New Ferry to France (Launch Offer)

galait

August 8

Hows the weather in Vendee

Jakey Rolling

July 18

Only just realised our return ferry leaves at midnight.

Any recommendations from those who have travelled already how best to pass time in St Nazaire with the kids for the evening?

Jakey Rolling

July 18

Only just realised our return ferry leaves at midnight.

Any recommendations from those who have travelled already how best to pass time in St Nazaire with the kids for the evening?

moodrater

July 11

galait wrote: »

Hows the weather in Vendee

Better than at home but not half as good as the last few weeks at home. Ship and cabin was spotless shower was great 5 of us in outside cabin were happy out. No carpets and little soft furnishings means almost no stink on board unlike other ferries. apart from behind the kitchen where the ribbish was which is to be expected. Crossing was fine about 3.5-4m waves and force 5 for a few hours and force 6 in the middle of the night. Ship was very stable. Only saw one person sick who was alternating smoking and puking wtf. Didn't queue long for cabin and dropped key back early so didn't need to queue at the end. Offloaded an hour and a quarter before arrival time. Defenitely use them again.

pedro500

Big thanks to Johnny Fontane for his post 7 months ago... Thanks a st.emilion😉
Pitched up in Beynac, toasting to one hell of a bargain alert.... 3 weeks in Dordogne ahead, been over here a few times from '07 but couldn't have afforded it this year without coming across the post.
LD lines was spotless, friendly staff, comfortable sailing that seemed a lot quicker than it should have been - if they can find a median rate that allows both of us profit I would gladly travel with them & I have past experience of all carriers.
Bon Soir, pity France exited WC14 but you can't have everything!

September1

July 11

We all got moderately sea sick, I think mostly because cabin was without windows. However as other mentioned LD Lines are much cleaner than Stena or Irish Ferries.

frash

July 25

September1 wrote: »

We all got moderately sea sick

How many of you are we talking?

September1

July 11

All four in family. Not everyone on ferry.

vienne86

Interesting that thiis ferry seems stable. Watching the various ferries leave Rosslare this is the one that is the most like a traditional ship! She seems to be long and thin while the other ferries are shorter and wider and higher too, designed by accountants I suspect!? I'll have to take a trip on this ferry.Very positive reports.Enjoy your hols folks.

First Up

vienne86 wrote: »

Interesting that thiis ferry seems stable. Watching the various ferries leave Rosslare this is the one that is the most like a traditional ship! She seems to be long and thin while the other ferries are shorter and wider and higher too, designed by accountants I suspect!? I'll have to take a trip on this ferry.Very positive reports.Enjoy your hols folks.

I think they all have stabilisers they can put out in rough conditions. I know the OW does and I presume the others.

Wally Runs

August 1

Jakey Rolling wrote: »

Only just realised our return ferry leaves at midnight.

Any recommendations from those who have travelled already how best to pass time in St Nazaire with the kids for the evening?

Depending on their age and interests there are the U-boat pens, included here is a trip around the French U-boat, a recreation of ocean liner interiors, the pens themselves (free), plenty of parking out front, a Carefour and new shopping district. They close up around at 18.00 (http://visit-saint-nazaire.com/rubrique/2)

After that, cycles, or a movie in English (http://loire.angloinfo.com/whatson/movies/0-1033/all-titles/st-nazaire/this-week) I cannot see what is on for you date though.

Wally

MidlandsM

Re...what to do in st.nazaire.

De'Arte is a nice italian to feed they crew in, nice pastas, salads and pizzas to be enjoyed,decent prices too. Its the other side of the round about where the mcdonalds is in st.nazaire. no weefee wifi in the de'arte , but the mcdonalds wifi is good...and can be gotten from the car park.

The submarine pens as mentioned.

The serpend de ocean sculpture near rhe bridge

There is lots of hitlers bunkers along the coast to view.

There is a nice beach to enjoy at st.brevin le ocean, only about 15 mins drive from the port where you return home.

