If you’ve never travelled on a ferry before, or haven’t taken a trip with us in a while, you might be worried about forgetting something before your crossing. Not to worry – we’re here to help you make sure you’ve got everything you need for a fun-filled journey on one of our ships. Here’s a handy check list of things to do before travelling by ferry, so you can spend less time doing boring admin, and more time enjoying yourself!
1. Check your travel documents
It’s happened to the best of us. There’s nothing worse than discovering you’ve forgotten an important document when you’re about to set off on holiday, so check your passport is in date and make a duplicate of it just in case! Whether you’re sunbathing or snowboarding, it’s important to have the right travel insurance from a trusted provider – just make sure you bring a copy of the policy with you.
2. Reserve your holiday money beforehand
If you want to dodge high commission charges for your travel money, why not reserve your foreign currency online before you pick it up from your provider? Organising it from the comfort of your own sofa means you’ll usually get a better exchange rate.
We even offer the option of picking up your travel money onboard the ship on your way to Europe. No waiting, no queuing, no hassle! If you’re feeling extra thrifty, P&O Ferries will even buy back your unwanted coins at the ship’s Bureau de Change on board.
3. Pack a bag of travel essentials
Passengers with vehicles are not permitted to return to the car deck during sailing for safety reasons, so make sure you pack up all your essentials in a bag to avoid having to root through your luggage for the things you need. Gather your wallet, phone, camera, medicine and important documents together in one place – and don’t forget the nappies and baby wipes if you’re travelling with a child.
4. Check your vehicle
Taking your own vehicle by ferry with P&O couldn’t be simpler. With your own car, you have the freedom to explore any destination at your leisure and take as much baggage as you like. Just remember to make those all-important maintenance checks in the weeks running up to your trip. Check your tyre pressure, tread condition, engine oil and water, to ensure your drive is as smooth as possible.
5. Organise breakdown cover
Even after maintenance checks, a bit of extra peace of mind is invaluable when driving in a foreign country. If you’re setting off on a driving holiday, it’s always wise to take out European breakdown cover should worst come to worst, so you can get home safely without disrupting your travel plans.
If you’re towing or travelling in a motorhome, this isn’t a problem, many providers provide extra cover for these vehicle types. Be sure to check the cover levels before purchasing though to ensure there are no exclusions you may need. Nevertheless, there are 5* Defaqto rated European breakdown policies out there which will give you comprehensive breakdown cover at a great price.
6. Stay Connected
The internet is a wonderful thing, and we offer Wi-Fi onboard so customers can stay connected to their favourite online content on their way to Europe. You can also get up to the minute sailing information direct from our social channels, so make sure you check Twitter for the latest updates before you travel.
We hope that these things to do before travelling by ferry have helped to put your mind at ease, and we look forward to welcoming you on board one of our ferry crossings soon!
