I mentioned a potential group trip from the UK to Croatia recently. It seems likely to be happening now.
Initial proposal is to take the Hull-Rotterdam ferry on the 30th August then pick up a sleeper train at Dusseldorff, disembarking the next day at Villach. From there, ride over to Slovenia, then on to Croatia and across to Italy on the ferry. Up to the Dolomites and…well I did say it was an initial plan. Overall it’s a two week trip.
This isn’t my gig, it’s been proposed and led by the head of the Ducati Dragons. It’s not a guided holiday and neither is it Dragons only. Travellers will be fully independent but happy to meet up for coffee lunch dinner etc. It’s optional to stay in the same hotels or camp. I think that’s a sensible approach, personally.
This is an open tour so if anyone from the forum is interested let me know and you’re welcome to get involved.
There’s a few left now. We used to be able to depart from Den Bosch, in our South. I did that one year travelling to Italy, disembarking just North of Genua. Brilliant.
I’ll keep posting updates and routes before and, hopefully, during. If anyone wants to join part of all of the trip, or just meet up for a beer if we’re passing close enough by, let me know.
I’m looking at ferries to Rotterdam this evening. I’ve been abroad on a bike before but it’s always been with one bike for two people or sometimes just me and a bike. This time I need to book two people and two motorcycles. Trouble is, the booking assumes just one vehicle, unless I’m missing something. So presumably that means I’ll have to make two separate bookings. Anyone else been through a similar situation?
Another problem - the dropdown for ‘Vehicle’ is empty.
AFAIK you have to make two separate bookings - I travelled with a mate several times (IJmuiden-Newcastle), and that’s what we did. You then have to make sure you share a cabin at check-in. I just had a look at P&O, which I assume you’ll be using, and the dropbox was working? If all else fails I’d give them a ring in the morning.
I have my web browser locked down for privacy and to stop the likes of Meta following me all over the internet. Occasionally that messes with web site functionality so I’ll have a play around, or failing that call them as you say.
It will be P&O. I was going to choose a double cabin with one bookng and remove the standard one from the second. Hopefully that works ok.
My friend did our booking for last spring on that ferry and I’m sure it was just one booking for our three bikes. When I did my Autumn booking I also seem to remember being asked for type and number of vehicles.
Edit. I just tried the web site on my phone and you can’t select multiple vehicles so I guess I must be mistaken.
Edit 2. My friend just confirmed that the booking a year ago was for 3 bikes. Guess they’ve changed web site.
It does mean that now we have to always do phone bookings (which cost more I think). Because you can’t make a booking without a cabin, and you don’t want a cabin each. Also, you don’t want to do two separate bookings, because there may not be room for 2nd one after you’ve made the first, and if it’s the cheaper non refundable ticker type they you’ve wasted a boatload of money.
Before posting my last reply I tried that and if you click ‘next’ it pops you back to that page saying you must book a cabin. (I remember from before that you had to book a cabin). I also remember the site looking quite different, so they’ve obviously had a makeover to make it more pretty and to remove functionality at the same time. Like everything nowadays.
Edit. Now my mate says of last booking ‘Think a phone call was involved getting a group booking.’
Also, my memories of being asked about number of bikes when booking may be for the Spain booking. Just tried the Brittany Ferries site and it does ask about number of bikes.
Interesting. I see that now but only since I switched off Ghostery. I suspect some JQuery jiggery-pokery going on.
So I’ve reached an impasse. I want to book two people, one cabin and two motorcycles. The website only allows one vehicle per booking and you can’t make a booking without a cabin.
I’ll have to call them but if they try to charge me more than I can get online I will not be a happy camper.
Overall it’s a two week trip.
