Ferries to France : 3 Reasons to Relish a Family Break

If you live in the UK and still you’ve never been on a ferry to France, you’ve really missed something (obviously if you don’t suffer from sea sickness). Ferries to France provide you with a great option for Channel crossing, and there are many reasons that this mode of transport finds countless takers. First off, you can even take your car with you. Besides, travelling onboard a ferry will not bind you like travelling in the aero plane would.

You need not stick to your seat throughout the journey and even if you don’t book a suite or a cabin, you've still got the freedom just to walk within the deck of the ferry whenever you want. Also, it is possible to carry unlimited luggage as the basic guide being, as long as it can easily fit into your car, you'll be able to take it.

Travelling onboard a ferry France also provides plenty of options in terms of onboard activities. Cross channel ferries sailing between these countries are known to provide services like round the clock restaurants, bars and casinos. Most well equipped ferries have dedicated play areas for children, ensuring them as the perfect family holiday vehicle. So the very next time you wish to take your loved ones on a holiday; do make certain you give enough thought to this great option. So, what about you? Seriously, just think about it for a moment. Don't those reasons apply to you? Perhaps you really should make a trip with ferries to France.

France to England Ferry Travel: The Perfect Way to Explore

Taking ferry to England can be more of fun rather than waiting for plan at the airport hoping to take off in time!. There are many great places in England that you will enjoy during your trip. I had a unique experience with my family sailing across the English Channel. I took the ferry route from Dunkirk to Dover to which it takes around less than 2 hours. There were large rolling swells, wind-blown spray white off the wave crests, and fountains of spume with each drop of the ferry’s bow. It made me wonder how ancient traveler ever made the crossing in small boats with oarsmen or sails.

Most travelers who use ferries for cross channel crossings take it as part of their holiday break. There are many different ferry operators with several ferry routes in and around France. Ferry booking was quite easy. I had booked ferry tickets well in advance by online. We reached Dunkirk port well in time and had no trouble boarding the ferry, the staff was quite helpful and helped us to unload our luggage and stove it into our cabin.

We found ferry travel quite comfortable and flexible compared to road travel where one can easily get stuck in traffic. If it is by air travel, there will be a lot more hassle getting other flight. But in cross channel, whereas if we are early, at times we can get an earlier ferry crossing. There is no extra charge providing that you are booking in within three hours either way of your designated time you have booked.

Ferry travel is considered to be the best option because it is easy to manage both expense and time. That is why most of the travelers like it because at the same time they can have unlimited fun and entertainment.

Norfolkline ferry is well known as super fast ferry to England.

Norfolkline expands logistics service beyond boundaries.

There are some companies gaining from their regular operations and long-built relationship with other companies over a period of time. Norfolkline and Kings span group Plc are two such companies, on a mission to achieve common objectives by extending support to each other. Norfolkline deals with logistic service in addition to its regular ferry service running ferries to France and other continents, whereas Kings Span has established itself as a commercial builder in the UK and Scandinavia market. To meet the demand of the increased traffic, Norfolkline has been extending highly mechanised logistics support to the passenger, freight and the exclusive division for its esteemed customers. Kings span, on the other hand has expanded its construction business in Europe and Scandinavia and specifically manufactures and fabricates high quality fire-proof insulated roof, wall and façade systems. Norfolkline and a division of the Kings Span group called Kingspan panels have been partners for the last twenty years as an association to deliver multiple transports to the Benelux market. The packaging is done at Kings Span in a professional manner under the supervision of the Norfolkline experts and then the products are sent to the market from the production unit. Kings Span panels have an edge over other competitors by providing value added solutions to most of its clients through Norfolkline. Similarly, Norfolkline is quoted as the best logistic provider in Europe and Scandinavia. Norfolkline has purchased new trailers to further regularise logistical activities for Kings Span panel goods and also to expand the business boundaries. Norfolkline logistics operations are carried out through different transport modes such as, ferries, rail, and road etc. to reach the destinations. Norfokline is already a very popular name among the UK ferry travellers who prefer to travel with cheap ferries to different locations across the Europe.

