Barfleur back for first crossings of the season

3:38pm Wednesday 20th March 2013 in News

Barfleur back for first crossings of the season. Picture by Gareth Davies. Barfleur back for first crossings of the season. Picture by Gareth Davies.

BRITTANY Ferries' popular Barfleur has made its first Channel crossings of the season between Poole to Cherbourg - almost 21 years after its inaugural trip.

The Finnish-built ship sailed into the Dorset port on Tuesday evening and left again this morning with 170 cars and 400 people on board.

Built in the early 1990s to bring some luxury to what was then a Truckline Ferries' route, Barfleur was axed in March 2010, but reinstated the following year on a trial basis.

Although the decision was taken to scrap the service for good last year, ferry bosses are keeping their fingers crossed for a bumper season.

Brittany Ferries' spokesman Christopher Jones said: “We're thrilled to be welcoming Barfleur back to Poole Harbour, and we know from speaking to our passengers that they are too - especially those living in Dorset.

“The service got off to a great start. The new timings seem popular and bookings for the summer season are already promising. We hope to be able to make the service a year-round operation but this will depend on how well supported it is during the summer.”

Comments(13)

l'anglais says...
3:49pm Wed 20 Mar 13

£400 return trip in May from Poole to Cherbourg.

200 euros with LD lines from Portsmouth/Newhaven to Le Havre/Dieppe.

Brittany Ferries have a new fast boat from Le Havre to Pompey, cost in May £600 return.

Forecast; Barfleur to be withdrawn again in October.

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rayc says...
4:22pm Wed 20 Mar 13

No chance of it continuing whilst its fares are so high and the road links within Dorset are so poor.

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Arthur Maureen says...
4:28pm Wed 20 Mar 13

Thought £23 day trip was pretty good, £35 to add a car.. almost going to be moaners I guess

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rayc says...
4:35pm Wed 20 Mar 13

Arthur Maureen wrote:
Thought £23 day trip was pretty good, £35 to add a car.. almost going to be moaners I guess
They won't keep it running all year. Its freight traffic and people who go over and back several times a year with vans, caravans and motor homes they have to attract.

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Lord Spring says...
4:44pm Wed 20 Mar 13

Arthur Maureen wrote:
Thought £23 day trip was pretty good, £35 to add a car.. almost going to be moaners I guess
Count me among the moaners.

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TheDistrict says...
6:06pm Wed 20 Mar 13

Welcome back to the Barfleur. We look forward to sailing with you in May and September, and another to be decided.
Happy sailings, and long may it last.

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TheDistrict says...
6:12pm Wed 20 Mar 13

l'anglais wrote:
£400 return trip in May from Poole to Cherbourg.

200 euros with LD lines from Portsmouth/Newhaven to Le Havre/Dieppe.

Brittany Ferries have a new fast boat from Le Havre to Pompey, cost in May £600 return.

Forecast; Barfleur to be withdrawn again in October.
The Grimreeper speaks again. Bookings Poole to Cherbourg return, £335 for adults and car in May, £195 for 2 adults and car in September. The latter price the same for a third trip, date to be decided. Good prices in my opinion. Less fuel used than travelling to Portsmouth.

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Adrian XX says...
6:22pm Wed 20 Mar 13

I notice their website is a little better - you can get a total price much earlier in the booking process and the prices are sometimes reasonable! I got GBP 258 return for a car and two people.

So well done for the improvements, but there is still a way to go to make this a truly attractive service. I am not saying every seat should be sold for a tenner, but how about a few seats on each sailing being sold at heavily discounted prices like the budget airlines and a little further refinement to the website so that the total price is available on the first page.

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KLH says...
7:30pm Wed 20 Mar 13

Hello from on board Barfleur, availing myself of the onboard internet. Lovely as usual, excellent sea conditions, many sailings myself hopefully this year!!

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skydriver says...
8:52am Thu 21 Mar 13

Did I hear a rumour that LD line maybe thinking of using Poole? Wow now that would be a great idea.

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TheDistrict says...
11:41am Thu 21 Mar 13

In response to L'Anglais comments above. I have just been on the LD Line website and obtained the following prices for same date sailings from Portsmouth to LeHavre. Sailing at 2300 arriving the following morning, return at 1700. Price for 25th May, one week, 4 adults and car, LD £344. BF price £345. Of course there is the added cost of fuel from Poole to Portsmouth. Sailing on 7th Sept for two weeks, 2 adults, and car, LD £218, and BF £195. Again fuel from Poole to Portsmouth.
.
If LD were to come to Poole, all well and good, competition is good.

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Tictock says...
11:14pm Thu 21 Mar 13

We travel PooleGermany every 6 or so weeks, the costing's make using DoverDunkirk the cheapest route at about £35 each way. Plus 180 miles fuel each way at 35 mpg at £1.39 per ltr.
If we used the western ports the cost would not work for us so we will not use Poole. And we do not have to pay road tolls in our journey at all.
QED

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KLH says...
3:08pm Fri 22 Mar 13

With BF's Cotentin and Barfleur sharing the berth most of the time not much room for an LD ship!

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