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National Ferry Fortnight

3rd May 2011 Print

It’s National Ferry Fortnight between 14-28 May so for all of those who fancy ‘climbing aboard’ here’s a selection of holidays – home and away – reached by ferry.

Ireland is only 3 hours and 15 minutes away on Irish Ferries’ flagship cruise-ferry, the Ulysses, which boasts 10 decks and room for 1,342 cars and 2,000 passengers.

For a touch of luxury, upgrade to Club Class – £16 per traveller each way – for priority boarding, exclusive access to the Club Class lounge and bar, complimentary drinks, snacks and newspapers, plus free WiFi.  Ferry fares start at £69 one-way for a car and driver for travel before 29 June on midweek crossings.

Alternatively, Irish Ferries Holidays offers self-drive breaks that include ferry crossings.  Book a B&B holiday during National Ferry Fortnight and pay £159 per person for three nights’ twin-share accommodation before 30 June, with a full Irish breakfast each morning, including return travel for car and passengers.  IrishFerries.com/ferryfortnight

For a holiday on the Isle of Wight - a short ferry journey of around 40-minutes from Portsmouth, Lymington or Southampton – Daish’s Holidays is highlighting its Daish’s Hotel in Shanklin, where children aged between five and 15 years pay just 50% of the adult rate.

The 61-bedroom family-friendly hotel – a former 18th century coaching inn - is set in its own extensive grounds in the heart of the ‘old village’ and offers a wealth of facilities including an indoor pool, beer garden bar and restaurant, along with live entertainment every night.

As an example of price, a six-night half-board holiday in a family room, beginning on 27 or 29 July, costs £329 per adult, with up to three children paying £165 each.  Ferry crossings can be booked by the company on request.  daishs.com 

Climb on board a Dover to Calais ferry this summer – with a journey time of around 90 minutes – and enjoy a choice of holidays throughout France with camping and mobile home specialist, Venue Holidays.

Featured campsites include Camping Les Deux Fontaines at Raguenes in Brittany where, for example, a seven-night peak season holiday from 21 August costs from as little as £684.  This price is the total for two adults and up to four children and includes return Dover/Calais saver crossing for car and passengers and accommodation in a three-bedroom mobile home.

Facilities at the campsite, just a 15-minute stroll from a secluded beach, include swimming pool complex with four-lane water slide, water chute and whirlpool, tennis, six-hole golf course, archery and fitness centre. venueholidays.co.uk 

Finally, for those who fancy a holiday in the UK with a distinctly ‘continental’ feel, head to Jersey on the Condor Fastcat ferry from Weymouth - with a journey time of around three hours, 45-minutes – courtesy of Modern Hotels.

Visitors can choose from either the Mayfair or Metropole Hotel – both three-star properties in the centre of St Helier – and each offering a wealth of facilities including indoor pool, steam room, Jacuzzi and fully-equipped gym, along with coffee shop, bar and restaurant.

A three-night break taken, for example, between 6 and 30 June costs £254 per person (twin share), with children sharing a room with two adults charged at £140 each.  Prices include return Fastcat crossing (as above), transfers and accommodation with breakfast at the chosen hotel. modernhotels.com