Holidaymaker questions Condor schedule

Tony Woodman lives just outside Reading and has visited Guernsey every year for the last three years. He has no family connections with the island but just enjoys visiting.

‘I first came over in 1991 with my mum and dad,’ he said.

However, Mr Woodman is concerned that this year his family will be unable to visit at Easter because Condor’s schedule currently only goes up to 28 March.

‘A lot of the accommodation is being taken up and is fully booked for Easter,’ said Mr Woodman.

‘We have to wait for the boat schedule because otherwise we don’t know when we can come.’

A spokesman for Condor Ferries said the schedule for next summer would be available this month and that they publish in September each year.

‘A schedule does take many months to develop and we are putting the finishing touches to next summer at present. As soon as it is available, we will communicate widely and look forward to seeing your correspondent travelling with us next Easter,’ they told the Guernsey Press.

But Mr Woodman was concerned that by the time the Condor schedule is released, only the more expensive accommodation would be available.

‘I bring the family over with me and there’s six of us, so it’s usually three rooms. To get self-catering accommodation, it fills up quick.

‘[With] the plane you’re limited by luggage, we bring two cars with luggage. If they knew Easter was in April why didn’t they put the dates forward?’

Next year, Easter Sunday falls on 12 April.

Day trips to and from Poole were cancelled yesterday due to technical issues with the Condor Liberation.

Condor announced that a technical issue with one of the main engines has resulted in the sailing operating on ‘reduced power’ – with the vessel running a revised service as a result.

The firm apologised for the inconvenience and delays and thanked passengers for their patience and understanding.

Sailing updates can be checked at https://www.condorferries.co.uk/ferry-routes-ports/plan-your-journey/sailing-updates.