Norman Voyager
Operated by DFDS Seaways
Norman Voyager
Operated by DFDS Seaways
Operated by DFDS Seaways on the route
The Norman Voyager has a capacity for 550 passengers, a selection of comfortable cabins for a restful night’s sleep and a superb range of facilities to keep you occupied during the trip.
There is a great range of 4 berth inside and outside cabins on the Norman Voyager with something to suit all budgets and requirements. There is also a cabin available for passengers with disabilities and a cot is available upon request at the reception desk. All cabins are ensuite. The Norman Voyager’s spacious Seaside and Horizon Lounges house comfortable reclining seats which will allow you to rest or sleep for the journey ahead!
'Le Bistro du Norman' self-service restaurant is situated at the front of the ship and is the perfect venue for a sunset dinner or to watch the sunrise over breakfast. In the Shamrock Pub you'll find a superb range of wines, beers, spirits, cocktails, soft drinks and tea and coffee.
In the shop onboard the Norman Voyager you'll find a wide range of alcohol, tobacco and perfume, as well as books, regional souvenirs, chocolates and confectionary. Euro, Sterling and Credit/Debit cards are accepted for payment onboard.
For those that wish to stay connected WiFi is available onboard for a small supplement.
Please Note: Whilst we have taken great care in making our Norman Voyager guide as accurate as possible, onboard facilities, services and entertainment may vary depending on the date and time of year that you travel, facilities mentioned may change without notification and ferry companies reserve the right to operate vessels other than those mentioned at time of booking without prior notification.
out of 5
71% of our customers recommended this ship
"LD Lines / DFDS Portsmouth to Le Havre"
Excellent value for money ferry operator and crossing. Screaming child for 4 hours of 5 hour crossing slightly irritating. All the crew were as friendly and helpful as usual. Tasty food and bar snacks. Immaculately clean ship including the toilets. The shop was well stocked for holiday gift purchases. Short organised boarding and disembarking of vehicles as usual. It is such a shame that DFDS have now ceased this route leaving no competition.
"Trip to UK for Chrismas"
It was not difficult to find the ferry port at Le Havre and the staff were very good! I was pleased to get a return crossing that was a very competative price,especially sailing just before Christmas and returning for the new year.
"Clean & efficient"
The overall ferry journey was clean, efficient & comfortable.
"Thank you"
I thank DFDS directferries as i have recieved my lost passport in the post. I dropped it on board and it was found the same day when i contacted the ferry. The only request i have is if all lights could be turned out during the night crossing in the lounges with reclining seats.
"review"
very pleased - crossing on time food good and everything OK.
"5 day trip"
Boat was quiet but not over warm. Loading in UK seemed to take ages whereas in France we were whisked straight on, having arrived 60 minutes before sailing at each port. Unloading seemed lengthy, due to much manoeuvring of trucks, 30 minutes plus in France. Overall 7/10 Will travel with Direct Ferries again.
"Ferry booking"
From arriving on-board we were greeted like old friends by the deck handlers, pursers office staff, Bar staff and restaurant crew. Our cabin was very clean and comfy, and after a drink in the bar area as we left the harbour was welcoming. Only thing that I would like different would be Hot food to be hot, not luke warm that needs microwaving. We returned on the same vessel and as above were made to feel very welcome, Highly recommended and will be returning with the same company.
"A far better alternative."
We took our car over to France using the Portsmouth to Le Havre crossing. As there were very few passengers on board, we were informed that they would stop one of the engines. This made us one hour late in arriving in Le Harve. The food was also of pretty poor quality. Six weeks later, for our return crossing I decided to travel with DFDS. This was a much better appointed ship with better food and service. It was on time and was even cheaper that the outward carrier. Many thanks, DFDS.
"Portsmouth - Le Havre"
Check-in, loading and disembarking all very efficient. Facilities on board more than adequate. Only problem was attempting to sleep in the 'reclining' seat. As a solo traveller the cost of a cabin was prohibitive.
"Satisfied"
I used the ferry last week and found most things to be satisfactory. The bed in the cabin was comfortable enough, although I could have done with a thicker pillow, and the blanket wasn't sufficient for my travelling companion who needed to wear her fleece in bed. I was delighted to get on and off the ferry very quickly as frequently even though I invariably arrive early, I am one of the last off the boat.( perhaps because usually I travel in a higher vehicle) I didn't use the restaurant, but the food looked appetizing. The ferry I think was the Seven Sisters, not the Norman Voyager. I find LD Lines to be much better value for money than Brittany Ferries, and it will be a pity that this route may close.
"trip to france "
The trip to France on the 14th of Nov 14 was very smooth and service to the ferry was very smooth also all the staff were very helpful, ferry was clean and tidy would recommend the company to any one.
"trip to Le Havre"
Great trip however.. No sleeper units..Cabins too expensive...Reclining seats so uncomfortable slept on floor. Joe Geoghegan
"Value for money"
Hi lv used Portsmouth to lehavre ferry for about 10 years now the Norman voyager was the first ship l went on and in my opinion was the best it had most room good food the staff very very helpful it was the same staff faces each time u went it was good the thing with this ship was boarding it was fast and easy the deparchture was the best you arrived at Severn in the morning the staff where so good at there jobs u was off that ship in about twenty miniats and on your way and missed all that rush hour traffic those where the good old days since then the ships have changed in my exspiriance it was terrible getting on and off being the biggest headache back to now days the ship is ok very comfortable to travel on Even in rough seas the toilets ain't the best being not very many but when u look at wot it has cost l can't complane the price of this crossing is the best part we as a family our low earners and dfds make this journey very affordable for us my personal thoughts on this crossing to improve and reclaim the past travlers to its former glory is the boarding and depatchter it has to be easy to park on the way out and the quick deparchter that's your answer to this service thanx for enjoyable times traveling with this service please keep the prices low thanx again dave brown from bristol uk
"A good but rough Crossing"
We found the staff and the facilities aboard the seven sisters to be very good. As we were out off season I can only assume there was less passengers which gave us a choice of seating and the amenaties. The food was of a high standard and was very welcome after a several hour drive to the dock. The only draw back was the weather going to France it was quite choppy which we were warned about its a shame the DFS ferries cant control the waves and it would have been perfect.
"From Le Havre to Portsmouth"
We had a very good, comfortable journey. Embarking with the car was accomplished efficiently and quickly; the self-service restaurant opened before we sailed and we enjoyed our meal. Our cabin was basic, but clean and perfectly adequate. We sailed and arrived on time. We think the crossing was very good value for money.
"good trip"
Lovely smooth crossing (both directions) Staff were very helpful and friendly. Food in the restaurant was very nice and a welcome start to a long journey after disembarkation. Facilities were good although toilets were a bit smelly and the air conditioning in the seating salon seemed not to be on making it very warm on the return journey. Overall an enjoyable experience, would travel this route again.
"My Trip to Le Havre"
My trip to Le Havre was a late night trip, we left Portsmouth on time and was soon out off the harbour and on my way. It was just a couple of days after the last of the hurricane had relented so I was a bit uneasy about the crossing, but all was well and I arrived on time. thank you D Kendall G/Facilities: Only one urinal in service in the toilet.
"life on the ocean waves"
excellent service, would use DFDS in the future. I needed to change my departure time from Le `Havre and the lady in booking terminal who helped me couldn;t have done a better job.
"Affordable Crossings"
My trip with DFDS was as good as Brittany Ferries and a lot cheaper.Being a smaller vessel the scale of the facilities was smaller but this was made up for by the pleasant and helpfull staff. My return journey was delayed by bad weather for which DFDS cannot be held resposible. My only critisism of the service was the lack of refreshment facilities at Le Harvre terminal with no refreshments being available having traveled for 3 hrs to get there. It will be a pitty to see the service stopped in the near future leaving most customers at the mercy of one operator. A value for money service that will be missed
"My trip"
Very good all round.
"Flawless service from arrival to disembarkation"
trouble free assembly and loading. Ship bright and clean. Cafeteria meal well presented and reasonably priced. With a 150 mile onward journey from Portsmouth at 10pm, our party opted for a couple of cabins to get some rest on the crossing. Clean, smart, en-suite cabins.No contest for value. £5 each for an aircraft style seat in a public area or £10 each for a cabin for two !! We will repeat this run
"A good nights sleep"
Even though the sea was quite rough we slept all night. The loading and unloading were efficient. Would use DFDS again.
"Smooth Sailing"
Everything ran very smooth, staff very friendly and courteous.
"Portsmouth to La Harve with DFDS"
I often travel to France and have found the route from Portsmouth to La Harve to be the least expensive and quickest route to the part of Normandy I visit. You pay less in tolls, it's only a two hour drive to Villedieu whereas it may be an hour's drive from Caen but almost 3 times the cost on Brittany ferry. The boat was much cleaner on this route than the Dover to Calais one which, frankly, was awful. I do hope DFDS continue to serve this route as I've read somewhere they may be discontinuing! The alternative, Brittany ferries is very expensive. Our Government is very short sighted, even stupid, if they think high fuel levy's will bring in more revenue....have they thought about the people they will make unemployed who will cost the country more money! Do they ever!!!!!!
"Portsmouth-Le Havre September 2014"
We have travelled on this route on a number of occasions and have always found it very satisfactory. Our last trip - 16-27 September -was no exception. The staff - from booking-in to onboard, were efficient, friendly and helpful. the only negative was disembarking in Portsmouth on return, which took more than an hour. There is no point in recommending this route as from what we read in the press, it will be ending later this year??. A great disappointment.
"Pleasant trip for First Timers"
As part of our European vacation, my wife and I took the overnight ferry from Portsmouth to Le Havre. Overall it was a good experience and we would do it again. We opted for a cabin to appease my wife, though after she saw the ship she felt we could have gone without. The ride was smooth and the services were all you need (and would expect) for a ferry trip. The biggest complaint we have is it was very difficult to get a sense of what to expect. It's not cushy by any means, but more like a dumbed down cruise ship. There's a cafeteria and bar with ample options. The seating areas for those without cabins were much nicer than what we were expecting, kind of like airplane seats but much bigger. We could have slept comfortably there, though we would have given up having our own bathroom (albeit a tiny one).
"Sept. hols."
Chose this route due to where we were heading. Portsmouth being closer than Dover, as well saving some 500 odd miles in the process. This allowed us to accept the more expensive crossing, balancing costs. The staff were the most pleasant we have come across for some time both off and on board. Polite and attentive, we could not ask for more. We shall be back. If an observation had to be made it would be that on both journeys some WC's were inoperative involving a slightly longer walk, only difficult due to a dodgy knee.
"Good crossing spoilt by a lack of a good restaurant facility"
Not having crossed from Le Havre before we found the access to the harbour facilities easy. Loading was a little slow, but we left on time. Although the ship was basic we had reasonable seating in a spacious longe. As we were crossing in the late afternoon/evening we were looking forward to a nice meal in a comfortable restaurant. This did not exist and we had a basic cafeteria meal. The food was reasonable, but we would have liked more of a restaurant setting. We docked on time, exit was reasonably quick from the ship and very good from the harbour.
"happy days"
Everything worked out fine, coffee machine a bit stingey with portion size and the tokens needed to fire up the machine not easy to get. Would prefer to be able to get beverages with a meal whilst queueing, also option of separate machine for those who do not want to get tangled up with meal queue.
"All good till return to portsmouth."
Cannot fault DFDS great crossing both ways until; I was on the terra firma at 21.40 and joined a line of cars for Border Security,so possibly the first 50 cars off the boat possibly bit more . I was in the last 12 carsto pass through passport check at 22.40 .WHAT is going on the passport checker verified my time at his booth so this is not in anyway prejudice. 1 hour to go 500 metres and have my passport checked a bit of a mess me thinks ,are there any plans to eleviate this problem of traffic incoming and outgoing crossing each other?? If not Newhaven is the better place even considering the time/distance scale I would be home quicker.I would recommend to a friend after pointing this failing out.
"Return from France"
We traveled Portsmouth to Le Havre (and back two weeks later) at the end of Aug 14. On the way out there was a slight delay of an hour but as we were traveling overnight it did not impact too much. Cabins were all booked so we had to sleep in chairs - worked out OK even with 8 and 10 yr old children. Return fine - they showed a number of Disney DVDs which kept the children occupied for the 5hr journey. Food good quality/tasty but a little expensive over £50 for four - cafeteria style.
