Best online ferry booking site?
Discussion
Agreed, by all means use somebody like http://www.ferryonline.co.uk/ to get an overview and compare options and routes, but it's very rare in my experience that once you have a definite start and end points planned ie regions, then if you get an overview of routes available the options tend to narrow down to a short list very quickly.
Of course if folks live significantly North so that routes from Hull and northwards come into play and thus avoiding the dreadful shambles that is known as darn sarf then that can introduce extra complications and options.
Where are you starting off from and what region are you going to?
Might be able to offer more helpful pointers then.
Personally I avoid Dover if I can, have spent too many occasions worrying about making a ferry just due to heavy traffic delays. That's even with me being totally OCD on journey time planning, ie leave an hour early than typical having already planned to be an hour early and with an extra safety margin on top. Quite how the leave it till the last minute contingent manage I never understand.
HTH
Of course if folks live significantly North so that routes from Hull and northwards come into play and thus avoiding the dreadful shambles that is known as darn sarf then that can introduce extra complications and options.
Where are you starting off from and what region are you going to?
Might be able to offer more helpful pointers then.
Personally I avoid Dover if I can, have spent too many occasions worrying about making a ferry just due to heavy traffic delays. That's even with me being totally OCD on journey time planning, ie leave an hour early than typical having already planned to be an hour early and with an extra safety margin on top. Quite how the leave it till the last minute contingent manage I never understand.
HTH
Norfolk line has the nicest boats & generally good service, they also have staff that DONT go on strike when the rest randomly do. Prices are good too & very flexible if you turn up late/early but be careful as they don't usually very early am boats going if you miss the midnight boat back so you'll have wait a few hours. Lots of places to have a comfy kip too even when its busy.
P&O have horrible puke smelling boats imho & no where comfy for a quick kip
Seafrance will leave you stranded on the other side rather than letting you on the next available boat without charging you.
The funnel recently has been having good deals on crossings, only sometimes though so worth checking.
P&O have horrible puke smelling boats imho & no where comfy for a quick kip
Seafrance will leave you stranded on the other side rather than letting you on the next available boat without charging you.
The funnel recently has been having good deals on crossings, only sometimes though so worth checking.
Will second Norfolkline then. Best ferries out of the Dover-sailing lot IMO - modern and with good facilities. If you're going to Germany, then Dunkerque is also slightly further East than Calais, which is nice. Also, they've never had a problem with fitting us onto a later (or earlier) ferry at no extra charge when we've been late... (or early!).
Agree with earlier comments on Norfolkline Dover Dunkirk as my choice on short Channel crossing. They are in process of rebranding to DFDS as they are now in that group in case anyone didn't know,
The other one I have used where the drive is a long one and maybe going to take an overnight hotel within a couple hours of the ferry port is to go Stena Harwich-Hook of Holland. Longer crossing and more expensive, but if you use the overnight the cbin cost is offset by the saved hotel bill plus you are off the other side before the morning traffic. Ships are good and brand new.
Another benefit of booking direct with a ferry company is that some are ABTA members with all benefits that brings. Stena are ABTA, Norfolkline and DFDS don't seem to be members.
HTH
The other one I have used where the drive is a long one and maybe going to take an overnight hotel within a couple hours of the ferry port is to go Stena Harwich-Hook of Holland. Longer crossing and more expensive, but if you use the overnight the cbin cost is offset by the saved hotel bill plus you are off the other side before the morning traffic. Ships are good and brand new.
Another benefit of booking direct with a ferry company is that some are ABTA members with all benefits that brings. Stena are ABTA, Norfolkline and DFDS don't seem to be members.
HTH
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