European budget travel news

DFDS Seaways is running a big campaign for the UK National Ferry Fortnight. They operate on the following European routes:

• Newcastle (UK) - Amsterdam (Netherlands)
• Harwich (UK) - Esbjerg (Denmark)
• Copenhagen (Denmark)- Oslo (Norway)

Offers include:

• Harwich - Amsterdam from £65 for car plus 2 passengers
• Harwich - Esbjerg £142 (car goes free)

There are also offers for foot passengers including these two:

• Newcastle - Amsterdam 2 night mini cruise from £69 for 2 people (includes en-suite cabin)
• Harwich - Esbjerg 2 night mini cruise from £75 for 2 people (includes en-suite cabin)

For more details go to the DFDS Seaways web site at http://www.dfdsseaways.co.uk/offers/ferry_fortnight/exclusive_ferry_fortnight_reader_offers

Labels: Amsterdam, Denmark, DFDS, Esbjerg, ferry, ferry fortnight, Mini cruise, Netherlands, UK

P&O Ferries have started Ferry Fortnight with a 5 Day sale. Day trips come in cheapest, at £19 for a Dover - Calais return for a car plus up to 9 occupants. Ideal for a family day trip to France. You could spend time at Calais, Boulogne, Dunkirk or even Lille. If you would like to linger then 2 day returns are on offer for £29 or 3 Day return tickets for £39.

In all, 50,000 tickets are available in the sale, which runs until 22:00 on Tuesday 12 May 09. Travel must be taken before 15 July 09.

Labels: Calais, Dover, ferry, PO ferries

In the first of my 2009 posts, I mentioned that the Swansea - Cork Ferry service had gone. Adrian from Bring Back the Swansea Cork Ferry Campaign contacted this blog to say that it was far from the end of the ferry service. The campaign has negotiated discounted port rates at Swansea and Cork, has an experienced ferry operator and a modern ship available at a reasonable price. They have 2 million of the 3 million euros required to start operating. They have been been holding public meetings and roadshows at at Kinsale and Cork. Today they are running 2 at Swansea. I hope everything goes well and they get the service going again.

Labels: cork, ferry, swansea

Sea France the French ferry operator owned by the railway company SNCF may be taken over by LD Lines. LD Lines is a newcomer to Dover. It operated on longer cross channel routes until the demise of SpeedFerries last month. Sea France has already announced it will need to restructure in order to survive in the present climate. It announced that 650 jobs were under threat. A merged company would be a major cross Channel operator.
Christophe Santini of LD Lines said that at least 350 jobs would be saved if the takeover was successful. It has also pledged to continue to operate the ships under the French flag.
Sea France currently services the popular Dover - Calais route.

Labels: Calais, Dover, ferry, LD, Sea France