Is club voyage worth buying ?

[gypo]

Just looking at prices for next year to and from Spain two people inc cabins just under £1200.
A pop up then come on the screen saying “you could save £186 with cv”
I’m guessing this is if you buy add on like food passes and club lounge etc?
Considering club voyage Spain is £180, is it worth buying?

 

[TJBi]

Just looking at prices for next year to and from Spain two people inc cabins just under £1200.
A pop up then come on the screen saying “you could save £186 with cv”
I’m guessing this is if you buy add on like food passes and club lounge etc?
Considering club voyage Spain is £180, is it worth buying?

Depends on how often you intend to use it and at what times of year. Your £180 includes a £90 joining fee, so subsequent years would cost £90 per annum (plus any annual increase that might be imposed), which should give a more substantial saving. There is up to 30% off fares (which for France does not include cabins etc.), so if you travelled in off-peak periods you might save considerably more. You can do the calculations yourself by going to https://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/information/about-club-voyage and selecting the Club Voyage Spain tab.
I am a very happy long-time subscriber to Club Voyage France (and as a long-time subscriber, the rules are slightly different).

 

[gypo]

Thanks for the reply, I have read all the benefits and already looked at the link you posted but the way I read it is that you only really start to incur any real saving if you buy food passes, WiFi , etc
Just booking a crossing to Spain inc a cabin wouldn’t get you a big saving?
The link you posted doesn’t give you the option to put your proposed sailing in to see what you would actually save.
Thanks
Ps I’ve had cv France many years ago but didn’t really at the time due to work do enough trips to make it pay

 

[r4dent]

There is no ultimate answer, well there is but it covers Life, the Universe and Everything except CV!

For some people it is a great deal, for others it is a waste of money.

When we were using it for the 2 night outbound crossing to Spain every year it was well worth it.
The discount on 6 evening meals and 6 breakfasts (2 outbound and 1 return for each of us) paid for itself without the discounted fare.

 

[Moonraker 2]

Wow that is so expensive. Perhaps it is now cheaper to drive down? Make it part of the trip, no tolls, free Aires, surely less than £1200!!

 

[r4dent]

Wow that is so expensive. Perhaps it is now cheaper to drive down? Make it part of the trip, no tolls, free Aires, surely less than £1200!!

Driving vs Ferry is a personal choice.

I once had to drive back after SWMBO was hospitalised for a couple of weeks in Bilbao and all the ferries where fully booked.
I hated it, and not just because a truck ran into the back of us on the Motorway and destroyed my Motor Bike & Trailer..

By the time you add in the Tunnel / Ferry costs; fuel costs; site costs; and food driving isn't that much cheaper.

Judicious use of Bistro math can even prove the Ferry is less expensive!

 

[gypo]

Wow that is so expensive. Perhaps it is now cheaper to drive down? Make it part of the trip, no tolls, free Aires, surely less than £1200!!

I’ve done the calculations and it works out excluding accommodation (should you pay for any) about £120ish more on the ferry than the drive down

 

[marchie]

Wow that is so expensive. Perhaps it is now cheaper to drive down? Make it part of the trip, no tolls, free Aires, surely less than £1200!!

Just under £1200 minus the cost of Dieppe-Newhaven crossing x 2 [less 20% discount] plus the cost of 30 gallons of diesel for the journey through France, plus 2-3 nights stopovers with the 'just nip into the supermarket for a loaf - 30€ later makes an expensive loaf!', plus the wear and tear on the M/Home and extra service costs ... And finally, the loss of at least 5-6 days off your Schengen 90.

We have the new version of Club Voyage, so reduced benefits, but have a 4th December Portsmouth-Santander crossing for 5.99m + Bike Rack M/Home + 2 adults for about £375 outbound sailing only [final balance due tomorrow ]. Well buy a couple of Food Passes for £50 each, so should keep the cost down below £500 [£499.99 about right ]

Steve

 

[alcam]

Just under £1200 minus the cost of Dieppe-Newhaven crossing x 2 [less 20% discount] plus the cost of 30 gallons of diesel for the journey through France, plus 2-3 nights stopovers with the 'just nip into the supermarket for a loaf - 30€ later makes an expensive loaf!', plus the wear and tear on the M/Home and extra service costs ... And finally, the loss of at least 5-6 days off your Schengen 90.

