Which ferry to France?
Discussion
I'm off to the continent in September and need to get to France. So far my options are Sea France and P&O from Dover which can take 90 minutes or Norfolk Line from Dover to Dunkirk.
The latter is cheaper but takes two hours whilst Sea France can even do the crossing in 70 minutes. The price difference is £12 so any feedback/experience would be appreciated.
The latter is cheaper but takes two hours whilst Sea France can even do the crossing in 70 minutes. The price difference is £12 so any feedback/experience would be appreciated.
They're all pretty much the same. Seafrance boats have little in the way of stuff to do, a pathetic little shop, nothing much for children to do, but the upmarket restaurant can be ok if you get lucky. P&O have a lot more distractions to keep you busy, and a decent coffee shop. The channel tunnel is faster but nothing other than toilets during the crossing. I think I tried Norfolk Lines once but I can't remember anything good or bad about them.
My hot tip is the breakfast van at Eurotunnel Dover. £5 for a bacon sausage and egg roll and a coffee. Make sure you're in the queue 20 minutes before boarding!
My hot tip is the breakfast van at Eurotunnel Dover. £5 for a bacon sausage and egg roll and a coffee. Make sure you're in the queue 20 minutes before boarding!
-Pete- said:
The channel tunnel is faster but nothing other than toilets during the crossing.
So quick and convenient entertainment is unnecessary. Rock up and go they always just pop you on the next train no matter what time you show up crossings every 30 mins. At the other end you drive straight out onto the motorway network.We regularly use the ferry.
Either P&O or Sea France, cant honestly tell the difference between them. Just a boat to get across the channel. we usually book whichever is the cheapest. Simple as that.
Trying the tunnel for the first time next week, so we will see if we feel that is better. Ony because it was cheapest option when we booked, and have never been on it.
Either P&O or Sea France, cant honestly tell the difference between them. Just a boat to get across the channel. we usually book whichever is the cheapest. Simple as that.
Trying the tunnel for the first time next week, so we will see if we feel that is better. Ony because it was cheapest option when we booked, and have never been on it.
When we go, we always go Dover to Dunkirk, its the cheapest ferry (usually). But I'm fed up with the amount of time it adds to the journey. Its not only the crossing, but the whole operation is poor.
I'd say its at least 3 hours for the ferry, by the time you arrive, wait for 45 minutes and get off the other side. Train is maybe an hour. Turn up, a train goes every 30 minutes, so you either just get on one, or wait 25 minutes.
Next time I do the 14 hour trip to my parents house, I'd happily shave 2 hours off for £100 more.
I'd say its at least 3 hours for the ferry, by the time you arrive, wait for 45 minutes and get off the other side. Train is maybe an hour. Turn up, a train goes every 30 minutes, so you either just get on one, or wait 25 minutes.
Next time I do the 14 hour trip to my parents house, I'd happily shave 2 hours off for £100 more.
chard said:
-Pete- said:
The channel tunnel is faster but nothing other than toilets during the crossing.
So quick and convenient entertainment is unnecessary. Rock up and go they always just pop you on the next train no matter what time you show up crossings every 30 mins. At the other end you drive straight out onto the motorway network.
And you get to stay with the car - very useful for those of us with somewhat unsecure cars or who need to use the time to sort out bits and pieces (I changed a headlight bulb last time I was on the Chunnel 
).Edit: Obviously it depends on destination - I use the tunnel if heading East/South (Alps for example) so a Folkestone/Dover - Calais crossing makes sense. Next week we're off to Bordeaux so are going from Portsmouth as we're starting in Bath and driving across to Kent and then back across France seems silly.
Edited by ewenm on Wednesday 3rd August 09:37
We used the Tunnel last year.
So very simple to get there and, as said, the trip is so short that you don't need anything but maybe toilets.
The facilities in France are better than the ones at Folkestone, especially if you're on a late or early train, otherwise it's the cheaper and faster option.
So very simple to get there and, as said, the trip is so short that you don't need anything but maybe toilets.
The facilities in France are better than the ones at Folkestone, especially if you're on a late or early train, otherwise it's the cheaper and faster option.
Which part of France are you headed to and where do you live in the UK?
Unless you live particularly close to Dover or you're headed to Belgium, I prefer the longer crossings from Portsmouth etc.
Newhaven to Dieppe is a cheap crossing. It takes about 4 hours and saves the Autoroute grind from Calais to Rouen - handy if you're headed west anyway.
Unless you live particularly close to Dover or you're headed to Belgium, I prefer the longer crossings from Portsmouth etc.
Newhaven to Dieppe is a cheap crossing. It takes about 4 hours and saves the Autoroute grind from Calais to Rouen - handy if you're headed west anyway.
We live an hour from the UK Eurotunnel terminal and regularly visit France etc. We first used the Tunnel just after it opened and have never used a ferry since then. We use it maybe 3-4 times a year, and now I even have a Sanef transponder for the tolls!
