David Williams Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 The freight cabins look good, they seem to have solid bunks with curtains and be designed with their needs in mind. In the old days there were complaints about sharing a normal cabin with 3 others, however in the last few months they haven’t had to share ! Link to post Share on other sites
IanN Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 40 minutes ago, David Williams said: The freight cabins look good, they seem to have solid bunks with curtains and be designed with their needs in mind. In the old days there were complaints about sharing a normal cabin with 3 others, however in the last few months they haven’t had to share ! Do they have different needs to me and you. I certainly would not want to share toilet facilities with 120 strangers. If this is how the facilities have been cut for drivers what hidden ones are there for other customers that are still to come out. Economy at cruise prices 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Cabin-boy Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 7 minutes ago, IanN said: Do they have different needs to me and you. I certainly would not want to share toilet facilities with 120 strangers. If this is how the facilities have been cut for drivers what hidden ones are there for other customers that are still to come out. Economy at cruise prices I don't think it's one toilet per 120 people. Plus they only mention shower facilities so it's more akin to a sport's club locker room with perhaps 10 cubicles for people to use individually. There are presumably also separate facilities for women drivers. Ed Link to post Share on other sites
Chris L Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 I am no expert on freight driver facilities but it does seem a little retrograde to rely on such communal facilities in 2020. Although I don't mind the exterior of the Galicia, my sense is that the minimalist interior is as much about money as it is a reflection of Iberian/Scandinavian design 2 Link to post Share on other sites
nick hall Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 Doesn’t the link Jonno provided state that all cabins are en suite? Link to post Share on other sites
David Williams Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 (edited) 6 minutes ago, nick hall said: Doesn’t the link Jonno provided state that all cabins are en suite? It says:- Accommodation on board Two berth cabins All cabins have air-conditioning and share a shower area and toilets. Cabin upgrades are offered subject to availability, at an additional charge. Edited December 3, 2020 by David Williams Link to post Share on other sites
Chef Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 Pretty hard to practice social distancing in a cabin that size with a complete stranger on a 20+ hours crossing , plus drivers having driven trough several countries prior to boarding . Link to post Share on other sites
David Williams Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 (edited) 8 minutes ago, Chef said: Pretty hard to practice social distancing in a cabin that size with a complete stranger on a 20+ hours crossing , plus drivers having driven trough several countries prior to boarding . I imagine that it is one driver a cabin at the moment (like the rest of the fleet), communal toilets can be kept clean - they have to clean the other communal ones ! ps and when it is all back to normal there will be 4 drivers sharing a normal cabin on other ships with no curtains or fixed bunks etc.. pps - I wonder if BF thought about Japanese style pods - not that different from the accommodation they often have on the top of their cabs & would have been even more private.! Edited December 3, 2020 by David Williams 1 Link to post Share on other sites
wortley Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 I think it's shabby treatment for the truckers. They deserve private toilets and showers. Bad show B/F. 5 Link to post Share on other sites
David Williams Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 3 minutes ago, wortley said: I think it's shabby treatment for the truckers. They deserve private toilets and showers. Bad show B/F. I don't get the issue - in normal times in normal ships there are 4 strangers in a standard 4 berth cabin with folding upper bunks sharing a bathroom / shower which if you are not careful can become a wet room with a flimsy shower curtain that retains the moisture. If properly designed (and that is an if) proper shared facilities with proper shower cubicles etc can actually be better. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
jonno Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 56 minutes ago, David Williams said: It says:- Accommodation on board Two berth cabins All cabins have air-conditioning and share a shower area and toilets. Cabin upgrades are offered subject to availability, at an additional charge. WOW! that's changed overnight! Originally is said that the cabins were air conditioned and en suite with an opportunity to upgrade. It's the reason I posted the link. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
David Williams Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 25 minutes ago, jonno said: WOW! that's changed overnight! Originally is said that the cabins were air conditioned and en suite with an opportunity to upgrade. It's the reason I posted the link. That was fast, mind you they haven't changed every page. One of the non ship specific pages (https://www.brittanyferriesfreight.co.uk/fleet/driver-comfort) currently says:- Freight cabins Each freight driver is provided with a berth in an air-conditioned, en-suite cabin. Linen, towels and toiletries are provided Let's see how long that takes to be changed ! 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Cabin-boy Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 (edited) 29 minutes ago, jonno said: WOW! that's changed overnight! Originally is said that the cabins were air conditioned and en suite with an opportunity to upgrade. It's the reason I posted the link. Maybe that explains Mr. ROUE's facial expression in the photos posted. He just toured his new ship for the first time and noticed the problem. Ed Edited December 3, 2020 by Cabin-boy Link to post Share on other sites
