Cross-Solent operator Wightlink has said that it had a cracking Easter thanks to the beautiful Bank Holiday weather that brought the crowds to the Isle of Wight.
Wightlink’s flagship Victoria of Wight carried more than 20,000 passengers to and from the Island over the 4 days – it was her busiest weekend since she entered service on the Fishbourne-Portsmouth route last summer and a new record for a Wightlink car ferry.
Keith Greenfield, Wightlink’s Chief Executive, says:
“I would like to pay tribute to our staff who looked after our customers from dawn to dusk and beyond, selling thousands of cups of tea and other refreshments – many sourced from the Isle of Wight.
“We hope this is just the start of a sunny British summer that will encourage more and more people to discover the Isle of Wight as an outstanding holiday destination for themselves.”
No mention of the queues of up to about 400 odd people at Ryde Pier Head on Monday, with only one boat an hour and people having to wait over an hour for the next. Scrimping by not putting on a half hourly service as was needed. There is supposedly an issue with the second boat and so maintenance has been extended keeping it out of service – When in reality as with most of Wightlinks excuses, it is probably about not running boats to SAVE MONEY.
If it was any other type of company with all the cancellations, such as an airline, you would think they were heading bankcruptcy.
They had issues with the cat and put the charter boat on.They only have two cats. If one is out for service and the other has a problem, then they pay for a charter boat- what more do you want – them to wave a magic wand and everything will be all rosy
for you.
The only other charter boat, occasionally available, is a gosport ferry – you want to travel over at about about 7 to 10 knots – it will take all day.