Enjoy a Few Days in Amsterdam - Rich Cultural City of Holland

There are several ferry routes operating between the UK and Netherlands cutting across the North Sea, the most common routes being the Newcastle and Hull in the UK to Amsterdam and Rotterdam in Netherlands respectively. Last year I took a cheap ferry and went on a short break to Amsterdam which is said to be the cultural capital of Holland situated on the bank of two enclosing rivers the IJ bay and Amstel. When I heard about the history of the city I found it quite fascinating. Amsterdam, which is the current financial capital of Holland, was ruled by the community of anglers in the 12th century. Irrigation and water transport got greater importance in 17th century which is known as the Golden age of the country. You can still find traces of semicircular forms of canals in the old city of Amsterdam. What I enjoyed most were the ancient structures and buildings covering the city of Amsterdam. I was amazed to see the incredible architecture of the ancient era. Some of the major tourist attractions here are the old buildings and mansions of the early centuries, Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum, Beurs van berlage, and Shipping Museum etc. Here the Van Gogh Museum certainly deserves a special mention which exhibits the finest works of the famous artist Van Gogh displaying a collection of more than 200 paintings, 500 sketches and 700 letter writings of the artist. If you think the city of Amsterdam is loved by the tourists for its ancient and historical values only, you will certainly mistake as the city is full of entertainment for the tourists also. It is also favourite spot for the tourists who love to enjoy cultural activities, and night-life entertainment. There are innumerable entertainment clubs and other tourist spots in Amsterdam where you can freak out with your friends and family and enjoy food, drink, music etc. You can choose any of the options available from car, train, tram, metro or bus to travel according to your convenience and the city is well connected with an excellent network for motorways and A1, A2, A4, A8, A9 and A10 being the main roads of the Amsterdam. Book cheap ferries to Amsterdam and enjoy your holiday in this wonderful city of Holland which cites the great combination of ancient and contemporary culture of the nation.

Travel | The Independent UK – The A-Z of European ferries

Amsterdam

A great way to start a lexicon of the waves, because the city has an excellent free ferry starting on the north side of Centraal Station, across the IJ river, which provides an excellent perspective on the city. And it is also accessible from the UK by a pair of overnight ferry routes that provide a civilised approach to this most human of cities.

Britain’s last-surviving Continental Boat Train departs from Liverpool Street station in London each evening at 8.38, and represents one of the best bargains in rail-and-sea travel. The journey from London, or any station in East Anglia, to Amsterdam or any station in the Netherlands, is £29 each way ? plus the cost of a berth if you take the night service between Harwich and Hook of Holland. Stena Line (08447 70 70 70; stenaline.co.uk) offers comfortable accommodation and carries cars as well as “rail and sail” passengers. This month the route gets the first of two £200m “superferries”, complete with internet.

The other way to go Dutch by sea is on DFDS Seaways (0871 522 9955; dfds.co.uk), which sails overnight between Newcastle and Amsterdam. This is an illustration of a maritime “Ryanair effect”: the vessel actually sails between North Shields and the North Sea port of IJmuiden. But connections to Amsterdam are straightforward by rail or road.

Boulogne

A more attractive town than Calais from a tourism perspective, with a fascinating Old Town, superb seafood, and a new connection on the rapidly expanding LD Lines (0844 576 8836; ldlines.co.uk). There are ferries every six hours or so from Dover.

Caledonian MacBrayne

Nowhere else in Europe is the role of ferry as lifeline better illustrated than in north-western Scotland. Caledonian MacBrayne (08705 650 000; calmac.co.uk) is a heavily subsidised operation, offering regular, usually reliable links between the mainland and the Western Isles. Ordinary fares are high, but for the tourist there is are “Island Hopscotch” tickets that offer options for driving (or cycling) on a range of routes.

Dunkirk

Dunkirk is served by ferries every two hours (less frequently at weekends) from Dover on Norfolkline (0844 847 5042; norfolkline.com). The ferry company normally insists that passengers have a mode of transport from a bicycle upwards, but this week has been operating coaches for the benefit of stranded airline passengers ? and, unlike its rivals, the service is free.

