TEF Larkspur & Oleander - bfenthusiasts

Normandie · 20th Apr 04, 23:00

As there was a plan to do a Ostend-visit what had included some more people, too and some who have very much liked to go onboard a TEF vessel, I decided I could perhaps try and write a friendly letter to TEF and ask if such is possible.
The answer to this was possible and there were things arranged via telephone, to name it they asked how much time we´d need for taking pics and I said, in 15 min it would be done - said such as of course didn´t want to cause them extra-work.
Meanwhile it happened that some weren´t able nor to come to Ostend, nor to do a trip with us, nor to meet us in Hull. Left over, Bram and me.
First it was arranged for Friday the 16 th but got called due to a changed schedule it must be Monday and Bram had to do some calles to make that day free otherwise it would have meant to go there totally alone.
So Monday the 19 th was it. We had to get up early, have a quick breakfast and walk to the car that we are right at 09.15 at the terminal where Mr. Sys, sales manager was supposed to wait for us.
He was there, right on time, so we went in his car first to the Larkspur, what looked very well from the outside, no rust etc. We were entering the very clean looking cardeck first via the bowdoor, where we got introduced to a TEF crewmember who was guiding us on the tour onboard the ship, as well as explaining some things. We entered the stairs to the passenger or let´s say here lorry drivers facilities and first thing what I did, was beeing surprised !
Surprised not to see a no-frills, and rather functional looking interior of a ro-ro-freighter but the interior reminded me more in some high-class interior what will make passengers feeling homely even if they are demanding quite high standards.
We got shown the driver´s restaurant as well as the newly added restaurant what will be in use when they take carpassengers.
You read right here, we got told they were not interested in that for some time but now they are actually having plans to take passengers with cars, and they have done some modifications onboard their ships and some are still about to do. As well there is already a gangway for passengers built. A plan exists to extend the now very small terminal building.
We got shown the future recliningseaarea as well as cabins for the drivers. Again, all was ver clean, they did have pvc in the cabins so they are easy to clean. Not like in cabins what have carpets and what will get dirty within months and years. We took of course many photos and finally we sat down in the driver´s restaurant over a coffee and the captain joined us. Alot to ask, and alot to tell of course. More to see, and back via the cardeck. That time they had to move the ship a bit so they could use the sideloading ramp to get trucks on the upper deck and we could watch this and the crew advising the truckdrivers where to put the truck. Getting off, looking back to the bright-white ship.
Oleander was the next one on the tour and when Mr. Sys told us something abou it, the only reason to make a sad face was, as Bram mentioned he told some on Ostend-pier that this ship is the renovated and re-painted Herald of Free Enterprise !! Good joke though.. but wouldnt have told it in front of a manager of TEF perhaps This one also looked very impressing and with somewhat dynamic looking shape in it´s white livery, red stripe around lower hull and yellow funnel. The same very clean white livery as the Larkspur. Much different than the rather poor appearing lengthened Pride of Kent what I had in my memories. We went onboard via the gangway and first thing I saw, was that they have - really added wooden deck there ! What a thing, if I remember that lower rusty deck of the PO

Kent and here, shiny wooden deck. Going inside and first place to go was the elevator what had inside still a deckplan of P&O times and they have just did some sticker over the name so it said Oleander now. Straight to mess where we were offered coffee (which again Bram didn´t take as he hates it), met the young Croatian captain and the receptionist. Again some very interesting talk, about how they are planning to market the ferry route in the future, and in fact we got told they receive every day about 30-40 mails from Germany and Netherlands where is asked about crossings to Ramsgate for private people who intend to take their cars. Sitting a bit longer this time and Bram getting a nervous face as he must be at work at 15.00 Finally the tour and the same effect as on the Larkspur. All very clean and an interior you wouldn´t expect in there. Just the ex. Fast-food place where they had the reclining seats too, was still original P&O, but got told they will do some work on this. I remember this place still from the PO

