Condor-Never again (Condor Ferries)

Member Name: LordLyn

Product:	Condor Ferries
Date:	21/12/08 (110 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: We got there.

Disadvantages: Too numerous to mention

What an amazing journey. Well where do I start. Crossing Time advertised an amazing 3 hours 25 minutes. Actual time 5 hours there and 5 hours back, nothing to do with the weather, but the fact that there was only 3 engines working. Apparently this has been like this for years from what I can glean from other websites and the grumpy staff.

Boarding the vehicle was more like organised chaos at both ends but more so the Jersey end where the layout of the embarking and disembarking has to be seen to be believed. You have to criss -cross aside from one part to another,each row of cars keep the other one waiting not a good system when you are trying to board.

Now here's an idea rearrange the car park, that should be easy enough to do. I worked that one out whilst waiting to get on the boat which took a long time too . Boarding took over an hour plus the boat was an hour late.

We were not kept informed as to what was happening, maybe someone did but the loudspeaker system was inadequate to say the least.

Now at last on board we go to our allocated seats on the boat, E ,where the seats are falling apart, well the arm rests were and the fall down tables.And there was less room in between those seats than on an aircraft

The advert says relax in the spacious lounges,if you could relax in those seats you must be used to sitting on a park bench. Bearing in mind the boat has been going for 10 years those seats are well past there sell by date.

We travel P and O quite a bit and they manage to have comfortable seats. I did a small survey on board with some of the passengers and everyone complained at how uncomfortable the seats were and were going round the boat to try and find ones that were not quite as bad.Providing they didn't get told off by a member of staff to get back to their allocated seats.

Upgrade you might say to the recliners, which although looked comfortable were set out in rows with not much room in between. Not exactly an upgrade more like paying for a cushion.

Upgrade to club class you say, well that may have looked ok as long as you liked being close to your neighbour and didn't suffer from claustrophobia. A lot of money for a piece of cake and cup of tea.

That brings me on to my next point. There is only one place for purchasing food and they were described as delicious hot meals, well I would say more like overpriced barely acceptable food.

I also believe the smile was extra from the cafe staff. Mind you when you are trying to serve 750 passengers and the queue goes round the boat I do not think you would have time to smile.

Another point only one set of toilets for men and ladies for 750 passengers worse than the local borough councils!

All this to be charged a substantial amount of money because I now believe they have the monopoly. I think that will be the last time I will be travelling Condor and the talk among my fellow passengers was of a similar ilk.

I do recommend the managing director of Condor travels on the boat to see how valid my complaints are.

Summary: Don't travel by Condor to the Channel Islands