LD Lines: Norman Arrow being withdrawn!
- 7 October 2009 20:2229965A lot of it is about shopping time - if they go to fast you don't get time to buy onboard, which is a large part of their profits !Been nice knowing you :)
- 7 October 2009 20:2829966that used to apply more a few years back, then french tax rises and a bad exchange rate drastically reduced the demand for on board shopping.
- 8 October 2009 07:1929974It seems extraordinary Ed when you weigh up all these obvious pitfalls why LDLines strode forward with this idea in Dover. As you say, nobody has ever made it pay here. Greater distances are required. I believe the Irish crossing from Holyhead has the larger HSS things but I havent seen them, not having ventured over that way for a number of years. But on a crossing like that, or the one Marek mentions, they might be good as they could shave serious time off journeys that are too long. Speed would be a useful asset in those cases...too long onboard equals bored passengers.
Fortunately though, from a personal point of view, we had our brief stay in Boulogne in the summer, travelling both ways on the Norman Arrow. One of the spectacular things I remember about it...was summer evening, return journey, standing on the rear open deck/platform and watching the huge spray/wash being chucked up behind. Quite spectacular when the sea is blue, the sky is blue, and the wash is pure white snow..with added rainbows.
Colette has a few pictures of this...will see if I can get her to concentrate long enough to send them over..or even put them up herself!!
email: dover7@msn.com - 9 October 2009 12:4030027Blooming Cheek! PaulB
However, I did concentrate long enough to send them over to you yesterday so where are they......... Why are we waiting..... 
- 9 October 2009 12:5530030paul mentions the irish sea crossing, what a nightmare that is in bad weather, which is most of the time.
with all the cheap flights nowadays to many irish locations, it can only be a fear of flying that forces people to make the ferry crossing. - 9 October 2009 13:2830033Pand O doing some cheap foot passenger deals at the mo
- 9 October 2009 15:5530049The traditional ferry that runs from Weymouth to Jersey takes about 10 hours with a pretty bumpy ride in the middle of the oggy.It's about £20 less than the fastcat but by the time you pay for a cabin or reclining seat the price is about the same.
It does a brisk trade as it keeps the island supplied with goods and is used by argos ,other catalogue firms and ship2me for bringing items ordered off the internet.The mail and newspapers arrive by air each day at 5.30am weather permitting.
I can visit my sister in Manchester for £60 return by air. A lot easier and quicker than negotiating with old JHG for a cheap off peak all singing all dancing steam ticket to Edgely via Euston.
A bit boring but thought I'd tell you a bit about island life.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter) - 9 October 2009 15:5830051i USED to take the kids out on seafrance when they did the £1 trips a great cheap day out.
P and O doing £3 day trips not bad. - 9 October 2009 16:0330053A cheap day trip to St Malo (9 miles away!) is £29 return over here.In summer it's £29 each way!!Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)