A Usefull Guide to Ferry Crossings
A Useful Guide to Ferry Crossings
With ferry crossing prices at their lowest level in years, more and more people are turning to ferries as an easy and affordable way to travel from Britain to France or Northern Ireland. Whether you're traveling from Dover to Calais or from Larne to Troon, a few simple tips can help make your ferry crossing simple and stress-free.
The first step in planning a stress-free ferry trip is to book tickets well in advance. Reserving tickets not only saves money but reduces the risk of not being able to travel because tickets are sold out. Ferries at peak times can fill up quickly, particularly on Fridays, weekends and holidays. Prices may vary throughout the day; earlier or later voyages are usually less expensive.
Most stress on ferry trips is caused by shortages of time. You should always arrive at least 30 minutes before the departure of your ferry. However, thirty minutes is the minimum necessary time. Security checks and other delays can cut into this time; allowing extra time can prevent these delays from causing you to miss your ferry. Up to an hour of extra travel time is best, particularly on the Dover-Calais route -- traffic congestion around Dover, particularly at peak hours, can delay travel. Troon can be a little easier to manage than Dover, but leaving extra time to deal with unexpected delays is still wise. If you don't check in by thirty minutes before departure time, you may not be able to travel, even if the ferry is still in port.
Planning your return route and allowing extra time to travel is every bit as important as planning the outward journey. British travelers are much less likely to be familiar with the road network around their destinations.
Ferry travel is safe and simple, but a few precautions can help make it more comfortable. If you suffer from seasickness, or if the water is choppy, take a place near the middle of the ferry. Bringing a bottle of water can help combat the effects of seasickness. A book or some other means of passing the time is also a good idea; the crossing from Calais to Dover takes approximately 75 minutes, while the Larne to Troon crossing can take anywhere between one and two hours. During the voyage, you can change money if needed, do some duty-free shopping if traveling to France, or just stretch your legs a bit.
Other essentials when traveling include some form of photo identification, although passports are not necessary.
With ferry crossing prices at their lowest level in years, more and more people are turning to ferries as an easy and affordable way to travel from Britain to France or Northern Ireland. Whether you're traveling from Dover to Calais or from Larne to Troon, a few simple tips can help make your ferry crossing simple and stress-free.
The first step in planning a stress-free ferry trip is to book tickets well in advance. Reserving tickets not only saves money but reduces the risk of not being able to travel because tickets are sold out. Ferries at peak times can fill up quickly, particularly on Fridays, weekends and holidays. Prices may vary throughout the day; earlier or later voyages are usually less expensive.
Most stress on ferry trips is caused by shortages of time. You should always arrive at least 30 minutes before the departure of your ferry. However, thirty minutes is the minimum necessary time. Security checks and other delays can cut into this time; allowing extra time can prevent these delays from causing you to miss your ferry. Up to an hour of extra travel time is best, particularly on the Dover-Calais route -- traffic congestion around Dover, particularly at peak hours, can delay travel. Troon can be a little easier to manage than Dover, but leaving extra time to deal with unexpected delays is still wise. If you don't check in by thirty minutes before departure time, you may not be able to travel, even if the ferry is still in port.
Planning your return route and allowing extra time to travel is every bit as important as planning the outward journey. British travelers are much less likely to be familiar with the road network around their destinations.
Ferry travel is safe and simple, but a few precautions can help make it more comfortable. If you suffer from seasickness, or if the water is choppy, take a place near the middle of the ferry. Bringing a bottle of water can help combat the effects of seasickness. A book or some other means of passing the time is also a good idea; the crossing from Calais to Dover takes approximately 75 minutes, while the Larne to Troon crossing can take anywhere between one and two hours. During the voyage, you can change money if needed, do some duty-free shopping if traveling to France, or just stretch your legs a bit.
Other essentials when traveling include some form of photo identification, although passports are not necessary.
