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Ferry News - sad update

Posted: 17 Nov 2011, 07:38
by Louey
Check your terms and & conditions and refund status.
SeaFrance liquidated by a French court and told to cease activity.

Hard times and sad times. There might be a buyer and some hope but don't hold your breath.

Sea France has suspeneded services for 48 hours amid worries over their future. DFDS (Norfolk Lines) has tried to buy out Sea France but its bid has been turned down. Sea France is being allowed to operate in the short term at least till January and will be trying to secure its future. If you have bookings for next summer I would check your insurance and refund options, just in case!!

From the BBC News: "SeaFrance could cease trading on 29 January if a buyout offer is not accepted."

More today 10th Janaury

DFDS Seaways UK - English Channel

Breaking News:
DFDS SEAWAYS AND LD LINES PLANNING TO START NEW DOVER-CALAIS ROUTE

Yesterday the commercial court of Paris decided to liquidate SeaFrance, which operated a route between Dover and Calais, with immediate effect. DFDS and LD Lines formed a joint venture in 2011 that bid to acquire certain assets of SeaFrance, but the bid was rejected by the commercial court of Paris in December 2011.

As previously stated, the underlying industrial logic of DFDS’ and LD Lines’ joint venture has remained intact throughout the process. Furthermore, our joint venture is still in a unique position to create a number of sustainable French jobs, including the deployment of French flagged ships.

We can, therefore, confirm that we have continued to pursue opportunities to establish a new route between Dover and Calais. Our intention is to operate two ships under the French flag to be manned with French seafarers. To open a new route, and provide an attractive service for customers, we aim to hire about 300 staff and expect to be able to start the recruitment process soon.

The new route would be operated by vessels currently owned by the joint venture or vessels available on the market.

More detailed information will be shared with you here as soon as possible.

:|

Re: Ferry News

Posted: 17 Nov 2011, 07:58
by T'Onion
Cheers Leon , I think we will be waiting until the new year to book now :ok

Re: Ferry News

Posted: 17 Nov 2011, 09:53
by Ian Hulley
Same here .... good job we're heading Norfolk Line ways next summer :|

Cheers Leon. :ok

Re: Ferry News

Posted: 17 Nov 2011, 22:42
by Bowton Lad
Thanks for the info, Leon. I've booked with Sea France for next May/June so I'll have to look into this urgently.

Re: Ferry News

Posted: 18 Nov 2011, 08:22
by ringo
Bowton Lad wrote:Thanks for the info, Leon. I've booked with Sea France for next May/June so I'll have to look into this urgently.

I wouldnt say its that urgent - 6 months is quite a long time lol.

Hope you get it sorted anyway lad.

I hope sea france don't go under - the competition is quite healthy.

Ringo

Re: Ferry News

Posted: 18 Nov 2011, 10:59
by Ian Hulley
Sea France were about the cheapest Dover>Calais but their tubs were for ever breaking down ... Both our's and the Tonion's ferrys had to be tugged into the harbour at Dover 3 years ago.

Re: Ferry News

Posted: 18 Nov 2011, 11:55
by trucker
Ian Hulley wrote:Sea France were about the cheapest Dover>Calais but their tubs were for ever breaking down ... Both our's and the Tonion's ferrys had to be tugged into the harbour at Dover 3 years ago.
Also when ever the ferry seemed like it was going to be half full mysterious breakdowns always occured -the captains cafetiere playing up again? :roll:
Next one would then be nice and full

Re: Ferry News

Posted: 18 Nov 2011, 12:53
by Ian Hulley
trucker wrote:
Ian Hulley wrote: the captains cafetiere playing up again?

Wonder if he got it off Ken Bruce ? :?

Re: Ferry News

Posted: 18 Nov 2011, 13:30
by Bowton Lad
ringo wrote:
Bowton Lad wrote:Thanks for the info, Leon. I've booked with Sea France for next May/June so I'll have to look into this urgently.

I wouldnt say its that urgent - 6 months is quite a long time lol.

Hope you get it sorted anyway lad.

I hope sea france don't go under - the competition is quite healthy.

Ringo


I posted that I needed to look into the matter urgently because I need to know if I will actually have a ferry crossing with Sea France next year. There's no chance of refund if they're skint. I paid my £90.00 by debit card so no hope there & even if I'd used a credit card it's under the minimum amount of £100 for section 75 cover from the card company.

The only hope is that another ferry company (DFDS?) will put in a revised offer for Sea France & it gets accepted. Then there's the matter of whether or not they honour existing bookings. The last date for bids is the 12th December so it's a case of watch this space.

Incidentally, I've sailed with Sea France several times & never had any problems with the ferries. In fact, they tend to be better timekeepers than P&O.

Re: Ferry News

Posted: 18 Nov 2011, 20:16
by Ian Hulley
Never been with PoO but Tina has and wasn't impressed AT ALL ... she was the only kid on the Eurodisley school trip who'd actually been on a ferry before :lol:

Ian

Re: Ferry News

Posted: 18 Nov 2011, 22:10
by Bowton Lad
So, in Wirksworth, it's a case of ''keeping up with the Hulleys''. :lol: :lol:

Re: Ferry News

Posted: 18 Nov 2011, 22:58
by Cruz
We have flexible tickets for next may with Kathyshack too

No wonder they were bloody cheap :roll:

Would we be advised to cancel and get a refund now whilst we can and re-book with another operator?

Re: Ferry News

Posted: 19 Nov 2011, 00:24
by Ian Hulley
Bowton Lad wrote:So, in Wirksworth, it's a case of ''keeping up with the Hulleys''. :lol: :lol:

No, they'd only ever flown from East Mids (to Benidorm etc ) *yawn*

Re: Ferry News

Posted: 22 Nov 2011, 14:57
by Cruz
Cancelled seafrance, re-booked on Norfolkline :ok

Re: Ferry News

Posted: 22 Nov 2011, 15:21
by Bowton Lad
I've just cancelled & got a refund of my £90.00. I'm going to book with P&O @ £112.00 because I want to sail to/from Calais. :)