Anyone taken Comanav (Sete-Marocco) recently?

[panderingpeter]

(Sorry, this is sort of a double post.)

If anyone's taken the Comanav from Sete to either Nador or Tangier recently:

1. How much did you pay (and for what?)
2. How was it turning up and buying a ticket in Sete - were you able to get onto the next ferry, or did you have to wait several days?

Thanks for any info.

[Chris Scott]

1. How much did you pay (and for what?)

I took it last April - dont know if it was Comnav - one of those. About 300-350 eu?? one way with a 4x4 and a basic cabin and meals. Give yourself a day in Sete - its nice. On board the meals are pretty dire compared to Alger/Tunis ferries.

2. How was it turning up and buying a ticket in Sete - were you able to get onto the next ferry, or did you have to wait several days?

I booked it upstairs as it was loading. I thought it was the Nador ferry a day late which I had booked in advance but that one never turned up so I went to Tanger instead and reversed my plans.

Obviously it pays to arrive at the port as a ferry is scheduled to depart as they don't leave Sete every day.

Ch

[Toyark]

Ruddy horrible passage! Comanav....
Mechanical problems meant a change in ferry - as was with bike I went on - all camper cars/4x4's big stuff was left behind in car park
Massive queue in the hall upstairs and a real sllllooooooooowww person doing the tickets.
Dirty ship - & the toilets ......well.... they were WMD's for sure
Cigarette smoke so thick everywhere... and can only escape outside on the bow.

Long time aboard and could not wait to get off!
No tie downs offered- you are left to your own devices so have ratchet straps with you!

Better still, give Sete a miss and drive through Spain and enjoy Spanish hospitality, good food and scenery- MUCH better option IMHO

[TT-Kira]

If it's off season it's usually fine - the service is great too - there were only 60 on one trip I did from Port Vendres (at the end of their summer season) & it was like sailing with family, the loo's were clean, staff friendly & the other (all but one other were Moroccan) were great fun!

Another trip there the boat was two thirds full, same crew who remembered me & very friendly but things (loos etc) did get a little nasty towards the end of the trip!

Kira

[panderingpeter]

thanks. i'll probably just turn up then. i don't really have any other choice anyway, because the booking agent in the uk (southern ferries) seems to stick about £100 commission on their tickets; plus it would mean pressure to reach the port in time. better just buy it there.

Kira, which company runs from Port Vendres to Morocco...any idea? I can't find any info via google.

[Chris Scott]

uk (southern ferries) seems to stick about £100 commission on their tickets

I admit SF are not the most efficient bunch since they moved but in these days of internet can it be that much?
The Nador ferry I got refunded from them was more or less proportionally less than the Tanger I bought over the counter at Sete port.

Ch

[TT-Kira]

PP - it's Comanav too - but only a summer sailing - I think from late May to (definitely) late September - not as much of a circus as it is elsewhere, great little port!

Kira

PS. Missed your bit about the extra 100GBP booking charge, that's outrageous - I pay an extra 6E on top of tickets here in France if I go via my travel agent!

[backofbeyond]

Originally Posted by TT-Kira

I pay an extra 6E on top of tickets here in France if I go via my travel agent!

Maybe you could book my P&O UK - Spain ferry for me. I was asked for an extra £20 by a ticket specialist on my local high st on a £190.00 fare last week.

[panderingpeter]

I admit SF are not the most efficient bunch since they moved but in these days of internet can it be that much?

You can't buy Sete-Marocco via the Internet with Southernferries nor Euromer (the french booking agent) as far as I can tell; it's all done over the phone.

Kira, there's no mention of that route on the Comanav website. Strage,

[TT-Kira]

Depuis 30 ans, Comanav déploie tous les moyens pour répondre aux attentes de ses clients et développer ses services. Elle a été la première compagnie à créer des lignes régulières au long cours pour répondre aux besoins des Marocains résidents à l'étranger (1975 Tanger-Sète, 1987 Nador-Sète, 2002 Tanger - Gênes, 2004 Tanger - Port Vendres et Nador-Naples).