Estonia

The Baltic republic with flourishing links across to Helsinki, the best ferry-connected two-centre city-break in Europe. You can sail from the capital, Tallinn, to Helsinki in a couple of hours with a passage booked through an agent such as Direct Ferries (0871 890 0900; directferries.co.uk) ? a journey between the two most handsome cities in the Baltic.

Tragically, Estonia was the name of the ferry that sank in 1994 while sailing between Tallinn and Stockholm, with the loss of 852 lives. As with aviation, the development of ferry safety is written in blood.

Fares

Well, we all know by now that a foot passenger fare from Dover to Calais on P&O Ferries (08716 645 645; poferries.com) is £50, while SeaFrance (0871 423 7119; seafrance.com) will get you across those 20 nautical miles for £45.

In fact, most travellers pay fares that are far less per person. The ferries took one heck of a beating from the more nimble no-frills airlines until they adopted the same dynamic, demand-sensitive pricing model. And what does that mean? If you take an off-peak sailing on Norfolkline between Dover and Dunkirk, you could pay as little as £19 each way for a car and four passengers; but if you book late for a morning sailing on a summer Saturday, the price could be five times higher. Interestingly, you can counteract this ? if you are a late booker ? by buying a carnet of journeys, as offered by SeaFrance, with individual one-way journeys available for as little as £32 each way.

Greece

A very special case, in every sense. Island-hopping around the eastern Mediterranean is about as rewarding as it gets, but be flexible when you contemplate some Aegean ambulation. A web of ferry, jet-boat and hydrofoil services operated by competing companies links the islands with each other and the mainland. The island-hopper’s bible is the Thomas Cook Guide to Greek Island Hopping by Frewin Poffley.

The book contains schedules for every route, but Poffley observes that the region “is not noted for achieving Germanic standards of timekeeping”. Be prepared for your planned itinerary to fall apart ? and beware the sudden Aegean squalls. On what appears to be a brilliantly clear and calm day, the sea can swell quite suddenly and render disembarkation impossible at some exposed ports; the ferry will steam on to her next destination.

Hovercraft

They were big in the Eighties, but almost all services ceased in the Nineties ? the high fuel consumption proved unsustainable, and eventually Hoverspeed abandoned these remarkable craft. If you want to experience one, you can go anywhere you like so long as it is the …

Isle of Wight

A hovercraft still flies between Southsea in Hampshire and Ryde on the island in 12 minutes. A return fare is £17 with Hovertravel (023 9281 1000; hovertravel.co.uk). Traditionally, fares to the Isle of Wight from Wightlink (0871 376 1000; wightlink.co.uk) and Red Funnel (0844 844 9988; redfunnel.co.uk) have been some of the highest, per mile, in Europe. But competition is set to increase, thanks to a new promotion between Greyhound (0900 096 0000; greyhounduk.com), Hovertravel and Southern Vectis that promises to cut one-way fares from London to the Isle of Wight to an average of £14. Incidentally, buses from Victoria to Southampton end their journey just across from the Red Funnel terminal.

Jadrolinija

Remember Marshal Tito? The Yugoslav dictator was big in the Eighties, before his federation fell apart after his death. One of his lasting contributions was a flourishing ferry company, Jadrolinija, which operates along the coast of what is now Croatia and links the many islands strung out offshore. (jadrolinija.hr)

Kirkwall

The Orkney capital is the hub of the Northern Isles’ ferry system. You can reach it from Aberdeen on NorthLink (0845 6000 449; northlinkferries.co.uk), or ? with a much shorter sea V Ccrossing ? from Scrabster near Thurso to Stromness on Orkney.

Le Havre

Le Havre was once the illustrious gateway to the world, with much of the French shipping industry based there. But it was ravaged in the Second World War. The reconstruction has been mostly in concrete, which looks impressive in a brutish sort of way. For many, Honfleur, on the southern (left) bank of the Seine, is more appealing; you can reach it over a spectacular bridge. Le Havre is connected by a new fast ferry, taking only three hours, 15 minutes, from Portsmouth with LD Lines (0844 576 8836; ldlines.co.uk).

