Some three years ago we used LD Lines from Le Havre who had just taken over the Portsmouth to Le Havre route from P & O and we were totally disappointed after years of good old P & O service and nice cabins.
Earlier this year we noticed that LD lines was offering a new vessel on the route with super smart cabins etc and so as a surprise for Jen I booked one of their new double bed cabins with large picture window and full en-suite facilities. About one month ago we were notified that the new ship was not coming now and no reasons were given but don’t worry although we don’t have the super smart new cabins we will give you a four berth with window with en-suite on the ship that we had been on previously and some money back at the same time.
Anyway we had a good journey down to Portsmouth and it did not seem to crowded at the waiting area and when we drove on to the ship after checking in and receiving our nice slip of paper with clearly stamped four berth en-suite we noticed how clean and newly painted was the car deck. We arrived at reception to get our room key and after waiting fifteen minutes or so in line and then we handed the nice piece of paper to the girl behind the reception desk who then started laughing and then looked glum and was silent for about two ninutes and then spoke to her colleague next to her and then said they had no more cabin left except a small room (the rat hole) along the corridor with no window and no bathroom. We were furious and the room provided smaller accommodation than a bloody submarine could offer.
So we went for a walk and met Joanne and Tim who had a much larger cabin with en-suite etc and we had a couple of glasses of wine before returning to the (rat hole) with air conditioning. As I had already blasted the receptionist the night before there was not much point in having another go as she had already said it wasn’t her fault but that of the booking section.
