Condor confident over festive period capacity

However, there are only three ferry sailings where islanders are now able to book to take their car to the UK in the 10 days before Christmas.

The Clipper conventional ferry was originally set to join sister ship the Islander and the fast ferry Voyager around the festive period.

But in recent weeks passengers have seen their bookings moved to other services, as the Clipper has been working the Le Havre to Portsmouth route over the last few weeks.

Yesterday the ship was sailing between Rosslare in Ireland and Le Havre, although Brittany Ferries website said this was not a passenger service it was running this year.

A Brittany Ferries’ and Condor Ferries’ spokesman said there would be enough room for Channel Island travellers this festive period.

‘Our cross-Channel capacity has been increased over the Christmas and New Year period to ensure it is more than sufficient to meet the seasonal demand,’ he said.

‘Condor Liberation resumes service on 19 December after her annual maintenance and will operate additional sailings from Poole. [Freight ship] Commodore Goodwill and Condor Islander are also running six and seven days per week respectively to keep the Islands connected and supplied.’

Many people will have booked ahead for the festive period, but it means there are few options for last-minute travellers.

Trying to book on the Condor website in the 10 days in the run-up to Christmas, people looking to travel by car to the UK will have to travel on the Islander on Sunday 15 December or Saturday 21 December, or the Liberation on Sunday 22 December.

Meanwhile foot passengers will have the choice of 11 services – at least one a day – in the 10 days before Christmas.

The spokesman said Condor did not believe it would need the Clipper this winter. And under the new Guernsey-only contract, it will not be needed for next year’s Channel Islands timetable either, except as a back-up vessel.

‘So following changes to our fleet plans, she will be on charter to Brittany Ferries,’ the spokesman said.

‘Passengers with existing bookings on Clipper are being accommodated on alternative Liberation and Islander departures. However, we have retained the option to recall Clipper to service in the Channel Islands if required, maintaining our fleet resilience.

‘She will also operate to St Malo for five weeks during January and early February.’

The ferry has already been called into local service again recently during bad weather disruption.