Manchester Ship Canal

For most of the time, Mersey Ferries shuttle across the water between Liverpool and the Wirral. But the summer series of cruises along the Manchester Ship Canal from Liverpool to Salford Quays begins on Thursday. Further sailings are approximately weekly in May, June and September, and twice a week in July and August. The one-way fare for the six-hour, 35-mile trip is £36. Book on 0151-330 1444 or at merseyferries.co.uk.

National Ferry Fortnight

National Ferry Fortnight, starting on 8 May, is designed to persuade us of the joys of maritime meanderings. Expect incentives to book for your summer holiday.

Ouistreham

Ouistreham is the port for Caen in northern France, served from Portsmouth by Brittany Ferries (0871 244 0744; brittany-ferries.co.uk). O is also for Ostend, linked from Ramsgate by LD Lines.

Pride

Pride of Bilbao, Pride of Calais and Pride of Dover: all once the prides of the P&O Ferries (08716 645 645; poferries.com) fleet, but all are to sail off into the sunset. The link from Portsmouth to Bilbao will cease in September. The Calais and Dover prides are to be replaced, starting in December, with the biggest ferries ever seen on the Channel.

Quiberon

Quiberon is the ideal base for Breton island-hopping. This pretty port lies at the end of a peninsula south of Lorient and west of St-Nazaire. Ferries seasonally sail from here to Ile d’Houat and Le Palais, which feels like France 20 years ago.

You can reach the region on Brittany Ferries (0871 244 0744; brittany-ferries.co.uk), which has services from Plymouth to Roscoff and Portsmouth to St-Malo.

Brittany is also the location for the most exciting ferry development in Europe this year: a new link from the port of St-Nazaire to Gijon in the beautiful Spanish province of Asturias. This cuts a long, drab drive through France, and opens up possibilities for trips via Brittany to northern Spain, returning from Santander to Plymouth or Portsmouth.

If you would like to add even more sophistication, then build in a stop in the Channel Islands: Condor Ferries (01202 207216; condorferries.co.uk) has a network from Weymouth, Poole and Portsmouth to Guernsey and Jersey, with links to St-Malo.

Rhine

Ferries still operate along and even across Western Europe’s leading waterway. KD Rhine (kdrhine.com) is the main operator, with plenty of ferries from its base in Cologne. The KD Rhine Pass allows travel between Bonn, Cologne, Koblenz and Mainz.

Seasickness

Seasickness is becoming less of an issue as stabilisation systems get more sophisticated and ships get larger. Nevertheless, if you suffer from motion sickness, try to find the part of the ship where movement is minimised and stabilise head movement by bracing it against a fixed object. Fix your gaze on the horizon.

Timing

Timing is everything, at least on the airlines: fail to meet the check-in deadline, and you usually lose your flight and your money. The attitude of most high-frequency shipping lines could hardly be more different. From Dover, Norfolkline (to Dunkirk), and P&O and SeaFrance (to Calais) generally have plenty of capacity, and usually take the view that if you arrive in time for an earlier sailing they will allow you on board, and they also prove lenient if you miss your booked sailing.

Ulysses

Ulysses is the world’s largest and most reliable car ferry, at least according to Irish Ferries (08717 300 400; irishferries.com); the ship, named after the James Joyce character, operates on the Holyhead-Dublin route, carrying nearly 2,000 passengers. Irish Ferries also operates from Pembroke to Rosslare. Its major competitors across the Irish Sea are P&O from Troon and Cairnryan to Larne, Norfolkline Irish Sea Ferries (0844 499 0007; norfolkline.com) from Liverpool to Belfast; and Stena Line (08447 70 70 70; stenaline.co.uk), which sails from Fishguard to Rosslare and from Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire ? ironically, the location just outside Dublin where the opening of Ulysses takes place (specifically, the Martello tower in Sandycove, from where you can watch the ferries arrive and depart).

One other choice across the Irish Sea: the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company (08712 221 333; steam-packet.com) goes from Liverpool or Heysham to Douglas, and on to Belfast or Dublin.

Valletta

The southernmost destination in Europe that you can access by ferry and the smallest capital of any EU state. The easiest route from the northern Mediterranean ports is from Genoa to Palermo, the Sicilian capital (0871 890 0900; directferries.co.uk). You then cross the island to Pozzallo, from where ferries depart to Malta (020-8206 3420; viamare.com).