RickOShea Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 (edited) It's interesting to read some of the views here. It's 2020 - freight drivers are in short supply and working to increasingly tight regulations. They need high quality facilities. Sharing a shower block between 120 drivers simply isn't acceptable when most will want to use at the same time. Most of the people on here wouldn't dream of booking a cabin like this for themselves so why is it acceptable for freight drivers? I should add - anything more than 2 per cabin (even before Covid) has become very difficult for an operator to justify. Single use of cabins is almost the norm on many routes such as on the North Sea where the likes of P&O, Stena and DFDS rarely ask drivers to share at all now. Edited December 3, 2020 by RickOShea 7 Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 1 hour ago, RickOShea said: Most of the people on here wouldn't dream of booking a cabin like this for themselves so why is it acceptable for freight drivers? Absolutely right. With freight being the only way forward for companies to make any sort of money, the drivers should get preferential treatment. I'd like to know how much that crossing costs for a HGV? Link to post Share on other sites
Andy Posted December 3, 2020 Author Share Posted December 3, 2020 1 hour ago, RickOShea said: Most of the people on here wouldn't dream of booking a cabin like this for themselves so why is it acceptable for freight drivers? And we all remember the couchettes on the Pont L'Abbe! 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites
daves_pad! Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 Unfortunately, General feedback for the new ship doesn’t seem that favourable, based on replies to BF’s Latest tweets. 😢 (see below) On the note of freight berths/cabins, it’s worth remembering that the basic freight tickets only includes a berth which is included in the price.... As a CEO/major customer of BF freight, its upto the freight company to accept the basic berth included for their driver (and make their staff aware!) or pay for a supplement for the driver! I always pay my staff to have a solo-use of a cabin Cabin, so in my view, it’s upto the freight company to either pay extra for their drivers comfort or the driver could always pay the supplement..... Because of CV19, The drivers right now should have solo-berths if the freight/Pax permit because of the pandemic... 1 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites
David Williams Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 21 minutes ago, daves_pad! said: or pay for a supplement for the driver Do the large freight companies have that option in advance ? I have seen old tweets by some owner / drivers saying that it is only available if there is space ? I can't get the image from the last tweet out of my mind ! Link to post Share on other sites
nick hall Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 2 hours ago, jonno said: WOW! that's changed overnight! Originally is said that the cabins were air conditioned and en suite with an opportunity to upgrade. It's the reason I posted the link. It has changed, I thought I had gone mad when I saw what DW had posted. I’m glad someone else noticed it. Link to post Share on other sites
IanN Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 3 hours ago, David Williams said: I don't get the issue - in normal times in normal ships there are 4 strangers in a standard 4 berth cabin with folding upper bunks sharing a bathroom / shower which if you are not careful can become a wet room with a flimsy shower curtain that retains the moisture. If properly designed (and that is an if) proper shared facilities with proper shower cubicles etc can actually be better. But that's surely not right in 2020? 1 Link to post Share on other sites
IanN Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 1 hour ago, Danim24 said: Absolutely right. With freight being the only way forward for companies to make any sort of money, the drivers should get preferential treatment. I'd like to know how much that crossing costs for a HGV? And they are now having to endure it for longer Link to post Share on other sites
TonyMWeaver Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 Kevin Poole blocked....!!! Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 44 minutes ago, TonyMWeaver said: Kevin Poole blocked....!!! Why, for speaking his mind? Link to post Share on other sites
wortley Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 So it turns out Galicia is a three class ship. A first class lounge with access restricted to the rich, an ordinary cabin for me, and truck drivers queuing for a lavatory at the back end of deck eight. Liberte...Fraternite...what's the missing word? 1 Link to post Share on other sites
nodwad Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 I read the tweets and look like a lot of problems on her first trip.it will be interesting to hear what the problems are on board.there was bound to be some problem with her first few trips but it sounds it is a bit more than that.stay safe Link to post Share on other sites
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