BlueBridge v Interislander

[SuperSonic]

Looking at going up to the Paeroa street races in February,:cool:
I have been on the Interislander a few times and they were all good. But the bluebridge's salling time suits better. So has anyone been on the Bluebridge boat with their bikes? Was it set up well for bikes? And what is it like on board? Which boat do you prefer too??

Thank you very much for your info and help:2thumbsup

[Okey Dokey]

I've taken the bike across on the bluebridge a few times. No problems at all. To be honest, I prefer them to the Interislander. I found the people to be much more friendly and helpful. And the coffee team make a great espresso.

I wouldn't use the interislander now unless I had absolutely no option. Bluebridge all the way!

[MotoGirl]

I've just booked the ferry for my South Island tour in March. I didn't know what ferry to use so searched KB for Bluebridge. There's loads of comments about the service received on each ferry so go check them out :D

[limbimtimwim]

The bluebridge vessels don't use that stupid steel cable as the thing to tie down your bike like the Kaitaki does.

[Steam]

Bluebridge is 100% New Zealand owned and operated.
The Interislander is owned by Toll, a giant, clumsy, fairly evil and uncaring international corporation.

That's why I choose Bluebridge. And they're cheaper!

[banditrider]

I've taken the bike across on the bluebridge a few times. No problems at all. To be honest, I prefer them to the Interislander. I found the people to be much more friendly and helpful. And the coffee team make a great espresso.

I wouldn't use the interislander now unless I had absolutely no option. Bluebridge all the way!

And (at least when I've been over on them) they let the bikes off first. Staff definitely better than Interislander.

[sAsLEX]

And they're cheaper!

hmmm sometimes.


Carry your own tie downs and learn to use them is my advice, might need to tie it to a trailer if a stone comes through the radiator in the middle of no where etc

[Steam]

hmmm sometimes.

Interislander fares for one bike and one adult range from $178 down to $105 for limited numbers of internet-only-booked tickets.

Bluebridge for the same is a flat rate of $105, no matter when you book.

Yeah, so it can be the same price, if you plan ahead.

[chanceyy]

depends on when your travelling Dogsnbikes works on the Monte Stello & always up for a chat with kbers ..

Service is great have your own tie downs .. on the monte stello your normally loaded prior to cars & yes first off .. the bikes are stored longways down the boat .. & there are rubber tyre wedges if you can not tie bike down tight enough

[magicfairy]

Bluebridge much better. You can book more than one bike and rider online in a single booking, can't with InterIslander. We were told to just do two bookings by Interislander staff, booked one bike / rider on an Interislander sailing, went to book the second and no places left for bikes. Took many phone calls the next day to sort.
Bluebridge (both boats) have much better tie down options for bikes, more open air deck space, you usually get on first, off first and altogether a better experience. Staff are friendly, not surly.
We travel to SI 4-5 times a year, and alway try and go with Bluebridge if the times suit.

[MaxB]

Interislander is the slicker of the 2 ops but slick doesn't count for much when the cafe runs out of food. That has happened to me the last 3 trips.

I have had a good run with Bluebridge. The boats look older but everything works. The price is OK, the service is OK and the first on/first off policy is pretty good. I go Bluebridge whenever I can.

[Wiki Drifter]

I've only used blue ridge so far, there are ropes available on the ferry to tie the bike with. Pretty good service IMO

[Buddha#81]

I haven't sailed with a bike for a while, But lately I had a couple of race bikes sent un-accompanied on Blue Bridge ($50), something Troll won't even consider. Both bikes that went on BB, the person putting the bikes on, got to go on an tie them down......I got to go on at Picton and untie then and ride them off, they even show me a loading ramp to get them loaded with minimum hassle. BB seem a smaller operation and you often get better service. :rockon:Blue Bridge

[pritch]

The experience quoted here by some is rather at odds with mine.

Comparing Bluebridge to the InterIslander doesn't really give a relevant answer. The comparison needs to be ship by ship.

The Bluebridge ship I sailed on had no bike specific facilities but neither did the Interislander Kaitake. The Arahura has sets of D rings on the deck specifically designed for bikes.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=55800

I seem to recall that there is another Interislander ship that has D rings in the deck for bikes but don't know which one it is. These are the only ones I will use given the choice.

My timetable will be made to suit the ship.

