Club Arnage

Bookings for 2023 are now open.

I have booked mine, as I think it may be busy next year and as everything is going up - I got mine in now

See you all in a field in France 2023  ;D

Really want to book mine but I've no idea who or if anyone is coming with me so can't yet  :'(

Likewise, reasonable price for BF, about the same as this year.
I have noticed, especially this year, that the later you book the more expensive it is.
Tried to change the day of my outward leg for LM 2022 a few weeks before departure, they wanted an extra 55% of the fare!
Not surprisingly I left the booking as it was. 

Booked my outward this morning. I'll be headed over aboard the Pont Aven from Plymouth to Roscoff on Tuesday May 30.

Booked ours too, Out on the 31st May back on 16th June, Pompey - Caen and back.

Slightly more expensive than last year but not by much, but then I did pick the standard fare which only requires a 50% deposit, last year, which was a rollover from the year that wasn't, was an economy fare.

Best to get bookings in early if you want a cabin and are travelling on popular dates!

Now just have to wait for the ACO to announce when tickets go on sale, September time I expect, unless they want to get the cash in early!

Inward as well now. Caen to Portsmouth, Monday 12 June.

With Brittany Ferries Portsmouth - Caen it leaves say 11pm can you get on the boat early but it doesn't leave till 11pm (like the hull rotterdam ferry you can board from 3 but wont leave till 8pm) or not?

I have always known the vessels at Portsmouth to come in and be turned around. (back out on the same route) So no waiting around.

We always have the 10.45pm out on either the Friday or the Sunday, they usually board around 10 to 10.30pm and it generally gets away at 11.15pm once the belly has been filled with Le Mans traffic!

Beware - the bar usually closed before 1am.

Hmm ok not like the Hull - Rotterdam then its more like a Dover ferry turn around then.

Bar wont bother me as if I've the drive to do wont drink lol

Looks like I may have to book soon as booking up fast

Just talking out loud is there much difference between Cabourg and Caen as seems similar mileage from Le Mans

Cabourg doesn't have a ferry port, it's a small coastal town just east of Caen!

If you mean Cherbourg then it's quite a lot further than Caen, about 50 or 60 miles I think, Last time I used Cherbourg I found the drive to be quite tedious tbh.

Re checked and I am stupid. Its Caen thanks for pointing it out :)

Unlike the early 00's when it shut when the last customer standing left, I remember (just) 3am!

Did this route a few weeks back, nice crossing, just a long way down to Plymouth for me.

Ferry was good, bar did close at about midnight - but 1st time I have seem armed police and French Army on board - whole trip.

And when getting in to France only 30 mins, to get through passport control.

Also ate before got on board as limited food on board (when I went)

Just booked mine. Usual route and times. Out in the Rover Thursday 8th June 8.15am Portsmouth to Caen. Back 4.30pm (or much later if it's anything like last year!) Caen to Portsmouth. Cost £400 including reserved seat, which feels a lot more expensive than last year! I just checked and it's about £60 more than last year.

Ouch!
You might want to look at joining their Club Voyage.
You won't save much, if anything the first year, due to a joining fee.
But my return Portsmouth/St Malo out (night boat), the most expensive route and Caen/Portsmouth back (afternoon) with a cabin both ways was £350.

Mines looking at £559 return  :o

I joined Club Voyage a few years ago, the £70'odd annual fee is easily recouped on our June crossing with around £90 discount on the sailing and £10 each to spend in the bar/cafe on the overnight sailings. We have booked a short break away in October and the saving was £120  ;D. So it more than pays for itself with one crossing and comes into it's own with more crossings. And with a few of our friends using our code they get some discount and we get £10 off future bookings.

Our crossing for June is only slightly more expensive next year, and that's more because I chose standard fare rather than economy so that I didn't have to pay the whole lot in one go. Like most travel businesses their prices are demand driven so you need to book early to get the better prices on the popular sailings, especially the Monday return after the race.

Is anyone with the Club Voyage able to price a crossing for me please as I want to see if its worth joining to book it or just book it outright as the cabins are nearly sold out.

Portsmouth - St Malo 7th June 2023
1 person 1 cabin (2people)
Car

Caen - Portsmouth 11th June 2023
1 person 1 cabin (2people) or 4 if that's all that's left.
Car

Merci :)

Depends on what ticket type you pick, but currently it's 30% off of the sailing, no discount on the cabins, but you will get £10 each overnight crossing to spend in the bar/cafe.
TBH you need to travel.  With the Annual Membership being £75 you will save money, I don't know if they still charge the joining up fee, if so you won't save much if anything if you only make one crossing in the first year.
Note that you an give your account number to family and friends to make up to 15 bookings, you will then receive a £10 credit for each one when you renew.

Hope that helps!

Currently its £60 join and £60 fee so £120 think i might need to join and get someones code so they benefit!

Joined CV in the end and ironically the discounts where less in the end than if I used a existing members code  ::) There was no going back then sadly.


Anyway booked -
Outbound route

Portsmouth - St Malo Wed 7 Jun 2023


Inbound route
Caen - Portsmouth - Sun 11 Jun 2023

It starts to pay off in year two, or if you travel more than once, June more than paid for the fee, and with an upcoming trip saving £120 it was def worth the £60 this year.  ;D

It's a shame they dont go to dunkirk or anything as I'd use it more going to Germany than France lol

I've just booked Pompy to C'Bourg on the 7th and to be fair it was less than I was expecting. Its been 5 years since my last LM and I usually take the camper, so pleasantly surprised how much i'm saving taking the car down.

There is a very nice scenic route that passes through so lovely countryside on deserted roads and through some great villages with bars. We did it about ten years ago and ended up in a convoy of a dozen nice old cars that just tagged on behind us. If you have the time its a nice option

Certainly look into it

Brittany have started the Portsmouth - Le Havre route up again, and it's keenly priced, so anyone not booked a ferry yet may want to look at them.

Thanks for the heads-up!
Just change our 3 vehicles onto Le Havre crossing from Caen, means travelling out on June 1st evening instead of June 2nd, BUT saving £170 per vehicle!