Unregistered User
21 January 2011
20:5089848So Ed they crossed at 55 minutes today.
Is that the official crossing schedule or does it show what can be achieved if you don't keep them at sea for commercial retail/hospitality purposes?
Watty
Guest 697- Registered: 13 Apr 2010
- Posts: 622
21 January 2011
21:3989864Me thinks they were showing off today! I suspect the "normal" crossings will be at a more leisurely pace to (a) save fuel, and; (b) increase onboard spend!
More good news for Dover, although disappointing that BBC South East didn't give it any coverage on the 6.30 programme.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
21 January 2011
21:4789866i was rather disappointed too by the media coverage kevin.
in my view the maiden voyage should have been in the evening with a firework display and plenty of notice for people to see it.
quite right about the sailing time, get on a ferry in the early hours with all the shops closed and few passengers, the journey time is coincidentally very much so quicker.
Guest 658- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 660
21 January 2011
23:5589871just about to board
beer the food of the gods
Guest 705- Registered: 23 Sep 2010
- Posts: 661
22 January 2011
00:0689872Great photos everyone -that's some ship. Pics of my visit to Middlesborough(Hartlepool) to be posted in a day or so.
Never give up...
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
22 January 2011
07:5989878meridian tonight gave good coverage,interviewed first pasenger on board plus two or three others.hardly call the 0920 a light sailing more like a peak sailing.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
22 January 2011
11:2189888Top man Pat Sherratt has managed to get pictures of the interior of the ship taken on the inaugural sailing. Fab stuff indeed. Put them on frontpage because of their hot news value. Well done Pat
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
22 January 2011
12:4889893great stuff from pat, maybe he could tell us if the food and drink was any better or pricier?
22 January 2011
13:2789899Howard
I understand prices are the same as other P&O ships on Dover/Calais route.
The "International Food Court" (Self Service) has a wide selection of well prepared meals although these were only just being prepared on the return (lunchtime) sailing. Interesting innovation was that when paying for your meal and requiring a hot beverage (tea/cofffee) a token is given and there is a separate area to put token in machine so you select when you want your beverage and it is then always hot. The Food Court area has a flexible seating configuration and upon asking I was told maximum covers is 450.
The "Langans" Brasserie has dropped the "Langans" part so P&O obviously gained the "preparation" experience under Langans franchise and now going it alone. Always a good english breakfast here.
The "Bars" have a greater emphasis on the "coffee shop" concept with cakes/sandwiches etc although alchohlic items avaiable and the bar design can alter to cater for times when there are more "pub" clients on board.
The Club Lounge is smaller than other ships and located at the stern with a separate open deck area. I would guess a max of about 50 to 60.
Interesting that the design and layout of the ship enables areas to be closed down at quite times but does not easily become visible as doors when closed have graphics that fit in with the rest of the ship decor.
With the beam of the ship at 31m the overall width of areas gives a great sense of spaciousness.
I was told (and we may have some P&O forumites who will confirm) that at the early design stage P&O had a staff suggestion e-mail site and many of the ideas as above came from the "sharp-end" workers which is always good as so many businesses do not listen to their staff or customers.
Was told that crew accommodation very good with all crew having own facilities.
Another feature that will greatly assist in turn-round times is that stores go on board with a trailer that is lowered from the main deck to the ships storage area and is unloaded whlist on passage avioding the current practice of unloading stores on the car-deck whilst in port.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
22 January 2011
13:3589902interesting stuff pat, good idea about the hot drink token, usually when one buys a breakfast the tea is cold by the time one finishes the food.
good to hear that the crew have been listened to and that they are getting improved facilties.
surprised that they have dropped the "langans"bit, was always a good selling point to anyone that wanted to splash out.
Guest 673- Registered: 16 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,388
22 January 2011
16:3889915QUOTE FROM PAUL WATKINS: So Ed they crossed at 55 minutes today. Is that the official crossing schedule or does it show what can be achieved if you don't keep them at sea for commercial retail/hospitality purposes? Watty UNQUOTE
I would think neither, Paul. Fuel prices are sky high and every ferry company is employing all means possible to reduce fuel consumption. There is no way that the Spirit of Britain will be hurtling back and forth at 25 knots in normal service. Different matter on her maiden voyage with VIP's. They may also want to cut down the seatime at first to give her more time on turnarounds to iron out any unexpected problems that surface. For example, I see from Dover Ferry Photos Forum that she is going to Arno's on the 24th to have remedial work performed on her Calais gangway foot passenger exit as it does not fit correctly in one or more of the berths in Calais.
Regarding keeping ferries at sea for commercial retail/hospitality purposes. I would have thought that this was a thing of the past when booze and fags were cheap and there were masses of daytrippers. There would have been some very unhappy passengers if they were still queuing when the shop closed. Prices are much higher now which will presumably have eliminated much of the daytripper custom and I would imagine that the extended seatime to economise on fuel would now give ample time for everybody to get served. Not something that I can speak of with any authority as I sail on the DFDS ferries where there are no footpassengers or daytrippers and the two hour voyage to and from Dunkerque West gives plenty of time for any shoppers.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
23 January 2011
00:0589941I'd imagine they also got express exit/entry into the ports also that they wouldn't normally get ?
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 673- Registered: 16 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,388
24 January 2011
02:0890044Alec Sheldon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 18 Aug 2008
- Posts: 1,037
24 January 2011
02:1890045Very classy. Thanks for the link Ed.
Guest 673- Registered: 16 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,388
24 January 2011
12:5690066Have just heard over the grapevine that the reason that the Spirit of Britain does not line up correctly in the berths in Calais is that the ship has been constructed 300mm too short!
Not sure why this should be as the shore passenger gangways move up and down the quay in Calais on tracks but report this for what it is worth. SOB is due in Arno's today to commence remedial work. Understand that the problem with the bearing has already been sorted.