[Pixie]

Bluebridge is 100% New Zealand owned and operated.
The Interislander is owned by Toll, a giant, clumsy, fairly evil and uncaring international corporation.

That's why I choose Bluebridge. And they're cheaper!

But The Interislander was crap when it was owned by the NZ Government too.

[Steam]

But The Interislander was crap when it was owned by the NZ Government too.
Yes indeed, but what I meant is that all the profits now go overseas.

[magicfairy]

The Bluebridge ship I sailed on had no bike specific facilities but neither did the Interislander Kaitake. The Arahura has sets of D rings on the deck specifically designed for bikes.



Thats odd. I have sailed on both of the Bluebridge passenger boats in the last 3 months, both had D rings and X shaped holes in deck to hook into.
Maybe they didn't put you in the usual spot they put bikes.

[FROSTY]

My experience I have found the service to be about the same.
BB on average is cheaper and Interislander tends to be faster

[warewolf]

I'm a regular traveller and normally use the Interislander. Finally did a trip on Bluebridge last October because the times suited, wasn't impressed. I like the idea of supporting the non-Interislander business but everything seemed second-rate. I've used Strait Shipping before they started the Bluebridge service, that was ace but they've got a long way to go with the current service. Try a search, I've written more detail before.

Both operations put the bikes in various spots. And normally on the Interislander the bikes go on/off ahead of the cars, but they do load some of the bigger vehicles first.

Net result is that I'd shop purely on price & convenience, unless you wanted on-board services then I'd say go Interislander. My last trip was Interislander one direction and Bluebridge the other.

[MaxB]

When I had to do conferences and exhibits in the SI I used the Interislander a fair bit. For cars, utes & trailers I would say there is not much difference. You're just another number in the queue. But for bikes I found Bluebridge a lot better. They seem to give a shit. Until I get shafted I will continue to use them. YMMV.

[ceebie13]

I've never had a problem on either carrier. I use my own tie downs and never let anyone else do the job. That way it's all down to me. Never had a problem with anchorage points or staff attitude either. Comparing the two, I agree with Warewolf - BlueBridge seems like second fiddle to InterIslander to me. But that in itself doesn't sway my decision. The 8.30am sailing on InterIslander's "Kaitake" is perfect for us as we live 20 minutes from the terminal.

I also have fond memories of the "Kaitake" when it was the "Pride of Cherbourg" and I sailed on it from Southampton to Cherbourg on the start of many a great European fang. :niceone:

I'm not fussed about being first on or first off either - who cares? Bex and I head for the "lookout" deck on the "Kaitake" and settle down there with coffee and mags for the crossing. That way, we dont have to endure three and half hours of Rugby, soccer or V8s on the TV's in the bar or listen to some anonymous singer-songwriter playing his passage (...maybe I should re-phrase that!)

[pritch]

X shaped holes in deck to hook into.


The X shaped holes are designed for containers not bikes. They don't work properly for tie downs especially if you have caribeeners (sp?).

Those bike specific parks just inside the door of the Arahura should cope with any weather you are likely to strike on a crossing. (Short of the ship capsizing in which case the bike becomes less of a priority... )

Not so what was on offer on the Kaitake, or the Bluebridge ship I used.

Like Dirty Harry said, "Do you feel lucky?"

[chanceyy]

The experience quoted here by some is rather at odds with mine.

Comparing Bluebridge to the InterIslander doesn't really give a relevant answer. The comparison needs to be ship by ship.

The Bluebridge ship I sailed on had no bike specific facilities but neither did the Interislander Kaitake. The Arahura has sets of D rings on the deck specifically designed for bikes.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=55800

I seem to recall that there is another Interislander ship that has D rings in the deck for bikes but don't know which one it is. These are the only ones I will use given the choice.

My timetable will be made to suit the ship.


Thats odd. I have sailed on both of the Bluebridge passenger boats in the last 3 months, both had D rings and X shaped holes in deck to hook into.
Maybe they didn't put you in the usual spot they put bikes.

Agree with Magicfairy here .. Monte Stello had d rings for tying betsy on .. staff freindly & thanks to dogs when i had trouble tying her down on the return sailing he came down from the kitchen to help me .. all the staff sure are friendly & most helpful ..

[Gremlin]

I'd be able to tell you what the interislander is like in a little over a week... I'm doing my first trip.