"A good experience all round"
I'm happy to say that everything went smoothly from start to finish. The ship was surprisingly quiet and the staff friendly and professional. The boarding was easy and we'd come prepared to bed down in a seat as we could only pre-book a single birth, but to our surprise were given an upgrade to accommodate three of us. The cabin was comfortable and well equipped so we had a good night's sleep once we'd explored the ship and had a coffee. We didn't try the food on the way out but it didn't look bad. The seating was comfortable and we discovered a quiet area tucked away on the upper deck which would have been fine if we hadn't had the cabin. All in all, a good experience, better than expected.
"Good travel!!!"
All perfect, very good experience....
"Portsmouth to Le Havre"
Good overnight crossing. Thought we had reserved seats but no indication on the tickets. Found two anyway so ok.
"You get what you pay for"
They used a subcontractor for the crossing. A small vessel, felt every wave, but the outside cabins were bigger than it's Stena or Brittany Ferry rivals. The facilities were limited compared to the bigger companies, catering was a cornered market! Staff seemed friendly and helpful. The onboard shop was small but well stocked. Don't expect a movie, but we did find a TV with an incorporated DVD bolted to the wall at the miniscule kids play area that kept the kids distracted. The crossing was thankfully not too busy so we had plenty of room for the family. For the busier night crossings a cabin is recommended, there are people sleeping on most available floor surfaces. If your tight on cash a good £150 cheaper than the same return journey with Brittany Ferries, but you get what you pay for.
"Never again!"
Very poor facilities. Loading took forever - not what you want when your two children just want to go to sleep. They are loading/unloading these ships every day, It should be as smooth an operation as a Swiss watch by now. Not enough cabins available. We had two children with us and had to sleep in upright seats with all the lights still on as well as the TV. Some people were sleeping on the floor around the ship. Toilets were either out of order, dirty, or broken. Be careful where you sit. The truck drivers like to have noisy card games whilst using foul language. Food was expensive and just warm. This ship either needs a refit or decomisioning.
"camping holiday"
I am certainly most happy with the service. I think all the staff on-board were friendly and helpful. The cabin and boat was clean. I think the most impressive aspect of the service was that the food an drink on-board was good quality and good value. In the restaurant you were able to get a decent meal for £6.50 and pint of Stella was £3.10.
"ferry annoyed"
on returning to portsmouth i was luckey to be at the front when loading so we managed to get a reclining seat which was good soon they all filled up everyone settled down to reading sleeping relaxing.then wow the shouting screaming startedfrom the play area right behind the seating people began moving away for soom peace and soon we had to move leaving the seating area empty people were sat in the dining area with a coffee for the whole trip wont be on your ferry again thanks
"Norman Voyager"
Every thing was great,only wish sailing back from Le Havre was later as I have to leave my brothers place real early to make the ferry, but otherwise very good and would use again,but book early to get a cabin.
"Not too impressed..... but staff 10/10"
The staff at DFDS Seaways were very friendly and helpful but the ferry, the queues and the cabins were terrible. We had to wait for hours before boarding, the cabins were so noisy (very thin walls) and very basic (and that for £85!!!) and we had to queue again getting off the ferry. Staff were amazing though. Never again will we use DFDS again.
"Le Havre crossing on Severn Sisters"
I have to admit that this crossing was a bit cheaper than Brittany (about £60) but I did regret being so tight.No facilities except basics for crossing(cafe ,shop)- toilets horrible and a lot locked at start of crossing-not impressed.
"best value ferry"
The trip was comfortable, smooth crossing. Cabin booked for return, which was good, ensuite and private space to relax. Overnight crossing however, no cabins available. The lounge seats barely recline at all and this made sleeping very uncomfortable. Also no blankets given, and it was very cold. I slept very little. Some people stretched out on the wooden floor as a more comfortable option! So I would recommend a cabin if you want to sleep.
"Cancelled our cabin two days before sailing"
We booked the ferry in February 2014 for a sailing in August 2014. Two days before we were due to sail. we received a phone call to say that the ship had been changed and we couldn't have a cabin! They did resolve it in the end but it was upsetting. I'm certain that had we not been so forthright, we'd have had to sleep on the deck! In all other respects we were happy with the service.
"Night crossing."
The whole package is good value for money we found the seating poor if you did not get to the recliners early as a result sleep was near impossible. The staff were very helpful and friendly. The mens toilets flooded and it seemed could not be repaired. The overall verdict was good.
"Go prepared"
The Seven Sisters ship which we travelled on was a nice, clean and well laid out ship. However we didn't go prepared well enough for the overnight crossing. I would highly recommend taking sleeping bags, pillows, eye covers and ear plugs if you want to sleep before a long drive the next day. It is a very long and stressful night in the reclining chairs if you don't have these items. It is a good service which gets in at 8am and gives you the full day ahead to get on with your holiday. Also the lights were kept on over our reclining chairs, all night long, so I would advise you to ask which areas have their lights dimmed throughout the night!
"Overall - fine!"
Overall I was happy with the ship and the service. One small gripe is that no signs were posted to say that they charged £1 extra for using a UK debit card on board - I'd have used Euros if I'd known as no doubt the bank will charge me too. I would rather have specifically been allocated a sleeper seat on the night crossing going out as some selfish travellers were saving 3 seats so their little darling (one child) could sleep on the floor in front of them. It made getting seats together tricky for some travellers. The Severn Sisters is showing a bit of wear and tear. I used the onboard hire a DVD and player (complete with headphones thankfully) for my granddaughter - 2 hours of bliss!
"My Trip"
I thought the improved ferry was a lot nicer to travel, more comfort, better choice of food, the bar area was so much better & above all being a roll on roll off was so much better for boarding & leaving especially when towing a caravan. I would travel with this ferry again.
"Super Trip"
DFDS staff were helpful, friendly and efficient, we had a cabin overnight which for four of us was clean, spacious and comfortable. Food was good too, I would recommend them strongly.
"Thank you, DFDS!"
We chose DFDS crossing from Le Havre to Portsmouth because the price was less than half that of Caen to Portsmouth with Brittany Ferries. We left on time and arrived on time after a smooth crossing. My comments are as follows: (1) The food offered was adequate but not as hot as it should have been (2) Considerable areas of the ship were being repainted but no-one was working (3) Disembarkation took a very long time (50 minutes) I would definitely use DFDS again in spite of these minor criticisms
"Ferry Crossing"
Left on time Staff really friendly Food really good - though could be hotter Well informed throughout trip Loading easy Check in woman at Le Havre - fantastic All in all - good experience. Thank you
"Nice trip"
Had a pleasant experience going from Le Havre to Portsmouth. This was a day trip (we usually travel overnight) but the ship had everything we needed.
"Very good"
Excellent cruise
"Almost everything perfect"
We traveled to Normandy at night so we tryed the "scilent room" and it was really fine. The seats were really confortable, so we slept all night :) The canteen and the bar was fine, wer didn't eat so I don't know anything about the food. The ferry started and arrived in time. The only problem was the cleanliness: the toilets were a bit dirtiy (honestly just a little bit) and the soap trays were empty. Anyway, I think I'm gonna use this company again, if I have an opportunity.
"Wonderful staff at LeHavre ferry office"
We we so shocked to have missed our ferry! The very efficient and understanding lady at the office was marvellous and what we thought was a disaster was smoothed over by kind help and alternative crossing all organised by her with no fussing. Thank you the bubbly blonde at Le Havre...sorry we did not get your name! We will use DFDS again.
"Very good service overall"
We had a very pleasant trip with DFDS. All staff was very nice, boat was perfectly on time. Even the restaurant staff was super nice and food was good ! We had a cat with us and we really appreciated how everybody dealt with it nicely. We had a cabin, very clean and useful. I strongly recommended as it made the crossing much smoother and pleasant.
"A superb trip"
I travelled overnight with a friend and returned on the same boat five days later. We were really impressed by the friendliness and courtesy of the staff. The boat was clean, the food was perfectly adequate (from the snack bar)and the cabin was a delight. Everything worked according to plan and we would most definitely go with Direct Ferries in the future. It was excellent value for money, indeed, it was a class act!! Thank you very much. (I wish I hadn't left my make-up bag in cabin 653.....I really hoped I might be able to pick it up on the way back but, no....it had gone!)
"I would like have seen more crew during the crossing"
The crossing was nice , the boarding and landing were fast and without difficulties but i would have preferred to see more crew during the travel, to mantain the control, for example in the children space there were two teenagers watching tv with the shoes on , even if was forbidden, and any supervisor was present at that moment to reproach them.
"le havre to portsmouth a week ago"
very pleasant trip and super efficient and friendly crew on the ship. great value for money to get to normandie and back! normandie a great place to visit
"Relaxed sail from Le Havre to Portsmouth"
The sailing from Le. Havre to Portsmouth is five and a half hours but the time passed quite quickly. We shopped for wine in the duty free, sat in very comfy seats and read or watched TV and had a meal. All in all it saved a lot of driving to Calais and was a much more civilised journey for us. We booked a simple ie not expensive hotel near Portsmouth for when we landed on Saturday night and had a leisurely drive north on Sunday. It worked really well for us and the ferry was the key to it.
"Take me home"
An exciting way to return to Britain and a great view of Portsmouth was offered.
"Does what it says. "
Good, punctual service. Does what it says
"Le Havre to Portsmouth-Friday Evening 04.07.14 Depart 17.00 Arrive UK 21.30"
My wife and I enjoyed a very pleasant and relaxing cruise back to the UK after completing 3000kms over 26 nights in France. The Ferry named Seven Sisters provided a comfortable and restful experience before our onward 250 miles in England. The Loading & Unloading was very well managed. The bar and restaurant were a delight and the prices reasonable. I particularly enjoyed the Chicken Tikka Curry which went down well! Thanks to all the crew.
"Chanel crossing on Norman Voyager"
Decent food, a comfortable bed in a clean cabin & a good night's sleep on a calm crossing & all cheaper than everyone else, what more could I ask for. Crew were all pleasant & helpful.
"Summer holiday outward journey"
This is not our first crossing with DFDS and we will be repeating the trip next year. Good crossing. Everywhere clean and plenty of seating available both outside and in. Ferry prices convenient too.
"Another ferry"
the ferry is better than the Norman voyager
"seats"
a good crossing, it's a pity that some passengers damage the seats…
"A trip between Le Havre - Portsmouth and back"
Everything was perfect, the ferries were punctual and clean, there wasn't any problem.
"DFDS Channel crossing Le Harve to Portsmouth Tuesday 24 June 2014"
Ferry left late but made up a little time. Very smooth crossing. More than adequate facilities. Food, could be improved with more attractive choices but what was available was adequate and reasonably priced. (well done). Staff were attentive and helpful. Why were only the previous days newspapers available?? We enjoyed our trip, the time passed very quickly. Thanks
"all good"
A great price and a great service.
"A tale of two journeys!"
Going out to Le Havre from Portsmouth we timed it just right for le Mans. The ferry was awash with wondrous cars and the banter was great, and everyone slipped away in the early hours to catch 40 winks ready for a fresh day when we docked at 8am. The return journey was the opposite. No peace anywhere, and considering we docked at 9.30pm with most passengers having some kind of homeward journey, parents of children took no heed. The children's play area really does need relocating away from the quiet lounge or some kind of policy of quiet time imposed, if at all possible. I arrived home at 3am, very much the worse for a disturbed journey, unfortunately.
"My First trip With DFDS Seaways"
I found my experience to be an enjoyable one with all your needs catered for and the staff were friendly, polite and eager to help with any information that was needed. I found the facilities to be first class and the food on offer was of a good variety and quality, I would therefore have no problem sailing with DFDS in future.
"Generally very happy"
The contact with the after sale staff which notified me of the change of boat and of the lack of cabin available was excellent. They organised an alternative route quickly and efficiently. The staff on board was very nice too. The boat was of human scale, so boarding and disembarkment didn't take too much time and it was easy to circulate (cars on deck 4 and 5, cabins on deck 6). The external cabins were spacious, with confortable beds. They were cleaned and well maintained. The only negative is that the passengers are woken up and told to go to their vehicles, however the access to the decks are not open yet. So, the passengers need to wait standing up for a while, which is particularly unpleasant for elderly passengers or family with young children. Of course, the staff needs to clean the cabins, but it's a bit hasty. Apart from this, I have very happy with the service offered by DFDS Seaways.
