Ferries and the Credit Crunch

Recent research has shown one in three Britons would holiday on home soil to save money during the credit crisis, but despite this the ferry industry say those wanting to getaway from the UK need not worry about paying too much.

Ferry holidays have significantly seen a modest increase for the second year in a row according to figures released today by the Passenger Shipping Association’s sailanddrive.com campaign – confirming industry predictions of a revival in travel by sea.

So far this month, P&O Ferries reports a ten per cent jump in bookings for August driven by dire weather at home and a realisation that ferry fares are at an all time low.

Bill Gibbons, director of the Passenger Shipping Association, the industry body for cruise and ferry companies said he was delighted to see ferry travel continue to revive. “I believe we’re seeing increasing numbers of people turning away from the misery of airports, “ said Gibbons, “The ongoing chaos at airports, continued strike threats, missing luggage and increasingly miserly charges made by airlines is just howlingly frustating.

"Travellers who vote with their feet and switch to ferry travel are finding a radically different experience. They can take their own car, as much luggage as they like, enjoy shorter check-in times and can stroll around ferry ships which have seen multi-million pound investments that are equal to modern cruise ships.”

It would seem that the dream of going abroad for this year’s summer holiday is still afloat.

William Gibbons, Director of the Passenger Shipping Association says “Ferries are such marvelous value that you can actually get a ferry crossing for as low as £58 return on the Dover–Calais route with your car”

But is the credit crunch hitting the ferry industry in other ways? To find out more from William Gibbons watch this video.

23 July 2008