AT ferries discontinued Bilbao route completely now. Forums

chrisgog · Last edited by chrisgog on Sat Mar 10, 2007 11:14 pm; edited 1 time in total

Received letter from CCC club this morning to say that AT ferries are discontinuing Portsmouth Bilbao route. In other words , the route will not return in April as stated.

I phoned at 11.30 and no alternative routes available for the dates I want. One way back only is available for £619 with Brittany but we had our original crossing for £494 RETURN!!!

CCC will refund all money paid and our campsite bookings . Will have a think what to do but will probably go to Norfolkline yet again but have missed out on early booking rates now!

Thought it was too good to be true. Was actually looking forward to an affordable longer crossing but will probably stay around France now

Ah well never mind. That's life.

Don't panic if you booked as they do refund in full.

Chris

Rapide561

Hello

It is a real shame - for those who had bookings and also for the UK - Spain - UK route as a whole. It was maintaining pressure on Britanny and P&O to keep prices down.

Russell

teemyob

Hello,

Thats a real shame beacause P&O are awful and Brittany that bit too dear.

Was it not cost effective for them? Why have they stopped the route have they not only just opened on that route.??

Trev

chrisgog

CCC club letter said it was a "commercial decision"

The attached is on AT Ferries site!

Dear Passenger:

Due to continuing operational reasons that could not be solved in the medium term, we regret to inform you that Acciona Trasmediterranea will be cancelling all scheduled sailings between Portsmouth and Bilbao.

All costumers are currently being contacted personally, given a full refund and then offered the most satisfactory alternative option for their travel plans.

For any further information please contact your travel agency or Acciona Trasmediterranea at:

Telephone: 08717 206445

Email:

whistlinggypsy · NW Rally Co-ordinator

I booked and paid for my return ferry crossing with AT ferries on the 1st Dec 06, no problem on outward trip but was not notified until 29th Jan 07 that my return crossing had been cancelled and had to pay an extra £116 to sail with P & O and i never got my VIP berth i had previously paid for nor did i get my free meals that was part of the VIP deal

I am now in the process of claiming my extra costs through my insurance as the cancellation of AT ferries was beyond my control and so they should have paid all my expenses that i incurred in changing to P & O.

I filled in an claims form with AT ferries at the Bilboa port office and that has been sent too head office in Madrid, i have had no response from them yet.

The fact that the company are returning monies already paid is in my way not sufficient compensation because they had my money in there account for nearly nine weeks so how much more of other peoples cash did they have in their bank account for long periods gaining interest and then only offer a return of half or all of the exact money payed by each person.

I have rung AT ferries in Madrid to ask for an explanation as too why they are no longer committed to the Portsmouth/Bilboa route and i was told it was because of contractual agreements with the Spanish government to operate internally between mainland Spain and the Islands, and as they are down on 2 ships it was longer possible to continue with the ports/bilboa operation.

I was informed that if/when more ferries became available they would resume the crossings, but from the post above this seems it just will not happen.

It's another case of joe soap getting another slap in the face from large companies who just take your money and then tell you to get lost when it suits them.

Bob

WingPete

Much regret in finding you have had ferry crossings cancelled, and probably find that Spanish law will make for diffculty in re-imbursment claim settlements.
But don't be too quick to condemn P&O.
I used Norfolk last year. Beat all others in pricing.
This year, same period, Easter, their fare is astronomical. £399 return.
P&O want £200, same days same vehicles.

whistlinggypsy · NW Rally Co-ordinator

WingPete, i have been a faithful supporter of Norfolk Line for many years but refuse to travel with them now over there price structure.

I know they have put on 3 new fantastic ferries and it has to be paid for by someone but why so high, have they never heard of the more the merrier makes up for I'm not paying that price.

As far as AT Ferries goes i must admit i will not be holding my breath for any "compo" but maybe some of the legal eagles on here can tell me, how much of a claim would i have against the CCC as they are the booking agents so responsible to me for my cancellation Question

Bob

sallytrafic · Southern Rally Co-ordinator

I don't know what sort of contract you had with C&CC apart from accepting their terms and conditions, but I would be surprised if they didn't have a clause that was force majeur ie it is outside of their control. See I guess you didn't go to them and say get me to X and they said yes and made the arrangements you are most likely to have said i want to book on AT on such a crossing .... what deal can you get. So really they are acting as your agent but of course they were paid by AT some sort of commission so you might have a little room for manoeuver.

At any case keep all receipts that show you as being out of pocket.

Regards frank

whistlinggypsy · NW Rally Co-ordinator

Frank, it was sort of like what you say, i firstly went on the net direct with AT and got a quote of £695 full VIP crossing, then i called the CCC and asked them for the best price offer for the same crossing with the same package (VIP berths, meals included) and it was they that suggested i go with AT instead of (P & O, £802 VIP)and they quoted £402 so i booked with them on AT.

Now i now it was my decision with whom i sailed with but it was with their recommendations i sailed with AT so was I my own agent or were they my agents. Question

I have all the receipts and original booking invoices with which i have forwarded copies to the insurance company.

My main objection too all this debacle is that it cost me £25 to change my return date 3 days before i received notification of the cancellation, nothing was said at the time that this was about to happen by the CCC nor AT ferries, they cancelled on me and i never even got my £25 back, it just isn't fair in my opinion as i seem to have no re-course for any re-imbursement from anyone.

Bob