Well after a nice breakfast in the Hotel we left Ypres and headed to Dunkirk where we were
due to visit Castorama to get a new plug for one of the sinks we purchased many years
ago in France when rebuilding the house and of course the obligatory wine.
due to visit Castorama to get a new plug for one of the sinks we purchased many years
ago in France when rebuilding the house and of course the obligatory wine.
With both items on the list accomplished we headed to the Port to connect with our DFDS
ferry back from Dunkirk to Dover. The ferry takes about two hours and we paid extra to get
fast track which means you are pretty much the first people off the Ferry and so with a bit of
luck you can off quick and so it was from starting the car engine on Ferry to hitting the A20
was max ten minutes.
ferry back from Dunkirk to Dover. The ferry takes about two hours and we paid extra to get
fast track which means you are pretty much the first people off the Ferry and so with a bit of
luck you can off quick and so it was from starting the car engine on Ferry to hitting the A20
was max ten minutes.
Due to Noels recent health problems we have not been on DFDS for a couple of years and
were pretty much disappointed in their service and particularly the cleanliness of the ship and
I was so annoyed I have written the following email to the Customer service department.
were pretty much disappointed in their service and particularly the cleanliness of the ship and
I was so annoyed I have written the following email to the Customer service department.
“Attention Customer Service
We have just returned from a round trip on the Dover -Dunkirk route and were
very surprised how the service has deteriorated since we last travelled with you.
very surprised how the service has deteriorated since we last travelled with you.
Outbound
Only one car check desk open and so waited nearly twenty minutes to check in.
Further along P & O were checking in much faster and had more desks open.
Further along P & O were checking in much faster and had more desks open.
Thought the premier cabin was in poor shape and not clean.
Return
Check in a bit faster and we boarded ok.
The code provided by check-in for Premier lounge was incomplete and so we had to
loate a crew member to find out what to do.
loate a crew member to find out what to do.
The floor of the lounge was not clean and there was no fresh milk for tea.
We were informed that MILK in the Coffee machine was actually cold milk but when
you pressed the button steam poured out and the milk was quite warm.
The resultant cup of tea was appalling and neither my wife or could drink it.
Perhaps the Hot water machine needs a clean.
We were informed that MILK in the Coffee machine was actually cold milk but when
you pressed the button steam poured out and the milk was quite warm.
The resultant cup of tea was appalling and neither my wife or could drink it.
Perhaps the Hot water machine needs a clean.
The floor of the lounge was quite dirty with biscuit pieces and other foodstuffs,
origin unknown.
origin unknown.
The Danish pastries were on an open top tray and surely these should be in a
protective container for health reasons.
protective container for health reasons.
The steward was there for a few minutes only and then disappeared for the rest of
the voyage until the ship was berthing when he came to collect the empty cups
from tables which in certain cases had been sitting there for more than 90 minutes.
the voyage until the ship was berthing when he came to collect the empty cups
from tables which in certain cases had been sitting there for more than 90 minutes.
The toilet facilities in the lounge are in dire need of refurbishment whilst the cleaning
of them was poor. According to the cleaning chart on the wall the last clean was at 05.25that morning and now the time was 14.20. The notice said the toilets should be cleaned/checked every two hours and fully cleaned every 4 hours but clearly this did happen- see photo attachment.
of them was poor. According to the cleaning chart on the wall the last clean was at 05.25that morning and now the time was 14.20. The notice said the toilets should be cleaned/checked every two hours and fully cleaned every 4 hours but clearly this did happen- see photo attachment.
To make matters worse the so called peace and quiet of the lounge was disturbed by
two rather noisy children who were running around the cabin and often screaming,
I know it’s the parent responsibility but if there had been a steward on duty
surely he should have taken some action.
two rather noisy children who were running around the cabin and often screaming,
I know it’s the parent responsibility but if there had been a steward on duty
surely he should have taken some action.
Finally why don’t you follow the check in procedure used by Eurotunnel
for checking in which normally takes less than a minute rather than
use the current manual system which slows the complete process down.
for checking in which normally takes less than a minute rather than
use the current manual system which slows the complete process down.
So let's see how they answer. But we got home in good time and and it took about
one hour forty minutes which is quite good for this journey.
one hour forty minutes which is quite good for this journey.
Well that's the end of that trip which we both enjoyed very much and now looking
forward to getting my scan results and then next our annual caravan in France in
a few weeks time, Its all go!!!!!
forward to getting my scan results and then next our annual caravan in France in
a few weeks time, Its all go!!!!!