If you are the kind of traveler who frequently travel from Britain to mainland Europe either for business or pleasure trip, consider how many times you may have traveled by ferry, I am sure hardly few times or even none. One of the reasons for low travel by ferry is time constraint. Most of us are either too busy or preoccupied with whatever free time we have. Most of them just either hop into a plane and arrive at their destination or take the land route instead of traveling by ferry, but for residents of Britain, most of them are bound to encounter with ferries.



Traveling by ferry can be both economical and enjoyable. One gets a chance to view the panoramic beauty of the ocean and enjoy the freshness of air while traveling by ferry. There are many cross channel ferries offering their services.

Dover-Calais ferry route:

To get into mainland Europe from UK, the shortest ferry route between the two countries is Dover-Calais route. The travel time being around two and half hours, a perfect getaway for a short break. If you plan to go beyond France, this route is not convenient.

Dover-Dunkerque ferry route:

The Dover-Dunkerque ferry route is more convenient than Calais for many destinations and beyond. Only ferry operator which operates in this route is Norfolkline which takes approximately one hour and forty five minutes. It is convenient for people traveling to Belgium, Holland and Germany.

Ireland ferry sailings:

Cross channel ferries is quite common between UK and Ireland, although Irish channel is noted for its hostile nature. Ferry sailing from Liverpool to Belfast takes approximately 8 hours. Most ferry routes operate from Liverpool and Wales and end at either Belfast or Dublin.

Travel between UK and France or Holland is well known for booze cruises. Travelers buy lot of cheap alcohol and cigarettes in France ad bring all way back to UK for personal consumption.

Safety tips for ferry travelers:

If you are traveling by ferry for the first time or considering traveling by ferry you never traveled before, check online for ferry report card, cleanliness and safety measures the vessel offers.

Be sure to carry prescriptions, adequate stock of essential medicines for the ferry travel.

If you have problem of sea sickness, it is better to avoid ferry travel, and if you do get sea sick while traveling, it is advisable to go to a quite area on the ferry, lie down, close your eyes and listen to some soft music.

Always when ashore, remember to keep all your documentation with you.