"Ferry Crossing"
Good value. Shame there's no on-board Wi-Fi.
"Journey"
The crew were very nice in France like in England. I would recommend this companu.
"Sailing from Le Havre-Portsmouth 11th June 2014"
Everything was fine regarding boarding, on time, staff etc. The only problem was toilet facilities, dirty toilets, no soap and nothing to dry your hands on. We would definitely use DFDS again but would recommend taking wet wipes.
"My opinion"
The crossing went well, the boat was on time and the food was good.
"A very pleasant crossing"
Nothing to report, a good value for money.
"Good crossing"
I'm not a particularly experienced ferry user but I was quite happy with the experience we had.
"Vintage vehicles"
Sailing was very calm arrived on time it was a bit rowdy but the ferry was packed with vintage WW11 lorries etc and vintage cars and motor bikes but the atmosphere was friendly and it was nice to be able to meet people who were taking part in the June 6th services for WW11 70th anniversary.
"Le Havre Portsmouth"
This journey went very well, thanks to the punctuality, the professional attitude of the staff and the good organisation at boarding.
"Very decent prestations"
A very good impression overall. It's not as good as Brittany Ferries, but the fares are a lot cheaper. The external cabin (4 people) was very decent. The disembarkment was a bit long.
"excellent value"
Really good on time crossing, boarding well managed by the crew, very good motorcycle parking and lashdown. Excellent chicken curry,comfortable bar, I enjoyed the trip & coming back into portsmouth, it's light's, the ships, and it always feels good to be back home.
"Recommend"
Excellent, good value for money.
"In need of improvement"
It's a pity that the announcement to say that we arrive in the morning is so late (7am for an arrival at 8am). There is no time to shower or even just wash a little when you are 4 people in a cabin, you have to rush through your breakfast…. I thought that the staff didn't want to work a lot during breakfast, am I right? Nothing else to report as we sleep.
"Grateful thanks"
My wife and I wish to send grateful thanks to all the crew members of the Seven Sisters ferry who helped me when I collapsed with loss of conciousness, due to a temporary abnormal heart rhythm. I was kindly lent the use of a cabin until arrival. The blonde female crew member who pushed me to our car while I was vomiting [due to the heart condition, not seasickness] was exceptionally kind. My wife, a doctor, drove me to hospital where I stayed overnight and I'm now recovering at home while waiting for a heart operation.. Please thank everyone involved.
"Evening ferry to Le Havre"
Grading as below. Courteous pleasant staff.
"A very good crossing!"
A very good crossing, in spite of a rough sea. The staff is welcoming and efficient.
"Satisfied"
Satisfied
"a crossing between portsmouth and le havre"
The staff on board is polite and competent. Punctual
"JC Gavan "
Efficient and fast. Unfortunately no cabins available so uncomfortable over night. Some seats broken and didn't recline, or didn't stay upright. We eventually found a row that suited. All in all good value for the money.
"A good crossing on a budget"
We booked to go to France at short notice, and found DFDS to be the best value crossing, allowing us a leisurely journey down to Portsmouth, with time for a meal before boarding, and a reasonable arrival time in France rather than the middle of the night! The Seven Sisters is clearly not as recently renovated as some other ferries - most of the reclining seats we saw seemed to be stuck in one position and it was just a case of luck if yours was upright, or reclined, also the TV being left on all night in the reclining areas wasn't great for getting a good nights sleep. That said, there were plenty of people who had come prepared with sleeping bags and roll mats, laid out around the lounge areas, and along the floor under the reclining seats, which is what I will be doing next time I cross! Breakfast was a good serving for a reasonable cost, made even better by the fantastic sunrise if you sit on the correct side of the boat.
"The Commodore Suite"
This suite was lovely! A large double bed, a welcome bathroom with shower, toilet, etc, and a great view of Portsmouth harbour from the front of the ship. Well worth the price! The ship is small, but there is a restaurant, bar and good seating at tables where you can work on your laptop after dinner.
"Trip back from France."
Generally good value for money - the trip could be bit quicker possibly. The ferry lacks the finesse of Brittany Ferries, but the staff were pleasant and it was good value. John Pell
"Good trip"
Pleasant trip over to France - check in was painless, facilities at Portsmouth are good, ferry was clean and food and drink OK and arriving at 8:00AM meant we had a whole day to travel south so made good progress. Only downside was that it took ages to get off: first on but last off so don't get to Portsmouth early.
"Smooth Sailing"
We did experience a long delay checking in due to the printer not working. I felt a little embarrased as people queuing behind us for half an hour were not advised to move to another queue. We waited for 45 minutes before another assistant printed our boarding pass out for us, a contingency plan for if this happens should be in place. Despite that the actual boarding the ferry and the crossing was very smooth. For a short journey there is enough facilities and the staff are very helpful and polite.
"My comment"
A nice and confortable ship It's a pity that there are no movie theatre.
"Poor catering"
My wife, my friends and myself regularly use cross channel ferry services. We all thought the food on offer was poor quality and I had to leave the curry that I had ordered. I will continue to use this service but will probably take sandwiches.
"a return crossing"
The inbound journye was made difficult by the lack of manners of some people (slamming doors, people talking loudly at night). As the concept of respect for other people does no longer exist, I cannot be upset with your company.
"a return crossing"
The inbound journye was made difficult by the lack of manners of some people (slamming doors, people talking loudly at night). As the concept of respect for other people does no longer exist, I cannot be upset with your company.
"Portsmouth - Le Havre - Seven Sisters 4/11th April 2014"
Nice ship, good crossing.
"Portsmouth -Le Havre April 2014"
I love using the ferries--I appreciate "slow travel"-- an opportunity to read a good book and observe others. The service is very good all-round- courteous staff, very clean ships and general efficient operation etc I have just a couple of quibbles-- its a sham,e your catering staff have succumbed to the lowering of standards that seems to be creeping in in other places- leaving the customer to take out the tea bag. Its a little thing but it represents a lowering of standards. The second small point- could yopu consider offering a gluten-free option and soya milk for tea/coffee. Allergies are now very big and limits many peoples' ability to eat out- but many outlets are now catering for them.
"Great value!"
Basic but everything you need. We paid £78 return Portsmouth - Le Havre and can't complain at all about the facilities on board. Excellent value for money.
"Le Havre - Portsmouth on Seven Sisters"
The crossing was cheaper. The boat is confortable and clean. The cabin is confortable. The staff on board is friendly and always helps with a smile. The boat isn't too big and everything is accessible for elderly people. We enjoyed our journey.
"Good crossing, would recommend"
We have used the service on 2 occasions recently and were pleasantly surprised as it was excellent value for money; comfortable seating and efficient service. Will definitely use again!
"Trip to Dordogne via Le Havre"
Excellent crossing on DFDS from Portsmouth to Le Havre. This appeared to be a new vessel and was more comfortable than our previous crossing. It is a good destination for getting to South West France.
"Easy Peasy Channel Crossing"
It was the first time that I'd used DFDS and it was just me driving. I'd booked using Direct Ferries so needed to get my tickets at Portsmouth and Le Havre. Everything went well. The check-in staff were very helpful. Departure form Portsmouth was on-time. There was a delay at Le Havre due to a security alert but not the fault of DFDS. Passengers were kept informed by staff both in the car park and on the boat. I recommend DFDS and will be using them again when using this route. One improve I would like to suggest is to allow dogs out of vehicles during the crossing. This is done on ferries in other parts of Europe (eg Italy to Greece) but not crossing the Channel.
"Review"
All great, late departure but arrival time ok, cabin excellent hope to use again soon. Many thanks
"Trip to France"
We booked with DFDS as they were reasonable and offered us the service which others did not. I had to be in France to sign for a house and the ferry trip was on time, the cabins were comfortable and we arrived in Le Havre following breakfast on board ready for our dash to sign. I recommended this service to a friend who crossed over the following week for a drive down in to Spain. Thank you for any a pleasant trip.
"Le Havre ferry crossing"
Excellent value for money if all you want is a cheap short crossing. The Restaurant lacked any appeal. Food expensive and looked awful.
"beware of the booking dates"
The journey went well, the staff is welcoming and the cabins offers enough confort for a good crossing. The only problem was a booking mistake that I made. The inbound journey was the day before I selected on the search tool. Be attentive to the different options offered by Directferries.
"Easy Journey"
The big plus is that you receive the code of the cabin with you boarding pass, so you don't need to wait for the key. The cabin was clean. The sea was agitated, but the crossing was confortable.
"Le Havre to Portsmouth"
Excellent service on crossing from Le Havre to Portsmouth.Free seats very comfortable. Spectacular entry to Portsmouth at night. Will use this service again.
"Le Havre Return crossing."
We travelled on the overnight crossing to Le Havre and booked a cabin. it is eight hours across at night, the cabin was very clean and towels were supplied, but you have to take your own toiletries. My only problem with this crossing, other crossings may be different, but groups travelling together decided to have open door discussions well into the early hours. The return journey only being five hours, we booked the free chairs, very comfortable. We chose to sit in the forward area, opposite the young childrens play area. Most of the time the children played farely quietly. Then older children joined in and the noise was terrible. These childrens parents left them playing, although notices on the wall state that children should be supervised. If we travel this way again, we will sit further away from the play area.
"ALL OK"
Best Price, ideal sailing times for me travelling from the south of France, on time departure and arrival and good helpful staff. all I could have done with was a WiFi connection which wasn't available on the boat.
"My Journey"
Portsmouth to Le-Havre - fantastic 8 hour journey didnt feel like we were on a ship at all. Le-Havre to Portsmouth on the other hand, horrific journey never again! I very much doubt you will post this review on your website This put me off ferry journeys
"Friendly service"
The ladies at the reception were very helpful. A pleasant experience all round.
"Le Havre to Portsmouth review"
Good service but a long journey to get to the harbour at Le Havre. No problems on the journey across to Portsmouth. Found Portsmouth much better harbour to leave in the dark than Newhaven.
"Basic"
Strange car loading and offloading due to the parking and storage arrangements on this ferry. I think it would be better to back cars into position for a quicker offload. Facilities are pretty basic and small. Fortunately it was a lightly loaded boat so no pressure but I would hate to be on a peak service. No wifi. Pleasant and friendly staff.
"Recent crossing to Le Havre"
Excellent crossing, bang on time. Winter facilities acceptable and cabin clean, warm and surprisingly roomy. Really enjoyed our first overnight with DFDS.
"Sleep"
For the overnight trip there is a lack of quiet, dark seating.
"Refund"
Following a change in the return date from the 23rd to the 26th of December, we asked for a refund. We're still waiting for it.
"Good experience"
This was our first trip on this route, using the overnight service. The overall experience was better than we expected to be honest! Firstly the price was the best we found. The facilities were somewhat basic but perfectly adequate. The most impressive part for us was the staff on board - every single person we came across, french & english, were superb - excellent manner & communication. The cabin was fine. It was a 4 berth but to be honest I'd not like to be in there with 4 adults!! we had 2 adults & a child which was just about bearable with the space. Havin said that, the alternative of sleeping in the chairs was simply not an option! The crossing was fine, we got there on time but because we were parked on the top deck it did take a long while to disembark Return trip was fine too. Because it was an afternoon departure we didn't book a cabin & used the lounge seats. Was ok but I think in hindsight I'd prefer a cabin to try & get a bit more rest especially as it was 10.30pm when we arrived in UK & had a few more hours to drive home
"Standard ferry "
As expected, not a luxury, but to sufficiently utilize a night to cross the channel.
"What A Rough Crossing!"
Well done to DFDS on maintaining standards and the ferry service despite horrendous weather conditions on both outward and return journey Portsmouth-L'Harve 27th Dec- 3rd Jan.Fortunately both my husband and I do not suffer with Sea sickness but the staff were v sympathetic with those that did,polite efficient and quick to respond to 'misshaps'I did dread the thought of visiting the toilets but was pleasantly suprised to see them serviced and clean.Well done everyone!
