First European Trip

[gilbaro]

Just back from a month in Europe. We went out through the tunnel which was very slick departing an hour early. The biggest problem for us was travelling from South Devon to the tunnel but two Britstops made the journey better. We went down through Belgium and Germany to Innsbruck and St Anton. Returned through Switzerland and France.
Favourite countries were Germany and Austria but really didn't see what everyone seems to like about France!
Should have had ferry back to Plymouth from Roscoff but it was cancelled two days before we were due to travel so had to go St Malo to Portsmouth. Had a nice time wandering round St Malo and then made the schoolboy error of checking in early. Went though check in without a hitch and congratulated ourselves how we we had to be third in our lane. After three hours without moving we stopped congratulating ourselves. Never has a beer been so needed when we eventually embarked.
With all the other motorhomes we boarded last after all the stragglers who just drove straight on.
Is this normal or is it just this ferry which is 35 years old?
Don't even ask about the journey from Portsmouth to Devon

 

[Dart]

It is quite normal and the luck of the draw. The loading is done to take various factors into account regardless of the time you arrived at the check in booth. These include height with regard to mezzanine decks being lowered, disabled people needing to park near a lift and overall balancing of the load. Brittany Ferries do offer priority disembarkation for a fee but motorhomes are excluded from that, because of their specific height requirements I suppose. We've had it both ways, arrived early and been near the last to board or, like last time, arrived quite late and been waved through to the front of the ship.