The North Boat (Northlink ferries)

[Salmon]

I fear we will never make any headway with Northlink and their cabin prices. They know fine well that they can not supply enough cabins to meet demand so they will over price them to the point that they can truthfully say that they are pretty much meeting demand. truth is that if they were affordable, the demand would be higher and they could never meet demand.

 

If their fare structure was closer to that which P&O used to charge, i.e. higher passage fares and lower cabin charges, their funders, the scottish Government, would have to pay more subsidy, as the subsidy is payable on the passage, but not the cabin charges. They are hardy likely to try to change the present fare structure.

 

If I was booking a hotel room for the same cost as a cabin on a Northlink ferry, I would expect to get a large room to myself with tea, coffee, trouser press, telly, phone, free wi-fi, and breakfast thrown in. I remember Northlink saying that TV would be provided in the cabins, then they changed their minds saying that it was not tecnologically possible to provide this. A few years later and lo and behold they can now provide this, but at extra cost in an 'executive' cabin at extra cost.

 

I used to think that sailing out of lerwick was a nice relaxed way to begin a holiday, but I haven't done that for many a year now. maybe one day Northlink will see that if they can't provide value for money they are losing custom, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

I really don't see why having a bed for the night should be seen as a luxury which only some can afford. It's very much a basic requirement. It really is a return to travel by class and without a bunk on the boat, you really are travelling steerage class.

 

Good post

[Guest Anonymous]

yay , subsidised service for the islanders my ers

[Ghostrider]

Why doesnt your MP and SMP and who ever else is an interested body complain, get the contract put out to tender based on the ferry being incorrect for public demand? Bring back P&O, they did the route successfully for trillions of years whether they wre called P&O or NOSOSSC.

 

I like the theory, but seeing as Tavish had already made himself well comfortable in Auld Reekie when the boats were ordered, and very probably in a position to pull strings as to how they were. If he were to go back now and start asking for different boats, that would in effect amount to him having to admit he'd gotten it wrong the first time around, and politicians tend to avoid having to do that at almost all costs.

 

Camichael could probably be persuaded (just send him on a few winter return trips on them), but he's not likely to break ranks with his stable mate over it I shouldn't think.

[Kavi Ugl]

Gussie Angus on the radio a week or two ago re-iteratng how useless the new ferries are but even if a decision was made to sell them off and bring in new/better ferries who would buy the old ones?. They have no cabins and cost an absolute fortune to run!.

 

Just look at Norway's lifeline service(the Hurtigruten) to see what class and style of ships are possible.....

[Guest Anonymous]

Gussie Angus on the radio a week or two ago re-iteratng how useless the new ferries are but even if a decision was made to sell them off and bring in new/better ferries who would buy the old ones?. They have no cabins and cost an absolute fortune to run!.

 

Just look at Norway's lifeline service(the Hurtigruten) to see what class and style of ships are possible.....

 

ferries, lifestyle, attitude,politics, etc etc etc, but unless we can shun the big jock council we're stuck wi this robbing dictators , effers

[david]

Saw a stray comment from someone on Facebook a few days ago suggesting that there may be wi-fi on the boat now.

[Stirrer]

For the life of me, i can't see what is wrong with the 'new' (8 years old) ferries.

 

I rarely have any probelm getting a space for the Merc and more often than not there is a premium cabin available.

 

My only criticism is that if we book late, it can be difficult to get a reservation in the restaurant.

[JohanofNess]

^

Sorry couldn't resist

 

[stephen]

I think that one of the biggest problems with the cabin issue on the boats is very seasonal demand. I had a friend come up in the winter, and he was occupying one of only 6 booked cabins. I have also heard of ships sailing with as 9 people. So for a company or a government to invest £millions on new ships when this frequently happens would be a bit silly IMO. I do thing that Northlink need to think laterally, ideas such as fully flat airline-style seats, Japanese style 'sleep pods' could be put in at a much cheaper cost.

[MJ]

Saw a stray comment from someone on Facebook a few days ago suggesting that there may be wi-fi on the boat now.

 

There is!!! and it's FREE!!! and apparently unlimited, it's a little slow, and comes up in dutch giving me google luxumburg, but I like it!!! now to spend the journey on skype... mind you, yet to see it working out of lerwick, stay tuned, I may on later if I can't sleep to see if it's still working.

I'm a happy Bunny, oh no one tell the Boss, shhhhhhhhhhhh.

[MJ]

take it back it wont work out at sea oh well

[MuckleJoannie]

Here is the Northlink page on the subject

 

http://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/default.aspx.locid-00gnew3d8.Lang-EN.htm

 

The NorthLink ro-ro ferries MV Hjaltland and MV Hrossey, which operate on the Aberdeen – Kirkwall – Lerwick route, have been fitted with satellite communication equipment which means that Wi-Fi for passengers will be available in all public areas.

 

The VSAT small satellite systems have been installed as part of an upgrade to the vessels’ emergency communications systems and the side benefit is that with ‘ always on’ internet access passengers in public areas will be able to surf the net and receive and send emails from Wi-Fi enabled laptops and smartphones.

 

Additionally, as part of the upgrade, passengers in premium, executive and some inner 4-berth cabins will have access to the internet though plug-in points.

 

...

 

The internet service will be available free to all while onboard with the only other restriction being that if the Master needs to make use of the satellite for operational purposes then the passenger Wi-Fi will be shutdown

[JustMe]

So Northlink is discriminating against solo travellers who, because they cannot afford to pay for the extra berth/s will not get tea and coffee making facilities. While I think I understand Northlink's reasons for not providing the facilities in shared cabins I none the less blame Northlink for not having the foresight to provide single cabins for solo travellers and I will complain to the solo travellers ombudsman just as soon as one is appointed. Meanwhile I think all solo travellers with a berth should get vouchers for free tea or coffee from the bar.

[Para Handy]

Nothing about the disabled cabins having wi fi or cable connections?

Not everyone who is disabled can get to the public areas I know two with Arthritis, who just stay in there cabin until they get to Shetland.

And how many can use the cable in a cabin anyway.

[TeeAyBee]

now to spend the journey on skype.

 

Skype worked on their system? They said they wouldn't allow streaming technologies too. That's great news thank you.