Bilbao/ Santander ferry in October

Mel99

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I always book eurotunnel well in advance for our autumn travel to Europe in our VW. This year I'm thinking of the ferry to Spain. I would really appreciate people's experience in availability on late booking to give us more flexibility for the return journey. So have people been able to book a return ferry a couple of days before travelling? (Irealize the cabins will have been booked). Thankyou
 
Mel99 said:
I always book eurotunnel well in advance for our autumn travel to Europe in our VW. This year I'm thinking of the ferry to Spain. I would really appreciate people's experience in availability on late booking to give us more flexibility for the return journey. So have people been able to book a return ferry a couple of days before travelling? (Irealize the cabins will have been booked). Thankyou
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We booked Santander to Portsmouth in late February 2024 [when the French Farmers were blocking roads -again] at less than 7 days notice . Expensive, so we joined the BF Club for the next trip 4 weeks later [Portsmouth-Bilbao] and got a good deal on a Commodore Cabin and 2 tickets for the All day dining [£85 each]. HOWEVER, on the Bilbao-Portsmouth return leg in late April 2024, the Dining had been cut back to the bone in terms of both quality and amount, and, as a fellow passenger said, '£170 is bloody expensive for 4 greasy spoon cafe breakfasts between the pair of us'. Lunch is now just a second breakfast, and the quality is dire

Steve
 
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similar to steve for our return during putin kicking off in the ukraine fuel prices went through the roof so on spec i looked at the long ferry no trouble booking it including pet friendly cabin , from bilbao to dover is about 3 tanks of fuel so that made it seem guide reasonable
 
Mel99 said:
I always book eurotunnel well in advance for our autumn travel to Europe in our VW. This year I'm thinking of the ferry to Spain. I would really appreciate people's experience in availability on late booking to give us more flexibility for the return journey. So have people been able to book a return ferry a couple of days before travelling? (Irealize the cabins will have been booked). Thankyou
Click to expand...
Can't advise on late booking, but a cabin is a must we think. Bay of Biscay can be very rough indeed and they will still sail. We had a couple of lay down on the bunk all the time rough trips, so now it's tunnel out and Caen Portsmouth or tunnel back back. Tunnel tunnel works out cheapest for us if you don't mind the driving and loss of days in the south, but jan/feb could bad weather, snow even, which could be a bind, and then you still have the Pyrenees to conquer.
Mind you, over the top Burgos etc can also be hit with snow, enough to stop everything.
Ok, off piste comments!
 
JQB said:
Can't advise on late booking, but a cabin is a must we think. Bay of Biscay can be very rough indeed and they will still sail. We had a couple of lay down on the bunk all the time rough trips, so now it's tunnel out and Caen Portsmouth or tunnel back back. Tunnel tunnel works out cheapest for us if you don't mind the driving and loss of days in the south, but jan/feb could bad weather, snow even, which could be a bind, and then you still have the Pyrenees to conquer.
Mind you, over the top Burgos etc can also be hit with snow, enough to stop everything.
Ok, off piste comments!
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If you're delayed by snow, the comments would more likely be piste off than off piste ... :ROFLMAO:
The yellow snow might be the giveaway ...

Steve
 
JQB said:
Can't advise on late booking, but a cabin is a must we think. Bay of Biscay can be very rough indeed and they will still sail. We had a couple of lay down on the bunk all the time rough trips, so now it's tunnel out and Caen Portsmouth or tunnel back back. Tunnel tunnel works out cheapest for us if you don't mind the driving and loss of days in the south, but jan/feb could bad weather, snow even, which could be a bind, and then you still have the Pyrenees to conquer.
Mind you, over the top Burgos etc can also be hit with snow, enough to stop everything.
Ok, off piste comments!
Click to expand...
No,they (BF) will delay until the weather improves but you may have to get off the boat and come back next day, it happened to me on Roscoff-Plymouth once, I take travel pills to go to sleep and avoid throwing up, I’d booked the Exec cabin as it was our anniversary (Dec), I woke next morning and the concierge bought breakfast menu, I said “that crossing wasn’t as bad as expected” he replied “no,that’s because we’re still in Roscoff”
 
JQB said:
Can't advise on late booking, but a cabin is a must we think. Bay of Biscay can be very rough indeed and they will still sail. We had a couple of lay down on the bunk all the time rough trips, so now it's tunnel out and Caen Portsmouth or tunnel back back. Tunnel tunnel works out cheapest for us if you don't mind the driving and loss of days in the south, but jan/feb could bad weather, snow even, which could be a bind, and then you still have the Pyrenees to conquer.
Mind you, over the top Burgos etc can also be hit with snow, enough to stop everything.
Ok, off piste comments!
Click to expand...
I think you have to have a cabin on the Spanish crossings, no choice
 
And we always book flexi tickets our out bond an home ward leg as 2 separate crossings so as we can alter the home bound leg with out extra fees
 
Maybe some kind person will give you their membership code.. ask on here.
Consider Portsmouth to Caen. Just 5 hours on the ferry and gets you a lot further south, to a warmer area, as well as saving driving costs.
 
We book separate single crossings once we know when we will be returning to UK. Money can sit in my Bank Account rather than in the Ferry company's ... :ROFLMAO:

Steve
 
Booking in advance is advised for mid to late December return to the UK and for January sailings to Spain. Also around Easter time. That is our experience anyway.

Remember there is only the Santander sailing November to March so fewer sailings each week.
 
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