If you are heading across to Europe with us soon you may be wondering what there is that you can do beforehand to ensure that your travel plans run smoothly. Here we share our tips for how to prepare for a ferry crossing, no matter if you are sailing on one of our ferries to France or across the North Sea.
1. Check your travel documents
When you travel to Calais, Zeebrugge, or Rotterdam you will need to have a valid passport that meets the requirements of the country you are visiting, and this is true for all passengers. You will also need your booking reference number which you can find on your confirmation email, or in your online account.
We advise that you ensure your travel insurance is up to date and covers the countries that you are hoping to visit, as this will give you peace of mind in the event that something unexpected happens while you are away.
If you are hoping to drive when you reach Europe you must take your driving license and registration documents, plus you need to ensure that your car insurance and breakdown policies cover you when you are outside of the UK.
2. Research onboard entertainment
Researching the onboard entertainment available to you before you travel is a great way to prepare for a ferry crossing, as it means that you can plan exactly what you’d like to do during your sailing, and will know where to head when you board the ship.
Our Dover to Calais crossing offers a choice of bars and restaurants, a coffee shop, a children’s play area, arcade machines, and a shop which are sure to entertain your during your 90 minute journey.
Should you be sailing from Hull to Zeebrugge you can enjoy the same facilities, plus a casino, and when you travel on our Rotterdam route you will also have the choice of two cinema screens which each show three different films throughout the crossing.
3. Add on some extras
We offer a whole range of extras that can help you to have an even better experience when you travel with us, and booking them in advance is a great way to prepare for a ferry crossing.
If you are travelling to Calais, treat yourself to an upgraded experience by adding Club Lounge to your booking. Not only will this mean that you have a comfortable seat and uninterrupted sea views throughout the crossing, but you will be offered a glass of champagne on arrival and can help yourself to complimentary newspapers, hot and soft drinks, plus a variety of snacks, too.
One of the most popular extras that we offer on our North Sea ships is the option to pre-book your meals, as this will not only save you money but means that you can eat in the restaurant of your choice too. You might also like to upgrade your cabin to one that includes a sea view, or even a complementary minibar!
4. Pack your bags
What you bring on your P&O crossing will completely depend on where you are heading to, but we don’t mind if you need to pack skis, hiking equipment, giant inflatables, or the kitchen sink, because we have no luggage allowances for you to stick to when you travel with us.
You can even bring your pet with you if you like, just make sure that you have added them to your booking and check our advice for travelling with a pet to ensure that you have everything required before you set off. Pets will need to remain in the car when travelling to and from Calais, and will stay in our onboard kennels on Rotterdam and Zeebrugge routes.
We hope that these tips for helping you to prepare for a ferry crossing have been useful, and look forward to seeing you on board soon!
