New season sailing to France about to commence

St. Patrick’s weekend sees the commencement of direct ferry crossings from Cork to Roscoff with Brittany Ferries.   The 2005 season commences Saturday, 19th March and extends for the first time, until Saturday, 5th November to accommodate growing customer numbers.  Last year 75,000 holidaymakers travelled on board Brittany Ferries’ new flagship the Pont Aven, the shortest, fastest direct route from Ireland to France.

Also new this season is a return to the original schedule which has proved so popular over 25 years with Irish holidaymakers.  Departures from Cork will be on Saturdays at 17.30, arriving in Roscoff at 07.00 on Sunday.  Return sailings will depart from Roscoff at 22.00 every Friday evening and arrive in Cork at 10.30 on Saturday morning.  This allows lots of daylight travelling time to get to the Cork and Roscoff departure points and still make the most holiday time abroad.

“France continues to offer a wide range of holiday experiences to suit all tastes and budgets and it’s especially good value for families,” said Mr Hugh Bruton, General Manager of Brittany Ferries Ireland.  “When you compare costs per head and all the related factors, including car hire in France, you will find that Brittany Ferries is both stress free and good value.”

Brittany Ferries are currently offering great value family deals for families travelling to France in June.  A family of 2 adults and 2 children can enjoy return travel with a car, 4-berth cabin onboard and 2 weeks in an apartment in Vendee for only €442 per person.  (Full list of offers attached)

Evidence of the ongoing popularity of France for Irish holidaymakers was contained in Port of Cork Chairman, Dermot O’Mahoney’s recent statement on year-end performance.  “Despite intense competition from an ever-increasing number of low cost airlines, the Port of Cork’s passenger traffic performed admirably in 2004.  Total passenger throughput increased by 5% to 187,000 passengers, aided by the introduction of Brittany Ferries’ magnificent new car ferry, the Pont Aven, on the Cork-Roscoff route.”

2005 marks the first anniversary of the arrival in Irish waters of Brittany Ferries’ new flagship, the Pont Aven.  With a range of cruise-ship quality facilities onboard, including pool and bar areas with panoramic sea views, two cinemas, shopping malls and a wide choice of restaurants, there is something to keep the whole family entertained while onboard.

While bookings are steadily filling up, especially during the peak weeks, it is also worth noting that if Brittany Ferries direct services from Cork are booked out on certain dates there is also the great value Landbridge option via Stena Line to the UK and then sailing out of one of Brittany Ferries’ three ports in the south coast of England direct to France and Spain.

Details on a wide range of holiday villages, sea-side apartments, rural gites and hotels, are available in the Brittany Ferries brochures, French Collection and Ferry Guide Ireland-France.

For bookings, further information on Brittany Ferries’ routes and schedules or to request a copy of the brochures, customers should ring 021 427 7801 or log onto www.brittanyferries.com, where they can also take a ‘virtual’ tour of the cruise ship.

-ends-

For further information please contact:
Claire Guiney, WHPR @ 01 669 0030
claire.guiney@ogilvy.com

Released 8 March 2005

 

Travel fares value:

Easter ‘05 (26 March - 01 April)

Car + 2 adults, 3 children (incl. std. 4 berth cabin)
7 day return = €578 (€115 p.p.)

March, April or May

Car + 2 adults (incl. std. 2 berth cabin)
7 day return = €493 (€246 p.p.)

Car + 4 adults (incl. std. 4 berth cabin)
7 day return = €585 (€147 p.p.)

Holiday value:

Easter '05:

Car + 2 adults, 3 children (incl. std. 4 berth cabin)
7 day return, ferry + gite (cottage) in Brittany (brochure ref: BF4123 page 161)
= €788 (€158 p.p.)

4th June - 17th June
Car + 2 adults, 2 children, ferry (incl. std. 4 berth cabin)+ 2 weeks in apt. in Vendee           = €1,768 (€442 p.p.)

11th June - 17th June

Car + 2 adults, 2 children
7 day return, ferry  (incl. std. 4 berth cabin)+ apartment in St. Briac sur Mer, Brittany         = €1,038 (€259 p.p.)

July 30th - August 12th

Car + 2 adults, 2 children
Ferry (incl. std. 4 berth cabin) + 2 weeks in gite (cottage) in Brittany = €2,033 (€508 p.p.)