We did Norflokline Dover to Dunkirk this year. paid the £10 per person 1st class supplement. First on the boat, first off, separate lounge and waiter service, complimentray tea, coffee, bisbuits, cakes, soft drinks and newspapers. Plush seating and exclusive toilets. £48 + £40 meant £88 return for the car and two of us.

I understand what you're trying to gauge based on your posts about Sanguinet, but I think it really boils down to where you are coming from, where you want to get to, and the frequency of sailings if you have time constraints ............

I think possibly we have discounted the overnight ferry route as both ways involve overnight stay both ends of the holiday albeit on the way would be on the ferry. The cost of £790 is a lot to pay when we are only going to save approx 3 hours off the driving time.

So then we looked at Eurostar which again works out expensive if you take the flexible option which I think really is the only way to go to be on the safe side. Looked at doing it with Tesco vouchers and I read that you could not use the vouchers for the flexible option.

So now we are back to the day ferry route , I have priced them all up on their basic price and their first class/priority/flexible options. The cheapest is LD Lines at £70, the most expensive is £180 to travel with Norfolkline 1st Class. The extra distance from dunkerque does not make a massive difference to the timings as we would be breaking the journey up with an overnight stop. Looking at some of the reviews for Norfolkline they seem to be quite well thought of in the comfort, cleanliness stakes. I suppose I am wondering whether its worth paying the 1st class option (there are 5 of us) or are their regular facilities just as good.

When we went to France last time we went with Speedferries and upgraded to their club lounge which to be honest wasn't any better than the rest of the boat you just got served a drink and pastry (pretty naff drink and pastry) at your table.

Last time we stayed in the Ibis in Rouen which was very comfortable and clean - no complaints at all for the price. So considering them but will look at some of the other sites mentioned.

So just to reiterate my question is it worth the extra to upgrade to 1st class if travelling with norfolkline.

I wouldn't upgrade with Norfolk Lines, their cattle class is pretty good the boats are clean and well kept, I have travelled with them quite a few times, the boats are rarely full so there is usually room to move around. You don't get coaches on Norfolk so there aren't any long queues in the restaurants as there are often on P&O. The downside for Norfolk lines is the two hour crossing which is 1/2 to 3/4hr longer than the Dover ferries. I haven't as yet travelled with LD lines, it's a pity that Speed Ferries went bust, their Cat to Boulogne made the crossing super fast, though the boats were a bit shabby and well used.

The Cat to Boulogne is running again. LD lines I beleive run it.

I am not sure what the advantage is to the CAT apart from speed I guess, I am not bothered about the 2 hour crossing, I think the kids will like it and we are breaking the journey up both ways so the timing is not such a problem

If time isn't a problem then I would say go with Norfolk Lines. I liked the Cat purely for the fact that it was/is the fastest way of getting across the channel (and often the cheapest). Living on the continent and some years making the journey numerous times I usually based my choice on the fastest means of getting across the channel..

Throwing my hat into the ring here

if comfort is what you arre after then look for paying the suppliment for P&O
if speed is what you are after then the Tunnel beats everyone it's only 1/2 hour to cross and checkin / loading is faster than Dover docks

if you are looking at costs then look to book through Ferrycheap or another agent

PERSONALLY
For ferries I like P&O but for speed I prefer the tunnel

Hi Madcaravanner

Have you ever tried Norfolkline.

kazd wrote:

Hi Madcaravanner

Have you ever tried Norfolkline.

Yes we used them last year as caravans were free (still cost almost as much as P&O) nice ferries good food on board but it takes an extra hour and you end up in Dunkerque which is almost an hour further North although the exit from the docks is less formal -- or was last year

When I looked on google maps landing at dunkerque only added about 20 mins to the journey time. I assumed it was because you jumped straight on to a motorway. Are you saying that's not the case. (Karen exits to check google maps for the zillionth time)

Okay according to googlemaps

dunkerque to Sanguinet. 941 km. 9 hours 7 mins
Calais to Sanguinet. 936 km. 8 hours 58 mins

obviously I appreciate the extra journey time on the ferry but my concern is how much time actually in car. 9 mins does not seem a big price to pay to travel with a better ferry company ( just comparing the reviews I have read about them)

madcaravanner wrote:

kazd wrote:

Hi Madcaravanner

Have you ever tried Norfolkline.

Yes we used them last year as caravans were free (still cost almost as much as P&O) nice ferries good food on board but it takes an extra hour and you end up in Dunkerque which is almost an hour further North although the exit from the docks is less formal -- or was last year

'Less formal' ! LOL. We drove out of Dunkirk docks and thought we had taken a wrong turn and thought we were on a farm track. If it hadn't have been for the stream of lorries coming in the other direction we would have panicked!

And you are on the motorway in about 10 minutes after leaving the docks.

We use Norfolk Lines to Dunkerque when we do a week in Northern France/Belgium in Oct/November. Love the idea of no coaches therefore no groups of screaming schoolkids, clean boats, shorter queues for food. Far outweighs the extra 3/4hour on the crossing. Would even use it if travelling further south if we went from Dover.
For our main hols in June we always travel Hull - Zeebrugge with P&O. The main difference being the fact that we are only 90 minutes from Hull and it feels like we are starting the holiday earlier. Beats driving overnight to Dover for 300+ miles, on ly having a couple of hours rest and then having to do a fair distance (usually 3/400 miles) the following day. It then takes a day to recover anyway. It may add a couple of hundred pounds on to the holiday with the supplement and meals but for rest & relaxation and effectively another 2 days holiday. Not only that but doing the following days journey after a good nights sleep is worth it.

Okay its booked, we are going on Norfolkline. We haven't upgraded though saving approx £100, had toyed with the idea of just driving straight through but have decided 12 hours driving in one day might be a bit much.

Also booked a second holiday but you will have to look for me on the Caribbean forum for that one. Just me and hubby, can't wait.

kazd wrote:

Okay its booked, we are going on Norfolkline. We haven't upgraded though saving approx £100, had toyed with the idea of just driving straight through but have decided 12 hours driving in one day might be a bit much.

Also booked a second holiday but you will have to look for me on the Caribbean forum for that one. Just me and hubby, can't wait.

Which part of the Caribbean it's georgeous especially Grand Caymen, Aruba, BVI

We are going to Jamaica, staying at Couples Sans Souci, adults only, all inclusive, very romantic. Cannot wait!