Dover ferry crossing.

Bushtrekker

Guest
I'm sailing from Dover next week and as I've never travelled from there before I would appreciate some advice. I'm on the 10.15 crossing, so I'm assuming I need to be there for about 8.00 to check in and go through customs. Is it possible to wait anywhere at the port, or will I need to find somewhere nearby and turn up on time? This is obviously routine for a lot of people on here, but for me it's a new experience and I don't want to cock up.
 
I think I read here somewhere that the port don't like you there more than two hours before sailing. How did you get on at the quacks?
 
You may get turned away at 8 am, very congested there, leave it till 9 am and be sure, you can park at Marine Parade at Dover just down the road but may have to pay at this time.There is a large TESCO near , up over the bridge about2 miles park there no problem , Bon Voyage.
 
If you are traveling with P & O just turn up when you get there, they usually put you on the next boat.
 
jeffscarborough said:
If you are traveling with P & O just turn up when you get there, they usually put you on the next boat.
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We went with P&O last month. Turned up 3 hours early and got put on the next boat.

Interestingly we weren't asked to show passports or any other documents leaving the UK or travelling throughout Europe as far as Greece. Only when trying to get back into the UK were we made to feel like foreign criminals!

Have a good trip
 
Been through many times if you want to overnight then let us know we are about 40mins from the port of dover
 
Thanks for the offer.

Since my last post I've realised I'd cocked up and had to change the booking. A neighbour has an annual barbecue and I have a lond standing commitment to cook as she doesn't do cooking, but accidentally booked the ferry a day early. I'm now leaving at 12.15 on Monday, so will probably head off after the barbecue and have a couple of breaks on the way, or leave early Monday morning.
 
We usually allow to get at least 90 mins before sailing, with P&O they will let you on one ferry either way of your booking time with no extra cost.
On the way back from france last easter we were 2 hours early and were told that we would have to pay extra if we wanted the next ferry, we opted to enter the port to wait for our booked ferry, then to be loaded onto the next ferry by the dockers, all they want to do is clear the docks if there is enough space.
 
tim m154 said:
We usually allow to get at least 90 mins before sailing, with P&O they will let you on one ferry either way of your booking time with no extra cost.
On the way back from france last easter we were 2 hours early and were told that we would have to pay extra if we wanted the next ferry, we opted to enter the port to wait for our booked ferry, then to be loaded onto the next ferry by the dockers, all they want to do is clear the docks if there is enough space.
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I have to agree with this - we always book a cheap ferry and, if it is not at a convenient time, turn up early (sometimes several hours early) and are always shunted onto the next ferry (which, if we had booked it, would have cost a lot more). I guess that this might not apply at peak times but we never travel at peak times.
 
I did an exercise Yesterday getting price for a channel crossing and put rough dates in ie out July 10 th ish and back Sept 10th ish and it came up with P n O total cost £94 yes P n O [ 2 passengers ] I have never travelled P n O as the have always been the most expensive from Dover but not this time, travelling at sensible times too, hope this helps. Dover Calais,
 
We are booked out from Dover to Dunkirque at the end of August for £39 (7 metre long motorhome and two adults). We never book returns because we don't know when we will be coming back!
 
John H said:
We are booked out from Dover to Dunkirque at the end of August for £39 (7 metre long motorhome and two adults). We never book returns because we don't know when we will be coming back![/QUOTE

that is what we usually do, I just phone Carefree .CCC from the dock when we arrive at Calais or where ever we want to cross back from and always get a good deal.I just did a quick browse of the Ferry .Com places to get a general idea of what was on offer and was very surprised that P n O were cheapest, I have used Portsmouth / Caen in the past , always found it expensive 7 hour crossing too, pretty boring, Dover is always the cheapest and even with the extra miles / diesel used it is still cheaper, for us anyway, BUT, living in Southampton it is only 24 miles on the clock from home to the parking at Caen if we use Portsmouth.Choices choices.:wave::wave:
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Bushtrekker said:
I'm sailing from Dover next week and as I've never travelled from there before I would appreciate some advice. I'm on the 10.15 crossing, so I'm assuming I need to be there for about 8.00 to check in and go through customs. Is it possible to wait anywhere at the port, or will I need to find somewhere nearby and turn up on time? This is obviously routine for a lot of people on here, but for me it's a new experience and I don't want to cock up.
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We took the train...35 mins and you are there, much better!
 
About £108

For three adults and a 6m camper. Last time I went from Poole to Cherbourg with a long wheelbase land rover and it cost £300/
 
Alf Hookham said:
We took the train...35 mins and you are there, much better!
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We have done the train a few times, costs a lot more than the Ferries though and we don't do Tescos. prefer the boat though, have a coffee and watch the world go by, plenty of time so we in the sloooowwwwww lane.:cheers::cheers:
 
I prefer to use the Brittany Ferries routes between Portsmouth and Caen and St Malo and Portsmouth as it is more relaxing and avoids lots of motorway miles and hours (and fuel).[/QUOTE]

no use to me ,i'm off to germany next week
J
 
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