Tourists for Gozo? – “Not available”!
- Alternattiva Demokratika calls for shuttle bus to Gozo ferry
- Gozo Channel ferry service changes for Christmas and New Year’s Day
- Additional ferry trip announced for Monday mornings
- Airport – Cirkewwa bus service to start on Monday
- AD Calls For Resumption Of Gozo Cargo Ferry Service
- Work to commence on new ferry terminal at Cirkewwa
- Gozo Ferry and Airport Shuttle Bus timetables change today
- Mgarr – Sa Maison ferry trips ‘on schedule’
- Gozo Channel announce special transport arrangements for the opera
- MV Ta’ Pinu out of service until further notice
- Scheduled works started on Gozo Channel Ferries as of today
- New Airport – Ferry Transport Service details
- Gozo Channel announce extra trips and reduced fares during Gozo 1234 long weekend
- New Gozo Channel Ferry Schedule
- Gozo Channel issues leaflet for disabled persons
My wife and I arrived at Cirkewwa by taxi from Malta International Airport on Monday 9 March just before 6 pm, a ferry was due to depart within a few minutes. After my wife bought our tickets she asked the ticket issuer about the luggage trolley. “It is not available” was the response – even when pressed there was no further explanation. We were flabbergasted.
Between us we had almost 90 kg of luggage in 5 bags. We had to drag this luggage as quickly as possible several hundred metres to reach the ferry without any offer of assistance from the three lounging Gozo Channel employees.
Of course, now you cannot leave your luggage on the Car Deck it has to go up to the main deck. Fortunately there is a lift but unfortunately you have to weave your way through all the vehicles already loaded to reach it. It was at this point, and for the first time, we were offered assistance by one of the loading crew.
The process had to be repeated of course once we reached Mgarr. There is a tiny lift to reach the ground floor level but it is still a long walk into the main hall when loaded down with luggage.
We are both in our sixties and my wife suffers from asthma. This little exercise, created by the cavalier attitude of the Gozo Channel Company Ltd, triggered one of her attacks.
We can understand that things do go wrong from time to time but we would expect any reputable company to have alternative arrangements. Why cannot a few airport-style luggage trolleys be made available for passengers with luggage? We have learnt from friends that the “not available” luggage trolley has been a common occurrence this winter.
If Gozo wants to deter tourists then all they need do is to make sure they arrive at Cirkewwa for the ferry when the luggage trolley is “not available”. This will ensure that not only will those tourists not return but they will tell all their friends about their warm welcome too.
Our experience raises an even more important issue: what about disabled travellers? Under European Union regulations, Gozo Channel Company should provide access for disabled passengers. How do they expect a disabled person, perhaps in a wheel chair, together with a suitcase of luggage, to make the distance between the ticket office and the ferry ramp?
The new ferries are a vast improvement but some parts of Gozo Channel Company Ltd. leave a lot to be desired.
John Dabill
28 Stapleton Road,
Bude
Cornwall
U.K.
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gozo channel is there to employ the friends of the friends (with good wages also) and not to provide a service.
The architects (idiots) responsible for the design of the New Mgarr terminal were obviously super-fit, private speedboat owning, never-taken-a-ferry, sub 0-level creatures. For passengers with any sort of walking difficulties the terminal is a disaster. If, in addition, they have to haul luggage because the luggage trolley was not available, it is a nightmare!
However, from the Cirkewwa side it is a nightmare fullstop – with luggage or without! To be expected to haul ones luggage all the way from the ticket office to the ferry when the luggage cart is not running due to the “bad weather” or “late hour” or the 101 other excuses made, is inexcusable. To have to shuffle along the badly paved passageway, with sometimes dozens of other would-be pushing and shoving passengers, is not a very good start to a visit to Gozo. I really feel for Mr. & Mrs. Dabill and the thousands of other (never to return again) tourists who have been subjected to the same treatment. Please don’t complain when the tourists no longer visit this island, instead analyse the reason why they don’t return!
In cases like these, when the ticket person would know that there is no trolley availiable, he or she should let one of the passengers purchase the tickets and let them in through to the closest point of the ferry with the taxi they are travelling with, I am sure the taxi man wont mind, he would probably get a tip too. But still this trolley business has to be fixed, the attitude towards customers also has to be changed.
BUILD A BRIDGE or TUNNEL and all this would be obsolete
But then who would have saved the shipyard from closing up at that time, its a shame that for crossing some 5 km of sea last Monday several commuters like me had to spend from 6:45am waiting at Mgarr for the 7:00 ferry and arrived at cirkewwa at 9:00am its a shame.