For a bit of retail therapy, the decathlon sports shop is the other side of st.naziare, and is big...good bargains there. However, we found the one just off the motorway in pornic easier to access, ajd there is a crackin chineese accross the road from it, who does a all you can eat buffett for 14.70e..and the food is very good if you like chineese food.they open at 7pm for evening food. Pornic is approx 22 minsdown the motorway from the port.


Hope that helps.

ShatterProof

July 11

Anybody got the coordinates / address of the port in Saint-Nazaire???

Is the check in desk the same booths as customs we went through on arrival?

Thanks.

raher1

August 22

How much for a car and one person

First Up

raher1 wrote: »

How much for a car and one person

Depends on what car you are selling - and how good looking is the person?

MidlandsM

ShatterProof wrote: »

Anybody got the coordinates / address of the port in Saint-Nazaire???

Is the check in desk the same booths as customs we went through on arrival?

Thanks.

Check in is in the offices to the right of the customs check barriers when you arrive to depart.
Drive into car park, park up out of the way, go into office with all yer passports etc, get boarding pass, then drive thru customs and then board. They start to allow boarding from 10pm i think.

Re...co ordinates..,i dont have em, but to be honest its easyvto find. Follow st.naziare port signsof the motorway, then car ferry signs at next 2 or 3 roundabouts, et voila, you are there.

munchkin_utd

ShatterProof wrote: »

Anybody got the coordinates / address of the port in Saint-Nazaire???

wouldnt possibly be on the ferry company website ?????
(with full address, gps coordinates and printout detailed pdf map even?)

http://ldlines.co.uk/good-to-know/port-guide-saint-nazaire

ScouseMouse

July 4

MidlandsM wrote: »

Check in is in the offices to the right of the customs check barriers when you arrive to depart.
Drive into car park, go into office with all yer passports etc, get boarding pass, then drive thru customs and then board. They start to allow boarding from 10pm i think.

Re...co ordinates..,i dont have em, but to be honest its easyvto find. Follow st.naziare port signsof the motorway, then car ferry signs at next 2 or 3 roundabouts, et voila, you are there.

Look for the massive airbus hangers. The gate we drove out was right next to them

MidlandsM

superscouse wrote: »

Look for the massive airbus hangers. The gate we drove out was right next to them

And the sand quarry, and the yards full of renaults capti' !!!

paddydriver

July 4

We're on our way back tomorrow night so have the whole day to burn. have booked Planete Sauvage (Thanks again to a boardie earlier in this thread) and then heading to St Nazaire.

FB messaged with them yesterday and they couldn't be more helpful and responsive. They said if we checked in for around 20:30 then possibly get boarded for 21:30 and match with be on in the bar. That's my plan for now - wife didn't object as I think she'd be happy to get the kids on early too and possibly get them to sleep.

Have had a great holiday so far and kids having a ball. Weather has been great, we are only an hour down from St Nazaire near Saint Jean De Monts. It's been great during the day and cools down most evenings so that makes it easier. Don't know if we could hack down south as kids wouldn't enjoy the constant heat.

Will post more info when home. Anyone with any questions that I can help on then fire them over to me.

paddydriver

July 4

MidlandsM wrote: »

And the sand quarry, and the yards full of renaults capti' !!!

Was fascinated by the chunk of A380 fuselage sitting on a trailor! Never seen a proper cross section of such a large plane before.

Not sure if the Renault's were on their way out or coming back so soon:pac:

MammaZita

paddydriver wrote: »

We're on our way back tomorrow night so have the whole day to burn. have booked Planete Sauvage (Thanks again to a boardie earlier in this thread) and then heading to St Nazaire.

FB messaged with them yesterday and they couldn't be more helpful and responsive. They said if we checked in for around 20:30 then possibly get boarded for 21:30 and match with be on in the bar. That's my plan for now - wife didn't object as I think she'd be happy to get the kids on early too and possibly get them to sleep.

Have had a great holiday so far and kids having a ball. Weather has been great, we are only an hour down from St Nazaire near Saint Jean De Monts. It's been great during the day and cools down most evenings so that makes it easier. Don't know if we could hack down south as kids wouldn't enjoy the constant heat.