From the home page ... which has made me realise the first time I got it must have been it's first season!

I would think they might have taken it off as it's only the summer sailings - I know in their brochure that it's on again for '09

I would reserve once you get to France, it'll be far simpler - get a travel agent to do it!

Kira

[Toyark]

[quote=TT-Kira;210125]Depuis 30 ans, Comanav déploie tous les moyens pour répondre aux attentes de ses clients et développer ses services. Elle a été la première compagnie à créer des lignes régulières au long cours pour répondre aux besoins des Marocains résidents à l'étranger (1975 Tanger-Sète, 1987 Nador-Sète, 2002 Tanger - Gênes, 2004 Tanger - Port Vendres et Nador-Naples).

c'est la veritee.... (how true....)


Book with Brittanny Ferries (good, modern, clean and reliable company with helpful staff and great catering on board) to Santander so as to give the frogs a miss/ and enjoy good Spanish tapas and down to Algeciras-

[TT-Kira]

So - Bert I don't quite get this - you don't like Morocco & Moroccans?

And French food isn't bad either, thanks! Especially here in the south where it's heavily influenced by Spain!

I know of good piste in the Orkneys if that takes your fancy!

Kira

[dommiek]

I've sailed a few times with this company a few years ago and will happily use them again. There is a ticket office in Sete (Rue des Algiers) which is near the entrance to the car ferry terminal, just along the quay and around the corner, they sell all sorts of travel tickets and I have purchased a ticket there (the office was still there in May).
Also consider the other company "Comarit", both offer similar services.
I had a bunk in a 4 berth cabin with all meals included. It's not up to European standards but if you're not prepared to rough it a bit and put up with dirty showers/toilets maybe you should think twice about a trip to Maroc! The staff are friendly, the canteen food is ok, there's a bar and it's a good introduction to Morocco. It gets busy around Christmas time so if travelling then, probabaly best to book in advance.
If you do have to wait a few days for the next boat, Sete is a great town to relax in for a while.
If you book an open return as I did it can be a bit of a headache trying to confirm/change the return crossing. They have several offices throughout Maroc but I had to go to the office in Marrakech to do this.

Have fun..............

[Toyark]

Originally Posted by TT-Kira

So - Bert I don't quite get this - you don't like Morocco & Moroccans?

And French food isn't bad either, thanks! Especially here in the south where it's heavily influenced by Spain!

I know of good piste in the Orkneys if that takes your fancy!

Kira

No TT, it has nothing to do with Moroccans or Morocco but rather being charged a lot of money for a most unpleasant crossing, minimalist facilities even if I use that word, one single bar area full of cigarette smoke (not so good if you are a non smoker with respiratory problems), and disgusting toilets which were never serviced during the entire trip. So it would be fair to say that I think very little about comanav.

And as for the Oarkneys..... bit small for my liking
I don't mind 'old' but there is no excuse for 'not clean'.
Interesting to note that when I have used toilets in shacks made of mud in Mali and where water was at a premium, these were clean.

As for the Frenchies haha - just like teasing them being half-a-one myself!
. Part of the reason of this board is to provide information-When something is good or bad, it needs be flagged for others to draw their own conclusions

[panderingpeter]

thanks bert, i appreciate it. i hear what you're saying about the cleanliness.

i'm actually pedalling by push-bike, which was part of the reason behind posting here; I wanted to know that I could turn-up and buy easily in sete, as logistically booking in advance and timing my arrival for the ferry is a bit trickier for me.

i'm only planning to use this ferry if i can get the promo tickets price, which would mean I'd pay under UK£100 for a single with bike to Nador. if i have to pay more than UK£100 then I'll think about riding through spain.

as it stands, i'll be arriving at the office in sete without a ticket, and seeing what happens about prices and availability. i'll try to remember to report back my findings, in case anyone else finds it useful.

thanks to all who have provided valuable info (including you, berty) and if anyone's got any more info re. this service, let me know!