Flying or ferry is often the choice for your holiday transport.
Cheap flights are often on offer.
However, when it comes to ferries here in the UK it appears we come out second in the cost of ferries around Europe. according to a survey
Only Turkey came out more expensive and above the UK!
Some countries like those in the north of Europe like Latvia have the cheapest overall fares. With near neighbours Poland and Lithuania being way cheaper than here in UK.
Ferry in Tallinn Estonia. Like their neighbours Latvia and Lithuania they are at the lower end of cost survey.
Travel from Kliepeda in Lithuania to Kiel in Germany and that cost is one of the lowest in this survey in relation to distance travelled.
Surprisingly one of the most expensive routes according to the survey carried by Vivanoda list Lymington to Yarmouth, Isle of Wight. As one of the most expensive per mile travelled.
The most expensive in ferry cost survey and one of the shortest ferry routes Lymington to Yarmouth Isle of Wight.
Generally shorter crossings seem to be more expensive too!
European ferry crossings between Greece and Turkey and between Spain and Morocco are proportionately the most expensive.
With this in mind, Vivanoda.co.uk, a web platform specialising in ferry, bus, train and plane ticket searches, has undertaken an ambitious study of ferry prices in Europe.
The aim was to dissect the variations in fares according to different criteria such as destination, distance and seasonality.
The study, which sifted through tens of thousands of fares on hundreds of ferry routes in Europe, as well as crossings to Turkey and the Maghreb countries (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia) and aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current fare landscape.
Historic El Jen inTunisia.
This rigorous analysis has focused exclusively on prices, leaving aside factors such as the quality of service on board, differences in staff salaries and economic disparities between countries.
By reproducing the conditions of the study carried out in 2023, the 2024 edition makes it possible to compare price trends from one year to the next, providing travellers and industry professionals with valuable information on fare trends.
New ferry on the route from Gdańsk Poland to Sweden.
Ferry crossings to Tunisia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and Sweden have the lowest price index.
Conversely, ferry crossings to Turkey, the UK and Morocco have the highest price indexes.
The Blue Gate, Fez, Morocco, North Africa.
Connections between Greece and Turkey and those between Morocco and Spain are proportionally the most expensive in Europe.
Connections between Germany and Lithuania or Latvia are the least expensive in relation to the distance travelled.
The shorter the crossing, the more expensive it is.
Across Europe, prices are higher on average from July to September. They are also slightly higher at weekends.
Islands like the Channel Islands Jersey and Guernsey are highly dependent a reliable ferry service.
Be that for both passengers and freight. Currently both islands are in the middle of a procurement process.
St Peter Port Guernsey.
It is hoped that by the end of the year the contract with a new or different supplier will be agreed.
Both major Channel Islands understand that all islanders want to ensure that they get the best possible freight and passengers services in place by later around September.
Condor Liberation runs from Poole in Dorset to both main Channel Islands.
It appears that Condor and DFDS are both in the tender process.
The UK is the 2nd most expensive country in the Europe
The ferry price index has risen by 8.5% since the last 2023 survey.
Domestic ferry services are by far the most expensive in relation to the distance travelled.
Domestic routes have seen the biggest increase (+10%).
The Lymington – Yarmouth route turns out it be the most expensive (with an increase of 18%). Also as are routes serving the Isle of Wight more generally.
Crossings to Spain are proportionally the cheapest on average and have seen a fall in the price index of around 23%.
The Lerwick to Aberdeen route, linking the Shetland Islands to Scotland, is the cheapest in the country.
As a result, Yarmouth is the most expensive ferry port in the UK and Lerwick the cheapest.
Both one way single fares:
Yarmouth to Lymington £17.40 5.5 miles or £3.16 per mile.
Lerwick to Aberdeen £39:50 224 miles or 17p per mile.
The post Ferry Cost Survey…Shorter Does Not Mean Cheaper appeared first on The Travel Trunk.