Condorferries Reviews 147

We booked a special offer £19.00 for day trip, unfortunately we were to late for return to Poole it was our mistake. We stayed the night in Gurnsey and booked return next day IT COST £195.00 FOR THE HTREE OF USE, a normal trip to Gurnsey from Poole is £60.00 why then can they offer a day trip for £19.00 it looks to me as if your lumbered in to paying the extra not going again that's for shore.

They shut check in and won’t let you on if you are one minute beyond the check in time.This applies even if they haven’t started loading the vessel and regardless of the time of the actual sailing. Then they charge you again for a new booking, which may be days later. None of this is published so beware. The staff are the most unhelpful and obstructive I have ever encountered. Jobsworths with attitude.

Trying to book a last-minute family return trip from St Malo to Jersey, I made a mistake and booked the wrong route - Poole-St Malo). I was unable to rectify the error by phone (my mobile wouldn't call an 0345 number from France) or online (the website said no availability). I tried the online chat, an extremely helpful and competent man (thank you John) responded, rang me direct, and re-booked us on the correct ferry. The actual trip was on time, comfortable and well-organised. We had a great day in Jersey.

Wednesday 26th June. My partner and I took a day trip from Poole to St Peter Port Guernsey. The weather was flat calm and ferry left on time. We arrived just 15 minutes late which seemed reasonable.
After 3 hours ashore, we observed that at 14.00 the ferry had yet to arrive for our return sailing scheduled for 14.55. We could see this clearly from our cafe just 10 mins walk away from the terminal. Along with 10 or so fellow travellers all taking a day trip we decided we better investigate as to what the delay was.
The scheduled departure time was 14.55 and as foot passengers we were obliged to check-in 40 minutes before at 14.15.
At 14.30 we were told check-in was closed and it would be IMPOSSIBLE to sail that day.
In a normal situation we would accept the fact that we were 15 minutes late and face the consequences.
However, the ferry had yet to arrive and was indeed 30 mins late. It eventually left at 15.25 which was 30 minutes later than scheduled.
The inflexibility of staff to make any effort to help us was breathtaking.

After missing the return sailing, we were forced to stay the night in Guernsey at a cost of £184, and fly home the next day to Southampton at an additional cost of £400.

Condor Ferries, as you can see from other people's reviews are nothing short of dreadful.
Its scandalous how they can treat customers with such total and utter contempt. It seems perfectly acceptable for Condor to regard their published sailing times as merely a guide for them but an absolute Bible for the traveller.
We have nothing but contempt for these people, even after writing 4 times to the CEO and customer service teams who won't reply to your issues.
As a pensioner, my summer is seriously financially affected by the actions of this company. I strongly advise everyone NOT TO USE THIS SERVICE.
They really don't deserve the monopoly on this route and should have their licence taken away if serious improvements aren't forthcoming.

Having lived in Jersey for 2 years, and been on many trips to Guernsey and France, we have had >20 ferry journeys with Condor in that time frame. Many have been OK but several have been far from it, especially our most recent. In the past issues have been about communication- for instance, an SMS to say 'adverse weather may affect your sailing tomorrow' when in fact they meant you urgently need to call us to be put on today's boat, or you'll be stranded for 5 days with no help for accommodation costs. Our recent experience however crossed a red line and we'll be glad never to need to use Condor again in the near future. We bought 2 tickets for St Malo, with 2 bicycles. The emailed tickets came with only 1 bike however so we rang Condor to explain our concern and were reassured a note would be made on our booking and this shouldn't be an issue. So we arrive at the booth, packed up for a week bike packing in France, to be told we cannot board. We explained and were told 'no'. We went to the information desks explaining the situation and were met with a completely unsympathetic man in charge who said under no circumstances can we board with 2 bikes. He said what we were told on the phone was wrong and we could only be moved to the next ferry that night. We explained that the bikes are simply stacked on top of each other against a wall, with no designated places. Having been onboard with bikes many times, we have never seen the bike 'stacking' area anywhere near full. Despite our protestations that this would ruin our carefully planned holiday, as the domino effect would mean we miss all our train bookings, then hotels etc, he couldn't care any less. We were left devastated that our whole week holiday had to be cancelled because of this company's ineptitude and heartless approach to customers.

Cancelled sailing, due to an issue with the ferry (one of many). Could only offer us a sailing 3 days later with no alternative to get home or accommodation offered, leaving us stranded.