"Rough crossing but great experience"
I have just done return journey from Le Havre to Portsmouth on the Norman Voyager. Both trips were accomplished in the worst storms and roughest seas the area has seen in a long time and yet both crossings were excellent and departed and arrived on time. The cabins were clean and basic but they were comfortable and the staff were very helpful, polite, competent and knowledgeable. The trip was easy to book, and I can't fault the service. My only recommendations for improvement would be that the ship only has a tiny shop with a few items for sale - so don't think you can stock up on cases of cheap booze before your holidays. The catering did also look expensive, given that you've already paid for your ticket. Otherwise embarking and disembarking with a push chair was a challenge because of the stairs. The staff were quick to help us in any way they could. Overall, it was a very good experience that I would recommend to anyone with sturdy sea legs.
"RETURN JOURNEY 2013 HOLIDAYS"
The sea was rough, but the crew was capable and reassuring. The boat was clean both morning and evening. The staff at the self service restaurant in the morning was nice and cheerful
"Very good"
We made two crossings with dfds. We paid 50 euros for each crossing with a car and two people. The ferries are good, in spite of the bad weather, it was barely moving. We ate once at the bar and once at the restaurant. Both were simple but good. Bording and disembarkment were quick.
"Easy trip"
Very Happy with service will use again.
"a pleasant journey"
I made this crossing with a very original objective. To feel the sensations of high waves between Le Havre and Portsmouth (not my first experience) A cheap fare (no cabin) I looked at Prévimer.org beforhand and I obtained what I was looking for. The staff is nice and friendly, the boat is very beautiful
"a nice crossing"
We didn't try the food, so we cannot rate it. Regarding the cabin, the toilets and the berths were clean However the floor and the seats were dirty The passengers seats are a bit outdated IMPORTANT: It's not indicated on the ticket purchased online, but arrive 1h early if you want to board the boat
"Good boat but poor loading"
The cabin and the boat were simply perfect. No problems there. One major fault was loading the cars onto the upper deck and then having to reverse them to get them off. This slowed down what was an on time service and though the boat was not full of cars (although the lorry deck was pretty full)it all took ages.
"Afternoon sailing"
Good value, efficient service. Friendly staff, reasonable food and comfortable surroundings. Cabins in short supply on night crossing unless booked well in advance.
"Good Value for Money"
I frequently take a Transit over to France from the west of the UK. It makes a much shorter journey to use Portsmouth/L'Havre than Dover/Calais. It saves on fuel, saves on overnight at Dover and toll charges both ways. I always take a cabin because the rest makes such a difference to how you feel when you hit the road again. I thoroughly recommend DFDS. Direct Ferries got me the best price by a long way.
"Journey from Portsmouth to Le Havre and return"
I had a very nice journey to and back from France. The staff on the boat was extemely pleasant, nice and helpful. Well done.
"Portsmouth-Le Havre"
Great crossing. Cabins luxorious! Staff helpful and facilities spotless.
"My experience with DFDS"
I found the trip quite pleasant and comfortable.
"a perfect journey"
The timetable was respected. The crew was welcoming and competent A superb cabin I would recommend this company
"Portsmouth - Le Havre"
Travelled overnight, found staff on board very pleasant and helpful. Had a clean and comfortable cabin. Good food and drink. Very good price for crossing.
"The DFDS Experience."
Using DFDS is a pleasant and relatively inexpensive way to cross the Channel. The staff are friendly and unendingly helpful and the food uncomplicated and tasty. I would say, however, that travelling over night on your own, having had such good value at the point of booking, it comes as a shock when you learn that it would cost an additional £60 to share a cabin. Consequently, despite making myself as comfortable as I could for the night, I felt the effect the following day!
"Your male chef"
All was well until the chef shouted at me because nobody was there to serve and it was my first time and it was really embering otherwise we enjoyed our trip hopefully he would control his temper with the costomers. Thanks alot. Rose Wilson
"Weekend in Honfleur"
We were very impressed with our ferry. We had a meal in Portsmouth before boarding the 11.00 p.m ferry, had a few drinks in the very comfortable, clean bar. Reasonable prices. Cabin was larger than we had had on other ferries, we were a group of 4 and had two cabins everyone slept well. Lots of staff on hand when we boarded to assist us in finding our way around. We had a meal on our journey home on the 5.00 p.m ferry, very nice food shop is very small but overall a very pleasant experience.
"Once again great service"
Good facilities including a microwave. I would say that we sat opposite the soft play area and it was very noisy. Lots of older children screening and shouting without parental supervision.
"Trouble-free travelling"
The journey was very satisfactory. The food in the restaurant was wonderful and the staff very helpful.
"Value for money"
Excellent value for money, compared to other ferry companies. A nice well equipped ship, good food and the staff were charming without exception. Recommended.
"RETURN TRIP ,PORTSMOUTH-LE HAVRE"
No complaints re the actual ship & sailing. BUT there are no signs for LD FERRIES IN PORTSMOUTH, WE ARRIVED EARLY, and luckily found A solitary man who directed us to DFDS FERRIES who had apparently taken over LDS ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO. Come on guys let your customers know where to go in Portsmouth.
"Norman Voyager LeHavre - Portsmouth"
Good punctual crossing with high level of competence and efficiency of loading and catering personnel.
"Great journey!"
This was the first time I traveled with LD lines and I am really happy of this experience. The price was first of all really cheap, the staff were all really friendly and helpful(on the Ferry but also in Le Harve and Porstmouth), which is nowadays quite rare! I definitely recommend travelling with LD Lines. Marie
"Portsmouth Le Havre"
Ideal crossing for us living in Central France. Comfortable cabin, decent food.
"Portsmouth to Le Havre and back"
The signage to when you get to Portsmouth isn't good so connecting LD Lines with the DFDS signage wasn't obvious and at 10.00pm after a long drive with trailer it would be nice to come of the Motorway and be more clearly directed - perhaps the post code of the actual entrance for the SatNag? Once checked in, loading was executed without fuss or stress and the teams clearly work well together. The seating area on this ship is quite small and located either side of the small bar with the restaurant at the far end. The ship has a whole deck of cabins so perhaps focused towards lorry traffic? The food in the restaurant was hearty and reasonable quality. It's perhaps a little expensive compared to onshore (Fish, Chips, Peas and Orangina - £12.50ish). Overnight trip to Le Havre was without issue. No blankets are provided for the seats so take your own and a pillow or neck support would be good. The lights in the seating area were turned off promptly about midnight, but some lights stay on and it's not obvious which these are until all others turned off. If you can't sleep with the light on it would be good to know so you don't sit under one of them. Didn't have too many load snorers which was good. The seating area was clean and seat was reasonably comfortable for sleeping. Could do with better foot support. Men's urinals were not all functioning and the use of tatty black plastic bags to cover them just lowers the quality of the experience. It looked like they'd been out of action for some time and it was more than one of the loos that were affected. Just this aspect makes you question the companies attitude towards the customer experience. Loos were clean and didn't smell which on a rough crossing would be a blessing! Breakfast smelled and looked very good, but I had coffee (good) and croissant (cold). Unloading quick and similarly well orchestrated. Return trip was overall similar to the outbound, but obviously in day light. If you want to sleep sit in the first seating area before the bar. The second area nearest the restaurant is next to the small kiddies play area and the shrieking might mean you can't settle. Food (Ginger Pork with Rice and Peas) was satisfying and a good portion. Looking at other diners there wasn't much waste on their plates either so conclude that quality is acceptable. Given the great reliability of this service even in bad Weather I would strongly recommend it. I think the pricing is very good and I'd be very happy to use it again next time I go.
"French Industrial Action"
We booked a cabin on the Portsmouth to Le Havre. It was very clean and the overnight passed in great comfort. However, on our return the French port was in the midst of industrial action. Your company made every effort to contact us via email, mobile phone and text to let us know. When I contacted your service personnel I found them to be very helpful and efficient in what for me a stressful situation. We were redirected to a Dieppe crossing which worked out very well. Would have preferred to not have the extra 3 1/2 hours driving (including the UK side) but that was out of your control. Satisfied customers.
"Crossing to France"
All what you expect for a crossing the seat are not very comfortable for a night crossing but day one was all right.
"LD line comment"
Used LD a few times now, and appreciate their timings and costs, with the Dieppe route very convenient if heading East of Paris. Ships are always clean and tidy and perfectly adequate for the short day crossing times. Extremely efficient and easy vehicle check in and departure, good friendly staff, will always use them if the routes suit the journey.
"Should have taken the tunnel"
This ship is not fit for purpose and the quicker it is changed the better. Loading and unloading take far too long.
"Excellent for wheel chair users"
Wheel chair users are loaded onto deck 5 where they are level with all major services on board I.E. Reception, Restaurant, Toilets, Reclining seat lounges, bar and shop etc. The only down side being that your car is exposed during the voyage, and on busy crossings some complex manoeuvres are required to disembark. The ship also has various points of access to the outer walkways where smoking is permitted and catered for by several ashtrays.
"Portsmouth to Le Havre"
Good service. Good bar service for coffee and breakfast. Really convenient to leave Portsmouth at 11:00 pm and be in France first thing next day ready to drive.
"Crossing from Portsmouth to Le Havre"
Good crossing, on time, cabin comfortable. Little engine noise.
"A Very Smooth Ride from France to the UK"
We were coming from Eastern France by train and needed to get to the UK and based on previous experience with Direct Ferries we booked from home on line in Canada. Very simple process and very reasonable rates. Since we had to wait in the Le Havre terminal for a couple of hours having travelled all day, it would have been nice to have had a café or coffee shop in the waiting area. On board, it took a while to get oriented but we were lucky to find seats in a very quiet lounge next to the Purser's office. As all the cars load before the foot passengers, the majority of seats are taken before latter get aboard. Dinner in the restaurant was very pleasant, looking out of the windows forward to the Channel. I must say the restaurant is a most friendly, efficient and well -run operation catering to a lot of people at once. The staff were particularly welcoming and helpful.
"LD Lines"
Still badged as DFDS at ports which is ok if you know. Bar and restaurant rather small for the number of passengers. Cabins very clean and comfortable.
"A great trip!"
We had a great trip on the ferry. Didn't book a cabin for the overnight crossing but managed to find some empty couches which we slept on. Great fun!!
"LD Lines / DFDS Improvementa Needed"
On the western channel, the ferry competition is weak. Brittany Ferries prices are extortionate, unless a special offer is secured. DFDS is more affordable and can be very reasonable with special offers. The outward service from Portsmouth is overnight and many passengers opt for the reclining seats instead of cabins. Many bring camp beds or blow up mattresses, so the public areas become something of a camp site. Some stretch out on the bench seating, whilst the remainder contort themselves into various positions on the reclining seats to try and get comfortable for a snooze. The breakfast is a bit canteen like, but acceptable. Dinner on the return crossing is much the same - not haute cuisine. Avoid the fish - not proper fillets but frozen shaped portions - disappointing. I have two main gripes. Boarding is so painfully slow, not helped by that long narrow ramp taking cars up to the outside part of the main passenger deck and the subsequent manouvering to pack the cars into the limited space. Disembarkation is just as slow - as priority is given to the vehicles on the lower decks. My second gripe concerns toilets. Having used the ferry in June and found a gents urinal out of use, I was not expecting to find the same urinal still out of use in September and added to with the second of three also out of use. I mentioned the issue to staff and was told that parts were awaited. So let's hope the engines do not develop any faults, or we could be in for a very long crossing, or no service at all for a few months.
"Seamless"
I had an excellent experience travelling with LD Lines on Norman Voyager. I hadn't had time to print off my on-line confirmation but it didn't matter as ANPR gave the staff my details as I arrived and I was greeted by name. The ship was clean and sailed on time. Unfortunately the wind had set my car alarm off and flattened my battery but it was not a drama as the sailing staff quickly summoned quayside staff with jump leads who started my car for free and had me away in minutes. Seamless service.
"Trouble Free Travel"
The check in at Portsmouth was perfect. Practically drove straight through to the loading area. Once on board, the Cabin was excellent, clean and very comfortable. On arival at Le Havre, disembarkation was very quick and efficient and we were very soon on our way in France. The return journey was just the same except for the fact that we hadn't had time to eat so we had to find something on the Ferry. Were we pleased at that, the meal and wine deal in the restaurant was excellent and the food was top class. We travel over at least twice a year and Direct Ferries will get our business from now on. Thank You for making our holiday complete.
"Great service from LD Lines"
Good crossing from Portsmouth to Le Havre all went well, missed the return ferry because of road works in France (one of those things in life you have to accept). The guy at LD Lines reception desk was very helpful rebooked our crossing from Dieppe to Newhaven for the next morning crossing with NO charge. Great service just about to book another crossing with LD Lines.
