Speed Ferries

I have used them for last three years £49 return, I sail again tomorrow.

Last time I used Portsmouth to Caen cost me over £300!

For the money Speedferries is outstanding.

...and fast (and a lot tidier than the comparitively priced Norfolk Ferries).

Yes, they are incredibly cheap. They use ex-Australian military vessels converted to passenger comfort.

Furthermore they are so cheap that it seems that all of the rest of the ferry companies rather hate them. They seem to be the EasyJet of the cross channel industry - and this has to be a reason to love them.

Have to agree.

I have used them the past few years. I'm disabled and they are BRILLIANT - always ask what I need, aren't overly nosey (despite the fact that I don't "look" disabled).

They are cheap, but clean, cheerful, pleasant and as BankFodder says, the very fact that the rest of the Ferry Monopolies - sorry - Companies hate them should tell you something!

We got our last crossing for £29 each way for a 7 seater car with a driver and 4 passengers. I doubt any other Company could beat that.

We arrived late (10 minutes before the ferry left) to Boulogne this year, purely due to a mis-calculation of how long it would take us to get there. I have been turfed off P & O etc for arriving this late, however Speedferries were fab, radioed the guys on board, explained we had kids and that was that - green light straight to the ferry.

I've used speedferries.com a lot and my initial impressions were very favourable, however things seem to be changing.

This summer I have noticed that a % of places are reserved for "premier class" at much higher prices so if you book late or miss your boat you may find it costs you a lot more than 10 pounds now. (some tickets are over 100 pounds) Also they would not let me book my prepaid ticket when I wanted because spaces were reserved for "premier class"
I have a 10 trip ticket which included a bonus 2 trips. Normally these 10 trip tickets are good for 2 years but they wont honour my last 2trips as they say although the first 10trips are good for 2 years, the last 2 trips are good for only 1 year and its 2 days expired. You have to use the ticket backwards or loose 2. The booking confirmation email makes no mention of this and nor does their own terms and conditions which say supersaver tickets are good for 2 years..

Cheap is no good if they won't let you use it.

Also they only have 1 small boat which I found unreliable. If its windy sailings are cancelled when the other bigger boats are still sailing. I have had to sleep in the car before now.

It was good when it started, but Norfolk line is way better and I have found cheaper too.

I have quite a close realtionship with SpeedFerries - and know how good the team behind the boat are (yep - it's just one boat!) It's so refreshing to find a company (and in such an established sector) throwing out the rulebook and doing something for the consumers - I think that's why they are hated by the competition - they've turned up and the old sea dogs at P&O and Sea France have to actually do something to keep up!

Keep up the good work!

I've been a Speed Ferries fan and commuter for four years now, but was really disappointed with them this month. I called their UK 08 number to ask if I could travel from Boulogne to Dover and back with my Camper Van instead of my car.

"Sure", the friendly lady said, "but you will have to pay a small surcharge". I agreed, and provided my credit card details, and I was all set to introduce several friends to the advantages of Speed Ferries compare to their favourite P&O.

We arrived at Boulogne, checked in, drove on board and sped away to Dover. However, the following day when returning, Speed Ferries Dover check in said "Sorry, we don't take camper vans".

The conversation continued, something like this :
ME: "Huh, you said you would, I paid, and you did. That's how I got here from Boulogne"
SF: "Well, if you want to get back to Boulogne, you will have to pay an extra 55 pounds, and go on standby"
ME: "You said you don't take camper vans. Now you say you do, but only if I pay you more money ? This sounds like piracy to me"
SF: "I'm the senior person here and what I say goes"
ME: "I'm the customer here, and what I say goes ... and I'm going to P&O"

I drove to P&O bought a ticket, checked in, and boarded with priority loading within 10 minutes. Our senior director upgraded us to Club Lounge, and in gratitude I spent 240 pounds buying a "six pack", of Glenmorangie Whisky, and promised to be back.

Goodbye Speed Ferries. You may keep my remaining and unused 6 Flex tickets. I will keep my wallet and my options open to travel from Calais in preference to Boulogne.

In fact, I have found that by booking several weeks in advance with P&O, their prices are cheaper than Speed Ferries current Flex offer.

And finally, Pirates are the ones with faster boats and less direct routes.

I am going to France on Friday on Speedferries as a Foot Passenger, takes em much nearer my destination than Calais and I just get a bus from across the road from the terminal in Boulogne to where I am going... £7.50 each way so £15 for a return trip.

Yes, I took a van across with them not so long ago - they said it was fine to take the van on the phone, so I booked on line - put the exact length in (2 cm shy of 7m) and yet when I turned up they made me pay an extra 69 quid as it was nearly 7m long.

When I returned, they wanted an extra 22 euros. No problem, except they don't take cash. I don't use anything else (someone else paid on-line for the booking). Was a nightmare and they were rude.