Bike luggage on the Ferry

[Rhosyn]

Hi, Im new on here so hope I'm right in doing this.

I'm planning on a bike trip to Europe this year. I have a top box and will use a soft luggage tied onto the pillion seat with bungees and was wondering how safe is it to leave it on the bike while on the ferry down in the parking area. There will only be clothing in the bag no valuables. Has anyone ever had their luggage tampered with while travelling by ferry. :salut:

[dyzio]

Has anyone ever had their luggage tampered with while travelling by ferry. :salut:

Only done 3 or 4 overnight crossings but all was fine, there's no access to the car decks during the crossing (for passengers at least).

[Rhosyn]

Only done 3 or 4 overnight crossings but all was fine, there's no access to the car decks during the crossing (for passengers at least).

Ok thanks for that, I was thinking about how honest the crew members were. But at least you've had no problems so that's good.:thumleft:

[Luckypants]

I've never had any problems with my stuff being tampered with on the car deck in many crossings. If I'm camping my bike looks like this

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/196361_4952068213_677353213_146721_3969_n.jpg

It's an old photo but gives the idea. The tank bag comes off and with me into the passenger areas as it contains my valuables.

[Rhosyn]

I've never had any problems with my stuff being tampered with on the car deck in many crossings. If I'm camping my bike looks like this

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/196361_4952068213_677353213_146721_3969_n.jpg

It's an old photo but gives the idea. The tank bag comes off and with me into the passenger areas as it contains my valuables.

Thanks :salut:

[-Ralph-]

Has anyone ever had their luggage tampered with while travelling by ferry

Yes, Plymouth to Santander this summer. Nothing missing, but nothing worth stealing in the top tail pack and panniers. Somebody had opened it and had a rummage around though. All my tools were in the bottom tailpack, but it didn't look like they wanted to go to the hassle of removing the top one, or disturb things to the extent where they couldn't just walk away whistling if they were disturbed. On the way back I put a tie wrap through each zip, and took a picture, just enough that a potential thief knew I could prove tampering with the ferry company if I got back to the bike and the tie wraps were cut or gone.

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd82/colinbal4/XT600/P1070455.jpg

[Rhosyn]

Yes, Plymouth to Santander this summer. Nothing missing, but nothing worth stealing in the top tail pack and panniers. Somebody had opened it and had a rummage around though. All my tools were in the bottom tailpack, but it didn't look like they wanted to go to the hassle of removing the top one, or disturb things to the extent where they couldn't just walk away whistling if they were disturbed. On the way back I put a tie wrap through each zip, and took a picture, just enough that a potential thief knew I could prove tampering with the ferry company if I got back to the bike and the tie wraps were cut or gone.

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd82/colinbal4/XT600/P1070455.jpg

Dam.....That's the one Im planning on going on in May. I will have a waterproof cover over the bag and then the bungees so hopefully they wont be able to rumage through my smalls :smt046 That bag will only contain my clothes so there will be nothing worth nicking. But they should have security cameras down there and sack who ever tampers with other peoples belongings.

Thanks for your reply :thumleft:

[-Ralph-]

Yep, as Luckypants says, take a tank bag on board with all your valuables.

Do you have a cabin? If not a couple of tips:

On the Pont Aven the reclining seats lounge is at the top of the main staircase on the top deck, next to the swimming pool (don't take swimming stuff unless you want to be the only adult in a tiny pool packed full of excited kids). Go straight up there when you board and at the back of the room is a rack containing duvet's pillows, etc, go commandeer what you want before anybody else gets there. I made myself a bed on the floor at the front of the room with one of the duvets then dumped all my towel and bike gear on top of it.

At night when sleeping I wrapped my tankbag in the towel and used it as a pillow. Nobody was getting my wallet, camera and phone without waking me up and getting a punch in the face.

There is a shower and small changing area in the toilets right next to the swimming pool for the morning.

Anything else you want to ask about the ferry or the journey, fire away.

[Rhosyn]

Yep, as Luckypants says, take a tank bag on board with all your valuables.

Do you have a cabin? If not a couple of tips:

On the Pont Aven the reclining seats lounge is at the top of the main staircase on the top deck, next to the swimming pool (don't take swimming stuff unless you want to be the only adult in a tiny pool packed full of excited kids). Go straight up there when you board and at the back of the room is a rack containing duvet's pillows, etc, go commandeer what you want before anybody else gets there. I made myself a bed on the floor at the front of the room with one of the duvets then dumped all my towel and bike gear on top of it.

