David Williams Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 According to the schedule, Normandie is off between November 2 to November 29th and MSM between November 29th to January 3rd Link to post Share on other sites
TonyMWeaver Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 Timetables change, to me, that looks like they may be rotating the vessels. Link to post Share on other sites
georgem7 Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 1 hour ago, TonyMWeaver said: 'Mont St Michel' spent a month in Gdansk in January 2020, I highly doubt she will get any time off this winter. Are you sure? I’m sure that Mont St Michel‘s month at Gdańsk was cancelled due to reasons and she was laid up at Cherbourg for her repaint instead. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
TonyMWeaver Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 2 minutes ago, georgem7 said: Are you sure? I’m sure that Mont St Michel‘s month at Gdańsk was cancelled due to reasons and she was laid up at Cherbourg for her repaint instead. That is correct, I forgot that. I was working on the old list I had. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
David Williams Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 I am pretty sure that the MSM power/USB sockets got upgraded last winter, however that could have been done anywhere. Link to post Share on other sites
veryoldbear Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 I would not be surprised if work was limited to essential repairs and maintenence and work required by Class and Flag, plus a quick once over of paintwork and antifouling. I suspect that "refurbishment" work will be very limited Link to post Share on other sites
Seashore Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 I'm always interested in why ferries are taken out of service and dry docked every couple of years, or even annually; or even more frequently this year in the case of Stena's fleet on the Irish Sea. But cruise ships only dry dock about every 5 years and then that's normally when interior work is carried out as well. I'm wondering what the regulations are, or whether it's a case that cruise ships are simply better maintained - image is everything - in service using the labour on board which is cheap and a lot of the deck crew don't have a lot to do when not on mooring operations? Link to post Share on other sites
BobCrox Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 3 hours ago, Seashore said: But cruise ships only dry dock about every 5 years and then that's normally when interior work is carried out as well. AFAIK there are ship cleaning machines like giant sunken car washes scattered around the oceans which large ships sail through occasionally. These are not needed to the same extent if the ship stays in cold water. Link to post Share on other sites
David Williams Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 My sister in Law had foot passenger tickets for next week to Caen, these have now been cancelled by BF as the costs of opening up the terminals was too high. She was given a full refund plus a 50% value credit note which I thought was quite good. Link to post Share on other sites
Cabin-boy Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 7 hours ago, David Williams said: quite good Quite good financialy but useless if you want, or need, to get to France. Ed. Link to post Share on other sites
Altranter Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 9 hours ago, David Williams said: My sister in Law had foot passenger tickets for next week to Caen, these have now been cancelled by BF as the costs of opening up the terminals was too high Brittany Ferries has been running an advertising campaign to encourage people to book their sailings for summer 2021 now. Stories of cancellations like this will surely cancel out the company's efforts to get people to book early for next year? 1 Link to post Share on other sites
IanN Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 1 hour ago, Altranter said: Brittany Ferries has been running an advertising campaign to encourage people to book their sailings for summer 2021 now. Stories of cancellations like this will surely cancel out the company's efforts to get people to book early for next year? We booked in July for next April. Couldn't see any downside really. The earlier you book the lower the price. Paid for a flexi ticket so can change. Used a voucher to pay for 50% of the crossing cost so no extra cash tied up. Balance will be taken in February so plenty of time to way up the situation and amend if needed. I agree with you if you have to pay the deposit with cash but a voucher no real problem you may as well take advantage of the early booking cost Link to post Share on other sites
wortley Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 I book Plymouth to London on the train a few days before I'm ready to travel. I do the same for Plymouth to Roscoff by ship. I wouldn't dream of booking either in July for next April. Link to post Share on other sites
Khaines Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, Altranter said: Brittany Ferries has been running an advertising campaign to encourage people to book their sailings for summer 2021 now. Stories of cancellations like this will surely cancel out the company's efforts to get people to book early for next year? I would love to book up Barfleur as a special treat after this dreadful year, even if there are limitations on board. So far they haven’ said she is staying put until next year, but the minute I book something up, you can guess what will happen, quite demoralising. Edited August 31, 2020 by Khaines Link to post Share on other sites
