War of the coaches!
No not War of the Roses, I do mean War of the Coaches! Well maybe not war but maybe a little healthy competition. Carnival recently changed their preferred coach company from long time suppliers Eavesway Travel to Intercruises – Coach Connect, and I wondered what regular cruisers thought so I set up a thread and here is what I found!
Coaches were first provided by Eavesway Travel in the 1990’s and were initially chartered by Travel Agents as a way of getting clients in the North West to their cruises in Southampton. This proved so successful that the routes were expanded and Eavesway became the preferred supplier for P & O and Princess Cruises. This recently changed and now Eavesway are the preferred supplier of Fred Olsen, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises however they still offer routes for Princess Cruises, Cunard and P & O Cruises. Eavesway currently operate a fleet of 34 Van Hool Executive Coaches.
Intercruises have been in the coach business since 2001 and were the preferred supplier for Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Cunard, however recently they have take over from Eavesway as the preferred supplier for P & O Cruises and Princess Cruises as well as Cunard. As far as I am aware they do not have their own fleet of coaches and subcontract out to other coach companies.
Price wise as I live in Lancaster I will compare the costs for a departure to Southampton on a return basis.
Eavesway £96 per person return
Intercruises £100 per person return
Not much in it price wise and with P & O , Cunard and Princess offering a free coach transfer (with Intercruises) many people have been tempted to book using this offer however it may be worth reading the following comments from the thread I posted. I have deleted peoples names to protect their right to anonymity but have in no other way altered the comments (a few spelling mistakes – not mine) and I think you can see the general feeling.
The question asked was,”Need some feedback please if you have ever used Eavesway Coaches against Intercruises?”
Only used eavesway they are very good
Will only ever use Eavesway
Eavesway were great!!
I have had several complaints about Intercruises including coaches not fit for purpose, journeys taking longer but with earlier starting times.
We’ve used eavesway there spot on our next cruise is with inter cruise disappointed at there pick up points eavesway were miles better
Always use Eavesway…they are great!
Oh dear sorry to hear this. We were very happy with Eavesway but have opted for the coach transfer as usual & now it’s Intercruises hope it will all be ok!
Used eavesway every time in four cruises traveling on my own
Very professional never had a problem
Eavesway are excellent
Always Eavesway nice clean coaches good pickup points.
We couldn’t fault Eavesway been with them at least 6 times.Also the drivers have been very friendly!
Only used evesway no complaints, but we are on intercruise in 2 weeks time, from harwich, and evesway do not go there, as we are on celebrity, hope they are as good
i am disabled and have used eavesway 5 times now and they very good with me and my wife they are so polite and nothing is a problem and I live in wales so they pick us up in chester I would highly recommend they
Eavesway tops, used Intercruises once not very impressed.
Not cruised since P&O have changed companies but could never fault Eavesway
tried intercruise but never again eavesway are the tops
Always use eavesway they are very good
Despite ringing over a week ago we still haven’t received our travel info from Intercruises & we go a wk Monday. Getting a little concerned now after all these comments!
Always eaves way very good
Eavesway excellent for us its them or the train seen intercruisers coaches
always used eavesway but this year we had to use intercruises but tbh it was great fab pleasant and helpful driver very good experience hope u have agood holiday x
Have used Eavesway twice and they have been excellent. However in January we had to wait at dock gate until the Intercruise coaches had all arrived so we were on board very late. Also on disembarkation they gave a time for Intercruise people but not for Eavesway. We asked and they begrudgingly gave us a time but not all passengers did and we had to wait quite a while.
Eavesway were good for us, only puzzle was they had a drinks machine situated at the top of the stairs down to the loo, we asked the driver could we use it and he said it wasn’t for the passengers, then who was it for. Strange! !
We were told in may that those of us on eavesway coaches are now treated as independent so we can choose when to get off
Went with eavesway last year and had no problems
After 2 phone calls to Intercruising they’ve finally emailed our travel documents. Their answer machine gives option 1 as 2013 cruises, not a confidence builder! Had to ring & check why they estimated a 5 hour journey from Cardiff to Southampton, told that’s the longest it make take – I hope not!
I think the unanimous winner goes to……….Eavesway!
If I was in charge of P & O, Cunard and Princess maybe its time you take stock of what your passengers are saying about your preferred coach supplier.
On a personal note my recommendation to any of my clients is pay for the Eavesway coach and take the on board credit instead then at least you know you will arrive at your destination in a comfortable and safe environment.
If you have experienced either of these services please let me have your comments.
5 Comments on “War of the coaches!”
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Some people are shopaholics, some are chocaholics and some like me are cruiseaholics! Okay you got me I am also a slight chocoholic as well. I guess my love affair for cruises began in the late 1970's when I used to watch "The Love Boat", which was an American TV…
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I worked for eavesway travel for 17 years and helped to build the company up to high standards as it is today took early retirement 2 years ago ,if anybody are going to book intercruises I would be asking questions on who the coach firm you are travelling with because all coaches are hired into them .were as eavesway coaches are all built to executive standard , and if anybody were to bee unsure of them just look at the website for eavesway .all drivers are vetted to fit in with eavesway policy for high standard which we wanted to instill in all drivers taking on
Thanks Brian for your comments. They have been reiterated by an actual coach driver from Intercruises. I have taken his name and route out as he still works for them and does not want to be identified but in his words, “I am a coach driver with intercruises and I am fighting a losing battle with the intercruise logistics. Their practice is unbelievable and a very poor second to eavesway. Their pick up points are dangerous and unpractical. Parking on double yellow lines on main roads and no break considered in the planning. As the journey that I do takes several hours you are forced to take an unplanned stop for our statutory break meaning your late by 45 minutes to one of the stops and the remaining journey. I hear and face irate passenger because I’m late due to the forced break and passenger having to remain on the coach for hours at a time without comfort stops..The coaches are to small for the amount of luggage and is an health and safety issue. Iv known drivers putting cases inside coaches on seats. Iv seen the shabby drivers ill shaven and in properly dressed. The whole thing is a shambles. I try so hard to represent each cruise company as if I work for them but the organisation of intercruise is shocking. I feel that before long someone could get hurt either on the dock or on route because of people ie drivers rushing. If the cruise company’s could see the mess the transport side of the operation is like I think they would act accordingly and rejoin eavesway.”
I would just like to take this opportunity to balance the books on some of your concerns. I recently travelled from Nottingham to Southampton and used the intercruise Travel option. The Holmeswood coach arrived at the pick up point punctually, the driver was friendly and very well presented, the coach was clean and very comfortable. The driver explained the route that he was taking and that he had a further pick up to make, and that there would be a journey break at Warwick services. Our arrival at the port was unfortunately delayed by the road works in the vicinity of Ocean Terminal, but this was only 10 minutes after the estimated time of arrival given to us by our driver. My big regret is that I did not make a note of that particular drivers name, (whoever you are, if you are, should you read this, thank you for a very smooth journey). I was hoping it would be the same driver on the homeward trip but it was not meant to be.
I am a seasoned “Cruiser” and have have used Eavesway in the past, I have also travelled to the ship by car, train and even flown on one occasion. I would have no hesitation in using Intercruise again,
Thank you very much for your comment Mrs Hampson. It is always good to hear both sides of the story.
We do not want Intercruises we like Eavesway all the time great coaches which are changed for brand new coaches every year comfortable and great drivers.