hf_uk Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 She looks better than the Etretat and Connemara. I know the style is older, but she looks more akin to BDS with that mid accommodation block looking over the stern. Has anyone travelled on her? From initial impressions - i would imagine perhaps more internal space than Etretat, but less than BDS ?? Link to post Share on other sites
neilcvx Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 @hf_uk quite a comprehensive video here 2 2 Link to post Share on other sites
nottingham Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 Like the look of double bed cabin! 1 Link to post Share on other sites
hf_uk Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 (edited) Looking at that video - definitely an 'Etretat Plus' I would say. Looks quite pleasant... Wrap around bow promenade too - that looks pretty cool. MSM style. Incidentally - is the bow area on Bretagne still open to the public? Edited October 11, 2019 by hf_uk Link to post Share on other sites
neilcvx Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 Yep the bow on Bretagne is usually open but in my limited experience only for a short time at the start of the sailing until the Gwen ha du is brought down. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
hf_uk Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 1 hour ago, hf_uk said: Looking at that video - definitely an 'Etretat Plus' I would say. Looks quite pleasant... Wrap around bow promenade too - that looks pretty cool. MSM style. Incidentally - is the bow area on Bretagne still open to the public? Dammit, missed my 2000th post. I was going to say something wonderfully profound and amusing! Oh well. ;-) Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 9 hours ago, TonyMWeaver said: 'Kerry' is coming, stopping at Gibraltar en route. Good spot - she's now been added to our Fleet Finder on the menu above. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Fine Whine Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 5 hours ago, hf_uk said: Looking at that video - definitely an 'Etretat Plus' I would say. Looks quite pleasant... Wrap around bow promenade too - that looks pretty cool. MSM style. Incidentally - is the bow area on Bretagne still open to the public? Just another classic Visentini surely - no more, no less. Vilified by plenty of folk who have never travelled on them, clean, fresh looking and functional, but lacking the pzazz we associate with most members of the BF fleet. Cheap to run, you wind them up, point them in the right direction and they can save up to 30% on fuel costs compared to other ferries; cheap to crew as well, from memory around 40 compared to nearer 140 on say Normandie or close to 190 on Pont-Aven. You pays your money and takes your choice.... And you were going to say something wonderfully profound and amusing to celebrate your 2000’th post hf_uk? How about BF are launching their gamma site tomorrow morning ( well the beta site was a pile of pooh..😉), they are taking over The Torpoint Ferry Company to ensure Cornwall stays in touch with the rest of Europe after Brexit, and as the proud owner of the recent Euromillions ticket winning £170 M you've invested the lot in a new ferry operating a Plymouth-St Malo-Portsmouth-Torpoint twice weekly service.....😂 Good job we know each other .... Chris 2 Link to post Share on other sites
TonyMWeaver Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 2 minutes ago, Fine Whine said: 5 hours ago, hf_uk said: Incidentally - is the bow area on Bretagne still open to the public? Yes, but only on good weather days. It's the same as Normandie & Mont St Michel', the front viewing deck isn't always open. I'm sure it depends on the Captain at time. Link to post Share on other sites
Fine Whine Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 22 minutes ago, TonyMWeaver said: Yes, but only on good weather days. It's the same as Normandie & Mont St Michel', the front viewing deck isn't always open. I'm sure it depends on the Captain at time. I’ve yet to find the viewing deck on Normandie open this year Tony, even in July ...☹️ MSM not a lot more accessible either Chris Link to post Share on other sites
TonyMWeaver Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 1 minute ago, Fine Whine said: I’ve yet to find the viewing deck on Normandie open this year Tony, even in July ...☹️ MSM not a lot more accessible either Chris Agreed, unless you know where to look, access to the viewing area on MSM is difficult. I've seen it open a few times this year. Normandie though, that's a different story. Link to post Share on other sites
Fine Whine Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 I’ve been on her 3 times in the last 10 days, forward staircase deck 6, complete lockdown throughout each crossing...😳 Which is a shame because the look on passengers sitting in the front reclining seat lounge on deck 7 as you turn to wave at them is priceless...! Chris 4 Link to post Share on other sites
