First time on a ferry!

there is probably a very simple answer to my question but here goes.

How far in advance do we need to be at the ferry before boarding?

we have not booked with P%26amp;O and i imagine when i do i will be told.

This info has a knock on effect to other travel plans so any info would be much appreciated

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If you%26#39;re arriving with a car it%26#39;s usually an hour before but check on the various websites. Besides P%26amp;O there is also SeaFrance on that crossing and Norfolkline (my current favourite ferry line on the shorter crossings) travel from Dover to Dunkerque, which is a little further north (about 20 mins on the autoroute) but is a more relaxed crossing with nicer boats. In fact, I%26#39;d rate P%26amp;O the worst on that crossing.

LD Lines also do Dover-Boulogne. I%26#39;ve not tried them but their prices are good and people I know give them good reviews.

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If you fancy driving via the Tunnel, it%26#39;s very convenient; we usually find it%26#39;s an an hour from UK motorway to French motorway. It%26#39;s dearer than ferries, but if booked ahead isn%26#39;t always too bad, especially out of season.

We haven%26#39;t taken a ferry for years, apart from just after the fire last autumn. Sea sickness and the longer time taken took us to the Tunnel.

GG

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From your address I presume you%26#39;re coming down from Scotland and by car.

We travel by car from Derbyshire and our journey times over the years have varied from three and a half hours up to seven hours, due to an M1 accident and long detour.

Trying to time it right to arrive at Dover for the ferry, say for mid-afternoon, will be more down to traffic conditions, road works, petrol and food stops than your initial expectations.

I would suggest that going by Eurotunnel could be a better option as they normally put you on the next train whatever the time on your ticket says.

And that usually entails only about a half hour wait.

The times between ferries vary from three quarters of an hour up to two hours so you might have a long wait when you get to Dover.

Eurotunnel only takes 35 minutes and the ferries 75 to 90 mins.

Arriving about an hour before departure on most Ferries is usually ok.

LD Ferry have fewer crossings and require an earlier arrival at Dover and Boulogne.

We%26#39;ve done ferries, hovercraft and tunnel and now we usually go for Eurotunnel because of the speedy crossing, not having to worry about the time we arrive or the weather conditions in the Channel.

On one occasion we left Derbyshire in balmy sunny weather but by the time we arrived in Dover there was a force 10 gale blowing and no ferries crossing all day.

We had to make a quick phone call and book on the train or we would have lost at least a day of our holiday.

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I do normally travel by ferry (who I travel with likes to sail). You normally have to arrive about an hour before though to check in as they have to upload you (or whatever the phrase is) onto the ferry. Tunnel is quickiest way over though.

Last time I went on a ferry though, it was very windy and the crossing was rather rough with the ferry lifting up 6 - 8 feet in the air etc with waves crashing over the deck, but I wasn%26#39;t seasick (guess I%26#39;m lucky, alot of people where ill though).

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I prefer ferries to the tunnel because a ferry crossing gives you a decent break after a long drive with the opportunity to walk around and have a meal etc, whereas in the Tunnel you can sit in your car or, er, stand next to it.

After many, many Channel crossings over the years I can also say that the only really significant delays I have ever had have been with the Tunnel (usually down to signalling problems). And although the Tunnel will try to put you onto another crossing if they can, at busy times they may not be able to. When I missed check-in by 10 minutes last year, due to bad weather en route, the next train they could get us on was over 7 hours later, at 3am - not the most fun evening I have ever had.

Either form of transport has its advantages - it%26#39;s a matter of personal preference really.