We have the new version of Club Voyage, so reduced benefits, but have a 4th December Portsmouth-Santander crossing for 5.99m + Bike Rack M/Home + 2 adults for about £375 outbound sailing only [final balance due tomorrow ]. Well buy a couple of Food Passes for £50 each, so should keep the cost down below £500 [£499.99 about right ]

Steve

When did you book ? I have looked at this route many times . If dog friendly cabins are available [normally not] usually prohibitively expensive

 

[TJBi]

Thanks for the reply, I have read all the benefits and already looked at the link you posted but the way I read it is that you only really start to incur any real saving if you buy food passes, WiFi , etc
Just booking a crossing to Spain inc a cabin wouldn’t get you a big saving?
The link you posted doesn’t give you the option to put your proposed sailing in to see what you would actually save.
Thanks
Ps I’ve had cv France many years ago but didn’t really at the time due to work do enough trips to make it pay

On French crossings, I find that the big saving is on the fare. Without having vehicle details, dates, etc., I can't try doing a calculation for Spain.

 

[r4dent]

I’ve done the calculations and it works out excluding accommodation (should you pay for any) about £120ish more on the ferry than the drive down

As I said earlier

Judicious use of Bistro math can even prove the Ferry is less expensive!

I don't know if £120 is each way or for the return journey, but.....

Factor in wear & tear& vehicle consumables (servicing/ washer fluid)
Reduction in vehicle value due to extra mileage .
Tweak the MPG & fuel costs; food costs;
Include costs of travelling in France (death zone stickers / emissions documentation)
and you can easily add £120 to the driving cost.

The answer is to decide what you want to do, then use calculations to prove it is cheaper.

 

[gypo]

As I said earlier



I don't know if £120 is each way or for the return journey, but.....

Factor in wear & tear& vehicle consumables (servicing/ washer fluid)
Reduction in vehicle value due to extra mileage .
Tweak the MPG & fuel costs; food costs;
Include costs of travelling in France (death zone stickers / emissions documentation)
and you can easily add £120 to the driving cost.

The answer is to decide what you want to do, then use calculations to prove it is cheaper.

Yes I agree it would probably be better taking the ferry imo.
Back to my original post tho, with regards to club voyage, I would like to know if I had club voyage how much less it would cost to travel to and from Spain march to may next year, two people inc cabins no pets in a 7m van.
I don’t want to pay £180 for cv only to save for eg £80.

 

[r4dent]

Yes I agree it would probably be better taking the ferry imo.
Back to my original post tho, with regards to club voyage, I would like to know if I had club voyage how much less it would cost to travel to and from Spain march to may next year, two people inc cabins no pets in a 7m van.
I don’t want to pay £180 for cv only to save for eg £80.

You need to do the sums for your situation.

If you can't, you need to ask BF for help.

There is no ultimate answer, well there is but it covers Life, the Universe and Everything except CV!

For some people it is a great deal, for others it is a waste of money.

When we were using it for the 2 night outbound crossing to Spain every year it was well worth it.
The discount on 6 evening meals and 6 breakfasts (2 outbound and 1 return for each of us) paid for itself without the discounted fare.

 

[TJBi]

Yes I agree it would probably be better taking the ferry imo.
Back to my original post tho, with regards to club voyage, I would like to know if I had club voyage how much less it would cost to travel to and from Spain march to may next year, two people inc cabins no pets in a 7m van.
I don’t want to pay £180 for cv only to save for eg £80.

Depending on dates, the outward crossing could vary from perhaps £419.50 to say £581.50 for a Flexi fare. Again depending on dates and type of fare, your return could be more expensive. I do not know what Club Voyage discount would apply for a new member for Spain at the times of year at which you would be travelling, but it is likely that a fair bit of the saving indicated to you online would relate to the fare. You need to ask BF for more detailed info relating to fare discounts and to do the calculation based on your actual plans and preferences.

 

[gypo]

I’ll give them a ring tomorrow and see how much it would be
Thanks all

 

[gypo]

Update,
Just gave them a call,
Cost without cv £1160.00
With cv £992.20
Cv Spain £180
Trip saving £168 on the trip, however the bv includes 2x each way €12.50 food vouchers
So to conclude it’s probably worth getting especially if you do more than one trip.
Percentages of discount various on time of year you travel.

 

[myvanwy]

We saved our fee on the first return crossing to Santander we did in April so was worth it. The later return crossing (Aug/ sept) had a lower discount applied. The 12.50 euro food vouchers also a good thing to have.