BRITTANY Ferries has defended its position as No1 ferry operator on the western Channel crossings saying its strength is in its combination of prices and vastly superior levels of service.
Director of communications Stephen Tuckwell said competing on price with LD Lines and Transmanche would mean slashing the service Brittany Ferries offered - the company preferred to offer the best of French service alongside comparable fares.
Despite being the sole operators on the western routes he denied they had a monopoly: "We have to compete with our nearest rivals, Dover, Calais and Boulogne and even no-frills airlines.
"We do charge more than the likes of LD Lines but we offer a very different product: luxurious vessels, better service, better food, better cabins.
"We make no secret of the fact we charge a premium but a lot of people are prepared to pay that because they regard it as worthwhile."
Why is there no discount facility available for commercial travellers?
"Why give commercial travellers preferential treatment? We already have our frequent traveller plans, such as the Cercle Voyageur in France and the UK Property Owners Travel Club - these can cut costs considerably.
"Cercle Voyageur - for those who want to pay in euros - costs €210, which includes the e90 annual subscription.
"Due to the exchange rate it is cheaper to pay in sterling and if you do that you should join our Property Owners club which has a £70 joining fee and £60 annual charge.
"That gives up to 30% off fares (and 15% for friends), meal and wine discounts and free or half-price day cabins."
Why does the fare change hugely if you choose to go to the UK via one port such as Caen/Portsmouth and return via Portsmouth/Cherbourg?
"Throughout July and August you can travel between Caen and Portsmouth for £192 return for a stay of up to five days and £350 for unlimited return.
"If you choose your crossing carefully - there are three a day between Portsmouth and Caen - come out of France early morning and go back on the less-popular afternoon sailing the fare is cheaper.
"In addition, Cherbourg to Portsmouth with the cruise ferry Cap Finistère is priced at one of our lower price bands so that should be quite cheap.
"Fares change all the time; check the website for up-to-date details and you see the afternoon service out of Caen, for instance, is very popular and is in a higher price band than Cherbourg -Portsmouth.
"Choose the less popular sailings and, if you are living in the Manche, it’s not too difficult to get to Caen early-morning and save a few bob.
"If readers do seek out the cheapest crossings they will find fares to surprise them, comparing very favourably with Dover-Boulogne and saving a very long drive."
The Poole-Cherbourg all-year crossing has gone, does that mean Cherbourg is being dropped for Caen?
"There is no plan to sever our services out of Cherbourg - this summer we have increased the number of crossings from Portsmouth to Cherbourg to compensate for the withdrawal of the Barfleur from Poole to Cherbourg.
"We also have high-speed ferries twice a day to Cherbourg and once a day on Friday, Saturday and Sunday."
Are you dissuading foot passengers on the Portsmouth route by having no recliners, so you have to book a cabin?
"Not all foot passengers are doing so as the cheap option; many want a cabin. However, while the Cap Finistère is used to give extra capacity it was bought for the 24-hour voyage to Santander in Spain - which is why it has a pool and cabins but no recliners."
When does the Plymouth to Bordeaux route start?
"We looked at it but it takes too long to move down the Gironde from the Bay of Biscay to Bordeaux and prices would be too high.
Replying to many queries on costs, he said: "The strength of the euro versus sterling means we cannot just slash fares - the vast majority of our costs are in euros and the vast majority of our earnings, about 80%, are in sterling."