"Le Havre - Portsmouth"
Very punctual. Very well organised The seats were confortable and the atmosphere friendly However, the English captains on the ferry are loosers.
"My Thoughts"
We found the boat very clean and our bunks surprisingly spacious and there was lots of hot water for showers, there were three of us in a cabin. The staff were helpfull and 'smily' On the return trip we hadn't booked a cabin and were told there would be unreserved lounger seats, but not enough of these were available I'm afraid. If you were a seasoned traveller and were prepared to rush and barge a bit, I'm sure we could have got to the front of the que for some. We ate on our return trip and the food was ok, one of our party had the fish and chips which he didn't eat as it was so dried up and tasteless, I feel if he had complained he may have been offered something else, but he was tired and not willing to do so. I had the curry which was ok, but my nan bread was cold and dry. I also didn't say anything. All in all, apart from the food, which was average a good experience.
"Overnight ferry from Portsmouth to Le Havre"
Despite a delay in loading, the voyage was excellent with a clean and comfortable inner cabin.
"Crossing"
We were very impressed with being able to book on line the day before our crossing and not even having to print out a ticket, no hassle. Good Crossing. Will use LD again.
"Good value"
Couldn't fault it!
"Coming home"
Very good value for money. The food was generally good. It was a bit difficult to get the car off as we had to reverse it.
"Good for the price"
LD Lines were much cheaper than the other companies doing similar routes but we felt we got good value for our money. The ship was clean and comfortable, and the staff we dealt with were helpful. The only downside was that the car parking deck has no exit in the direction you park facing, which means everyone has to reverse and turn round to disembark. On the way over to Portsmouth, there didn't appear to be anyone directing this, and it was a bit chaotic. It was still a bit of a shambles on the way back to Le havre but at least there was an LD employee refereeing.
"Very good except that…."
Everything was great, except for the ramp to the upper deck which was a bit stiff.
"Trip to le havre"
Excellent service, good cabin, speedy efficient loading, will definitely use this service again. Only critisism lack of facilities available at le havre on departure disappointing ie one coffee machine.
"Happy holidays"
Very pleasant crossing. Had a cabin, which was really good to have. Friendly staff and I would travel with LD lines again.
"A rather good journey"
The cabins are spacious and confortable. You sleep well until 7am when you are forced to get up.
"Motorbike"
Very helpful crew. Pity we were left in the bottom of the ship until all others had left.
"LE HARVE TO PORTSMOUTH"
BASIC, CLEAN AND EFFICIENT.
"Plymouth to LeHarve"
I took my family to France, I am a mother on my own with three children, so was a bit nervous. The ferry terminal in Portsmouth was very easy to find. It was an overnight crossing so I paid the extra and booked the cabin. I am so glad I did, it was comfortable, clean and made the journey very easy. on the return trip, the ferry terminal was well sign posted. It was a little confusing when I got to the terminal as it said Brittany Ferries only, but it was also for LD lines. The staff were very helpful and polite. The food was OK. There was an option to have a day cabin for 20 euros, in retrospect I should have taken that as my children did like spending my money on board. I would definitely use LD Lines again, it was good value for money.
"Norman Voyager"
We used the Portsmouth-Le Havre service and returned the same way. The overnight sailing was great, we had a cabin which we needed as we had a long drive in France. The boarding was efficient and fast which enabled us to be in our cabin early enough to get a full night sleep. Docking in Le Havre was a breeze! I wish the same could be said for arriving in Portsmouth. The queues at passport control were horrendous as 3 ships dock at the same time, it took 45 mins in a queue to get through which was not great considering we had already had a long day. The ship was great, very clean and comfortable and the cabin was comfortable. My only criticism is the lack of comfortable seats for the return. We did have seats but a lot of people had to sit on floors or stand around. Definitely travelling with them again, highly recommended!
"Smooth sailing but difficult sleep!"
While we knew the journey was an eight-hour trip overnight and that we wouldn't be having cabins, we had hoped for seats that reclined a bit more. The seating was in abundance, of that we were pleased, and it was a smooth and uneventful crossing. Some of us found suitable sleeping areas in the restaurant on the benches and we were very glad to have bought our pillows and blankets on board as they were all indispensable. We were all impressed by the outside areas that were allowed for passengers to roam around; they seemed less restricted than on other boats. This allowed us to enjoy the fresh sea air and the wonderful sights and views leaving Portsmouth and indeed, arriving in Le Havre, early the next morning.
"Delay"
It's ok for a ferry to be late, but it's a pity that so few information are given about it. There was only was annoucement and it was impossible to hear it. Moreover, the electronic pannels were indicating that boarding was starting at 9.30pm when it only started at 10.45pm.
"Portsmouthund Le Havremit LD Linesauf the Norman Voyager ferry "
Booking and processing were carried out without problems. It would be desirable to provide a more precise description of the ferry-copmany and exact address of the ferry terminal for input into the navigation system in the booking confirmation would be.
"Trip LeHavre Portsmouth"
It was very easy and pleasant to travel with LD Lines! Thank you
"The best mode of transport to go to England"
A very quiet crossing during the night (it took me a few minutes to realise that the ferry had left the port), the staff was very pleasant, the sunrise was beautiful. An excellent value for money.
"Overnight sailing Sunday August 25th"
My wife and I traveled overnight but my wife was taken ill on the crossing.Early in the morning I asked if there was a ships doctor on board, there was not but the captain was really efficient. He visited my wife in our cabin, was most courteous, arranged for our car to be one of the first off. A van was arranged to meet us as soon as we drove off and escorted us to the nearest Health centre. Our escort took us to the receptionist and explained my wifes illness and left us in very capable hands. Thank you to the Captain for all his help and concern. Sadly I do not have his name.
"No refunds allowed!!!"
Did not travel due to my wife having serious illness requiring urgent and ongoing treatment. There is a no refunds policy in place so out of pocket. Didn't seem to be a cancellation facility or option to defer to a later date. seems to be a case of once they have your money you're committed or if you don't go, tough!
"The return trip"
The company was very efficient and the trip was very easy. The cabin overnight was great if a bit cramped. the food in the restaurant was fine and there were enough places to sit - just! The only thing which marred the return was that I chose seats near the childrens play area. There was a group of young children who were unbelievably naughty, loud, screaming and generally badly behaved. In spite of the request, twice, over the speaker system for parents to control their children, they continued. THe staff did come and try to calm them but in th eend it caused me so much distress that we moved seats. Disappointing that duty free was so tiny!
"Overnight on the Ferry"
I have a mobility disability and ordered a disable cabin and expected a normal cabin with a few handholds. Instead we were given a cabin with plenty of room and best of all was the shower and toilet facility had plenty of room and handholds so that at no time wasI troubled by the motion of the ship. We also were given a parking space just outside the facility so didn't have far to the cabin. My only gripe is that the food for breakfast looked and tasted tired. Catering could do with a bit of update training
"Anonymous Ferry?"
Since LD Ferries has been taken over by another company wouldn't it be a good idea to inform your customers of this fact?! When we arrived at Portsmouth we were concerned that LD Ferries was not mentioned anywhere and we didn't know where to go without asking a policeman who was directing traffic - not good enough!
"portsmouth to le harve"
We undertook an overnight ferry with cabin, very pleased with the trip, ferry was clean and staff were excellent! Would recommend this to anyone with children who have a long drive ahead once arriving in France
"Portsmouth to L'Havre return trip"
It did the job! Embarkation took a while. Our cabin was clean, quiet and comfortable and we arrived on time. On our return, we were almost the last to embark and the last to disembark so a lot of waiting. The very friendly man organising the loading helpfully explained it was because they didn't want my elderly dad having to climb stairs. i even had time to brew tea!! Plenty of seat choice in the lounges but the meal in the restaurant was dire and very expensive. The staff were helpful and friendly but the quality of the food was so disappointing, especially after 10 days in France. The price was competitive and we got what we paid for.
"A good journey, but LD could make some changes."
"Le Havre - Portsmouth"
My family and I had a great travel. We have 2 twins (5 years) and we were a bit worried about travelling by ferries, but we found perfect boarding operations and very confortable accomodation on board. All facilities were easily experienced.
"Travelling with Directferries"
It was my first journey with Directferries and I am very happy with it (installation, meals, staff) I will recommend your company and I am looking forward to travelling with you again.
"Notes regarding both crossings"
Outbound crossing from Le Havre: very disappointed with the quality of the boat: small, no booking for reclining seats (people are putting their bags or their jackets on the seats for long periods of time) and there is no way to find two free seats. The food wasn't very appetizing, except for the sandwiches.
"A good impression"
Le Havre / Portsmouth in July. Punctual despite a long boarding Good facilities on board with showers in the cabins Helpful and competent staff
"France 2013"
Facilities were most satisfactory for our requirements.
"My Review"
1. You need to decide what to call yourselves. Nowhere at the ferry ports did we see "LD Lines", which after an 8hr drive through France was worrying. Other passengers in the queue told us you were in fact DFDS, signs for which proliferated, and the boat was similarly branded throughout. On our return, at Portsmouth we mentioned this to a very helpful English member of staff who was directing people where to go, and he said it was about time you sorted your act out; pointing to both DFDS and LD insignia on his clothing, he said wryly that he hardly knew who he worked for. Branding is an important factor in the commercial world, and your lack of it gives a very poor initial impression, and no confidence in your ability to deliver. Having said that, your staff were at all times courteous and helpful and our cabins and bedding were clean. Going out, the air conditioning regulator and grill were broken and loose, but we managed to adjust it nevertheless. We needed an electric socket for UK medical equipment, and found that the French socket in the cabin would not accept the standard French to UK converter socket we had brought with us. The reception staff lent us one they had, and it was OK. However, you should address this peculiar anomaly. Gong out, our main criticism concerned the food. Our first disappointment was that the lamb on the menu was not available, so we had to have something else. Then, in spite of being first in the restaurant queue, the food as served was only lukewarm, and we had to make extensive use of the microwave provided to get it to an acceptable temperature. For the return trip, we made sure that we brought our own food with us so we did not have to go to the restaurant. Whilst I would recommend this ship to a friend, I would caution them about the poor signing, and tell them to bring their own food.
"A pleasant crossing to England"
The positives: a quiet crossing, an helpful staff, an efficient and polite service. A confortable ferry. The negatives: pedestrians are the last to board and the last to disembark. You couldn't get any change from your bank card on the ferry. The machine wasn't working. A shuttle should be organised between the port and the train station.
"Norman Voyager"
We had an excellent trip from Le Havre to Portsmouth starting at 17:00. Automatic number-plate recognition on check-in means that you don't need to print out a boarding pass if you book on-line whilst away on holiday, as we did. They knew exactly who we were as we arrived. We booked an inside cabin which was spacious, very clean and comfortable. There was a very noisy group in the adjacent cabin but the walls were sufficiently sound-proof to cut this down to acceptable levels: an excellent feature. Our only complaint is that 30 minutes from docking at Plymouth the 'treat them like sheep' mentality kicks in and we were herded out of our cabins to stand around in huge queues and wait interminably to be allowed to re-join our vehicle. This is presumably to cut their cleaning and turn-around costs to the bone and really takes the shine off an otherwise very good experience. Given that they take all night for the return journey, surely they could change their schedule and leave 30 mins later to absorb this anomaly?
"comment"
everything ok...staff helpful... Only thing to improve... during the night, the light in the lounge area, should be dimmed so that passengers can rest.
"The promise was respected"
A nice, professional and organised staff. The ferry was punctual. However: not enough chairs outside.
"Le Havre-Portsmouth-Le Havre - July 2013"
Our booking went very smoothly - being able to book on line was important and proved to be trouble-free. Our return trip (Portsmouth-Le Havre) was especially comfortable because we booked a cabin for the overnight crossing and we were very pleased with its facilities. We would certainly do that again in future, as it can be difficult on a busy crossing to find sufficient comfortable seating. The ship was very clean and the staff helpful and attentive.
"A return crossing between Le Havre and Portsmouth in 36h!"
We had a short time to go from Le Havre to Portsmouth and back. Departure on Friday afternoon from Le Havre. Return from Portsmouth at 11pm the next day. The journey went well as usual. And it was on time. The staff was nice, the ferry clean. We'll travel aboard the Norman Voyager again.