Will post more info when home. Anyone with any questions that I can help on then fire them over to me.

Hi sorry to digress but just wondering how you found St Jean de Monts? Heading to camping acapulco next month and reading some very bad reviews about St Jean de Monts (tacky, touristy, full of Irish and Brits etc). Getting worried as we like getting away from all of that! Thank you!

frash

July 25

Heading to St Jean Dr Monts too on the 18th, Le Clarys Plage.

Anyone been there yet?

First Up

frash wrote: »

Heading to St Jean Dr Monts too on the 18th, Le Clarys Plage.

Anyone been there yet?

I don't know the campsites but St Jean the town is fine. A typical French sea-side holiday town and a great beach. Pleasant golf course too. I never found it dominated by Brits or Irish; quite French in my experience. Any French beach resort is a million times better than its Spanish equivalent.

MidlandsM

paddydriver wrote: »

Was fascinated by the chunk of A380 fuselage sitting on a trailor! Never seen a proper cross section of such a large plane before.

Not sure if the Renault's were on their way out or coming back so soon:pac:

The airbus boat was in one day i was passing, a fine looking vessel she is too........aye, me harties!

The renos seem to the rhd, so for these shores....

paddydriver wrote: »

We're on our way back tomorrow night so have the whole day to burn. have booked Planete Sauvage (Thanks again to a boardie earlier in this thread) and then heading to St Nazaire.

.

You are most welcome

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=90389077&postcount=218

Be sure to report back on it please.

CJhaughey

Anyone heading to Futuroscope might like a few tips,

As you head in to the park the raving rabbids exhibit is to the left and usually extremely busy with a big queue, we found that heading to the back of the park where Arthur 4D and Dances with robots are and then working our way forward over the course of the day left a lot less queuing.
There is a deal with an all you can eat buffet, Arthurs table this is actually quite a good deal considering wine is included, and a nice way to break up the day while waiting for the evening spectacle.
The spectacle is a fantastic show, well worth waiting for, it starts at 10-45 so you may want to take a break before it kicks off.

MammaZita

First Up wrote: »

I don't know the campsites but St Jean the town is fine. A typical French sea-side holiday town and a great beach. Pleasant golf course too. I never found it dominated by Brits or Irish; quite French in my experience. Any French beach resort is a million times better than its Spanish equivalent.

That's great to hear as most of what I've read says it's as far removed from the real France as you can get (pizzerias, mussels & chips, fairgrounds etc). Good to hear there are some authentic French restaurants and plenty of French and indeed other nationalities visiting there.

gizmo555

frash wrote: »

Heading to St Jean Dr Monts too on the 18th, Le Clarys Plage.

Anyone been there yet?

Stayed at Le Clarys Plage a couple of years ago. It's grand, but a mile or two from the town itself. Several bars and restaurants nearby which are OK, but the seafront in the town is better for those.

First Up

MammaZita wrote: »

That's great to hear as most of what I've read says it's as far removed from the real France as you can get (pizzerias, mussels & chips, fairgrounds etc). Good to hear there are some authentic French restaurants and plenty of French and indeed other nationalities visiting there.

Moules frites is perfectly authentic. So are fairgrounds. Its a holiday town. What do people expect French kids to be doing - reading Sartre?

MayoForSam

July 11

We got the LD ferry over last Friday, journey was fine, my missus was seasick but she's a bad traveller anyhow. Very clean ferry, service was spot on, good food selection, cabin was ideal for 4 of us. Even got to see footie on the TV.

Drove down to Jean de Monts, staying in Sol a Gogo, nice campsite right beside the beach. Lots to do around here, towns are relatively quiet at nightime, plenty of restaurants. Very good infrastructure, lots of new roads and roundabouts along the seafront. Challans is a nice, decent size market town worth a visit. Kids loved Feeling Forest close by (zip lines). St. Giles Croix de Vie is another nice town, fairground and plenty of French families on holiday. Velo rail booked for tomorrow.

We're off to Questembert in Brittany for a few more days on Saturday. So far excellent holiday, for 325 euro return to get here, can't be beat.