Attractive cross channel fares attract travellers
Ferry Online Travel News 21/07/2008
Peak season bookings on cross-channel ferries are up by 10%, as travellers headed to the Mediterranean are attracted by
“People know a good deal when they see one,” commented Sarah Staughton, the head of marketing for P&O Ferries.
“We’ve got fares from £37 at off-peak times for families to take their cars across the Channel if they fancy a bit of sun in the south of France.”
“They are taking care of costs by tailoring their own trips.”
These fares are a significant reduction over the £300-plus return fares were the norm on the Dover-Calais route a decade or more ago. Larger ferries and more sophisticated booking systems have lowered fares annually since then.
P&O Ferries has improved service in the works as well, and has confirmed plans that it will spend £285m on two new ferries, the largest ever to service the Dover-Calais route. They are scheduled to be in service in 2010.
Travellers have another incentive for them to travel to France this summer. Rail Europe is featuring special deals of first-class fares on its TGV trains that service both the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts. Passengers travelling on Eurostar return fares to Paris, starting from £59, can then take advantage of one-way first-class fares on Corail Intercites routes serving destinations such as Rouen and Orleans, starting from £12.
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