"Portsmouth to Le Havre"
Good crossing. Slow to board but time was made up and we arrived on time. We travelled on bicycles. Had a nightmare booking 2 persons 2 bicycles but after many e-mail discussions with the company they agreed to change their website booking process if you are travelling with more than one person one bicycle. The extra ticket i had to book was fully refunded. Do not hesitate to book the cabin on the overnight crossing and in hindsight I wished I had booked a cabin for the daytime return crossing. Cabin was clean with clean sheets and towels. All in all good crossing.
"Le Havre Portsmouth crossing"
A very rigorous and confortable journey. Very confortable
"Motorbike friendly ferry"
Helpful,friendly staff directed us, on our motorbike, where to be and assisted making our bike secure. Cabins and public areas were clean and comfy. A pleasant crossing.
"Holiday trip"
Good cabin, rapid loading and unloading. Terrible terminal at Le Havre, hundreds of people waiting and no cafe at all for 2 hours. Not a great leaving impression of France, big let down.
"A difficult journey"
We were very disappointed with this boat. We felt like if we were in a cattle truck. We boarded through insecure walkways, no indications of where the reception was or which services are offered (not many anyway). We'll take the Eurostar next time. We had a better experience with our journeys between St Malo and Guernsey and between Guernsey and Poole.
"Good with qualifications"
Our return trip was fine and a good price compared with Brittany ferries. Three complaints: 1. Return Trip parked on same level as articulated lorries and had to squeeze between lorries (against dirty tyres etc)in order to get to stairs. Not good, especially for children and babies. 2. Same two toilets out of order on return trip - 3 weeks after outgoing trip. 3. No English papers on return trip and no films for children.
"Thankfully, a smooth crossing!"
Staff were friendly and helpful, and 8am was a good time to arrive in Le Havre (a full day ahead of us). We made a mistake in not booking a cabin as the seats were extremely uncomfortable to have a reasonable night's sleep. It was chaotic disembarking in Portsmouth as cars had to reverse before driving down the ramp, and there wasn't a member of crew/staff to organise it. We weren't impressed with this lack of care. Luckily drivers were generally really careful so there were no accidents.
"A trip on 15 and 18/07/2013"
No problem with the journey itself, but (it's an advice), take a pillow pr a cushion as the trip is quite long (5h30 outbound and 8h inbound). I even regretted not to have a small mattress to lay down on the flow. I also don't find it fair that the first cars arrived are the last to disembark, and the U-turn on the ferry is not very practical. The staff is friendly and ready to help. The cleanliness is average, but the passengers are not necessarily very clean. 1/2h late on departure, but arrival on time
"Return to France"
A little piece of France on the sea…
"My trip to Le Havre and back out 26/6 back 15/7"
A very pleasant trip, will use the line again (November 2013 I hope). Ship was perfect and I was well looked after.
"Trip to le Havre and back 26/6 and 15/7/2013"
Excellent trip, the ferry was very comfortable and everything went to plan. Restaurant food was good for breakfast and evening meal on the way home. I am looking forward to my next trip with you ( hopefully in November 2013). Thank you again.
"Portsmouth to Le Havre return trip"
Embarkation leaving Portsmouth for the over night crossing was an hour late. The vessel had very limited passenger facilities for the number of people that it could carry, although our cabin was OK. We returned to England on the daytime crossing on the same vessel. Loading was on time and we had a day cabin. Flooring in the cabin was ripped and was a trip hazard. Staff were not particularly helpful. We would not do this trip again with this operator.
"Not the best experience for motorcyclists."
When boarding, motorcycles were directed to the lowest deck. This meant a manouevre down a long metal ramp which I had not experienced before on a ferry. Whilst good assistance was provided by staff to secure the machines in place,it felt hurried as it was apparent that they wanted us to leave the area in order to shut the exit door. I forgot an item from my panniers,and there is no chance of returning to this deck later. There is then a long staircase walk to reach the upper decks. Be prepared for a long wait when disembarking. As your motorcycle will be on the lowest deck, you will be the last to leave and access is not allowed to the deck despite an earlier announcement to the contrary.
"LD channel crossing"
We considered the service and facilities on this crossing was of a high standard and would recommend this company.
"LD channel crossing"
We considered the service and facilities on this crossing was of a high standard and would recommend this company.
"Portsmouth - Le Havre LD Lines"
The ferry was cost effective and comfortable, all the essentials were on board, cabins, seating, food and drink. LD Lines ferry looked after our motorbike with no problems, please be aware on the 17.00pm ferry you will probably end up in the depths of the ferry so be prepared to be last off the ship. so no rush once you docked. would we use LD Lines again for a trip across the channel, no problems every time. I have scored the ship cleanliness down due to half of the gents toilets adjacent to the lounge being out of order going, and still the same 2 weeks later on the way home. it seems according to my wife the ladies were fine....typical.
"Sailing Portsmouth to Le Havre"
We had a very easy trip to Le Havre, sailing overnight in July. Our cabin was spacious and comfortable (we were two adults in a compartment for four, so we didn't need to use the bunks) and the little shower/bathroom ideal for an overnight trip. Leaving the boat was quite interesting as, being parked on the topmost deck, we had to back the car and turn around to go down a rather precipitous ramp. This was all done with rather minimal direction from staff, so something of a melee ensued - however all safely completed and the ramp not nearly as worrying when you're actually on it.
"Night Ferry"
One of the worst ferry experiences I have ever experienced. With only a small section of the boat available to sit, eat and sleep, this was not an enjoyable 8 hours. When speaking with the staff the answer I was given 'Cheap Prices, Cheap Boat'. And the shop was big enough to fit one person at a time. Will not be sailing with LD Lines again. Rather pay that little bit more ......
"Ferry crossing to Normandy"
We booked a cabin this time which was great - but unfortunately like usual we were one of the last cars to be directed on board, so little time to show our grandson around the ship. Coming back there were very few seats to sit down inside - most people had got there places and laying out. We therefore had to spend most of the five and half hour trip up on deck. Would not put me off using LD lines again because prices are good - but more seating please!
"Ferry Crossing Portsmouth to Le Havre"
Used LD Lines and booked a cabin for an overnight crossing. Good clean facilities and slept well. Return trip we opted to sit in the main cabin areas and the seating was comfortable and plenty of leg room. Staff on board were all very pleasant and helpful. I would recommend them without hesitation and will use them again as felt it was value for money. Food and drinks were a bit expensive, but you can take your own on board.
"Portsmouth to Le Havre"
We travelled on Ld ferries from portsmouth to la havre and back again. On the outward bound journey, we had a inside cabin, it was clean, comfortable and we had a good night's sleep. Always being able to have shower, was a joy for the days travelling. Can't comment on the food, we only had coffee in the morning, as we took our own food. If you are not getting a cabin, it seems you have to be quick for sleep space. People had blow up beds, sleeping bags and the comfortable areas were taken very quickly. On the return journey we didn't bother with a cabin as it during the day. Though my partner wished he had, as sleeping in the lounge was impossible, with people coming in and out of the firedoor. We had a bit of a journey after the ferry. All in all we were more than happy with the service,we experienced and would definitely use them again.
"review"
Cabins were spacious and comfortable. Food was varied and good BUT IT WAS COLD. Service very efficient and friendly.
"Disappointing facilities"
We were looking forward to a nice relaxing meal to while away the 5+hrs crossing BUT no restaurant! Just a very tired looking self service café menu. Nothing to tempt us so resorted to pasties & a pint - not the end to our holiday that we had envisaged!! The shop was more of a kiosk so not even possible to browse away a half hour or so in there.
"Le Havre to Portsmouth - Norman Voyager - 1st July 2013"
In short very pleasant trip back to the UK. Cabin was clean, ensuite was clean, boat seemed to leave promptly and arrive more or less on time. Only negative were because I was in a car on deck 5, had to wait a long time to disembark, and the quality of the catering could have been a bit more varied, particularly on the lighter snack side.
"First Ferry Trip"
This was my first ferry trip with a car, I can not claim to have been excited, nor particularly looking forward to it, but as a means of crossing the water it was an option. Most impressed at the easy check-in, all done from the car reg, no paperwork apart from the passports, brilliant. Facilities in Portsmouth were excellent, sailed on a Thursday. The actual sailing was pretty much as would be expected, outbound we had a cabin, and managed to get some sleep. Returned on a Sunday and the facilities in Le Havre were effectively closed with just a couple of vending machines, The sailing inbound was on a reclining seat, bearable probably best describes the comfort. Will be using the service again.
"Never too old!"
Four ladies, youthful seventies, found journeys interesting, food excellent and plenty wine to enjoy. We know now not to get in Queue at docks too early as we had nearly talked ourselves out sitting in the car! Think a cinema on board might help to pass the time or a film of interest on the TV screens, but sports enthusiasts were satisfied. Would have cabins the next time.
"Shop before you get on board"
Do not expect to while away an hour or so in the shop deciding what to buy for your onward destination. The shop is just functional with just one person serving and a large queue outside. This is the most basic vessell I have sailed on. It got us to our destination safely and on time for which we were of course grateful but there are no frills here.
"Le Havre - Portsmouth Crossing"
A good crossing
"Good trip"
I've traveled this route a few times now and find it comfortable and affordable even a last min booking in the middle of June. I will happily continue to use it.
"Thanks to the crew in Portsmouth"
A huge thanks to the crew in Portsmouth. I wouldn't have been able to board without them!
"Satisfactory"
Limited catering and shop facilities, but cabin was clean, and the boat was fairly punctual - about 30 minutes late leaving both ways.
"Waited forever to embark! "
The trip itself was ok, arrived on time although the ferry left late but the embarkation organisation was terrible. Was still on the car park at 11pm, time of departure. Apparently due to a full ferry. I even ended (me and others) being parked on the top deck, with no roof. Not sure it is very good for the car all that salt. Once embarked and sat, at 12am it is a job to try to sleep with all the announcements made for safety (ok, nothing wrong with that) but also to tell us that the restaurant and bars and shops are open and then when they are closing and same early in the morning. (And the dim lights left all night as well!) I take a ferry by night also to have a bit of sleep which is proving to be a challenge.
"An efficient crossing"
A good value for money. The crossing was a bit noisy, because the lounge is right next to the bar. However, for that price, we cannot complain!
"A mixed voyage"
We were travelling from Portsmouth to Le Havre on a Saturday night and back on a Saturday afternoon. We had breakfast on the Saturday morning that was OK, the cabin was reasonably comfortable although the wooden side pieces on the bed (to stop you falling out presumably) are a little difficult to navigate getting in and out of the bed. Going out there seemed to be a long delay in boarding, although no reason was given but coming back everything went very smoothly with boarding happening as expected and coming off took no longer than we had anticipated. We didn't sample food as in the past I have found this to to only ok so we brought our own bread and ham and made rolls in the cabin. My only major complaint was that wifi wasn't working which meant that whereas I was expecting to be able to work on the way out this was somewhat limited.
"A great return"
I am very happy to say that my return trip from Portsmouth to Le harve was to say the least enjoyable. I was travelling in my Motor home, and the loading was good, as was the treatment i received on the Ship. The staff were always courteous, the food was fine. Altogether a easily repeatable experience. P.S i am sure i will.
"Great value"
We travelled from Portsmouth to Le Havre on the 2300hrs ferry with a four berth cabin as foot passengers. We made the decision to get a cabin rather than use the air plane seats, we had deliberated quite a bit due to the cost (it was £90 more for the cabin) but in the end it was definitely worth it, although I do think it was a bit too expensive. Getting the ferry meant we were fresh when we arrived and had had a decent nights sleep and shower before we disembarked. The ferry is pretty basic but fine. We didn't eat the food on offer but it didn't look great. On the return leg (1700-2100) we hadn't booked a cabin but decided we'd have a look to see how much one would be, we were delighted to be told it was only £12. Bargain. Would recommend anyone to try this. It did make me wonder how much it would have been to try and book a cabin on board for the first leg... Overall the ferry did its job very well. It goes us there on time, the cabin accommodated us well and the staff were very friendly and helpful. At £166 for two people with a cabin both ways I think it offers good value.
