Wakatere
Member
If I were enjoying myself pottering around Brittany in the summer and had to get the crew back to work, does anybody know how difficult it would be to get a short notice ferry (pedestrian) ticket back to the UK?
Ferries from France
- Thread starter Wakatere
- Start date
doug748
Well-known member
I have done it a couple of times and not had any problem but do book online. If you just front up at the ferry terminal you will be paying top dollar.
LittleSister
Well-known member
It will likely be a significantly more expensive on the day, even online, but probably even more at the gate.
In my limited experience there is usually no problem getting a pedestrian ticket, but much more likely to be fully booked for cars and cabins.
In my limited experience there is usually no problem getting a pedestrian ticket, but much more likely to be fully booked for cars and cabins.
Chiara’s slave
Well-known member
I don’t think pedestrian fares are changeable. At about 6 weeks ahead you can get an early bird booking, that is cheaper. But tomorrow, next week or next month makes no difference. You need to book a cabin for a night crossing, you may find them fully booked, but daytime, no issues usually.
ashtead
Well-known member
I guess it depends on how much comfort the crew wants on return trip if a night crossing -I think a cabin needs a degree of pre planning as said which would my preference if expecting to work on arrival back in uk .
stranded
Well-known member
Don’t forget the train as an option too.
LittleSister
Well-known member
I don't think that is correct.
I have travelled overnight twice between Plymouth and Roscoff without a cabin some years ago, and I am pretty sure that much more recently when perusing potential ferry bookings (to Brittany and to Dieppe) there were passenger places available, but no cabins, on the dates I was interested in. There are reclining (aircraft type) seats available for those without cabins (in addition to the general seating available in the bars, etc.).
DreadShips
Active member
Can confirm Newhaven-Dieppe doesn't require a cabin overnight. Can also confirm it's an absolutely miserable experience should you choose to do it that way.
Still, not the OP's problem - they'll be happily pottering around Brittany still!
Sandy
Well-known member
I use Brittany Ferries, Roscoff to Plymouth, several times a year. Never had a problem turning up and getting a ticket.
wonkywinch
Well-known member
If you plan this, make sure your crew have entered France through a proper port of entry (PPF) and have a passport stamp. Cruisers can enter and leave via one of several non PPF ports but wouldn't be able to then leave via a PPF port, if which the ferry ports will be.
Chiara’s slave
Well-known member
I have never travelled as a foot passenger, but many many times by car, where they do indeed make you book a cabin.
stranded
Well-known member
looking at one random Plymouth Roscoff overnight sailing in May with car they insist on accommodation but include in that definition a reserved seat for a fiver.
Sandy
Well-known member
I find that there is no room for a car and the dinghy on the fore deck of my boat. Tacking and gybing might be a challenge if I could get the car on.
Chiara’s slave
Well-known member
Fair enough. I certainly used to be a cabin on the St Malo and Caen routes.
Chiara’s slave
Well-known member
My car weighs more than my boat. I suspect I’d have difficulties too.
Fr J Hackett
Well-known member
As one that most summers makes the trip from a port between Cherbourg and Roscoff ( I have used them all) travelling with a car accommodation (cabin or recliner) is definitely not a condition of booking.
It is possible to get a cabin or recliner (if available and the recliners usually are) by enquiring at the pursers desk on boarding. I have no idea if it is cheaper or more expensive to do so but I have done both. For the cheapskates grab one of the forward window seats on the observation deck, they are the most comfortable free seats and offer the opportunity of sleep without too much disturbance.
It is possible to get a cabin or recliner (if available and the recliners usually are) by enquiring at the pursers desk on boarding. I have no idea if it is cheaper or more expensive to do so but I have done both. For the cheapskates grab one of the forward window seats on the observation deck, they are the most comfortable free seats and offer the opportunity of sleep without too much disturbance.
st599
Well-known member
As a student, when we booze cruised to France, the children's soft play area was the most comfortable place to kip.
But as has been mentioned up page, if you're doing crew changeovers, you're yacht needs to enter and leave France via a PPF port so that crew departing via ferry have an arrival stamp and crew arriving by ferry have a matching exit stamp for the next time they enter the EU.
But as has been mentioned up page, if you're doing crew changeovers, you're yacht needs to enter and leave France via a PPF port so that crew departing via ferry have an arrival stamp and crew arriving by ferry have a matching exit stamp for the next time they enter the EU.
Bobc
Well-known member
Some sailings require a cabin, others don't. Don't really understand the logic tbh. But if it's an overnight, then you really want a cabin anyway.
There are day sailings from Cherbourg and Caen.
I've rocked up at the terminal and got tickets before, in July, so you shouldn't have a problem.
There are day sailings from Cherbourg and Caen.
I've rocked up at the terminal and got tickets before, in July, so you shouldn't have a problem.
Stemar
Well-known member
St Malo to Portsmouth is a day crossing, so cabins not required. For night crossings on Brittany Ferries, you have to have a reclining seat - about as comfortable as Ryanair's torture seats, when younger, we'd spread a sleeping bag on the floor to be more comfortable. Cabins are optional, IIRC, but well worth the extra for geriatrics like us, especially if we're driving any distance the next day. We always take one.
stranded
Well-known member
We’re still planning how our new life with boat based in France will work out, but for trips of less than a month where I don’t need the car I think I am going to buy a couple of 1st Class Interrail tickets in their spring sale - valid for a year, 4 days of unlimited rail travel within month from when you activate it, quicker door to door from our little village station 3 minutes from the front door here in East Devon to Redon in around 10 hours - less than any ferry route and just a nicer way to travel. For around £230 (plus reservation fees for some trains) get first class return travel to the boat, including UK legs of journey, low or high season, no baggage weight limits, with the couple of spare travel days to use for a side trip to Paris, SoF, Rome, Madrid etc etc etc or, with careful planning, even further afield. And no, I’m not on commission!
