SpeedFerries awarded 'Best Ferry Company':

SpeedFerries has been voted 'Best Ferry Company' by the readers of The Guardian, The Observer and Guardian Unlimited in their 21st Travel Awards. A spokesman for SpeedFerries said: 'The scoring of these awards is designed to reward quality, rather than quantity, so it is not surprising that SpeedFerries, a small family run company, has outstripped the stiffest competition from long-established rivals in the industry throughout the UK.' Since its launch in 2004, the company has won this award twice and also picked up the Best European Crossing Operator award at the Telegraph Travel Awards in 2005. The company has pledged to continue its commitment to offer cross-Channel prices at an acceptable level and provide a high quality, low cost ferry service for its customers as well as push the limits for traditional ferry operation. www.ferrycheap.com to book with SpeedFerries.

Weekend Break to Calais: only £39 per person!

Stay in Calais anytime before Christmas for only £39 per person including travel with SeaFrance or P&O Ferries. Amazing value for money! Tel: 0870 264 2644. The price includes return travel and accommodation on a B&B basis.

Latest Port News from Dover:

MESSAGE UPDATED at 15:00 hours on Wednesday, 31st October, 2007: Current sea conditions in the Channel are slight, with a West-sou-westerley breeze, Force 4, and the visibility is good. Sailings from the Eastern Docks with P&O Ferries to Calais and Norfolkline to Dunkerque are operating to schedule, with space on all departures. Seafrance have space but advise they are operating with slight delays on all services. SpeedFerries’ fastcraft services, from the Hoverport to Boulogne, are also operating to schedule with space.

Latest Port News from Dover:

MESSAGE UPDATED at 06:10 hours on Wednsday, 31st October, 2007: Current sea conditions in the Channel are slight, with a Westerley breeze, Force 3, and the visibility is good. All sailings from the Eastern Docks with P&O Ferries & SeaFrance to Calais and Norfolkline to Dunkerque are operating to schedule, with space on all departures. SpeedFerries’ fastcraft services, from the Hoverport to Boulogne, are also operating to schedule with space.

SpeedFerries Lifts Motorcyle Ban:

In early 2007 SpeedFerries, the low-cost ferry company, announced a ban on transporting motorcycles on its fast craft service from Dover to Boulogne. According to the company, securely lashing the motorcycles down was proving too time consuming for a fast turnaround. The company had also received numerous claims from customers who'd had their bikes damaged. The solution was found by using a custom-made motorcycle carrier, which is secure and fast to use. The first four motorcycle carriers will be installed for use 5 November 2007 with a view to installing additional systems to meet demand. Tel: 0870 264 2644 to book.

Latest Port News from Dover:

MESSAGE UPDATED at 12.00 hours on Tuesday, 30th October, 2007: Current sea conditions in the Channel are slight, with a north-nor-westerley breeze Force 3 to 4 and the visibility is good. All sailings from the Eastern Docks with P&O Ferries & SeaFrance to Calais and Norfolkline to Dunkerque are operating to schedule, with space on all departures. SpeedFerries’ fastcraft services, from the Hoverport to Boulogne, are running to time with space available.

Boulogne-Sur-Mer: The Best Destination for Christmas Shoppping!

As the annual pre-Christmas cross channel shopping frenzy gathers pace, the popular town of Boulogne-sur-Mer is preparing to welcome visitors from the UK, with additional Sunday opening times of its town centre shops in December, a seasonal market and many other events. Boulogne’s town centre provides a unique selection of speciality food and wine shops and many other retail outlets, which will open their doors on Sundays 16th and 23rd December.

These include : Philippe Olivier (rue Thiers) – one of France’s most famous cheese makers selling over 350 different cheeses; Charcuterie ED Bourgeouis (Grande Rue) – superb range of vegetable, meat and fish dishes; Fred (Place Dalton) – excellent range of home made bread and patisseries; Chocolaterie de Beussent (rue Thiers) – wonderful choice of speciality chocolates for gifts made in its nearby factory; Comtesse du Barry (rue Thiers) – mouth-watering foodie gifts such as jams, chutneys, oils, vinegars, foie gras, many other pates and aperitifs. To stock up on wine visit Le Chais (rue des Deux Ponts –www.lechais.com) – which sells over 50,000 quality bottles of wine in atmospheric cellars – or Tresor Vin (rue Thiers).

Special events in Boulogne in November and December include :

Fete du Hareng – Herring Festival on the Quai Gambetta, Boulogne-sur-Mer on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th November.