IanN Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 1 hour ago, wortley said: I book Plymouth to London on the train a few days before I'm ready to travel. I do the same for Plymouth to Roscoff by ship. I wouldn't dream of booking either in July for next April. Any particular reason why? I have tried to explain its a zero cost option. IF BF go bust the voucher is worthless any way. A standard ticket will cost the same as the flexi if not more if you wait till the new year. We also got the cabin we like (nothing special an outside 4 berth right at the back with unobstructed views. Link to post Share on other sites
IanN Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 Out of curiosity I checked a booking we made last December to Bilbao for this September. A Full flexi ticket cost us £777.00 an economy ticket for the same crossing today would cost £808.80 a little more but not much in it. Only in normal circumstances the sailing would have been full months ago (snowbirds). So as usual each to his/her own preference. Ian Link to post Share on other sites
nodwad Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 Do you honestly think bf will go out of business? I know they have major financial problems at the moment but going out of business is not one of them.i think they will have financial backing of the French goverment behind them and local councils etc.so why are a few people coming up with this idea baffles me ,this virus thing is effecting all of the travel industry. So let's think positive and look towards a brighter future and less of the doom lading things that some people are going on about.stay safe Link to post Share on other sites
IanN Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 1 minute ago, nodwad said: Do you honestly think bf will go out of business? I know they have major financial problems at the moment but going out of business is not one of them.i think they will have financial backing of the French goverment behind them and local councils etc.so why are a few people coming up with this idea baffles me ,this virus thing is effecting all of the travel industry. So let's think positive and look towards a brighter future and less of the doom lading things that some people are going on about.stay safe Where did I say that I believed BF would go bust? I was trying to make a point that it does not matter financially whether you hold onto the voucher in your account or if you use it as a deposit for a booking on a future crossing the outcome will be the same regardless of what happens.. I hope and expect BF to still be operating next year which is why I made my booking early. It will help BF with their planning and possible financial assistance if BF can show promising future orders with projected incomes Ian 1 Link to post Share on other sites
TonyMWeaver Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 The Caen ferries have gone back to their normal timetables, nearly missed Mont St Michel coming into Portsmouth Link to post Share on other sites
David Williams Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 Worrying tweet Link to post Share on other sites
David Williams Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 4 hours ago, Khaines said: I would love to book up Barfleur as a special treat after this dreadful year, even if there are limitations on board. So far they haven’ said she is staying put until next year, but the minute I book something up, you can guess what will happen, quite demoralising. According to Paul Clifton, that route is now closed ! Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 I'd just seen this but haven't seen anything with more specific details of what it means in terms of ships etc. Link to post Share on other sites
nodwad Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 2 hours ago, IanN said: Any particular reason why? I have tried to explain its a zero cost option. IF BF go bust the voucher is worthless any way. A standard ticket will cost the same as the flexi if not more if you wait till the new year. We also got the cabin we like (nothing special an outside 4 berth right at the back with unobstructed views. Your message on this page.stay safe Link to post Share on other sites
David Williams Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 5 minutes ago, Jim said: I'd just seen this but haven't seen anything with more specific details of what it means in terms of ships etc. There was an interesting reply on Twitter a couple of days ago when someone stated that the Galicia was due to do Cherborg once a week & the BF response was that timetables were changing ! - Maybe it will be a Roscoff crew change ! Link to post Share on other sites
wortley Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 2 hours ago, IanN said: Any particular reason why? I have tried to explain its a zero cost option. IF BF go bust the voucher is worthless any way. A standard ticket will cost the same as the flexi if not more if you wait till the new year. We also got the cabin we like (nothing special an outside 4 berth right at the back with unobstructed views. You ask why I would not book a Flexi ticket now for summer 2021. Three reasons. If I have to cancel (for age or infirmity) I would lose 25% of the money spent. But if I wait till a few days before travel I can safely book one of the cheaper economy tickets which is priced £50 less than a Flexi ticket for a Plymouth- Roscoff round trip. And choice of cabins is immaterial for us on that route, especially on daytime crossings. Link to post Share on other sites
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