At night when sleeping I wrapped my tankbag in the towel and used it as a pillow. Nobody was getting my wallet, camera and phone without waking me up and getting a punch in the face.

There is a shower and small changing area in the toilets right next to the swimming pool for the morning.

Anything else you want to ask about the ferry or the journey, fire away.

I've gone for the reclining seat, thanks for that advice, very much appreciated. :cheers:

[-Ralph-]

I've gone for the reclining seat, thanks for that advice, very much appreciated. :cheers:

How much did you pay if you don't mind me asking? Have you just booked recently?

[Rhosyn]

How much did you pay if you don't mind me asking? Have you just booked recently?

I've booked about a month back now, it was £223. outward from plymouth return to Southhampton

[-Ralph-]

Good price, well worth letting the ferry take the strain, rather than the extra time and expense of riding through France.

[Rhosyn]

Good price, well worth letting the ferry take the strain, rather than the extra time and expense of riding through France.

Yes that's what we thought, as it was Spain we wanted to explore so were doing a circle around Madrid. Staying 2 nights on the east side, seeing pyranees + extra, 3 nights south side and exploring that area and then 2 nights east side and exploring that area then back to santander. Haven't looked into sites to see just yet but Pyranees was a must lol

[-Ralph-]

Pico's de Europa area just south of Santander is nice too, but it rains a lot I believe.

[dyzio]

Pico's de Europa area just south of Santander is nice too, but it rains a lot I believe.


Sunny Santander :D

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/9127/p5120014g.jpg

[Rhosyn]

Sunny Santander :D

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/9127/p5120014g.jpg

What time of year was this taken then :(

[dyzio]

May last year: http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=167854

But don't worry about that, it was roasting when we were on the return trip.

[Rhosyn]

May last year: http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=167854

But don't worry about that, it was roasting when we were on the return trip.

Had a look at that link, looks great and fantastic pictures to. Im going 13th May. Can't wait, am now counting the days ;)

[-Ralph-]

It rained on my way out through the Pico's last August, and on the way in 10 days later. Everyone on the ferry who had been camping had their tents up in the car park trying to dry them out, said they been pee'd on non stop for two weeks :)

Look at Donegal, Wales, Lake District, Western Scotland, etc. Wherever in Europe you have mountains bordering a western coast facing the Atlantic, you get a lot of rain.

[Rhosyn]

It rained on my way out through the Pico's last August, and on the way in 10 days later. Everyone on the ferry who had been camping had their tents up in the car park trying to dry them out, said they been pee'd on non stop for two weeks :)

Look at Donegal, Wales, Western Scotland, etc. Whenever you have mountains bordering a western coast facing the Atlantic, you get a lot of rain.

:smt005Better make sure I take the waterproofs then lol

[-Ralph-]

:smt005Better make sure I take the waterproofs then lol

I was in kevlar jeans and didn't bother stopping to put them on. The air was so warm that 20 minutes after the rain stopped, with an 80mph windblast, I was dry again. Had I been riding round the Europa's and not passing through, I would have put them on though.

[shonadoll]

We did Newcastle to Amsterdam on way to Germany last year- I took my panniers off and kept them in the cabin, supposedly the bike deck was out of bounds but there were always quite a few people there. At the very least cable tie the. And don't leave valuables in.

[blue curvy jester]

I've booked about a month back now, it was £223. outward from plymouth return to Southhampton

What company goes into southahmpton then?

[Rhosyn]

What company goes into southahmpton then?

Sorry my mistake, it should be Portsmouth, good job I got 2 mates going with me, or who knows where I will end up at lol

[Doinitmyway]

Just bit the bullet and booked the Plymouth to Santander ferry in July. £199 one way with a cabin. Brittany ferries I think, used ferrysavers.com to book it. No going back now! This has turned a 6 day jaunt into 10 days :p

I am in the process of getting a cheap givi setup (E21's) and was going to leave them on the bike.

Just need to sort out the part of the route from Valencia to Austria now :smt024

Chris

[Tim in Belgium]

Enjoy!