St.Nicolas Parade – The arrival and parade of St.Nicolas through Boulogne’s town centre, followed by a firework display near the port on Saturday 8th December.

Christmas Market – on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th December in the Old Town – sale of local produce, gifts and crafts. Entertainment and music and illumination of the Belfry, firework display and tasting of traditional Christmas Pudding near to the Cathedral. In total Boulogne boasts 1,000 shops and craftsmen; 200 restaurants and brasseries, local food produce markets twice weekly on Wednesday and Saturday mornings in the Place Dalton, daily fish market on the Quayside Gambetta, a superb historic town to wander around, a bustling fisherman’s port, 1000 hotel rooms to help your make a night or weekend of your visit, and 3,600 car parking spaces – most of them free.

For more information on Boulogne-sur-Mer and shop opening times and locations contact : www.boulogneshopping.com ; or Office du Tourisme via : www.tourisme-boulognesurmer.com or call : 00 333 21 10 88 10.

How To Get There : SpeedFerries operates up to five return sailings daily between Dover and Boulogne, with a crossing time of just 50 minutes. Fares start from £18 one way and day returns from £29 for a car and passengers. To book : www.ferrycheap.com or call 0870 264 2644. Short Breaks / overnighters start from £59 per person, based on one night’s stay, including channel crossings for a car and passengers . To book contact : Travel Market on 0870 143 4646 or visit : www.realfrancerealclose.com.

Latest Port News from Dover:

MESSAGE UPDATED at 06.15 hours on Tuesday, 30th October, 2007: Current sea conditions in the Channel are slight, with a west-nor-westerley breeze Force 3 to 4 and the visibility is good. All sailings from the Eastern Docks with P&O Ferries & SeaFrance to Calais and Norfolkline to Dunkerque are operating to schedule, with space on all departures. SpeedFerries’ fastcraft services, from the Hoverport to Boulogne, are running to time with space available.

Latest Port News from Dover:

MESSAGE UPDATED at 2100 hours on Monday, 29th October, 2007: Current sea conditions in the Channel are slight, with a north-nor-westerley breeze Force 3 and the visibility is good. All sailings from the Eastern Docks with P&O Ferries & SeaFrance to Calais and Norfolkline to Dunkerque are operating to schedule, with space on all departures. SpeedFerries’ fastcraft services, from the Hoverport to Boulogne, will resume in the morning.

Latest Port News from Dover:

MESSAGE UPDATED at 1600 hours on Monday, 29th October, 2007: Current sea conditions in the Channel are slight, with a north-north-westerley breeze Force 3 and the visibility is good. All sailings from Dover Eastern Docks with P&O Ferries & SeaFrance to Calais and Norfolkline to Dunkerque are operating to schedule, with space on all departures. SpeedFerries’ fastcraft services, from the Hoverport to Boulogne, are running to time with space available.

Strong summer traffic performance for the Port of Dover:

The Port of Dover experienced a strong summer traffic performance boosting throughput in the first nine months of 2007 as ferry travel regains popularity. More than 11.3 million passengers passed through the port in the period January-September, nearly four per cent more compared with 2006. The growth was due to increasing numbers of cars and coaches passing through Europe’s busiest ferry port. Over 2.2 million cars was seven per cent more than 2006 whilst coach journeys rose 500 to 84,600. The number of lorries increased by one per cent to 1.7 million but the busy pre-Christmas period was showing early signs of picking up with over 200,000 lorry journeys in September. For further information contact Keith Southey, Public Relations Manager, Port of Dover.

The France Show: FREE tickets! Save £48!

As a thank you to all our loyal customers that have made reservations with SeaFrance, P&O Ferries, SpeedFerries, Norfolkline, Stena Line, DFDS, Brittany Ferries, Condor Ferries and Eurotunnel we're supporting The France Show! The show, held at London Olympia from the 18th-20th January 2008 will be fantastic. This ticket offer could save you £48! Call: 0907 015 4443 to claim your FREE tickets! Love it. Live it. Try it. The France Show 2008.

Latest Port News from Dover:

MESSAGE UPDATED at 1200 hours on Monday, 29th October, 2007: Current sea conditions in the Channel are slight, with a northerly breeze Force 3 to 4, and the visibility is good.All sailings from the Eastern Docks with P&O Ferries & SeaFrance to Calais and Norfolkline to Dunkerque are operating to schedule, with space on all departures. SpeedFerries’ fastcraft services, from the Hoverport to Boulogne, are running to time with space available.