NORFOLK LINE Warning

[Guest Don Madge]

This was posted on the Motorhome List and might come in usefull when selecting a sailing time on Norfolk Line. "We travelled to Dunquerke by Norfolk Lines in early March and I have to admit we'll think twice before doing it again, especially arriving at night. Norfolk Lines offer is squarely aimed at moving freight so the passenger facilities are for Truckers who need a bite to eat, a video to watch, and a table on which to place their multimedia laptop for playing Doom... so don't expect to get much sleep on the boat. Parts of Dunkerque port look very much like an abandoned industrial estate that has been turned into a lorry park during the day and a night it feels just the same although even more difficult to navigate. There are many places to park on the way out of the port but you'd be sharing them with dozens of lorries, many of which will have engines / generators running all night. The lorries naturally gravitate towards the few reasonably illuminated areas for security and observation of stowaway attempts. About a mile out of the port there appear to be residential areas off the dual carriageway however by that time we had our foot down and couldn't face touring suburbs looking for somewhere to park that wouldn't offend anyone. The good news is that the first aire on the A25 is at Steenvoorde, about 25 Km outside Dunkerque and that is where we stopped. It felt fairly secure and it was possible to find a parking place reasonably distant from the lorries, although there was the usual constant rumble from the motorway... try that." Safe travelling Don

[Guest Mike T]

Re- Norfolk Lines Warnings We used this service last September and thought it’s a very good service for the money why Don will think twice before using it again beats me . Good service all round we thought and will be using it again in May this year .

[Guest Don Madge]

Mike, I have not used Norfolk Line yet. I would not be put off using them by this warning.I should have made it clear that it was posted by some else on the Motorhome List. I posted it here as we have a lot of very inexperienced motorhomers on this forum. After reading this they will know what to expect if they arrive at Dunkirk in the early hours of the morning. Safe travelling Don PS If Speedferries turn me away next month I'll most likely be using Norfolk Line or who ever is cheapest on the night.

[Guest Paul W]

Out of interest I have just booked and paid for a return crossing end of July return third week in August with PO Dover Calais for £99 return for a &metre M/Home and up to five passengers I thought that was the dogs!!

[Guest MikeT]

NORFOLK LINE Warning Hi Paul That’s not a bad price at all , I think it’s because of operators like Norfolk line others have had to drop there prices and that we are reaping the benefit of very good prices . I paid £88 for as it turns out Mayday bank holiday Monday 10.00hrs sailing 6.5mt M/H I have also booked the tunnel for September (with a £30pet ) £158 I thought that was also not a bad price Keep up the price war lad’s I don't mind booking months ahead

[Guest Clive]

Overnighting with the lorries is probably the safest place to stay. Alone 25km down the road from a big town is probably not. A French copper told us once "You must park where there are people". We were parked similarly out of town by ourselves. It seems that those who try it on don,t do so where they can be seen. I daren,t tell you what I have just paid for a return trip on Sea France, but its more than anything posted above apart from those with pets. But I can change any booking on the spot for no additional outlay. Am I doing it wrong?

[Guest Mike]

Norfolkline are totally flexible. I've yet to travel on the ferry I have booked. You just turn up (after having a pre booked sailing) hand in your e ticket at the check-in and they will simply let you on. You do all this without even getting out of the van. I'm a big supporter of Norfolkline and travel with them 3 times a year. They are helping to bring down fares on the Channel route and therefore deserve support.

[Guest Mike]

Norfolkline are totally flexible. I've yet to travel on the ferry I have booked. You just turn up (after having a pre booked sailing) hand in your e ticket at the check-in and they will simply let you on. You do all this without even getting out of the van. I'm a big supporter of Norfolkline and travel with them 3 times a year. They are helping to bring down fares on the Channel route and therefore deserve support.

[Guest Paul W]

OK MIKE HEARD YOU THE FIRST TIME!! Lol ;-) All I can say then is thanks Norfolk Line and any other cheap ferry company and all those that use them, because if that helps to bring others down to a better price thats great. We have always travelled with PO, since the 80's (when I was paying £200 then) and will remain loyal to them. That is just us, stupid maybe but we always go back to good service, however I work on the principle of 'if I cannot afford it I don't buy it' so if it was too dear we just would not go. I did look at Chunnel prices, not that my dear lady would go on it, out of curiosity and the best deal they offered sawover £200!!

[Guest MikeT]

Hi Paul Regarding the Chunnel prices I went to there web site and got silly prices £300+ so I phoned them up and ask whats your best price and what offers do you have on and whats the conditions to get it ? I was told book a few months head and go mid week it made a big diffrence , so I booked it there and then MikeT

[Guest trigrem]

We have used Norfolk Line regularly and cannot fault them, very helfull staff. Like Don madge if Speedferries turn us away next month we will be back to Norfolk Line. I do have an e-mail from Speedferries saying they will accept my vehicle even though it is over 2M wide, but I am only 18ft long perhaps that influenced them.

[Guest Mike]

You were lucky to get acceptance by Speedferries. My vehicle was 1-2cms over 2 metres and was only 18 ft long (Ford Transit based Duetto). I was refused by Speedferries on 3 occasions. I also e mailed them setting out the precise dimansions of my vehicle.Their reply simply stated that if with the mirrors folded any vehicle was over 2 metres they would not accept it. I countered this by saying that last April and October I had noticed motorhomes larger than mine in the Speedferries queue at Dover and asked them to reconsider. I also sent them what I thought was a helpful e mail indicating that if they increased their width limit by about 4 cms they would have a whole new set of customers that drive Transit sized hightop motorcaravans and vans. They did'nt even bother to reply. On that basis I did'nt think that any motorhomes could use Speedferries. I wonder if they have changed their policy. Have any other hightop owners been accepted by Speedferries?

[Guest petej]

I too was refused passage on speedferries, my little a/s nuevo only being 2.10 mtrs wide. Speedferries loss is norfolklines gain at the same price of £88 rtn with no unreasonable weight and dimension restrictions and ammendable at no extra cost. As stated earlier, they deserve our support as this can only encourage other channel pirates to lower their prices. petej