Ferry To Europe

Updated: 15 October, 2017

Book Your Ferry To Europe Today

Booking a ferry to Europe can often be about which is the cheapest option. The cheapest fares are at the most unsociable hours: early in the morning or late at night and this can make the beginning of a holiday seem like a chore.
However, one of the main attractions of ferries to Europe over other forms of transport is the number of sailings that occur throughout the day.
The two main ferry providers across the Channel are P&O and DFDS who between them offer over 80 sailings a day!
Let’s take a closer look at some of the benefits of taking a ferry to France over other forms of transport.

Cost of Ferry Travel

Fares vary depending on a number of factors:

Seasonality
The time of year can impact upon the fares as more people look to go away during peak-periods. Christmas, Bank Holidays, summer and events throughout the year can increase demand and therefore the fares go up as a result. This can be why it is better to try and book as far ahead of time as possible.
Popularity
Extending beyond peak periods, certain days and times are more expensive as they represent the more popular sailing times. This is why the cheapest fares are often in the morning or late-night sailings. Fewer people want to go on them!
Freight
Most modern super-ferries have dedicated car decks however freight is more lucrative for a ferry provider, therefore, they will always look to maximise their freight capacity over passenger, it makes more financial sense for a ferry provider to do so. This often isn’t a problem as there are so many frequent sailings that it can mean an hour or so extra waiting time.

Fares are dependant on what ticket type you purchase, whether you purchase a standard or flexible ticket option as well as additional extras like VIP lounges.

Flexibility

As we saw earlier, over 80 sailings a day from the main Channel companies is a large amount to choose from.

There are other options to getting to mainland Europe such as Eurotunnel and other routes from other ferry providers and so you will hardly ever have any problems selecting a suitable route and time.

Shopping

Ferries offer travellers a wide variety of goods from perfume, makeup to alcohol and food. Be careful to check the prices though as it’s not always as cheap as you can get once you are in Europe.

Food

Even though the sailings are pretty short, it can be a good idea to get a meal to give you fuel for your journey ahead. Ferry operators have a variety of different food available whether you are after a continental style breakfast or a more robust dinner, most tastes are catered for.

Bars offer alcohol and cafes deliver continental style coffee to go with your croissant. Children are catered for, often with their own menus.

Most operators accept multiple currencies and of course credit/debit cards.

Children's Entertainment

Play areas are common on modern ferries which help to give the adults a break before they start the next leg of their journey.

Scenery whilst Sailing

Of course, the scenery is one of the main reasons the ferries appeal to a large number of people. Seeing the White Cliff’s of Dover or France come into view is a magical experience. The Dover coastline offers fantastic photo opportunities and can be a welcome sign for those coming back from a long return journey home.

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