crossings were smoother than driving on our roads. There were 700 on board [ about 1100 are booked for NY], the crew were very friendly, the food was excellent, the pianist was superb but the other entertainment was, it was reported to us, only ok. The external repaint was impressive except for a few areas at the bottom of some of the railings. A crew member told us that she thought most of the work had been mechanical. The café had been worked over with new chairs and other re-upholstery. In general the ship was very tidy. The most impressive thing, for us, was the sight the scaffolding surrounding the enormous Town Hall being covered in canvas painted to show the TH in its normal state even the roof.

We are just about to set off from Worcester.. Fortunately the weather has improved so we expect a good trip. Having been before Antwerp is a great city to visit. Happy and prosperous, we hope, Xmas and New Year to everyone.

Do these Marketing people truly believe the declarations that they make when a change is made ???? It is quite inoffensive so that is ok. The important things are that the ships are maintained and the excellent service from the staff does not change.

I agree with Z. It will almost become just another Ferry terminal.

I flew from Southend to Ostende in one of those before going on the, extremely cheap, overnight coach travel holidays to Switzerland organised by Swiss Travel. It would have been about 1967/8. No cars just 30 or so seats with windows in the fuselage. I think that it was Silver City Airways.

I, like Shefford, examine the hotels by Town or Village and so any change from the current arrangement would not be good news.

Thanks Roger. We will try for a visit next time we are nearby. Harry

Roger All the times that we have been to Bricquebec we have never found the 'Port' !!!! Harry

We experienced thecancellation when BF refused to be 'threatened' by the Union over wage demands. Sad to miss the Xmas cruise but we were handsomely compensated.