BRITTANY FERRY EMBARKATION AT PORTSMOUTH
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smiffy462
BRITTANY FERRY EMBARKATION AT PORTSMOUTH
I have just been informed by the ferry booking company that, as foot passengers with a tandem boarding a Brittany Ferry at Portsmouth, we must use the vehicle lane and not the passenger terminal. This sounds a little daunting, in particular when boarding at approximately 10.15pm. Does anyone have any experience of this and can you offer any advice. Thanks. Ian
Smiffy,
This is standard procedure and should present no difficulties. However, do be very careful of any metal ramps ( especially when wet ).
I actually enjoy this procedure as I can usually jump the queue by waiting in front of all the other vehicles ( ah, so satisfying ). Be ready for the loading to commence.
If you don't feel safe or comfortable, you can just stop and wait for a gap. The marshals are there to help you.
This is standard procedure and should present no difficulties. However, do be very careful of any metal ramps ( especially when wet ).
I actually enjoy this procedure as I can usually jump the queue by waiting in front of all the other vehicles ( ah, so satisfying ). Be ready for the loading to commence.
If you don't feel safe or comfortable, you can just stop and wait for a gap. The marshals are there to help you.
Cycles board most ferries with the vehicles.
It's best to arrive before boarding has actually started, and ride to the front of the car queue and wait there for instructions from the staff. Bikes have usually been sent on first when I've used ferries.
Watch out for the condition of the boarding ramps. Painted steel is slippery, and there are also often wheel-trapping gaps between the finger plates at the ends.
It's best to arrive before boarding has actually started, and ride to the front of the car queue and wait there for instructions from the staff. Bikes have usually been sent on first when I've used ferries.
Watch out for the condition of the boarding ramps. Painted steel is slippery, and there are also often wheel-trapping gaps between the finger plates at the ends.
Ian
Already been said, but standard practice for any cycle, particularly as foot passengers may have to negotiate steps and you wouldn’t want that with a tandem! The plus side is that while you are often first on as you cycle to the front, and they don’t want to risk a bike squeezing past cars, you are also often first off which is a bonus! Careful of the ramps etc.
I will be using the Portsmouth terminal with tandem and trailer and had to pay for 2 bikes!
Already been said, but standard practice for any cycle, particularly as foot passengers may have to negotiate steps and you wouldn’t want that with a tandem! The plus side is that while you are often first on as you cycle to the front, and they don’t want to risk a bike squeezing past cars, you are also often first off which is a bonus! Careful of the ramps etc.
I will be using the Portsmouth terminal with tandem and trailer and had to pay for 2 bikes!
We have used the DFDS ferry from North Shields to Holland on a number of occasions and have always complained to the loading staff because of the (in our view) inordinate wait on the dock before we were loaded. It would seem to be so easy for the few cyclists to slip on rather have to wait for lorries, excavators, buses and other assorted motorised vehicles to load first. Hope you have better luck!!!!
Tony wrote:They are now making you walk from the top of the ramp. It's not a problem.
The last time I went on Brittany Ferries, all the car drivers were asked to get out and push their cars onto the ferry. Many of the drivers complained, but they were told it was for safety reasons. I personally thought it was unreasonable that someone who had just driven perhaps hundreds of miles to the terminal on busy roads couldn't be trusted to drive the last bit onto the ferry, but that's health and safety for you.
Re: BRITTANY FERRY EMBARKATION AT PORTSMOUTH
smiffy462 wrote:I have just been informed by the ferry booking company that, as foot passengers with a tandem boarding a Brittany Ferry at Portsmouth, we must use the vehicle lane and not the passenger terminal. This sounds a little daunting, in particular when boarding at approximately 10.15pm. Does anyone have any experience of this and can you offer any advice. Thanks. Ian
Been there. Done that. We were a family group of two tandems with two child stokers. And it was a night sailing. We queued in the car lanes but the marshals moved us out to one side to await our turn to be called forward. It's all very efficient and the staff are well used to handling cyclists. The loading crew will help secure the bikes when on board. Be assured - nothing to worry about.
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smiffy462