Kent and had to smile Further to the other facilities, many photos taken again. A bar area, driver´s restaurant and a la carte restaurant and all in that certain style what Mr. Sys called the "Trans Europa Style" - blue or red carpets and alot of wooden interior included some rather antique features. It´s all hard to describe and therefore, you will soon be able to see, and enjoy that yourself. The cabins are almost identical to the ones on the Larkspur. The angular windows are also giving a nice view, fit very well in that.
Finally we got asked whethere we´d like to stay for dinner and got served an excellent meal, including starters, main and some chocolate-cake for dessert and wine (which was just for Mr. Sys and for me as Bram had to drive and the captain steer the ship later) The talk on the table included not just the ferry-topic but all kinds of stuff. Bram did have to call his mother so she could arrange for him that he can be later to work, too as it was already afternoon.
Finally, it was time to leave, the captain said we´re welcome whenever we are there in Ostend again (what the one of the Larkspur didn´t do, btw) and going back by car, taking pics of the ship again and leaving.
Bram had to get his luggage straight away and to car and off, while I had enough time to walk around, take another view on the ship, go to the pier and wait for some more TEF to go and come - what there didn´t happen.
Finally to railway station from where you can have an excellent view to some TEF ships and where I did get the cance to take a pic of the Primrose leaving and the Eurovoyager arriving.
Back home, 8 hours and 15 min. later, tired, ready for a long, good sleep. And here I am and I am sure, this was not the last trip to Ostend for me

By the way, this travel report is just a fragment ! Before the visit, there was a trip onboard Pride of York to Hull and a trip on the Pride of Provence and my beloved Pride of Dover as well as for taking pics in Ostend the weather was far too bad. But I let this be Bram´s job, just wanted to take a bit work off him and do the TEF part here.

A Ferry good weekend to say so and the photos should be online before this weekend with good luck (and lack of laziness).

ferrytraveller · 20th Apr 04, 23:36

It sounds as if you had an exceptional day.

TEF seem to have gone out of their way to please you and I am very impressed by that.

If they take footies in the furture I will certainly travel on them and quite likely with a car.

The Bruges/Oleander is definitely one of my fav ships.

As u know I went on the fairly new po

ferry canterbury last weekend but I MUCH PREFEREED THE KENT.

Considering that you live in Germany Cornelia your trips on ferries in the U.K and northern euroipe have to be commended.

Far too long I know of people in the U.K. who contribute to ferry magazines and profess to be experts who have really travelled on virtually no ferries from the u.k.

Paul · 21st Apr 04, 06:42

Great report, Cornelia. It was certainly an opportunity not to be missed..! ;D

Normandie · 21st Apr 04, 18:12

Yes, they have done more for us than we expected. Phtoos should be online soon, too.

Travelling on ferries is of course very nice, and I don´t think that some ferry enthusiasts just buy the books and never go to trips. It´s of course then also a money-matter, especially when you come from a bit further and have to pay the train, too. But big fun and I like the coast anyways.

Bretagne · 20th Jun 04, 20:47

Interesting reading. I am very envious it has to be said.

Normandie · 20th Jun 04, 21:40

No reason to be envious, you have to wait till after 20 th July and if you own a car, you can book yourself & your car a trip then

Bretagne · 21st Jun 04, 00:25

[quote author=Seafrance Rodin link=board=2;threadid=686;start=0#msg10627 date=1087764033]
No reason to be envious, you have to wait till after 20 th July and if you own a car, you can book yourself & your car a trip then

[/quote]

Ah, but then I'd have to pay. You got a sneak preview!

Normandie · 21st Jun 04, 18:35

OK here some of my pics, watching those is for free too

!