Whales

Whales and dolphins can be seen from many ships in Europe, but a couple worthy of note are P&O from Portsmouth to Bilbao and DFDS from Newcastle to Amsterdam, who often deploy wildlife officers on board to help spot cetaceans.

X -rays

X-rays are part of the misery of airport security. Ferries are less susceptible to terrorist outrages, and car drivers and passengers face no checks ? but on international journeys from Britain foot passengers still have to pass through metal detectors and have their bags checked by X-ray. The restrictions that airline passengers face on hazardous substances from toothpaste to tequila do not apply.

Yachts

Yachts under sail take precedence over ferries under steam, but in practice both try to avoid each other. The radar systems on the bridge of a modern ferry are spectacularly sophisticated.

Zeebrugge

Zeebrugge, a lovely Belgian resort, which also provides the Continental end of the only ferry direct from Scotland to Europe ? with Norfolkline. It is also served by P&O North Sea Ferries (0871 664 5645; poferries.com) from Hull, which also runs to Rotterdam. You can reach Bruges in 15 minutes by train or car, sip a beer and toast your good fortune for going by boat.

Have You Availed the Great Offer on Channel Crossing this year?

Dover ferry operator has come up with a very good offer for its passengers in 2010. They provide a very attractive scheme for the passengers travelling with cheap ferries to France, in which they are offered to save at least £5 on each trip and £2.50 per leg throughout the year which is valid up to 16th of December, 2010. Online booking for the tickets has been closed on 04-03-2010.

I already booked my ticket last month through telephonic reservation for which I had to pay a charge of £5. I could take at least one car and 4 passengers on this trip. The starting fare for each leg costs £19 which is subject to increase following any inclusion of additional passenger or change in the size of the car.

If you have booked your ferry ticket but somehow missed the ferry to board on time, you still have the opportunity to board as the date has been extended up to 31st May, 2010. The bookings are non refundable, so don’t miss the chance and make your trip as your tickets are still valid. You may require to pay an additional surcharge on your tickets.

Ferries between Rosyth and Zeebrugge by Scotland-Belgium ferries

Norfolkline reintroduced the Rosyth-Zeebrugge route in the month of May 2009. It is plying three services with three ferries from each port every week.


Norfolkline provides regular services through Scotland-Belgium ferries that are plied from Rosyth,which is close to Edinburgh on every Tuesday and Thursday besides every Saturday. The other one is from Zeebrugge that is near to Bruges. This service is plied on every Monday and Wednesday besides every Friday.


Since the reintroduction of the line between Rosyth and Zeebrugge, the way people commute is very much comfortable and ease. Perhaps, it is the first commercial line, which links Scotland with Europe. This has empowered channels not only from business perspective but also from commercial one. As each of these services are operated on an alternate days of the week, you can have the option of organising your tours in a better way. You can now comfortably reach economically important places of Europe such as Belgium in a less amount of time.


You can have additional advantages of travelling at a cheaper fare. Besides, you can benefit the most as there are special offers that are meant to address all your travelling needs. The reinstated Rosyth-Zeebrugge is being seen as an economic mainstay for continued trade between Scotland and Europe. The future is now bright as per the current vibes that have been received in the wake of the operation of ferry services from Rosyth to Zeebrugge and vice versa. Apart from the cheap deals and special offers, you can expect more from onboard facilities. The cabins have been enlarged to provide a spacious look. The lounge has been redesigned by keeping in view of the modern architectural style.


The travelling period is nearly 20 hours. Moreover, Scottish Viking is the latest Car ferry that has been bought into operation by Norfolkline. This new way gives extreme relaxation levels besides peace of travel. The amenities that are furnished onboard are children’s play area and large screen cinema. Also,completely furnished ensuite cabins will ensure that your journey with us is a pleasure experience all the way.


Find Out More

Rosyth-Zeebrugge ferries
Ferry fares & offers between Scotland & Belgium
Onboard the Scottish Viking Scotland-Belgium
ferry destinations
News from the Rosyth-Zeebrugge route
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