BlueBridge Ferries

[GTRMAN]

Hi all,

So I took the wife down to Christchurch for the weekend, her first long distance ride on the back of the bandit, have to day how impressed I was with the way we were treated on the Bluebridge ferry service. We sailed south on Thursday morning and were the first on the boat, shown our space and given strops to tie the bike down ourselves, then we were the first off in Picton. On the return journey it was pissing down in Picton when we went to check in (the stipulated hour before departure) so we were sent straight on to the boat without queing, we were warm dry and fed before the boat had even left the dock.

It's fairly easy to bag a company when we don't get treated well so it is nice shout out to a company that went beyond the call of duty.

Cheers Bluebridge.

[Okey Dokey]

Yup, I totally agree with you. I've had very good trips on Bluebridge and wouldn't use those other ferries ever again.

[slimjim]

hear..hear..have too had same .. yup "bluebridge...

[Devil]

I've had good trips on the interislander.
Recently I was the only bike on the ferry, rode on, pointed to the bike area and lo and behold, what is there waiting for me? They've welded on a Ventura front wheel stand (the type you roll the bike onto)! So just ride up, clunk onto the stand and get straight off. Tied the bike up myself (wouldn't let anyone else do it anyway).

[duckonin]

Hi GTRMAN, what was the cost for your bike and your selves return on the Bluebridge Welly- Pic..Cheers

[ynot slow]

Good to hear great service,the NZmotorcaravan assoc have great rates with them too.

[GTRMAN]

$250 return for the two of us. not bad really

[Dino]

I haven't had any problems with either of them but prefer Bluebridge, going over on Friday. They have a special on at the moment of $39 per person and $50 per bike, total $89 including GST each way.
.

[duckonin]

Thanks for the price up date all..cheers

[gunrunner]

I haven't had any problems with either of them but prefer Bluebridge, going over on Friday. They have a special on at the moment of $39 per person and $50 per bike, total $89 including GST each way.
.

Yeah, i got that price as have just booked for weekend after next , interislander was $100+ dearer return

[cave weta]

Between 1989 and1999 I went south each summer with my race boat to do the South Island GP series. The National association had a deal with transrail. Price was reduced slightly but we were allways treated like sheep. No hang on.. sheep get a little better service, they get complimentary vet check and free water.

From 1999 till I left the sport in 2002 we had a deal with Bluebridge - or Strait Shipping as they were back then. What a crew they were! The boat was called the SUILLIVAN -the whole boat was run by about 8 crew and they were all awesome. Each year they took me on the bridge and the second year they took me down to visit the two huge M.A.N. Diesels in the engineroom. they do 340rpm flat out!-they showed me the oil recycling system ( it only has an oil change every 5 years). between then it re refines it onboard. I think they are running newer boats now - this first one used to be a north sea ferry. The company was started by the guys at Otorohanga Transport so they could get sheep over the strait without using Transrail! Oh and the First mate- Jackie, she was nioce!
Peter, the cook would just come through to the saloon and shout that lunch was ready- you went in and dished up yourself a massive feed of all the stuff he had made- no extra charge! - then go and find an unused room and have a couple of hours kip till you hit wellytown.- THOSE WERE~THE DAYS!

One year I totalled my boat and left the hull down there. I came back with an empty trailer. Instead of charging me for 5 metres of empty trailer. They grunted and pushed and stood it on end and didnt charge me!

the powerboat association price for truck and boat and me was $135

[Phreaky Phil]

We've had several trips on Bluebridge, all good. There foods cheaper and there sailing times often suit us better.

[Pedrostt500]

Yep i preffer Blue Bridge, they get all my bussness these days, Interislander is to much into ripping off the Tourists. The Cook Straight used to be the most exspensive peice of watter to cross in the world before the Rail Ferries got some competition.

[banditrider]

I'd have to agree with most here. The Bluebridge is my pick where possible. The staff are humans and happy to help out etc. It's great being off the boat first too.

[3L4NS1R]

Travelling with these guys early next year, one of our group members recently broke his leg, so we had to get a refund. After a posted letter was sent, bluebridge had no problem with giving a refund. I like them already, and I haven't even sailed with them!