Trans-Europa ferries :
http://gallery59467.fotopic.net

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20th Apr 04, 23:00	#1
Normandie BFE Member Join Date: August 03 Age: 37 Posts: 2,171	TEF Larkspur & Oleander As there was a plan to do a Ostend-visit what had included some more people, too and some who have very much liked to go onboard a TEF vessel, I decided I could perhaps try and write a friendly letter to TEF and ask if such is possible. The answer to this was possible and there were things arranged via telephone, to name it they asked how much time we´d need for taking pics and I said, in 15 min it would be done - said such as of course didn´t want to cause them extra-work. Meanwhile it happened that some weren´t able nor to come to Ostend, nor to do a trip with us, nor to meet us in Hull. Left over, Bram and me. First it was arranged for Friday the 16 th but got called due to a changed schedule it must be Monday and Bram had to do some calles to make that day free otherwise it would have meant to go there totally alone. So Monday the 19 th was it. We had to get up early, have a quick breakfast and walk to the car that we are right at 09.15 at the terminal where Mr. Sys, sales manager was supposed to wait for us. He was there, right on time, so we went in his car first to the Larkspur, what looked very well from the outside, no rust etc. We were entering the very clean looking cardeck first via the bowdoor, where we got introduced to a TEF crewmember who was guiding us on the tour onboard the ship, as well as explaining some things. We entered the stairs to the passenger or let´s say here lorry drivers facilities and first thing what I did, was beeing surprised ! Surprised not to see a no-frills, and rather functional looking interior of a ro-ro-freighter but the interior reminded me more in some high-class interior what will make passengers feeling homely even if they are demanding quite high standards. We got shown the driver´s restaurant as well as the newly added restaurant what will be in use when they take carpassengers. You read right here, we got told they were not interested in that for some time but now they are actually having plans to take passengers with cars, and they have done some modifications onboard their ships and some are still about to do. As well there is already a gangway for passengers built. A plan exists to extend the now very small terminal building. We got shown the future recliningseaarea as well as cabins for the drivers. Again, all was ver clean, they did have pvc in the cabins so they are easy to clean. Not like in cabins what have carpets and what will get dirty within months and years. We took of course many photos and finally we sat down in the driver´s restaurant over a coffee and the captain joined us. Alot to ask, and alot to tell of course. More to see, and back via the cardeck. That time they had to move the ship a bit so they could use the sideloading ramp to get trucks on the upper deck and we could watch this and the crew advising the truckdrivers where to put the truck. Getting off, looking back to the bright-white ship. Oleander was the next one on the tour and when Mr. Sys told us something abou it, the only reason to make a sad face was, as Bram mentioned he told some on Ostend-pier that this ship is the renovated and re-painted Herald of Free Enterprise !! Good joke though.. but wouldnt have told it in front of a manager of TEF perhaps This one also looked very impressing and with somewhat dynamic looking shape in it´s white livery, red stripe around lower hull and yellow funnel. The same very clean white livery as the Larkspur. Much different than the rather poor appearing lengthened Pride of Kent what I had in my memories. We went onboard via the gangway and first thing I saw, was that they have - really added wooden deck there ! What a thing, if I remember that lower rusty deck of the PO Kent and here, shiny wooden deck. Going inside and first place to go was the elevator what had inside still a deckplan of P&O times and they have just did some sticker over the name so it said Oleander now. Straight to mess where we were offered coffee (which again Bram didn´t take as he hates it), met the young Croatian captain and the receptionist. Again some very interesting talk, about how they are planning to market the ferry route in the future, and in fact we got told they receive every day about 30-40 mails from Germany and Netherlands where is asked about crossings to Ramsgate for private people who intend to take their cars. Sitting a bit longer this time and Bram getting a nervous face as he must be at work at 15.00 Finally the tour and the same effect as on the Larkspur. All very clean and an interior you wouldn´t expect in there. Just the ex. Fast-food place where they had the reclining seats too, was still original P&O, but got told they will do some work on this. I remember this place still from the PO Kent and had to smile Further to the other facilities, many photos taken again. A bar area, driver´s restaurant and a la carte restaurant and all in that certain style what Mr. Sys called the "Trans Europa Style" - blue or red carpets and alot of wooden interior included some rather antique features. It´s all hard to describe and therefore, you will soon be able to see, and enjoy that yourself. The cabins are almost identical to the ones on the Larkspur. The angular windows are also giving a nice view, fit very well in that. Finally we got asked whethere we´d like to stay for dinner and got served an excellent meal, including starters, main and some chocolate-cake for dessert and wine (which was just for Mr. Sys and for me as Bram had to drive and the captain steer the ship later) The talk on the table included not just the ferry-topic but all kinds of stuff. Bram did have to call his mother so she could arrange for him that he can be later to work, too as it was already afternoon. Finally, it was time to leave, the captain said we´re welcome whenever we are there in Ostend again (what the one of the Larkspur didn´t do, btw) and going back by car, taking pics of the ship again and leaving. Bram had to get his luggage straight away and to car and off, while I had enough time to walk around, take another view on the ship, go to the pier and wait for some more TEF to go and come - what there didn´t happen. Finally to railway station from where you can have an excellent view to some TEF ships and where I did get the cance to take a pic of the Primrose leaving and the Eurovoyager arriving. Back home, 8 hours and 15 min. later, tired, ready for a long, good sleep. And here I am and I am sure, this was not the last trip to Ostend for me By the way, this travel report is just a fragment ! Before the visit, there was a trip onboard Pride of York to Hull and a trip on the Pride of Provence and my beloved Pride of Dover as well as for taking pics in Ostend the weather was far too bad. But I let this be Bram´s job, just wanted to take a bit work off him and do the TEF part here. A Ferry good weekend to say so and the photos should be online before this weekend with good luck (and lack of laziness).

