LD lines

[gwyn]

Does anyone know when the LD lines summer schedule comes out, want to book the daytime Portsmouth to Le Havre crossing but can't get any info from their website.

[Derek Uzzell]

Looking at ferry-related websites suggests that the 2012 LD Lines sailing schedule is already available.

 

I'm wary of your wish "to book the daytime Portsmouth to Le Havre crossing". My understanding (and I can find nothing on-line to contradict this) is that LD Lines only offers an overnight service from Portsmouth to Le Havre, leaving Portsmouth at 23:00 and arriving at Le Havre at 08:00. This has been one of the reasons why we have never travelled to France with LD Lines.

 

(If you know differently, I'd be keen to hear about it.)

[gwyn]

In September last year we travelled on their daytime ferry to Le Havre. Left at 08.30 arrived about 13.30, very good price and comfortable seats that's why we want to do it again.

[Derek Uzzell]

Thanks for the reply.

 

I now see that LD Lines used the Norman Arrow fastcraft on the Portsmouth-Le Havre route during the 2010 and 2011 summer seasons.

 

On another forum (www.bfenthusiasts.com website) it was said (at end October 2011) that the Norman Arrow was laid up in Rouen and doubt was expressed that she would be brought back into service by LD Lines in 2012. It was also suggested on that forum that LD Lines' current charter for the Norman Arrow expires in May 2012.

 

There's also this:

 

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/transport/ferry_firm_looks_to_axe_high_speed_service_from_portsmouth_to_le_havre_1_3039758

 

It seems to be possible to make LD Lines on-line bookings throughout 2012 for the Portsmouth - Le Havre route, but only for the conventional-ferry Portsmouth-outwards overnight crossing. It may be that the current LD Lines schedule will be revised to add a daytime summer-season route, though the omens for this aren't promising.

 

It's quite likely that LD Lines representatives won't be able to say (or be prepared to say) at this stage what the company's plans are, but an e-mail or phone call to LD Lines seems to be your best hope of obtaining information about this.

[Retread24800]

Derek Uzzell - 2012-01-05 8:54 AM Looking at ferry-related websites suggests that the 2012 LD Lines sailing schedule is already available. I'm wary of your wish "to book the daytime Portsmouth to Le Havre crossing". My understanding (and I can find nothing on-line to contradict this) is that LD Lines only offers an overnight service from Portsmouth to Le Havre, leaving Portsmouth at 23:00 and arriving at Le Havre at 08:00. This has been one of the reasons why we have never travelled to France with LD Lines. (If you know differently, I'd be keen to hear about it.)

I always use this service when returning to France, settle down for a nights sleep using their superb sleeper seats and wake up at 0700 in time for a shower, shave etc. You then have a full day in front of you, in my case sufficient time to reach home by 1500 for a fresh cup of tea and the evening telly:-)

[gwyn]

Thanks for reply, I've given up waiting and done our usual and booked Dover, didn't want an overnight crossing, for us its boring and expensive and not being in a rush it doesn't really matter the extra time involved. We had just found it last year to be very handy in combining a few days on the Isle of Wight at my Mum's before travelling, whereas living in Lincoln and going from Dover is most definitely not.

 

[StarryEyes]

Thought it was worth mentioning that on the Newhaven-Dieppe ferry route you can get Senior CItizen discount (I think its 20%-25%) if you are over 60!