BigDW1946 Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 Not sure about this new boat. On the Website for MV Michela there's talk of three dormitories with 128 beds, not something the wife and I want to try. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Paully Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 1 hour ago, BigDW1946 said: Not sure about this new boat. On the Website for MV Michela there's talk of three dormitories with 128 beds, not something the wife and I want to try. Us neither, but I`m told there are those who would pay a premium for such opportunities😂 Link to post Share on other sites
Cabin-boy Posted October 12, 2019 Author Share Posted October 12, 2019 10 hours ago, Fine Whine said: Cheap to run, you wind them up, point them in the right direction and they can save up to 30% on fuel costs compared to other ferries; cheap to crew as well, from memory around 40 compared to nearer 140 on say Normandie or close to 190 on Pont-Aven. Well in that case why aren't the crossings 30% cheaper? I've never been able to get a price on Etretat or BDS that offers more than about 10% off the Ouistreham fare and that's then more or less cancelled out by the extra distance and the Pont de Normandie and motorway tolls. Ed. Link to post Share on other sites
neilcvx Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 1 hour ago, BigDW1946 said: Not sure about this new boat. On the Website for MV Michela there's talk of three dormitories with 128 beds, not something the wife and I want to try. That’s an awful big bowl for the car keys . 5 Link to post Share on other sites
Fine Whine Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 14 minutes ago, Cabin-boy said: Well in that case why aren't the crossings 30% cheaper? I've never been able to get a price on Etretat or BDS that offers more than about 10% off the Ouistreham fare and that's then more or less cancelled out by the extra distance and the Pont de Normandie and motorway tolls. Ed. Ok Ed, I've just looked online for a trial booking one-way next friday evening ex Portsmouth, car and 1 passenger. £185 to Caen 22h45, £125 to Le Havre 23h30. The following evening on the same route it's £155 to Caen, £79 to le Havre. Even without a calculator that appears to me to be at least 30% cheaper if not more....? Chris 1 Link to post Share on other sites
neilcvx Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 When I’ve tried it at peak times Le Havre isn’t much cheaper than Ouistreham, maybe it’s cheaper off peak. Link to post Share on other sites
Fine Whine Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 (edited) But then looking nearer to Christmas there are sailings where the price difference isn't as obvious so point taken. My 30% figure is only based on a comment by someone (now retired) who worked at Irish Ferries and signed off the fuel bill each month. Roughly 1 million euros per month for the larger cruise ferries, 700k euros for Epsilon with a similar workload. Chris Edited October 12, 2019 by Fine Whine 1 Link to post Share on other sites
David Williams Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 Re Le Havre, even paying the same as Caen is worth it for an extra 2 hours in bed, in addition the Etretat has a £20 cabin discount that appears on the final total ( the BDS doesn’t ! ) 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Cabin-boy Posted October 12, 2019 Author Share Posted October 12, 2019 Thanks Chris. Obviously there can be savings and next Friday ex-UK is one of those opportunities. Clearly it's not the first weekend of UK half-term. In France it is and so if I do what you did via the French site for next Friday it's 177€ via Can and 145€ via Le Havre. The reductions are not consistent which they perhaps should be if the running costs remain the same. Ed. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Chef Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 2 hours ago, BigDW1946 said: Not sure about this new boat. On the Website for MV Michela there's talk of three dormitories with 128 beds, not something the wife and I want to try. If Ryanair ran a ferry business this ship would be perfect for them . 1 Link to post Share on other sites
wortley Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 1 hour ago, neilcvx said: That’s an awful big bowl for the car keys . So it is a cruise ferry after all. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
TonyMWeaver Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 (edited) 'Kerry' seen in Gilbraltar this morning, she's now bunkering. Thanks to Francis Ferro for the photo. Edited October 13, 2019 by TonyMWeaver 4 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Gareth Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 Thanks Tony - she looks smart. (And clearly we are seeing the end of Economie as a separately branded livery). 1 Link to post Share on other sites
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