20th Apr 04, 23:36	#2
ferrytraveller BFE Member Join Date: January 04 Posts: 34	Re:TEF Larkspur & Oleander It sounds as if you had an exceptional day. TEF seem to have gone out of their way to please you and I am very impressed by that. If they take footies in the furture I will certainly travel on them and quite likely with a car. The Bruges/Oleander is definitely one of my fav ships. As u know I went on the fairly new po ferry canterbury last weekend but I MUCH PREFEREED THE KENT. Considering that you live in Germany Cornelia your trips on ferries in the U.K and northern euroipe have to be commended. Far too long I know of people in the U.K. who contribute to ferry magazines and profess to be experts who have really travelled on virtually no ferries from the u.k.

21st Apr 04, 06:42	#3
Paul BFE Member Join Date: August 03 Location: Tavistock Age: 35 Posts: 1,240	Re:TEF Larkspur & Oleander Great report, Cornelia. It was certainly an opportunity not to be missed..! ;D

21st Apr 04, 18:12	#4
Normandie BFE Member Join Date: August 03 Age: 37 Posts: 2,171	Re:TEF Larkspur & Oleander Yes, they have done more for us than we expected. Phtoos should be online soon, too. Travelling on ferries is of course very nice, and I don´t think that some ferry enthusiasts just buy the books and never go to trips. It´s of course then also a money-matter, especially when you come from a bit further and have to pay the train, too. But big fun and I like the coast anyways.

20th Jun 04, 20:47	#5
Bretagne BFE Member Join Date: June 04 Location: Sandown, Isle of Wight Age: 40 Posts: 1,121	Re:TEF Larkspur & Oleander Interesting reading. I am very envious it has to be said.

20th Jun 04, 21:40	#6
Normandie BFE Member Join Date: August 03 Age: 37 Posts: 2,171	Re:TEF Larkspur & Oleander No reason to be envious, you have to wait till after 20 th July and if you own a car, you can book yourself & your car a trip then

21st Jun 04, 00:25	#7
Bretagne BFE Member Join Date: June 04 Location: Sandown, Isle of Wight Age: 40 Posts: 1,121	Re:TEF Larkspur & Oleander [quote author=Seafrance Rodin link=board=2;threadid=686;start=0#msg10627 date=1087764033] No reason to be envious, you have to wait till after 20 th July and if you own a car, you can book yourself & your car a trip then [/quote] Ah, but then I'd have to pay. You got a sneak preview!

21st Jun 04, 18:35	#8
Normandie BFE Member Join Date: August 03 Age: 37 Posts: 2,171	Re:TEF Larkspur & Oleander OK here some of my pics, watching those is for free too ! Trans-Europa ferries : http://gallery59467.fotopic.net

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