The Tunnel is really quick: home to downtown Calais is 2 hours all in for us. It's also less weather dependent than the ferries although very high winds can casue problems due to the design of the carriages etc in windy conditions.
I think for people living a distance from the Channel the ferries make good sense because it gives them a reasonable break from driving and you can also have a meal. The Eurotunnel is quick, easy, basic, no frills etc.
If you must shop at the Terminals the one at Calais is far better than the one at Folkestone.
Petrol/diesel is cheaper in France. There's a fill up station as you exit the Terminal at Calais...just stay in the left lane and it's maybe 1/2 mile after getting off the ramp from the train.
R.
The Tunnel is really quick: home to downtown Calais is 2 hours all in for us. It's also less weather dependent than the ferries although very high winds can casue problems due to the design of the carriages etc in windy conditions.
I think for people living a distance from the Channel the ferries make good sense because it gives them a reasonable break from driving and you can also have a meal. The Eurotunnel is quick, easy, basic, no frills etc.
If you must shop at the Terminals the one at Calais is far better than the one at Folkestone.
Petrol/diesel is cheaper in France. There's a fill up station as you exit the Terminal at Calais...just stay in the left lane and it's maybe 1/2 mile after getting off the ramp from the train.
R.
ewenm said:
And you get to stay with the car - very useful for those of us with somewhat unsecure cars or who need to use the time to sort out bits and pieces (I changed a headlight bulb last time I was on the Chunnel ).Edit: Obviously it depends on destination - I use the tunnel if heading East/South (Alps for example) so a Folkestone/Dover - Calais crossing makes sense. Next week we're off to Bordeaux so are going from Portsmouth as we're starting in Bath and driving across to Kent and then back across France seems silly.
Edited by ewenm on Wednesday 3rd August 09:37
We went with Norforkline (or NFS or whatever they're called now) back in June, we booked in May. At the time there was a short 3-4 day worry about another Volcano blowing in Iceland again so the ferry prices jumped up, it was £130 with P&O / Sea France or £60 with Norfolk, the crossing is indeed a little longer, 20 mins maybe and you have to pretty much drive past Calis heading anywhere from Dunkirk but it was no big drama.
The Ferry looked a little tired, but we found some comfortable seats, there was a small soft-play area for our lad and a TV playing kids DVD's on the other side.
I might try the tunnel next time, but there didn't seem to be any great advantage for the extra cost.
The Ferry looked a little tired, but we found some comfortable seats, there was a small soft-play area for our lad and a TV playing kids DVD's on the other side.
I might try the tunnel next time, but there didn't seem to be any great advantage for the extra cost.
LFB531 said:
Mmm, I just got a jobsworth then when I crossed last Friday. Lifted the bonnet to switch the headlights over and you'd have thought I was about to release a chemical device! He got very cross indeed.
They don't like you walking between the cars in case the train lurches and your legs get crushed. You're usually fine if you walk around the end of the cars in the carriage and work on the car from the sides.illmonkey said:
When we go, we always go Dover to Dunkirk, its the cheapest ferry (usually). But I'm fed up with the amount of time it adds to the journey. Its not only the crossing, but the whole operation is poor.
I'd say its at least 3 hours for the ferry, by the time you arrive, wait for 45 minutes and get off the other side. Train is maybe an hour. Turn up, a train goes every 30 minutes, so you either just get on one, or wait 25 minutes.
Next time I do the 14 hour trip to my parents house, I'd happily shave 2 hours off for £100 more.
But the time can be traded off againstI'd say its at least 3 hours for the ferry, by the time you arrive, wait for 45 minutes and get off the other side. Train is maybe an hour. Turn up, a train goes every 30 minutes, so you either just get on one, or wait 25 minutes.
Next time I do the 14 hour trip to my parents house, I'd happily shave 2 hours off for £100 more.
1. Being further up the coast, which could be a help if you're driving into north or mid-Europe
2. Having a proper break from driving, depending on how far Dover is from your home.
Norfolkline are absolutely my cross-Channel ferry company of choice; always a very good service and like to land at Dunkerque because it suits me much more than Calais.
Their ongoing 'fuel surcharge', which has applied for several years now, does piss me off though, as they simply use it to sneakily boost the ticket price.
We went Dover Dunkirk on Norfolk line (DFDS?) in May. No problems, but the food was indifferent. Chose ferry over tunnel as we needed a biggish break after driving 240 miles to get to Dover. Added about 25 miles onto the route compared with a Calais crossing (went to a region to the South East of Paris), but was cheaper and someone told me the roads are 'less hassle' around Dunkirk.
rsv gone! said:
anonymous said:
[redacted]
You can buy two types of tickets IIRC. One allows more flexibility than the other but is more expensive. I have always been bumped to earlier trains on the cheapo tickets. But admittedly, only by 2-3 hours.
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