Ferry travel is all about freedom – which is all the more important when travelling with children. It allows you to pack as much as you desire into your car, while bringing your own vehicle with you on holiday lets you explore at your own leisure. Here, we share our top tips for travelling as a family on a P&O ferry to make your journey as fun and stress-free as possible.
1. Consider priority boarding
Beat the queues and decrease your waiting time with Priority Boarding when travelling as a family on a P&O ferry, because you’ll be one of the first passengers to board, you and your family will have more time to relax on the ferry. You’ll also be one of the first to disembark when you arrive at your destination, which means you’ll be on the open road before you know it. If you use this service, you’ll check in as usual and be directed to a dedicated boarding lane.
2. Pack a travel bag
With P&O Ferries, you can pack as much food, drink and luggage as your car can carry, but just bear in mind that you won’t have access to your car during the crossing. When it’s time to leave your vehicle, avoid rooting through numerous bags by pre-packing a travel essentials bag. Include things like:
- Nappies and baby wipes
- Spare clothing and pyjamas
- Toothbrushes and toothpaste
- Your child’s favourite toy
- Phone charger
- Money and important documents
- Pillows and a spare blanket (particularly useful if you’re not staying in a cabin)
3. Get up and stretch your legs
A great benefit of travelling as a family on a P&O ferry is having the freedom to leave your seat and move around. Spread out and get comfy in the lounge area, enjoy an invigorating walk around the deck, browse our on-board shop or take in any of the entertainment options on offer. Sea travel is also great fun for children, who can enjoy exploring the ship (with supervision of course), while the outdoor deck areas are great for ship spotting and birdwatching.
4. Keep the kids entertained
Our ferries have lots to keep kids happy at sea. On selected crossings in the summer, our Junior Crew kids club will entertain young explorers aged 5 to 11 years old. They’ll be able to enjoy arts and crafts sessions, have their face painted, play puzzles and games – as well as meet our very own, very entertaining mascot, Pirate Pete! The holiday really does start as soon as you step on board.
Wifi is available on selected crossings, while our video arcade room will also keep kids busy.
Ready to go take your family on a P&O ferry? Head to our Adventure Planner for inspiration for your next trip, and book your ferry crossing today.