That said, I'm carrying my own tie downs, and tying the bike down myself. I wouldn't trust my baby to someone elses grubby tie downs.

[SuperSonic]

Wow thank you to every body for your time and passing on your experenices regarding the ferries.:2thumbsup It sounds more like the bluebridge is the ferry to go with overall. I have not been with them so will give them ago. :2thumbsup The last crossing was with interislander and like many others in this thread I to have had the same problems, eg last off, lack of tie downs D hooks things, and not very friendly service. :spanking:I have my own tie downs so thats not a problem.
Once again thank you to all, you all rock. :apint:

[vinducati]

Done a South Island Tour 7 times now, Bluebridge best.
Better Tie-Down points, let you on first and off first.
You can leave you luggage down there safely.
Some of the crew ride bikes.
Interislander patchy, sometimes not on first etc.
I would advise taking your own tie-downs though always more relaxing
Cheers

[mazz1972]

Thats odd. I have sailed on both of the Bluebridge passenger boats in the last 3 months, both had D rings and X shaped holes in deck to hook into.
Maybe they didn't put you in the usual spot they put bikes.

Seems to depends how on to it the staff are with what vehicles are booked on each sailing.

A group of us went down to the SI on one of the BB ships, it was mostly trucks and us, was half empty and the bike facilities were great.

However on the way back NI we went on the other BB ship (can't remember which one). There were six bikes on board which were boarded last. The staff put a car over some of the bike spaces, crammed four bikes into three bike spaces, and put the other two bikes in car spaces in a different area with only the x ground thingees to tie onto. There was no need to park a car over the bike spaces as there was at least 6 empty car spaces where they sent the 2 bikes. Bloody dumb and we weren't impressed.

Definately take your own tie downs.

[oldrider]

But The Interislander was crap when it was owned by the NZ Government too.

Too true and it was tax payer propped up as well, you were paying for it even if you didn't use it! :buggerd:


Yes indeed, but what I meant is that all the profits now go overseas.

Where do you think the profits went when the Union Steam Ship Co owned the ferries?

The Union Co got out of the ferries because the Seamans Union was strangling the service and they were closing the service down, the Government stepped in to save the ferries but they still had the Seamans union problems, which they covered with tax money for a while.

Ownership is not the issue (unless you are a socialist) the issue is always about "service provided" to the customer and "price".

If there was a choice between a crappy "government owned" company and a slick customer (motorcycle friendly) focused company, would you choose the crappy government one, just because it's government owned?

Not very likely. :no:

It's not about ownership and where the profits go, it's about service and customer satisfaction. :yes: Cheers John.

[Finn]

Bluebridge is 100% New Zealand owned and operated.


So they're stupid, disorganized, dangerous and bound to be heading for a major disaster anytime now.

Thanks for the heads up. Interislander for me.

[Steam]

A true patriot

[Smokin]

I have nothing but praise for the Interislander, Used them a couple of times and was first on first off except for once when two big arse trucks went first, but I was still first off, was asked if I needed help(using my own tiedowns) tying down by staff, and after one of my rougher crossings I returned to my bike to find shitloads of extra ropes holding it bloody firm and not a single rope tied to anything where it would rub or leave marks.

I can't fault the Interislander and untill I can they will have my utmost trust to carry my bikes.

[davereid]

BlueBridge.

Honest pricing system. Staff who try to do well.

(With the exceotion of the fat chick in the bar on yesterdays 2pm picton - wgtn sailing who most certainly needed an hour in the pillory.)

But, as a regular traveller, I find it a better service, with no cunning pricing or rip offs.

[banditrider]

Just booked my trip down & back for the Mini's Return on the Blue Bridge. The only issue was booking online: Kawasaki was not on the list of vehicle makes so I'm riding my "Ferrari" instead.

About tie-downs etc, I always take my own and have got one of those straps that fits over the handle bars to keep things from rubbing on the paintwork. I also placed some small sections of bicycle tube over the straps where there straps did touch the paintwork. Seems to do the trick.

[Zapf]

Bluebridge is 100% New Zealand owned and operated.
The Interislander is owned by Toll, a giant, clumsy, fairly evil and uncaring international corporation.

That's why I choose Bluebridge. And they're cheaper!

oh that does it for me. Bluebridge everytime from now.