Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferries - Picton — Attraction in South Island

On the 2.30am sailing with self contained van, medium-large dog and dog friendly twin cabin booked. Arrived about 10pm and was able to queue at check in booth to sleep (they knocked on doors) that opened at 11pm. Use our rego to identify us as we drove up so didn’t need a booking number and was given dog treats! Given lane to line up and able to sleep for another two hours when they came around about 1.20am knocking on doors to wake up anyone else. Boarded first as had dog friendly cabin on Connemara, you go up to top deck, park and get given a key with your name on it by staff at your vehicle. Then it is up two small flights of external stairs to the 8 cabins that allow dogs. This car deck was empty other than dog cabins holders and some people with accessible cabins. Small exercise deck, very narrow but gives some fresh air. Boat left a good 25 minutes early and getting on first meant longer time to sleep. Twin cabin internal very decent for two people and a dog. Bedding clean, comfortable beds. Dog slept with one of us. Smelt doggy but hey we are dog people and it’s a dog cabin. Fan was a bit loud and took the dog a while to ignore it. The boat itself was pretty quiet compared to the older fleet. About 5am we were woken up with a call to get ready to go and crew will come get those with dogs when they can go to their vehicles. It was about 20 minutes later, then we sat in the car another 10 mins. It was wet and windy in Welly so some dogs (incl. ours) were a bit unsure of going down the stairs so be prepared to carry if you need to! Well clear off the boat (first on, last off) by half 5, way before the 6am docking! Didn’t check any of the cafe or other facilities out. super impressed with speed of loading, ability to arrive early and have access to toilets (both in check in lanes and the passenger building) and treating dogs like the human babies they are for some of us. Ka pai...

While our crossing from Wellington was fine, our trip back North on their smaller boat was pretty lacking. There is no indication of what boat you'll be on, so we had prepared for the same ship we had come on. This one departed 45 minutes late. Amenities they didn't have: toys for kids in the "family room," an actual separate room for kids, a working television in the kids area, an area where people can charge/use their devices. People were spread (literally laying down across 3 seats) all over the booths, so my traveling companion, who needs to be by a window for motion sickness, couldn't find a good seat. Every outlet was full of people's charging devices all over the ship. They obviously need to integrate them into their seating areas. Their "theaters" were just glass partitioned areas near the dining area with moderately sized TV's, with both showing the same film. The food was barely edible, but at least the coffee was pretty good and hot. The larger ship had plenty of space for families and kids (with toys and a very large screen showing kids films), actual theater rooms, charging areas, but the seating...

Booked a month in advance for April 2nd, planned everything around this date because all the ferrys were booked out. We received a cancellation email the night before with the offer of refund only. Immediately drove to Picton, eventually got rebooked for the next day. Few hours before departure of this next ferry, we received an email that this ferry has been canceled with the same scenario - only refund possible. We again drive to Picton to be told to come for standby on the next day at 6 am. We get there at 5:20, people camping in front of the entrance, queueing already. Got told we were going to be put on another waiting list and that they will call us. We lost our nerves, went to Interislander, got our ticket FOR THE SAME DAY. Meanwhile Bluebridge canceled another ferry again. Yes, no company is perfect but Bluebridge has caused us so much stress and pain, we would only recommend booking Interislander. You will also read bad reviews about Interislander but it doesn’t...