Norfolk Line

[GeoffH_5040432]

Has anyone used the Norfolk Line crossing between Dover and Dunquerk as promoted by the Caravan Club, if so

Do you check in at Dover at the same place as P&O crossings?

What's the standard on board the ships like, toilets etc?

Is duty free shop good?

Is Food on board good and wholesome, I will be hungery by the time we sail....

Thanks in advance

 

[Moth_5041363]

We used this service at the end of May, its great, the ships are new. I hav'ent used P&O out of dover but did out of Portsmouth and it was a ruff ship.

When you go over the flyover at Dover you turn right and go to check in , speed ferries go to the same part,

The ships were lux ship, toilets were good, Duty free looked good.we were booked on at 4am but they let us on the 2am because we were early.

 

[Moth_5041363]

Also the food was great, and the coffee.

 

[Mike_5041144]

Hi Geoff H

I can endorse everything that Moth said.

After going through Dover Passort Control you just follow the 'Cars' routes and eventually you will see the Norfolk Line 'lane' and check in Booths.

The new boats are brilliant. Duty Free is excellent but buy going out rather than on return [stocks were depleted coming back]. Food is very good but queues form quickly after boarding, however service was reasonably quick. Toilets - fine. Good kids entertainment.

HGV drivers have there own area. There are no Coach's or foot passengers.

Last year and this year we had to return earlier than booked - no problem and no extra charges.

At Dunkerque Ferry Terminal you have easy exit onto A16 and coming back it is well signed for Norfolk Line.

IMHO Norfolk are far superior to P & O.

Enjoy your holiday

Mike

 

[JamesFrance]

Hi Geoff H

I can endorse everything that Moth said.

After going through Dover Passort Control you just follow the 'Cars' routes and eventually you will see the Norfolk Line 'lane' and check in Booths.

The new boats are brilliant. Duty Free is excellent but buy going out rather than on return [stocks were depleted coming back]. Food is very good but queues form quickly after boarding, however service was reasonably quick. Toilets - fine. Good kids entertainment.

HGV drivers have there own area. There are no Coach's or foot passengers.

Last year and this year we had to return earlier than booked - no problem and no extra charges.

At Dunkerque Ferry Terminal you have easy exit onto A16 and coming back it is well signed for Norfolk Line.

IMHO Norfolk are far superior to P & O.

Enjoy your holiday

Mike

Spot on, summed it up perfectly.

 

[MikeP]

We came back from Dunq on a Sunday, and they were serving a full roast dinner for about

 

[emmerson2]

All comments noted.We're using NL in August, cos it looked to be the cheapest. However, we're taking our dog, which must stay in the car during the crossing. OK, but why then do they charge

 

[chrissie2]

We came home on the Norfolkline ferry yesterday afternoon. On the whole, it was a positive experience and excellent value for money. The food was reasonably priced, with very generous portions and average quality. The boat going out (one of the older, smaller ones) had only very minimal shopping facilities, not much more than a glorified newspaper shop really, but the larger ferry on which we came home had a pretty good range of perfumes, booze and fags (perhaps not as much as some of the more established operators, but adequate).

Perhaps the only downside for us was the very slow loading procedure. Norfolkline require passengers to be there 45 minutes ahead of sailing time, but in fact we were queueing on the dockside at Dover for an hour before loading started and for even longer at Dunquerque on the way home. On both trips, we were late sailing (by as much as half an hour), although most of this time was made up during the voyage.

We would certainly use them again, if the price was right - it all comes down to whether you want to pay extra to have a slightly slicker operation, which undoubtedly is what P&O and SeaFrance offer.

 

[Jonathan_5071894]

I would also endorse everything that has been said about Norfolkline, they are excellent. Iam a regular through Dover and over the years used all the different operators, a few months ago i had to use P&O from Calais on what could only be described as cattle boat conditions, packed with coach passengers, the food was only just ok, not an experience i would wish to repeat. In comparison i recently used Norfokline which IMHO offer a far superior service, they do not take Coaches or foot passengers making for a much more relaxed crossing and the food was very good. We are using them again in a few weeks,Sun 23rd 14.00 out of Dover, with the van for our hols in France. Dont forget if you have booked through the CC to ask for the free entry voucher for the on board executive lounge at the NF check in at Dover, also have your Membership Card to hand, Hope this helps. Enjoy!