My experiences with Condor Ferries have generally been good. They provide a crucial lifeline from and to the Channel Islands, especially when flying isn't an option or is prohibitively expensive.

On-board staff are consistently helpful, though sometimes visibly under pressure during busy periods. Their efforts to assist passengers are commendable.

The main issues are with pricing and customer service. Prices are high and fluctuate wildly, making trip planning challenging. From experience, I know running and maintaining boats isn't cheap. However, it's obvious that the high prices have more to do with maintaining shareholder returns than simply responding to increased operational costs.

Their new pricing options are particularly concerning. Paying a premium to avoid cancellation fees or paying less but incurring exorbitant cancellation fees is nothing short of criminal. There must be reciprocity in the vagaries of travel. Assuming they can change sailings according to their circumstances without providing recompense to affected customers, but expecting customers to burden huge costs for a change in their circumstances, is willfully unethical.

Phone customer service is always polite but ranges from conscientious to dismissive, depending on who you reach.

The Channel Islands' administrations should do more to ensure this essential ferry service is more affordable and reliable for both residents and visitors.

While Condor Ferries delivers a necessary service with some positives, there's clear room for improvement in pricing and consistent customer support. Their pricing practices, especially regarding cancellations, need serious reconsideration.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

How can I explain how much that cost to us. Quick story, we try to come from Guernsey to Poole on 18th of July. Our ferry was at 4:25pm. We came one hour ago from our ferry but they said they can not take us in because company policy says check in gates must close 1 hour before departure. We were turned away for two days until the next available ferry costing us 2 additional days in a hotel on guernsey. On our departure date on Saturday at 18:10pm , the gates remain opened 15 minutes before departure, breaking all condor company policies. That was a ridiculous change in policy as they seem to change check in policies according to their situation. I won’t use it never again.

This review relates to a sailing from Guernsey to Poole on the Condor Liberation on the 11th July which turned into a really bad experience thanks to an unhelpful jobsworth on the Guernsey check in booth. My daughter and partner were travelling with triplets back to the UK and requested special assistance so that their vehicle could be positioned close to the lifts as they had a double buggy and seat to carry on board. I had made several telephone calls prior to the bookings being made and this worked extremely well on the Condor Islander from Portsmouth to Guernsey. All the staff at check-in and onboard could not have been more helpful. From the special assistance signs to help from everyone on board the loading and journey went smoothly.
Compare this to Guernsey where at check-in my daughter was rudely told that she was not entitled to any special assistance and would be boarded last.
As a result their car was tightly packed with other cars, nowhere near the lift and they had to carry the double buggy, seat and triplets up the staircase (dangerous and unsafe). the same at disembarkation all due to the bad positioning by the Guernsey Check-in.
Once on board the Liberation they went to the Information desk and a very helpful lady found them a quiet area where they had room for the buggy etc. i had made enquiries two weeks previously when onboard that ship,
The Guernsey jobsworth was totally unhelpful. negative, and the service provided was a disgrace.

I recently went on your day trip to Guernsey from Poole on the 26th of June, we had previously done before and enjoyed it.

However this year we were 10/15 minutes late booking in on our return trip, as we were late we were told we would not be allowed onboard for the return journey as it would interfere with the weight allowance for the trip and it had been allocated to extra freight ???. We had paid for this and they were using our weight allowance for their own financial gain really.

There were 18 people who were late my wife and I included, we were actually back before the Ferry had even docked but were still not allowed to board. This resulted in us having to book onto the ferry going to Southampton at great extra cost for a next morning arrival and also people who had work the next day having to catch a flight home - one of these being an operating theatre technician, whose absence would have messed the days proceedings up.

I doubt we will ever book with them again, a little bit more leeway at the booking in office would have helped customer relations, not just a stoney faced reply ''your not getting on board'' reply , which hardly helped irate travellers. Letting us board slightly late would have made little difference or upset things. It would appear Condor are becoming the Pirates of the sea's...

