| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 08/05/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 63 |
| Copyright: Other |
Ferry check
Prompt service is not just hot air
Prompt service is not just hot air
Jane Archer samples Hoverspeed’s service from Dover to Calais
HOVERSPEED’S new 1st lounge in the Dover Hoverport terminal was most welcome after our early start to catch the 9am departure. There is tea and coffee, soft drinks and French pastries to set you up for the crossing. The lounge is situated where the duty-free shop used to be. In these post-duty-free days passengers can pre-order wine and beer in the UK, although the selection is limited. Drivers pick up their goods from the French terminal before returning to the UK. For foot passengers, goods are loaded onto the return craft, to collect after passport control in the UK.The Calais Hoverport has a much larger shop with wine, beer and perfume at cheap French prices (see Factfile opposite).
Embarkation
The Hoverport’s big selling point is that it is small. Once checked in, you are in position to embark.
The car deck is small, holding 55 cars, and loading is quick although every car is lashed down. Motorists travelling 1st class load first giving them priority disembarkation in Dover. We were heading up the ramp as the last cars from the incoming crossing were driving off.
We departed on time in both directions and crossed in under 30mins.
Factfile
dover – calais
Sample duty-paid prices: 24x50cl cans of Grolsch £12.85; one-litre Teacher’s whisky £10.95.
Take to the water: the Princess Margaret can make the journey in under 30mins
On board
The hovercraft is in two halves, split by the car deck. At the front of each half is airline-style seating; behind on one side are the spacious 1st seats – 54 seats in a two by two configuration with a table. In addition, a motorists’ lounge with tables and seats is configured three by three format, opposite the 1st lounge. Passengers in 1st are served a snack – we had a croissant and tea or coffee on the way out; scone with cream and jam on the return. There is a newspaper to read and you can order duty-paid goods from the comfort of your seat. Other passengers can order a drink.
Safety and service
The safety announcement was short, simply highlighting the existence of escape windows and pointing out the lifejackets.
Service was good across the board.
We were on board so quickly at Dover that we had eaten before departure. Staff were friendly and helpful – even producing extra food for a starving six-year-old when we requested some.
Conclusion
Hovercraft are a bit like Concorde – fast and noisy but although they are old, after 32 years they still turn a few heads as the cushion of air fills, they rise up and slide off the concrete into the Channel.
I thought it was great. My partner was not so sure. It is hard to hold a conversation and because they skim over the water, it is not easy to drink or read a newspaper once under way.
Seating at the front was very cramped and made the 1st premium worth paying for the extra space alone. The food was tasty but so little it hardly seemed worth the effort. As they had more food when we asked, I was puzzled why it had not been offered.
Response
Sue Seabrook, general sales manager, Hoverspeed,
“We started the pre-ordered wine and beer service with a limited range to get it working. It is used a lot so we plan to expand it. We also offer a home delivery service, which is popular among passengers who are bulk buying.
“It is not unusual to make the crossing in less than 30mins if the weather is good. Even if it is, we lash all cars down. Safety is a priority and we can do it quickly.
“We put foot passengers in the seats at the front.
“It is nothing to do with how much they pay but ease of loading. We have never had complaints that it is cramped.
“On longer crossings we give 1st passengers a full meal but as Dover-Calais is only 30mins, we feel a light snack is sufficient. It is not much but passengers appreciate it -Êit would be negative to offer nothing.
“But we are experimenting with what we offer and we like to have an alternative for passengers. There are also times when there is extra food from an earlier crossing, which is what happened when you travelled.
“The hovercraft has an incredible following -Êpeople adore it because it is unique, even though it is noisy and can be bumpy. The benefit is that it is also quick.”
Take it easy: Hoverspeed’s new 1st class lounge