Club Arnage

I usually use them of the Chunnel but it looks like they may be going the way of Speedferries.

SeaFrance

Urgent information


We are approaching November 16th, the date when the decision of the Court of commerce will dictate the future of the Company, the Board of SeaFrance has decided, in liaison with the French National Authorities, to suspend the ship operations on the 15th of November at 04 00 hours. The suspension of service will last for 48 hours pending the decision of the court.

We have taken this decision, with full knowledge of the consequences, to safeguard the security of the passengers, crews, vehicles and ships. We are conscious of the inconvenience this situation is causing and we apologise for this. We will keep you informed of any changes in the present situation.

Should you need any further information, Please contact us on +44 (0) 845 458 0666 to speak to a member of staff.

http://connexionfrance.com/SeaFrance-ferry-Channel-tribunal-DFDS-Dover-Calais-13173-view-article.html (http://connexionfrance.com/newadmin/news_article_images/3173-1321445874_.jpg)

Poo - that means if they go I bet the others put their prices up  :(

Gary

They're in liquidation, yes: http://www.liberation.fr/depeches/01012371896-liquidation-judiciaire-prononcee-pour-la-compagnie-seafrance
...but then so's most of the € zone!

Russell

This is why I never book my ferry until a few weeks before!  less chance of a complete cock up!

(that and the fact that we are never organised enough to actually think about ferries :)  )

It just proves the world is made up of idiots - the story of the Calais Blue - pining for the harbour

They lost €240 last year "DFDS/LD Lines consortium which has offered €5 million while an employee cooperative has offered a symbolic €1 - and these were judged insufficient." This Parrot is dead!

"Today DFDS announced a 48% rise in third-quarter profits to €43.2 million. "  This one is alive and kicking

How come some ferries make money and some don't.  The cartel always allowed SeaFrance to be £5 Cheaper.  They should have raked it in

Given their sailings were less regular than P&O (And they are French) meant we always spent the extra £5 on P&0 as they are more flexible. However if we wanted to save money we would travel on DFDS, half the price of Sea France last time.

Lorry,

DFDS isn't only a ferry company. They have fingers in other pies too that SeaFrance didn't.

Russell

Sea france is operating agian, but would you want to pay in advance for a crossing with then no matter how cheap it was, i think I will stick to eurotunnel

I'll stick with driving west across France to LM ;D

Errm, no it isn't, and hasn't been since Tuesday.
All staff have been told to stay at home and the website is displaying this notice:

Urgent information

Paris 16th november 2011.
The management of the company has today been placed under the control of the administrators.

They have decided that commercial activities of the company will resume as soon as all the issues concerning safety and security are resolved.
We are conscious of the inconvenience this situation is causing and we apologise for this. We will keep you informed of any changes in the present situation.

Ticket-holders are being diverted to P&O.

It still doesn't explain why Seafrance were losing so much money.

Even P&O only lost half a million last year, and I can't see that the Irish sea and North sea routes make a fortune.  Bilbao has shut.  There is stiff competition and the Channel tunnel is regaining its popularity after the fire, but P&O were losing half a million a year, not a day

One of the news articles said that DFDS were going to fund SeaFrance for a couple of months, so that it could be sold.  That would cost €40 million, so I think DFDS put 2 fingers up to that and will wait to pick up the pieces cheap when its all fallen apart.

I'm starting to suspect that SeaFrances problem was one of national loyalty by the Brits (as if) but its more likely to be an ACO type problem in that they were effing useless at selling tickets for Lorries

I've used SeaFrance for the LM trip many times, so will miss them, but soddit I'm booked on LD next year

I got my info from the BBC but it appears you are right, but even the slightest doubt would put me of using them so I think they are dead in the water

Comparing ferry prices, has anyone bothered to compare Brittany Ferries with lD Lines, Portsmouth to Caen? Ywice as much with Brittany. I see LD have cancelled the fast cat next year, but they seem to have no idea as to whether they'll be bringing back a second overnight ferry.

As a tip, no matter which crossing, be sure to compare prices on the .co.uk and the .fr sites. I've saved over £100 by comparing, admittedly towing the trailer and Jaguar.

Some people like to pay the extra for Britney, but I can't see it myself.  OK Ouistreham is a bit easier than Le Havre, but not at that price

Good tip on the .fr ;)

Always check BF and LD

LD is always cheaper, by a miles and  enough to pay for the extra milage

Got to sort out my trip next year, and planning longer period this time  ;D

Having crossed with Sea France in Feb 2010, I can see why they are likely to go out of business :

The ferries were filthy inside, the seating and walking areas were incredibly dirty.
They cancelled a crossing days earlier and failed to tell us.
The food was non-existant on a return crossing, we ended up very hungry on a Sunday night crossing back to the UK.
The customer service was shocking, they did not give a toss about the state of their ferry.

Quite frankly it's good riddence.

Having used LD Lines this year on my family holiday to France, it would be a good thing if they took over the route.

Wanting to leave Le Mans early Monday morning and having to ride back to Anglesey the Calais route is no good, and the only other viable option is the BF fast ferry from Cherbourg to Poole or Portsmouth. Once that is settled the price for Portsmouth - Caen is quite reasonable - at least it is for a bike. Perhaps just one way the cost difference would be much greater? 

Did the LD  lines Portsmouth - Le Havre a few years ago and it was acceptable, not brilliant, but good enough.

http://www.ldlines.co.uk/le_mans_special_offers.php

10% Discount on Le Bounty camping  ;D

But you would be on the same site as Pistonheads  :'(

Probably quiter on the circuit..............................

I would prefer to be with civilised company at Camp C'Arnage.

Well (as it's payday) I've just booked Eurotunnel £90 return. A nice bit of pre Christmas excitement. ;D

Bargain ;)

Everything else seems to have doubled in price.  Buy now before the pound and the euro go down the pan

Don't forget if you collect Tesco club card points the Euro Tunnel is available on that scheme, which makes it free!

Well not quite but i used £25 worth of vouchers and £9 on credit card for my trip out wednesday morning back sunday night, can't complain at that.

Sea France has been liquidated today http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-16469300

The french courts decided that letting the union take it over was not a good idea.

Shame to see them go, always liked SF.
It will be interesting to see where the ships go, very nice newish RORO's.
I hope that LD lines buys them and opens up a Dover/Calais route, if only to provide competition and keep fares down.

'A Dover-Calais ferry route which was suspended in November, when SeaFrance collapsed, is due to be re-opened.

French shipping group Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LD) has teamed up with Denmark's DFDS to operate the route, which was originally run by SeaFrance.'

Starts on the 17th February, 5 departures a day apparently, each way, doesn't seem many.

I saw in the Sunday Times that Eurotunnel were looking at buying Sea France ships but there was a competition complaint from P&O and other carriers.  Seems that the story is already out of date 3 days later!

It looks like LD Lines and DFDS want the berths, but are bringing in other ships.

Will Eurotunnel get a ferry down the tunnel.  It looks like they're playing the wrong game