This company has atrocious customer service in Guernsey island! Especially a staff member called Emma and her manager. The staff were extremely unfriendly and had an exceedingly hostile attitude towards the 11 people, who were unfortunately left behind on the island, including children, one of whom has special needs and elderly people. The staff excused themselves with the fact that “people were late” and that the “ Ferry left 4 minutes late from the schedular departure, which was 16:50 however, they left at 16:54 (we have video evidence to prove this). Passengers were allowed to board up until 40 minutes before the departure (16:10). We arrived 16:13 and there was a queue in front of us and people said that they had been there since “16:02” and the staff, which I had named earlier in this review, hadn’t allowed them to check in either as “the check in was closed”. We were waiting in the queue and the staff did not help us at all. The manager came back from the ferry and we tried to communicate our situation to her and ask for help, but she simply dismissed us and acted inconsiderate and inhuman towards us. We’d be better off being served by a machine check in than the hostile staff at Guernsey island port. When we left the port, we spoke with a tourist agent lady near the port and she really understood us and said that she “received complaints every day” that the “Condorferries staff were not allowing people to check in”. I am truly appalled at this mistreatment we have received today as me and my family are stranded on this island with no where to go tonight!

Don't use never in Guernsey Island the staff is very rude and unhelpfu. They are closed even early of the time you have to be on a port departure time. Departure time is 16.50h and they have to close the check-in 16.10h on this time was closed already. People arrived 16h wasn't allowed to do check-in. They left many people in Guernsey Island overnight. Children with special needs to.

Well late departure apparently fighting the “tide”..Late back to Poole..by an hour… staff in restaurant chatting while other crew members with dirty overalls one with a white shirt and hi-vis just let themselves into kitchen with no food protection on this looked like the norm..then they were joined by another guy in a suit let himself into kitchen and starts eating a cake. Then on leaving, the dirty bald guy left whilst picking his nose touching door and trays on exit.i will not be travelling on you condor liberation again as I would rather starve than risk food poisoning this is not the standard I would expect from such a high profile company.

words of wisdom Do not bother to book , The reliability and service is shocking. Turned up at Poole for ferry to Guernsey to be told " The sailing is cancelled due to technical reasons" No notification despite having phone number & E-Mail, drove 75 miles there turned around 75 miles home.
A complete shambles, looking at reviews the ship is beset by technical issues

Firstly I am surprised to read good reviews on other sites???
The ferry itself was clean, food ok, prices acceptable. That is for the positive.
However, the process for embarkation and disembarkation of foot passengers is tediously long with "check-in" procedure bizarely unclear. A WHOLE hour wait STANDING on way back to be given AN OTHER BOARDING CARD ... (not the one that is sent by e-mail) on way back (why?)
Sailing times were changed (why?) and we were LATE both ways (why?).
This day was advertised as a DAY TRIP - do not do it !!!! unless you like uncomfortabe, cramp seats on a ferry for 7 hours+.... we were a Poole harbour for 7.30 am - back at 9.30 pm ... TIME ON GUERNSEY 3 hours!!!!
Inefficient procedures all round. Annoyingly, the staff look too happy with themselves for the service they provide- By the way, ignoring customers to carry on with personal conversation is unacceptable.
We enjoyed our 3 miserable hours on Guernsey- we will fly next time though- so should you - Guernsey is great.

Firstly, I very rarely write reviews. Secondly, I wish I’d checked with trust pilot first. Using this company should be avoided if at all possible. They simply don’t care about foot passenger welfare. The customer service at Guernsey is, to put it mildly abysmal. There is too much to say in a simple post, but if you can avoid using this service please do so. For the poor islanders who have no choice, I feel sorry for you having to rely on such an unprofessional and poorly run company.

When call centre staff start blaming the CEO for timetable changes then you know a business is in trouble. Our outbound trip to St Malo was changed to a change at Jersey which added significantly to the time. So we refused, were refunded and booked through Brittany ferries. They didn't send any further information to tell us that they had cancelled all return ferries from Cherbourg. If we hadn't rung up to query we would have turned up to find no ferry. This seems to be common practice reading Trustpilot and I've seen this behaviour before where staff have given up because they cannot stop the inevitable: Condor will not be trading in 6 months.

Genuinely the worst customer service I have ever experienced, in any business, anywhere in the world. Unbelievably bad.

It appears that Condor Ferries make a habit of changing sailing times at will. We were delayed by three hours and after reading some recent reviews, it appears we were very fortunate. The staff are terrible as well; not friendly and not helpful and not apologetic. I have sailed with Brittany Ferries for 25 years and had NO delays or cancellations. One sailing with Condor Ferries has been enough for me.

Based on my partners experience this morning I am disgusted that an incident on the loading deck caused an accident.
As instructed my partner reversed onto the loading deck and was being instructed to park position by a calm condor operative.Out of nowhere another condor operative appears and starts shouting back back next thing bang contact with a parked car. Top class driver instructed by a poor banksman.
He then curses and walks off.
He is to blame.Condor should pay if a claim is the result of this incident.