"Portsmouth- Le Havre crossings with LD Lines"
We took the overnight LD Lines ferry from Portsmouth to Le Havre; departing 2300 and disembarking 0800. I would recommend the crossing to anyone who is facing a lengthy journey at the other end. We arrived refreshed from a decent night's sleep and went on our way having had a good breakfast on the ferry. The return journey was on the late afternoon ferry, and again, all was well. The ship was clean; the catering facilities were good and the staff were extremely pleasant and helpful. My only disappointment was the size and stock in the duty free shop .... woefully inadequate.
"17/20"
This is the rating I will give to a future guide
"le Havre to Portsmouth"
We took Norman Voyager. It is gone on time 5 o'clock afternoon and landed almost on time. There were two lounges with armchairs, self-catering cafe and bar. Food was fine. Tax free shop was very little, not shop really but kiosk. Can't complain about trip itself, everything was fine. But when we arrived troubles are started. It was already dark and all cars parked on deck the way that they have to reverse back to leave the ferry and it made traffic jam on the exit.It took another 40 min even ferry was not full at all. When I tried to to ask staff what is going on, he said he does not speak English. Anyway, in the end the trip took 7 hours not 6 which i found bit long specially we had to travel 3 hours to north.
"Portsmouth - Le Havre "
The crossing has worked very well, very pleasant ferry with good and spacious cabins. We were only at check-in in Portsmouth effortless. As a non-experienced travel people we were trying to convert online-booking nto a ticket. A switch from LD Lines, we have not found. After much back and forth we are told that a ticket is not necessary. Would have been great if this information had been given to us before. "inexperienced staff" on the online booking. Otherwise, allvery good, super pleasant and stress-free trip. Good experience ...
"Motorcyclist's view"
Good secure parking area for motorcycles;motorcycles well tied down. However, as motorcycles are parked on the lowest deck, we are inevitably the last to disembark. On the trip from Le havre to Portsmouth on Monday 3rd June we had to wait 45 minutes. For the price, the on-board facilities are reasonable. There is one major drawback however with the (only) childrens' play area being located almost in the bar area and immediately next to the reclining seats which are used by drivers for much needed rest before their late night onward journey from Portsmouth. Children using the play area, naturally, make a fair amount of noise which makes sleep/rest impossible!
"Thanks!"
Good crossing. A friendly crew.
"Can do better!!!"
Crossing with a motorbike: good docking and pleasant and competent staff. Dirty sanitaries, plus the children area is located next to the resting room. Really unpleasant!!!
"Practically, nothing more "
We chose the crossing from Portsmouth to Le Havre to - Save km (compared to Dover / Calais) - use the night to eat kilometers Accordingly, we booked the crossing in a 4-bed outside cabin (280 € in June 2013). It was a ferry, not a luxury liner. As for equipment & Co the ferry is ok as lowest category. The departure was on time with about 30 minutes late, we were just too early at check-in (2.5 hours prior to departure). The specified one hour before departure TOTALLY would have been sufficient, probably also meet 30 minutes. Also leaving the cabin can be approached less hectic, as required on site. 1 hour before planned laanding one is via loudspeaker " awakened ", about 30 minutes later you will be asked to come to the deck " X ". On Deck " X " then you wait until the ship docks and you can go to the car deck. So here stress-free run at the scheduled landing time in the direction of car. A food is provided, of course, of lower quality, but at a higher price. The same goes for drinks. The cabin was small with porthole, 2 beds, 2 folding bunk beds and a bathroom with sink, toilet and shower. The beds were well, the coated ceiling not very hygienic, the engine room a little louder. OK for one night! In Portsmouth Ferry Port is easy to find (Channel-Cross!). The check was made on the terminal from DFDS, although we had booked LD Lines (well seems to be the same thing?). Conclusion: Practical, not a luxury, only the bare essentials !
"return trip from le havre to portsmouth"
The ship was so overcrowded the seats that were booked were taken before we were allowed on to the vessel as we are always last with a large van. So we had to sit in the canteen area for the 5 and 1/2 hours most uncomfortable. we also have to pay more that the car drivers and motorbikes that filled the ship. So not happy this time, but we use this crossing on a regular basis and are generally happy.
"HERE TO THERE."
GETTING ON AND OFF WAS VERY EFFICIENT. NEW SYSTEM OF CABIN ALLOCATION AND DOOR ENTRY CODE ON TICKET ISSUE ON CHECK IN SAVES TIME AND HASSLE. CABIN CLEAN, BEDS NOT PROPERLY MADE AND ONLY ONE TOWEL. GOOD CROSSING. CAFETERIA SERVICE PAINFULLY SLOW AND GROSSLY, VERY GROSSLY OVERPRICED. OVER £5 FOR 3 SMALL BOTTLES OF WATER AND NO LARGE ONES AVAILABLE.
"Le Havre to Portsmouth ferry with LD lines."
The staff were pleasant and helpful. I did not like the run up the steep ramp to park on the deck.I have no complaints at all and would use this service again.
"Priority for cyclists?"
I was a bit wet having cycled from Salisbury and, after leaving the terminal at the designated time, ie 10pm, was kept waiting on the tarmac in the cold for an hour while the ship loaded. The ship left about half an hour late but arrived on time. I have no comment to make on any of the ships facilities because I just got into my sleeping bag and slept on the floor. The ship was probably OK but I could have been allowed on earlier.
"good crossing"
Except the heating which wasn't working, nothing to say. It was good. Confortable cabin, could be redecorated though.
"Motorcycles should be allowed to disembark first."
The crossing was smooth and confortable but we didn't enjoy the 1 hour delay on arrival. The ship was delayed coming into port and in addition we had to wait an extra half an hour before we were allowed to go down the motorcycle deck area. It is not right to allow all cars to disembark before motorcycles.
"More comfortable night crossing since DFDS to over LD Lines"
A much more relaxing trip across with more comfortable reclining chairs and more cabins. The down side to the recliners are that they're next to the bar and restaurant, but things soon quieten down by about midnight. Late leaving as we queued for ages, possible down approaching half term for schools, but can't fault the price.
"Trip to France"
No frills just gets you there, enjoyable trip, crew all polite, would recommend
"Cheap Deal"
We got what we paid for.
"Le Havre to Portsmouth "
It was a pleasant crossing with LD LINES, as usual the ferry was on time. The services were all fine and we had a comfortable reclining seat. There was a 30 minute delay at Porstmouth to get off the ferry due to the high volume of vessels in the harbour, but nothing to put us off using this service again. We had travelled down to Santander in Northern Spain on the outward journey - not with LD Lines - it took 24 hours and we will not be doing that again, the 4-5 hour crossing is the better option.
"Acceptable service"
About an hour late leaving, but the time was made up on the crossing. Clean and comfortable cabin. Catering facilities appeared limited, but OK if you just want a continental breakfast. Acceptable for the price
"Norman Voyager"
We were pleasantly suprised with the trip back to Portsmouth, we had booked a cabin to ensure a relaxing trip and were not disappointed.Food was better than anticipated. Unable to get plain water in the restaurant. We were a bit late disembarking as the port was busy and clearing the top deck car parking was a bit disorganised. On the whole the experience was quite good.
"Thanks"
Good reception and nice crossing after a 6 hours train journey and an hour with the car. Catering and confort OK.
"Excellent"
Nothing to fault. Excellent crossing. A slight delay for the inbound journey.
"Excellent value but limited facilities"
The service and value from direct ferries was excellent. The boat itself did the job but we were not particularly impressed. On the plus side it was clear, staff were friendly and the catering was good enough. Negatives were the almost not existent on board shopping and the fairly random parking on the open deck. Would use again if it offered the best ale though.
"Le Mans MotoGP"
Hi All, I am a biker and I was very satisfied with my experience when I used the LD Lines ferry from Portsmouth to Le Havre. Its not the biggest boat you'll ever see but it did the job and for a fair price to. Would I use them again? YES I would, the staff are very helpful and all had a smile for me which is rare these days. Good job LD Lines.
"Portsmouth/Leharve"
Crossing was the best ever, disappointed the shop was so tiny no room to browse and a poor selection on perfumes etc. Overall though staff were very good and helpful and ship was spotless. Will use again.
"Norman Voyager"
Every year we cross the channel at least twice, we have been using DFDS Seaways Dunkirk to Dover route but this year we thought we would have a change and use your Le Havre to Portsmouth route. We were very disappointed with the Ferry. Although modern and very clean. The Duty Free shop is very small and obviously poorly stocked. The food was not up to the same standard that we have been used to and there was a lack of communication from the ship's crew with regard to the weather conditions and expected arrival time.
"Noisy cabin"
Dear Sir, I must insist on my bad night onboard Norman Voyager, caused by a very noisy cabin , with squiky noise coming from bed/furniture during the night. Not good when you choose a cabin to get a good sleep. AB
"Efficiency and pleasant reception, older ferry"
The ferry was more functional than the one from Brittany ferries (which seem more luxurious than the one we took for the outbound journey from caen to porthmouth). Warm welcome and enough space to sleep, which is the most important. A good experience.
"My experience on the Norman Voyager"
I was not impressed by the Ferry we travelled in. Our PA did not work in the cabin. Having one staircase from the lower car decks is not a good idea and the fact that we all had to walk along one corridor seemed a safety risk to me. If there had have been a problem then there could have been a panic. I must say that we did sleep on the out going journey, The restaurant was ok but nothing special. The staff on board were very helpful I would not fault them. On the return journey our car was on the top deck outside so it got covered in sea spray which when that dried of our car was white with the salt.
"Reasons for a delay"
1 hour late to embark in Porthmouth, it can happen. Why don't you explain the reason for the delay while the passsengers wait in theirs cars?
"Ferry"
An excellent crossing with good food. We did have to wait a long time in the terminal at Le Havre. The staff were marvellous but would be nice to have Wifi and a coffee.
"Great crossing on the Norman Voyager"
A very pleasant crossing at a very competitive price compared to other companies. Staff very very friendly. A spacious cabin, clean and comfortable.
"A good experience ..first time but not last"
I cross about 3-5 times a year, tried all methods. My experience in both directions was pleasant. Going out overnight I got on board to my room, switched the light off & went to sleep which allowed a fresh day start in France. Return I didnt book cabin as it was daylight.
"Portsmouth - Le Havre - Norman Voyager"
Loading and unloading this ferry is time consuming and leads to delays. My outgoing journey left about 1.5 hours late because it took over 2 hours to get all cars and trucks on board. Once on the ship I found that the facilities were limited and seemed to be aimed at truck drivers rather than car drivers and passengers. In future I will book with other operators.
"Efficient and inexpensive service"
I use LD Lines regularly, because they are good value for money, and I have never had any problems with punctuality. The ship was clean and the toilets well maintained. The reclining seats are not very comfortable, and I prefer the other boat which has fully reclining sleeper seats.
"Family crossing"
It wasn't our first crossing. We already knew the Norman Voyager. Departure on time. Arrival on time - even a bit early on the return journey. Confy seats on which you can relax. Decent meals (breakfast and diner during the return journey) Staff at the service of the travelers. vehicles boarding and disembarkement without any problem. I wil take the Notman Voyager next time.
"LD lines"
Excellent service, had to move date forward and add a passenger, all handled efficiently, the young man that helped showed good social skills. On board i thought the staff were fantastic and the food average.
"Excellent crossing"
The bar and cafeteria are open when you board. Then an hour or so after sailing they all close, and the lights are dimmed throughout. Then they all open in time to serve breakfast, before docking. Food looked good, but I didn't try it. The seats are semi reclining aircraft type seats, so not the most comfortable. The people in the know took sleeping bags on board with then, and then grabbed the bench type seats where they could stretch out.
"Good value but dont eat the food"
This was a pretty good trip, the cabin was clean, the ship was well kept and the crew were courteous. However, we ate a fish and chip meal on the return journey from Le Havre to Portsmouth and both ended up with severe stomach problems even before we docked. The food was cold, looked as if it had been re-heated more than once and the fish pretty hard. Neither of us could finish the meal but what we ate was enough to cause us problems. The price of the crossing was very competitive. All in all a good experience had we not tried the food.
"LD Lines Portsmouth / Le Harvre"
Good value compared to other long crossing, our cabins were adequate, a bit of a trek from car deck to berths but overall very satisfied. Food was ok. I will use this service again.
"Lovely trips!"
