Thread: Cook Strait ferries

Planning a big road trip & some Sth Is hunts next year. InterIslander or BlueBridge - is one better than the other ?

I thought this was going to be about the old Awatere sitting out in Nelson Bay

Bluebridge is great

It's a case of either/or for me. Bluebridge is more convenient if not traveling by vehicle and Central Wellington is your destination to catch trains,buses, etc. Bluebridge Wellington terminal can be a cnut if you strike rush hour traffic and you miss the terminal entrance if you're catching the ferry.

I book two or three refundable tickets to try and mitigate the usual breakdowns and cancellations. Has paid off more than once in recent years.


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bluebridge

NZDA members get a discount for the Interislander, if that’s relevant to you.

Yep we prefer Bluebridge , actually got a 1.30 crossing today

I used to get free / heavily discounted Interislander, but would sometimes still travel Bluebridge.

The only real difference between the two, and it was the deal maker / breaker for me, is was the availability of cabins on Bluebridge. I had done the crossing enough times that the scenery wasn’t a highlight anymore. So hiring a $40 cabin and getting 3hr sleep plus a good shower is a big selling point for me.

I usually time the sailing so that it’s at a good time to have a sleep.

If you haven’t done the trip before, maybe do cabin one way and not the other.

Bluebridge plus a cabin every time for me

Originally Posted by Happy Jack

I thought this was going to be about the old Awatere sitting out in Nelson Bay

Thanks for reminding me ....not.
She is heading my way and bound to create a ton of extra work for yours truly

Originally Posted by longshot

I used to get free / heavily discounted Interislander, but would sometimes still travel Bluebridge.

The only real difference between the two, and it was the deal maker / breaker for me, is was the availability of cabins on Bluebridge. I had done the crossing enough times that the scenery wasn’t a highlight anymore. So hiring a $40 cabin and getting 3hr sleep plus a good shower is a big selling point for me.

I usually time the sailing so that it’s at a good time to have a sleep.

If you haven’t done the trip before, maybe do cabin one way and not the other.

It's handy having a cabin if you've got dogs with you. A lot less stressful for them

Bluebridge every time for me, the allure of a cabin just can't be beat plus the fact that once, many moons ago, they gave me and my horses free passage across the strait, that kindness has never been forgotten.

Originally Posted by Steve123

It's handy having a cabin if you've got dogs with you. A lot less stressful for them

As I found out recently, the cabin with dog thing only happens on day time crossings

Originally Posted by Zedrex

Bluebridge every time for me, the allure of a cabin just can't be beat plus the fact that once, many moons ago, they gave me and my horses free passage across the strait, that kindness has never been forgotten.

Same. My wife and I were being run ragged chasing a couple of toddlers around the boat a few years ago on a filthy day for crossing, we had them eating fish and chips for 5 minutes respite when a young crew member came up to us and asked if we wanted a cabin. I asked her how much, she just smiled and said don't worry about that, follow me. What a relief to lock the door and let the kids play on the floor, it's only ever been Bluebridge ever since for us (and a cabin).

Incidentally, the 0200 sailing when you could roll on around 10pm and sleep in the cabin for the night was the best thing ever, talked my wife into it for this time round so we booked onto the 0200 sailing for last Monday, about 9am she mentions she can't find any mention of the 10pm boarding, gave Bluebridge a call and no, that ended a couple of years ago. Getting to Wellington for a 0100 boarding and 0200 sailing was brutal, if I was getting the cold shoulder on Monday I wasn't aware of it, lights out every time I sat down.