"Quick crossing but slightly shambolic"
We arrived at the harbour 90 minutes before departure of the ferry (the Nixe), as told (if not, we would be refused entry to the ship, our documents said), to find that the entrance to the boarding area was closed. In fact it only opened just over 60 minutes before the departure of the ship. We were stopped several time and there was a lot of non-specific waving going on...in fact the car in the lane next to us possibly thought he was in the wrong lane, started reversing and crashed into the side of our car. Then we were told only the driver was allowed in the car while driving aboard. I am not quibbling with these rules. I was a passenger and left the car, having been told to go "over there": another vague wave. I found an opening in the fencing but this was blocked by a gentleman. I went back to the person who had checked the tickets and asked him again where I was supposed to be going. He went over to the gentleman blocking the entrance and asked him if it was possible for me to pass. It was. He'd just been resting just at the entrance to the huge hangar-like space where I found myself; however, first I had to pass through a scanner. Totally illogical as I could easily have left my bag in the boot of the car and it would not have been scanned. Or I could have driven the car with all my "metal" upon my person without being scanned. In this huge hall the noise was deafening as there were lots of people, which of course is just as it should be, but the acoustics were just awful and it was a very stressful experience. There was not one shred of information about where I was supposed to go. Eventually a queue formed and I asked some people if this was for the Alcudia ferry, which they said it was. Our boarding cards were scanned, we went outside, were stopped, but eventually started the long march towards the ferry. Just as well it didn't rain. After a nearly ten-minute walk we arrived at the ferry, were stopped but eventually were told to enter, via the same uneven gangway that the cars were using. It was all most peculiar. There were plenty of comfortable seats, but the noise level was very high, especially as there was a TV on, highest possible volume. A lovely evening but as the windows were so dirty we couldn't really see outside. It only took 90 minutes but I was glad when it was over. Fast and convenient in many ways, but I think the boarding procedure could be improved on.
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Overall Rating:
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General:
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Catering:
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Cleanliness:
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Staff:
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Punctuality:
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Recommended?
Yes
Reviewed by who travelled with Balearia on Nixe
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