I caught the ferry between Le Havre and Portsmouth, return. The trip to Portsmouth was during the daytime. There was plenty of room on the boat, the ride was relatively smooth, and the cafeteria's opening hours were convenient. There were lots of families around so I felt very safe. The trip back to Le Havre was during the night-time, so it was much longer. I did eventually find a flat surface on which to get a few hours' sleep, luckily! But the boats also have sleeper rooms available. Taking the cheaper, no-cabin option will of course reduce your quality and length of sleep, but for me this was worth it for my budget! Both trips were also very punctual.
"My travel between Le Havre and Porthsmouthwith LD lines"
My travel between Le Havre and Porthsmouth on Friday the 5th was perfect: ferry on tume, staff competent, quality of catering, etc.
"Seating on board Norman Voyager"
Check in and loading process excellent and punctual. Ship was clean and catering good. Complaint that there was nowhere near enough free seating on board all the reclining chairs were quickly taken, and apart from the hard benches on deck, there were only a few plastic patio style chairs scattered around, but these were uncomfortable and inadequate for a 5 and half hour voyage. Left us pretty tired arriving at Portsmouth at 9:30pm with a long drive ahead.
"Seating shortage"
Generally good service from all on board staff - particularly from the two guys behind the bar on both trips. We were sitting in the forward passenger seating area - through the night it would be helpful if more lights could be turned out. On the return trip there was insufficient seating in the two areas so had to spend the entire 5 hours in the bar area. Isn't there anywhere else on the ship that could be changed in to a additional seating area for times when the crossings are busy?
"Portsmouth - Le Havre by night "
Cabin functional, shower worked. Pillow cases badly stained. Towels yellow and stained. Disgusting. Bunks badly made up.
"More a complaint than a review"
Very disappointing on the return journey. On all our previous visits I have been parked on Deck 5 (open air) which makes for easy access to the lounges etc. On our return journey we were parked on Deck 3 which involves a huge climb to get to deck 5. My wife suffers from acute arthritis and the climb up and down was extremely slow and painful. Unfortunately the lift was not working despite being assured by the person attending the shop (he was standing in for reception)that it was working. Is there any way we can ensure that we get parked on Deck 5 in future. We go twice a year on this crossing. Also, I was not informed that DFDS had taken over LD Lines and when I went to check in at the usual point, it was closed and no indication to go anywhere else.
"Overnight to Le Havre"
We have not used this service before and never used Seat Recliners. The seats were comfortable and would probably have slept quite well if it hadn't been for a member of staff who kept walking up and down in the corridor. Might we recommend that staff are issued with shoes without heels that click when they walk! Otherwise good crossing and the return was excellent being daytime. Food in the Restaurant was very good.
"Enjoyable trip"
Sailed from Portsmouth to Le Harve and back. The trip was pleasant and though we didn't need to contact staff for anything there was always someone available. The toilets needed repair (gents) and were still needing it on the way back (3 weeks later), in spite of this I will use this line again.
"Easter Holiday in caravan to Normandy"
Crossing overnight, high sea warning on sailing but no real problem; usual scramble for a place to put your head down but everyone seemed to be sorted. Daytime return, easy and quick; again seating scramble but places for everyone, somewhere. Ferry terminal not sign posted as LD Lines at Portsmouth caused me some confusion, but drove in and turned up at the right place. French road signs do not give distance countdown to junctions so keep an eye on the signs. Used LD Lines before and will use them again.
"99p in the £1........"
I have travelled many times on many ships across the channel so feel qualified to make comparisons.. The Norman Voyager is a basic ship with no frills, it provides a service and does it well. One point I will make it that the crew are all French and communication is strained!. The most noticeable difference from other such vessles is the lack of noise and vibration from the engines, this is a huge plus point, the quiet almost humming issuing from below serves to aid sleep rather than prevent it as other ships do. The amenities are basic but adequate although I doubt that if all the passengers decided to use a seat for the crossing they would find one? All in all a pleasant crossing in pleasant surroundings at a not unreasonable cost.
"Portsmouth to Le Havre"
Caught the 2300 ferry on Easter Sunday. The terminal at Portsmouth was great with plenty of facilities for refreshment etc. Check in and boarding went without a hitch. Downhill from there on in. Decided we would eat on board, big mistake. The food was third rate, obviously been kept "warm" for several hours, probably from when it was cooked in Le Havre earlier that day. The staff were just the right side of completely indifferent. The crossing was good. We had decided to go for the "luxury reclining seat". It is obviously some time since the lounge had seen a refurb, the seats were moderately comfortable and at least the lounge was kept at a reasonable temperature. We were both surprised when all the facilities on board shut just after midnight. it was obvioulsy the toilet checkers night off, no soap, toilet paper was rationed. The ferry arrived on time. Having learned our lessons, on the return journey we boarded and put our names down for a cabin. The best 12 Euros ever spent. Inside 4 berth cabin, en suite facilities and comfortable beds. Re prepared food and drink, and we enjoyed the rough crossing in comparative luxury. If you are going with LD lines, book a cabin, take your own food and enjoy the crossing, even if the cost of an outward cabin is about £120. It's worth it not to have t queue for cramped toilets !!
"Trip to le havre"
The boat was great and my children had a life time experience. We will do it again with LD Lines on the Norman Voyager.
"My trip review"
Hi, I have been traveling with LD Lines several times. The timetables are respected, the staff is welcoming, the boat confortable. The only downside is the control of the vehicle which seems a bit low for people who would try to take (drugs, illegal immegrants, we weren't even asked to open our trunk). I understand it may not be possible, but it could be done while we are waiting on the parking lot. Regards. Mr G Lesieur
"Toilets"
The toilet facilities on board are totally inadequate for the number of passegers. There are just two toilets for men and inside each toilet is just one cubicle. These were in constant use on my trip. I attempted to use the disabled toilet but this was flooded with inches of 'water' slopping from one side to the other and all urinals were covered with plastic and 'out of use'. I reported the flooded disabled toilet to the reception desk and received a non committal look and shrug of the shoulders from the lady as if to say "What do you expect of French toilets"!
"Choppy crossing due to weather!"
The return journey was very eventful due to being made in wind force 8 resulting in a long time trying to dock. Gesture of a free trip would be nice. thanks
"Le Havre to Portsmouth ferry trip"
No problem in particular though 5 1/2 hours without having a bed is a bit long. The return trip went quicker as we travelled overnight and had a cabin.
"Le Havre crossing"
Good trip, but wasn't over happy with the staff on board. Didn't do a lot to help us and weren't particularly friendly.
"Le Havre to Portsmouth"
Good comfortable crossing.
"Not too bad..."
It was a medium size ferry...don't expect the kind of accommodations you would find on a cruise ferry. I booked an outside cabin for the outbound: very clean and quiet. 4 berths, clean ensuite bathroom, same type you would find in a 1st price hotel. French plug. Really quiet night... My return was a day crossing, so I only booked a seat. The sea being very rough, I didn't move from my seat! I then didn't try the bar or the restaurant. Seats are comfy, but I'll still book a cabin next time. The shop is ridiculously small, nothing really interesting... It's not the same quality as Brittany Ferries, mais it's good value for money and staff is pleasant.
"Portsmouth to Le Havre"
Great trip! Cabin was spotless and comfortable. All staff an crew were very helpfull. Looking foreward to my return to Portsmouth.
"Excellent service"
Had a great trip back from Le Havre with LD lines fast comfortable and on time will definitely use again many thanks.
"Good value for money"
Good price for car and passenger. Limited facilities on board for a long crossing, and found the food expensive, but they obviously have to make the money up somewhere. Would use again and take my own food and drink.
"Thank you very much!"
We normally travel Brittany Ferries (Portsmouth/Santander)but sadly, left it too late to book 'dog friendly cabins (we have four dogs)so thought we would give you a try! Glad we did! The service was excellent, prompt and on time. The Le Havre/Portsmouth crossing was not too long for the dogs to be in our vehicles and with the added 'special offer' of a 'cabin for £12.00' we arrived at Portsmouth fresh for the onward journey to Oxfordshire. A really comfortable crossing for all of us, thank you very much indeed, regards.
"Nice crossing"
Had a great time, ferry price was very good, staff were excellent, which made up for bumpy crossing due to bad weather.
"Heating"
The boat was freezing, i don't know if the heating was broken but it was very cold otherwise a nice crossing
"Trip from Le Havre to Portsmouth - 10th February 2013"
Overall a much more pleasant experience than the trip we took a year ago (on a different vessel) as the ship was modern and comfortable with good facilities. Crew were friendly and welcoming. We are likely to travel with LD Lines again (if it's on the Norman Voyager).
"No wifi what a let down"
It was cold on board, no WiFi and over all very disappointing.
"First trip on this route"
A long wait to board, but quickly off. I found the passenger circulation space a bit tight on a busy crossing, and therefore more pleased to have a cabin. A good investment on this night sailing, will use a cabin next time. As a frequent traveller from Newhaven, I shall change to this route provided that the cost remains competitive. My real concern is the lack of wi fi. Why is this in this day and age??
"Eating on board"
Food was way over cooked I had fish n chips, one way didn't get peas with the meal the other way you did, not very pleasant food over than that a very nice boat.
"In need of matienence"
Facilities need to be looked after, 2 toilets were blocked in the gents on both trips. PDQ machine was not available at the bar (cash only)those are little things that are easy fix, i can understand that things breakdown but when i come back onto the ship a week after i would expect them to be fixed.
"No problems"
Ship on time, not too crowded, nice and clean.
"Enjoyable Trip"
We crossed the channel from Le Havre to Portsmouth a couple of weeks ago and were very impressed with the service. We had to change our booking at the last minute which turned out to be a very easy exercise and arrived at the ferry port in time for an evening sailing. The weather was flat calm, boarding the boat was efficiently handled and we departed on time. We had comfortable chairs in which to relax and enjoyed a good meal during our trip. All in all a very enjoyable crossing.
"Disabled Parking"
The crew were very helpful as my wife is disabled. My only moan is that when parking (even on deck 5) when there was only 5 cars parked on the whole deck. The cars were parked so close together that it was very difficult to get my wife out of the car. Also when the ferry berthed they did not allow disabled passengers early access to there cars.
"Sleeping on reclining seats"
I have been many times with LD lines, but i usually have a cabin or sleeper seat. This time funds didn't run to that so I was on a reclining seat..... never again! But it wasn't only me that found them profoundly uncomfortable, I counted 12 people asleep on the floor, next to their seat, about 15 sleeping on the floor around the decks and about 20 people wise enough to rush and find a place sleeping on one of the benches in the restaurants. Altogether there were only about 35 people actually trying to sleep on the reclining seats. I respectfully suggest that in the next boat you commission, you try to address this problem, perhaps by redesigning the seats! Other services are all fine.
"Overnight sailing"
Good time to travel and a reasonable length of sailing. Downside, the seats do not recline enough to be able to sleep properly or have a suitable wing to rest your head against. So sleeping whilst on the overnight sailing is in fits and starts as you have to keep moving to try to get a better position to sleep. Not good when you then have to drive at the other end. Food and drinks, as usual, are expensive (small cup of tea 1 euro 90)so worth taking food with you. But the boat was clean and the staff helpful and friendly.
"Crossing went really well"
Good trip. Personel onboard were very nice and helpful. Only negative point was the proximity of the bar and the games room with the reclining seat lounges which makes it harder to relax. I will carry on using anyway for my 2 trips a year to England.
"Return trip Portsmouth Le Havre return trip."
Good allround, a lot cleaner than other lines. The staff were competent and very polite including the shore personal. The recliners had more space than other lines. For the space available, general facilities could not be much better. Conclusons. A good clean business like way to travel to France at a very good price. Regards G.C.Kench.
"Overnight"
Our recent trip from Portsmouth to Le Harvre went fairly smoothly. Comfortable cabin, easy access and we ended up with an en-suite which was a nice surprise. The bar staff weren't very helpful when they got the order wrong! The toilet area could do with a little more cleaning as it was a little smelly. Breakfast was expensive and not very nice. It cost me £17 for 2 small packets of cereal(milk was an extra £1 each), 2 children's drinks, a cup of tea (charged for twice)and a small bread roll. We won't be eating there again if we do return. My husband's cooked breakfast wasn't great in taste or value. Overall, the boat was fine, clean beds, quiet during the night sailing. Restaurant and bar very poor for service and value. Bring your own food & drink!
